The two 32-pounder guns in the bow of the Pearl made an earth-shattering sound, and two shells weighing dozens of pounds fell into the sea a few dozen meters in front of the enemy ship, stirring up high waves. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

The Dutch fleet slowly began to slow down, and the hundreds of cannons of the ten ships pointed at the Pearl.

"Signal, reduce speed, and slowly lean over." Although the Pearl resisted the beating, in the face of hundreds of Western artillery, Zeng Guangxian still did not dare to rush over, and the evil tiger could not withstand the wolves.

The Pearl was almost 2,000 meters away from the enemy ship, and the remaining thirteen battleships had also circled the two flanks of the enemy ship at a distance of more than 1,000 meters.

"Bow gun fire." Zeng Guangxian gave another order to shoot.

Two shells hit the largest battleship on the opposite side accurately, but it didn't seem to have any effect, and the two iron balls hit the hull of the ship and fell into the sea.

"Brother Zeng, this distance is a little too far, right?" Zheng Zhilong asked.

Zeng Guangxian nodded, he knew that at a distance of 2,000 meters, the power of the 32-pounder gun was greatly reduced. But the opponent's artillery is too much, and I am afraid that the Pearl will not be able to carry it if it rushes over.

Zeng Guangxian touched his chin, and he thought of the tactics adopted by the British commander Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar. The Pearl can reach speeds of up to 20 knots, and if it rushes to the middle of the enemy ship, the guns on both sides of the Pearl can strike the enemy ship laterally, while the enemy ship's guns will have a hard time hitting themselves. But at a distance of 2,000 meters, can the Pearl rush through?

"Sir." A report came from the watchtower of the Pearl, "The Qiongzhou has sent a signal requesting an attack. ”

Zeng Guangxian raised his binoculars again to look at the situation on the sea, and finally made up his mind: "The herald, the Qiongzhou can attack, and all the warships will attack with all their might!" ”

The rumbling of cannons sounded on the sea, and thirteen battleships puffed up their sails and rushed towards the Dutch fleet, and the warships on both sides were full of fire, and more than a hundred cannons spat out shells at each other at the same time.

Zeng Guangxian raised the command flag: "Order, start the second propulsion system, speed 20 knots, rush over at full speed." ”

The Pearl slowly increased its speed in the face of the overwhelming shells, 2000 meters, 1800 meters, 1500 meters, the speed of the Pearl increased to 15 knots, and the two 32-pounder guns in the bow of the ship continued to spray flames.

"Port gun, starboard gun, 0 degree elevation angle, solid shell ready." Zeng Guangxian had just finished giving the order, and the hull of the Pearl shook violently, and two shells hit the hull of the Pearl at the same time.

"Accelerate, accelerate." The speed of the Pearl reached 20 knots.

Wang Zhaoxing saw clearly on the Qiongzhou that although Zeng Guangxian's approach may be very effective, it is indeed a little risky.

Wang Zhaoxing also observed the battle situation, and his 13 warships had already formed an encirclement posture against the enemy ships, and the distance between the two sides was almost six or seven hundred meters. But at this distance, 30 naval guns could not inflict a fatal blow on the Dutch battleship, and the guns on the Dutch battleship could also hit their own ship.

"Order, all the battleships rushed over at full speed, and all ships fired freely." Wang Zhaoxing decided to relieve some pressure on the Pearl.

"Sir, our gunboat has been shot." The lookout post shouted at Wang Zhaoxing.

Wang Zhaoxing had already seen in the telescope that a 30 gunboat of Zheng Zhilong had been hit by a Dutch ship and was sinking due to its rapid rush.

"Order the Qiongzhou to withdraw from the battle and rescue the people who fell into the water." Wang Zhaoxing kept giving orders, "The port gun volley." ”

More and more shells fell on the Pearl, and Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Zhihu had already taken refuge in the cabin, but Zeng Guangxian was still standing in the command room.

"Maintain maximum speed, personnel pay attention to concealment."

The Pearl finally penetrated into the middle of two 800-ton battleships, less than 100 meters from the enemy ship.

"Stop the ship, port guns and starboard guns salvo."

Thirty-two 24-pounder guns and two 32-pounder guns fired shells at the same time, and the two enemy ships suddenly flew sawdust and wailed all over the ground.

"Don't stop, the guns are firing freely."

"Turn the rudder right and evacuate the battle." Van der Rouge gave the order to retreat, and in this case, his two ships were no match for the Pearl at all.

"Want to run?" Zeng Guangxian laughed lightly in his heart, "Send a signal to the Qiongzhou, go around to the rear of the enemy ship, block the retreat, and be sure to sink it." ”

The two Dutch ships desperately turned their direction, while the ship's cannons kept firing back as much as possible.

After receiving the order, the Qiongzhou drew a big arc and stopped steadily behind the two Dutch warships, accurately grabbing the T-shaped head of the upwind direction.

"Scattered salvo from the port gun." With Wang Zhaoxing's order, more than 2,000 shotshots covered the deck of the Dutch battleship.

Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Zhihu got out of the cabin: "Brother Zeng, how is the fight?" ”

"General Zheng, please take a look." Zeng Guangxian pointed ahead, "We have blocked the Dutch warships, and they can't escape." ”

"Brother Zeng, a Dutch warship has fled." Zheng Zhihu pointed to the sea and shouted.

"Brother Zheng, don't worry, those small boats are nothing, they will run away, we just need to sink these two ships." Zeng Guangxian explained a sentence and then gave the order, "Stop firing, signal the Dutch ships and let them surrender." ”

The gunfire gradually stopped, and the two 800-ton Dutch battleships were surrounded by more than a dozen battleships led by the Pearl, and the rest of the Dutch battleships withdrew out of the range of the guns.

Van Rude put down the binoculars in frustration: "Raise the white flag, I want to talk to them." ”

Van Rude came to the deck of the Pearl in a small boat and bowed deeply: "Honorable General Zheng, General Zeng, I will now negotiate with the two of you on behalf of the city of Geranza. ”

"General Van Rude also knows about the negotiations now?" Zheng Zhilong chuckled, "Your warships are also very capable of fighting." ”

Fan Rude didn't know what Zheng Zhilong wanted to express, so he had to laugh and say: "General Zheng, I really came to negotiate with the general." ”

"No need to talk about it." Zeng Guangxian said, "There's nothing to talk about, I'll give you three days to withdraw from the city of Geranza." Also, these two battleships remained, we needed. ”

Van Rude's face changed: "General Zeng, these two warships belong to our East India Company and are the property of the Netherlands, and you have no right to stay." ”

"If I say right, I have it." Zeng Guangxian said with a smile, "General Van Rude, you Westerners like to go straight the most, and so do we. If these two ships were left to you, you would have other ideas. So I now give you two ways, first, leave us the battleship, and all your men back to the city of Geranza; Second, all the personnel leave the ship, we sink them. ”