On the top deck of the Sheji, Zhang Hao looked north with a telescope, the weather was a little gloomy, and the visibility was not good, but he could also see that the Yellow River water that had seized the sea had dyed a large area of water at the mouth of the sea, but there was no enemy warship he wanted to see in his sight, not even a small boat. A few miles from the coast, there were nearly a thousand warships, the blue-gray fleet of the 1st Naval Division of the Navy, and the black-and-red Goryeo Navy facing each other across the sea.

Zhang Hao looked at it for a long time before putting down the binoculars, rubbing his eyes and looking into the distance. He couldn't tell his mood at the moment, it could be said that he was both excited and a little frightened. What was exciting was that this was the first time that he had led the army alone to command the battle as the deputy commander of the Imperial Navy, and he was afraid that there was no little emperor by his side, which made him feel bottomless in his heart, as if he had lost his support. But you must know that he is more than twice as old as the little emperor, and he shouldn't have this idea, but he feels that there is no reprimand from the little emperor around him, and he feels that he is in decline.

"How long will it take for Qin Sima to have the tide recede?" Zheng Yong asked Sima Qin Liangdao, the sailor next to him. Marching Sima was positioned by Zhao Yu in a position equivalent to the modern chief of staff, responsible for formulating battle plans, collecting enemy information, assisting in commanding and managing troops, and giving reasonable advice, and was an important staff member of the military commander.

"Probably an hour left!" Qin Liang replied.

"I hope the sky doesn't shine, otherwise it will be difficult to hide your tracks!" Zhang Hao looked at the sky again and said.

In the middle of the night that day, he received a request from the little emperor to set sail immediately to the mouth of the Huai River to reinforce Dong Yicheng's troops, Zhang Hao immediately ordered all ships to replenish food and water to prepare for going to sea, and at the same time used this short time to summon the commanders and staff officers of each detachment to explain the task. Because their main task this time is to block the mouth of the Huai River and prevent the Mengyuan army from re-entering the Huai River, and this is a surprise operation, the main problem is how to hide themselves and not be discovered by the enemy before the battle breaks out.

You must know that it is not easy to hide the tracks of a fleet of more than 200 large and small warships on the sea. After consulting with the generals, they decided that the fleet would first sail east into the open sea, which was far from the coast, and that the merchant ships would choose the shipping routes close to the coast in order to avoid danger and misnavigation, so as to avoid detection by the enemy. After approaching the destination, enter the battlefield in the dark night and wait for cover.

God seemed to be deliberately testing Zhang Hao, those two days were always cloudy, and there would be light rain from time to time, although the bad weather was convenient for hiding their tracks, but also made it impossible for them to judge the direction and direction according to the stars. The only thing you can rely on is the chart and the compass in your hand, calculate the mileage by calculating the speed, determine the direction with the compass, and then determine your bearing. It's like a blind man riding a blind horse, if there is a slight mistake, it will be a hundred miles wrong.

In the two days when he rushed to the battlefield, Zhang Hao almost didn't close his eyes, he asked to measure the speed once in less than half an hour, always pay attention to the direction, and what was more troublesome was that because it was a headwind, he needed to constantly adjust the course to sail by the wind, and he needed more accurate data support to determine his position through calculations to avoid yaw. Zhang Hao strictly ordered each ship to keep a distance of 150 paces, and the side lights and mast lights were not allowed to be extinguished day and night, so that each ship could determine its position and course and avoid collisions.

After two days and one night of rapid travel, he finally entered the predetermined sea area under the cover of night last night, and after getting in touch with Dong Yicheng, Zhang Hao closed his eyes and fell asleep, but he was not steady, and he got up to observe the enemy situation as soon as the day was slightly brighter, and chose the position. And what he is most worried about is still being discovered by the enemy, and then he does not dare to fight, so the hard work of these two days will be in vain.

"If it ......"

"If only His Majesty were here!" Without waiting for Zhang Hao to finish speaking, Qin Liang smiled and answered, "Commander, you have said this sentence dozens of times since you set sail until now, and the ears of the lower officials can hear that the cocoon is coming, Your Majesty has to kick your feet if you know it!" ”

"Haha, it's not that exaggerated, is it? I've said it so many times! Zhang Hao also felt funny when he heard it.

"Yes, I've counted it, and I've mentioned Your Majesty a total of eighty times since the Commander of the Voyage!" At this time, Xu Feng, who was in charge of joining the army, shook a piece of paper full of Taoism in his hand, and said with a smile.

"Alas, in the past, when His Majesty was there, he always felt restrained, and he would be reprimanded for the slightest mistake, so he was afraid of being around. But once you don't have Your Majesty by your side, you feel how happy you are in the past, you don't need to worry about everything, just follow orders! Zhang Hao sighed.

"It is precisely because of His Majesty's strict requirements that we can accurately reach the predetermined sea area through the operation on the map. The commander, on the other hand, was too lazy in the past, and now without His Majesty by his side, he has to command the heavy responsibility of the whole army, and he must have the confidence to complete the task and not disappoint His Majesty's expectations. Sima Qin Liang said. He knew that the general was most reluctant to hesitate when facing the enemy, and his vacillation would not only delay the fighters, but also make the whole army at a loss.

"Thank you Qin Sima for mentioning it!" Zhang Hao thanked him, "I have seen just now that our fleet should be below the curvature of the sea horizon, and it will be difficult to find it unless it is close to the enemy. What worries me is that the Sheji has a tall hull and that the mast may reveal our position. ”

"Don't worry, Commander, the weather is gloomy today, our ships are almost the same as the sea and the sky, and the enemy army does not have binoculars and cannot see so far. And at the moment when the two armies are facing each other, merchant ships will not approach this sea area, but what I am worried about is that after the battle begins, it will be difficult for us to join the battlefield properly and intercept the enemy's retreat on the battlefield. Qin Liang said.

"Yes, at the moment we are still ten miles away from the battlefield, and the enemy's return to the sea is very fast, and we must not be exposed, nor can we get close to the coast, in case the warship runs aground on the shoals, and we must quickly block the entrance to the sea, so we must plan carefully." Zhang Hao nodded.

"Commander, I thought we could attack in batches, and we didn't have to use the whole army at the same time, after all, the enemy's return to the water army was rushed out of the sea with the help of the tide, and it was not easy to turn back." Qin Liang proposed.

What Qin Sima said was very true. We agreed with Dong Dutong that after the enemy returned to the sea and the water army went out, he would launch a surprise attack on the Goryeo water army at the same time to attract the attention of the water army. And we can start to act after they enter the battlefield, block the entrance to the sea, and block the enemy at sea. Zhang Hao said, "I want to take the lead in entering the battlefield to disrupt the enemy's formation and relieve the pressure of Dong Yicheng's troops on both sides by taking advantage of the advantages of fast speed and strong assault capability by taking advantage of the advantages of fast speed and strong assault ability, and taking the lead in entering the battlefield to disrupt the enemy's formation and relieve the pressure of Dong Yicheng's troops on both sides of the enemy!" ”

"At the same time, the squadron of medium-sized gunboats set sail and put into the battlefield, while the large warships and baggage ships headed by the Sheji took on the task of blocking the entrance to the sea, they have strong firepower, equipped with rocket launchers and heavy artillery to cover the entire sea area of the sea, and can cooperate with the First Navy Army to complete the roundabout encirclement of the enemy after the battlefield is stabilized."

"The commander's plan is that the praying mantis catches the cicada and the yellow finch is behind, and the subordinate thinks it is feasible." Qin Liang listened for a moment and groaned.

"In this case, I will lead the assault fleet, and Sima will sit in the middle army, command all departments to dispatch the whole army, and coordinate actions with friendly forces!" Zhang Hao said.

"Do you remember that Your Majesty once said: Is it the same crime for the commander to lead the army to rush into battle and escape from the battle? It's still the lower officer to lead the assault fleet, and the commander is still in charge of the Chinese army! Qin Liang said with a smile.

"In fact, it is Your Majesty who should abide by this military order the most, and every time you go into battle, you have to be on the front line in person, so that those of us who are subordinates are worried." Zhang Hao said with some indignation, "I have commanded the dragon ship since I joined the Left Wing Army, and I am familiar with tactics, so it is better for me to do it!" ”

"No, otherwise I will go back and play Your Majesty, saying that the commander is on the verge of escaping." Qin Liang said solemnly.

"You don't have to!" Zhang Hao has served as the captain of the Warrior for a long time, which can be regarded as His Majesty's imperial ship, and naturally understands his temper, if he is accused, it will be light to go back and be scolded, and after saying that he has to be served with a military stick, he was driven out of the imperial army, and his attitude immediately softened.

"I heard that His Majesty was coming this time, but I was watched by a few mothers, and I was caught by my mother when I went out!" Qin Liang whispered in his ear at this time.

"Don't say it, how can a few ladies look at Your Majesty, you must know that although the Queen Mother was also very strict in guarding back then, His Majesty's entry and exit from the palace was also unimpeded, and there must be something important to stumble on!" Zhang Hao didn't cooperate with the little emperor in the past and acted as an accomplice to escape, how could he believe what he said, pouting and saying.

"Hehe, it's not as good as before, the ladies live in the same room with Your Majesty, and every move is in front of you, it's not easy for Your Majesty to be like before, and there are still several people." But Qin Liang said with an extremely unkind smile.

"To tell the truth, Your Majesty should indeed have someone to take care of it, every time Your Majesty leads the army to march in person, as long as you get on my ship, my heart is hanging, lest something go wrong. But His Majesty was in a hurry, and he took my command, and no one else was at all. Previously, there was still the governor to watch, but now it is also in its twilight years, and it is gradually powerless, and now there are ladies watching, which can also make our subordinates feel at ease. Zhang Hao was quite emotional.

"Now no one in the Great Song Dynasty can do it, but you can't lose Your Majesty. As long as Your Majesty is here, even if you lose Jiangnan again, you can regroup and regain your strength! Qin Liang also said with emotion, "In this way, Wang Meng commanded the assault detachment to lead the army, and he entered the imperial navy at the same time as the commander, and served on the dragon boat for a long time, so you still have to believe in its ability, don't take all the credit!" ”

"Alas, that's fine!" Zhang Hao pondered for a moment, but nodded reluctantly, "But not long after Du Meng was transferred to the medium-sized warship detachment, I was worried that he would not have enough experience in battle, so I had Lao Sima go to supervise the battle, how about it?" ”

"The last general will obey the general's order, and then he will go to the ship, and the commander must take care!" Qin Liang immediately saluted and said......

As time passed, the sky became brighter and brighter, and the sky that had been gloomy for several days began to clear, and God seemed to want to see this sea battle. Zhang Hao felt that the hull of the ship began to swing, indicating that the tide was beginning to ebb, and he immediately got up and returned to the deck to look in the direction of the estuary, and finally the figure of the enemy ship appeared in the sparkling waves.

"Anchor and prepare for war!" Zhang Hao ordered the battle flag to be raised, the ships to anchor, and the crew to enter the combat post.

"Commander, there are about 200 warships in the enemy's return to the navy, and the large warships are in front, and they are going down the river in two columns, and the vanguard has already gone to the sea!" The lookout post on the bucket on the mainmast announced.

"Order the assault fleet to attack the rear of the enemy ships from the flanks and disrupt their offensive formation!" Zhang Hao said that his side is still ten miles away from the battlefield, which is basically close to the enemy ships and the array of the First Naval Army, and if you want to intercept the returning naval army, you should be dispatched halfway.

With the wave of the flag, the order was conveyed to the ships, and the Brave was the first to start, and the whole detachment was in a sharp formation, with the dragon ships in front and the rocket ships in the rear. These small and medium-sized warships are powered by oars, because of the headwind, so they all hit the water with oars, Wang Meng is also very experienced, did not choose a straight line, but obliquely stabbed to meet the enemy ships, so that the speed can be accelerated with the help of the water potential of the low tide, and manpower can be saved.

"Commander, the First Water Division has begun to adjust its formation, intending to launch an attack on the Goryeo Navy Army, and raise the flag and fire the cannon to signal, please act together!" The lookout post said again.

"Raise the flag of the front navy and inform the first navy division that our army has begun to move, and cooperate with their rear army to attack the enemy back to the navy!" Zhang Hao ordered.

"Commander, the Goryeo Navy also seems to be adjusting its formation, and it seems to be turning to the southeast!" The lookout post said again.

"The Goryeo Navy wants to bypass the First Navy and seize the flank position with the advantage of tailwind?" Zhang Hao was a little confused, if he turned to the south side, he would be in a downwind position, but he would be hit by the First Water Army, but after thinking about it, he understood that the Goryeo Water Army was going to get rid of his own attack first, not to assist the Hui Water Army to flank the First Water Army, it wanted to turn around and flee into Haikou, as for the friendly forces that rescued them, they were only afraid that they would become their shields.

"Order, the gunboat detachment set sail to intercept the Goryeo naval division, and do not let it join the returning naval army that responds!" After Zhang Hao saw the situation, he decisively changed his previous plan and let the gunboat detachment join the battle in advance.

"Commander, isn't it time for us to act? Otherwise, it may be stranded here" The gunboat detachment left the formation and sailed to the open sea, and the fleet of the returning naval army has been exposed to the field of vision, Xu Feng said.

"Well, let the ships set sail and insert in a column to hold the mouth to the sea!" Zhang Hao nodded. Immediately, the remaining dozen or so warships raised their battle flags, followed the Sheji to turn to the deep sea first, then adjusted the sails, and sailed north against the wind to join the battlefield, and the sea water suddenly became even more dim, just like the current situation of the battlefield is not clear......