Wang Zhuo's face showed grief and anger, and said: "My subordinates saw the enemy troops pouring into the North Acropolis, and they wanted to rescue them but were unable to do so! Then there was a loud noise from the North Acropolis, and the smoke and flames engulfed the entire Acropolis! It must have been Zhao Jun and others lit the gunpowder magazine at the last moment and perished together with the enemy!"
Guan Shan frowned.
Wang Zhuo continued: "I saw that the South Acropolis could no longer be defended, so I led everyone to break out. Before leaving, I lit the gunpowder magazine. Soon after, there was a violent explosion. All the ordnance should have been It was destroyed, but I don’t know if any enemies were killed.”
Guan Shan thought about the series of violent explosions he heard when he marched towards Xiou City. He didn't understand what was going on at the time, but now he finally understands. …
Guan Shan led the remaining defeated troops to catch up with the brigade retreating eastward. Deng Mingqi and others were shocked when they saw the heavy losses of soldiers and horses, but they also felt a little relieved that Guan Shan came back safely.
That night, the team camped in the wilderness, with bonfires scattered in the mountains to match the stars in the sky. No one spoke during this night, and the sound of crying could be heard from time to time in the night wind.
Guan Shan, Deng Mingqi, Zhang Hong, and Wang Zhuo gathered in the tent. Guan Shan asked Deng Mingqi: "Have you reported to Your Majesty the situation here?"
Deng Mingqi shook his head and said: "In the chaos that night, all the carrier pigeons were lost, so I couldn't report to Your Majesty." Guan Shan frowned and said: "We must find a way to report to Your Majesty, otherwise His Majesty and the others do not know the enemy's situation and continue to come to help, I am afraid they will be in danger! If Your Majesty There is a good thing and a bad thing. Even if we die ten thousand times, it won't be enough to atone for our sins!" Everyone couldn't help but nodded, with worried faces on their faces.
Deng Mingqi said: "I wonder if the fleet has broken through? If they break out, they can send a ship to report to His Majesty."
Guan Shandao: "If they break out, they should also go to the supply depot in the east, and maybe they can meet there. Even if they don't break out, there should be ships at the supply depot. We are walking slowly with the people, but here This matter must not be delayed. I want to send someone to the supply depot first and take a boat out to sea to report to His Majesty." Everyone nodded, Wang Zhuo said worriedly: "I'm afraid the supply depot will also be attacked!" After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but Become worried. Since both the Tamils and Sinhalese have colluded with the English, I am afraid that they have really attacked the supply depot. If the supply depot also falls, not only will we not be able to send a ship to notify His Majesty, but we will also be in a very terrible situation. Dilemma.
Guan Shan said to Wang Zhuo: "Commander Wang, you immediately lead one hundred of your men to the supply depot as quickly as possible. No matter what the situation is, send someone to report immediately." Wang Zhuo clasped his fists in agreement, got up and ran out of the tent.
However, before Wang Zhuo set out, many people fled from the east. Seeing this scene, Guan Shan and others couldn't help but have a bad premonition in their hearts. After asking, it turned out that something happened to the supply station on the east coast. A total of 10,000 Tamils and Sinhalese troops, as well as many Tamil and Sinhalese civilians, totaling tens of thousands of troops, suddenly attacked the supply depot one day ago. There were only 500 defenders at the supply depot. Seeing that they could no longer guard it, the commander of the supply depot asked the people to flee for their lives. Since the sea was blocked by the enemy fleet and they could not escape, the people all fled on land. The Ming army stayed in the supply depot to resist the enemy. According to the people who escaped, the enemy had not yet breached the supply depot when they escaped, but it is unclear what the situation is now.
After Guan Shan got this information, he had no choice but to change his plan to retreat to the supply station and put Deng Mingqi in charge of taking the people into the nearby mountains to wait for rescue. He led hundreds of soldiers toward the supply depot. When he thought about it, if the supply depot had not been lost, he would rush into the city and join the defenders in the city to defend the supply depot. In this way, we can also save a bridgehead for ourselves.
When the people heard that the supply depot in the east had also been attacked, they became even more panicked and the scene was in chaos. Deng Mingqi and the others spent their boss' efforts to calm the people down. Early the next morning, Deng Mingqi and the others protected the people and retreated into the nearby mountains. Guan Shan, on the other hand, had led hundreds of troops towards the supply depot last night.
Hurry and hurry, the supply station is finally in front of you. However, what came into view was billowing black smoke, and the entire supply depot was submerged in thick smoke. Guan Shan frowned, and Wang Zhuo said angrily: "We are late!" Guan Shan calmed himself down and ordered: "Retreat!"
Xiao Tianci led the vanguard fleet all the way to Xiou Island. In the evening of that day, a report suddenly came from the front, saying that there was a fleet ahead.
Xiao Tianci immediately ran up to the observation deck and looked forward, and saw that under the dim light, there was indeed a fleet heading this way. However, the light was not good at this time and it was impossible to distinguish the identity of the other party. Xiao Tianci's son Chopin frowned and said, "Is this the fleet we left to guard Xiou Island?"
Xiao Tianci shook his head and said: "No, it's the enemy!" Then he gave an urgent order: "Send the order and prepare to fight!" The flagship immediately gave the order, and the forward fleet immediately set up a flying geese attack formation.
At this time, opposite the Ming Dynasty's forward fleet, the English general Marcono also discovered the Ming Dynasty fleet, and judged their identity. He immediately ordered the herald to inform the fleet to prepare for battle, and at the same time sent out signal rockets.
The fleets of both sides continued to approach, and then a huge roar broke the tranquility of the sea. Fireworks were seen rolling on the sea, and water columns between the fleets of both sides soared into the sky. Gradually, the English fleet could no longer resist, the soldiers panicked, and some warships fled the battlefield without orders. Seeing that the enemy was defeated, Xiao Tianci was very excited and urged the fleet to pursue them. Amidst the roar of cannons, he saw English warships sinking into the sea one after another.
However, at this moment, Xiao Tianci suddenly discovered that huge enemy fleets appeared on the left and right wings, and the enemy fleets from the front were overwhelming. …
Yang Peng was sitting in the cabin reading a book when Yan Ji and Wang Rong hurried in. Cheng Jiao raised his head when he heard footsteps. Wang Rong stepped forward and handed over the flying pigeon letter and said: "I just received the flying pigeon letter from the forward fleet."
Yang Peng unfolded the note, read it once, frowned, and murmured: "The forward fleet lost?"
Wang Rong said: "They should have encountered England's main fleet! But the strange thing is, why did England's main fleet appear in the eastern waters of Xiou Island?"
Yang Peng frowned and said: "The situation may be much more serious than we expected! Maybe Xiou City has been lost!"
The two women were startled, and Yan Ji said: "This is impossible! If something happens to Xiou City, we should receive a letter from Fei Ge!"
Yang Peng said: "There may be some reason why your spies cannot send out the message. There are many possible situations, and the loss of Xiou is the worst situation. In any case, since the enemy fleet is coming to meet us, we will go up and fight with it. They have a fight. I would like to see if the English fleet is as powerful as they boast."
The main fleet continued to move westward. Since the enemy fleet had already appeared, Wang Hai and Wang Rong did not dare to be careless at all and sent out all the sentinel ships to be on guard.
At midnight that day, the forward fleet retreated. Soon after, Xiao Tianci stood in front of Yang Peng, apologizing with a face of shame.
Yang Peng smiled and said: "Victory and defeat are normal. Besides, you defeated the enemy's forward at the beginning, but you lost to the enemy's main fleet, which is not a shame." Xiao Tianci said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Majesty. kindness!"
Yang Peng stood up, walked to Xiao Tianci, and said, "Tell me the situation of the enemy fleet in detail."
"Yes. The enemy's fleet is very large. I don't know if what I saw is the entire enemy fleet. However, the size of what I saw alone has exceeded our fleet. ..." Wang Hai and Wang Rong heard this. , couldn't help but show disbelief.
Just listen to Xiao Tianci continue: "The performance of the enemy's warships is no worse than ours. They have all kinds of gunboats and all kinds of assault speedboats. And they actually have heavy artillery that is comparable to our giant python cannon! The last general's men were destroyed. Of the more than twenty warships, almost half were destroyed by this heavy artillery!"
Yang Peng hummed, with a thoughtful look on his face. Then he said to Xiao Tianci: "Very good. You have worked hard too, go down and rest." Xiao Tianci responded and left.
Yan Ji frowned and said, "It's unbelievable that the English have the same sharp weapons as us!"
Yang Peng said with a smile: "That's okay. Fighting relies on people, weapons are only second." Yan Ji said worriedly: "That's true, but I'm afraid this battle will be very difficult to fight!" Yang Peng laughed and said, "Our navy always fights opponents who are far weaker than us, and it's time to compete with a comparable opponent! Without experiencing such a war, it is difficult to truly be called strong!" Yan Ji said angrily: "Zhao Husband's In other words, this is a good thing!" Yang Peng laughed. Wang Hai clasped his fists proudly and said, "The general will not disappoint His Majesty! No matter how strong his enemy is, our Ming Navy will definitely destroy him!" Wang Rong also nodded confidently. Yang Peng smiled and praised: "This is what I want!"
The English Navy also immediately dispatched a sentry ship after encountering the Ming Dynasty's forward fleet. At the same time, the main fleet followed the sentry ship and slowly searched eastward. The English are not clear about the specific situation of the Ming Dynasty fleet, but they have absolute confidence. They are confident that no force on the sea can challenge their dominance, not in the west and not in the east.
The two most powerful maritime forces of this era are constantly approaching, and a naval battle of unprecedented scale is about to break out.
The next morning, the rising sun filled the sea, the sky was high and the clouds were clear, and the air was fresh and refreshing. Such good weather is a good time for a big battle.
An alarm suddenly came from the frontline sentry ship, saying that an enemy fleet had been discovered, which was very large. At about the same time, the picket ships of the English fleet also sent a report to their fleet that they had discovered the enemy's huge fleet.
The fleets of both sides lined up in battle formation and continued to move forward. About half an hour later, Yang Peng stood on the observation deck and saw a black line on the horizon. After a while, the black line became clear, covering the sky and sea, and it was a very large fleet. Various orders were passed on, and all the navy officers and soldiers were ready for battle. Everyone was inexplicably excited. This was the most powerful enemy fleet they had ever encountered since joining the army.
The fleets of both sides continued to approach, and the details of the other side's ships and the sailors on them could be clearly seen. Boom boom boom boom...! There was a sudden violent roar, and water columns rose into the sky between the fleets on both sides. In an instant, the entire sea seemed to be boiling! The ballista warships of both sides rushed towards each other, and they got entangled in the formation of gunboats and fought fiercely! Huge guns and arrows flew in the sky. From time to time, guns and arrows swept the sailors on the deck into the sea, and blood and flesh flew everywhere; from time to time, sailors jumped onto the other side's ship to fight hand-to-hand, and the sounds of fighting, shouts, and screams were heard; Sailors from both sides fell into the sea, and the soldiers from both sides who fell into the sea were still fighting for their lives; artillery shells roared overhead, the masts of the warships on both sides collapsed, and sawdust flew everywhere. The warships that were severely damaged by the gunfire tilted and screamed. Slowly sink into the sea!
Just when the fleets of both sides were fighting inextricably, a Ming fleet suddenly came down from the north and attacked the flank of the English fleet. The flank of the English fleet immediately became chaotic. The main fleet of the Ming Dynasty took advantage of the situation to attack fiercely and began to slowly take the initiative on the battlefield.
However, at this moment, an English fleet suddenly appeared in the south, rushed towards the Ming Fleet from the south, and attacked the flank of the Ming Fleet. The Ming fleet did not expect that they would also have such a move. They were unprepared, and their flanks were also moved. The advantage they had just gained was instantly lost.
The fleets of both sides were fighting fiercely on the sea, and the array of gunboats kept bombarding the other side's fleet, while various speedboats and ballista warships clashed on the battlefield! The sea surface has completely boiled, and the originally blue sea has been dyed red by gunfire and blood! The battle lasted from morning to noon, and from noon to evening, but the winner could not be determined.
Both sides felt exhausted, stopped the attack in unison, and slowly evacuated the battlefield. All that was left was a shocking wreckage on the battlefield. Immediately, the fleets of both sides sent unarmed clippers into the battlefield to salvage the bodies of their own soldiers and rescue the wounded. People on both sides went about their own business in silence, and no fighting broke out.
In the cabin of the flagship ship, Wang Hai and Wang Rong apologized to Yang Peng: "Your Majesty, the general is incompetent and failed to defeat the enemy!"
Yang Peng smiled and said: "You did a good job, better than I expected. It's just that the enemy is not an ordinary person. I don't blame you for your failure to win!" Then he muttered: "I originally thought that the English were all brainless. Pig head, I didn’t expect that the Generalissimo of the English Navy was actually quite scheming!” Wang Hai and Wang Rong nodded with deep sympathy, Wang Hai said: “My sister came up with a frontal attack and a surprise flank attack. I didn’t expect those Westerners. The barbarians actually thought of this method!"
Yang Peng said: "The enemy is not simple, you must deal with it carefully, but you don't have to tie your hands and feet, you must use it freely according to your own intentions and characteristics!" The two men bowed and agreed, Wang Hai said: "Your Majesty, please rest, we are leaving!" Yang Peng nodded, and the two exited the cabin.
After the two left, Yan Ji said with some worry: "I am worried that the two of them are no match for each other. It would be safer for Your Majesty to personally command the navy!"
Yang Peng chuckled, waved his hand and said, "Don't overstep your authority, trust your generals." From ancient times to the present, almost all wars in which the supreme leader interferes with frontline commanders end in failure. This situation occurred in almost every dynasty, the most famous of which was during the Anshi Rebellion. If Tang Xuanzong had not interfered with Ge Shuhan's command, that war might have been a different situation. Perhaps the Tang Dynasty would not have to abandon the capital city of Chang'an and flee westward, the Anshi Rebellion might be quickly put down, and Tang Xuanzong himself would not have to part ways with his beloved concubine Yang Guifei at the foot of Mawei slope.
Yang Peng said: "I don't know much about the art of water warfare. Although I understand the strategies of besieging the city to bring reinforcements and attacking the east and attacking the west, I don't understand the characteristics of the water army and can't use the strategies. Therefore, it's better for me not to interfere in the water war. . Furthermore, I also hope that Wang Hai, Wang Rong and the others can go through more training and become truly invincible swords at sea."
Yan Ji smiled and said: "My husband's magnanimity is naturally unparalleled. But isn't Your Majesty worried that they will lose the battle?"
Yang Peng chuckled and said: "The last thing a country should fear is losing a war. Don't be afraid of losing a war, but have the determination to keep fighting the enemy. If you fail, learn a lesson and come back in the future. As long as we don't have the self-righteousness of Confucianism With his thoughts of benevolence and righteousness, the losses of ten disastrous defeats can be earned back with just one victory." Yan Ji thought and nodded.
In the following period, the Ming fleet and the English fleet continued to fight, each with their own ingenious plans, and the battle was fierce. However, neither side could take any advantage, and the war entered a stalemate. However, the overall situation is very unfavorable for the Ming army. On the vast sea, naval operations need a base that can be docked and repaired to maintain combat effectiveness. Now that Xiou City has fallen, the Ming Navy cannot hold on without the support of its base. As a last resort, Wang Rong and his brother Wang Hai asked Yang Peng to withdraw. Yang Peng only said: "You are the commander-in-chief of the navy. It is up to you to decide how to fight, whether to advance or retreat." So the navy began to withdraw eastward.
Yang Peng stood on the deck, looking at the vast sea and the huge fleet, and he was deep in thought. Suddenly, a cloak was draped over his shoulders, and at the same time a familiar fragrance reached his nose. Yang Peng smiled slightly, "Wife." Yan Ji appeared next to Yang Peng and said angrily, "Why do you call me my wife? Is this concubine very old?" Yang Peng held Yan Ji's delicate hand and smiled. Said: "This is the dialect of our hometown. Only a husband who loves his wife very much can call him this!" Yan Ji's beautiful eyes were full of color, and she said softly: "I also love my husband very much!" Their eyes met. Next, the affection is endless, everything is unspeakable.
Yan Ji couldn't help but lean into her lover's arms and said softly: "Husband, are you worried about the current war? In fact, there is no need to worry at all, the enemy has not taken any advantage at all!"
Yang Peng smiled bitterly and said, "Isn't this called taking advantage? We even lost Xiou Island!" Yan Ji snorted and said proudly: "Let those barbarians be proud first. It won't be long before our army will Make them regret messing with us!”
Yang Peng said: "The war has developed to this point, which is within our initial expectations. The enemy's army is huge, and it is difficult to defend Xiou Island. But I later had some illusions and wanted to keep Xiou City, an important city. I don’t know whether the Guan brothers are alive or dead, nor do I know what happened to the people in the city. These are all caused by my wrong decisions. I am no better now than I was back then. Every decision affects thousands of people. The honor and disgrace of human life and death.”
Yan Ji shook her head and said: "This is not your husband's fault. Any judgment or decision will always be unsatisfactory. How can you judge everything correctly?" Yang Peng laughed and then said: "I will cook today. Let’s stir-fry two side dishes and let’s have a nice drink!” Yan Ji’s eyes widened and she said, “Then my concubine is in for a treat!”
The English fleet temporarily won, but it lost the spirit of attack. The fleet stayed in West Gull City to rest.
Soon after, more than 200,000 Heavenly Kingdom expedition troops arrived at Xiou Island. The Tamils and Sinhalese were frightened when they saw the sudden influx of hundreds of thousands of blond, blue-eyed and vicious-looking Westerners. The Tamil king and the Sinhala king sent envoys to contact those Westerners, but the response they received frightened them to the extreme. The commander-in-chief of the Heavenly Army issued an ultimatum to the Tamils and Sinhalese people to contribute five million loads of grain and grass and property worth fifty million taels of silver within three days to show respect for God. Otherwise, they will be punished for heresy.
The Tamil Kingdom and the Sinhala Kingdom are just small countries on Xiou Island. How could they get five million dans of grain and 50 million taels of silver? Even one-tenth of the amount cannot be obtained. The kings of the two families were frightened and sent envoys to negotiate. Unexpectedly, the envoys sent this time were actually sent back with their heads! Immediately, the heavenly coalition forces from the west attacked the Tamils and Sinhalese. An army of more than 200,000 people swept across the entire island like 200,000 ferocious wolves. Tamils and Sinhalese were massacred, corpses piled up in towns and creeks, and smoke billowed everywhere! The wealth accumulated by the two kingdoms over hundreds of years has become the spoils of God’s thugs!
Guan Shan and others hiding in the mountains couldn't help but rejoice when they got the news, but at the same time they were worried that those Westerners would come to the mountains to search. If something like this happens, it will be impossible to protect the people with the remaining combat power.
What happened after all, let’s see what happens next.
