From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 814

Finally, they set off again.

The fleet of Chaozhou merchants set off again to the southwest. They will sail a long distance and dock in Annan. Through the dumping network established over the years, they will dump all the materials of dozens of large ships.

After two years of obstacles, the people there have been hungry for food, and there is no worry about not being able to sell.

The soldiers of the navy will go with them to protect the safety of the most important materials in Fujian and Guangdong provinces.

It may be two months later when they come back.

"Two months is enough time for a lot of things to happen."

On the Henggao ship, Zhou Yuan chuckled and said slowly: "At least I can guarantee that by that time, McPherson will no longer be qualified to stir up trouble in the South China Sea. Our policy of opening the sea should start."

Li Yu'an blinked and said: "Are you already planning to open the sea? Are you so sure? Even if you deal with McPherson, there is still the Netherlands."

Zhou Yuan said: "The Netherlands has Dongfan Island to defend and cannot block our coastline. With cruisers escorting, export trade will be no problem."

"And the initial export, we will be like this time. Generally, send out navy soldiers to follow. "

Li Yu'an said: "So, how to deal with McPherson?"

Zhou Yuan said: "You should ask, how long can I defeat McPherson? Well, I won't keep you in suspense about this question. I'll be frank: half a month."

"It only takes fifteen days. I am confident that I can destroy McPherson's warships."

Li Yu'an smiled and said: "It seems that you already know where they are going. I remember... on the day when you received the news from the Fuzhou dock, you asked Guan Lu to order the Hengli and Hengshi ships to be sent out. Yes, there are also the Zizun and Ziqiang ships."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said: "If you don't plan for the overall situation, you are not qualified to plan for a region. To deal with an old fox like McPherson, if the difference in strength is not big, it will never be possible to annihilate him at once, unless we are willing to pay the same price."

"So I don't think he will lose the battle of Macau. I'm just constantly digging holes for him."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Sister Virgin Mary, in fact, even if there was no battle, McPherson would not follow the Chaozhou merchants to Southeast Asia."

"The ship is full of supplies and people. It is impossible for him to sail for such a long time. This is not in line with his usual cautious style."

"When he planned to give up When he arrived at Haojing, he might have thought of a way out. "

"I chased him for 800 miles and smashed his ship into pieces, just to force him not to have other thoughts and to do it according to the original plan honestly."

Li Yu'an couldn't help laughing and said, "So, where is the real decisive battle?"

Zhou Yuan looked up and looked at the way he came. He slowly said, "East! To the east, the most complicated place is where we will fight the real decisive battle."

Li Yu'an hated him for keeping him in suspense. If she hadn't seen the warships coming over and people boarding, she would have made him breathless.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, we are here!"

Six young men including Bai Yu, Yi Sanshi, Yuan Zhiming, Xia Jianghe, Wu Shang, and Kong Liyan boarded the ship and came over excitedly to salute.

Taking the opportunity, Li Yu'an quietly hid the peanuts she had peeled.

The deck had been cleared, and a coffee table and cushions were placed on it. It was morning, the sun was shining, and it wasn’t too hot.

Zhou Yuan sat down and waved his hand, saying, "Let's sit down and talk. Don't be polite. Just say whatever you feel."

Yi Sanshi was obviously the most excited. He saluted and sat down, saying excitedly, "Naval warfare is completely different from land warfare. On the sea, it depends more on equipment, especially the size of the ship, the number of artillery, and the power of the weapons."

"In terms of personnel, personal bravery is no longer useful. What is more important is the cooperation between crew members and the decision-making ability of officials."

"I have seen the firing process of the Portuguese cannon up close. Three people are responsible for the operation of a cannon. How to clean the barrel after firing the shell, how to fill the gunpowder, fill the shell, fix the gun body, and ignite and fire again, this series of procedures, at least fifty breaths."

"But if you become proficient in the operation, the speed can be accelerated. The essence of naval warfare is a duel of weapons and a game of strategy."

Zhou Yuan nodded when he heard this. It is rare to have so many insights after a real battle. This Yi Sanshi is indeed a good seedling.

Bai Yu smiled bitterly and said, "I don't have as many insights as Brother Yi. I just think it's very exciting and thrilling. The huge sound of the cannon seems to be enough to drown out everything."

Xia Jianghe scratched his head and said, "My feelings are similar to Brother Bai Yu's. It's exciting and deafening. Equipment determines the outcome of the war."

Wu Shang and Kong Liyan looked at each other and couldn't help but lower their heads.

The two of them didn't have any feelings, and even felt a little bit out of place, just feeling danger and fear.

After this battle, they really realized that they might not belong to the sea, and they didn't have such talent.

Zhou Yuan saw that the moods of several people were different, and slowly said: "You all want to go south, and I brought you all here. Facing the same thing, everyone has different feelings, which is normal."

"If you can find the path you really want to take here, it will be worth the trip."

From June 27th, we returned to Fuzhou Baochuan Factory. The speed against the wind was much slower, and it took a full six days.

On July 3rd, we arrived at the inner bay of Xinghua Prefecture. After getting off the ship, Guan Lu was already waiting.

"He arrived late at night the day before yesterday. He didn't go anywhere. He just visited the Baochuan Factory and exchanged shipbuilding technology with Mr. Burton and others."

"I heard that the master was back, so I went to my room to change clothes. I guess he will be here soon."

Guan Lu said as he handed out a letter, saying, "The news from Li He, they can't hold it back any longer."

Zhou Yuan walked forward while reading the letter, then frowned and said, "Reply and ask him to be ready. The tentative date is July 12."

"Based on the actual situation, this time may be revised. Shenque should be ready to deliver news at any time."

"In addition..."

He looked at Guan Lu and frowned, "Haven't you found any news about Ye Qingying yet?"

Guan Lu smiled bitterly and said, "Even the Inner Court doesn't know where Miss Ye went. They only know that she appeared in Fuzhou Prefecture. After that, She disappeared completely."

"But the good news is that before she disappeared, she took away two pigeons from the Inner Court."

"Maybe at a critical moment, she will send a message."

Zhou Yuan raised his eyebrows and said, "I am afraid that something will happen to her. She always goes to the most dangerous places alone, and she is eager to prove something. If something happens, she will regret it."

"How are Ningyue and the others now?"

Guan Lu said, "They live in the manor in Fuzhou Prefecture and are quite happy. It is said that they are studying some so-called arithmetic problems recently."

"In addition, Madam Qu is not idle. She met a Chaozhou merchant family these days and seems to be doing some big business."

Zhou Yuan doesn't care about this. Anyway, Qu Ling has never been idle. It's good for her to do business. When she is short of money, she can ask her for it.

Just as he thought of this, a figure hurried over. Seeing Zhou Yuan, he half-knelt down and clasped his fists, saying, "I pay my respects to the Marshal!"

Zhou Yuan looked at him and smiled slowly, "General Ding, please stand up. You have worked hard all the way."

Ding Yuan raised his head, and the two naval commanders looked at each other. At this moment, they seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding.