The importance of Cork is self-evident, especially, the news that Kidd inquired shows that Cork is an important export port of Irish wool, which is very important.
Because, with England banning the export of wool under the order of Henry VII, the price of wool in Europe has been rising. Even Flanders, the most prosperous wool spinning center, has been greatly affected. Because of the shortage of wool, many woolen mills had to close down.
On the island of Ireland, under the influence of the United Kingdom, the sheep farming industry is relatively developed. Moreover, the island of Ireland covers an area of more than 80,000 square kilometers, not much smaller than England. The population on the island is also quite large, with more than 800,000 people. With land and population, sheep farming is naturally easy to develop.
Moreover, the climate of the island of Ireland is very characteristic, which is very suitable for raising sheep. This is because the west of the island of Ireland faces the Atlantic Ocean and is directly impacted by the warm Atlantic Current. Therefore, the island of Ireland has a mild climate all year round. But at the same time, there is more rainfall, especially in the western region that directly faces the warm Atlantic current.
This is a good thing and a bad thing...
Originally, the temperature in Ireland was very suitable for farming. However, because the western region has too much rain. Normal rainfall is fine, but if it also rains during autumn harvest, it will cause great difficulty in harvesting and easily cause crops to rot in the fields.
Because the ancient people harvested purely by hand, but there was no harvester. Every day, a farmer harvests a few acres of wheat at most. It will take ten days and half a month to complete the harvest.
However, during this period of time, it cannot rain. Otherwise, huge losses will be caused. Therefore, Ireland's agriculture is mainly concentrated in the east coast, not the west coast.
Because the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean, although it is affected by the North Atlantic warm current, the rainfall is much less, and the rainfall in autumn is relatively small. Therefore, the climate there does not affect the autumn harvest, so it is suitable for the development of agriculture. And the eastern part of Ireland, which is most suitable for the development of agriculture, is now under the control of the English...
However, even so, other areas on the island of Ireland are also very suitable for the development of animal husbandry. Because rainfall is not only not harmful to pasture growth, but beneficial. Moreover, the rainfall in the island of Ireland, even in the west, is relatively uniform, and the amount is not large, and the rainfall is not violent. This is very conducive to pasture growth.
Therefore, the island of Ireland is a lush and very suitable place for the development of livestock farming...
If it weren't for the fact that there are too many indigenous separatist forces on the island of Ireland, and there are endless disputes, the island of Ireland should be a very prosperous animal husbandry country...
Of course, the dispute on the island has nothing to do with Marin P? He just takes advantage of it...
As the most important wool export port in the southern part of Ireland, Cork is also very meaningful for the whole of Ireland. As long as Cork City is controlled, then a large proportion of Ireland's wool exports can be controlled.
But now that wool is in such tight demand in the European market, wouldn't it be a huge profit to control the export of Irish wool
Moreover, Marin can also import his own salt into Ireland through Cork to make a profit...
Speaking of it, Ireland, as a big island surrounded by the sea, actually wants to import salt from the UK, which really makes Marin speechless.
Marin knows that peat is everywhere on the island of Ireland. Peat is also a very good fuel. Although its calorific value is not as good as the real coal, it is stronger than firewood. However, peat in Ireland is mainly distributed in the central and eastern regions controlled by the British.
Because peat soil can not only be used as fuel, but also a very fertile agricultural soil. Therefore, the eastern part of the island of Ireland not only has a good climate, but also has good soil, which is very suitable for the development of agriculture. But that land was taken by the damned English.
Marin couldn't get the fertile land on the eastern coast, but through Cork, he was able to buy a large amount of wool and leather on the island of Ireland at a low price, and then sell them to the European continent.
You must know that the 15 most powerful families in Cork before became rich families by selling wool and leather exports, and controlling the import of salt, iron and wine.
It's a pity that these people are too inflated. They risked their wealth and life for the title promised by Richard, and they suffered a crushing defeat in the end...
Now, Marin only needs to send a small amount of troops to conquer Cork City, an important port in Ireland, and then control the export of wool and the import of goods on the island of Ireland...
As for the threat of the Earl of Desmond, Kidd has also inquired about it. According to the locals, the army that Earl Desmond can gather is only three or four thousand people, and they are not very elite.
At the same time, the walls of Cork City are very tall and strong. This is because the nobles of Cork City, who control the export of wool and the import of materials in Ireland, invested in the construction of tall and strong city walls for their own safety.
As long as there are a few hundred people guarding it, even if Earl Desmond brings 5,000 people, he will not be able to defeat it...
But now, all the strong men in Cork City were killed in England by fake Richard. Now, the guards on the city wall are all old people, just pretending, and there are less than 100 people...
Facing 100 old men, Marin felt that beating them was not a problem at all...
After thinking twice, Marin still decided to win Cork City. Right now, Henry VII has no time to take care of the island of Ireland. After Hengba came to power, he had time to take care of the island of Ireland, and he had already gained a firm foothold in the island of Ireland. Maybe, they have conquered several small indigenous countries.
At that time, Marin must have won a lot of territory in Germany, and he will no longer be a small fish and shrimp. Even in the face of Hengba, Marin doesn't have to be afraid. In addition, he has ordered the technology tree, so he may not be able to defeat Hengba. Maybe, you can take the opportunity to completely drive the English out of Ireland and monopolize the island...
Thinking of this, Marin smiled silly, so much that his saliva was dripping...
After making up his mind, Marin began to send troops to occupy Cork. However, in order to avoid provoking Henry VII, Marin did not plan to set up two banners of his own for the time being, but decided to maintain the status quo and support puppets in Cork City.
On the surface, Cork City is still an autonomous city authorized by the King of England, but the garrisons are all sent by Marin. Who do you think has the final say here
Moreover, after Marin conquered the Counties of East Frisia and stabilized his rule, he could bring troops to Cork and then attack the Counties of Desmond.
You know, the county of Desmond is very large. The Counties of East Frisia are full of money, including the semi-independent Jeve area (about 500 square kilometers), but it is only more than 3,600 square kilometers. The Earl of Desmond has an area of more than 10,000 square kilometers. Although this place is not suitable for farming, it is also very good for herding sheep. After all, European wool is so tight right now...
What's more, the current sheep farming industry on the island of Ireland is already very developed. Unlike the Teutonic country where Marin suggested to develop the sheep raising industry, the sheep raising industry just started, and it is estimated that it will take ten or twenty years for it to develop. After all, it takes a long time for a sheep to give birth to a sheep. As for Ireland, the sheep farming industry was not bad in the first place, and there are also a lot of sheep here. Even if the sheep give birth to sheep, the sheep base in Ireland is large, and they will develop faster...
Moreover, Cork Port is also an important seaport closest to the Atlantic Ocean. Even the famous Titanic sailed from this port to the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, this is an important frontier port to the Americas, which is of great strategic value.
The more Marin thought about it, the more he felt that Cork was extremely important. So, he sent people again to Lübeck to order 4 warships...
Such an important port cannot be guarded without warships. After all, it is an important wool export port on the island of Ireland, and the interests involved are huge.
Of course, as far as the attack on Cork is concerned, no warships are needed, just send people to besiege the city. Kidd has already inquired, and now the old people and women in Cork City go out of the city to dig wild vegetables every day, otherwise they will starve to death. As long as the city is surrounded, hunger alone can force the people in the city to surrender...
Thinking of this, Marin decided to dispatch a group of fishing boats and 1,000 soldiers, led by him, to attack Cork...
Such a trading city with great potential is still an empty city, don't want it for nothing... Those who don't want it are fools!