Chapter 506: Treasures of the Caribbean Sea (Third update, please subscribe)
Do the Spaniards have a choice?
They didn't.
It didn't even take 24 hours, but only two hours for the Cuban Governor's Office to reach a consensus - agreeing to release the Chinese workers, abolish unequal employment contracts, and establish a joint special court.
The reason they agreed so readily was not only because they were afraid of the Ming fleet, but more importantly, they had no choice.
The bombardment of Havana would boost the morale of the rebels. If the rebels received support from the Ming Dynasty, they would lose all of Cuba. In other words, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese workers was the solution with the least loss.
“This is gunboat diplomacy!”
Standing on the bridge, Zhu Xianhai said to Zhao Yaozu.
"In peacetime, the navy's biggest role is to protect the interests of overseas Chinese. We should learn from the Europeans in this regard. When the interests of our overseas Chinese are harmed, we should decisively use cannons to speak!"
Although no shots were fired this time, would the Spanish have backed down so quickly if there had not been the direct threat of two powerful "Friendship" class battleships ready to bombard Havana at any time?
"Your Majesty, I understand. From now on, when I sail, I will always provide support for the expatriates!"
When Zhao Yaozu nodded, he looked at the coast in the distance and asked.
"Your Majesty, how long are we going to stay here? Beyond that is the territorial waters of the United States!"
After leaving Havana, the fleet did not return directly to the country, but headed north to the southern coast of Florida.
"That depends on how long it takes them to find it!"
Zhu Xianhai picked up a cup of tea from the tray brought by the orderly and said as he stared at the sea ahead.
"In August 1622, the fleet of 29 ships, including the Senora Atoca, returned to Spain from South America with treasures. The Senora Atoca was loaded with the most valuable and largest treasures. When the fleet sailed to the waters between Florida and Cuba, a hurricane swept the last five ships in the fleet. To avoid the hurricane, they sailed to Florida. However, the Senora Atoca was damaged in the hurricane due to its heavy load and quickly sank to the bottom of the sea. The sailors on other ships immediately jumped into the water, hoping to rescue some treasures, but just when they found the wreckage and were about to salvage the gold bars, another more powerful hurricane hit, and all the people underwater died in the hurricane..."
While telling this story, Zhu Xianhai took a sip of tea and pointed to the sea ahead.
"There, there, the sea area they are searching now is where the Lady Atoka sank."
While speaking, Zhu Xianhai looked at the small airship flying slowly in the sky. They were searching for the location of the sunken ship.
Soon, a signal came from the airship in the sky - a shipwreck was found!
"Your Majesty, how do you know the location of this ship?"
Zhao Yaozu looked at His Majesty in astonishment.
"I have a treasure map!"
Zhu Xianhai smiled.
There was no treasure map. He had only seen a documentary about how several generations of the Fisher family spent thirty years searching for the shipwreck. Thanks to that documentary, Zhu Xianhai noted its location and, of course, Fisher's words.
"In order to find it, we used metal detectors to detect anything on the sea floor that was not a rock... But then, after we found it, we realized that if we had an airplane, we could even see it from the air."
For more than three hundred years, it has been quietly sinking at a depth of 17 meters on the seabed. Its traces can be clearly seen from the air - the "Lady Atoka" that sank in a storm sank into the sea in an almost intact state.
"Okay, let's get ready to salvage!"
This is truly a treasure hunt without any suspense!
Zhu Xianhai sighed a little boredly.
When he first arrived in Nanhua, facing the financial difficulties, Zhu Xianhai also planned to come here to look for the sunken ship. After all, there were more than 8 tons of gold on the ship! In addition to more than ten tons of silver and a large number of gems, as long as it was found, it would definitely solve the financial problems at the time.
However, before Zhu Xianhai could start to implement it, the American Civil War broke out, and this delay lasted for nearly ten years!
"Well, let the divers go down to search for the treasure we need. Remember to speed up. We can't stay here for too long."
After all, the ship was in the territorial waters of the United States, well, the territorial waters of the Confederate States of America.
"Understood, Your Majesty."
A few hours later, the diver's report was almost exactly the same as the description in the documentary - the entire ship was preserved very intact, just dumped on the seabed. Even after being submerged on the seabed for more than 200 years, the hull was still not damaged much. There were many large boxes in the cabin, and gold, jewelry, silver and other valuables were found around the scattered boxes.
Soon, the first batch of salvaged treasures was sent to the "Friendship". Sailors and officers were all looking at the treasures excitedly. Although they knew that the treasures belonged to the country, everyone's face was still filled with smiles.
"It looks like we'll have to stay here for at least a day, Your Majesty."
"one day……"
Zhu Xianhai picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. Looking at the enthusiastic sailors on the deck, he said with a smile:
"Tell all the soldiers that although these treasures will be exhibited in the museum, each of them will receive a silver commemorative medal as a commemoration of this action."
It sounds like a lot, but in reality it's just a few thousand silver dollars. Compared to the gains from this voyage, this expense is nothing...
"Also, we need to speed up a bit. After all, we don't have much time to waste here. We should try to set sail and leave here before the sun sets tomorrow."
Holding a cup of tea, Zhu Xianhai leaned on the railing of the bridge and looked at a group of seagulls flying not far away. For some reason, Zhu Xianhai felt a little sad.
"This may be the last windfall I will receive. There may never be another one..."
What is gone is not just the windfall, in fact, what was the windfall worth? It was just a few tons of gold.
Compared to gold, what he regretted more was his foresight about the future. But now history has changed dramatically because of his intervention. Under such circumstances, it is impossible for him to grasp the future in real time like in the past.
Even the simulator couldn't help him like this. After all, long-term simulation only had one chance left. Short-term simulation was only a few months, which didn't allow him to see into the future like he had in the past, and adjust his decisions according to the future situation.
Now all this is gone.
What will the future be like for him? Zhu Xianhai couldn't help but feel a little confused. He didn't have any answer in his heart, but one thing he was sure of was that the future world would definitely be more dangerous.
It's not just because of his participation that the powder keg in Europe has become bigger, but more importantly, he will also walk into that powder keg in the future.
What would that world look like?
Zhu Xianhai thought for a while, then sighed and talked to himself.
"Let's go home first!"
(End of this chapter)
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