One month later. South China Sea, above **.

Although the sky was blue and clear, the wind and waves on the sea were not small. Even the three-masted gunboat, which was more than twenty feet long, was shaken by the tide when it was moving.

The Yellow Dragon Flag of the Ming Dynasty Navy was fluttering on the top of the mast. Qian Commander Zhao Xuhai stood on the observation deck at the front of the warship deck, looking at some small black spots appearing on the sea in front, with a bearded face showing A solemn look.

During the last siege of Okura Island, Zhao Xuhai was sent to the city to deliver a message. Later, he was lucky enough to board the "Jinyu" and experienced a ship-seizing battle with the opponent's flagship. It could be said that he had a narrow escape and narrowly escaped with his life. During this expedition to Black Dragon Island, probably because of Zhao Xu's heroic performance in the battle at sea, Admiral Shen Youlong actually appointed him as the vanguard officer, commanding the fifty warships of the village to clear the way at the forefront of the fleet. It was very important to him that he Mr. Qian of Tuolin Village can be said to have great trust.

Regarding Master Shen's unusual promotion, Zhao Xuhai felt more worried than happy.

Just half a month ago, Mr. Zhao Qian had just gotten married. His wife was a girl from a wealthy family in Chaozhou City, named Cuifen. During their honeymoon, he received an order from the commander and had to leave his wife and go on an expedition. Zhao Xuhai He was extremely reluctant, and what he was even more unwilling to do was die in battle.

If he wins this battle, of course he can be promoted and make a fortune, and his wife can also take advantage of it. However, Zhao Xuhai, who has experienced the last naval battle, has a deep understanding of how powerful this group of pirates is. It is definitely not the three or two small broken boats in the offshore. Ordinary water pirates who can only bully fishermen and small businessmen are comparable to Lieyan Wushuang. Read the full text of Lieyan Wushuang. The Dragon Palace tribe is the true king of the South China Sea. No matter the number, size or firepower of warships, they are superior to the imperial navy.

Naval battles are different from land battles. The ship at the forefront must be the primary target of the opponent's artillery fire. When fighting such a powerful enemy as a vanguard, the possibility of dying before the attack is very high.

However, all the uneasiness can only be hidden in his heart. As a general of the Guangdong Navy, Zhao Xuhai has no choice but to obey orders.

During this expedition to Black Dragon Island, the Guangdong Navy sent an unprecedented number of ships, more than the last time it went to Okura Island. Admiral Shen Youlong mobilized all the naval forces from the six villages in the Guangdong Province, and even the navy did not participate in the war last time The men and horses from Baisha Village in Qiongzhou also joined in. There were more than 200 warships of the Imperial Navy alone, with more than 10,000 soldiers on board, while there were more than 60 warships in Okura City's "Wanjintang", including one A giant dragon-slaying ship.

Speaking of the Dragon-Slaying Ship, Zhao Xuhai was speechless and amazed when he first saw it. He thought that the Giant Shark Ship he encountered last time was the largest warship on the sea today, but now this Dragon-Slaying Ship is not only bigger and longer than the Giant Shark Ship, The firepower of the three hundred Western naval guns installed on both sides far exceeds that of the giant shark. Moreover, it is said that the keel of this giant ship is actually made of steel, which is simply unbelievable.

It's a pity that although the dragon-killing ship is overly powerful, it is the flagship of the Chinese army and cannot protect the vanguard at the forefront. Zhao Xuhai has to rely on himself if he wants to save his life in a naval battle.

"Report to Mr. Qian! Twenty ships were found ahead, twelve miles away from us, with black dragon flags flying on their foremasts!" A soldier under his command came to report.

"In front of the two armies, call me general!" Zhao Xuhai glared and said angrily.

According to the practice in the Ming government, civil servants and military attachés in charge of local security are called "lords", while military attaches in charge of regular troops are called "generals". Of course, these titles are not very strict. The Ming Dynasty official system has always emphasized civil servants.

In Qingwu, many of the military attaches who commanded the army were also civil servants in the past, and they were often called "lords". It was not until the wars broke out in recent years that the status of generals in the court increased, and the title of "general" became more common.

A bit more majestic than "adult".

Zhao Xuhai has never studied literature, but he is a genuine military attaché. The Chaozhou Tuolin Water Village he commands is also a regular naval establishment, and he should be called "General". However, the Guangdong Navy has rarely experienced wars in recent years.

, he, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, had nothing to do and often hung out with the local squires in Chaozhou Prefecture. Many people called him "Master Qian", and even his soldiers listened to him many times and accepted him.

At this time, Zhao Xuhai was in a depressed mood. When the soldiers called him Sir, he immediately thought of Sir Shen who had recruited him back from their honeymoon. He felt unhappy and immediately shouted at him.

The soldier didn't know which medicine Mr. Qian had taken today by mistake, but he finally felt good and quickly changed his words: "Yes, General Zhao! Twenty ships of the 'Black Dragon Palace' were spotted twelve miles ahead!

"

The Pioneer Battalion led by Zhao Xuhai has a total of fifty warships, including three three-masted gunboats, more than ten medium-sized Fu ships, and more than thirty small Eagle ships. If it encounters the "Black Dragon Palace" brigade ships, Zhao Xuhai's Pioneer Battalion will

Of course, they can only retreat and wait for help, but if there are only twenty enemy ships, it is not something to be afraid of.

"Twenty?" Zhao Xuhai muttered: "Did you see clearly that there are only twenty enemy ships in front?"

The soldier said: "Go back to the general and see clearly that there are only twenty."

Zhao Xuhai asked: "Are there other ships on the surrounding sea?"

The soldier said: "To tell you back to the general, I didn't see any other ships within twenty miles nearby."

The weather was very good today. The sight of the sentry at the top of the ship's mast was enough to see the sea dozens of miles away. Since the sentry did not see other ships, it was obvious that there was no ambush around the "Black Dragon Palace".

Zhao Xuhai nodded and said: "Go down!"

The soldier turned and left. Zhao Xuhai took a deep breath and said to a deputy general standing aside: "Vice General Sun, do you have any advice?"

This Lieutenant General Sun's name is Sun Li. He is Zhao Xuhai's seventh-grade lieutenant general in Tuoyao Water Village. He is a young man of 23 or 24 years old. He is very fair-skinned and not as strong and burly as most soldiers. Although

Although he is not very old, he is quite cautious and prudent in dealing with things. He is trusted by Zhao Xuhai. Read the full text of Innocence School Doctor.

Sun Lidao: "According to the sea chart, we are close to the waters of Black Dragon Island. Hundreds of ships are coming, but the other side only sends twenty ships to meet the enemy. It seems a bit strange. In the opinion of the general, it is better to be careful.

.”

Zhao Xuhai shook his head and laughed: "I don't think it's surprising. The pirates of the 'Black Dragon Palace' probably didn't expect that we would attack in large numbers. These ships must be the ships that pirates usually patrol nearby. Now we only need to

If you rush over before it reacts, you will definitely take advantage!"

The mission of the Pioneer Battalion was to clear the way for the Chinese army. The twenty pirate ships coming ahead seemed to Zhao Xuhai to be a good opportunity for meritorious service and reward.

He turned around and ordered: "Come here! Pass my order to the general, and the ships of the vanguard camp will be arranged in an attack formation, ready to meet the enemy!"

In naval battles, formations are very important. The formation listed by Zhao Xuhai is the "fish head formation" that is more common in the Ming Dynasty navy, that is, small fast ships are in front, three three-masted ships are lined up side by side in the center of the formation, and ten

The remaining medium-sized Fuzhou ships formed a semicircle around the flagship, located at the rear of the formation, forming a fish head shape with a sharp front and a blunt back.

This "fish head formation" is a naval battle formation with both offense and defense. The advantage is that it can concentrate the firepower of each ship during attack, and it can also effectively protect one's own flagship in the fish eye position during defense.

Not long after, the ships on both sides were less than ten miles apart. From the deck, the fleet of the "Black Dragon Palace" could be clearly seen in front of them. Zhao Xuhai was completely relieved. Most of the pirate ships on the opposite side were

They were small sea falcon ships and centipede ships, with only two medium-sized sea falcon ships mixed in. There were no large ships, and there was no giant shark ship that he was most afraid of.

The number of ships on both sides is more than doubled, and there are no large ships among the pirate ships. They are just scattered on the sea at this time, and there is no obvious formation. It seems that they are completely unprepared for this encounter.

"Send the order to all the ships to rush over to me!" Zhao Xuhai slapped his palm on the handle of the waist knife and shouted an order.

As long as the pirate fleet in front of him is defeated, Zhao Xuhai, the pioneer officer, can achieve the first great achievement in this battle. Although General Zhao has not fought many battles and is not very courageous, he is a genuine navy after all.

Mr. Qian will not let go of such an opportunity to easily make meritorious deeds before him.

Sun Li, who was standing aside, frowned and seemed to want to object, but finally remained silent. Although the appearance of more than twenty pirate ships was a bit strange, they were too few in number and there were no ambush around them. Sun Li also felt that

There is no way the other side can defeat the Pioneer Battalion's fleet of more than fifty ships.

The pirate ship, which was completely at a disadvantage, seemed to have just discovered the existence of the vanguard camp at this time. They had no intention of challenging each other, and they all turned the rudder and fled. When the pirate ship turned around the bow in a chaotic manner, the ships of both sides

The distance between the ships was less than five miles.

"Every ship fires cannons and fires at me!" Zhao Xuhai ordered.

The distance of four to five miles was barely within the range of the artillery. The cannons on the naval warships opened fire one after another. Amidst the roar, fire flickered on the sea and smoke rose everywhere. The pirate ships pulled up their sails and began to speed away.

Zhao Xuhai waved his hand: "Send the order! The ships speed up to catch up, don't let them escape!"

Maritime warfare is about the strength of ships and the power of artillery. Now the vanguard battalion has more ships than the opponent, and the firepower is stronger than the opponent. Of course, there is no need to shrink back!

These pirate ships were scattered and scattered on the sea, and they looked completely disordered, but after all, most of them were small ships, and their escape speed was not very slow. Suddenly, there were twenty pirate ships in front, and Zhao Xuhai's pioneer battalion of fifty

The ships lined up behind and started a tug-of-war on the sea.

Taking advantage of the wind on the sea, both sides were traveling at full speed. After a stick of incense, the fifty ships of the Pioneer Battalion had chased for more than thirty miles. The front end was still about three miles away from the pirate ship, and the distance was getting closer.
Chapter completed!