Soon, through the monocular in his hand, Gu Yan saw the flags waving on the masts of the five unidentified warships opposite.
It's a pity that the flags of both sides are not the same. Even though Gu Yan observed for a long time, he still didn't understand what the other party wanted to express.
Out of caution, Gu Yan put down the monocular telescope in his hand and issued an order: "Transmit my order, load the cannonballs, aim at the enemy ships, and prepare for battle!"
After Gu Yan's order was issued, soldiers quickly climbed up the mast, waving the flags in their hands, and conveyed the message to the rest of the ships.
Soon, the orders issued by Gu Yan's flagship were received by the other ships.
"Quick, quick, load the shells! Load the shells!"
"Target the enemy ship!"
At this moment, after hearing the orders from their superiors, the gunners in the cabin quickly loaded large solid lead bullets into the cannon with extra force, and then relied on their own experience to adjust the direction in which the cannon was aimed. .
"The shells are loaded and ready to be fired at any time!"
"Aiming is complete and ready to launch!"
Soon, Gu Yan received a report from his subordinates: "Sir, everything is ready and war can begin at any time!"
After listening to his subordinate's report, Gu Yan felt relieved and immediately responded: "Well, I understand. If the warship on the opposite side makes the slightest movement, we will just sink it!"
The subordinate heard the words and immediately responded in a deep voice.
"Yes, sir!"
On the other side, at this moment, Niels Rosen was seen, with a gloomy face, putting down the monocular telescope in his hand.
What he didn't expect was that the fleet commander on the opposite side actually ignored his own flag. Not only that, the cannons on the thirteen warships were already aimed at five of his own warships.
Right now, the distance between the two sides is getting closer. At this distance, the opponent doesn't even need to consider the issue of accuracy.
Just rely on those super-large-caliber cannons. After a salvo, the five warships on your side will all sink. Even if they are not sunk, they are lucky enough to close the distance with the enemy. All the warships on those big ships will be sunk. The installed collision angle is not a vegetarian either!
For Nils, he was caught in a dilemma. On the one hand, his own strength was far inferior to that of the other side and he could only let it be slaughtered. On the other hand, the glory of the Armada prevented him from just bowing his head.
Just when he was about to order the loading of cannonballs and fight to the death, the first mate named Danny came to Nils and proposed this idea: "Boss, I suddenly thought of it." One thing is that we seemed to be using the common semaphore over there!"
After Danny's reminder, Nils quickly reacted and realized his mistake: "I had subconsciously regarded the fleet on the opposite side as a European warship, so I used The semaphore from Europe.”
"No wonder the other party not only didn't respond at all after seeing my semaphore, but also set up cannons and aimed at our own fleet!"
After Niels figured it all out, he immediately looked at the first mate named Danny with great excitement, and said excitedly: "God bless you, Danny, you've been really helpful!"
After that, Nils gave an order to Danny: "Go and look among those sailors immediately to see if there are any sailors who can speak the flag here!"
"Okay, boss!"
After saying these words, the first mate named Danny turned and left.
Just when Nils was anxious, Danny came to him with a timid sailor: "Boss, I found someone. His name is Fons. He once came here with a trading fleet. And I learned some of the semaphores here.”
When Nils heard this, his eyes suddenly shone, and he hugged the sailor named Fons very excitedly: "God bless, Fons, you are our savior now, and the lives of all of us are at stake." You saved me!"
After speaking, Nils pointed to the mast on the ship and said loudly.
"Go ahead, boy!"
After that, facing the expectant eyes of everyone, Fengsi climbed up the mast and kept waving the flag in his hand.
On the other side, Gu Yan also saw the other side's waving flag, but this time, he understood. The other side was saying that they were just passing by and there was no hostility!
Seeing this situation, Gu Yan immediately put down the monocular telescope and gave instructions to his subordinates on the side.
"Tell the ships on the opposite side to stop approaching us and get out of the way, otherwise, we will fire!"
The subordinates on the side heard the words and immediately responded respectfully.
"Yes, sir!"
Soon, the order given by Gu Yan was passed to the soldier on the mast who was responsible for waving the flag.
After that, the soldier was seen vigorously waving the flag in his hand, intending to send a message to the five warships on the opposite side.
"What does the other side mean?"
At this moment, looking at the waving flag on the opposite side, Nils couldn't help but turn his gaze to Fons on the mast and asked.
Fons did not respond immediately, but recalled the meaning of those flags in his mind, and after a long time, he answered.
"Boss, the other side seems to want us to stay away from them, otherwise, they will fire!"
When Nils heard this, the expression on his face suddenly darkened. He kicked an empty barrel in front of him with extra force and said angrily.
"Sooner or later, I will send these damn heretics to the Inquisition to be purified. Damn it, no one has ever dared to speak to me Niels like this. We represent the Armada..."
Seeing that Nils' anger had almost been vented, the first mate named Danny stepped forward and admonished: "Boss, we are no match for the heretics opposite, so we should follow their requirements, otherwise ,By the time……"
Before Danny could finish his words, he was coldly interrupted by Niels: "I am the captain here, I am the commander of the fleet, and you, the first mate, have no place to speak!"
"Give me the order and do as the heretics say!"
Soon, Nils' order was passed on, and the five ships also stopped approaching and got out of the way according to the Ming army's request.
The scene in front of him was naturally seen by Gu Yan. Seeing that the other party was so understanding, Gu Yan put down the monocular and said with emotion.
"It seems that His Majesty was right when he said it earlier. The truth is always within the range of the cannon!"
Seeing this, the subordinates on the side responded quickly and said: "Your Excellency, you are right. Even if the barbarians are just subdued by our power, our Ming Dynasty is truly invincible!"
Gu Yan did not comment on the subordinate's words. Immediately, a look of regret appeared on his face: "Oh, what a pity."
Upon hearing this, the subordinates on the side turned to Gu Yan and asked curiously: "Sir, what are you..."
After hearing this, Gu Yan turned his gaze to the subordinate, sighed helplessly, and then said: "Originally, I planned to use the group of Rakshasa people opposite to test the new cannon on the ship. How powerful is it!"
"Since they know each other so well, let's spare their lives for now!"
"Transmit my order, all ships sail according to the established route!"
After Gu Yan finished speaking, the subordinate on the side immediately responded in a deep voice.
"Yes, sir!"
Soon, the fleet composed of thirteen treasure ships followed the gap made by the fleet led by Nils and marched swaggering towards the distance.
"You damn heretics, I, Niels Rosen, swear in the name of the Armada that one day I will make you pay for today's barbaric behavior!"
Nils looked at the Ming fleet that was gradually moving away, put down the monocular in his hand, and gritted his teeth.
…
At the same time, Xu Jie's mansion in the capital.
At this moment, Xu Jie was sitting on the table in the hall, looking depressed.
Ever since he received Tan Lun's reply and learned that there was the shadow of the emperor behind the whole thing, he fell into a state of panic.
"Damn it. Why did I send people to investigate this matter in the first place? I just need to pretend that I don't know anything about it, isn't it?"
"It's better now. I have aroused His Majesty's suspicion for nothing!"
Xu Jie thought so, looking at the delicacies placed on the table, he had no desire to use his chopsticks.
Just when Xu Jie was regretting this, the housekeeper came in with even worse news: "Master, many unidentified people suddenly appeared near our house!"
When Xu Jie heard this, his face was full of surprise. He immediately stood up from his seat and asked, "What did you say!"
After that, Xu Jie sat back in his chair slumped and murmured to himself: "It seems that my previous guess was indeed correct. Your Majesty is already planning how to deal with me!"
"Xu Jie, Xu Jie, why do you want to investigate this matter? Isn't this asking for trouble?"
Seeing this situation, the housekeeper couldn't help but panic. He looked at Xu Jie with pleading eyes, and then asked: "Then...then Master, what should we do next?"
When Xu Jie heard this, he immediately reacted and ordered in a deep voice: "In this case, you immediately go and tell the people in the house to be careful and try not to go out if it is not necessary!"
When the butler heard this, he immediately responded in a deep voice: "Yes, sir!"
Just when the housekeeper was about to leave, he was stopped by Xu Jie: "By the way, how did you do what I told you before?"
When the housekeeper heard this, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and said respectfully: "Master, everything is almost done, but..."
When the housekeeper said this, he looked embarrassed.
Seeing this situation, Xu Jie glanced at the housekeeper coldly and asked impatiently.
"Just what?"
Seeing this situation, the housekeeper did not dare to hide anything anymore, so he had to tell the whole story about the current situation.
"Although most of the officials on the list have kept their mouths shut, there are still a few officials who are unwilling to give up. They..."
Before the housekeeper finished speaking, he was coldly interrupted by Xu Jie.
"Okay, you don't have to say any more, leave those people to me, and you can go do your business!"
When the butler heard this, a look of gratitude suddenly appeared on his face, and he quickly responded: "Yes, sir!"
After the housekeeper left, Xu Jie's mood became even worse. He suddenly waved his sleeves and said in a deep voice.
"Damn it, if you dare not give me Xu Jie face, let's see how I deal with you!"
After that, Xu Jie was seen riding in a sedan, heading towards the Forbidden City.
Xu Jie knew very well that his next performance would be related to his fortune and life. Immediately, he opened the sedan curtain, looked at the scenery on both sides of the road, and said silently to himself.
"Don't blame me, Xu Jie, for being ruthless. Who told you not to listen to my advice? What your Majesty has decided is something you can stop?"
…
As soon as Xu Jie got off the sedan, he bumped into Yan Song's sedan. Seeing this, Xu Jie had to stop and wait on the spot.
"I, Xu Jie, have been really unlucky recently. Everything has gone wrong. I have obviously missed the time, but I still met this old guy Yan Song!"
Xu Jie was thinking this, but his face was full of a warm smile. When he saw Yan Song getting off the sedan with the support of the bearer, he hurriedly greeted him and said respectfully.
"I've met Mr. Yan Ge!"
When Yan Song heard this, he turned around immediately, a look of surprise appeared on his face at the right time, and he immediately spoke.
"Oh, it's Mr. Xu Ge!"
After that, the two walked side by side, chatting while heading towards the direction of the cabinet.
During the conversation between the two parties, Yan Song keenly sensed that something was wrong with Xu Jie.
Although Xu Jie would chat with him on weekdays, he would never do it so frequently!
It was like a routine matter for both parties to complain about the weather and then talk about the recent major events in the court. It was over. But today, Xu Jie was so keen on chatting that he could talk endlessly.
Combined with what was happening now, Yan Song couldn't help but have this conjecture in his mind: "Isn't Xu Jie asking for something from me?"
Thinking of this, an imperceptible light suddenly appeared in Yan Song's eyes. After glancing at Xu Jie calmly, he said to himself: "Huh, Xu Jie, you have today too!"
"If you want to ask me, Yan Song, to do something, you have to come up with enough chips!"
Next, the development of things was indeed not beyond Yan Song's expectation. When the two were about to step onto the steps, Xu Jie seemed to have made a great determination and stopped Yan Song with words.
"Mr. Yan Ge, what do you think of the officials who have recently publicly opposed the imperial court's decision to add arithmetic as a subject to the imperial examinations in the coming year?"
When Yan Song heard this, he immediately stopped. After glancing at Xu Jie, he slowly said two words from his mouth: "Chongzhi!"
(End of chapter)
