Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 2383 Morocco ([-])

On June 1699, 6, in the sea off the port of Salé, a total of more than ten warships had already set up their positions, watching five Moorish warships trying to rush out.

These five ships were fully loaded with the famous Sare pirates, carrying a large amount of ammunition and supplies, intending to break through the interception and blockade of the people on the east coast, and go to the depths of the vast ocean.This kind of action has actually been staged several times before. There were breakouts during the day and night. Seven or eight ships escaped one after another, and then went north one after another, entered the Mediterranean area east of the Strait of Gibraltar, attacked Italy to Hughes Arrived supply shipping routes.

It should be said that this kind of behavior of the Moroccans once caused some troubles to the people on the east bank.Taking advantage of their fast speed, maneuverability, and familiarity with the situation, their pirate ships took advantage of the cover of darkness to attack any merchant ships approaching the port of Ceuta, and caused the sinking of a merchant ship on the east coast and the capture of two Italian merchant ships.

The North Italian Navy, which was in charge of the escort mission, couldn't bear it, and had to mobilize the main fleet to leave the port. A total of more than [-] warships (both sailing ships and galleys) were swept up in the coastal waters of North Africa, and these pirate ships were shot down one after another. sink or drive away.In addition, the Italians also strengthened the strength of the escort warships to ensure that this did not happen again, sending ammunition from Genoa, medicines and supplies from Tuscany, draft animals and horses from Naples, and Sicily. Grain was able to enter the port of Ceuta continuously.

Moroccans are naturally dissatisfied with this.On the one hand, they urgently built ships themselves, and on the other hand, they sent people to Algiers, Tunisia and other places, and bribed the local warlords heavily, asking them to send warships to Ceuta and the Italian coast to help them attack transport ships from Italy.

Their diplomatic efforts do not appear to have had much effect.Although the warlords in Algiers and Tunisia are both Green Christians, since they are already a semi-separatist regime, they naturally cannot rely on their own whims.In fact, they had trade connections with the Italians, had bought East Coast weapons before, and knew the seriousness of the matter.In addition, their friendship with the Moroccans is just that, not very close. At this juncture, it is natural not to take advantage of their little shit.Therefore, in the end, the warlords and warlords in these two places chose to sit on the sidelines. On the contrary, there are quite a few pirates among the people who plan to fish in troubled waters with their ships.

Of course, these pirate ships will certainly not pose any major threats.The Italians suffered a loss and were scolded bloody by the East Coast Advisory Group. Then they sent out their main battleships, and went to Salé Port, the largest pirate gathering place in Morocco, to block the gate, while cruising off the coast of Ceuta, attacking Possibly a small group of Moorish pirates roving over.The pirates who came from Algiers and Tunisia found that there was no chance to take advantage of them, so they simply dispersed and went to the coast of Spain to plunder, and the people on the east coast didn't bother to care about them.

In the direction of Port of Salé, the Italians also invested a lot of energy. The East Coast Navy stationed in the Cape Verde Islands also sent several warships northward, and together with the Italians, besieged the pirates here.

Port of Salé, since pirates gathered here more than 500 years ago, has now become the largest pirate lair in Morocco, almost comparable to the famous Algiers and Tunisia.Here, the Moroccans built a strong fortress and provided a channel for selling stolen goods, where the pirates could purchase all supplies including weapons and ammunition.So, don't say that these pirates have nothing to do with the country. In fact, the Moroccan government has close ties with them.These pirates have to hand over 20% of their plundering income to the Moroccan government—the lowest in history is 10%, and the highest is 70%. They provide all kinds of services, and the two parties are completely wearing a pair of pants.

The well-known pirate lair in Sare Port is a typical example of the collusion between officials and bandits.There are not only tens of thousands of pirates from various countries (but mainly Moroccans), but also more than [-] regular army soldiers stationed here, with complete coastal defense fortresses and dozens of cannons.In order to avoid unnecessary casualties, the eastern and Italian navies gave up their plan to forcibly enter the port and instead intercepted it in the open sea.Although it is inevitable that some fish slipped through the net, the overall efficiency is not bad, blocking most of the pirates inside.Today, the five pirate ships that rushed into battle were either sunk or forced to turn back to the port if nothing else happened.

Sure enough, after seeing the eastern and Italian naval warships rushing forward, these faster but weaker pirate ships immediately gave up their plans to fight recklessly.After swaying for a while, he turned around and fled back to the port, taking shelter under the protection of the fort.Unfortunately, in the process of escaping, there was still a pirate ship that was hit by four or more warships. The mast was interrupted on the spot, and the ship suddenly floated on the sea and could not move.

Their end, of course, is to be captured!A total of more than 200 pirates were captured except for some who jumped into the sea and escaped.Their destination is basically determined, and that is the Caribbean Sea!Among them, those who were willing to convert and obey the management joined the pirate forces in Sioux City, and the diehards were thrown into the plantations and prisons of Air Canada.

It is worth mentioning that before the Salé port officials also sent people to question with a white flag, accusing the people on the east coast and the Italians of provoking war for no reason and destroying the peaceful environment.In this regard, both the East Coast people and the Italians scoffed.Their excuses are also ready-made. The relationship between the people on the east coast and Morocco is very stiff because of the disappearance of missionaries, and the Italians suffered heavy losses because of the plundering of merchant ships. I'm just going to fuck you, what's the matter?The French can beat people without any excuse, let alone we have ready-made excuses?Obediently wait at home to die!

While the battle at sea was going on so tepidly, on the northern land, the Eastern and Italian Allied Forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Bai Chuanping were also marching in three ways.

They were supposed to be out in February of this year.However, due to the slow supply of materials, the [-] officers and soldiers of the Sixth Mixed Regiment did not start to cross the sea in batches until the beginning of April, heading for Ceuta Port.In addition, after seeing the northern Italian navy led by the Genoese fighting with the people on the east coast, the army led by the Venetians also sent the first and second divisions of the new army to land in the port of Ceuta after careful consideration. , Fight with the people on the east coast, and test the quality of their new army by the way.

Of course, Lieutenant Colonel Bai Chuanping would not refuse this. Without his money, he would get about 1.5 reinforcements for nothing. Why not do it?Besides, he also knew about the First and Second Divisions of the New Army, both of which had served on the Dalmatian coast and fought several battles with the Turks, and their performances were not bad.Among them, the first division is called the "Split Division", not only because some soldiers of the division are Croats, but also because they fought against the Ottoman Turks here and won the victory; "Zakynthos Division", this is because the first garrison of the division was the island of Zakynthos after its establishment, and the division commander was a Greek from the island, so it got its name.

When the two divisions arrived at the port of Ceuta, the sixth mixed regiment had already set off and entered the hilly mountains of northern Morocco.At this time, a large number of Moroccan troops were attracted, with a total of about seven to eight thousand people, both on foot and on horseback. It seemed that they should be the local Moroccan army stationed nearby.Lieutenant Colonel Bai Chuanping was the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces of both sides. He was so proud that he did not intend to let the Italians come to join him. Instead, he ordered them to divide into two groups, and the "Split Division" headed westward. After a brief occupation of the abandoned seaport city of Tangier, the "Zakynthos" division went all the way south along the Mediterranean coastline to attack the city.These two places are relatively empty now, and the Italians should not be hindered much.

In addition, a full five Portuguese infantry regiments have also been mobilized.In about a few months, this army with a total number of about 6300 people can land near Sare, the pirate lair.It is believed that at that time, most of the elite of Morocco had been attracted to the north, and the emptiness of the west coast was inevitable, which provided very favorable conditions for the Portuguese to land.

To beat the Moroccans, there is actually no need to mobilize the Portuguese at all.You know, their king died in battle on this land, and thus began the dark period of being merged by the Spanish Habsburg family.Therefore, if the Moroccans can be taught a lesson, Portugal will be very happy.They didn't have this opportunity before, but now that the East Bank and Italy have jointly dispatched troops, the opportunity has come!

King Pedro of Portugal even told Cai Zhenguo, the East Coast Plenipotentiary Envoy to Europe in a slightly boastful tone, that the financial situation of the Kingdom of Portugal has improved greatly in recent years, so the army's equipment and training have been fully guaranteed, and the current " strong combat power".He predicted that as long as the more than 6000 Portuguese troops successfully landed on the west coast of Morocco, it would not be a problem to capture the notorious pirate city of Sare.Even, if the battle goes well, they can continue to march into the hinterland, threatening the capital of Morocco, Meknes, and creating opportunities for the frontal battlefield.

It should be said that the Portuguese have good ideas.But how it will be fought still has to be spoken on the battlefield.Morocco is a country that has only been founded for more than [-] years. Its politics has not yet been seriously corrupted, and its army's combat effectiveness has been quite limited. Otherwise, it would not have defeated the British colonists in Tangier back then, forcing the British to burn the city and flee in a hurry.

If the Portuguese want to avenge their shame, they still have to prove themselves with real swords and guns!

(End of this chapter)