The commander of Spain's large treasure ship fleet is named Pedro de Silva. It can be seen from his name that he is an aristocratic officer.
His father was the Marquis of Toldoa of the Kingdom of Castile (the main kingdom of Spain and the colonial empire itself), and he was his father's third son. According to European tradition at this time, he entered the military service very early.
, initially in the cavalry unit, but soon transferred to the navy and began a vigorous and prosperous career.
Tordoya is a town in the northwest of the Kingdom of Castile, close to A Coruña, an important town in northwest Spain that became famous for a certain football team in later generations.
However, although the northwest of the Kingdom of Castile is close to the Atlantic Ocean, it is not considered wealthy. At this time, the developed areas of Spain are mainly along the eastern Mediterranean coast (but most of them do not belong to Castile but to the Kingdom of Aragon).
), as well as the central capital area and the port of Serbia in the south), so although the Silva family held the title of marquis, his father did not have much money to give Pedro and could only let him make a living on his own.
The Marquis of Tordoya's support for him mainly lay in "arranging work", and he was appointed as a mayor of the viceroyalty of New Spain, which was located in the eastern part of the island of Cuba later, named Banes.
Pedro's job in Banes is quite comfortable. He is obviously a master there and has his own sea-view "villa" and several Indian mistresses. If it weren't for the fact that the Indian civilians in this town were too poor,
With nothing to gain, he probably wouldn't be interested in returning to the Navy again.
In short, he finally returned to the navy and became a captain of the Great Galen treasure ship on the Atlantic route. As the number of open pirates by the British (those holding Queen Elizabeth's privateering license) increased, the number of treasure ships on the Atlantic route increased.
The team's danger level is increasing day by day.
This aroused the concerns of the Marquis of Toldoa, so with the old man's activities, Pedro was transferred to the "Manila Route" last year as he wished. Under the charm of money, he even became the fleet commander.
This is not easy, after all... It is not only the Shandong officials in the late Ming Dynasty who sent supplies to Liaodong who "floated", the Spaniards who sent silver to Manila also "floated", the difference is that the latter part of the float was larger than that in the late Ming Dynasty
There are far fewer Shandong officials.
"Much less" refers to the ratio, but considering that at least 90% of the goods sent by the Spanish to Manila were silver, this is a big deal. Although the Marquis of Tordoya spent a lot of money on this, who
I found out that I got my money back within one year.
This kind of income also gave Commander Pedro great motivation to work, so much so that after this trip started from Acapulco (a port on the Pacific Ocean in the southern part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, the American starting point of the "Manila Galleon Trade")
, Pedro kept urging "hurry up, hurry up" all the way.
It was precisely because of this mentality that he did not react at first when he found out that the "Left Hussars" was following or even accompanying the ship. After all, when they came to Manila this year, a lot of forces were allocated to the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
Returning to China to participate in the war was delayed for some time. If we didn't act quickly, we might encounter unfavorable wind direction and weather on our return trip.
[Note: To explain the "Manila Galleon Trade", the galleon usually sails north from Manila on the southwest monsoon in June every year, to the waters of 45° to 42° north latitude, and travels eastward along the "Kurotide" in the North Pacific, arriving at
Acapulco Port, a journey of more than 10,000 nautical miles, took about 6 months.
The return journey is a direct flight along the ocean current, which only takes three months. The outbound journey brings silk, porcelain, lacquerware, cotton, ivory, carpets, tea and other commodities from China, India, Persia, Japan and other countries, as well as embroidery, pearls and wood carvings from the Philippines.
They are transported from Manila to the Port of Acapulco in Mexico, sold throughout Mexico and Spanish America, and resold in Spain.
The return trip mainly carried Spanish silver dollars, copper, cocoa, etc. The galleon trade was exclusively operated by the Spanish royal family, so the commander of this large treasure ship fleet was a Spanish naval officer.]
It had been delayed for nearly a month. Although the anxious Commander Pedro did not intend to pay attention to this "Chinese ship", he did not expect that the "Chinese ship" would in turn order him to stop the ship for investigation.
This is obviously absolutely unacceptable, because these ships contain American silver worth up to 1.06 million pesos, which is equivalent to about 850,000 taels of Kuping silver in the Ming Dynasty, as well as some other cargo.
Commander Pedro knew clearly that the Ming Dynasty goods exchanged for 850,000 taels of silver could be sold for about 6.3 million pesos when brought back to Acapulco - yes, six times the profit!
With such a huge amount of wealth, you said that I would cooperate with you to stop the ship for inspection? What if you turned into a pirate? Even if I only lost one ship, I, the commander, would have finished my work! This is not a war.
, loss is an inevitable phenomenon.
As for the high-flying book-sword flag, Commander Pedro does recognize it, and he doesn’t think any pirate company can sail such a standard warship and fly this flag, but what can I say... I’m used to being a colonizer
People who believe that no one looks like a good person, even if they have always looked like a good person, it is just because they think it will be more beneficial to temporarily play the role of a good person.
In Pedro's eyes, there are no good or bad people in this world. As a saying goes, men are loyal only because the price of betrayal is too high, and women are loyal only because the temptation they receive is not strong enough.
So Pedro immediately ordered to expel this damn bright ship. If they dare to fight back, defeat it!
However, the deputy commander of the fleet and the captain of the flagship "San Antonio" Domingo Zabarburu de Echevari raised objections to this order. He said: "Your Excellency, Commander, I think we only need to expel
This daring Chinese ship is fine, and there is no need to engage in direct military conflict with it."
This chapter is not over yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Oh? Captain Echevari, why do you have such an attitude? Do you think we are not strong enough to complete such a task?"
Commander Silva asked.
"No, I am not saying this because I am not considering whether the fleet can complete this order. I just think that we do not have sufficient reasons to do this."
Echevarry said seriously: "Before we set off, the relationship between Castile and England had dropped to a freezing point, and the war had actually broken out. I think our troops might have gone to England at this moment.
Or already on the way to England.
You know, Your Excellency, Commander, with the decree of His Majesty the Pope excommunicating Elizabeth last year, our Catholic King Philip II will definitely respond to His Majesty the Pope's call and launch a holy war against England.
Of course, I fully support your Majesty’s inevitable move. There is no other way to avoid the conflict of faith. There is only one solution to it, and that is war - heretics deserve hell even more than heretics!”
In fact, Echevary mentioned a trigger of the Anglo-Spanish War, or the basic reason for its outbreak.
The origin of the Anglo-Spanish War can be traced back to the first and middle years of this century. At that time, Britain was undergoing a religious reform movement, which overturned the status of Catholicism, then supported the Protestant forces and made it the state religion. The behavior of King Henry VIII of England immediately triggered
This aroused the dissatisfaction of the Holy See, but the King of England did not take it seriously.
In 1534, England passed the "Act of Supremacy". This act stipulated that from now on, the status and authority of the British king would be superior to the church, and he would have the power to appoint clergy. Before this, the appointment power of clergy had always been in Rome.
In the hands of the Pope. Since then, the British Church has no longer submitted to the control of the Roman Pope and has become dependent on the King of England.
In 1558, Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (who restored Catholicism in England), wife of King Philip II of Spain, died. Since she died without an heir, her sister Elizabeth I succeeded to the throne.
In 1560, Philip II used Britain's betrayal of Catholicism as an excuse to interfere in Britain's internal affairs by various means, and even attempted to influence the choice of the British king. At the same time, because the newly crowned British King Elizabeth I vigorously promoted and developed Protestantism, even more
It aroused the dissatisfaction of the Roman Pope and even declared that Elizabeth I's position as King of England was illegal.
While the United Kingdom was vigorously developing Protestantism, it was also exporting Protestantism to the outside world, and its target was the Netherlands (Netherlands). The Netherlands had always been under the control of Spain (inherited by Philip II's father, Charles V).
It is an important source of taxes for the latter. However, starting in 1581, the Netherlands announced its independence from Spanish control and established the United Provinces of the Netherlands.
Essentially, Philip II had a certain legal basis for intervening in England, that is, he was the husband of the former Queen of England and the co-king of the Kingdom of England at that time (although he did not stay in England for a long time, and he did not love Mary when she was alive).
(to deal with British affairs). However, when the British imported Protestantism to the Netherlands after Elizabeth I took the throne, there was really no legal basis, and it could indeed be called a betrayal of Catholicism as Philip II said.
Moreover, the affairs between Spain and the Netherlands should be regarded as "internal affairs" in a sense. Britain's export of Protestantism to the Netherlands, which already believes in Catholicism, will of course intensify the conflict with Spain. Over time, Britain and the Netherlands will
It is not surprising that relations with the Netherlands were getting closer while relations with Spain were getting worse.
A major event also happened during this period. Elizabeth's cousin Mary, Queen of Scots (not Mary I, the wife of Philip II) was recognized by Philip II and the Catholic Church as the orthodox Queen of England because of her Catholic faith.
In 1567, Mary was imprisoned due to the rebellion of the nobles and was forced to give up the throne of Scotland to her youngest son James. After a narrow escape, she quickly fled to England, but was imprisoned by her aunt Elizabeth. From then on, until Mary's death, she lived twenty years
, the enemies of Elizabeth and James still kept planning to push Mary to the throne of Queen of England and Soviet Union.
The conflict of interests became increasingly severe. Britain's privateering activities in the Spanish mainland, the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean (Spain regarded them as pirates) seriously affected the Spanish royal income.
England's transatlantic slave trade - initiated by Sir John Hawkins in 1562 - was supported by Elizabeth, who ignored the Spanish government's accusation that Hawkins's trade in Spanish colonies in the Caribbean constituted smuggling, and further increased Spain's
Britain regarded him as a hostile enemy.
In September 1568, a slave trading expedition led by Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake was attacked by Spain, resulting in the sinking of several ships in Veracruz, Mexico, known as the Battle of San Juan.
This war rapidly deteriorated relations between Britain and Spain. The following year, Britain seized several Spanish treasure ships sent to the Netherlands to support the army. Drake and Hawkins stepped up privateering to break Spain's monopoly on Atlantic trade.
In order to achieve the purpose of promoting Protestantism, Elizabeth provided assistance to the Protestant forces in the French War of Religion and the Dutch Revolution against Spain. At the same time, Philip II vigorously suppressed the spread of Protestantism, funded the Catholic League in the French War, and supported the Irish Revolution.
Second Desmond's War (1579-1583), supporting Irish Catholics against Elizabeth.
In 1585, Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nansage with the Netherlands, agreeing to provide manpower, horses and subsidies. Philip II regarded this as Elizabeth's declaration of war against Spain.
The war actually broke out in 1585. Drake sailed to the West Indies and carried out plundering in Santo Domingo, Cartagena, and St. Augustine, Florida. The British participated in what was later called the "Eighteen Years".
During the Ten Years' War, he stood on the side of the Dutch Protestant Confederation, the Confederation of the Netherlands, which had earlier declared independence from Spanish rule.
Philip II decided to invade England, but the invasion plan was thwarted after Drake blew up 37 Spanish ships in the port of Cadiz in April 1587.
On February 8 of the same year, Elizabeth I executed Mary, Queen of Scots, which angered European Catholics. Her British crown (referring to Mary, Queen of Scots) was transferred to Philip II in accordance with her personal wishes - a simple and rough statement
That is to say, my niece transferred her right to inherit the Queen of England to her uncle.
On July 29, Philip II obtained papal approval and overthrew Elizabeth I's rule in England; at the same time, Pope Pius V issued an edict of annihilation, excommunicated Elizabeth from the church, and arranged for any candidate to take over the British throne.
So this war is actually a war caused by religion and intertwined with interests. However, in Spain, a country with a strong religious atmosphere, when everyone talks about this war, they will always talk about religious factors as if it is the only reason.
Same.
Since the religious factor was brought up, Commander Silva had no choice but to follow his words: "Yes, I recognize your judgment and appreciate your piety... However, this has nothing to do with whether we want to defeat the Chinese warship in front of us.
What does it matter?"
"Your Excellency, Commander, the reason why the Manila galleon trade exists is because it can bring benefits to the kingdom. You must clearly understand this." Echevari paused for a moment and continued: "Well, since
In this way, as a member of the Royal Navy, we need to consider our actions in the interests of the Kingdom at all times.
For example, the other party's ship, although I am also very surprised why it behaves so strangely. After all, we have never had a maritime conflict with them in the past few years - except for the one you know. But now that it is like this
It makes sense for us to respond slightly and force them back, but if a battle really breaks out, I don’t think it is in the interests of the kingdom.”
"Are you worried that the Chinese will not come to the Philippines to trade with us?" Silva shook his head and said: "I don't think so. The Chinese's thirst for silver far exceeds our previous expectations. I don't think they will
To give up so much silver for a small battle."
"You are right, Commander, the Chinese people's thirst for silver is indeed surprising, but in my opinion, I am afraid we still need them more."
Echevary sighed and said: "You are already familiar with things like trade volume and profit, so there is no need for me to explain them again. What I want to say is that the kingdom's war against England may not be decided in a short while.
Win or lose - I mean, even if the Armada defeats the English and the army lands on the English mainland, this battle is far from as simple as we imagined."
"The British have already shown amazing resilience during the Hundred Years' War, and I learned before departure that although our Armada is large enough, it actually only carries 8,000 land soldiers, plus those who can disembark for land battles.
The number of sailors will not exceed 20,000 at most.
Will the English be defeated by 20,000 men? They may suffer some hardships, but with all due respect, it may not be easy to bring England to its knees with less than 20,000 men.”
Silva frowned and said, "We can send additional reinforcements."
"Where does the money come from?" Echevary spread his hands: "Don't you know the financial situation of the kingdom now? This expedition would have been possible if it hadn't been for the generous gift of His Majesty the Pope, who granted us the money from the Catholic Church of Castile.
If China levies that war tax, I'm afraid it won't be able to send troops at all now. And even so, His Majesty the King still owes Genoa a large sum of money again."
Silva said impatiently: "So, you think that we are more short of money than the Chinese now, so even if they provoke the Spanish Navy in this way, we still have to swallow their anger, just so as not to affect this year's profit of nearly 10 million pesos?
Oh, by the way, the royal family collects 20% of the tax, so in fact, what His Majesty the King can get is only two million pesos."
"Is two million pesos still too little?" Echevary urged: "His Majesty the King may not be afraid of losing two million pesos, but I think that even if he is rich all over the world, he is not willing to lose a person who can create two million pesos a year.
Long term business for millions of pesos wealth.”
Silva let out a long breath and said helplessly: "Okay, okay, Captain Echevari, you have convinced me, I have decided..."
"boom!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A series of gunshots interrupted Commander Silva's words. He was startled for a moment, and then roared: "What's going on? Who fired the gun before we were within range?"
The first mate who ran in from outside answered him, making him and Echevarry stunned at the same time: "Report, Your Excellency, Commander, it was the Chinese warship that fired the gun range first!"
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