The situation on the ground is indeed more severe.

"On December 25 of the previous year (1636), two pirate ships attacked a group of coal carriers traveling between Zhenhai Fort and Dongfang Port, causing the sinking of two 60-ton coastal coal carriers, not only losing 80 tons of refined coal, but also causing casualties to 10 sailors."

"On the 1st of this month (January 1637), the armed merchant ship "Merchant" between Orient Port and Colonia was attacked by two ships of unknown nationality. ”

"On the 10th of this month, the port of Rocha was shelled by three frigates."

"On the 12th, while the naval battleships went to sea to escort the ship, five warships of unknown nationality intended to enter the Yazi Lake waterway, but were repelled by the Zhenhai Fort shore defense battery."

In the Joint Staff Headquarters, Ding Yiyu, a first staff officer and lieutenant of the Admiralty, was making a report to the military bigwigs and members of the Central Executive Committee. Recently, a large number of ships of unknown nationality and identity have appeared in the coastal zone, attacking ships on the east coast with transport tasks and attacking coastal port facilities with the intention of landing.

At present, the Navy's No. 1 Escort Detachment has only two warships, the battleship "10 August" and the frigate "Beagle," which are obviously insufficient. One moment there was a warning, and the next moment there were enemy ships there, and two ships were exhausted. In order to reverse this dilemma, the Admiralty had to establish a regular, fixed-point convoy escort system, mainly to protect the safety of coal carriers from Zhenhaibao to Dongfang Harbor.

However, the ships of other countries that came to trade were not so lucky. In the past few years, the migrant ships and trading ships that have been in an endless stream have gradually disappeared under the continuous harassment of "pirates", and their disappearance has brought great difficulties to the east coast. The first is that the source of the immigrant population has suddenly decreased by about half. The second is a sharp decrease in the import of strategic materials such as flax, metals, gunpowder, timber, and high-quality coal, which are urgently needed in the country. Besides. The shortage of candles, spices, cane sugar, cocoa, coffee, dyes and other daily necessities is closely related to people's daily life.

Naval strength is limited. Now they have no regard for their own affairs, and can only try their best to protect the safety of their own ships and the smooth passage of various waterways, as for the trading ships of other countries, they can only ask for more blessings.

"That's the offshore security situation in the past month." Lieutenant Ding Yiyu closed the document at hand, and then concluded: "In general, the situation has deteriorated very quickly. Most of the pirates were judged to be British, and a small number were Dutch and Spaniards who followed and robbed. On New Year's Day, the battleship '10 August' rescued several British transport boats floating at sea due to the sinking of their ships off the coast of Rocha Harbor. According to the confessions of the captured British sailors, they were all instigated or hired by the East India Company, the Virginia Company, and the Merchant Adventure Company to attack our ships or ports. ”

"In other words, there is no official British government in charge of this matter?" Judicial Councilor Bai Siwen leaned back in his chair and asked.

"So to speak." Ding Yiyu said with certainty, "In fact, at present, the British government has no extra energy to meddle in the affairs of the South Atlantic. Moreover, King Charles I was strained with the Scots by appointing Lauder, an old subordinate of the former Duke of Buckingham, as Bishop of Canterbury, and the two sides could go to war at any time. At present, Britain is desperately short of military spending, and the king is at odds with Parliament, it is hard to imagine that at this time they will send a navy far more expensive than the army to the South Atlantic to conquer a strange country. ”

"So, the enemy that is currently roaming our coasts and on our routes are the ships of those companies?" Bai Sven was visibly relieved to hear that the British government had not intervened. "These companies, despite their deep pockets, are sending so many ships at once to disrupt our ports and lines of communication. They won't be able to bear it for a long time. Will they not be able to hold it up and go back? ”

"If you don't beat the British, it hurts his heart, do you expect him to take the initiative to retract?" Peng Zhicheng sneered at Bai Siwen over there with a black face, and then continued to strike mercilessly: "What is the fundamental contradiction between these big British companies and us? Is it really because we robbed them of a few boats? Naïve, naïve! For colonial companies like the Virginia Company and the Massachusetts Bay Company, which have colonies, self-government, and basic industries in North America, our Eastern Coast Republic is at least a commercial competitor to compete for dominance in the New World, otherwise you think they would be so hard at work against us? ”

Peng Zhicheng's words made Bai Siwen, a former literary and artistic young man who was born as a lawyer, his face red and white.

"As for the East India Company and the Merchant Adventure Company, it's even more obvious." Peng Zhicheng sneered: "We robbed their market. We have made lucrative woolen wool into cabbage prices, we have driven Indian cotton out of many markets, and we have dealt a blow to the fledgling and embryonic cotton textile industry in Britain. If we don't try our best in this way, then these two companies will simply close their doors. Do you know what irreconcilable contradictions are? That's it! There is no possibility of reconciliation, and unless one side makes concessions, the final conflict can only be resolved through intense violence. ”

Peng Zhicheng's words made everyone's hearts heavy. Yes, this kind of non-stop competition is the most troublesome. There are so many mature markets: France, the Holy Roman Empire, Northern Europe, Russia, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Italian states, Spain, and the pagan Ottoman Empire, a market of more than 100 million people, the East Coast Republic has only captured a little more than two percent of the population, and the British are already in a rage.

"What is the Admiralty's current countermeasures?" Prime Minister Ma Jia looked at Peng Zhicheng, who had a big mouth, and couldn't help but feel a headache, and then simply asked Wang Qinian.

When Peng Zhicheng spoke just now, Wang Qinian, who had always kept a low profile, was finally pulled to the front desk by the vest and had to speak.

"At the moment, the strength of the Navy is limited." Wang Qinian's first sentence made the bigwigs frown, "I'm afraid that the 'Free Trade' battleship in the Dayuhe Naval Shipyard will take another year to complete, and the current trade is cut off, Brazilian rosewood cannot be imported, and the completion date is likely to be delayed." However, the two 'Yangwu'-class fast cruisers built in the Zhenhai Shipyard will be completed in more than two months, and our predicament may be slightly alleviated by then. ”

"I asked you what the Admiralty is doing now, and how do you try to talk to me about useless things." The anger of the vest came up a little, he glared at Wang Qinian, raised his voice and asked.

Prime Minister Ma Cannon is still a little majestic in front of everyone. So Wang Qinian had to answer with a bitter face: "We ...... The Navy's short-term countermeasures can be summed up in a twelve-character policy: calmly observe, deal with it calmly, and make a difference. ”

"How do you understand that?" Ma Jia chased after him and continued to ask, "Now that the country's economy is in some difficulties, it is precisely when you need your navy to stand up and solve problems for the country, you can't give me a sloppy look." If you can't say one, two, or three today, I will discuss with Chairman Ma to convene a plenary meeting and pluck you! ”

Everyone in the room didn't seem to hear Ma Dacang's terrifying words about a member of the Central Committee, and they looked at the notebook in front of them intently, making a contemplative gesture.

Speaking of which, Wang Qinian had no room to turn around, so he cleared his throat and said: "'Calm observation' means to carefully confirm the enemy's strength, combat determination, logistics supply base, international situation, and a series of other issues. As for 'making a difference,' the First Escort Detachment of our Admiralty and other Escort Squadrons will carry out a large-scale operation after returning to sea to weaken the enemy's will to fight and shake their determination to fight. ”

"Large-scale operations? What is the goal? How far do you want to stop? ”

"The target is the areas where these UK companies have a significant business interest. For example, the islands in the Caribbean, the North American colonies, the West African trading post, the eastern trade routes, etc., these places are the lifeblood of these large companies, and once they are destroyed or controlled by us, they will know how painful it is. Only then will they calmly think about whether or not to adjust their hostile policy toward us. It is only at this time that there is a slight basis for peace talks between the two sides. Wang Qinian looked around at the people in the room, and then slowly said this extremely aggressive plan.

"How sure are you?" Ma Qianzu, chairman of the executive committee, who had not spoken, finally spoke.

"Two battleships, two fast cruisers, and two frigates poured out and went straight to the British stronghold, with the primary goal of killing and wounding and destroying facilities, fast in and out, and quickly retreat before the British reacted, in order to achieve our strategic objectives." Wang Qinian said.

"Execution can be considered. The Admiralty quickly drew up a detailed plan and submitted it to the Executive Committee for discussion. After Ma Ganzu was silent for a long time, he expressed his opinion in a decisive manner.

After Ma Ganzu agreed, Xiao Bailang and others also echoed, and the Prime Minister Ma Jia frowned imperceptibly. (To be continued......)

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