At 5:30 pm, the sun sets.

Because the west of Leight Bay is the island of Leight with mountains, there is no transition and it will get dark all at once.

Although I can't see the ship's shadow clearly at once, I can no longer tell the difference between the dark lower cannon positions.

The two sides had to cease fires one after another, or the Coast Guard warships had to stop killing.

The lingering smell of blood and smoke in the Bay of Leyte is still filled with the smell of lingering blood and smoke, and there are also many boats with raging fires, of course, they are basically Spanish sailing ships.

Under the reflection of the fire, you can see broken sails, boat boards, wooden barrels, and floating corpses floating around the sea.

Many ships could no longer be rescued, so the crew had to abandon the ship and rowed their lifeboats to find their own ships to surrender.

In fact, it is not difficult to find, because dozens of Spanish sailing ships that lost power, suffered serious damage or suffered heavy crew losses, had already hung up the white flag, anchored on the ground, and announced their surrender.

The coast guard warships ignored the surrendered enemy ships in accordance with the pre-order. Anyway, these severely damaged Spanish sailboats could not go back against the wind, so the coast guard fleet had to advance overnight and reach the Surigao Strait first, and then they could catch turtles in the jar and wipe out the enemy's troops!

The same is true for those Spanish sailing ships that can still move. As long as they pass the Surigao Strait first, they can enter the vast Bohe Sea and escape from the sky.

Therefore, both sides opened their sails at the same time and decided to sail along the river all night at the risk of stranding the reef.

Where are there any battle formations and formations? More than two hundred sailboats are just like you and I have you, mixed together, heading towards the Surigao Strait in the dark.

Fortunately, it is almost rainy in Luzon this season, the night sky is cloudless, the stars and moon are shining brightly, and the visibility is much better than when it was just dark. You can see at least three hundred meters of ship shadows around you, so you won’t be able to hit each other while driving.

However, neither side had the idea of ​​fighting at night while the moonlight was falling, and no one knew what was going on three hundred meters away. What if there were all enemy ships around and they were fired to lure the enemy over?

The Spanish were afraid of the fierce artillery of the coast guards, especially the Xuande cannon, which was really a devastating thing to shoot in the face.

The coast guard is also afraid that the Spanish will fight on the sidelines. The problems that can be solved with cannons, who is willing to fight to the death with the bayonet?

So both sides had a tacit understanding all night, but no one was idle, and they were all busy repairing the damage overnight. The carpenters and crew on the deck were busy knotting ropes, repairing sails, repairing masts, and replacing rigging.

The boatmen and sailors in the cabin were busy blocking the leak and draining the water. The members of the gun crew stayed in the gun positions all night to prevent night battles that could happen at any time.

In the infirmary, ship doctors and health workers rescued the wounded all night and treated the wounds for the wounded...

Everyone on both sides was so busy that they had no time to eat, so they could only deliver dinner to various posts in the kitchen.

It’s just that the dinner of the sailors on both sides is a world of difference. Although they are not allowed to eat hot rice due to light control, the coast guards each canned meat, one canned fruit, and a pack of pickled vegetables; there are also five hundred grams of high-calorie staple food, moon cakes, biscuits or rice balls, and a large bottle of Yilan salt soda.

There are also candies and tobacco strips after meals. Those who don’t eat cigarettes can change to snacks like dried fruits.

This time when fighting at home, Mr. Zhao must of course make his soldiers eat better as much as possible.

Looking at the Spanish on the other side, in addition to the usual maggot-smelling or weevil-smelling ‘expired bread’, accompanied by green mossy water, because it was during the war, the commanders and noble officers were very kind, and each of them divided a few dried peas and a thin piece of Spanish cheese as thin as a cicada wing.

This has moved the crew and soldiers, and I feel that today's war is not in vain...

Therefore, happiness often comes from ignorance. Once people start to compare, they will stay away from happiness.

~~

The same thing happened on the Joint Fleet General Flagship Kaiyuan.

In the naval battle this afternoon, although the preparatory fleet did not play the lead role, it also experienced a cruel naval battle.

This can be seen from the cabin door that only half of the remaining one in the war room.

With a creaking sound, the captain of Kaiyuan Meiling pushed open the door of the combat room and saw the commander-in-chief of the fleet, Wang Rulong, wearing a cloak, sitting on a chair and sleeping.

He quickly made a light move to get out, but Wang Rulong was already awakened.

"I'm asleep?" Wang Rulong stretched his waist, his face showing exhaustion.

Mei Ling quickly picked up the sliding cloak and put it on him again and said, "The commander-in-chief is too tired today, so let's sleep first."

"No, I can't sleep if I am." Wang Rulong pressed his temple and smiled mockingly: "It's really useless. I've been so tired in the afternoon. A few years ago, I fought with the Portuguese for three days and three nights. After getting off the boat, I can hold a summary meeting for one day immediately, and then play mahjong all night."

Listening to Lao Wang chattering about his courage back then, Mei Ling felt a sore nose. But he also knew that it was not Wang Rulong who listened to others' advice, so he took a deep breath and said:

"The loss statistics of this ship have been made, with 8 officers and soldiers killed and 28 injured, of which 8 were seriously injured. In addition, two artillery pieces were lost, and the sail cables can be repaired tonight."

"Well." Wang Rulong nodded with satisfaction and coughed twice: "It will not affect tomorrow's battle."

After a pause, he asked again: "How fast is the ship now?"

"Speed ​​eight kilometers per hour." Meiling replied hurriedly.

"Eight kilometers..." Wang Rulong leaned over and looked at the chart on the table. Meiling quickly fired a lighter to illuminate him.

It was a battlefield situation chart, indicating the general location of the reserve fleet and assault fleet before dark.

As for the upwind fleet, because the distance is too far and does not have the conditions to release reconnaissance balloons, the combat staff can only estimate the area.

Wang Rulong put on reading glasses, picked up the ruler and compass, gestured on the chart for a while, then put down the ruler and took off the glasses and said:

"If this speed is maintained, the Upwind Fleet may reach the Strait exit tomorrow morning. But the Assault Fleet and the Preparatory Fleet are far from each other."

"Well, it will take about twenty or thirty kilometers." Meiling nodded.

"This won't work." Wang Rulong frowned and said, "There will be many Spanish boats running ahead of us!"

Meiling nodded again, and he understood the commander-in-chief's meaning.

The Spanish sailing ships had a tailwind speed faster than the Coast Guard warships, so when they encountered this morning, their first reaction was to try to escape.

However, the Coast Guard fleet was prepared, not only gaining the upper hand, but also taking advantage of the currents - although the currents generally flow from the Gulf of Wright to the Surigao Strait. However, there is a U-shaped area between the island of Dinagart on the east side of the strait and Mindanao Island, which is three or four kilometers wide.

Affected by it, the sea area at the lower wind has reverse coastal currents, so the flow rate is slower than the upper wind. The combat staff cleverly took advantage of this, so that the coast guard fleet did not lose to the Spaniards in terms of speed.

But now, both sides are completely in a mess, so why are there any ups and downs? They are all rushing forward along the ocean currents.

If this continues, the coast guard warships will gradually slower than the enemy ships. If they are allowed to escape into the Baohe Sea, they will be even more unable to catch up.

"Fortunately, the Spanish fleet suffered heavy losses today." Mei Ling hurriedly comforted Wang Rulong and said: "Although it is impossible to count the results, at least half of the enemy ships have been accounted for. Has half of the remaining Spanish sailboats been broken, and most of the sails were destroyed?"

"There are more than 30 large sailboats intact!" Wang Rulong shook his head flatly and said, "And there are many people on the Spanish ships and strong forces, and they are voyages across the ocean. There must be spare parts on the ship. I think as long as the mast is intact, all the sails can be repaired in one night."

"So if the enemy escapes desperately, about fifty ships may escape from the strait tomorrow morning!" As he said that, he knocked on the table and said with a serious expression: "After the battle this afternoon, I believe they will not have the courage to fight again, and they will definitely run away with all their might!"

After saying that, Wang Rulong sighed: "This will make our dream of completely annihilated the enemy's army and turn it into a bubble! How to explain to the Commander-in-Chief?!"

"That's right." Although Meiling felt that the commander-in-chief was too lenient for the enemy, the captains of the coast guard fleet and the navigators at least knew the hydrological conditions of this sea area, the MIIS was still setting up several light signals on the shore of the Leyte Island.

Most Spanish warships, however, dare to sail at full speed at night for the first time in this sea area? Are you afraid of stranding the reef?

However, he still chose to believe in the commander-in-chief's judgment and nodded in agreement.

"We must rush ahead of them and arrive at the entrance of the strait in advance!" Wang Rulong punched the table with heavy punch:

"Come!"

"Yes!" Two staff officers on duty in the war room quickly came out of the next door, one holding a folder and a pencil, and the other lit the boat light to light him.

"The commander-in-chief of the Joint Fleet is as follows: All warships receiving this order must immediately discard all unnecessary materials, including excess shells, and ballast iron! Raise the sails and advance at full speed, and be sure to arrive at the second battlefield before dawn!"

After coughing twice, he added: "All warships that receive the order must immediately send speedboats to convey the order to our nearby warships! Above!"

"Yes!" The combat staff quickly recorded and then repeated it according to the regulations.

After listening carefully, Wang Rulong confirmed that it was correct and signed the draft. The combat staff quickly went to write the official order.

Lao Wang ordered Meiling again: "Send all lifeboats out to pass on orders!"

"Don't you leave a spare?" Mei Ling asked with a tough bullet.

"No, there is a watertight cabin inside Kaiyuan and an iron hull outside, so it cannot sink even if it hits the reef!" Wang Rulong said without any doubt: "Go quickly!"

"Yes!" Mei Ling hurriedly went out and ordered.

Wang Rulong sat on the chair exhausted, his face turned pale. He wanted to pick up the teacup and drink a sip of water, but his hands couldn't even lift it.

The orderly soldier quickly picked up the teacup for him and took out the pills that Chen Shigong prescribed for him.
Chapter completed!