(0853) The Western powers, of course, meant to tie the Portuguese to the chariots of Europe. Aren't you Portuguese reluctant to send their fleets to war? We're at war on your turf so you can't avoid it. However, the Portuguese are not stupid either. They immediately took the initiative to "lend" the Madeira Islands to the White Clothes Army through secret channels for a period of 9,999 years. After expiration, there is also a priority opportunity to renew the contract.

For this gift sent to the door, the white-clothed army was naturally disrespectful. Xu Xingxia readily agreed. The White Navy needs a good forward base at the outlet to the sea in the Mediterranean, as a bridgehead for operations against Europe. In every respect, Madeira is a great choice. Precisely, the best option.

Madeira is famous for its hairtail fish. The locals didn't know what they thought, but they came up with a way to barbecue the fish and bananas together, and they didn't know what the barbecue tasted like. Madeira is also famous for its wines. In addition, kebabs from Madeira can be up to a meter long. The kebabs are hung from the branches of the laurel tree, which is abundant locally, and the barbecue taste is very unique.

The staple food of the people of Madeira is the famous Madeira cake. It's a very old pastry, it's not pretty on the outside, it's not very delicate on the inside, and it doesn't taste very good. This is understandable. How can the local natives make exquisite cakes? The only benefit of Madeira cake is probably that it is hungry. As long as you eat a small piece, you can last for most of the day. If you pair it with Madeira, the taste is barely acceptable.

If history had not changed dramatically, the last emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Karl I, the famous Empress Sisi of Austria, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill would have come to Madeira to experience life. They will leave behind all kinds of moving legends in Madeira, leaving unlimited imagination for future generations.

However, in 1634, the high-ranking members of the combined fleet of the Western powers did not have the heart to taste the food, let alone experience life in the local area. They must seriously consider what they must do to defeat the White Navy.

In the end, they decided to hold a negotiation with the White Coats Navy.

Of course, negotiation is not the ultimate goal. Negotiation is the means. The Western powers hoped to delay the attack of the White Navy on Europe by such means. They expect that in the process of negotiations, there may be some surprises or something unexpected in the white-coat army and navy.

For example, Xu Xingxia suddenly fell ill and died. At the beginning, the Mongol army slaughtered towards Europe, and the Europeans had almost no way to resist. However, at the most critical moment, Ogedai suddenly died. Other Mongol magnates withdrew their troops in order to compete for power. Europe, thus sparing a catastrophe. The previous Xiongnu expedition to the west, killing countless people, thousands of miles of red land, and finally ended with the death of Attila.

As long as Xu Xingxia is dead, everything will return to the way it was. Although, this may be a very low surname, so low that it is difficult to give confidence. However, it is not non-existent. After all, Xu Xingxia is also a mortal, and he will die. As long as someone is within effective range and quietly gives him a shot, he is finished, and Europe is saved.

...... "Xu Canxu, you go negotiate with the other party!" Zhou Jian said.

"Me?" Xu Canxu felt very strange. The negotiator is actually himself? I really don't know where to start. The white-coat army and navy have never had a dedicated diplomatic staff. Subconsciously, the white-coated army and navy never negotiate with the enemy. A war of words, that's a matter for the Foreign Affairs Division. The Navy, which only knows how to solve problems with shells and steel.

Zhou Jian explained: "This is an order personally issued by the commander of the fleet. ”

Xu Canxu vaguely understood. In the Fourth Fleet, only Chen Zhan knew his true identity. According to Xu Xingxia's explanation, Chen Zhan would not give Xu Canxu any privileges. Everything is up to him. However, as Xu Canxu's direct boss, Chen Zhan will take care of Xu Canxu's growth to a certain extent no matter what. Let Xu Canxu come forward to negotiate with the Western powers, is to hone his negotiation skills.

After all, Xu Canxu has a psychological advantage that others can match. His father, the founder of the White Army, is the supreme leader of the White Army. It is estimated that except for Xu Xingxia who came out in person, it is difficult for others to cause psychological pressure on Xu Canxu. It would be best for him to come forward and grind with the negotiators of the Western powers.

Thinking about this, Xu Canxu nodded and agreed. He then asked, "Okay." May I ask Adjutant Zhou, what is our bottom line? ”

Zhou Jian said: "They are just stalling for time and waiting for the situation to change. We just don't give them a chance. Tell him that if they are sincere, hand over Madeira! Withdraw all the ships! ”

Xu Canxu nodded and said in a deep voice, "Okay." I understand. ”

…… A small boat rowed over, and the envoys of the Western powers arrived. The envoy of the Western powers was a very tall colonel officer. He was wearing a crisp navy uniform, and his appearance was indeed very stylish. He came to Xu Canxu, stood upright, saluted, and said loudly: "I, Apade, the French Navy Colonel, may I ask who Your Excellency is ......?"

Xu Canxu returned the salute and said quietly: "I, Xu Canxu, am a second lieutenant in the Ming Imperial Navy." On the orders of the Fleet Commander, I will be solely responsible for this negotiation. ”

Apaid's face was a little unsightly. He is also an officer with the rank of colonel, and according to the basic principle of reciprocity, the White Navy should send at least one colonel to receive him. However, the white-clothed navy sent out the lowest-ranking officer: the second lieutenant of the navy! I have to say that this is indeed a bit of a disdain for his identity.

Aped said angrily: "Ensign, this is unfair, very unfair! ”

Xu Canxu didn't speak, just looked at him coldly, as if he hadn't heard what Apaid was saying at all. The other white-clothed officers around him also did not say a word, as if Aped was transparent, and the scene was very silent for a while.

Paide had no choice but to say, "I ask for a meeting with your higher-ups. ”

Xu Canxu shook his head and said bluntly: "I'm sorry, you don't have such power. ”

Apid said dissatisfiedly, "You should respect me. I am a representative of negotiations, and negotiations should be based on fairness. ”

Xu Canxu said slowly: "In this case, we had better agree to compete on the sea." Only the victor will win respect. ”

Of course, it was impossible for Apade to agree to Xu Canxu's request. If the problem could be solved by naval warfare, he wouldn't be here. Isn't it because the naval battle is lost, so it is necessary to negotiate and delay time? These damn white-clad navy, they seem to know their purpose! It seems that this negotiation should be quite unpleasant.

At that time, the French navy was actually not very powerful. At least, in front of the British, the Dutch, the Spaniards, the French did not dare to say that their navy was strong. Moreover, the relationship between the French and the British has always been bad. The French navy had been previously contained by the British navy and had little room to come out. They had to wait until Napoleon was born before they had the opportunity to express themselves. Therefore, Epaid has no confidence in naval warfare.

In desperation, Epaid had no choice but to agree to hold a meeting with Xu Canxu. The place where the two met was on the deck. Everyone was standing. According to Xu Canxu, everyone stands and speaks, which is relatively brief, so you don't have to say so much nonsense.

Epside is a typical French surname, a bit too romantic, he doesn't know the importance, even though he knows that the white navy is not friendly to him, he can't help but say: "As a guest, should you treat us to a cup of coffee?" ”

Xu Canxu said: "I'm sorry, we don't drink coffee. ”

Apaid didn't give up, his eyes rolled, and he changed his words and said, "No coffee, no tea." I like your oriental tea the most. ”

Xu Canxu shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, we don't drink tea either." ”

Apid had no choice but to roll his eyes helplessly, look around blankly, and groaned: "As a negotiator, I feel very disappointed......

Xu Canxu sneered and said bluntly: "Mr. Apaid, are you really here to negotiate?" Do you really have the sincerity to negotiate? ”

Aped couldn't help but choke for a while, wanting to say something, but didn't say it.

Why he was sent to negotiate is something that everyone knows. The whites are not fools either, and they certainly will not believe in the sincerity of the negotiations. Since the white-clothed army made it clear, he didn't feel embarrassed. His skin is thick enough that even if a meteor falls from the sky and hits him in the face, it will bounce off. He said with a smile: "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, I think it must be a misunderstanding by your army." We do have good faith in negotiating......"

Xu Canxu said: "Then please ask your army to evacuate Madeira." ”

Apid shook his head and said, "This is impossible, Madeira has always been ......"

Xu Canxu took out the prepared paperwork, unfolded it, and placed it in front of Apaid. It was the agreement of the Portuguese to lease Madeira to the White Army.

Apaid's face suddenly became ugly. This agreement document is really damning. If it's in normal times, no one cares about it at all. To be honest, the Portuguese have no place in Europe at all. Nothing good could happen to him. Now, however, the Portuguese agreement is in the hands of the White Army, and that is another matter.

Xu Canxu said meaningfully: "Dear Mr. Colonel, do you have anything else to say?" If not, go back! ”

Aped had no choice but to say, "No." ”

The talks broke up unhappily. Apaid walked away in a gloomy manner.

…… In the months that followed, the waters off the Madeira archipelago continued to be filled with fighting. The various fleets of the White Army Navy took turns to go into battle, constantly consuming the strength of the Western Combined Fleet through naval battles. And in order to keep Madeira, the Mediterranean, and Europe, the combined Western fleet had to fight hard.

As the backing of the combined fleet of the West, the countries of Europe had to mobilize and spend more military money and produce more warships to supplement the losses on the front. The money in their treasury has become all sorts of warships like flowing water. As a result, their treasury was quickly emptied. I had no choice but to borrow money from other countries.

At the end of 1634, the Western powers again convened a coordination meeting in Paris to discuss how to deal with the White Army. At this meeting, Sweden, Poland and other countries generously donated money and supported a large amount of money from the Netherlands, Britain, Spain, etc. Most of this money ended up being turned into warships and appeared near the Madeira archipelago.

The Western powers built warships like crazy, increasing the number of warships near the Madeira archipelago. However, the more ships they add, the faster they will consume them. The fierce artillery fire of the white-clothed navy made the warships of the Western powers a living target. Almost every day, several Western warships were destroyed.

As for the navy of the White Army, a total of 10 fleets were stationed near Madeira, and the number of warships in each fleet increased from the original 30 to 35. All the additional warships were jumbo warships with a displacement of more than 2,000 tons -- the "Yellow River" class. The appearance of the Yellow River-class warships immediately made the Western powers miserable.

The Yellow River-class battleship with a standard displacement of 2000 tons and a full load displacement of 2200 tons was loaded with twenty-four 75 mm caliber howitzers. Thanks to the use of the latest anti-aircraft gun technology, the rate of fire of the 75-mm howitzer is greatly accelerated. In one minute, more than 12 shells can be fired. In other words, in about five seconds, a shell can be fired. Such a high rate of fire is absolutely a catastrophe for the warships of the Western powers.

Sure enough, in the face of the overwhelming shells of the Yellow River-class battleships, the warships of the Western powers did not have any power to parry at all. Their warship, once it meets the Yellow River-class battleship, will immediately be the result of the ship's destruction and death. No matter what approach they take, they will not be able to change the consequences. For a time, Westerners talked about the discoloration of the Yellow River.

By the end of 1635, the combined fleet of the West was basically consumed. At the beginning of 1636, the combined fleet of the West was forced to evacuate Madeira. Subsequently, the White Navy officially took control of the Madeira archipelago, blocking the gates of the Mediterranean. Subsequently, under the leadership of the Yellow River-class battleship, the white-clothed navy entered the Mediterranean Sea in a mighty way.

However, in 1636, the most eye-catching thing was not the entry of the White Army into the Mediterranean, but the capture of Damascus by the White Army. In this battle, the Ottoman Turks lost more than a million people in the battle. Xu Xingxia's other son, Xu Canhuai, also stepped on the cruel battlefield for the first time.

(To be continued)