Chapter 794 Sea power is everything

Chapter 795 Sea power is everything

Although Di Chayera did not hold out much hope, he still asked: "Is there any way you can avoid the British fleet?"

"No, there is no need to go around them." Demville lowered his head and said, "You know, I used to do business in the UK, but then the strait was too strict, so our captain wanted to try his luck in the Ottomans... …”

"Tell the important point."

"Oh, yes, General." Demville spoke faster, "We are transiting at the port of Piraeus, where supplies are very abundant."

Di Chayela frowned: "But it's too far there, it's too late."

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."

He took a deep breath: "The most important thing is that the British would never have imagined that supplies would come from the east."

Dichayela and the staff looked at each other. They had subconsciously felt that the transport ship was slow, but they had forgotten that the French-Turkish trade had already used steam paddle steamers.

It didn't even take a week for this thing to travel from Piraeus to Genoa.

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 nervous steps back and whispered, "I really didn't take this into consideration, and I'm really sorry. Just think of it as my 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 a 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, who was also the newly awarded Baron Maymac, looked at the ship owners in the room and said with a sincere expression:

“That’s basically what happened.

“Genoa’s troops require a total of 4 million pounds of flour, 35,000 barrels of wine, 50,000 pounds of gunpowder, as well as a large amount of shells, medicine and other supplies.

"I hope everyone can take on the transportation task, and the remuneration will definitely satisfy everyone."

Unfortunately, most of the East Mediterranean Trading Company's own ships were not in port at this time, and the fastest batch would not be able to return until 5 days later. Therefore, Styler had to find a French private shipowner and planned to hire their steam engine. ship.

Immediately, several people shook their heads and stood up, preparing to leave, "Baron Maymac, everyone knows that the British fleet is cruising near Genoa. This is too dangerous."

"Yes, if there is no risk, why not transport supplies from Marseille?"

"And it requires us to pay part of the payment in advance. This is definitely not a good deal."

Most of the funds of the Eastern Mediterranean Trading Company are in places such as Syria and Egypt. After all, they are the main purchasing points, and Styler does not even have enough money to purchase the materials needed for Demobin.

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 a British warship might show up."

"To be honest, the risk is really too great..."

Seeing that several people insisted on leaving, Styler was sweating profusely and said loudly: "30% interest, plus insurance, please, for the sake of God."

However, several more people wanted 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 was opened and the ship owners stepped out, a 30-year-old man with rough skin and wearing a black coarse cloth jacket who had been sitting in the corner stood up and said loudly:

"Baron Maymac, I can lend you my ship and provide you with a shipload of flour in advance."

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 made up my mind."

Leon Troc looked at the people who had come to the door again: "You may know that since my great-grandfather's generation, my family has been running the shipping business between France and the Far East.

"When my grandfather was at his most prosperous, the family owned four ships, among which the 'Ocean Current' was a three-masted sailing ship that was 43 yards long."

Ferry nodded silently, confirming his statement.

The shipowners stopped one after another and turned to look at Turok. A maritime merchant who owns four sea-going ships is definitely considered a wealthy businessman.

Trocker sighed and continued: "Then France lost to the British in the Seven Years' War, and well, as everyone knows, we lost all of our Far Eastern trade.

There is no mistake, every song is released and the content is read one by one!

"The Ocean Current was also seized by the British at the Cape of Good Hope. Two years later, my family's business went bankrupt.

“My father then went to Naples to help people revise nautical charts to support the family, but he soon fell ill and died.

"My mother took my brother and me to make a living by mending fishing nets in Marseille. When she was 30 years old, all her fingers were rotten. My brother and I both had malaria, had no money to buy medicine, and almost died...

"Fortunately, I was lucky. With the help of a friend of my father's, I continued the shipping business and finally bought a boat."

Someone said impatiently: "I'm sorry. But what exactly do you want to say?"

Trok raised his hand and said, "Most of the gentlemen here make a living from Mediterranean trade.

"Have you ever thought about what would happen if our army in Genoa were defeated by the Austrians?"

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!"

"No, where can you say it is so serious?"

"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 France's access to the Mediterranean Sea. North Africa will lose contact with the mainland and will soon surrender to Britain."

He looked at the ship owners with burning eyes: "By then, all trade in the Mediterranean will be monopolized by British merchant ships. You, me, and everyone here will go bankrupt!

"We only have this chance, believe me, we have to defend Genoa.

"Not for the king, nor for Baron Maymac, 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!"