The strongest devouring system in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 594 No matter the cost

"General, we can't wait any longer. If the Ming Dynasty digs the trenches down to the city walls, we'll be at a disadvantage!"

Major Godwin, the fleet's infantry commander, worriedly suggested something to the fleet commander, Reyes.

"I know, Major. You've also heard about the probing these past two days. This Ming fleet actually has cannons weighing 24 pounds or more, but Governor Kuhn's intelligence says that the Ming will only board the ship!"

"General, have our negotiators returned?"

"Major, all four squads have been detained by the Ming people. We have no idea which Ming fleet is besieging us. Now, we can't even send someone to ask Lord Thetis (Li Dan) to mediate!"

"What should we do now?" Major Godwin asked anxiously.

"Let the fleet break out first. Hopefully, some of them can return to Batavia. The rest is up to Governor Kuhn."

"Then what do we do? The company requires us to establish a base in Ming Country!" Major Godwin said anxiously.

"We can surrender. It is said that the Ming people treat prisoners of war very kindly. We hope that Your Excellency the Governor can send a fleet to rescue us."

General Reyes shrugged helplessly.

"No, I disagree. Our mission is to hold this position until His Excellency the Governor sends another fleet!" Major Godwin shouted angrily.

"Major, if this is your decision, I support you. You can continue to fight with the soldiers who refuse to surrender."

"...Gentlemen, this is the current situation. I have decided to appoint Major Digozan as the interim commander of the fleet, leading eight warships, with the Wind Chime at the head, to break out towards Batavia."

“No, Commander, let me stay!” The professional warship captain, Di Gaozan, who had been called upon, stood up.

"Major, please don't get agitated. This is a responsibility I must bear. I should have made the decision to retreat when I heard Captain Didco's message, but that was clearly my mistake. I chose to stay to fight for a decent life for the children."

"Sir, I'll stay here, and you can leave with the fleet," Major Godwin also stepped forward to express his opposition.

"Friends, I did not bring these children here to die here. We cannot afford to waste any more time. Let us do as I have decided. May God bless the Low Countries!"

After saying this, Dutch fleet commander General Reyes turned and walked out. Even if they were to surrender, they had to fight the Ming people first to give the fleet more strength to break out.

Reyes planned to have eight warships break out, with two warships launching a surprise attack on the landing Ming soldiers in order to disperse the Ming fleet's forces.

"Gentlemen, the preparations on the shore are almost complete. We don't need to waste any more time with these red-haired devils. I order: launch the attack first thing tomorrow morning."

Chen Er stood on the deck of the ship, looking at his commanders. His heart was pounding. In any era, naval battles were always dangerous. He hoped these guys were... alive.

"Xiang Lao, if the enemy splits their forces, you go with them; you have the most experience. Gan Hui, if the enemy splits their forces into more than three ships, go help Xiang Lao. Zhong Ji, we'll hold off the rest. Please take care, everyone!"

On July 25th of the third year of the Tianqi reign, both sides fighting in Penghu simultaneously prepared to launch an attack that morning.

As dawn broke, Chen Er was having porridge with the soldiers on the deck. Although it was before a major battle, the Chinese Navy always ate their fill, so today was the same as usual.

"President, some brothers have come from Liangshan to deliver a message!" Ma Kang reported.

"Oh, is something important happening at this time?"

"War is about to break out. Who sent this message at this hour?" Chen Er wondered as he ate his porridge.

"These two men, who work as guards and personal soldiers in the homes of Wu Tongzhi and Commander Wang, said they have important matters to report to you personally."

Ma Kang brought two men up. The two men looked exhausted, and their clothes were quite wet. They had come all night in the dark, so something important must have happened!

After Ma Kang finished speaking, he saluted and walked away, also calling down all the guards on the deck of the ship.

After the two men finished bowing, they looked at each other, and one of them spoke first.

"President, Magistrate Wu wants me to tell you something: be careful!"

Chen Er waited for a while but there was no further news. It was clearly two words, so why was it a sentence?

"President, Commander Wang also means the same thing. He wants me to pass on the message: be careful of Master Du. Okay, I understand. Thank you for your hard work. Go and find a place to eat and rest!"

Master Du? In the Fujiang region, there is only one person who can be called Master Du: Governor Nan Juyi.

Before they had even finished breakfast, the Dutch started moving. Two ships began heading north, while the others headed towards the Chinese fleet.

The red flag on the flagship was raised, and the various fleets of China knew that a battle was about to begin. Seeing that two ships had split up, Liu Xiang led his fleet away from the main fleet and followed, as planned.

The six Dutch warships sailed out in a "V" shape, but the "V" shape was a bit strange because there was a dot inside it.

"Immediately issue orders to all fleets: the Dutch are trying to escape. All fleets are to be on alert and intercept them. Also, have the fireboats be on alert and make them hold off any enemy ships that try to break through at all costs!"

Chen Er saw through his telescope that the Dutch warships were positioned in the middle of a V-shape, and immediately realized that the Dutch were trying to break out.

Although the Chinese fleet had a numerical advantage, it was impossible for the sailing warships to form a long, straight line due to their speed and engagement distance.

The Battle of Watong clearly demonstrated that the last warship in Liu Xiang's fleet engaged in a near-face-to-face battle with the Dutch warships.

The Dutch fleet has now entered within approximately 800 meters.

"Attention, gunners of 100mm and above! Target: enemy ship in the center of the enemy formation. Test fire!"

Since his artillery had the advantage of attack range, Chen Er decided to try to suppress the Dutch fleet from an even greater distance, because the Dutch fleet's V-shaped formation had a large dispersion area, which meant there were more targets.

Cannons are direct-fire cannons, and the trajectory of the shells is relatively straight, hitting in a straight line. In contrast, the large-caliber long guns of the Chinese fleet have a range of more than 1,000 meters.

As soon as Chen Er's flagship opened fire, the remaining five ships under his command also opened fire, but to no avail; they were still too far away.

Commander Major Digozan of the Dutch fleet breathed a sigh of relief; firing at this distance, they were a bunch of rookies.

Chen Er's fleet was sailing from right to left, and this round they fired the starboard guns.

To use the port-side guns as quickly as possible, a small right turn was needed. At this time, Chen Zhongji's fleet was sailing in the opposite direction to Chen Er's fleet, while Gan Hui's fleet was patrolling behind Chen Er's fleet.

Seeing that Chen Er's fleet had opened fire, Chen Zhongji's fleet also opened fire after entering the firing range, but still missed.