Chapter 1148 Battle of Ming Law

Does Ming Dynasty envy France?
Isn't this talking nonsense?
Even in orthodox history, before the 18th century, the center of the world economy was still in the East.
Most of the world's wealth is still in the hands of ** and Mughal, two major countries.
Westerners did not immediately become prosperous with industrialization **, and even before the Opium War, Easterners generally had more money than Westerners.
Not to mention, in this era, Zhang Fan has been reforming for more than twenty years, and the Ming economy has begun to fully expand.
The Duke of Kong quickly assembled the power of the French nobility, organized an army, and even mobilized the French Navy.
And send someone to London to pass on the message to Cromwell, tell those British, it's better not to shelter those Easterners.
Around April 20th, a French army of about 30,000 recruited by the noble forces arrived in Normandy.
On April 22nd, a sunny afternoon, 9 French warships appeared near Normandy.
In fact, Prince Kongdai absolutely does not simply dislike Easterners.
He is not a person of high moral character, nor is he the so-called Great Francism.
He just wanted to use the pretext of going to war with the Ming army to gather his own army.
The actions of all parties, ultimately, are politically motivated, and none of them are foolish.
When the gentlemen in London learned that France had declared war on the Ming army, they couldn't stop smiling.
Especially Admirals Robert Clayre and George Monck, these two hawks had a very arrogant attitude towards the Ming army.
Now France has taken the lead in starting a war against the Ming Army, which is clearly in the interests of the British.
George Monck said, "Let them fight, preferably resulting in mutual destruction."
As long as France is weakened, Britain can take advantage of the opportunity to expand its influence on the European continent, which has always been the dream of the British.
On the morning of April 23rd, right after finishing breakfast, Zheng Chenggong received news that the French navy is approaching this area.
"How many warships have they brought?"
"General Zheng, they have brought nine warships."
"Nine warships?" Zheng Chenggong was greatly surprised. "Are they really only nine warships?"
"Absolutely true."
Zheng Chenggong didn't dare to underestimate the enemy. After all, this was someone else's territory. These nine warships might be a ploy to deceive him.
He said, "Spread the order, all warships must not leave the main fleet without permission, concentrate firepower for battle."
"Yes!"
Zheng Chenggong's move was to prevent the enemy's tricks, but little did he know that the enemy only had nine ships.
Why is it said that the nobles cannot fight wars?
The noble gentlemen indulge in a lavish lifestyle, and their understanding of war remains at the level of romanticism, with no knowledge of the various details of combat.
In French history, those who were truly capable of fighting were not from noble backgrounds.
Even figures like Napoleon were only from humble aristocratic backgrounds.
Those who were ruthless in war were definitely tempered in cruel environments.
Zheng Chenggong looked forward through the telescope, and there were waves and winds at that time. A faint shadow appeared on the sea surface, it was the French navy.
France is a strong land power, but in terms of navy, it is far less powerful than the Netherlands, the previous Spain, Portugal, and even England.
But in the eyes of those "naive and romantic" French aristocrats, the nine French warships were more than enough to teach those Eastern savages a lesson.
In fact, these nine French warships also cherished this opportunity very much, after all, they didn't have too many chances to show themselves in the past, as most of France's financial expenditure was on the army.
Now the Navy finally has a chance to show off, and everyone naturally wants to put in their best effort to prove themselves to the gentlemen in Paris.
French Navy: Orientals, we will make you learn that you have provoked someone you cannot handle! Don't cry too miserably later! Hahaha!
Zheng Chenggong looked left and right, carefully scanning the distant sea area, confirming that there were only nine warships on the other side, which made him even more puzzled.
Nine warships, they came all the way here to fight with me?
The enemy must be deceitful!
If there is no deceit, then they are truly foolish. There cannot possibly be such foolish people in the world!
So the enemy must be deceitful!
This is the normal thinking logic of a commander like Zheng Chenggong.
He happened to encounter a nobleman who did not have the logic of a normal commander.
After about half an hour, the French warships came closer and closer.
The famous French naval commander Abraham de Cournane saw the fleet of the Ming Dynasty. He was probably the only person in the navy with a clear mind, and he advocated gathering information about the Ming Dynasty's strength before making any plans.
However, French Admiral Senelai does not believe so. He said that not only should we teach the Chinese army a lesson, but we should also achieve a quick victory.
He even wrote the victory report in advance, waiting to send it to Paris for credit as soon as today is over. Then he dreams of his official position rising quickly, freely expressing his thoughts in the Louvre and among the aristocrats, and receiving countless admiring glances from women.
"Your Excellency Senere, there are a total of twenty-eight enemy warships ahead, oh no! God, the enemy's warships are still increasing!"
"Let me see!" Senere squints and looks over, "Look, the Easterners' warships, there are over thirty, are you all afraid already? We are less than a hundred miles away from Normandy, and the Easterners came from thousands of miles away, can they defeat us?"
"The brave men of Francia, let them witness the power of our cannons!" shouted Senele loudly.
With his loud cry, the crew on the ship also responded passionately.
Zheng Chenggong felt incredulous as the opponent only had nine ships, yet they boldly charged towards him.
Could it be that the opponent really had a secret weapon?
To be on the safe side, Zheng Chenggong ordered a direct assault with a fleet of 20 steamships.
Zheng Chenggong shouted loudly, "Adjust the cannons!"
The signalman waved the flag and shouted loudly, "Cannon ready!"
"Cannon ready!"
The Ming fleet split the waves and quickly adjusted their formations.
Cannon after cannon on the deck emerged, with the gunners swiftly maneuvering the iron cannons.
Even the topmost cannons on the deck were pushed out.
The topmost cannon was the mighty General Cannon, used to fire alongside muskets when the enemy warships approached.
The British reminded Zheng Chenggong: "Your Excellency, the French warships are still very powerful, do not underestimate them."
Both sides quickly closed in on each other.
Zheng Chenggong said: "Fire at will!"
“Fire!”
There were continuous sounds on the battleships of the Ming army.
The speed of the steam-powered ships was far faster than that of the sailing battleships. Twenty Ming warships quickly formed a line, with all the firepower covering the French warships.
Then there was a deafening roar of cannon fire.
Tongues of fire spewed from the cannon mouths as the iron guns tore through the air, rushing towards the French warships.
The first cannonball to arrive ripped through the mast of a French warship, causing it to shake violently before tilting and falling down.