The Daming fleet in the bay still didn't move. There were no sails on the bare mast, and there was a dead air. Countless giant ships, arranged in relatively neat matrices, were gently swaying in the water waves. It looks like a huge tomb, where the magnificent ruins of the water have been abandoned.

The people of Zhenla thought it was very strange. The warships at the front have gradually approached the Ming army, and people even have a full view of the deck copper cannon at the bow of the Ming army.

Suddenly, in the oncoming northeast wind, there was a sound of "ding dong" zither strings. Things are even weirder. At this moment, shouldn't the Ming army panic?

More than one Zhenla general already had a gut feeling that something was not quite right.

However, the giant ship of the Ming army was already close at hand, so the Zhenla people did not take any practical action for a while. Even if they tried to turn around immediately, the sail ship would not be able to do it immediately. Countless ships, still drifting forward with inertia.

The faint sound of the zither in the wind then turned into a quaint tune.

The melody seems to be a little sad and sad, but the rhythm is calm. The nobles of Zhenla even felt a bit of arrogance from this soothing and elegant rhythm; Because probably only people of sufficient status are qualified to pretend to be elegant, right?

After a while, on a huge treasure ship, inside the carved windows with oriental classical colors, there was a burst of singing voices: "The tide of the Spring River is even with the sea, and the bright moon on the sea is born together." Thousands of miles with the waves, where there is no moon in the spring river. ”

The singing vaguely carries the drama of the Ming Kingdom, singing and sighing. He seemed to be feeling and compassionate, and he was pitying the sentient beings who had not been purified by the Buddha.

On the deck of a giant ship in the distance, a column of blue-and-yellow flags slowly rose between the masts.

In an instant, a row of square holes opened one after another under the deck and on the side of the battleship lying horizontally on the water. The muzzle of the black hole and the bronze cannon of the yellow cannons protruded from the hole of the ship.

Almost moments later, two rows of red pennants were raised, followed by a whimpering trumpet.

"Boom, boom, boom" The thunderous cannon sound suddenly rang out everywhere. Because the distance was very close, the sound of the cannon and the light of the fire almost made the people of Zhenla feel it at the same time. The fire on the surface of the sea shone brightly and brightly, and white smoke rose everywhere. In the midst of the smoke, the flames from the muzzles of the guns were like lightning in the clouds.

The artillery of the Ming army roared for a long time, and when it stopped slightly, the reverence between the sea and the sky did not stop; The rumbling drums of war beat on all sides, like the echoes and aftermaths of cannons.

In the sound of war drums, I saw that behind the Ming army's large array, some warships had already raised their sails. The hard sails were pulled up with a sliding rope, almost exclusively in a moment's time. The big ship sailed with the wind and began to slowly accelerate forward.

General Chenla stood at the bow of the ship, fists clenched, staring ahead. The sound of war drums in the distance could not hide the noise and noise in the coalition fleet. The screams of terror and screams rang out in the wind.

And the messenger beside him was already stunned, and the whole person was stunned, as if he had been stunned by the cannon.

After a long time, the messenger said in disbelief, "Why? How can it be? ”

"General, what should we do?" Another voice came from behind him.

General Chenla did not answer immediately.

The earth-shattering artillery bombardment just now was very terrifying, but the lethality was not too great. Although the two sides were already relatively close, many of the Ming people's shells still missed the target, and even if they hit, one or two solid shells could not sink the ship immediately; Most of the time it is caused by the rupture of the ship's hull, or casualties. Moreover, the damaged warships of the coalition army, only the front row, are not enough to affect the strength of the whole army.

The most dangerous place at this time lies in the warships that the Ming army sent to counterattack. They will then approach the immediate vicinity and carry out a devastating assault on the coalition forces.

The general of Zhenla said again: "The people of the Ming Kingdom are prepared, please give the general the order to retreat!" ”

The general was still silent, and he said to himself: It's too late.

Damn the northeast wind!

The least important detail of this battle, which was the direction of the wind, has become the deadliest place for the coalition forces. The northeast wind is a tailwind for the Ming army that is counterattacking, allowing them to approach the coalition naval formation very quickly and closely.

In the face of the enemy ships that had already started sailing in columns, the Zhenla people and the Manchu Thorn Plus people temporarily turned the warship around, where is the time?

There is also a fatal place. The coalition forces had so many ships that if the flagship had only sent a message through the golden drum, a large number of warships would have fled at once; Because by the simple sound of voice, people cannot tell the difference between retreating and fleeing.

However, it is unrealistic for the general to convey more accurate and detailed military orders. At this critical juncture, how could there be any opportunity to send ships out and verbally convey military orders?

However, there was no need for the general to order a retreat, but many of the ships in front of them had already begun to turn around and try to run away.

The general looked at the various conditions on the sea, and said in his heart: Countless warships are still there, but the situation is out of control. At present, I am afraid that it is no longer a matter of choice, but that no one can control the situation. It's as if when a hurricane is coming, people can only endure and watch the situation unfold step by step, and they cannot escape.

"Give the order to withdraw the troops." The general said simply. He didn't have the shock and panic of the messenger, but only powerlessness and helplessness.

…… The drums on the water are endless, and all kinds of warships of the Ming Navy are shuttling out from the gap between the formations in front and to the southwest. They even slowly regrouped as they sailed, gradually forming a two-column attack formation with two ships in parallel.

A loud noise enveloped the inside and outside of the treasure ship, and in addition to the sound of drums from all sides, there were shouts, shouts, shouts and curses from all sides of the deck. Before that, there was a tense and busy atmosphere on board.

The person who played the kite before was naturally Liu Ming, the envoy of the Ming Dynasty. At this time, only civil servants are not doing their jobs.

When he was fighting, he couldn't help, but he was so emotional that he wanted to play the zither and sing. Before and after the war, he didn't panic.

There's really nothing to panic about.

When Shi Jinqing, the old port consolation envoy, came to Da Nang, he brought some news; Shi Jinqing first told the eunuch Wang Jinghong and the general Chen Xuan, and later the important civil and military and eunuchs in the army all knew.

Liu Ming also knew in his heart for a long time, the general content of it. Shi Jinqing wants to make meritorious contributions through whistleblowing, so that he can be the actual helmsman of the old port.

The news is that Shi Jinqing's people bribed a powerful person in Angkor City through bribery, and found out some secrets of the pre-war plans of the Zhenla army. And Shi Jinqing believes that it is indeed possible for the Zhenla people to carry out the war according to the plan; He did not hesitate to risk his life to come, and seized the opportunity to make great contributions with one mind.

Since the strategy of the Zhenla people, the Ming army has long known about it, and the Ming navy is already strong, and it is completely true to the Zhenla army; Then, Liu Ming couldn't think of anything to worry about.

This battle made Liu Ming feel that it was not as dangerous as the hurricane he encountered in Fujian and Guangdong last time.

After a row of gunwales below the deck fired in unison, Liu Ming stopped playing the kite. The thunderous sound of cannon fire has long made the music inaudible.

The hull of the ship shook very violently just now, and the sound of the cannon died down for a while, but Liu Ming's hands were still pressing the zither and teacups on the table, so as not to cause them to fall to the floor and break.

It is not allowed to light a fire on a warship, and the tea in Liu Ming's hand was obtained by brewing it in cold water for a whole hour. Now he hasn't tasted a bite yet, and it would be a shame if he fell.

He confirmed that the cannon would not sound again for the time being, so he let go of the guzheng, picked up the teacup in his left hand, closed his eyes and took a sip, and let out a sigh of relief from his mouth.

After drinking the tea, Liu Ming walked out of the official hall and came to the wooden railing to watch the battle.

The white smoke in the air has not yet dispersed, and the wind still smells of gunpowder. The mast was still empty above the deck of the treasure ship he was on. But many other ships were already fully sailed, and the vanguard had already crossed the formation and was slowly approaching the enemy.

In the distance, the enemy fleet that could be seen as far as the eye could see was a little messy, and it was no longer possible to see the queue. Liu Ming paid close attention to the observation and found that many boats were turning around.

The battle continues, and it will be a long time. Liu Ming even pondered, waiting for himself to brew a cup of tea in cold water, maybe he still couldn't see the results of the battle.

On the deck below, many generals watched from the side of the ship. Although the sergeants were in their respective positions and ready for battle, they could no longer see the busy scene. Everyone seems to be just waiting.

A military general walked to the railing outside the official hall, and when he saw Liu Ming, he clasped his fists and saluted. Liu Ming also returned the salute with a few words of greeting.

The general turned his head and glanced ahead, and said, "We have to wait for a while, and when the forwards have all passed, we will line up and sweep the battlefield from behind." ”

Liu Ming said: "I see. ”

The military general said: "Let's be lighter today, and after fighting here, we can wander around Saigon Bay and catch people in the water." Those brothers ahead, the matter is not over yet. ”

Liu Ming asked, "Where is Commander Tang?" ”

The military general raised his head and pointed: "The command upstairs, it is estimated that it is the same as us, standing and watching." ”

After hearing this, Liu Ming said goodbye to the military general and walked towards the wooden staircase. If the war was fierce, Liu Ming was not willing to interfere with Tang Jing, but he could talk about it now.

He turned his head again on the wooden ladder and glanced towards the front of the treasure ship. A quick glance and time are too short to give the illusion that countless enemy ships in the distance are not moving, but are just floating there.

The scene between the sea and the sky is very grand and shocking, but it is very calm at the moment.

Liu Ming suddenly stopped suddenly, he felt that the scene at this moment could be painted.