Daming 1805

Chapter 363 From Norfolk to Long Island

The fleet of Charles and Charlotte left Sanqing Port after the supply was completed.

The entire fleet quickly increased its speed to twenty knots, and then maintained its speed along the coastline all the way north.

A fleet headed by battleships can run up to thirty knots, but there is no need to demonstrate the capability of thirty knots, or even a special run of twenty-five knots to show the passengers.

For a high-speed warship with a bulbous bow and a square stern, a relatively suitable cruising speed is about [-] knots.

If the speed continues to slow down to less than [-] knots, of course the maximum endurance can continue to be improved, but it is no longer the most suitable state for the current power system and hull shape.

At the same time, for the accompanying passenger ship, [-] knots is already the highest speed that can be maintained continuously.

If the battleship continues to accelerate, there is no way to escort it.

For previous warships, twenty knots was also the top speed.

For the cutting-edge fleet, it is the most efficient cruising speed, which can already produce very shocking effects.

Two days and one night later, the fleet arrived at the easternmost point of Nanyinzhou.

Coal-fired passenger ships resupply at the fuel dock.

The battleships and cruisers were parked at the passenger terminal, open to local officials, military officers, and businessmen for visits during the day, and held small-scale banquets with local high-level officials.

After three days of opening, the fleet set sail again, continued to sail along the coastline, and turned to the northwest.

After reaching the northernmost part of Nanyinzhou, stop at the pier outside the oil lake.

The passenger ship was refueled again, the fleet was opened to the public again, and a banquet was held again.

Three days later, set off again, cross the Zhongyinzhou Sea (Caribbean Sea), and enter the area of ​​Beiyinzhou.

After nearly 20 days of sailing, on April [-]th of the fourth year of Ankang, the fleet entered Xiadongyi Bay (Chesapeake Bay) and arrived at the port of Norfolk in the Kingdom of America.

The two battleships and four cruisers did not need to stop in Norfolk, but the fleet commander followed the sailing to enter the dock area according to the purpose of the trip.

Let the locals on and around the pier be able to directly see these six brand new warships.

Especially those two huge battleships, after they entered the dock area, they directly caused a lot of cheers.

The battleship of the British Navy stationed in Norfolk is placed next to these two battleships for direct comparison, and the overall size has shrunk by a large circle.

The officers of the British Navy are also looking at the two ships in astonishment.

Comparing their own ships, they had an inexplicable feeling in their hearts that the two battleships of Ming Dynasty were the capital ships, and their current capital ships could only be regarded as cruisers.

The opponent's ship is bigger, the gun is bigger, longer and more, and it even looks like it should run faster.

They simply cannot imagine the situation where the two sides meet on the battlefield.

At the same time, the passenger ship carrying the main passengers began to approach the pier.

High-level representatives from the two countries headed by Charlotte, Frederick, Amelia, Grenville, Monroe, Jefferson, Shire, and Talleyrand all came to the deck and watched the pier getting closer scene.

Grenville looked at the other warships on the pier, and then at the "super battleship" of Ming Dynasty dangling not far away. His mood was very similar to that of the local naval officer in Norfolk.

He sighed in his heart, shook his head instinctively and weakly, then looked at Monroe beside him, and said with a dignified expression:

"Compared to the new capital ships of Ming Dynasty, the existing capital ships of our navy are like toys.

"From firepower to speed to range, it has been completely crushed...

"We sailed continuously for 1 kilometers from Xintianfu to Norfolk, and Daming's fleet only refueled once when we set off.

"It only takes five or six hours to refuel once, and then it can continue sailing at a speed of [-] knots for half a month.

"The high-speed passenger ship we took, including the resupply before departure, resupplied three times along the way, and each time took nearly three days.

"It only took nine days to refuel, and these nine days are enough to sail the fuel fleet for [-] kilometers.

"The distance of nine days and eight thousand kilometers is even enough to determine the outcome of a naval battle."

Monroe also responded with wonder and emotion:

"Fuel fuel power...Full fuel-powered battleships are really a disruptive improvement compared to coal-fired battleships.

"If you can, the United Kingdom, and indeed the United States, should also switch to full gasoline power."

Jefferson again interjected inappropriately at this point:
"We don't have oil fields."

Grenville and Monroe fell silent for a moment.

The French representatives headed by Charles and Talleyrand also had similar feelings.

However, the final conclusion is slightly different, and the French have strengthened their determination to build a pure fuel fleet.

At the same time, Her Majesty the Queen of America did not consider these deep matters.

Holding the side of the boat with both hands, Charlotte raised her head full of expectation and looked at the country that belonged to her in front of her.

The size of the pier is large, but it is a little dilapidated, or chaotic and lifeless.

Around the pier, you can see a lot of chaotic simple houses, or sheds are more appropriate.

It gives people the feeling that there are slums everywhere, slums that can't be seen at a glance.

Although the port of Norfolk was not occupied by Napoleon, Napoleon's front was once less than [-] kilometers away from Norfolk.

In addition, the port of Norfolk has long served as the resident and headquarters of the naval and land forces of Britain and France.

After continuous construction in the past three years, the entire Norfolk has become a huge military camp fortress.

At the end of the war, Britain and France exchanged colonies according to Zhu Jingyuan's original agreement.

Norfolk was the closest large port to the area ceded to France.

In order to transfer the population as quickly as possible, the United Kingdom temporarily sent a large number of residents evacuated from New York, Philadelphia, and Boston to Norfolk to land, and then slowly transferred from Norfolk to the south.

In order to temporarily accommodate these people, Norfolk not only freed up military camps for use, but also built a large number of simple shanties.

The size of the shantytowns is getting bigger and bigger, turning the entire Norfolk city into a huge slum.

Looking at this scene, Charlotte immediately felt a little disappointed:

"It's so messy, how did America become what it is now..."

Frederick also nodded:

"Yeah, when we were in New York, we could still see quite bustling streets. Norfolk is not the largest port in the United States. Why does it look like a huge slum now?"

As Americans and Virginians to whom Norfolk belongs, Monroe and Jefferson felt even more heavy and sad when they saw the scene on the shore now.

At the beginning of the war, the two were directly captured by Adams and held by Napoleon.

I haven't been back to Virginia for more than three years, but now I come back and see this picture.

Monroe listened to the words of the queen and the regent, with several helpless guesses and explanations:

"It should be because of the ongoing war that has disrupted the order in America...

"Then there was ... a massive emergency population movement that threw Norfolk into chaos.

"Norfolk was not like this before, it was a very beautiful harbor city.

"After the population migration is over, Norfolk should gradually return to its former state."

Charlotte asked Monroe:

"Mr. Monroe, the fleet is docking here, shall we stay here?"

Monroe shook his head lightly:

"No, after we go ashore, we will transfer to a small boat and head to Richmond, the current capital of the Kingdom of America."

Zhu Jingyuan's arrangement was to send Charlotte, Frederick, Amelia, Monroe, Jefferson and other people related to the United States to the United States instead of sending them back to the United Kingdom.

They should also return to the United States first. Charlotte and Frederick presided over the government affairs of the United States symbolically, and Monroe and Jefferson substantially managed the affairs of the United States.

So they were all going to disembark here and go up the bay to Richmond.

Charlotte had expected this for a long time, and Zhu Jingyuan talked more with Charlotte in private, so now he subconsciously asked:
"Will Richmond be any better than Norfolk?"

Monroe wants to say it should be better, but also wants to say that he doesn't know.

But can't.

Monroe hasn't been back to Richmond for more than three years, but Monroe knows that the situation in Richmond should not be much better.

Because Richmond is the front line.

The Anglo-French Allied Forces and the troops of Napoleon and Adams used to have a long-term tug-of-war here.

This city... Even if it is still there, it should be fortified as well.

But in the face of Charlotte's problem, Monroe didn't want the little queen to be disappointed with America:

"It should...it should be better. Richmond doesn't have a lot of immigrants who need to transit, so there won't be a lot of shanty towns like slums...

"Furthermore, the joint investment of Prince Dashi and Her Majesty the Queen is mainly placed in Richmond.

"The amusement city of Prince Dashi is also in Richmond, and the construction of some facilities has been completed now. The entertainment facilities of the new Tianfu amusement city have already been partly here."

Charlotte smiled when she heard this:

"Yes, the amusement park for me and His Royal Highness has been under construction in Richmond for several months."

Charlotte regained her anticipation.

The passenger ship docked at the pier, Charlotte and his party said goodbye to Charles and Talleyrand, and transferred to the boat for Richmond.

The British mainland delegation headed by Grenville also disembarked in Norfolk, but instead of following Charlotte to Richmond, they were waiting for the passenger ship back to the British mainland.

The French delegation headed by Charles and Talleyrand bid farewell to Charlotte and Grenville and continued northward with the fleet.

The fleet bypassed the Dongyi Peninsula that day and arrived at Changdao at noon the next day.

The fleet docked at the Lynn County (Brooklyn) dock on Long Island to begin a formal and comprehensive replenishment and rest.

The atmosphere of Lin County Pier is very different from that of Norfolk Pier.

Whereas Norfolk is full of chaotic shantytowns, Long Island's Lynn County docks are orderly, inside and out.

The Norfolk docks are dead, but the Lynn County docks are thriving.

Norfolk used to be the frontline headquarters of the war, a key military stronghold directly threatened by the war, and also a transit point for the subsequent transfer of a large number of residents.

Lin County is a paradise in the war.

When the entire eastern part of Northern Yinzhou was caught in the flames of war, Dongyi Kingdom, including Lin County, was always peaceful and peaceful.

The destructive war that is near Chi Chi, compared with the peaceful life I am experiencing, has made the residents of Dongyi Kingdom's sense of honor for their country soaring, and the centripetal force of this new special vassal state has soared.

During this war, the Dongyi Kingdom not only selectively accepted some high-quality immigrants, but also completely completed the reform of the internal system, transforming this place dominated by Thais and Westerners into a Ming-style vassal state.

The huge battleships also docked directly at the pier. The workers on the pier, the guests who disembarked and disembarked around, and the guests on the ferry from Long Island to Manhattan and other places were first shocked when they saw these battleships.

Then there was an instinctive cheer when looking at the Ming flag on the ship.

Many people climbed up to the heights around them, waving vigorously and shouting at the warship slowly approaching the port.

The key to the unprecedentedly huge warships is that the warships belong to Ming Dynasty, and they are also the warships of their own country.

This made their sense of honor burst quickly.

Looking at the scene on the pier, Charles and Talleyrand felt very complicated and did not know how to express it.

Norfolk and Lin County, the two ports are only a few hundred kilometers away, and both originally belonged to the land of the United States.

Now there is a very different vibe.

After the passenger ship docked and stopped, Charles took the French delegation ashore.

Then I went to visit Liu Yuzhi, the left chief historian of Dongyi Kingdom.

Liu Weizhi received the report that the close friend of Prince Dashi, Crown Prince Charles of France, came to visit, so he went to the garden to greet him.

The car that Charles was riding in stopped in the yard, and Charles in a gorgeous dress got out of the car.

Although Liu Weizhi came to greet Shire, he was not too serious.

At this time, I felt surprised and confused, so I directly asked the staff and translator Gauss around me:
"Is this the wife of the Crown Prince of France?"

Dongyi Kingdom has already held the second round of imperial examinations, and Gao Si has successfully passed the examination and obtained the honor of Dongyi Kingdom Juren.

Looking at the image of Charles, Gauss was also obviously stunned for a moment. Hearing Liu Yanzhi's inquiry, he immediately recalled and confirmed the report he had received, and then reported to Liu Yanzhi:

"The person in charge of the reception did not mention that the French crown prince brought his wife, he should have come alone.

"At the same time, there are no particularly noble women in the French delegation."

Liu Weizhi was immediately puzzled and vigilant:

"Then who is this woman? Why did she come here without notification?"

Gauss said quite firmly:

"The guards and the receptionist can't get it wrong, then there is only one truth, and this is not a woman..."

At the same time, Charles has stepped on his high heels and walked over briskly.

Lolita's dress high heels are usually thick heels and thick soles, which are much more stable than ordinary high heels.

After Charles got used to ordinary high heels, he changed into Lolita's high heels, and his actions were almost unaffected by the shoes.

Charles came to Liu Weizhi and introduced himself with a smile. :
"Hi Liu Changshi, I'm Louis-Charles, Crown Prince of France, passing through Lin County, and I'm here to visit."

Liu Weizhi, Gauss and the other followers immediately widened their eyes.

Several people looked Shire up and down, trying to find obvious masculine features from him.

They did find some, such as Ciel's plain chest and slightly angular face.

More importantly, the voice is much lower than that of women.

But if he didn't know in advance, looking at his image so directly, he wouldn't realize that he was a man at all.

Liu Weizhi asked in disbelief:

"Louis Charles? Are you the Crown Prince of France? A friend of His Royal Highness Prince Dashi?"

Of course, Charles noticed Liu Weizhi's complicated expression, he had seen it many times these days.

Charles basically didn't feel ashamed anymore, and was even a little proud.

Facing Liu Weizhi's question, Charles raised his head subconsciously:
"Yes, I am a close friend of His Royal Highness Prince Dashi, Louis Charles, you are not mistaken.

"Is it because Liu Changshi was surprised by my image? Maybe he even regarded me as a woman?

"Actually, as my best friend said, clothes are not gender-specific.

"If I wear this clothes on a man like me, it's men's clothing."

Liu Weizhi was noncommittal and didn't know how to evaluate it, so he didn't comment at all:
"The Dashi Prince has always been amazing, and he can always give people special inspiration and obtain unique harvests.

"Liu Yuzhi, the left chief of the Dongyi Kingdom, welcomes Prince Xia. The prince has been exhausted all the way, so let's go to the posthouse to rest first."

Charles was also not polite, and he didn't say too much on the topic of his own dress, so he handed over very naturally:
"Thank you Liu Changshi..."

(End of this chapter)