Chapter 618： Boats can also fight naval battles

After Edward was silent for a long time, he asked another question:

"Princess Marin, do you think that with those big merchant ships alone, could England stop the French from crossing the sea?"

Malin thought about it and replied:

"It should be no problem, after all, the quality of English sailors is much higher than that of the French. So, Your Majesty, do you have any good ideas?"

"I mean ... can I inform London in advance to prepare them for the French invasion?"

"It's not so good. If Henry VII learns that the French are going to invade massively, he must find out the reason. By then, we will be exposed by the actions of the north ..." Marin said hesitantly.

"I know, I mean, we can notify the French at the same time as my army finishes crossing the sea, and also let London know that they are thinking of France's movement ..." Edward said, thinking.

Marin suddenly realized:

"You mean, when we were ready, we deliberately disclosed the information that the French were going to cross to Henry VII. In this way, Henry VII is more fully prepared for the French?"

Edward nodded again and again, saying:

"Yes, that's what it means. Although the big ships are out, the boats in England are also very useful and can be used to intercept French ships!"

"The small boat intercepts the French ship? Can it work?" Marin had some doubts. He had always been a proponent of artillery and cannonism.

"Of course, sailors on a small boat can also grab a hook and jump on a French ship. They can also shoot arrows and throw fire on French ships ..."

In this era, the main methods of naval warfare were nothing more than chopping a boat to help cut down, and shooting arrows at each other. Sometimes, it will throw fire at the other party's ship. After all, the ships of this era were all made of wood, and the torches were dipped in oil on wooden sticks. If the other party did not extinguish in time, it might ignite the other party's ship. Although, this chance is very small.

There are many sailors in England, the balance on the boat is very good, and the jumper has an advantage in cutting. After all, an infantry, swaying from side to side on the ship, may not be able to exert all the fighting power. The veteran sailor, on the ship, is on the ground, able to defeat enemies that can't be beaten on land.

As for shooting arrows at each other? This is the strength of the English. The English national archery is generally higher than that of France, and it is very advantageous during the naval battle. This is one of the important reasons why the French can't beat England in traditional naval warfare ...

After thinking about it, Marin suddenly realized ...

Those lagging naval warfare methods that he did not look down upon were still the mainstream tactics in Europe at this time. As for the artillery battle at sea, only Marin fought once in Jutland. However, that is not replicable.

Why? Because European artillery is now mainly made of copper, and the price of copper is so expensive, not many countries can afford a large number of copper guns. That is to say, Marin can only equip a large number of cast iron guns.

Not only that, platoon tactics also consume gunpowder. European saltpeter is so scarce, who can get so much gunpowder to let naval guns bombard? Just like Marin's fleet, he fought a Jutland battle, but the gunpowder cost more than half, and he was distressed to death. This is still the reason why Marin sent people to buy Indian saltpeter. As for other countries, let's save it ...

Right now, the fleets of Marin and the fleets of Spain and Portugal are generally equipped with naval guns. Other countries are still basically in the era of traditional naval warfare. This is mainly due to the fact that Portugal and Spain have also opened Indian routes, and they have also purchased a lot of saltpetre there. This is also part of the reason why Amerigo went to India to purchase saltpetre.

In the UK and France, the Kirk sailboat is now popular. This kind of sailing ship is the main sailing ship of the Hanseatic League, and it is also the most popular sea ship in Britain and France. If the two countries are at sea, it must be a contest between Kirk sailing ships.

The British navy really began to promote the cannon giant ship, and also got the Henry VIII period, and it was the middle and late period of Henry VIII's reign. Because Henry VIII confiscated a large amount of Catholic church assets through the Reformation, so that he could make so many warships. From the time of Henry VIII, the United Kingdom was considered to have a full-time warship, rather than relying on recruiting merchant ships from the private sector to participate in the war.

But for now, Britain still relies on private merchant ships to join the war, as does France. But the difference between the two countries is that there are more and better English sailors. Moreover, since the era of Edward III, England has promoted archery for all people, making England a great number of archery masters.

In traditional naval battles, archery is very important. It can not only kill the opponent's sailors and shipborne soldiers in large quantities, but also burn the opponent's ships by shooting rockets. Among them, the most commonly used tactic is to shoot the sails of enemy ships with rockets. Because the sails are high and they are cloth, which is easier to burn than the hull. Once caught on fire, it is difficult to save because of the high position. If the sail is burnt, the ship loses its power and can only stop on the sea and wait for beating and shooting by the enemy ...

There are many masters of archery in England. Even among sailors, there are also many masters of archery. Therefore, even if the boat is dispatched, it can also pose a huge threat to the French Kirk sailing boat. Therefore, Edward suggested that Henry VII should be notified at an appropriate time so that he could have enough time to recruit more boats to the war. Coupled with the large ship that was originally pulled out and returned, the confidence in eliminating the French fleet is even greater ...

...

"It's just ... how can we inform Henry VII that the French are about to invade?" Edward said angrily.

"This ... I have a way!" After thinking about it, Marin took it all in.

Why did Marin take this over? Because he really has a way. Of course, instead of directly informing Henry VII, it was a spy inserted in the French king ’s palace through England ...

Henry VII was a man of great intentions and was hostile to France. Therefore, he must have put the British eyeliner on France. Moreover, there was a man who also mixed into the palace. Of course, it is not a heavy minister, but an ordinary clerk.

Speaking of which, Marin found this English agent named O'Connor very coincidentally. Moreover, it was discovered that this person was secretly talked about in Britain, and was a fat brother.

How did the Fat Brothers discover that O'Connor was an English spy? This incident had to be discovered by accident when Marin ordered the Fat Brothers to explore the location of the secret letter between France and the Principality of Geddes.

The fat brothers intoxicated many clerk in the palace by inviting people to eat and drink. Among them is O'Connor, an English spy. After O'Connor was drunk, the fat brother did not ask from him where the secret letter of France and the Duchy of Geddes, but accidentally discovered the fact that the man could speak English.

Then, a suspicious investigation of the Paris branch of the North Sea Chamber of Commerce quietly revealed that this guy turned out to be an agent in England. Moreover, lurking in France for more than ten years.

Of course, Marin did not pay much attention to this information before. Because it is not the business of the English to plant spies in the French court. But now, this guy can use it ...

how to use? Of course, when sending a letter to France, it was deliberately disclosed to this person to know ...

Of course, the intelligence of Marin and Edward's coalition forces in northern England cannot be disclosed to this guy. However, the French wanted to gather information on the fleet to prepare to cross the English Channel, but they could deliberately disclose it to him.

Then, O'Connor will surely send the intelligence back to London. In this way, Henry VII had the time to recruit boats from various ports to intercept the French fleet in the English Channel. Although a little hasty, with the return of the merchant ship that was opened, plus those small boats, it was no problem to defeat the French fleet ...

Passing the news through O'Connor, although a little troublesome, is more secure. Why? Because if Marin sent someone directly to London to inform Henry VII, Henry VII may not believe it. If he sends someone to investigate and verify, after the investigation is over, the French fleet will come over and it will waste time.

But O'Connor is different. He is a senior spy that Henry VII inserted into the French king's palace. The information he sent back will definitely be taken seriously. Henry VII will also make timely arrangements based on intelligence. Only in this way can England be able to defeat the French fleet steadily, or even eliminate it. Only after the French fleet is finished, will Edward's rule in England be stabilized, and when Marin takes over, it will be more secure ...

what? You said Edward might die later than Marin? This is impossible. Because, until Edward stabilizes the situation in England, he is useless. It happened that Edward also offended the French. At that time, as long as someone is sent to kill Edward, it can also be pushed to the French, or the remnants of Henry VII ...

Anyway, Marin intends to kill Edward's great aristocracy in the name of Edward. And those big nobles are deeply rooted, even if they are eradicated ~ www.novelhall.com ~ will inevitably have remnants. Perhaps, without Marin's hands, those remnants could assassinate Edward. Moreover, it is quite reasonable to let those remnants carry the pot. After all, the genocide is an endless death ...

...

In addition, the timing of passing information through O'Connor is also important. Marin intends to reveal the intelligence to the French when they send people to scout along the coast of England.

O'Connor is an ordinary clerk outside the French King's Palace. It is impossible to know the military secrets of the core of France. He can only rely on Marin to tell him.

When the French sent people to explore along the coast of England, it was when the merchant ships of England that had been opened had not yet returned. At that time, the big ships did not return, and the boats did not gather, and the south coast of England must have looked empty.

During this time period, O'Connor sent the intelligence back and informed Henry VII-the big ships were intentionally opened by the French ... Then, Henry VII was frightened and must desperately called for the English boat. But when he called the boat, the French spies had already returned. When France gathered a good fleet to kill, it happened to meet the returning English merchant ship, and the boats urgently called by Henry VII ... In the context of traditional naval warfare, those boats can also exert great fighting power. Of course, the premise is to fight a traditional naval battle ...