Chapter 794: Sea Power Is Everything
Chapter 795: Sea Power Is Everything
Although Di Chayela didn't have much hope, she still asked, "How can you bypass the British fleet?""
"No, don't bypass them. "Demville half lowered his head and said, "You know, I used to run the British business, but then the strait was too strict, and our captain wanted to go to Osman to try his luck." . . . . ."
"To get to the point."
"Oh, yes, General. "Demville accelerated his speech, "We transit in the port of Piraeus, where supplies are very abundant.""
Dechayela frowned: "But it's too far there, it's too late."
The port of Piraeus is in the Moria region of Greece, more than 700 nautical miles from Genova.
"No, it's too late, General. I heard that Piraeus started trading by steamboat half a year ago. "Demville said, "There are many French businessmen doing business there.""
He took a deep breath: "The most important thing is that the British never thought that supplies would come from the east."
This thing ran from the port of Piraeus to Genova, and it didn't even take a week.
The staff officer nodded, then shook his head again: "But the cargo capacity of the steam Ming ship is relatively small, and the supplies are not prepared in advance."
"This," Demville nervously took two steps back and whispered, "I really didn't take this into account. I'm really sorry. Just think of it as my gibberish."
"Wait," Dechayela raised her hand and motioned to the staff officer, "There is no other way at the moment." Send someone to Piraeus. I remember Baron Maymark was running a trading company there. Please think of a way."
The port of Marseille is unable to ship goods, Corsica cannot raise enough supplies in a short period of time, and there is the main force of the British Mediterranean fleet near the port of Bizerte in Tunisia, so the direction of Greece is the only hope.
......
A few days later, the "Cape Parrot" appeared outside the port of Piraeus.
That afternoon, in a room on the second floor of the Port Management Committee Building, Steller, the general manager of the French Eastern Mediterranean Trading Company, the newly appointed Baron Maymark, looked at the ship owners in the room with a sincere expression.:
"This is basically the case.
"Genoese troops need a total of 4 million pounds of flour, 35,000 barrels of wine, 50,000 pounds of gunpowder, and a large number of artillery shells, medicines and other supplies.
"I hope everyone can undertake the transportation task, and the remuneration will definitely satisfy everyone."
Unfortunately, the Eastern Mediterranean Trading Company's own ships are basically out of port at this time, and the fastest batch will not be back until 5 days later, so Steller had to find a French-American private shipowner, planning to hire their steamship Ming.
Immediately, several people shook their heads and stood up, ready to leave, "Baron Maymark, everyone knows that the British fleet is cruising near Genova. It's too dangerous."
"Yes, if there is no risk, why not ship supplies from Marseille?""
"And we have to pay part of the payment in advance. This is by no means a good deal."
Most of the funds of the Eastern Mediterranean Trading Company are in places such as Syria and Egypt. After all, there are the main procurement points, and Steller doesn't even have enough money to buy the materials Dimobin needs.
If you can wait another half a month, no, even if you wait ten days, Steller can easily solve these problems, but right now, what he lacks most is time.
"Please wait a minute. "Steller hurriedly stopped a few people and said, "I can make sure that everyone will not encounter the British fleet." As for expenses, Eastern Mediterranean Trading Company can pay you 25% interest."
"Please forgive me, Baron Maymark, I'm afraid I can't take this business."
"Who knows where the British battleship will come out."
"To be honest, the risk is really too great. . . . . ."
Seeing a few people insisting on leaving, Steller was also sweating profusely, and said loudly: "30% interest, plus insurance, please, for God's sake."
However, a few more people were about to get up and leave.
Although these ship owners are French, they are even more businessmen.
When the ratio of benefits to risks is too low, they don't care about patriotism, let alone loyalty to the king.
Just as the door of the room was opened and the owners stepped out, a man in his 30s with rough skin and a black coarse cloth jacket who had been sitting in the corner stood up and said loudly.:
"Baron Maymark, I can lend you my boat and pay for a boat full of flour."
Immediately, the owner of the ship who knew him well pulled him hard and whispered, "Leon, are you crazy?" If you encounter a British battleship, you will be completely destroyed!"
"Thank you, Ferry. But I have already decided."
Leon Trock looked at the people who had walked to the door again: "You may know that since my great-grandfather's generation, my family has been operating a shipping business between France and the Far East.
"When my grandfather was at his most glorious, his family owned four sea ships, of which the "Ocean Current" was a 43-yard-long three-masted sailboat."
Ferry nodded silently to the side to confirm his statement.
The ship owners stopped one after another and turned their heads to look at Trock. A maritime merchant who owns 4 sea ships is definitely a wealthy man.
Trock sighed and continued: "Later, France lost to the British in the Seven Years' War. Well, as you know, we lost all our trade in the Far East.
There is no mistake, one song, one shot, one content, one look at it one by one!
"The Ocean Current was also seized by the British at the Cape of Good Hope. Two years later, my family's business went bankrupt.
"After that, my father went to Naples to help revise the chart to support his family, but he soon fell ill and died.
"My mother took me and my younger brother to mend fishing nets for a living in Marseille. All her fingers were rotten when she was 30 years old. My brother and I have both suffered from malaria, and we had no money to buy medicine, so we almost died. . . . . .
"Fortunately, I was lucky. With the help of a friend of my father, I continued to start a shipping business, and finally bought a ship."
Someone said impatiently: "Sorry. But what are you trying to say?"
Trock raised his hand and motioned: "Most of the gentlemen here depend on the Mediterranean trade for their livelihoods.
"So have you ever thought about what would happen if our army in Genoese was defeated by the Austrians?""
The owners of the ship suddenly looked at each other.
Trock said solemnly: "What my father experienced will reappear in me and all of you. And our children may also be unable to afford medicine and are on the verge of death!"
"Where, where did you say so seriously?"
"No, I'm not exaggerating at all. "Troc said, "After the Genoese army is annihilated, southern France will have no defensive power."
"At that time, the Austrian army will occupy the port of Marseille and cut off France's Mediterranean Sea outlet. North Africa has lost contact with the mainland and will soon surrender to Britain."sβеøΝäR
He looked at the ship owners with burning eyes: "At that time, all Mediterranean trade will be monopolized by British merchant ships. You, me, and everyone here will go bankrupt!
"This is the only chance, believe me, we must hold on to Genova.
"Not for the king, nor for Baron Maymark, but for ourselves, no longer being bullied by the British!""
He stretched out his hand:
"Who would like to go to Genova with me.
"Send supplies to the French soldiers there and let them teach the Austrian bastards a lesson!""
(End of this chapter)
CRITICAL ERROR: CHAPTER 797 NOT TRANSLATED - ORIGINAL TEXT RETAINED
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