There is a well-known decadent literati in the Central Plains, Zhou Xun, who once said: Ideals are plump, reality is bone-thin.
Franz II frowned and said, "With just the three of us, even if we can defeat France, can we necessarily defeat the ubiquitous Ming garrisons?"
Upon being reminded by Franz II, George III and Alexander, who were immersed in the dream of conquering France and treading on Emperor Zhu, were doused with a large basin of cold water as if it were the depths of winter.
Last time, George III suddenly went mad and attacked France, only to be thoroughly thrashed. Not only did they cede colonies and pay reparations, but they also lost a large number of warships. The current English navy could not be said to be crippled, but it was certainly maimed, barely able to defend the British Isles. For the English navy to actively attack would be pure nonsense.
Even more nonsensical was that despite the dire state of England's naval strength, George III still forced himself to dispatch over a dozen warships to support the British East India Company in Sri Lanka.
But thinking of the British East India Company in Sri Lanka, George III's expression couldn't help but turn even more grim. Being bullied by the Great Ming was one thing, but now even those short and squat people from Japan were coming to bully England?
As he thought more and more about it, George III gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, angrily declaring, "Our England still has sixteen warships that can be deployed, but these sixteen warships are England's last resort and cannot be sent out entirely. However, I will send someone to notify the fleet of twelve warships heading to Sri Lanka to cause some trouble for the Ming Emperor."
Upon hearing the number twelve warships, Alexander and Franz II, who had been expecting George III to utter some harsh words, were greatly disappointed.
Twelve warships, a fleet of this size would be considered a considerable force by any European country, but compared to the Ming...
The Ming had nine military bases in Europe, and any single one of them could muster twelve fully manned warships.
Further consideration revealed that if the Ming Emperor Zhu intended to attack Europe, he wouldn't even need to send infantry. Merely positioning the warships from these nine military bases along Europe's coastline would be enough to blockade the entire European sea, completely cutting off Europe's maritime trade.
The thought that such a terrifying scenario might become a reality after they declared war on the Ming caused George III, Alexander, and Franz II to feel an unbearable headache.
Even Alexander and Franz II were not as well off as George III. England at least had twelve warships to defend its waters, and even if they couldn't defeat the Ming fleet, they could hold them off for a while. Russia and the Habsburg family had no hope at all.
Alexander's face darkened, and he said coldly, "If we do not declare war on the Ming today because of our insufficient strength, then what about tomorrow? Will we also be afraid to declare war due to lack of strength? And the day after?"
"This world has always been this way. The strong become stronger, and the weak become weaker. The Ming people's army will only grow stronger by the day, and we will only grow weaker. If we delay further, we will always be the ones at a disadvantage."
Alexander took a deep breath and said, "Regardless, since we have decided to fight the Ming to the bitter end, there is no room for retreat."
George III nodded in agreement, then added mysteriously, "This time, we are not without a sli chance of winning."
Under the expectant gazes of Alexander and Franz II, George III finally revealed his trump card: "Since our armies cannot defeat the Ming armies at sea or on land, why don't we think about it from a different angle?"
"You should know that in 1783, the Montgolfier brothers successfully test-flew a hot air balloon in the Boulogne Forest near Paris. During their demonstration at the Palace of Versailles, they placed a sheep, a chicken, and a duck in the basket of the hot air balloon—this means that hot air balloons can carry people and also be equipped with grenades."
Alexander and Franz II were stunned.
However, after they recovered from their shock, Alexander frowned and said, "We can use hot air balloons, and the Ming people can also use them. How can you guarantee that your English hot air balloons will be more advanced, more stable, and more reliable than the Ming balloons?"
Alexander's words disheartened George III.
Although he was extremely reluctant to admit that the Ming's hot air balloons were more advanced, and he hadn't even heard of the Great Ming test-flying hot air balloons, in the subconscious of George III and Alexander, they believed that the Ming's hot air balloons would undoubtedly be more advanced than those in Europe.
There is a well-known decadent literati in the Central Plains, Zhou Xun, who once said: Ideals are plump, reality is bone-thin.
Franz II frowned and said, "With just the three of us, even if we can defeat France, can we necessarily defeat the ubiquitous Ming garrisons?"
Upon being reminded by Franz II, George III and Alexander, who were immersed in the dream of conquering France and treading on Emperor Zhu, were doused with a large basin of cold water as if it were the depths of winter.
Last time, George III suddenly went mad and attacked France, only to be thoroughly thrashed. Not only did they cede colonies and pay reparations, but they also lost a large number of warships. The current English navy could not be said to be crippled, but it was certainly maimed, barely able to defend the British Isles. For the English navy to actively attack would be pure nonsense.
Even more nonsensical was that despite the dire state of England's naval strength, George III still forced himself to dispatch over a dozen warships to support the British East India Company in Sri Lanka.
But thinking of the British East India Company in Sri Lanka, George III's expression couldn't help but turn even more grim. Being bullied by the Great Ming was one thing, but now even those short and squat people from Japan were coming to bully England?
As he thought more and more about it, George III gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, angrily declaring, "Our England still has sixteen warships that can be deployed, but these sixteen warships are England's last resort and cannot be sent out entirely. However, I will send someone to notify the fleet of twelve warships heading to Sri Lanka to cause some trouble for the Ming Emperor."
Upon hearing the number twelve warships, Alexander and Franz II, who had been expecting George III to utter some harsh words, were greatly disappointed.
Twelve warships, a fleet of this size would be considered a considerable force by any European country, but compared to the Ming...
The Ming had nine military bases in Europe, and any single one of them could muster twelve fully manned warships.
Further consideration revealed that if the Ming Emperor Zhu intended to attack Europe, he wouldn't even need to send infantry. Merely positioning the warships from these nine military bases along Europe's coastline would be enough to blockade the entire European sea, completely cutting off Europe's maritime trade.
The thought that such a terrifying scenario might become a reality after they declared war on the Ming caused George III, Alexander, and Franz II to feel an unbearable headache.
Even Alexander and Franz II were not as well off as George III. England at least had twelve warships to defend its waters, and even if they couldn't defeat the Ming fleet, they could hold them off for a while. Russia and the Habsburg family had no hope at all.
Alexander's face darkened, and he said coldly, "If we do not declare war on the Ming today because of our insufficient strength, then what about tomorrow? Will we also be afraid to declare war due to lack of strength? And the day after?"
"This world has always been this way. The strong become stronger, and the weak become weaker. The Ming people's army will only grow stronger by the day, and we will only grow weaker. If we delay further, we will always be the ones at a disadvantage."
Alexander took a deep breath and said, "Regardless, since we have decided to fight the Ming to the bitter end, there is no room for retreat."
George III nodded in agreement, then added mysteriously, "This time, we are not without a single chance of winning."
Under the expectant gazes of Alexander and Franz II, George III finally revealed his trump card: "Since our armies cannot defeat the Ming armies at sea or on land, why don't we think about it from a different angle?"
"You should know that in 1783, the Montgolfier brothers successfully test-flew a hot air balloon in the Boulogne Forest near Paris. During their demonstration at the Palace of Versailles, they placed a sheep, a chicken, and a duck in the basket of the hot air balloon—this means that hot air balloons can carry people and also be equipped with grenades."
Alexander and Franz II were stunned.
However, after they recovered from their shock, Alexander frowned and said, "We can use hot air balloons, and the Ming people can also use them. How can you guarantee that your English hot air balloons will be more advanced, more stable, and more reliable than the Ming balloons?"
Alexander's words disheartened George III.
Although he was extremely reluctant to admit that the Ming's hot air balloons were more advanced, and he hadn't even heard of the Great Ming test-flying hot air balloons, in the subconscious of George III and Alexander, they believed that the Ming's hot air balloons would undoubtedly be more advanced than those in Europe.
There is a well-known decadent literati in the Central Plains, Zhou Xun, who once said: Ideals are plump, reality is bone-thin.
Franz II frowned and said, "With just the three of us, even if we can defeat France, can we necessarily defeat the ubiquitous Ming garrisons?"
Upon being reminded by Franz II, George III and Alexander, who were immersed in the dream of conquering France and treading on Emperor Zhu, were doused with a large basin of cold water as if it were the depths of winter.
Last time, George III suddenly went mad and attacked France, only to be thoroughly thrashed. Not only did they cede colonies and pay reparations, but they also lost a large number of warships. The current English navy could not be said to be crippled, but it was certainly maimed, barely able to defend the British Isles. For the English navy to actively attack would be pure nonsense.
Even more nonsensical was that despite the dire state of England's naval strength, George III still forced himself to dispatch over a dozen warships to support the British East India Company in Sri Lanka.
But thinking of the British East India Company in Sri Lanka, George III's expression couldn't help but turn even more grim. Being bullied by the Great Ming was one thing, but now even those short and squat people from Japan were coming to bully England?
As he thought more and more about it, George III gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, angrily declaring, "Our England still has sixteen warships that can be deployed, but these sixteen warships are England's last resort and cannot be sent out entirely. However, I will send someone to notify the fleet of twelve warships heading to Sri Lanka to cause some trouble for the Ming Emperor."
Upon hearing the number twelve warships, Alexander and Franz II, who had been expecting George III to utter some harsh words, were greatly disappointed.
Twelve warships, a fleet of this size would be considered a considerable force by any European country, but compared to the Ming...
The Ming had nine military bases in Europe, and any single one of them could muster twelve fully manned warships.
Further consideration revealed that if the Ming Emperor Zhu intended to attack Europe, he wouldn't even need to send infantry. Merely positioning the warships from these nine military bases along Europe's coastline would be enough to blockade the entire European sea, completely cutting off Europe's maritime trade.
The thought that such a terrifying scenario might become a reality after they declared war on the Ming caused George III, Alexander, and Franz II to feel an unbearable headache.
Even Alexander and Franz II were not as well off as George III. England at least had twelve warships to defend its waters, and even if they couldn't defeat the Ming fleet, they could hold them off for a while. Russia and the Habsburg family had no hope at all.
Alexander's face darkened, and he said coldly, "If we do not declare war on the Ming today because of our insufficient strength, then what about tomorrow? Will we also be afraid to declare war due to lack of strength? And the day after?"
"This world has always been this way. The strong become stronger, and the weak become weaker. The Ming people's army will only grow stronger by the day, and we will only grow weaker. If we delay further, we will always be the ones at a disadvantage."
Alexander took a deep breath and said, "Regardless, since we have decided to fight the Ming to the bitter end, there is no room for retreat."
George III nodded in agreement, then added mysteriously, "This time, we are not without a single chance of winning."
Under the expectant gazes of Alexander and Franz II, George III finally revealed his trump card: "Since our armies cannot defeat the Ming armies at sea or on land, why don't we think about it from a different angle?"
"You should know that in 1783, the Montgolfier brothers successfully test-flew a hot air balloon in the Boulogne Forest near Paris. During their demonstration at the Palace of Versailles, they placed a sheep, a chicken, and a duck in the basket of the hot air balloon—this means that hot air balloons can carry people and also be equipped with grenades."
Alexander and Franz II were stunned.
However, after they recovered from their shock, Alexander frowned and said, "We can use hot air balloons, and the Ming people can also use them. How can you guarantee that your English hot air balloons will be more advanced, more stable, and more reliable than the Ming balloons?"
Alexander's words disheartened George III.
Although he was extremely reluctant to admit that the Ming's hot air balloons were more advanced, and he hadn't even heard of the Great Ming test-flying hot air balloons, in the subconscious of George III and Alexander, they believed that the Ming's hot air balloons would undoubtedly be more advanced than those in Europe.
(End of Chapter)