Chapter 1312: Sectarian Strife

Most Europeans believe in Catholicism; anyone who believes in other sects is regarded as a heretic, especially Protestantism, which is derived from Catholicism.

It is viewed by Catholicism as the heretic among heretics; the two sects share the same origin, yet they are as incompatible as fire and water!

Although Protestantism has undergone several purges, its numbers are unknown and it is scattered everywhere; if they were to rise up at this time.

As it happens, Frederick II believes in Protestantism.

"Pass down the order: this time, we are going to help Protestantism and crusade against the heretics."

Prince Yong narrowed his eyes slightly; this strategy of the Chief Minister is brilliant.

Prince Yong immediately requested to lead the vanguard.

Liu Zheng had the same intention, and the two hit it off immediately.

"I will trouble you, Prince Yong."

He set off in a grand manner with five supply ships and two warships.

Xie Chan came out of the cabin and, seeing Prince Yong boarding the supply ship, could not help but feel worried.

"Will Prince Yong be in danger this time? After all, they are supply ships; will their combat power be insufficient..."

Liu Zheng smiled and shook his head; the power cores of the supply ships are the latest upgrades, and they are equipped with the latest Longyan weaponry—it would be a miracle if those broken ships in Europe could win.

He held Xie Chan's hand and said, "You should be worrying about those Europeans instead."

This news was quickly spread by Liu Zheng's intelligence organization and soon reached all over Europe; it was like pouring oil on a fire, plunging the whole of Europe into an even more chaotic situation.

Protestantism had been suppressed for so long, and hearing that the mysterious and powerful Dragon Flame Nation in the East was actually going to support Protestantism and crusade against that group of heretics in Catholicism.

Immediately after, another piece of news broke: Frederick the Great was fighting nationwide for the Protestant movement.

For a time, those Protestant believers in Europe suddenly became fanatical.

Protestantism had been bullied by Catholicism in Europe for a long time, and now that two such big figures publicly supported Protestantism, the common people and believers developed a spirit of resistance.

In the end, it got out of hand, and the Protestant movement spread throughout Europe.

The Austrian Duchy, the country that suppressed Protestantism the most severely, also saw the Protestant movement erupt in many places.

Austria, Vienna.

This first female Grand Duke in history, Teresa, was already overwhelmed, and she exploded upon hearing this news.

The Bishop she believed in had actually been called a heretic by Liu Zheng!

She stared at the map; this war, which had swept through most of Europe, had already escalated into a struggle of faith.

In her eyes, Prussia, that Frederick who believed in Protestantism, was the culprit, the evil heretic, and Liu Zheng was just like him—a troublemaker.

At present, Prussia is at a disadvantage, lacking supplies and soldiers, while its ally, Britain, is being restrained at sea by France and cannot provide aid.

But at such a critical moment, the Protestant movement actually broke out domestically, and she still has to deploy troops to suppress it to avoid instability in the rear.

Teresa's gaze became cold and sharp.

"Where is the Longyan Fleet?"

"It is about to enter the Suez Canal, but the vanguard fleet is only escorted by two warships, and no sign of Yinzhou ships has been found."

Teresa narrowed her eyes; she had been studying the history of Longyan these past few days and remembered a saying.

Soldiers and horses move, but provisions come first.

These are indeed their supply ships.

She immediately ordered: "Tell France that Liu Zheng is supporting Protestantism and those are supply ships with no combat capability; tell them to handle it themselves."

On the Mediterranean Sea, the naval battle between Britain and the Franco-Austrian Alliance had been going on for a long time, and by now, they had both received the news.

And the Longyan supply ships had already pushed into the Suez Canal, about to march into the Mediterranean Sea.

Britain and the Franco-Austrian Alliance actually suspended their naval battle because of this matter to discuss countermeasures.

France is also a country that believes in Catholicism, and upon learning the news, they were furious; they would never allow Longyan to fund Protestantism and throw Europe into chaos.

What?!

Support Protestantism and exterminate the heretics!

My Catholicism is the orthodoxy; any Protestantism is heretical—this is a struggle of faith!

"Damn Longyan people, their fleet must be stopped at the Suez Canal!"

"But we have very few warships left that we can use."

"Do you want to see those heretics blaspheme the Lord?"

The few remaining ships of the Franco-Austrian Alliance headed toward the Suez Canal, 【targeting】 the Longyan supply ships.

As for the British side, upon hearing that the Longyan ships had already entered the Suez Canal, Luojinsi was furious, yet he was helpless.

If it weren't for Prussia starting the war, the Suez Canal would have been snatched from the hands of the Longyan people long ago.

"General, Longyan is here to provide support this time; according to intelligence, the vanguard consists of supply ships, with only a few Yinzhou ships for escort."

"The order we received is to provide escort."

When Luojinsi heard this, he exploded; he had a deep hatred for the Longyan people, and for him to escort the Longyan fleet—no way!

"General, the Parliament's orders cannot be ignored! Otherwise, you..."

"Enough, don't use the Parliament to block my mouth!"

Luojinsi roared, but he also knew that he had to go; having clashed with Longyan several times, he knew how powerful Longyan's military equipment was.

If such equipment were really hijacked by the Franco-Austrian side, then the scales of victory in this battle would tilt completely.

Prussia is facing the siege of the Austrian Duchy and other allied nations on the European continent; its front lines are stretched very thin, and it has few troops.

It is currently struggling to hold on; if the Franco-Austrian Alliance were to obtain this batch of military equipment, then there would be no hope of victory in this war.

However, he was also unwilling to see this batch of military equipment fall into the hands of Frederick; an increase in Prussia's national strength was not a good thing for them either.

But a sharp glint flashed in Luojinsi's eyes: you, Liu Zheng, say you are helping Protestantism, and he, Luojinsi, also believes in Protestantism.

Helping me is also helping.

Luojinsi narrowed his eyes and led the fleet toward the Suez Canal.

However, he was not going to escort them, but to seize supplies; he did not take the five supply ships and two cruisers seriously at all.

Just as they sailed out of the Suez Canal, Liu Zheng's vanguard, led personally by the Prince of Yong, watched the Franco-Austrian Alliance fleet growing larger on the horizon, which likely consisted of thirteen ships.

Thirteen against seven, the Longyan were at an absolute disadvantage, yet there was not the slightest emotional fluctuation on the Prince of Yong's face.

"Longyan Fleet ahead, surrender immediately, drop your supplies, and we will spare your lives; get back to Longyan!"

The Prince of Yong almost laughed out loud; these Europeans actually dared to threaten him.

Did they really think their Longyan supply ships were soft persimmons? He gave an order.

"Fire!"

With a whoosh, a cannonball was fired over, but the people of the Franco-Austrian Alliance wore smiles on their faces.

These Longyan must have been scared silly.

From a distance of about five or six nautical miles, a cannonball was fired over; how could it possibly hit? The top-tier warships of France could only hit accurately within one nautical mile.

This was simply a pipe dream.

But, before they could be smug for long, the cannonball actually landed accurately on their heads.

This...

The Prince of Yong laughed heartily; the new cannons made in Liangzhou were truly powerful, and he shouted loudly: "Friends coming from afar, even if they are far away, they must be punished; you European fellows, if you have the ability, come and hit me."

The Franco-Austrian Alliance did not understand what the Prince of Yong was saying, but it was definitely not anything good: "Don't be arrogant, only two of your seven ships can fight; the supply ships are so big and heavy, let's see how you run!"

The most important thing in naval warfare is speed; the supply ships were indeed heavy and large, making them cumbersome.

The Franco-Austrian Alliance ships were all warships, moving quickly, but when they opened fire with full force.

Those five supply ships appeared to them as if they had seen a ghost.