Chapter 795 Sea power is everything
Although Di Chayera did not hold out much hope, he still asked: "Do you have any way to bypass the British fleet?"
"No, don't bypass them." Demville lowered his head and said, "You know, I used to run the business in the UK before, but the Strait was tightly checked. Our captain wanted to go to Osman's luck ... … "
"Speak the point."
"Oh, yes, General." Demville spoke faster, "We are transiting at the port of Piraeus, where supplies are very abundant."
Dicchara frowned: "But it's too far, it's too late at all."
The Port of Piraeus is in the Morea region of Greece, more than 700 nautical miles away from Genoa.
"No, there's time, General. I heard that Piraeus started using steamships for trade half a year ago." Demville said, "There are many French merchants doing business there."
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He took a deep breath: "The most important thing is that the British will never think that the supply will come from the east."
Dicchara and the staff looked at each other. They had subconsciously felt that transportation ships were slow, but they forgot that French trade had used steam furry ships.
This thing runs from the port of Breyvs to Genoa, and it can't even use it for a week.
The staff officer nodded, then shook his head: "But the cargo capacity of the steam paddle steamer is relatively small, and the supplies are not prepared in advance."
"This," Demville took two steps back nervously, whispered, "I didn't think about it, I'm really sorry. You should be a nonsense."
"Wait," Dichayela raised his hand to signal to the staff, "There is no other way at the moment. Send someone to Piraeus. I remember that Baron Memak is running the trading company there. Please ask him to think of a way. .”
The port of Marseille cannot transport 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, the general manager of the French East Mediterranean Trading Company, Styler, the newly awarded Baron Maymac, looked at the ship owners in the room and said with a sincere expression:
"The situation is basically like this.
"Reina's 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 shells, medicines and other supplies.
"I hope you can take on the transportation task, and the remuneration will definitely satisfy you."
Coincidentally, the vessels of the East Mediterranean Trading Company were basically not in Hong Kong at this time, and the fastest batch would take 5 days to come back. Ship.
Immediately, a few people shook their heads up and were ready to leave. "Baron Memak, everyone knows that the British fleet is swimming near Genoa, which is too dangerous."
"Yes, if there is no risk, why not transport supplies from Marseille?"
"And we also need to pay some of the payment, this is by no means a good sale."
Most of the funds of the East Mediterranean Trading Corporation are in Syria and Egypt. After all, it is the main procurement point, and Sparler does not even have enough money to buy the materials needed by Dimbin.
If he could wait another half month, no, even ten days, Styler could easily solve these problems, but right now, what he lacked most was time.
"Please wait a moment." Styler hurriedly stopped a few people and said, "I can ensure that you will not encounter the British fleet. As for the fees, the Eastern Mediterranean Trading Company can pay you 25% interest."
"I beg your pardon, Baron Maymac, I'm afraid I can't take this business."
"Who knows where the British warships will come out."
"To be honest, the risk is really too big ..."
Seeing a few people insisted on leaving, Saylor was also sweating, and he said highly: "30%interest, plus insurance benefits, please, look at God's portion." However, how many more are there People want to get up and leave.
Although these ship owners are French, they are also businessmen.
When the ratio of returns to risks is too low, they will not care about patriotism, let alone loyalty to the king.
Just as the door of the room was opened and the ship owners walked out, a 30 -year -old who had been sitting in the corner before, rough skin, and a black coarse coat stood up and said high:
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"Baron Maymac, I can lend you my ship and provide you with a full shipload of flour."
Immediately, a ship owner who was familiar with him pulled him hard and whispered: "Leon, are you crazy? If you encounter a British warship, you will be completely destroyed!"
"Thanks, Ferry. But I've decided."
Lyon Torque looked at those who came to the door again: "You may know that from the generation of my great -grandfather, my family is running a sea transport business between France and the Far East.
"When my grandfather was the most glorious, there were 4 sea ships in the family, of which 'Oceancies' is a three -coded three -mast sailing boat with a length of 43 yards."
Ferry nodded silently and confirmed his statement.
The owners of the ship stopped and turned to see Trots. Sea merchants with four sea vessels are definitely a big giant.
Torque sighed and continued: "Later, France lost to the British in the seven -year war. Well, as everyone knows, we have lost all the Far East trade.
There is no mistake in every song, one post, one content, one 6 one, one book, one book, take a look!
"The" Ocean "was also detained by the British in the corner of Hope. Two years later, my business went bankrupt.
"After that, my father went to Naples to help people revise Haitu to raise a family, but soon died of infection.
"My mother took me and my brother, and gave a living to the fishing net in Marseille. When she was 30 years old, her fingers were rotten. My brother and I had to have malaria. br>
"Fortunately, I was lucky. With the help of a friend of my father's, I continued to do the shipping business and finally bought a boat."
Someone said impatiently: "Sorry. But what exactly do you want to say?"
Troke raised his hand and sighed: "Most of the gentlemen here rely on the Mediterranean trade.
"So have you ever thought, what would happen if we were defeated by the Austrian army in Genoa?"
The ship owners suddenly looked at each other.
Trok solemnly said: "What my father experienced will happen to me and you all again. And our children may also be unable to afford medicine and be on the verge of death!"
"Where, where do you say so seriously?"
"No, I am not exaggerating at all." Trocker said, "After the Genoese army is annihilated, southern France will have no defensive force.
"At that time, the Austrian army will occupy the port of Marseille and cut off the Mediterranean estuary of France. North Africa will lose contact with the local area and will soon surrender to the UK."
He looked at the owner of the ship with a scorching look: "At that time, the Mediterranean trade will be monopolized by British merchant ships. You, me, everyone here will go bankrupt!
"There is only one chance, believe me, we must defend Genoa.
"Not for the king, nor for Baron Maymack, but for ourselves, no longer being bullied by the British!"
He stretched out his hand:
"Who wants to go to Genoa with me?
"Send supplies to the French soldiers there and let them teach the Austrian bastards a lesson!"
(End of chapter)