"How will the British fight?"
Zhang Bao turned to look at Chen Huacheng.
Zhang Bao was a pirate from the Dan family who took refuge during the Battle of the Pearl River Estuary.
He was also the adopted son of Zhang Hong, the former Minister of the Navy of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhang Hong is already the boss of the Navy Ministry, and Zhang Bao has also become the governor of the Indian Ocean Fleet.
Chen Huacheng was a Green Camp general who surrendered on the battlefield in Ganzhou, Jiangxi.
However, he was a hereditary commander, and he was only sixteen years old when he came to join him. He subsequently participated in the Nanchang Battlefield, Nanjing Battlefield, and the Central Plains War.
I fought until I was twenty years old. After four years of fighting, I was promoted due to merit, and then I was arranged to go to the Naval Academy for further studies.
He can be considered a new generation of naval officers.
Chen Huacheng's results are still very good.
Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to become the chief of staff of the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Ming Dynasty from a reduced general in just a dozen years.
so.
He is very clear about the combat mode of the British Navy - after all, whether in the academy or in the army, the British Empire's navy is the first imaginary enemy of the Ming Dynasty's navy.
"Although they have added three "Giant" class battleships, their tactics are unlikely to have changed much. The horizontal team plus the column, the horizontal team attacks from the front, and the column bypasses from the flanks. Among them, three Giant-class battleships and twelve A Warrior-class battleship must be the core of the horizontal formation, and the other cruisers will bypass the flanks."
"The horizontal force is attacking from the front, and the column is flanking. Why is this British guy still playing the army's tactics on the sea?" Zhang Bao shook his head.
"What are we going to do?"
"We can pretend to go south to Madagasda to attract them to turn south. After the Queen of Heaven, we want to go northwest to the south of the Maldives Island."
The answer was Zhu Yixian, the captain of the Zhenwu.
"Not bad! Feint a shot, and then block their chance to return to their home port, forcing them to fight!"
Zhang Bao nodded appreciatively.
In fact, it is a decisive battle compared to Bai Kai's stance.
If the British do not want to fight, but retain a fleet in the Indian Ocean, this will make the Ming Empire relatively more troublesome.
but.
The commander of the British Navy certainly does not want to give up the Maldives.
If this base is lost.
They could only shrink back to Madagasda.
Thus.
From the Strait Governor's Mansion to India, the Ottoman Empire, and East Africa, this area completely belonged to the Ming Empire.
With their numerical advantage, how could they retreat without a fight?
Because the fortresses on the Maldives ports are equipped with a large number of fortress guns.
so.
If the British navy sees that the situation is not good and simply shrinks back, or they can easily return to port to resupply after running out of ammunition and fuel.
This is also relatively unfavorable to the Ming Navy.
therefore.
Zhu Yixian's method is already very mature and prudent.
Every aspect has been considered.
April 23, early morning.
When the first ray of sunlight came in through the porthole.
The third son of the Ming Empire, King of Jin, and captain of the Zhenwu Ship, Zhu Yixian, were already fully dressed.
On the dark blue naval officer uniform, the sun and moon national emblem and the golden navy sun and moon wave emblem reflect the sunshine and shine.
As the flagship, the Zhenwu naturally could not stay behind in this battle.
as a flagship.
Definitely have to charge forward! !
Although it has been practiced countless times in exercises.
but.
Really on the battlefield.
This is the first time.
In accordance with the regulations, Zhu Yixian calmly issued various orders.
He stood on his command tower, holding a telescope and looking at the ocean ahead.
"My father was twenty-five years old when he first went to the battlefield, but at that time he was already the best doctor."
Zhu Yixian suddenly remembered the "Royal History of the Ming Dynasty".
Because now, he, the captain, has nothing to do.
The officers were busy in an orderly manner according to combat regulations.
After a night of chasing, the Ming Navy’s Indian Ocean Fleet successfully got stuck between the British Empire’s Indian Ocean Fleet and their home port of the Maldives.
According to the plan.
If the British dare not fight decisively.
Then take advantage of the situation and recruit the princes' troops from India to attack the Maldives - an isolated port without the support of the fleet will never be able to sustain it for too long.
However, Zhu Yixian was very sure that the British would not leave without occupying it.
Putting yourself in the shoes of the British fleet, if you were the commander of the British fleet, you would never abandon your home port without firing a shot - what's more, the British now have the advantage, at least judging from the medical records.
"Report to Captain, everything is ready!"
Zhu Yixian's adjutant came quickly.
Zhu Yixian nodded: "Report to the General Headquarters that our ship is fully ready for battle and is expected to start fighting the enemy fleet in one and a half hours!"
"yes!"
Half an hour ago.
The cruiser Hong Lie, which was responsible for monitoring enemy ships, sent a telegram.
The British fleet took advantage of the darkness and returned to the north.
so.
Now the Ming Empire Navy is ready.
In an hour and a half at most, the naval battle will begin.
"They thought they could take us in a circle, but they certainly didn't expect that our ships can maintain communication even beyond visual range!"
Chen Huacheng said.
"That might catch them a little off guard."
"It's just a bit of a surprise. Anyway, if we want to have a decisive battle, we still have to close the distance!" Zhang Bao said.
before this.
Zhang Bao, the governor of the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Ming Navy, has reorganized the fleet.
The 12 Zhen-class battleships constitute the First Squadron.
The 12 Hong-class cruisers form the Second Squadron.
Twenty Wei-class frigates form the Third Squadron.
Everyone performs their duties.
In addition, there are armed merchant ships sent by Indian vassals on standby 20 nautical miles away.
As the order is given.
The commanders of each squadron rearranged the combat positions according to the formation situation, divided and adjusted the order of bombardment, and FM radio to facilitate contact with the flagship headquarters at any time.
When a large plume of smoke appears 15 nautical miles away.
Zhang Bao took a deep breath.
"finally come!"
Although as a veteran officer of the Ming Dynasty Navy.
His naval combat experience is already very rich.
But command a huge armored fleet to fight a decisive battle related to the fate of the country.
This is the first time.
"Hang the battle flag!"
Zhang Bao ordered loudly.
"Turn on the fleet radio and telegraph the ships: The emperor has a decree. This battle is related to the success or failure of the empire. The officers and soldiers of the ships will work bravely to determine the hegemony of the Indian Ocean in one battle!"
"Long live the Ming Dynasty! Long live the emperor!!"
With the battle flag raised.
The officers and soldiers on the ships became high-spirited.
The cultural level of the navy's officers and soldiers is much higher than that of the army.
After being influenced by the education system of the Ming Dynasty for many years, most of them are fanatical nationalists.
For a while.
The officers and soldiers of the ships shouted long live.
This decisive sea battle related to the fate of the nation has begun. (End of chapter)
