The fleets of the two sides were gradually approaching, and Zhang Zhijie could already see the flags fluttering on the opposite warship with a telescope.

"According to the existing formation, line up in a column, and each warship is free to attack the enemy warships in close proximity!" Zhang Zhijie's order was immediately conveyed.

In a naval battle of this scale, it is simply impossible to achieve all-encompassing command once the battle is engaged. Because it is difficult to convey orders smoothly, and the ship's maneuverability is low, it is difficult to quickly change formations.

Therefore, it can only be a one-line artillery bombardment on both sides, but the artillery cannot completely dominate the naval battle.

Zhang Zhijie's flagship was the first to encounter the opponent's warship, and the sound of artillery began to sound, and as more and more warships approached, the roar of artillery resounded throughout this sea area.

In comparison, the difference between the artillery of the two sides is not large, but there is still a gap between the Fu ship and the Western-style galleon, the number of guns per Fu ship is lower than that of the Western-style galleon, but the number of the Ming fleet is more than that of the Portuguese warship.

The artillery of both sides continued to roar, and the warships of both sides held each other on the sea, and after half an hour of bombardment, gradually some warships were heavily damaged and withdrew from the battle circle.

Zhang Zhijie continued to observe the battlefield, his mood was a little heavy, although both sides had warships to withdraw from the battle circle, but in general, the Ming Dynasty had to suffer some losses.

Although Zhang Zhijie continued to develop the strength of the naval division, shipbuilding and artillery, on paper the strength was not weaker than the Portuguese fleet. However, the officers and men of the Daming Naval Division were weaker than the Portuguese fleet in terms of combat experience.

Zhang Zhijie's hand holding the binoculars couldn't help but pause, a warship in the distance was heavily damaged, and the nearby fleet was waving flags to ask them to withdraw from the battle circle. However, the ship could no longer be withdrawn from the battle circle.

The battered ship tilted and was gradually sinking, but even so, the guns on the ship were still roaring. Zhang Zhijie held his hand tightly, and his heart was very entangled, this was the first time that a warship sank in front of his eyes.

After a fierce battle for more than half an hour, one of Daming's warships was too heavily injured to get out of the battle circle, and was finally sunk. This was the first Ming naval warship to be sunk at sea.

Soon, another Ming warship was sunk on the sea, which made Zhang Zhijie more and more worried, and at this time, a Portuguese warship was also so badly damaged that it could not exit the battle circle, and soon sank at sea.

Portugal also began to sink warships, which made Zhang Zhijie's heart a little comforted, and then warships on both sides gradually sank one after another.

With the passage of time, the warships on both sides were injured and accumulated, and more and more warships were sunk, and in general, the losses of the Ming side were a little greater, so Zhang Zhijie's heart was a little blocked.

But it's not just Zhang Zhijie's heart that is blocked, the Portuguese marshal is also blocked in his heart, his fleet has been sunk by five, and the Ming Dynasty has only sunk seven warships!

Such a result was beyond the expectations of the Portuguese marshal, the Ming ships were very powerful, and they were also very brave, and the battle was very tenacious, which made the Portuguese marshal feel heavy.

This battle was likely to be a crushing victory, and he did not know how to explain it to the king, but this naval battle was launched at his appeal, and he originally thought that it would be a great victory and would monopolize the trade of the Ming Dynasty.

I didn't expect this battle to be so difficult, and at this time, the Portuguese marshal already had a trace of regret, regretting that he easily provoked the war without knowing much about Daming.

But now the regret is over, since the war has begun, even if it has to bear a great price, it must defeat the Ming fleet, otherwise it will become a stealing of chickens and rice.

The Portuguese marshal was very distressed, why didn't Zhang Zhijie feel distressed? Faced with the sinking of warships one after another, Zhang Zhijie's face sank like water, and after thinking calmly for a while, Zhang Zhijie decisively ordered: "Order, rush forward!" Broadside battles! ”

The herald immediately began to issue the flag, but Zhang Zhijie's flagship still did not move, and Zhang Zhijie said in a deep voice: "Why don't you rush yet?" ”

Feng Haisheng and Bai Magnolia were taken aback, and Feng Haisheng said in a deep voice: "Your Excellency's flagship is in command, how can you rush forward in the face of artillery fire?" ”

Magnolia also said in a loud voice: "The son of the adult's daughter, being the commander and dispatcher is the way to win!" "No wonder Magnolia is nervous, he can still have the confidence to protect the safety of Lord Admiral in land warfare, but now the naval artillery has no eyes!

began to take over the battle and commanded a yarn, Zhang Zhijie said sharply: "Rush up, the flagship should rush up first, you still dare to disobey!" ”

Zhang Zhijie rarely spoke so loudly, Bai Yulan and Feng Haisheng were also taken aback, the military orders on the battlefield were like mountains, Feng Haisheng gritted his teeth and said: "Subordinates obey orders!" ”

Although Zhang Zhijie's flagship was engaged, it was actually under the cover of the warships on both sides all the time, and although it fired frequently artillery, it had not yet experienced the shelling.

After the flagship uploaded the flag, the warship next to it continued to spread the flag downwards and prepared to rush up to take on the gunwale.

At this time, the flagship suddenly accelerated, broke away from the cover of the warships on both sides, and rushed towards the Portuguese fleet first. The soldiers on the warships on both sides were the first to see it, and they were stunned all of a sudden! Lord Admiral's flagship was the first to rush forward!

"Turn the rudder! Turn the rudder! Fast! "Lord Admiral's flagship flagship is the first to rush forward!" "Rush! Hurry up! ”

Zhang Zhijie's flagship is undoubtedly the most concerned by the Ming soldiers, and now Zhang Zhijie's flagship is the first to rush up, and it was immediately seen by many soldiers on the warship.

Although some of the warships had not yet had time to receive the flag, they were instantly ablaze when they saw this scene, and they only felt the blood surging in their chests, what a noble identity the Admiral, now the Admiral is not afraid of life and death, and ordered the warships to rush up first, what reason can they have not to rush up?

The noble Admiral dares to take the lead regardless of life and death, who will be afraid of his life? So a wolf howl sounded on every warship, "Rush forward!" "Rush" "Rush up and kill the yellow-haired devil!" ”

After Zhang Zhijie's flagship rushed out first, it immediately attracted the vitality of the Portuguese, and was soon hit by the Portuguese artillery. This made the soldiers on the Daming warship near the flagship very worried.

Their eyes were red all at once, and they wanted to rush up to cover the Admiral's ship, but the Admiral's boat did not slow down in the slightest, and continued to rush to the Portuguese fleet with determination.

(End of chapter)