The year 1629 has entered the Gregorian calendar, and the Spring Festival of that year is coming.

And in the past year, Yan Changwu wanted to get a gift the most, that is, two British-made third-class battleships!

This kind of three-tier battleship with two gun decks, plus open-air deck guns with a total of 70 guns, was so powerful that the Southeast Fleet used it very comfortably, and it was the existence of "crushing" the enemy in the surrounding waters.

There are two more ships, and the strength is bursting, and you can hit whoever you want.

According to his agreement with Sir Simon Fox, commander of the British fleet, who had visited the previous year, South-East had purchased four British-built third class battleships, two of which had already been delivered in 1627.

The plan was to deliver the last two ships in 1628 last year, and the money was not a problem, and the money had already been prepared!

However, the British reneged on their promise, and the two battleships were nowhere to be found, waiting for the Dutch fleet.

……

Because of the approaching Spring Festival, Yan Changwu did not go to training again, and was staying in the Kaohsiung Military Port to deal with official documents (the Overseer's Office moved from Tainan to Kaohsiung, and he didn't sleep with his own fleet, and he couldn't sleep well), and the scene of the military port outside could be seen from the window of the office. (Imported glass-mounted windows)

"Dangdang, dangdang, dangdang!" The bell caught Yan Changwu's attention.

Whenever a warship enters the port, the bell rings as a reminder.

There is a large telescope by the window, this one is specially made, and when you look closer, you will see a Velgate's clipper, with the port number 076.

The sails fluttered, as fast as flying on the water, and the captain's level was good, even if he entered the port, he dared to drive fast, as if there was something urgent.

Yan Changwu quickly checked the board number table, this is a clipper to the South Seas!

Could it be that there is news in Nanyang?

His guess was right, and soon after the ship docked, his royal merchant Sherlock burst into his office with a sour stench and shouted, "Overseer, the Dutch fleet has been dispatched, numbering fifty-three, and is expected to arrive in ten days!" ”

Sherlock: Dutch Jew, ran business for Yan Changwu, mainly in Batavia, set up a shipping company, and already had twelve ships under his hands, which was very successful.

"You brought good news, you worked hard, sit down, have a cup of tea, and speak slowly!" Yan Changwu said with a smile.

Shylock recounted his experience of trading in Batavia and mingling well with the port officials there.

The intelligence officer stationed in Batavia by the Southeast Province is too low-level, and he is Chinese, so he cannot get the most valuable information, but Sherlock is Dutch, Dutch speaks smoothly, plus he is willing to spend money to get through relations, and has a good relationship with the Dutch.

He has always advertised that he opened an independent company and bought off the business of Southeast Province (Southeast Province did not deny it), and many Dutch people envied him for finding a big donor.

He had a very good relationship with Mr. DeWitt, the port officer of Batavia, mainly because he had to buy Mr. DeWitt to find better berths for his merchant ships, and he paid generously, so Mr. DeWitt was naturally willing to deal with him for the sake of money.

A month earlier, he had gone to Mr. DeWitt for a drink at noon, which caused Mr. DeWitt to get drunk, and then sent him back to his office, where he found the roster of the Dutch fleet, which at a glance knew was the information for the invasion of the fleet, and he hastily wrote it down, and on the surface he was silent, and it was seven days before he left with his merchant fleet, and the Dutch fleet had departed from port a day earlier.

Then Sherlock arrived at the hiding place and changed into the Velgate's clipper, which he had prepared long ago, and he drove it back as fast as he could.

Intelligence work seems to be mysterious, but in fact it is so ordinary, mainly because the Dutch basically have no concept of espionage, and of course, more importantly, their arrogance, they think that they are strong enough to crush any enemy fleet, and they disdain to do things to blockade ports and catch suspicious elements.

"This is the roster of the Dutch fleet!" Sherlock sent valuable information.

Yan Changwu took it and took a look, and there were:

Ship name (Prometheus) (flagship), captain (William Van Bassente), artillery (42 guns);

Ship name (Rotterdam Maiden), captain (Adri Wisgu Demlake), artillery (42 guns);

Ship name (Amsterdam), captain (Peter Petersen Dometz), artillery (40 guns);

Ship name (Drenthe), captain (Ann Jenson Vain), artillery (40 guns);

……

Name of the ship (Friesland), captain (Albert Fedeny Lowndes), artillery (24 guns);

Ship name (Zeeland sharp weapon), captain (Jat Reyncks Den'ou), artillery (22 guns);

……

The approximate data of the fifty-three warships are all there, in addition to the important ship names, captains and number of guns, as well as the caliber of the guns, deck length and width, draft, etc.

The average number of guns per ship was 28, and the total number of guns output was 1,500, most of which were 12-pounder, some were 24-pounder, and the deck guns were certainly less than 6-pounder, 4-pounder, 2-pounder, and 1-pounder.

For example, in 1588, more than half of the Anglo-Banja Armada were actually temporarily conscripted merchant ships, and their opponent, the English fleet, had a higher proportion of merchant ships.

In the early days of the Sail Age, there were many examples of merchant ships participating in battles, and warships and merchant ships were more distinguished in terms of use than the type of ship itself, at that time, almost all merchant ships had holes in the side of the ship to extend the muzzle, and almost all warships had the experience of transporting goods, the boundary between warships and merchant ships was blurred, a merchant ship could easily be upgraded to a warship, and a warship could also be quickly downgraded to a merchant ship.

In particular, ocean-going merchant ships, since they can resist the invasion of major storms at sea, the hull of the ship is sturdy, and it is appropriate to "transfer" to warships with sufficient guns.

Today's Dutch fleet is like this, the fifth-class warships that were captured by the Southeast Province were actually converted from merchant ships, and the tonnage was generally small, but the British man-made warships were relatively large.

……

Is the intelligence true or false?

Yan Changwu moved, and in the midst of lightning and fire, he felt that the credibility of this information was quite high.

The main reason is that the previous information has returned, although it is not complete, but the comparison between the two proves that Sherlock's intelligence is good.

"Their fleet is heading for the Philippines, it should be negotiated with the Spaniards and get supplies in the Philippines!" Sherlock provided additional information. 、

Although the Netherlands and Spain are dog-eat-dog in Europe, it does not prevent them from colluding against the yellow race in Asia.

"Yay!" Yan Changwu grabbed the roster, rang the bell, and the two guards appeared immediately, listening to his order: "Immediately call a meeting of the officers!" ”