When the first squadron violently bombarded the three-masted gunboat, the squadron of secret service boats entered Liao Luo Bay in a single column. When they approached one thousand meters, each squadron, led by the leading squadron, turned around and sailed parallel to the coast. . [Read the latest chapter] Using the burning enemy ship that was hit by the first team after firing as the target reference, each ship can fire freely. Their orders were simple: shoot at full speed.
Guided by the burning ships on the sea and the signal rockets of the special reconnaissance team flying from time to time on the shore, the squadron of special service boats took turns firing with cannons and carrones. The cannon squadron fired from a long distance to suppress the attack, and then the carronade squadron came closer to replenish the fire - the latter's large-caliber shells were more powerful when hitting. In accordance with pre-war instructions, they fired a large number of grenades and red-hot incendiary bombs to achieve maximum damage to the wooden ships.
Five squadrons of secret service boats spewed smoke and fire from their sides as they sailed, raining down bullets. Artillery fire roared along the coast of Liaoluo Bay, smoke covered the sky, and explosions mixed with red flames came one after another. Smoke and fire from the ships that were hit shot straight into the sky, and even the rising sun was obscured. The commands to shoot, the screams of the wounded, the angry roars and curses echoed in the rumbling sound of the artillery. The huge fleet gathered in Liao Lo Bay melted like icebergs under the scorching sun. The ships were shot and burned one after another. The fires on the water caused many ships close to the shore that had not yet faced the Australian gunfire to collapse. was ignited. The entire Liao Luo Bay was ablaze.
The Hongyi artillery battery deployed by the Zheng family on the coast of Liaoluo Bay finally fired back. However, in the chaotic situation on the water, it was difficult to even observe the target, let alone effectively shoot the target. Sparse shells were fired at random without any target, most of them fell into the sea, and a few even hit their own ships.
Ning Liujin screamed the moment the first round of shells came, and then jumped into the sea with a thud - he himself couldn't explain why he did this. A great fear told him in his heart: run quickly.
His escape was just in time. When Ning Liujin crawled onto the beach of Liao Luo Bay, dripping with water and exhausted, there was already a sea of fire behind him. The sound of gunpowder explosions kept coming one after another. The heat from the burning ships in the bay made him crawl on the beach. It also felt unbearably hot.
The beach was already crawling with sailors gasping loudly. They all opened their mouths and gasped for breath - swimming through the water full of burning wreckage was not an easy task.
Burning ashes danced in the air, dotted like countless butterflies. From time to time it was blown down to the beach. Several Zheng soldiers hurried to the beach pushing a wheelbarrow containing a rectangular box, and together they lit the fuse. Ning Liujin's eyes only felt blurred, and he shot out more than a dozen rockets in an instant, which was very powerful. However, these rockets trailing smoke trails could not go very far. One after another they fell into the bay, and some even set their own boats on fire.
"You bastard, you're even spanking me!" Ning Liujin heard someone next to him gasping and cursing. He hadn't caught his breath for a while, and was gasping for air when a cannonball suddenly flew from the sea, fell on the beach, and exploded with a bang. Suddenly several gasping ones were blown to pieces. Ning Liujin could no longer care about his luck and hurriedly crawled towards the interior of the island using both hands and feet.
He ran just in time. At 5:40, the fire support squadron, which followed the special agent squadron into the bay, arrived at the station under the tow of the Dafa boat. Thirty rocket ships fired salvos of Hale rockets at the remaining ships in the bay, with each rocket ship firing 30 rockets. In an instant, it was like countless meteorites falling from the sky at the same time. This scene alone made the remaining sailors and soldiers of the Zheng family feel dizzy, and the sound of cannons from the forts on the shore was completely silenced. The fire in Liaoluowan is burning more and more vigorously.
6:30 in the morning. The leading squadron turned the ship south of Rushan and began the return voyage. Use the artillery on the other side to shoot at the remaining Zheng family fleet in the bay. At this time, only ten of the Zheng family's fleet in Liaoluo Bay remained, and most of the ships originally moored inside were set on fire, with thick smoke billowing from the water. It has become difficult to observe. Moreover, the special reconnaissance teams lurking in Rushan and other places also sent telegrams, informing them that the bombardment was very effective and there was no need to continue the bombardment. Mingqiu, who was observing the enemy's situation on the Lichun, believed that the first stage of the combat goal had been achieved and there was no need to waste more artillery shells on the wreckage. Therefore, he sent a signal for the special agent squadron to withdraw from the battle, reload, and cover the army's landing.
"Notify all ships to pay close attention to the fire attack ships." Mingqiu ordered. The only thing that can threaten them now is the fire attack ship. Zheng Zhilong relied on this to drive the Dutch out of Xiamen, thus forcing the Dutch to accept his trade conditions.
Although the Dutch were weak, they had a great advantage in naval technology at the time. Zheng Zhilong was able to defeat the Dutch, which shows that the Zheng navy had considerable experience in using fire attack ships and must have unique tactics. .
Rowing boats and motorboats brought boatloads of marines and army soldiers to the beach. Because the fire along the coast of Liaoluo Bay was too hot, the landing site was chosen on the beach at the foot of Houhu Mountain. There was originally a camp on the mountain, but the defenders were defeated by the navy's rocket bombardment. Lao Di led his first expedition team and waited on the beach without any resistance.
As expected, the Zheng family's army on Kinmen Island did not put up too much resistance. Most of the camps abandoned the camps and fled. Many people fled to the north of the island and crossed the sea to the mainland by boat. Most of the people abandoned their swords, guns and armor and fled into the mountains in the middle of the island.
By 7 o'clock, Kinmen Island had officially changed hands. On the success post of the old time and space, the morning star flag is rising slowly.
Mingqiu immediately appointed Lao Di as the commander of the Kinmen Guards and made him responsible for clearing the entire island. At the same time, he was assigned a number of patrol boats and motor boats, and ordered to capture Little Kinmen Island before noon that day and clear out the enemies on Little Kinmen. Control the size of Kinmen and nearby sea areas.
"Promise to complete the mission!" Lao Di's face turned red with joy, and he saluted and yelled with suppressed energy - he had been in the miserable position of captain of the Marine Corps for several years, and finally got into a battalion a year ago. A senior commander, now he is finally a "commander".
"I'll leave the matters here to you. We're going to attack Xiamen and Anping soon." Mingqiu warned, "Contact us anytime if you have any questions."
After Mingqiu handed over the task, the troops immediately divided into two groups. The first team headed for Xiamen Island. Clean up the Zheng family fleet in Xiamen Bay and cover the landing of troops on Xiamen Island. The secret service boat squadron and the motor boat brigade attacked Anping.
Although Anping is Zheng Zhilong's hometown, Mingqiu considered Anping to be located at the estuary of Shijing River, six or seven kilometers away from Weitou Bay. If the fleet wants to attack Anping, it must enter the Shijing River and go up the river. The special reconnaissance team has conducted reconnaissance on the water conditions of the Shijing River. The Lichun can reach the Anping City. However, the river here is only about 2 kilometers wide. It is covered with dark sand and the channel is tortuous. It is difficult for the steam gunboat to maneuver. It is precisely the enemy's fire attack ship that can The area was fully effective, so Mingqiu finally decided not to put the first team into this area, but to use spy boats and motor boats instead. When the wind direction and tide are unfavorable, the spy boat is towed by a motor boat to fight.
The army and navy attacking Anping were commanded by Shi Zhiqi, and Li Di, chief of staff of the First Fleet, was responsible for commanding the naval ships. For this reason, he has hung his flag on a larger spy ship. Now, the three commanders parted ways and went to perform their own tasks.
Li Huamei stood in her fighting position on the Lichun. Looking at the black smoke billowing into the sky. The battle just now was like a grand fireworks show - she had never seen such a gorgeous and cruel war. The Australians freely chose the opportunity to kill people and destroy ships. The Zheng family's fleet had no resistance and only used " The four words "eagle versus rabbit" can no longer express this terrible disparity.
Indeed, Li Huamei knows that according to European standards, Zheng Zhilong's fleet is not worth mentioning except for its number and size. Not to mention the Spanish Galen, even an ordinary 20-gun Dutch merchant ship is enough to face it on the sea. Two or three eight-gun three-masted ships of the Zheng family were not left behind.
But this only has a certain advantage, and it is far less destructive than the first team led by the Lichun now - it is a completely one-sided massacre. The outcome of the battle was decided the moment they broke into Liaoluo Bay. No, it could even be said that from the moment they decided to go to war against Zheng Zhilong, the fire in Liaoluo Bay was already doomed.
In this way, wouldn't they have been invincible in the world for a long time? While being shocked, she couldn't help but secretly wonder, let alone a mere sea lord like Zheng Zhilong, it would not be difficult for him to land on the mainland, destroy the Ming Dynasty, and change the dynasty. Why hide and hide in a barren southern land like Hainan, doing all kinds of hard work - to conquer the world and sit in the Dragon Court? Isn't the highest ideal of heroes all over the world "can replace him"?
Turning around at the beginning of spring, Li Huamei noticed that the black smoke-emitting ships of the first team were heading towards Dada and Erdan. She immediately understood that they were going to attack Xiamen.
There are many merchant ships in Xiamen and Gulangyu, which are important ports for the Zheng family's trade. The Australians sent the main force to go directly to this area, obviously preparing to severely damage its foundation. Li Huamei thought while watching the Australian fleet mobilization, and found that the fleet of ships was not there. Heading to Anping. She was shocked: This is the intention to destroy this imperial eclipse!
I didn’t expect the Australians to be so ruthless! Li Huamei felt annoyed. If the details of her family's secret collusion and transactions with the Spaniards, the Dutch, and Zheng Zhilong were known to the Australians, she and her daughter would probably die without a burial! Thinking of this, a thin layer of sweat broke out on her back.
