Chen Shouxu took a sip of water, and there were nine captains in front of him.

"Gentlemen, we came to Asia for the same dream. After Guam, we are one step closer to achieving it with every nautical mile we go forward. Look at the fleet in the port, we are very strong, but as you all know, now we are a one-time fleet. We must get a port before the planks decay. ”

"In order to meet the needs of the fleet, we need a port that is close to the trade routes and can provide all kinds of logistical support to the fleet. There aren't many places like this in Southeast Asia, and our goal is actually quite clear. ”

There are many ports in Asia that are not small, far from the shipping routes, and have congenital conditions. But those places could not provide the silver needed for the fleet.

"Yes." Chen Shouxu repeated softly, "We are strong, strong enough to attack. But I thought for a while, if we don't care about the slight erosion of the outer plate by the maggots, we still have about two to three months of life, maybe we can do something. ”

Philip Edward: "Commander, what do you mean?" ”

Chen Shouxu: "Our fleet has gathered a lot of potential energy, and our first blow will be the most powerful. But until then, we need to give the good lads of the fleet a good nourishment. ”

Allemand: "Raiding the cities of the Philippines? ”

Collingwood stood up and pointed to the map, "Legazpi, Sama, Mindoro, or ......"

Raheem Sterling: "It's still Manila. ”

Chen Shouxu chuckled, "Gentlemen. I have no doubt that the energy we have now can take over cities other than Manila. But then what? Unless we can occupy the whole of the Philippines, we will face endless counterattacks from the Spaniards. ”

Roberts: "So how do we do that?" ”

"We must try to conserve the energy of the fleet while intervening in Asia. So you have to find yourself an ally first. ”

Allemand: "Asking for someone?" For example, the Dutch. ”

"No, we're on our own. We don't know much about Asians, but we do know who is going to ask us. Chen Shouxu pointed to Hele Island, "Sulu people." ”

The thing is obvious.

The Spaniards captured the two main Muslim capitals in the southern Philippines, Lemidan in Majan and Hole Island in Sulu.

Sultan Majindar retreated into the Lake Lazu region of Mindanao, which is located in the heart of Mindanao. Although Sultan Kudalat lost his fortresses, lost his cannons, and almost even lost his wife and children, he still had vast mountainous terrain and numerous tribal warriors.

Chen Shouxu: "I will not waste soldiers in the mountains and forests and swamps of Mindanao, which do not belong to us. ”

Then, only Waraku Island remains. Sultanate of Sulu.

The Illano people of the Sulu archipelago and the Razor people of Mindanao together make up the largest piracy in the Philippine Seas. They were very strong on the water, and almost every year they sent out fleets to raid Luzon, plundering the population and enslaving the Filipinos who had converted to Christianity.

The Spaniards suffered many defeats, and finally, at the strong demand of the Jesuits, the Spaniards built a fortress on the Zamboanga Peninsula facing the Sulu Islands. The bastion was built by the Jesuit monk Melcho. Morality. Mela presided over the construction and wedged far into the territory of the Lamina Muslims. The Spaniards took the Zamboanga goddess of protection del. It was named Fort Pilar in its name.

With Fort Pilar, the Spaniards finally had a strong base from which to attack the Sulu Islands. They captured the capital of Sulu and the island of Raku.

Chen Shouxu stood up, "The Sulu people are a Muslim country that relies heavily on maritime trade and sea raids, and Hole Island is a trading center and ship repair base that they have operated for hundreds of years, and the Sulu people will definitely not be able to afford to lose Hole Island. ”

Collingwood: "Eliminate the garrison fleet at Fort Pilar and cut off the island of Horaku from the Zamboanga Peninsula." Harmony Island is in the bag. ”

"Yes", Chen Shouxu drew a line on the map, "Sulu, Hele Island will be our starting point." ”

—

The fleet packed its belongings, took all the military supplies captured on Guam, and headed directly west. Arriving off the coast of Samar Island, it turned south for a distance of 2,000 nautical miles.

In order not to alarm the Spaniards, Chen Shouxu kept the fleet out of visual distance from the coast, avoiding ships that might appear on the nearshore route.

In the Sulawesi Sea, the fleet sailed directly across the open ocean to the Sulu Islands.

In addition to the Sulu archipelago and southern Mindanao, the Sultan of Sulu is also very powerful in North Borneo. Although the capture of Hole Island by the Spaniards dealt a heavy blow to the Sultan of Sulu, the Sulu people were in the southern island of the Sulu archipelago or North Borneo, and it was impossible for Spain to destroy the country with its current strength.

In the Sulawesi Sea, off the coast of Borneo, the fleet caught a Javanese trumpet bluffing merchant ship. With a displacement of more than 200 tons, it is the largest merchant ship in Southeast Asia. The rectangular jibs on the two masts are the most distinctive feature of the boat, and when you get closer, you can also find the bow with a pronounced upturned arc. It is clear that this is a Southeast Asian merchant ship with a strong lineage of Arabian dhows in the Indian Ocean. There are two rudders at the stern of the ship, which may be a very backward rudder with poor wind and wave resistance, but in the coastal waters of Southeast Asia, this rudder that can also be used as an oar also has its suitable range of applications.

The trumpeting merchant ships saw Chen Shouxu's fleet and immediately changed direction and fled offshore. The fleet looked at the flagship, and Chen Shouxu hesitated for a while. In a slightly sluggish response, the Long Water ordered the Excellence and the Adventure to go out and capture the merchant ship.

The battle itself was not in suspense, with two battleships with eight guns pursuing a fully loaded, unloaded Southeast Asian merchant ship. After approaching, a shot was fired, and the merchant ship surrendered.

The Excellence experimented with several languages on the captives, eventually discovering that Dutch was a source of communication between the two sides.

The leader of the captives was trumpeted with water on his teeth,

Chen Shouxu looked at the report, "Mr. Ship Owner." A whole ship's worth of rice, where are you heading? ”

The captives kept their mouths shut.

Chen Shouxu sneered, "You are a Muslim. If you don't say it, I also know that more than a hundred tons of rice will never go to the Spaniards who will be supplied to Zamboanga. Then the only one in the Sulu archipelago who can have so much rice demand is the Sultan of Sulu. ”

The captive's eyes were red, and he said something that Chen Shouxu couldn't understand, trying to break free from the soldiers' restraints.

"What do you say? I don't understand. Chen Shouxu frowned, "I guess you mean to let me take the rice and burn your boat." Okay, soldier, soldier......"

"Shut up! Heathen. ”

Chen Shouxu waved his hand to the soldiers: "Ha, I can finally speak human words." ”

Captain captive: "I can see that you are not Spaniards. ”

Chen Shouxu blinked, "Have you ever seen a Spanish fleet whose commander is Chinese?" ”

Captain captive: "Never." The Chinese I know are tolerant, humble and beneficial gentlemen. ”

Chen Shouxu: "Then you can see an alternative Chinese today." I said, "Mr. Owner, where are you going to take this boatload of rice?" You see, I'm not your enemy. ”

Captain captive, "Didn't you guess?" I'm delivering food to the fighters in Sudan. ”

Chen Shouxu nodded, "Mr. Ship Owner, my fleet is relatively short of staple food now, and I think your rice is very good." I'm going to take it......"

The captive captain glared with red eyes, "This is food for the Avengers, heretics. Allah will punish you for your delusions. ”

Chen Shouxuan looked indifferent, "Compared to me, Allah should punish those Spaniards who have taken captivity on Hele Island, isn't it?" Businessmen in the service of the Sultan. ”

The captive captain's expression froze.

Chen Shouxu: "Or, you can take me to talk to your sultan." Perhaps, he and I will have a lot of common ground. ”

The captive captain stopped talking again.

"Hey, sir, what do you call it?"

"Bangillo. Alimoud. ”

"All right, Mr. Alimoud. I think my suggestion may be of interest to you Sultans. But whatever the outcome, it's not up to you to decide, it's up to you to take us to him. ”

Alimoud looked at the fleet column behind the ship and said slowly, "Mr. Pirate." I've never heard of a pirate fleet as powerful as yours. ”

"Today you saw it. My fleet had the Dutch, there were Germans, there were British, but not a single bacon. ”

"Yes, no bacon." Alimoud nodded. (A slurious term for the Spaniards, West Bank means bacon in Dutch.) ）

"I will take you to the Sultan, but you cannot lead such a powerful fleet to the territory of the Sultan."

Chen Shouxu guessed that this would be the case, and he pointed to Merlot's Excellence, "How about I go with you in a small boat?" The fleet will be docked in the open sea. Chen Shouxu felt that since it was the beginning, the posture on his lips might as well be lowered. Some things can be done but not said, some things can be said and not done, in short, grasp the degree.

"Yes, I agreed." Alimoud held out his hand.

Chen Shouxu shook hands with him.

The other captains of the fleet did not expect that Chen Shouxu would personally go to meet with the Sulu people, and some wanted to express their dissuasion.

Chen Shouxu shook his head, "I am your commander, it was my idea to come to Asia, and I can't let anyone take the risk in my place." Marmont. ”

The deputy commander stepped forward.

Chen Shouxu pointed to the island not far away, "I'll be back soon, you may be able to hide the fleet in the archipelago over there, remember, be careful of the Tausu and Illano." ”

Marmont agreed. The Sulu pirates captured Filipino Christians and sold them as slaves in the Spice Islands, and the reputation of the Moro people was also resounding in Europe. This is also thanks to the Moro-Moro drama designed by the Spaniards to boast of the martial prowess of the Moro War. The plots of the various Moro-Moro dramas are much the same. There are just a few, beautiful Christian maidens are plundered by murderous Muslim pirates, and brave young knights go deep into the wilderness and save their sweethearts from the barbarians. Or the village is burned down by the Muslims, and the resolute teenager joins the vengeful army and drives out into the distance under the sun, with his lover looking out on the hillside behind him. How to describe it, it's not all nonsense, there is a certain foundation for life.

"I'll be wary of the Moro pirates, rest assured, they don't have what it takes to get close to our fleet." Marmont's face was a little worried, "It's you, be careful." ”

Chen Shouxu smiled, and he tightened the two flintlock pistols and short swords that he was equipped with. "It's been a long time since I've used these things, and I'm really itching."

After saying hello, Chen Shouxu boarded Merlot's Excellence. Hop aboard Alimoud and sail into the complex shipping lanes of the Sulu archipelago.

The Spaniards had invaded the capital of Sulu and the island of Le several times, but had not been able to fully capture them each time, and were always forced back by the Sulu pirates. This time, the backing is behind you, the mighty Zamboanga Fortress. The Spaniards were determined to purge the Sulus once and for all.

Under Alimoud's navigation, the Excellence turned west in the crooked shipping lane, and in the end, Chen Shouxu did not know where he had arrived, but had a rough impression that it was now near Tawi Island.

The Excellence sailed into a harbor, and the moment Chen Shouxu saw the harbor, he knew that it was a dream to destroy the Sultanate of Sulu with the strength of the Spaniards in the Philippines today.

There are no less than 100 fishing boats with spinnakers, light Javanese merchant ships with covered decks, and Sulu clippers with round oars. Although it is not as big as a captive trumpet to bluff merchant ships, it is also a maritime power in Asia that should not be underestimated.

When he came ashore, Chen Shouxu became more and more determined in his thoughts.

Unlike the pseudo-Muslims in Luzon who did not even understand the basic teachings of Islam, the Sulus at least had a complete Islamic education at the top. It's not like the natives of Luzon, who just have an Islamic name, and don't know anything else. The Spaniards had a little more contact with the Luzon and were pleasantly surprised to find that they did not have to compete with Allah. The natives of Luzon were not Muslims at all.

Without commenting on Islam, at least it shows that the Sulu people have deep foreign contacts and are not local leopards. From the eyes of the soldiers who swore to Jihad, Chen Shouxu could tell that they wanted to die with the Spaniards.

Chen Shouxu was a little curious and asked Alimoud, "Mr. Alimud, I see that your army is all very elite soldiers, and their fighting spirit is also very high, not like a defeated army that has lost the capital. ”

Alimoud's face sank, but he didn't intend to lie, "Those fighters are reinforcements from Basilan and Makassar......"

Chen Shouxu nodded, "No wonder." "He is now more optimistic about the Sulus, and there are people behind these Muslims. Makassar is a powerful sultanate on the island of Sulawesi, which is located in the territory of the Dutch. It was impossible for Spain to penetrate deep into the East Indies to cut off Sulu's reinforcements. If the reinforcements could not be cut off, with a few illusory sea control brought by Galen, this battle would not end at all.

Chen Shouxu saw that the army of the Sultan of Sulu actually had two brand-new bronze cannons. No, maybe the Dutch were already involved. How could they let go of such a good opportunity to add to the Spaniards......