Chapter 137 The fleet protected by the divine wind
Shimazu Shohei looked hard in the direction of Satsuma Domain, and the retainer beside him reported in a low voice: "My Lord, those who went to Naha have returned. I am afraid that the entire army of the clan has been wiped out."
Shimazu Shohei is the naval guardian of Osumi Kingdom. The Shimazu family is in charge of the lands of Satsuma and Osumi, and also has part of the territory of Hyuga Kingdom. Shimazu Shohei can command half of the entire sea army, and the remaining half is on the island. In the hands of the governor of the Jin family.
"It's best to go back and report the news soon..."
Shimazu Shohei looked at the waves on the water caused by the movement of the ship, and shook the fan in his hand unconsciously: "But I didn't know that the Ming people still had such a huge warship, and there was no such huge ship in the whole of Japan. What on earth are the people of the Ming Dynasty going to do?”
.
"Pass the signal and ask Kemitsu to take the guide and two warships to Hachijo Island first. General Hideyori, I'm afraid I have to ask Mr. Ohno to go with him, otherwise the Ukita Hide family may think we are lying to him."
Osamu Ono had met the Ukita Hide family. During the Osaka Winter War, he personally went to the Ukita Hide family's territory to ask for help: "I am willing to go together."
Hideyori looked at Osamu Ohno, then bowed and saluted: "Please sir."
"Mr. Ohno," Chen Cao turned around and stared at him: "After receiving the person, just come directly to Satsuma Domain. At that time, I will be waiting for your arrival in Kagoshima Castle."
Osamu Ohno bowed and said, "I wish that Marquis Wu's military fortune will be prosperous..."
...
The reason why the flagship was named 'Dingwu' was because Chen Cao really didn't know what to name it. The huge flagship stood like a mountain above the sea, like a moving castle traveling in the vast blue sky. Down.
A giant ship of nearly 10,000 tons is invincible in this world, and this ship was only launched this year, nearly three years ago.
Looking at the surrounding fleets traveling in the same direction, Chen Cao felt that even if he rebelled, he could definitely carve out his own world on the sea.
"Master Hou, flag language..."
Chen Cao followed Xin Zhao's reminder and looked over. The flag carrier on the dragon's bow mast was talking to the second 5,000-ton command ship in the distance.
Then the flag carrier shouted an order: "Master Marquis, there is news from the right wing camp that their forward sentry ship has discovered the Japanese fleet."
"I admire Zhao Tianlin's ability."
Chen Cao looked at Xin Zhao beside him: "If he were more pure, I would like him even more."
Sun Chuanting and Lu Xiangsheng behind them were confused when they saw the flag soldiers talking again.
"Master Marquis, the Japanese fleet has more than fifty ships."
Chen Cao immediately came to the table and looked at the chart on the table carefully.
"How many ships do we have?"
Xin Zhao immediately took out his notepad: "Three command ships, fifteen horse ships, fifty passenger ships, and more than one hundred and thirty warships and grain ships of various types,"
Xin Zhao said and looked up at Chen Cao: "There are thirty-seven warships available for sea combat."
Chen Cao looked up at the distant sealine, but he could not see the fleet at all: "Including our three command ships, there are only forty warships?"
"The ship is equipped with artillery, but the number is very small. It can be used as a warship." Xin Zhao reminded.
Sun Chuanting immediately refuted: "Commander Zhao must not give random orders. Those are the army. How can they fight at sea? If so, wouldn't their lives be in vain?"
"Besides, the boat is used to transport troops. The artillery design on it is very awkward. If you fire the gun accidentally, it is likely to overturn the hull." Lu Xiangsheng added.
Xin Zhao was not angry because he was not a commander. Chen Cao nodded, and then said: "After the war begins, send out an assault ship, let the new army board the ship, and use the Crouching Tiger Cannon to sneak attack on the bottom of the opponent's ship. If there is any disharmony, Send them by boat again."
"yes..."
"Passing the semaphore..."
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Shimazu Shohei originally wanted to go back to ask for help, but he met the Satsuma Domain's direct naval forces who came to support halfway. A fleet of thirty warships led by Admiral Matsui Heio went to Ryukyu to support.
After the two teams merged, there were seventy warships. This was also the main naval force of the Satsuma Domain, and it was also the capital that the Satsuma Domain relied on to fight against the shogunate.
Moreover, three warships in Matsui Tairao's fleet were equipped with red barbarian cannons, totaling forty-five.
"I didn't expect that my lord even sent you here,"
On the Tsuda Maru, Shimazu Shohei's ship, Matsui Heio was frowning as he listened to the experiences of the Shimazu family members.
"You mean, the Ming people have a large fleet and artillery?"
Shimazu Shohei nodded, and then pointed to the mast of his ship: "The main mast was damaged by their cannonballs. If my ship hadn't been fast, I might not have been able to escape."
"Huashan Jiugao seriously?"
Shimazu Shohei smiled bitterly: "Even if the entire army is not wiped out, we are still trapped in Ryukyu."
Matsui Heifu took a deep breath: "If this is the case, we will rescue him even more. If something happens to him, the lord will definitely not spare us. We will have to commit seppuku to quell this incident."
"After this defeat, I have no shame in going back."
Shimazu Shohei stood up. As a branch of the Shimazu family, he was in charge of the Osumi navy. If something like this happened, he would definitely be held accountable by his master. This time he would not be able to escape death unless he defeated the Ming Kingdom. fleet.
"grown ups..."
The messenger quickly ran to the two men and knelt down: "The Ming fleet was discovered."
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Zhao Tianlin stood on the deck of the command ship, took back the telescope in his hand, and then ordered his confidant Zhao Wuji: "The Japanese fleet is approaching in the shape of wild goose wings. Send the order, the forward battalion will form a mountain formation, and the entire army will charge forward. Open the broadsides on both sides. If they use swarm tactics to surround us, use chain bombs and shotguns to break the situation."
Zhao Wuji immediately looked back at the Dingwu flagship just behind them: "Sir, it's too risky."
Zhao Tianlin also looked back behind him, and then stared at the sea in the distance: "The Japanese don't like Western artillery, and it is a waste of money and materials to build such artillery, so their habit in naval battles is to join gangs in close combat, and what the Marquis wants is all Destroy the Satsuma Domain navy, so we must be the decoy.”
Zhao Wuji trembled all over, then looked around and whispered: "Sir, we are not..."
"Hey..." Zhao Tianlin stared at Zhao Wuji, and then returned to normal: "Inside and outside are different. Foreigners are foreigners after all. You must also learn to distinguish right from wrong."
"Yes, I remember it, little one."
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"Goose-wing type, it seems that Zhao Tianlin has an idea," Chen Cao handed the telescope to Sun Chuanting: "Send an order to Chen Maoxiu. If Zhao Tianlin's fleet is surrounded by the Japanese army, let them steal the Japanese army's retreat."
"yes..."
Shimazu Shohei did not have a telescope and could only watch the fleet on the distant sea with his naked eyes. However, Zhao Tianlin's entire fleet came forward, making him think that his opponent was protecting the huge stern ship behind him.
"That mountain-like ship definitely has no artillery. If we can capture it and take it back, it will be a great achievement."
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Zhao Tianlin's command ship is in the middle of the fleet. The five-thousand-ton warship is equipped with forty cannons alone. It is divided into upper and lower layers on the left and right sides. There are also many old-fashioned flying fire machines and thunder fire dragons. artillery.
As soon as the third ship of the forward battalion rushed into the Japanese fleet, it was surrounded by Japanese warships equipped with artillery. The naval officers and soldiers, who already knew that the Japanese army had no artillery, were preparing to start a hand-to-hand battle with the Japanese army. Suddenly, There was a loud bang.
Zhao Tianlin frowned, and then shouted sternly: "The Japanese fleet has artillery, fire it immediately."
"fire..."
"fire..."
'Dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...'
'Dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...'
'Dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...'
"The battle situation is very exciting..." Chen Cao took the telescope from Sun Chuanting, and then looked at it, frowning from time to time: "The Japanese army actually has artillery."
"Three ships of Zhao Tianlin's forward camp were hit by artillery."
Chen Cao said sternly: "Send an order to Chen Maoxiu and ask them to immediately lead a fleet to surround them and cut off the Japanese army's retreat."
"yes..."
The navy of the left and right wing battalions were in charge of twenty warships. The warships that Chen Cao could drive included the flagship beneath him. In addition to the artillery placement, there were also fifty other ships behind him that could join forces to fight. More than one ship.
Zhao Tianlin personally led his command ship to rush in. After the first round of artillery, the first command ship of the forward battalion had leaked and rolled over. The sailors, officers and soldiers on board jumped ship one after another, and the firearms on the Japanese warships also sprayed fire.
Suddenly, artillery and muskets roared.
'Bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...'
'Bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...'
'Bang bang bang...bang bang bang...bang bang bang...'
Zhao Tianlin's command ship had already launched a musketry exchange with the Japanese warships that were approaching and preparing to join the gang. However, it turned out that in the face of absolute strength, the Japanese firearms were not as powerful as flintlock guns after all.
It can be seen from the speed of the musketry exchange between the two sides. In just a tea time, the Japanese soldiers on the opposite ship had already set up the gangway on Zhao Tianlin's command ship, and the other side's musketeers had suffered heavy casualties.
"Sir, the forward battalion is under heavy siege." The messenger beside him shouted urgently.
"Tell Zhao Wuji to bombard them with chain bombs. The Tiao Gang's warships are equipped with // heart bombs to keep the distance away."
"yes..."
'Dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...dong-dong-dong...'
The sound of artillery became intensive again, and there were ramps in all directions on the huge command ship. It was obvious that Zhao Tianlin's command ship had become the target of the Japanese army.
Chen Cao put away the telescope, and Chen Maoxiu's left wing battalion had separated on both sides and moved far away to cut off the Japanese army's retreat. They were already more than ten nautical miles away from the battlefield, and the battle on Zhao Tianlin's side had just entered a white-hot stage.
The most important thing now is to deal with the Japanese warships that are speeding towards their flagship. Obviously, this big ship is the command center of the entire fleet. Taking this ship will be a great achievement.
"Send the order, the servant team is ready, wait until they get close to the bow cannon and then fire it, take out the squatting tiger cannon."
Chen Cao ordered coldly, then turned to look at Xin Zhao: "Send someone to protect the two ladies."
"yes..."
