The Rise of the European Emperor

Marin didn't fully believe Old Sten Stuley's intelligence, so he sent spies to Oldenburg Country to inquire.

After many twists and turns, his intelligence personnel did inquire about the news from the mouths of the members of the Oldenburg Empire-King Hans of Denmark did have a secret letter, and he did say that he would not only help the Oldenburg country to get the information. Go to Jever, and by the way, I will extort a large sum of money from Marin...

A large sum of money... Although this figure is unknown, it confirms the accuracy of old Sten Stuley's intelligence from the side. Of course, the large sum of money mentioned by King Hans of Denmark is actually tens of thousands of gold coins. After all, the appearance of the Danish fleet also requires an appearance fee, which cannot be paid in vain. However, old Sten Stuley exaggerated the number ten times, which stimulated Marin...

Marin no longer hesitated, he sent his cronies Kohler to Lübeck to contact the other party, and proposed to invite representatives from Hamburg and Sweden to hold a "quartet of talks" to unite the front and work together to deal with the common enemy of Denmark...

Coincidentally, when Kohler arrived in Lübeck, old Sten Stuley also sent his deputy Swante Nilsson to Lübeck to ask for financial and material support.

Old Sten Stuley estimated that during the autumn harvest season, the Danes would temporarily hold off the offensive and divide their troops for food. This time period is the best time to support Sweden.

Although it is said that old Sten Stuley has prepared enough supplies, the more the better. The more prepared you are, the safer Stockholm will be.

Moreover, during the period after the autumn harvest, Denmark will separate many ships to deliver grain. During this period, there will be a blank period of blockade in the Swedish waters. In this way, Sweden can use this time to import weapons, ammunition and various materials from abroad.

Swante Nilsson was also very excited to meet Kohler. He knew that old Sten Stuley's strategy worked...

When Kohler proposed to Lübeck Grand Chancellor Tagfacht the idea of ​​uniting the maritime forces of Lübeck, Hamburg and East Friesland to annihilate the Danish fleet, both Tagfacht and Swart Nilsson were stunned by the madness Shocked by the thought...

However, after a moment, Swat Nilsson was excited. Because, Kohler also said that Marin will send 20,000 troops to unite the armies of Lübeck and Hamburg to capture the Principality of Holstein, the Principality of Schleswig, and even the Jutland Peninsula in the hinterland of Denmark...

Once Marin did this, the Danish army in Sweden would panic and be overwhelmed. Because the old nest was taken over, the Danes would have ghosts if they didn't mess up. At that time, the Swedish army can fight back in a big way. Moreover, the Danes will definitely be in a hurry to withdraw their troops to retake the two principalities and Jutland by then. Because these three places are the agricultural center of Denmark and the most densely populated place in Denmark except Zeeland. If these three places are lost, Denmark's national strength will be greatly affected.

Of course, the Swedes will not let the Danish troops withdraw easily. Swante Nilsson immediately said that as long as Marin was willing to send troops to the Danish mainland, the Swedish army would do everything in its power to hold back the Danish army. If the Danish army dared to withdraw completely to the mainland, the Swedes dared to occupy the southernmost part of the Scandinavia peninsula under Danish control. There, it is the only area of ​​Sweden suitable for agriculture, and it is also an important coastal area that controls the Øresund Strait.

When Kohler stated Marin's strategic goals, Lübeck Grand Chancellor Tagfacht was also excited...

Because, according to Marin, the Principality of Holstein will be divided into two parts, which will be divided between Lübeck and Hamburg who are participating in the war...

Coincidentally, the Free City of Lübeck and the Free City of Hamburg were both separated from the Principality of Holstein. Although they no longer have to pay taxes to Duke Holstein, nominally, the people of the two cities are subjects of Duke Holstein. And the current Duke of Holstein is King Hans of Denmark...

However, Denmark and the Hanseatic League were enemies and rivals.

So, in the Duchy of Holstein, Lübeck in the east and Hamburg in the west, were suppressed by policy. Although the two cities are within the territory of the Principality of Holstein, the caravans of the two cities cannot pass through the territory of the Principality of Holstein and communicate smoothly.

Even when Kohler came, he took a detour from the Principality of Saxony-Lauenburg south of Hamburg and arrived in Lübeck...

The distance between Lübeck and Hamburg is only 60 kilometers, but this distance is like a natural moat, hindering the exchanges and cooperation between the two cities. Fortunately, in the Duchy of Saxony-Lauenburg, there is a Sterknitz Canal built between 1391 and 1398. The two Hanseatic cities could exchange trade through this small canal.

However, this canal belongs to the Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg. Obviously, Saxe-Lauenburg will not let them use it for free, and a lot of tolls will still be levied.

Moreover, the most important thing is that this canal is a small canal, only suitable for small boats for inland transportation. Large ships over 100 tons cannot pass through this small canal.

In fact, Lübeck and Hamburg would like to build a direct Grand Canal for ships over 200 tons. It is a pity that the land between the two cities belongs to Denmark, the sworn enemy of the Hanseatic League, and the Danes will never allow the construction of a canal between the two cities.

If the Principality of Holstein is obtained through war, then the canal can be built smoothly between the two cities, and the shipping will be accessible in advance. In this way, the Lübeck people no longer have to pass through the Oresund in Denmark and accept blackmail from the Danes.

"Then what is your request?"

"Our Count, I hope to obtain the Duchy of Schleswig and the Earl of Oldenburg..."

"What? Mr. Marin's appetite is too big, right? The two of us divide up a duchy, but he wants a duchy and an earl?" Lübeck Grand Speaker Tagfach was dissatisfied.

"Your Excellency the Speaker, our earl can send 20,000 troops and guarantee to defeat the Danish army, isn't that enough?" Kohler said sternly.

"However, the Danes are the strongest in the navy, and the army is just average..." Tagfacht retorted.

"You must understand that occupying Schleswig is equivalent to bordering Denmark. Do you think the Danes will be willing to give up the Duchy of Schleswig? We are helping you block the Danish attack..." Kohler said .

"It seems to make some sense. In this way, I will send someone to invite Mr. Heisenberg, the Chancellor of Hamburg, to come over and discuss together..."

"Okay, I can also reply to our Lord Earl. He has explained it before, and he can come in person."

"That's the best!"

...

So, when Tagfacht sent someone to invite the Chancellor of Hamburg, Kohler also sent his men to rush back to Aurich without stopping to report to Marin.

When he learned that the four-nation talks could be held, Marin did not hesitate. He directly took a boat and went to Hamburg first. When he arrived in Hamburg, he rode around the Principality of Saxony-Lauenburg and went to Lübeck.

20 days later, Marin appeared at the negotiating table in Lübeck...

"Lord Marin, please describe your strategy in detail..." Tagfacht said first.

"Okay, no problem. My plan is that the fleets of Lübeck and Hamburg will be assembled first, and then deliberately send news to the Danes..."

"Wouldn't this allow the Danes to divide their troops to intercept our Hamburg fleet?" Heisenberg, the Chancellor of Hamburg, objected.

"Mr. Speaker, don't worry. We just want Denmark to send some warships to intercept the Hamburg fleet..."

"However, the Hamburg Fleet has no chance of defeating Denmark..." Heisenberg said helplessly.

"Don't worry, Mr. Speaker, let's talk about the comparison of combat power... According to the information exchange just now, Lübeck can make up 110 warships, and Hamburg can make up about 90. Obviously, the Danes will pay more attention to Lubeck. Baker fleet. So, even though they can make up 200 ships, they will never send more than half of them to besiege the Hamburg fleet. They will definitely keep at least half of them to monitor the Lübeck fleet. That is, No more than 100 warships will be sent by the Danes..."

"Yes, Lord Marin, but the Hamburg Fleet is not sure of winning..."

"And us, Mr. Heisenberg. The country of East Friesland can produce eight 500-ton warships and 15 250-ton warships..."

"What is a ton?" At this time, both Tagfacht and Heisenberg asked at the same time.

Marin is also stuck - he forgot that the ton is a unit of measure, which is currently only used in the counties of East Friesland, and other countries don't know this quantifier. Then, he spent some time explaining the value of this unit to the two of them.

"That means you can only take out 23 warships?" Tagfacht asked.

"Yes, Mr. Speaker, but my plan is to let Hamburg drag the Danish fleet from the front. Then, my fleet will raid the Danish fleet from behind, defeat them, and even wipe them out..."

"Lord Marin, I can't believe what you said. Because adding 23 warships won't bring much advantage..." Neither Tagfacht nor Heisenberg really believed in the East Frisian war. The combat effectiveness of the ship, and their thinking, is still stuck in the era of jumping boats to help fight the ship... Moreover, the formation time of Marin's fleet is also very short, I don't know if it will work...

"Okay, let's do it. After a while, I will send a few cannons. You can try them on a big ship. It's very useful to bombard enemy ships..."

However, the two major speakers are still skeptical. In desperation, Marin had to say:

"This way... After I go back, I will send two 250-level warships over and let them demonstrate the use of artillery in naval battles for you. At that time, you will understand the role of artillery in naval battles..."

Marin knows that it is useless to say, it is better to tell them with reality. However, Marin refused to send the battleship over. If they learn the structure and construction of battleships, they will also suffer. Therefore, it is most appropriate to send 250-level armed merchant ships.

In this way, the first Quartet negotiations did not make significant progress. The problem was that neither the Lübeck nor the Hamburgers believed that Marin was talking about the role of artillery in naval warfare.

In fact, with 8 warships and 15 armed merchant ships, Marin also had a chance to defeat the Danish Navy. It's just that it's too risky to do so. If he loses, then Marin will completely lose sea power, and maritime trade will be affected.

So Marin took the two sea powers of Lübeck and Hamburg and used their warships to attract the attention of the Danish navy. Then, his own fleet, raided the Danish fleet from behind. In this way, the Danish Navy has basically no chance of winning.

In this meeting, the differences between the two sides are also here. If the performance of the two armed merchant ships sent by Marin conquered the two Grand Chancellors, then the negotiations would continue. Otherwise, the two Hanseatic cities would not have the confidence to fight the Danes. Because, once they lose, the Hanseatic League may be at a loss...

As for Marin's 20,000-strong army defeating the Danish army on land, they had no doubts. Because, Marin's case of defeating Saxony's 26,000 troops with an army of 10,000 has spread throughout Germany, and no one doubts the combat effectiveness of Marin's army... Moreover, the Danish army has never been too strong...

However, to defeat Denmark, the decisive victory at sea is the most important. Because Denmark has always been a country that relies on the navy to play tricks. Therefore, the two Great Speakers are waiting for the combat effectiveness test of the armed merchant ships with artillery sent by Marin. Once what Marin said is true, then the Quartet talks will start again. Then, it's time for everyone to gather strength and attack Denmark at the same time...

Of course, although there is no agreement on the military action plan, the Quartet has reached an agreement on the issue of supporting Sweden against Denmark-will take advantage of the time when Denmark will send a ship to transport grain during the autumn harvest, and quietly send ships to support Sweden. weapons, armor, and various other supplies to enhance Sweden's ability to fight Denmark...