Chapter 295

Kingston, January 4, 1780.

After leaving the old and welcoming the new, Lorraine and his sailors took the Cyclops around to Royal harbor.

Although it has been decided to officially enter the pirate world and declare war on cotton jack, neither Lorraine nor his sailors pay much attention to it.

Times are different after all.

The so-called great pirates have long been lost in their golden age, and the current pirates are far from the navies of the world powers in terms of strength and level.

Lorraine and his golden deer had gambled on life and death at sea with the French who were second only to the Royal Navy.

The battle of Le Robel let them experience the world's top maritime strength, and let them see their own strength.

With this experience without mixing water and the ensuing self-confidence, Lorraine dared to grow up in the coming war.

Drake chamber of commerce is mainly focused on business expansion.

The northwest European chapter will not join the war, and the main force of the Caribbean chapter will not shift to confrontation.

The center of gravity of the General Chamber of commerce is still inclined to the lucrative smuggling. After the fleet is merged, most sailors will get off the ship at the crow's nest, leaving only Haina, Noah and acharin with the ship. Wang Ye and the Cyclops will also go north to Boston at that time.

So Lorraine took Dylan, hill and Bator this time.

In his plan, the next pirate king battle will take the golden deer as the flagship, the Lorraine division fleet commander will also serve as the captain of the golden deer, Haina will be at the helm and the acharins gun.

Noah recuperates the sailors' psychology and serves as a high-end combat force. Dylan is in charge of the second officer and commands the navigation. Hill is responsible for the lookout. Bartos is the boatswain and also leads the Stormtrooper.

As for the wing ship, Alves presided over the Eros, Leonard served as deputy commander, and was also in charge of the three eyed crow.

Although the overall arrangement was somewhat short of personnel, with a large proportion of long-term sailors in the fleet, it was enough to give full play to the potential of the golden deer in navigation and combat, and to form a tacit understanding with the two wing ships.

In the captain's room, Lorraine designed the battle formation and standard changes of the fleet, and suddenly felt a slight shock under his feet.

"Have you entered Hong Kong?"

He put down his pen, opened the door and stretched himself in the winter sun.

Royal harbor is being expanded.

The wide seawall is full of berthing ships in the west, while the sea in the East is empty. The Cyclops happens to be parked at the junction of dense and sparse. Looking left and right, it is a wonderful feeling of being in the center of the world.

The situation on shore is not much worse.

The dockers in the West sweat like rain, pushing trucks and carrying goods; The dockers in the East were sweating, pushing gravel and carrying logs.

Unexpectedly, Lorraine saw a familiar figure among the construction workers, Nelson.

The young captain of the Navy, dressed in his new uniform, was discussing something fiercely with his colleagues on the high platform. He poked his finger and really wanted to break the drawing on the table.

"Is this fate?"

Lorraine smashed his mouth strangely, told the sailors to meet in the chamber of Commerce bunker where the golden deer was parked, got off the ship alone in advance, and wandered all the way to the high platform.

"Nelson... Colonel, you're all right."

Nelson turned his head in surprise: "Drake! Damn it, did you escape from the Mayan curse?"

……

After a while, Lorraine followed Nelson to a cafe near the wharf.

They sat opposite each other and ordered their orders. Lorraine smiled, looked at Nelson's new uniform, knocked his finger on the table and said softly, "I'm really happy to see you get your wish."

"You see?" Nelson scratched his nose shyly. "In fact, the appointment came down at the end of June, but I didn't officially accept the title until August. After receiving the title, I went to Luxi to find you, but your beautiful housekeeper told me that you went to Amazon again."

"Sorry, I'm a restless man." Lorraine shrugged.

Here comes the coffee.

Jamaica is the hometown of coffee. Even unknown cafes on the street have excellent coffee beans. The dense heat wafts out a refreshing fragrance. It makes people feel relaxed and happy with just one breath.

Lorraine stirred the coffee: "Why are you directing the project? Did the Jazz transfer you back to shore because of the promotion of the rank?"

"Jazz will not make such an unpleasant transfer." Nelson laughed. "The Colonel's rank is not suitable for the frigate, so I was transferred from the badger. The new ship is HMS Hinchinbrook, a cruiser that has just been downgraded from the old class III. however, due to large-scale transformation, she has just completed the local sea trial. If she wants to arrive at Royal port, it is estimated that it will take next month."

"A class IV ship... It doesn't sound as good as the badger." Lorraine thought of the Vulcan mountain and secretly deflated his mouth. "Why don't you let the Jazz pick a new class V for you?"

"Sir, the old class III is the only way to command battleships. If I want to be the commander of battleships, I must first be familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of this old ship."

"Old school thinking..." Lorraine criticized impolitely. "Can xinqinbrooke do it? The old warship of this design can only make the commander's mind bound by the old battle line, and nothing else can do."

"Even if we all know this... But tradition is tradition. We have no choice but to accept it."

The atmosphere of the conversation dropped. Lorraine and Nelson drank coffee and felt a little unbearable.

They spoke almost at the same time.

"I said..."

"Wait until..."

They looked at each other and smiled.

Lorraine waved his hand: "you first."

Nelson nodded his thanks: "I want to say that when Hinchinbrook arrives in Hong Kong, I want to fight for the patrol of the mosquito coast again."

"Mosquito coast? Central America? The sea situation in the Gulf of Mexico is still dominated by the Spanish? Do you think the Royal Navy is ready to attack Spain?"

"This is related to the new order of the sea pursued by jazz!" Nelson's voice was full of confidence. "After the battle of the Windward Islands, France has lost the ability and qualification to challenge the Royal Navy independently. Only the Spaniards are left to rely on. Spain is a bad dog to watch the house. They will not risk being used by France except in the Gulf of Mexico."

"Fight Spain in the Spaniard's backyard?" Lorraine frowned. "I don't think Jazz will have much will."

Nelson looked a little depressed and distressed.

"I know, but that is the most likely sea area for a decisive war in the new world. I can only wait there if I want to get meritorious service."

"What about North America?"

"Mainland sub fleet?" Nelson murmured, "your brother's tactics have great restrictions on his subordinates. If possible, I don't think of his command. The second formation in Newfoundland is more free, but there are no conditions for war in the north, and the governor of the second formation is also an old school Officer..."

"To be free, to be meritorious, isn't it?" Lorraine grinned with kindness.

Nelson nodded his head without hesitation: "I hope the Admiralty can see my ability to command formation and even fleet, otherwise my army will stop here. It is almost impossible to be promoted to general."

"Then you can only take the initiative... If not at sea, how about land?"

"You mean taking the initiative to increase regional friction?"

"The risk of taking the initiative is too great." Lorraine smiled and waved his hand. "I mean colonial disputes, such as attacking the Spanish colony in Central America, which is not under the control of the jazz, but the right of the governor of Jamaica. But Jamaica is an island. If you want to do this, you must need the assistance of the navy to land, so your opportunity comes."

"The class IV ship is a good flagship of the formation and has sufficient carrying capacity. It can carry several ships to transport the landing forces and provide some support. Even if you have a good relationship with the governor, you can also take into account the responsibilities of the land commander."

"It's also a feat to open up territory for his majesty, but the friction in the British and western regions has intensified, and you who are familiar with the Spanish will also be trusted by the jazz. Isn't this the best of both worlds?"

Nelson's eyes brightened: "will you continue to help me then?"

"It depends on the timing of your launch." Lorraine smiled awkwardly. "I just wanted to tell you that I came to Kingston this time to take the fleet north to tortoise island and declare war on a famous pirate king..."