My British Empire

  Chapter 545 Benefits

   Regarding this sentence, Drake did not deny that the arrival of the artillery era can be observed with his years of experience in the nautical age.

  The artillery already has relatively perfect technology in England, and has even been mass-produced. Moreover, it is said that the gunpowder has been granulated, and its power has become more powerful.

However, what is prevailing at present is just the old routine: at the beginning, artillery was used to bombard. Due to the low power of the artillery, it was mainly to suppress the enemy's morale and eliminate the living forces, and then approached the enemy ship, boarded the deck, and engaged in melee combat fight.

   This is just a naval battle mode based on the number of people and the size of the ship. Compared with Hawkins, a new type of fast ship equipped with a large number of new artillery, it is too backward.

   If you lag behind, you will be beaten.

  The artillery has reached a large scale, and the scene is terrifying to think about.

Countless cannons, when you want to get close and crush them based on the number of people, they fly together in an instant. The red cannonballs, with the smell of gunpowder, directly hit the enthusiastic sailors who are about to board the ship, breaking open the wooden of ship boards.

  Shattered ship boards, **** corpses, Drake had already envisioned such a scene.

  There were heavy casualties, the ship was flooded, and surrender was the only way out.

"Hawkins, if His Majesty the King doesn't adopt your design, I'd like to help you experiment!" Drake thought about it for a while, thinking about the Magellan who died in a foreign land, and the countless savages and dangers, Ships with more artillery are safer.

   "Oh? Are you interested in this?" Hawkins raised his head in surprise, staring at Drake with piercing eyes, and the surprise in his heart was beyond words.

   You know, this is just a new ship, and it has not withstood any tests. The risk is very high, especially when sailing around the world, the risk is extremely high.

   "Forget about this, it will take several years after you build the ship, I can't wait!"

  Drake smiled awkwardly when he saw Hawkins' half-smile.

  He immediately understood that if he participated, he would be the touchstone, and the danger would be high. It is better not to do such a thing.

   After a few days like this, after the drawing was completed, Hawkins immediately went to see His Majesty the King, hoping to introduce this new type of ship into the United Navy, so as to attract attention.

   At this time, His Majesty the King, who was relaxing in Edinburgh, was admiring the current picture, although he was full of confusion: a liberal arts student, you let me see Mao's picture, it is not as good as text!

   Fortunately, Hawkins took care of the king and explained.

  For example, why are you thin and small, why do you do this, and finally, sum it up in one sentence.

   "Your Majesty, the new type of ship will be lowered, coupled with the Kingdom's new type of artillery, with fast speed and strong firepower, it will occupy the entire English Channel in one fell swoop!"

  As soon as these words came out, His Majesty the King immediately became energetic.

  The English Channel is the most important gate, mastering it, the United Kingdom Navy will remain invincible.

  Closing his eyes, Edward thought for a moment. Shelling battles will be the future of the navy. It is still possible to prepare in advance!

   "Okay, let's build one first and see how good it is!"

   Of course, what Edward didn't know was that in history, such a thin-looking Clipper was the main force that defeated the Spanish Armada.

   However, it is always good to be brave in trying to innovate.

  ...

  Hawkins went to see the king, and Drake started preparing to circumnavigate the world.

  First is the fleet.

  Due to his great reputation, Drake easily recruited the necessary ships and sailors, and the necessary supplies were also well prepared.

  This voyage was not only sponsored by the royal family, but various nobles, officials, and even wealthy London businessmen all generously donated their money to support this lofty ideal.

  Hundreds of sailors were excited to be involved, to be a part of this great operation.

   And merchants, as well as nobles, are eager for new lands, and spices, as well as gold and gems.

  Only the civilians turned a blind eye, no matter how good the consequences were, they would not be able to share any benefits, and they still worked hard day after day to support their families as in the past.

   Everything is ready, Drake is on his way!

   "Look! Those who see us off are all expecting to gain benefits in it, and sailing around the world is just the ultimate goal!"

  Watching the crowds of send-off crowds, although Drake was a little proud, he still didn't forget the real interests involved, and he wouldn't be dazed.

   Now the honor is because, sir? Or robbed the treasure ship? Or the discoverer of Drake Passage?

   It was not the last that he discovered Tierra del Fuego, this huge volcanic island.

  This volcanic island has a lot of sulfur and saltpeter, which greatly eased the gunpowder crisis in the kingdom.

  Even, the royal family set up a company to specialize in the operation of sulfur and saltpeter from Tierra del Fuego for the army, and refused to easily leak it to European countries.

   Especially saltpeter, which is scarce throughout Europe.

  Exported to Europe, the annual profit is not less than 100,000 pounds, and it is also a strategic weapon, and its importance is extremely exaggerated.

  So, this sea trip is driven by his interests. Dreams are just fuel for combustion.

   "Let's go, let's go! The gunpowder is ready, the wine is ready, let's go!"

   His thoughts gradually drifted away, and Drake finally came back to his senses, and the dark crowd gradually became blurred.

   "My lord, Drake has already set off. This time, do you think he can find a new route?"

  A middle-aged man in his thirties looked at the Drake fleet that was gradually going away, and then spoke respectfully to the squinting young man beside him.

"Yes, this Sir, he has a lot of experience. The last time the Hawkins family sponsored him to sail, he obtained the right to sell saltpeter as a result, which was very beneficial. This time, I only hope that I can find someone who is in the same position as Fireland." Islands equally rich in islands!"

  The young man showed a salivating look, and the exaggerated benefits made people willing to give up the so-called reservedness and choose to follow.

   "Father, why did you buy shares in Drake's company? The risk at sea is greater than building a house!"

  Among the crowd, a young man with an expressionless face, with an undisturbed expression on his face, spoke dissatisfiedly to a man with thinning hair who looked like the Mediterranean Sea.

   "In the market, London is short of housing? Although the profit is not as good as maritime trade, it is better than stability!"

   "My son, profit is not my goal, meeting some new friends is what we should do. Look, isn't that the baron you just met yesterday?"

  (end of this chapter)