Chapter 8: Encountering a Battle (III)

From the telescope, the enemy's fleet actually exceeded the number they had mastered, not more than fifty ships, but more than eighty ships, and they kept increasing distances between each other. Hong Chengchou put down the telescope in front of his chest and said to Song Xiance and Zheng Nansheng behind him with a serious expression: "The opponent has discovered the weakness of our artillery. It seems that we are going to fight a tough battle."

Song Xiance's face also became solemn, nodded in agreement, and his mind was also working quickly. Although Chen Guang was the one who commanded the battle, they were not outsiders. The situation where both prospered and suffered losses could not help but use his brains to defeat the huge enemy in front of him.

Zheng Nansheng's determination is not as good as these two people. He also saw the crisis in front of him. Although he was still calm, his face had quietly faded away. Obviously, he had a little concern about whether he could defeat such a powerful enemy.

First, although the second round of artillery was not very effective, its huge power still shocked everyone, including fleet captain Chen Guang. Although they had tried live ammunition before, they all used solid ammunition, mainly for training, and saved more or less money for the court. Therefore, although the power is not small, it is far from the powerful as the artillery shell used now. This flowering artillery shell is used for the first time in actual combat. Its power is really unimaginable to Chen Guang. Therefore, Chen Guang's nervous heart seemed to have a little more confidence in defeating the enemy, but his fists were still clenched tightly, and wet sweat kept coming out of his palms.

"Order, the third round of artillery, aim for me before firing!" Chen Guang ordered loudly, and soon the flag-speaking soldiers conveyed orders to the ships. For a moment, the entire fleet was silent. The gunners were a little nervous and even excited just now. Most of them participated in actual combat for the first time, and they would inevitably forget what they usually trained and learned. When they calmed down and calmed down, they would slowly remember it. At this time, the things they usually learned would be displayed one by one and become a truly qualified gunner.

"Prepare all the elements!"

"One shot!"

"Second shot is good!"

...

"Prepare, let it go!"

The two factions and forty artillery fired roaring sounds one after another, and the whistling shells rushed towards the opponent's fleet. The violent explosion sounded again. Today in Hangzhou Bay was destined to be the most uneasy day in history.

"Not good!" Zheng Zhihu screamed in his heart. The enemy was too cunning. He deliberately tried to launch a third strike when his fleet was about to approach the minimum range of artillery attacks. He mistakenly estimated that the opponent was insufficient shells, and it happened to be when he ordered the fleet to be closed to the near-side attack. The time was really good. The opponent must have a general who was proficient in naval warfare, but he really couldn't think of the imperial court's staying in the country for more than two hundred years, so how could there be any general who was proficient in naval warfare?

"Retaliation!" Zheng Zhi's eyes were red and he roared and issued an attack order. He knew that the third wave of shelling his fleet had suffered a lot of losses. Now he had already met. Even if he retreated, it would be impossible!

Hundreds of shells flew out of Zheng Zhihu's fleet and fought at sea all year round. These gunners were naturally much more skilled by the imperial fleet, especially they were more familiar with naval battles. Therefore, Zheng Zhihu's first counterattack actually caused considerable casualties to the First Detachment of the East China Sea Fleet, and even damaged two large ships of 400 materials. The eight artillery on the ship had not yet experienced the war, so they were buried at the bottom of the sea. Hundreds of people were on the two ships, and only dozens of people survived after the war!

The fleets on both sides were emitting thick smoke. The smoke pillar knew how to rush to Yuanxiao, and the tragic encounter was truly beginning.

The Chinese treasure ship was also hit by several solid bullets. The hull shook violently for a few times, but the losses were not large. Only a few cabins were destroyed. A few people were killed, and the casualties were not large.

Zheng Zhihu's losses were slightly greater, with hundreds of casualties, and seven or eight large ships were sunk, and his combat effectiveness was reduced by one tenth.

"Roar over and take the battle on the side!" Zheng Zhihu roared, and all the warships under his command accelerated, rushed to Hong Chengchou, and the temporary fleet led by Chen Guang rushed over. He really couldn't bear to leave the China Treasure Ship. He wanted to jump up now and take the China Treasure Ship for himself. Zheng Zhihu was still sober. He knew that his fleet could not get any advantage in artillery battles. Only by taking the battle on the side, as long as he approached the other side, he would definitely defeat the other side with his elite soldiers and more troops than the other side!

Zheng Zhihu stood on his flagship "Lieyun" and kept smiling at the Chinese treasure ship. He knew that if this fleet was eliminated, the navy of the Northern Dynasties would be in a slump and be strangled in the cradle by himself. From the East China Sea to the South China Sea, there would be no enemy from the Zheng family fleet. Even if he could not complete the tasks assigned by his elder brother, he would not do anything to him with such great contributions.

"Master Hong, Wu Sangui asks for battle!" Wu Sangui appeared quietly behind Hong Chengchou, kneeling down on one knee to ask for battle. Now Wu Sangui's temperament has changed a lot, his eyes have become more resolute, and his handsome face is cut. Although he looks gentle, he is only eighteen years old and matures like a twenty-eight-year-old man. A sharp light flashes in his eyes from time to time. The muscles under his fair skin contain very terrible power. He is practicing murder skills now. It is probably necessary to take a lot of effort to defeat him. He has become the number one master in the army. Zhu Tong, the top martial arts scholar, was defeated in his hands within a hundred moves.

In the Yangzhou Palace, Zhu Yinglong's safety was not worried after Lan Lin was arrested. There were also hundreds of guards and a thousand imperial guards. The special war brigade was originally given to Yuan Chonghuan for attacking the tough situation. Zhu Yinglong thought about it carefully. Large-scale combat, special warfare was very useful from time to time. Hong Chengchou was a talent he liked very much. Although he was still thorny in some aspects, he was still young after all, and there was also some of his concerns and selfishness. If Hong Chengchou was unfortunately defeated, Wu Sangui's special war brigade might be able to rescue him. After all, talent was difficult, so Wu Sangui and the only sixty special war brigades left under him were all transferred to Hong Chengchou and participated in the landing operation together.

"No!" Hong Chengchou refused, and the emperor sent the special war brigade to himself. How could he not know that in the battle to annihilate Zheng Zhibao, the special war brigade suffered a lot of casualties. This is the emperor's most respected unit, and Wu Sangui is the emperor's most respected confidant general. Although there are less than 200 troops in this army, and this time, Nanxing took half of it. He cannot let this unit suffer such a large casualties. Even if they are asked to fight, it is not the time. He warmed up the war and sent his ace up. He can't fight like this!

The warships of both sides had entered a distance of 500 meters. Now the artillery of both sides could only shoot flat and attack each other. The ten artillery carried by Hong Chengchou was also pushed out of the cabin and placed on the decks of the China Treasure Ship. Flames kept pouring out of the cannon bore, one after another, and landed on the enemy's ship, and then made a violent explosion. The hull was severely damaged, and the sea water slowly penetrated from the bottom of the bilge, with terror, shouting and scolding, and panicked figures flashing.

No one knows who will win if they die. At this time, one side has experienced naval battles, rich experience in naval battles, and strong ships and cannons. Although it is not a first battle, the strength of the enemy still teaches them a vivid lesson. Although they easily defeated the Yangtze River Navy and even wiped them out, when they encountered a truly well-trained fleet, they still lacked something, not morale or courage, but the murderous aura that moves forward. An army needs morale and courage, but even more murderous aura. The birth of an army is accompanied by war. Without an army, there will be no war, and without war, there will be no army. Therefore, the existence of the army is for killing, especially in this turbulent era, killing can bring the most fundamental peace!
Chapter completed!