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Chapter 1671 The Invincible Fleet is coming

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    November 1, 1579 AD, October 13th in the seventh year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty.

    A huge fleet stretching for fifty miles appeared in the ocean east of the Northern Mariana Islands.

    Those huge battleships flying the flag of St. Andrew's Cross are symbols of the Spanish Habsburg monarchy and maritime power. When they are anchored in the port, they are so magnificent and intimidating.

    However, in this endless Pacific Ocean, they are just a group of ants on the green grass, looking so small.

    After nearly three months of drifting on the ocean, these more than 130 huge sailing ships of hundreds and thousands of tons are far less glamorous than before they set off.

    Because the whole trip was sailing in tropical waters, the small and enclosed cabin was as hot and humid as a steamer.  The asphalt and asphalt filled in the seams of the deck melted under the scorching sun, and raindrops fell on the sailors' heads, bodies, and hammocks. The cabin was filled with an unpleasant smell.

    The melting of the filler caused water to seep into the hull, soaking the wood, food, supplies, and garbage in the bilge until it stunk.  A combination of dampness, musty smells, and the odor caused by hundreds of people crammed into small, poorly ventilated cabins for months.  Coupled with the ubiquitous rats, lice, fleas, and bedbugs, these expensive giant ships have become the filthiest places in the world.

    Rather than a dirty environment, what harms sailors¡¯ health more is poor diet.  Less than half a month after going to sea, their daily diet became rotten and smelly bacon, bread full of rubber worms, and water with green moss.

    It is said that ¡®black-headed maggots taste cool and not as bitter as weevils.  ¡¯

    In such a harsh environment, various maritime diseases such as fever, dysentery, edema, typhoid, macula, plague, oral ulcers, scurvy, etc. crazily damaged the health of the crew, and almost every ship died of illness every day.  An epidemic broke out on some ships, and almost everyone was infected, with dozens of people dying at one time.

    Only noble officers, captains and senior seamen can have separate rooms and do not have to rot and stink in Datongpu.  They also had enough wine, well-preserved meats and flour to maintain a healthy diet.

    But eating monotonous food every day also makes the noble man feel very painful. He also looks forward to landing quickly so that he can enjoy a sumptuous meal cooked with fresh ingredients.

    So when the lookout on the mainmast of the flagship San Felipe discovered an island ahead, the sailors and soldiers all rushed to the deck, howling and cheering.

    Even the nobles gathered on the poop to high-five each other and celebrate this great achievement of crossing the ocean!

    "Mr. Captain, have we arrived in the Philippines?" The Count of Provence looked excitedly at the captain of the San Felipe, Colonel Cafu.

    "Your Excellency, what we are about to arrive at is a chain of islands in the ocean, which is still 400 leagues away from the Philippines." Captain Cafu has traveled back and forth between the Philippines and New Spain for many years, so he naturally knows his way around.

    "Is this the Island of Thieves claimed by Magellan?" The nobles stretched their necks one by one, showing off their knowledge arrogantly.

    The arrogance of the nobles is not only because they are really arrogant, but also because they all wear 'Raff'.

    This kind of white wavy neckwear uses metal wire as a support ring, which is thick and stiff.  After surrounding it, the neck is like a decorated white cream cake, and the head cannot move freely, forcing people to stretch their neck, showing a proud, dignified and arrogant posture.

    Wearing this thing makes it inconvenient to eat, but the noble gentlemen don't care, this is the style they want.

    "So knowledgeable." The captain nodded and smiled: "In 1565, the great Legazpi occupied it for His Majesty the King and established a stronghold on the island as a large sailing ship on the route from Acapulco to the Philippines.  stopping point on the way."

    "I have ordered the Governor of the Philippines, His Excellency Francis, to store enough supplies in the stronghold for the fleet to supply and rest." A loud voice sounded from the stairs, and a little old man with a straight waist and piercing eyes walked up to the stern.  floor deck.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want the expedition fleet to appear in the Philippines in this bad state.¡±

    A group of Spanish aristocrats wearing gaiters, tight pants, and stuffed crotches all bowed down and saluted respectfully to the bald little old man with a goatee and plain clothes.

    He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armada, the ¡®Father of the Soldiers¡¯ of the Spanish Empire, Alvaro de Bazin, Marquis of Santa Cruz.

    This most outstanding general in Spain was born in a family of naval officers in Granada. He joined the navy at a young age and became famous in the war with France in 1544.  For more than thirty years, he has been fighting on the front line for the Spanish Empire.  Because of military exploits??Don't worry, our Lord Governor has made full preparations in Cebu and Brunei. No matter where the fleet chooses to dock, it will receive sufficient supplies.  "Julio quickly made amends.

    "But the premise is that we have to arrive safely." Bazin snorted coldly, unable to suppress his anger and said: "Without the supplies, my children will still be unable to recover during the next voyage. If they arrive in the Philippines,  What should we do if we fight the Ming fleet?"

    "Probably not." Julio hurriedly apologized and said with a smile: "The people of the Ming Dynasty did not know the arrival of our invincible fleet. The latest news from the governor said that they have accepted the surrender of the Bo Ni Kingdom, and the fleet is preparing to attack Wenzhou in full swing.  When we arrived in the Philippines, 80% of their fleet was already in Brunei Bay."

    "Oh?" Bazin said with a look on his face: "Is the information accurate?"

    "It should be accurate." Julio nodded and said: "Our Lord Governor will personally wait for you at the entrance of Leyte Gulf. By then, there will be more accurate news about where the Ming Dynasty fleet is." (Remember the website address: www  .hlnovel.com
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