Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

() "This terrible weather." Wearing a sheepskin inner jacket, a kunskin outer cover, a waterproof raincoat made of eucommia glue, and sheepskin gloves, Xin Jingyan, the commander (chief) of the Yisu No. [-] Signal Ship, watched the boats rushing up to the deck from time to time. The waves cursed. "It's not cloudy, it's sunny, and the wind is so strong, it doesn't look like a snowy day."

"Don't tell me, my lord. If it weren't for this kind of weather, how could we pass through Miaodao without disturbing the beacon towers of the Tartars?" Tan Jingui, the ship's deputy commander (first mate) and navigation officer who was also dressed in the same dress, looked Some optimism. "Besides, if it really snows today, I'm afraid the Bohai Sea will freeze over."

"It's better if it freezes, so we don't need to go in and see it." Xin Jingyan looked into the distance, and couldn't see anything hazy, let alone the land in the distance, and the Qing army beacon on the land. "These hateful beacon towers will be removed one by one sooner or later, so as not to get in the way and look annoying."

"Save me, it's not like we haven't pulled out the beacon towers on Miao Island. As a result, we went ahead and built them again after clearing the captives." Tan Jingui responded disapprovingly. "Unless we garrison troops above, but if that's the case, I'm afraid it's the Qing captives who came to besiege us." Tan Jingui pointed to the distance with the rough gesture of a man on the sea. "Actually, if you keep your eyes open, you will be blind. Just relying on the few lighthouses on the island, you can still spot us at night, what a joke!"

"That's what I said, but it's always uncomfortable to leave it there." Xin Jingyan also had his reasons. "Haven't you heard that Jianlu is planning to set up forts on the front line of Miaodao Islands and Tuoji Island, together with a large formation of ten thousand ships to attack us?"

"The fort? Isn't it wishful thinking to block our gunboat?" Tan Jingui sneered. "It seems that Qinglu hasn't learned the lesson yet, and is still counting on the old trick of attacking the ship with fire."

Xin Jingyan was about to say something more, when suddenly the lookout post on the mainmast called out loudly: "Jingsu No. 11 reports."

The lookout post suddenly became dumb as he spoke, and then exclaimed in a higher-pitched voice: "Three Qing captive Galen warships, heading east and northeast, are heading towards the mouth of the Liaohe River at a speed of seven knots! Jingsu No. 11 for instructions So deal with it?"

"Impossible," Xin Jingyan jumped up all of a sudden, and then rushed to the bottom of the mainmast, making three steps and two steps straight to fight. However, he kept saying that it was impossible, but he found a flower in the sight of his telescope. Duo Baifan, what's more, the other party seems to have discovered his party and has begun to turn. "This this??????"

Judging from the speed of the two sides and the wind direction at the time, it would take half an hour for the two sides to make contact, so Xin Jingyan still had time to make a decision, but Yisu No. 11 and Jingsu No. [-] were only equipped with twelve [-]-inch light guns Therefore, even if Galen on the opposite side is only a commercial type equipped with a small amount of artillery, Xin Jingyan and the others are powerless to contend.

"Order Jingsu No. 11 to follow the ship and move forward." After weighing for a while, Xin Jingyan made a decision. "Until you can clearly see the muzzle on the opposite side." The flag was sent out, and soon after receiving the obedient response from the other party, Xin Jingyan slid down from the mainmast and asked Tan Jingui with a strange expression. "Since when did the Tartars have Galen?"

"Could it be the barbarians who sneaked in for trade?" Tan Jingui put forward a hypothesis. "It's not impossible."

"It doesn't matter, we'll talk about everything when we get closer." Xin Jingyan thought nothing of it after being puzzled. "What the hell is it, I will understand in due time."

The two fleets heading towards each other quickly approached, and soon Xia Junxin reported to the observation posts on the ship: "The enemy ship is flying the Yellow Dragon flag, yes, it must be the navy of the Qing Dynasty."

This astonishing discovery made Xin Jingyan and Tan Jingui's faces even darker, so Xin Jingyan ordered: "Keep approaching until you can clearly see the size of the enemy ship and the number of gun ports."

Tan Jingui also gritted his teeth and said, "It seems that the last time Nvsu No. [-] and Kangsu No. [-] were on their cruise, they didn't find Galen in the Qing Dynasty. When did three of them appear all of a sudden?"

"That's wrong. The Baobuqi Tartars have already built a boat, but it's always been in the inland river." Xin Jingyan and Tan Jingui looked at each other. "It should be like this. No wonder the Tartars wanted to build beacon towers along the coast. They were afraid that we would find out after rushing in."

Tan Jingui's eyes also lit up: "It means that the enemy ships are empty now, and they may not even be able to shoot accurately??????"

"Don't think about it, even if the Tartar navy is still practicing, we are only six guns on one side, how can we compete with dozens of others." Xin Jingyan's words are not only to persuade Jingui, but also to convince himself of. "In case someone's blind cat meets a dead mouse, we don't even have a chance to cry. We should honestly spread the news and let the brigade clean them up."

Tan Jingui knew this was true, but expressed regret, "I'm afraid, when the time comes when Jianlu finds our brigade is attacking, he will hide in the inland river and cannot come out. If this is the case, we can't find it." Find it."

Just as he was talking, the lookout post reported again: "There are still two chains in the distance, and the enemy ship is turning."

The two ship commanders rushed to the ship's side at once, and raised their binoculars at the same time. In the binoculars magnified several times, it was clearly visible that the gun door on the other side's side of the ship was opening: "Turn the rudder!"

Xin Jingyan ordered to the second officer and helmsman: "Keep parallel to the enemy ship, at this distance, they can't hit us."

Following the movements of Yisu No. 11, Jingsu No. [-] also drew a white wave on the sea.

"The first ship is a 44 material-class Galen ship, with a second gun deck," the military attache of the two Xinbao ships recorded almost at the same time. "Ten gun positions on the lower level, twelve gun positions on the upper level, and 52 gun positions on the whole ship; the second ship, Wanli-class Galen, has three gun decks, eight gun positions on the lower level, ten gun positions on the middle level, and eight gun positions on the upper level , the whole ship has [-] guns; the last ship?????? "

"Why does this ship look so much like the little Dutch Galen?" Tan Jingui commented suspiciously. Of course, this is not due to his prejudice, but because the Dutch ship has more characteristics. It is one size smaller than the galleons of Portugal, Spain, France, Denmark, England and other countries. "Could it be?"

"Don't make wild guesses. The Dutch Hongyi just negotiated with the imperial court about the territory of Nanyang. They must have made troubles." Although Xin Jingyan also had doubts, based on certain facts, he did not dare to make a judgment lightly. "I'm afraid it's the first time Jianlu made Galen, so he didn't dare to build it in a big place. He tried the small one first. We were different back then."

There are actually some problems with Xin Jingyan's words. In fact, except for the captured Great Eastern Galen, the Xia Army Navy has never built a real Galen ship. Its main cruiser actually takes the route of a fully equipped sailboat. More advanced than Galen, able to carry more guns with a smaller payload.

However, the Xia Army’s navy has developed step by step from the smallest sloop to the present day. Therefore, the so-called Qing army tried the small boat to make sense. Who asked the Qing army to brush on the shells of the three Dutch ships After looking at a pattern that fits the oriental colors, it slipped Xia Jun's observation by mistake.

"I don't believe that I went directly to Galen without building a brig before and built it." Tan Jingui still shook his head. "If Qinglu really had such ability, what would he have done long ago? How could he endure until today??????"

Xin Jingyan also held the same suspicion, but he contradicted himself and said: "These are still for the superiors to consider."

Just as they were speaking, the three Galen ships of the Qing army opened fire for the first time, and the flying shells fell far away, splashing harmless water.

Although the Qing army's bombardment could not threaten the two Xinbao ships of the Xia army, Xin Jingyan, who had already figured out the Qing army's cards, was unwilling to take any risks, so he ordered: "Turn the rudder, retreat, tell Jingsu NO .11, let's go back."

Seeing that the Xia army was driven away by the artillery fire, there was an astonishing roar from the Qing army's ships. It was obviously rejoicing at defeating the powerful Xia army on the sea, but this was definitely not what the Dutch teacher wanted. But the clumsy Galen couldn't catch up with the Xia Jun Xinbao ship with the design of the clipper ship.Therefore, he could only helplessly watch Xia Jun disappear into the distance.

Leaving aside how the Qing army considered temporarily avoiding the Xia army's navy after they returned, on the Yisu No. [-] on the return journey, the signal just sent by the friendly ship also caused quite a shock.

"What? Jingsu No. 11 has just observed that there are a large number of Thai and Western sailors on Qinglu's ship. Let me just say, how can the Tartars manipulate such a large ship at once." Tan Jingui said through gritted teeth . "Check it out, we must check it out and find out who it is that dares to play tricks behind our backs."

"Of course there must be an investigation, but what if the investigation is clear, start a war? I'm afraid it won't be our turn." Xin Jingyan said indifferently. "With these three boats in the Bohai Sea, we, the admiral, may feel restless. Then our hard days will come." Xin Jingyan explained. "Qinglu must also understand that it will be a long blockade at that time. Fortunately, we have already solved Japan, otherwise we will have to fight on two fronts."

Regarding this, Tan Jingui agreed: "But if we don't wipe out these three Galen, and don't wipe out the shipyard of the Qing captives, not only will the admiral not be able to eat and sleep well, but I'm afraid the Holy Majesty will also be worried. The Royal Army is also sent over??????"

"I'm afraid that Qinglu deliberately let us see the boat in order to lure the enemy ashore." Xin Jingyan shook his head while speaking. "Forget it, you and I are only at the seventh rank, so let the superiors worry about such a big matter, as long as you and I obey??????"