In this way, the strategic situation of the Ming Dynasty has greatly improved. As long as this mountain pass is defended, there is no need to worry about the forces of the Ali Dynasty attacking again.
On the west side of Mount Gabriel is the Abyssinian Plateau, where the Solomonic dynasty and the Ali dynasty were mortal enemies.
The Ming Dynasty can form an alliance with the Solomon Dynasty.
In this way, the Ali Dynasty will be in a passive state.
Zhong Chongxiang had already sent a mission to the Solomon Dynasty more than half a year ago.
This time Zhong Chongxiang brought a lot of good things from the revival of military industry as gifts.
This Solomonic dynasty was located in the East African Plateau. The people were warlike and fierce, but they were short of supplies.
Its northern territory has been under attack by the Ali dynasty.
To the east they were restrained by the Sultanate of Osa.
The Sultanate of Osa has always used the Chinese people to build bridges and attack Abyssinia together with Ali Wangchao in the north.
They also imposed a blockade on Abyssinia. As a plateau landlocked country, Abyssinia was short of all kinds of supplies.
Those nobles who have money can't buy decent things.
Zhong Chongxiang quickly established a cooperative relationship between the two parties by bribing the Abyssinian nobles.
Abyssinia can purchase cheap supplies from the Great China Circle from the Ming Kingdom.
The Ming Dynasty can also work with them to deal with the Osa Sultanate.
Since the Sultanate of Osa lost 20,000 troops last time, it has become like a grasshopper after autumn and can only hop around for a few days.
The defeat of the Sultanate of Ali was beyond Smith's expectation.
He did not expect that the Baath Army would send so many troops to East Africa.
And it was within such a short period of time.
However, this also allowed him to obtain very important information, that is, the Renaissance Army has the ability to quickly deploy an army of tens of thousands in the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean.
This is no easy task.
This means that the Renaissance Army must maintain a rapid reaction force that is in a state of combat readiness.
As well as the fleet that transports this force, the fleet that can transport tens of thousands of people for an expedition is not small. It was difficult to do even when the Great Empire was in its heyday.
The Great Empire often needed to recruit merchant ships to send troops.
But this won't be so fast.
The existence of such a fleet must consume a lot of resources.
From this we can see how strong the Renaissance Army is.
In fact, the Renaissance Army's fleet is not always parked in the port for backup. That would be too wasteful.
These transport ships will take turns to supply the various bases of the Ba'ath Army in the Indian Ocean.
Throughout the Indian Ocean Theater, the Navy of the Renaissance Army was divided into three parts.
Ceylon is the home port, the Daming City base in the northwest and the Zanzibar base in the southwest, as well as some islands and strategic locations between them, are now under the control of the Renaissance Army.
Troops must be stationed in these places, and if there are troops stationed, there must be supplies.
The current Indian Ocean Theater is also the place where the most money is spent on reviving the military.
Of course it has something to do with the new establishment here.
Smith hid in Alexandria and recorded his conclusions bit by bit.
Not only that, he even deduced that if there was a war with the Renaissance Army in East Africa, the Renaissance Army would be able to maintain at least 200,000 troops to fight here for a long time.
It won't even affect their own economy, because the Renaissance Army has its own trading system.
Able to integrate the resources of the entire Greater China Circle to support this war.
As long as they can maintain control of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, they can protect their trade.
There is no need to trade with Europa, the Renaissance Army can protect its own needs through internal transactions.
Just like a machine, as long as there is a stable injection of fuel and the health of each component is maintained, it can continue to operate stably.
The problem that the Great Empire is facing now is that trade is blocked and external inputs are insufficient.
Although Daying still has great influence in Africa and Europe.
But Africa can only provide raw materials and there is no decent market.
Because the tribes here basically have little spending power.
Europa is basically an industrial country, and there is competition between them.
The internal market of the country is strictly protected.
Just like the current German Federation, Mr. Iron-Blooded is not only good at diplomacy.
He is also very good at economics.
Under his integration, the North German Federation was divided into functional areas, and then the railways connected these functional areas.
The northern states that were originally relatively independent are now more closely connected.
After such a great division of labor, the German economy has become more dynamic.
At the same time, through a series of tariff agreements, the North German Federation also incorporated some southern Central European states into its own economic system.
However, at this time, Europa's forces have basically been divided.
Mr. Iron-Blooded knew that unless there was another war, Germany would only have so many territories.
Smith hid in Alexandria to avoid the angry Sultan Ali.
Only then did the Sultan realize that he had been tricked by Smith.
The Ottoman Empire did not reach any agreement with the Baath Army at all.
Only the Renaissance Army attacked.
Originally, the Renaissance Army was only planning to occupy the Lakh Ayitu Sultanate, but now, the entire area south of Index La Mountain has been occupied by the Renaissance Army.
As long as the Renaissance Army builds a fortress here, the Egyptian army will no longer be able to go south.
Moreover, after inward migration, the economy of the Red Sea coastal areas has been greatly damaged.
In the end, King Ali Sultan not only lost a protectorate, but also a strategically important place under his jurisdiction.
They even had to pay war reparations.
The defeat in the first battle allowed Ali Sultan to see the true strength of the Renaissance Army.
Although they still have troops in the country, there is no need to waste them with the Renaissance Army.
In that case, they would not be able to resist the Ottoman Empire.
If the Ottomans come in, the arrogant Sultan will definitely not be able to reap the rewards.
And the Renaissance Army has no ambition to go north, at least that's what they say.
Ali Sultan regretted that he had not communicated with the Renaissance Army properly and had lost 50,000 troops for no reason.
In addition, my already stretched money bag became even more depleted.
At this time, King Ali Sultan wanted to eat Consul Smith alive.
But this guy has already gone into hiding in Alexandria.
Half of the current Ali dynasty's tax revenue comes from here.
The city was actually under the control of the Han people.
Even his position must be maintained by the support of the Chinese people.
Forget it, they are all masters that cannot be offended, so just think of paying protection fees.
As the Ming Dynasty signed an armistice treaty with Ali Sultan.
This matter has come to an end.
And negotiations at Plymouth continue.
Regarding the Baath Army's request for an additional 10 million pounds in compensation.
The Great Empire naturally agreed.
At the meeting in Plymouth, the polite-looking Foreign Secretary Russell was already blushing and thick-necked.
"Mr. Wang, this is an act of banditry. The money of the Great Empire did not fall from the sky." Russell patted the table and stood up.
"Mr. Russell, according to what you said, what did you do on the battleship outside Jiangning City twenty years ago?"
"No, this is different. At that time, it was you who started the war, and we were just protecting our normal trade activities."
"Hahaha... Double standards can only target the weak, Mr. Russell. Do you call your opium trade normal trade activities?"
Russell ignored Wang Tao's sarcasm. The faces of these old diplomats had long been trained to be as thick as rhinoceros skin.
"Mr. Wang, there is one more thing I want to correct. Our Great Empire has signed an armistice agreement with you, not a surrender treaty." Russell retorted.
Wang Tao raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said with a sneer: "Oh, really."
The two parties have been fighting at this negotiation table for half a year, and Wang Tao has long been familiar with the other party's tactics.
"Mr. Russell looks down upon me for taking this passenger ship to come to Plymouth to negotiate with you."
"It seems that I should come to Plymouth on the battleship of our Renaissance Army. Do you think that would make our Renaissance Army more sincere?"
"Mr. Wang, please don't be alarmist here. Our Great Empire is absolutely sure to protect our homeland. Your warships cannot reach the Thames River, and there is no alliance under the city." Russell stood up and said confidently.
"Okay, Mr. Russell, can I understand that you are seeing off a guest? I have stayed in Plymouth long enough. To be honest, I have had enough of the weather here. I think I should go back to breathe earlier.
I need some fresh air, otherwise my temper will get worse and worse." Wang Tao stood up and left again.
This time Wang Tao did not stay in Plymouth. He was really leaving this time.
That night, Wang Tao left Plymouth by boat for France.
The news spread quickly.
The entire Da Ying Empire became tense again, as if this time the clouds of war were about to burn into Da Ying's homeland.
Russell was also questioned by the House of Commons.
When the new government came to power, it said it would stop the war.
But when it comes to now, the war is still not over.
Prime Minister Stanley also had troubles that he couldn't express.
They wanted to cease the war, but the conditions given by the Renaissance Army were too harsh.
Anyone who signs it will be a sinner of the Great Empire.
Even though these people are clamoring for an armistice now, they are clamoring so fiercely, but once the contents of the armistice treaty are announced, they will definitely stand up and clamor for the punishment of traitors.
Yes, who wants to be that traitor?
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I'm sorry that I couldn't complete your mission."
"Mr. Russell, you have done a good job. At least for more than half a year, the Renaissance Army has not launched any attacks."
"Prime Minister, I feel that the Renaissance Army will take action this time. They will never give up until they achieve their goals."
"Oh, they are just bluffing stronger than last time. There is no need to worry too much."
"I hope so, but I still hope that the military can make necessary preparations."
"Mr. Russell, I will arrange this. We have not been idle this year. We are not their opponents in the expedition to the East, but if they come to our door, our Great Empire will not be afraid of them."
Prime Minister Stanley seemed less worried than Russell.
He knows a lot more than Russell.
Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty the Queen seems to have been cutting back a lot recently.
The longing for her dead husband has gradually subsided over time. Under the careful care of Attendant Brown, Her Majesty the Queen has regained her second love emotionally.
But the declining power of the Great Empire made her increasingly worried.
I originally thought that the Renaissance Army would simply agree to the armistice agreement, after all, they had already taken advantage of it.
But this damn negotiation has been delayed again and again, and there seems to be no end in sight.
"Dear John, I'm ready to go for a walk." Dressed in a black tutu, Her Majesty the Queen looks like a plump black swan.
She leaned on the sofa in her office and said to her equerry, John Brown.
The relationship between the two has become semi-public, and she no longer looks like a queen in front of Brown, but has shown her own attitude as a mature middle-aged woman.
"Your Majesty, is it because of the Renaissance Army?" Brown asked with concern.
"These Orientals are really greedy. They always put forward some excessive demands. Prime Minister Stanley couldn't lose face, and the negotiations collapsed again. This time these Orientals threatened to continue to use force. The military has once again deployed troops to support the start of the war.
It's gone. Alas!" Her Majesty the Queen said worriedly.
"Your Majesty, I think these Easterners will really attack our homeland. In that case, they will be enemies of the entire Europa. No external force has entered the Europa continent for hundreds of years." John Brown said.
The last time Europa was invaded by an external force was the conquest of the Balkans by the Ottoman Turks.
However, the Ottoman Empire was basically Europeanized.
"So I am going to go to the mainland to meet some friends. The Great Empire is mine, and I have to be responsible for it. This enemy in the east should not be fought by ourselves. It is time for the entire Europe to unite."
"The purpose of my going out this time is to open the eyes of those short-sighted people." Her Majesty the Queen stood up from the sofa, holding her waist with her hands, like a village woman who was about to find someone to quarrel with.
"Your Majesty, let me go with you." John walked to the queen's side and supported her plump waist and said.
Xia Palace and Dong Shuheng also received news of the negotiations immediately.
Wang Tao's withdrawal was a move because Liu Qingbei had already arrived in Europa.
Liu Qingbei was visiting Vienna at this time. He had just gone to see Emperor Joseph and conveyed Dong Shuheng's greetings.
Next, he will go to Prussia to meet this old ally of the Renaissance Army.
Of course, the people of the country also knew the news about Liu Qingbei's arrival in Europe.
So when Wang Tao withdrew the negotiating delegation, Prime Minister Stanley had already thought of the path for the next negotiations.