Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 2413 Great Northern War ([-])

On November 1700, 11, Zhao Gui arrived at Wendao Shipyard as promised.

Windau Shipyard is a not-so-small shipyard, at least on the Baltic coast, whether it is Denmark, Sweden, Poland (well, this country has no access to the sea, only Danzig, which can be used by an agreement), or the German region, No other shipyard can match the size of Wendau Shipyard.

This shipyard has six berths and can build sailing vessels of no more than 50 tons, with strong technical force.In the second half of last year, in order to repay the principal and interest of the loan that was due soon, Grand Duke Frederick of Courland sold half of the shares of the factory to the East Coasters.The equity transferee is the Ministry of Communications on the East Coast. After they bought half of the equity in Wendao Shipyard, they immediately established a company called Beihai Transportation Company, and transferred 50% of the equity in Wendao Shipyard and the Little Star Shipyard in Russia. [-]% are owned by the company.But you must not think that this company is just a shipbuilding company. In fact, according to the positioning of the Ministry of Communications, this company named Beihai Transportation Company is a serious shipping company. In the future, it will gradually add ships. Shipping operations in the Baltic Sea.

The establishment of this company has not yet been noticed by the Dutch and the British.In fact, they didn't even know about the equity transfer of Wendao Shipyard. Who made the people on the east coast and the Courlands sign a secret transfer agreement.However, nothing can be kept secret for long and in the future the Dutch will finally find out that they have another competitor in the Baltic, which is bound to provoke a huge backlash from them.

But marching into the Baltic Sea is a big plan that has been planned for a long time by the business circles on the east coast.They can no longer bear the fact that the local business order has been dominated by the Dutch for a long time. The Dutch account for more than [-]% of the profits generated by the goods produced on the east coast when they are sold to end consumers by the Dutch, and the local agents take another [-]%. People on the east coast can only get a small part of the benefits.

In the past, the Dutch were important allies on the east coast. If they wanted to coax them, they would naturally have to transfer their interests.But when is it now?With Northern Europe at war (Great Northern War) and Southern and Western Europe on the verge of war (War of the Spanish Succession), the Eastern Republics are ready to step up to the fore and play a bigger role in history.The commercial market in the Baltic Sea is very broad, and the local people are generally much wealthier than those in southern Europe. They are the first pocketbooks of the Dutch. Since the people on the east coast have already obtained enough sweetness from the commercial activities in the Mediterranean, how can they hold back their dissatisfaction? What about developing in the Baltic Sea?

Moreover, according to Zhao Gui's knowledge, Beihai Shipping Company has reached a strategic cooperation agreement with Caribbean Shipping Company, which adds a strong naval color to it.It will be even more interesting if combined with the fact that the Navy is interested in the Baltic Sea and intends to enter this huge "freshwater sea".Anyway, Zhao Gui, as the ambassador to Riga, does not intend to set up any obstacles to the actions of the navy, on the contrary, he will cooperate with it. Who wants his two sons to serve in the navy?

The representative sent by the navy to contact Zhao Gui was a major named Liu Zhen, who used to serve as the Djibouti security commander.Because of the long-term work on the shore, this gentleman is now engaged in liaison work in the Baltic Sea, and has taken the opportunity to form a team.The Navy has already promised him that once he gains a foothold in the Baltic Sea in the future, he will undoubtedly serve as the first garrison commander, and his rank will also be promoted to lieutenant colonel.Serving as a security commander in the Baltic Sea was much more enjoyable than fooling around in the hot desert of Djibouti. Liu Zhen was quite happy.

"Ambassador Zhao, the Great Northern War is in full swing. From our position on the east coast, is there any chance for me to intervene?" In the office of the director of Wendao Shipyard, the Kurlanders have already transferred most of the people Let's go, only Liu Zhen, Zhao Gui and a few confidantes are left.

Zhao Gui smiled inwardly upon hearing this.The army is booming in Morocco, and the navy guys really can't sit still, and plan to set up a military base in the Baltic Sea as soon as they come up.The question is, is it that easy?This is not a backward area like Morocco, and every country is not lonely. As the saying goes, it is very complicated to mobilize the whole body.

"Major Liu, what is the charter of the Ministry of the Navy? To what extent do you intend to intervene? What is the goal?" Zhao Gui asked directly.

"The Ministry of the Navy gave me only one goal, and that is to find a suitable foothold in the Baltic Sea. This foothold must have relatively good port conditions, a certain economic hinterland, and certain ship repair and maintenance capabilities." Liu Zhen said one by one: "There is no need to say too much about the port conditions. This involves the safety of the navy's berthing warships. The economic hinterland is to reduce maintenance costs. After all, once the navy fleet is stationed, there will be a lot of people that will follow. There is no hinterland." It is impossible to supply food, daily necessities and corresponding raw materials. In addition, we will set up a ship repair factory in this foothold in the future, as well as a small number of supporting enterprises that produce key parts and components. You know, it is impossible to send all workers from the mainland, We can only select some senior technicians and management to come here, and most of the ordinary workers have to be recruited locally.”

"Your conditions are really not low." Zhao Gui sighed and said, "I think of it for a while and I think there are only two suitable ones, one is the port of Wendau in the Principality of Courland, and the other is the port of Poland-Lithuania. Free City of Gdansk, which one do you want?"

The Port of Wendau is now the largest city and largest port in the Principality of Courland, and it is also the second largest port in the Eastern Baltic Sea, second only to Riga, with a population of more than [-]. It is a bustling city.To be honest, it is a bit difficult for people on the east coast to designate this port as their own territory.Even though the Principality of Courland is one of your own, if you want to take away their money bag and a quarter of the population, it is impossible for your brothers to turn their faces.

And what about the Free City of Gdansk?Speaking of it, the possibility is even greater than Wendao Port.Gdansk is located at the mouth of the Vistula River, and the port conditions are not bad.There are lagoon sandbars on the periphery. The lagoon is deep enough and has a vast area to park a large number of ships.The sandbar can block the strong wind and waves in the open sea, so that the anchorage of ships in the lagoon is calm. At the same time, forts and fortresses can be built on the sandbar as a defense line to defend the port.Moreover, this city also has a population of tens of thousands, and there are many business people, many handicraftsmen, and the conditions for industrial development are excellent.

The most wonderful thing is that the current port city does not belong to any country in theory. Like Strasbourg Free City in eastern France, it is a city governed by local people.The reason for this has to be traced back to the complicated situation on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea.

In the beginning, this city did belong to Poland. People from the east bank came to open up the market, but it was closed because of the deterioration of the relationship between the two countries.During the Polish-Russian War, the city was occupied by the Swedes and briefly after the Prussians rebelled against Poland, looting it.In this war, the Poles lost a large piece of coastal land, and the subject country, the Principality of Prussia, also became independent, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth became a completely landlocked country.

For a big country like Poland, it is shameful not to have access to the sea!Ever since, in the next many years, the Poles either through war or through diplomacy, in short, tried all means, and finally obtained an outlet to the sea in the era of Jan Sobieski, that is, the Free City of Gdansk .

They were able to get the coveted port thanks to the needlework of the Dutch.Under the persuasion of the United Provinces, the Kingdom of Sweden designated Gdansk near the mouth of the Vistula River as a free city and entrusted it to Poland.

Please note that this is not Sweden ceding land to Poland, but allowing Gdansk to become an independent free city and then managed by the Polish government.Theoretically, Gdansk is not currently Polish territory at all, and its status is in limbo.

In fact, it is similar. Although the Poles have sent officials here, the number of troops deployed is very small, only a few thousand people. In addition, the local economy is basically autonomous-well, in fact, all parts of Poland are in a state of autonomy ——The locals don't think of themselves as Poles. Gein has the largest population of Germans, followed by Poles.

"The Ministry has already decided to find a way to take down the Free City of Gdansk and use it as our foothold and military base." Major Liu Zhen said.Obviously, he must have studied the situation of the Baltic Sea in depth before he came here. After counting and counting, only Gdansk, a free city that does not belong to any country, is the most suitable to swallow.It's just that the Poles currently have such a port, can they agree?

"It's up to you whether you agree or not. In short, let's find a way. Aren't these countries fighting to the death? It's a good opportunity. That's why I just asked you how far you can intervene." Liu Zhen said with a smile.

Zhao Gui was also speechless.I knew that the Navy had this idea. When Patkul asked him for a loan, he should have mentioned the matter of Gdansk and asked them to mortgage the city.Anyway, he reckoned that the Poles would definitely not pay the money.However, this city is not worth 300 million, and the Poles may not be willing to mortgage the only outlet to the sea.

"Didn't the army take down Danji and Ceuta counties? You can get one anyway, why bother to go to the muddy waters of the Baltic Sea? Our foundation here is a bit weak, and things are not easy to do." Zhao Gui couldn't help complaining. .

Liu Zhen was a little embarrassed when he heard it, and said: "You also know that it was brought down by the army. It would not look good to take it away directly. Of course, this does not mean that we don't want it. Danji and Chouda counties, we will definitely take it away." Take one away. It's just that it's the Mediterranean Sea! It doesn't have a border with the Baltic Sea. If you want to interfere in the situation here in the future, you really have to get a foothold here. Ambassador Zhao, you don't have to shirk this, let's go together Add it up, think about it carefully.”

"There is nothing to think about. This matter is not easy to solve economically and diplomatically. The only way is to break the enemy with strength and find a way from a military point of view. But don't blame me for not reminding the Poles about losing their only sea exit. There will definitely be resentment, and there will be endless troubles in the future, so you can think about it." Zhao Gui looked at Liu Zhen and said with a serious face: "They may launch a war to capture Gdansk, do you have the ability to keep this city?"

"I can't think about things that are so far away now. I won't talk about it first. The big deal is that the future will lead the Russians, Austrians, Swedes, Turks and Prussians to carve up Poland and calculate the ball. The system of this country is simply a joke. It is a miracle to maintain the unity." Liu Zhen said nonchalantly: "You first find a way to contact August and Charles XII, they are the parties involved, listen to their opinions. As for the Russians, they are too far away. Let them dry first, and talk about it later."

"This kind of practice of killing or burying is really a common problem in your military department." Zhao Gui sighed and said helplessly: "Success! I will handle this matter as soon as possible, but don't worry, don't worry about it." Hanging on a tree in Gdansk, prepare more backup targets. Well, Charles XII is about to fight Peter I. Let’s talk about it after this battle and the situation is clear. I’m going to talk to the Swedes first , They should not care about the ownership of Gdansk, but the time is not very ripe now, just wait slowly."

(End of this chapter)