After capturing Nishi Uraga, they did not cross the sea to attack Higashi Uraga. Instead, they took some of the captured prisoners and retreated back to Mount Hirone, and began to dig trenches nearby and set up a circular defensive position.
By this time, all the bosses and fishermen at the whale cutting farm had already left, so Pan Xiucheng set up his headquarters here. He placed guard posts 2 kilometers away on the north, south and west sides, and fixed patrol posts were arranged on the beach to the east.
Monk Zhou, who was the platoon leader, did not know that his impromptu act of "killing local tyrants and dividing the fields" at the Imperial Palace was later recognized by the shogunate as a robbery by the "Northern Navy" due to the cunning of the island country's farmers and was recorded in the case. Since the shogunate did not dare to pursue the case with Beihai Town, it was not clarified until many years later.
After leaving two bases of ammunition and three days of food supplies for Pan Xiucheng's troops, at ten o'clock the next morning, the Thor weighed anchor and sailed into Edo Bay.
At this time, the Tokugawa shogunate, which had received news of the invasion of Beihai Town, dispatched its naval forces overnight. By the time the Thor entered Edo Bay, hundreds of small morning boats and a dozen customs boats were already all over the ocean of Edo Bay. In addition to Kanfune and Hayafune, more than a dozen Benzai ships trapped in Kanagawa and Edo were also requisitioned by the shogunate navy.
The Tokugawa shogunate's navy was born out of the Takeda navy in the Warring States Period. It was called the "boatman group". It was founded in the ninth year of Kan'ei (1632) and was responsible for managing warships and maritime transportation. The official in charge is called "the boatman's head", also called the general prisoner, and is inherited from generation to generation by the Mukai family.
It is said that the most famous secret skill of the Mukai family is "swimming technique", and all naval forces in the shogunate must learn this. Whether it's useful in a fight or not is another matter. At least you won't drown if you jump into the water to escape.
The current generation of Mukai Shogun is the seventh generation, named Masaka Mukai.
There are five teams under the "Shipman's Implementation", and each team has a leader. The position is equivalent to Ruo Nian Ji, and the annual salary is 700 shi. There are more than thirty to forty people in Shuizhu Tongxin (the flag base), and sometimes there are about a hundred people. They have an annual salary of 20 bags of rice and two people to support them. In addition to Edo, there is another group of people in Osaka.
Like other shogunate officials, the boat captains were divided into two groups. Each group only worked for half a year, and was replaced by another in the second half of the year. The navy of the Tokugawa shogunate was mainly responsible for the coastal land route from Edo to Osaka to Kyushu, as well as the coastal patrols of Saikaido and Sanyo Road.
Because Zhao Xin bombarded Nagasaki the year before last, the financially strapped shogunate mobilized half of the Mukai navy based in Ejiri to Edo, stationed in Yokohama, to strengthen the shogunate's coastal defense in Edo Bay.
Standing on a 500-koku ship, Mukai Masaka was wearing bright armor and holding a monocular to observe the Thor in the distance.
It was only then that Mukai Masaka was shocked to find that Tang Yi's big white ship had no sail! He tried to figure out how such a huge ship relied on to move, but because the Thor was too huge, he couldn't figure it out after pondering for a while.
After all, the world of the island country has been at peace for almost two hundred years, and the current shogunate navy has degenerated to a level even worse than that of the Warring States Period. The fighting techniques are nothing more than iron cannon bombardment, rocket shooting, and then using fireboats, or sending people into the water to build ships.
The Seki ships were equipped with ultra-high fire rope guns with a caliber of 30 to 40 mm. With full firepower, they might not even be able to sink a thousand-ton Nanjing ship (in the Susana Tang ship incident, Hagi's naval forces were burned continuously). After two days of fighting, the Nanjing ship did not sink until it finally set itself on fire), let alone deal with the oversized Thor.
So Mukai Masaka decided to arrange all the ships under his command into a trapezoidal formation to meet the enemy. The main Kanfune and Benzai ships were located in the formation, and a large number of small morning ships were distributed on the left and right wings.
To sum up Mukai Masaka's strategy in one word, he did not seek to annihilate the enemy in Edo Bay, but only sought to scare the enemy away with more people and boats.
Of course Zhao Xin will not be scared away. When he saw the shogunate navy forming a formation to intercept, he came to the deck and ordered the eight M2HBs on the left and right sides to remove their gun jackets and prepare for shooting.
In order to prevent the enemy from attacking close to the bow and stern of the ship, more than 30 PKM machine guns from each squadron under Jiuzang were divided into four groups, specifically responsible for defending the stern and bow of the ship.
Because of Hokkai Town's aggression against Nishiuraga yesterday, the shogunate no longer had to worry about it, so when the Thor entered less than 1,000 meters away from the shogunate navy's Kanfune, dozens of cannons mounted on Kanfune and Benzai's ships ,No! It was a large matchlock gun and they started shooting together.
"Oh my God! What are they using?" At the bow of the Thor, an observer from Beihai Town was holding a telescope. When he saw spearheads reflecting metallic light inserted into the large tubes on the other side's ship, he said Yelled in surprise.
"Get down quickly!" As the observers lay down with their heads in their hands, more than twenty machine gunners and deputy machine gunners who had not yet received the firing order also hurriedly lowered themselves down on the deck.
"Tum! Tum!"
More than a dozen customs ships were filled with smoke, and more than a dozen thick metal arrows flew across the sea. Some fell into the water, and some hit the Thor's bow below.
Just hearing a few muffled sounds of "dong dong dong", the thick stick fire arrow was immediately bounced and fell into the sea.
"Iron plate!" The samurai and ashigaru on the warship were all stunned!
Mukai Masaka was also stunned. This time she really hit the iron plate. He thought to himself that this was such a bastard. For such a big ship, the hull was actually covered with iron plates. It would not be such a bully!
He immediately ordered to his men: "Separate the two wings and prepare to outflank, set fire to the ship to meet the enemy!"
After receiving the signal from the Lord, more than twenty small morning boats filled with firewood and sprinkled with whale oil set off towards the Thor. At present, the north wind is blowing on the sea, so it is just right to set fire to the ship to meet the enemy!
When Zhao Xin learned that the other party had sent more than 20 fully loaded boats, he guessed that they were fire ships, so he issued an attack order.
As more than a dozen machine guns began to fire at the sailors on the ship, the shogunate sailors on the ship were shot and fell into the water. However, most people still struggled to light the fire ship before they died, and rushed towards the bow of the Thor with the wind.
"Water cannon ready!"
"coming!"
Following an order from the boatswain of the Thor, the two fire-fighting high-pressure water cannons installed on both sides of the bow were activated. As two jets of water sprayed out from the bow of the ship, the early boats that were on fire were extinguished one after another, and then were washed aside by the high-speed water.
At this time, Mukai Masaka's mouth was big enough to fit a duck egg, and the shogunate sailors on each ship also looked ashen.
Not daring to fail, the shogunate navy took the next step. Those morning ships that had formed formations on both sides of the Kanbune ship began to move towards both sides of the Thor. The sailors on the ship rowed hard, trying to surround the Thor.
Beihai Town would not give them such a chance. When hundreds of morning boats divided into two columns and entered both sides of the Thor, eight M2HBs opened fire.
In the dense rain of bullets, the fragile little morning boat was beaten to pieces. Whether it was the samurai behind the rafters or the sailors in the rowing boats, as long as they were shot, their flesh and blood would immediately fly everywhere.
Before a sailor had time to react, he was suddenly splashed with blood on his face, and half of a steaming severed arm flew into his arms. He was so frightened that he threw away the oar, and while yelling, he pulled the severed arm out of the water. inside.
Ding Guofeng in the cockpit was feeling itchy, but as the captain, he could not leave his post without authorization. This guy was holding on to the rudder, and at hand was his hk416a7 with a variable magnification lens. He glanced at the rifle several times, suppressing the urge to rush to the compass deck. Beside him, the two crew members were watching the navigation radar intently, telling Ding Guofeng to adjust the course at any time.
"Quick! Row quickly! Don't stop! Go around to the back of the white ship!" The people on the morning boat saw that they couldn't hit the front and couldn't get close to the sides, so they tried their best to go around the back of the Thor, trying to find a weak point to attack.
"Don't even shoot! Wait until they get close before you shoot!"
At the stern of the Thor, several soldiers responsible for observation squatted on the stairs or on the side of the ship. When they saw more than a dozen morning boats rushing out of the hail of bullets and coming around to both sides of the stern, they waved the small flags in their hands vigorously. Jiuzang, who was in charge of the command, immediately blew the whistle.
"Ta-ta-ta! Ta-ta-ta!"
More than a dozen PKMs began firing at targets moving on the morning boat. At the same time, several fire-fighting high-pressure water cannons at the stern sprayed at the approaching small morning boat. The samurai on the small morning boat was about to take aim with the iron cannon when they saw a white water column coming in front of them. The samurai was pushed backwards and fell into the water while holding the iron cannon.
Seeing that the big white ship was like a solid moving castle, unable to be chewed from the front, back, left, or right, the shogunate's sailors were completely desperate.
"It's over, run away!"
"This is not a human thing, this is a monster on the sea!"
"How could this happen!" Seeing the blood and fire in front of him, and listening to the desperate howls from the surrounding ships, Masaka Mukai couldn't help but burst into tears. He knelt down on the deck, first bowed and saluted in the direction of Edo Castle, Then he looked at the men on the boat.
"Sir! What are you..." Tongxin, his subordinate, seemed to understand what his boss was going to do.
Mukai Masaka said to everyone in grief and anger: "This war is not a crime of war, but God has not blessed us! I have no words to face the public, and I can only die to apologize! Who is willing to sail a ship with me to ram the enemy!" "
As soon as he finished speaking, more than thirty colleagues and sailors on the deck stepped forward to respond.
"Count me in!"
"And I!"
It is said that the Tokugawa family has been raising soldiers for two hundred years. Although their military equipment is getting worse and worse, there are still many generous people. After all, they only work for half a year at most every year and are paid a full year's salary. The state also provides salaries and benefits for a large area of more than 100 square meters. It would be difficult to encounter them in another time and space.
Mukai Masaka knew that even if he escaped back to Edo, he would still be dead and his family would be harmed. The profession of boat driver has always been hereditary to the Mukai and Abe families. If one commits suicide or dies bravely in battle, his son can successfully inherit the family business.
As for what the shogunate navy will become in the future, he can no longer care about that at the moment.
At this time, some warriors on the deck imitated the tone of Yang Shen in the Ming Dynasty and said loudly, "The country has supported the country for 180 years and has been loyal to the country today!" They quickly received responses from many people. , arousing the hatred of the same enemy.
Seeing other large ships fleeing to the west, and only one Guan ship rushing toward us 500 meters away, Ding Guofeng in the cockpit immediately increased the speed of the ship to avoid it; at the same time, the light and heavy machine guns on the deck were aimed at the Guan ship. Spray out a dense rain of bullets.
A .50-caliber armor-piercing incendiary bomb hit the Guan ship, and a fire soon broke out. Mukai Masaka, who was standing on the bow of the ship directing the shooting, was quickly hit by several bullets because her armor attracted attention, and was blown into a pile of minced meat in the fire.
Seeing that the general died in the battle, the sailors and Tongxin on the ship had no intention of fighting anymore. At this time, the Mukai family's secret swimming skills finally came in handy. These people jumped into the water one after another, followed the half-breaststroke movements meticulously, and swam towards other escaping boats...
The interception battle by the shogunate navy ended in only half an hour. Thor then sailed eastward and anchored three kilometers away from Shinagawa Beach.
After the drone detected the shogunate's defensive position on Shinagawa Beach, Zhao Xin made some calculations, then issued the shooting parameters to the gunners of the two D30s and started the bombardment.
When the rumbling sound of cannons reached Edo Castle like thunder, the towns in the city were immediately in chaos. Countless townspeople went home, wrapped their belongings with cloth, and then fled to Ueno with their families. From Nihonbashi to Kyobashi, everyone People inside and outside the Chumachi Gate were crowded with people taking refuge.
Tongxin and Mingming, who were responsible for suppressing the commotion of the civilians, were unable to stop the torrent of refugees in front of them. They could only stand aside and let the crowd break through the fence and flee to the field, screaming all the way.
In the Ichihashi-den mansion under the castle, the thirteen-year-old Tokugawa family was sitting on the throne, crying and saying to the heads of the Gosan family and the Gosanqing family in front of them: "The general's body is not yet cold, and now Tang Yi is shelling Shinagawa again." . What good advice do you have?"
Although Tokugawa Ieki asked the six people present, his eyes were always looking at his biological father, Tokugawa Haruji.
Perhaps because he felt that his time was running out, the fifty-eight-year-old Tokugawa Harisada, the head of the Kishu Domain, sighed and said: "Shogun, I think it is better to agree to Tang Yi's request first."
Seeing that someone finally came out as a scapegoat, Tokugawa Haruji also said: "First send someone to negotiate with Tang Yi and ask them to stop bombarding Edo."
"Then what?" The Tokugawa family looked at their biological father eagerly.
"Shogun, I would like to ask Lord Kii to come forward to negotiate with Tang Yi on behalf of the shogunate. As for the location... just choose the camp in Kanagawa. It is far away from Edo. After the White Ship passed, those who were blocked in Merchant ships from Yokohama and Kamiso can also resume traffic, and the people in the city can feel at ease."
At this time, Tokugawa Harisada glanced at Tokugawa Harisada, and said in his heart that he would not be a gentleman if he did not take revenge. This relationship was finally settled.
Tokugawa Ieki asked again: "How to calm down the chaos in the city?"
Tokugawa Jiji said: "Let Shirakawa Marquis come forward and lead the officials of the northern and southern towns to appease the people and calm the turmoil."
The Tokugawa family looked at Tokugawa Harisada, and then at their father. Seeing that the other feudal family heads did not speak, they nodded and said: "In this case, as requested by Marquis Kii."
After the big bosses reached an agreement, the shogunate's actions began quickly.
First, Uraga Nobuyuki, who ran back to Edo Castle, took his people out to sea by boat, raised a white flag, sued for peace from the Thor, and informed the shogunate that they agreed to negotiate on the agreement proposed by Zhao Xin, which was located in Yokohama Village near Kanagawa. .
Then, Matsudaira Sadanobu sat at the Edo Kita Town Office and sent people to the streets to distribute notices. At the same time, he sent a large number of people to Ueno to inform Shirofune that they would evacuate tomorrow and to dissuade those fleeing people from returning to the city as soon as possible.
After all this tossing, it wasn't until the Thor left the next morning that the commotion in Edo Castle finally calmed down.
