Chapter 229 Manila Bay Danger

Wang Tongxu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, it seemed to be a false alarm, he set his eyes on a small island in front of him, it was a small island within a radius of several miles, they all called it Tadpole Island, because it was located at the mouth of Manila Bay, so the Greater Luzon people built a fort on it.

The sound of the cannon just now should have come from that island, because I don't know what the specific situation is, Wang Tongxu has not revoked the order to concentrate, sea navigation, anything can happen, be careful to sail a century-old ship, although the Qing Dynasty ocean trade fleet is infinitely beautiful, but it is an act of eating alone, it is inevitable that some people hold a grudge, even the Great Luzon people in Manila may not be reassuring, in the years, pirates and maritime merchants are difficult to distinguish.

Soon, the lookout post that climbed to the top of the mast spread the news, and it was indeed the sound of cannons coming from the island in front, but there were four Western warships chasing a two-masted red-headed ship behind the island.

Hearing the report, Wang Tongxu couldn't help frowning, the red-headed ship is a merchant ship from Fujian, and the warship that appeared in Manila Bay, there is no doubt that it must be a warship of the Great Luzon people, chasing and shelling Fujian merchant ships? He couldn't help but jump in his heart, could it be that the people of Greater Luzon had begun to massacre the local Han people again? Even the Qing merchants who brought the merchants to run away did not let go?

Since the first massacre in the 31st year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, every 20 or 30 years, the people of Greater Luzon will carry out a massacre against the local Han people, and large-scale massacres have broken out in the 12th year of Chongjia, the first year of Kangxi, and the 25th year of Kangxi.

Thinking that this year is the fifty-first year of Kangxi, and it is exactly more than 20 years since the last massacre, Wang Tongxu's heart is tense, if he encounters a massacre, he will be unlucky to go home. After a little hesitation, he decisively ordered and said, "The fleet is divided into two teams, exit Manila Bay, and the cargo is light and fast, and the front team is fast." ”

Two orders came out in succession, and the whole fleet was in a panic when they boarded, although the sound of the cannon was sparse, but it continued unhurriedly, most people didn't understand what was going on, and those who knew a little bit of the situation were very puzzled in their hearts, this cannon statement was clearly not aimed at them, why did they retreat in a hurry?

However, Wang Tongxu's prestige in the fleet is very high, and his identity is there, even if the ship bosses are dissatisfied, they have to respect their orders and slowly turn around.

Seeing that the landing point of the cannonballs was gradually approaching, the people on the Fujian red-headed ship began to feel desperate, and all of them understood in their hearts at this time that the battleship of the Great Luzon was just playing a game of cat and mouse, and standing at the bow of the ship was a young man in his twenties, with short hair, dressed in the common clothes of Manila Han businessmen, even Yinzhen suddenly saw him, and he couldn't recognize it, this is Zheng Qingyuan, who has been in Nanyang for less than a year.

More than 100 people on the red-headed boat were all members of Zheng Qingyuan's uprising in Manila, and seeing that everyone was in despair, Zheng Qingyuan shouted loudly: "If you want to die, you will die in the South China Sea, everyone will rush out of Manila Bay and die not to be a ghost in Manila."

Zheng Qingyuan's words greatly stimulated everyone on the ship, and the speed of the red-headed boat became faster again, and as soon as it went around to the side of Tadpole Island, a sailor shouted excitedly: "Fleet, our Han fleet"

Zheng Qingyuan turned around and looked, and immediately grabbed a monocular to look at it, and when he saw the triangular yellow dragon flag on the ship, he shouted excitedly: "It's the ocean-going trade fleet in Shanghai, we have saved it, hurry up and lean hard."

As soon as they heard that they had been saved, everyone on the boat immediately saw the hope of life, and the red-headed boat immediately became flexible, Zheng Qingyuan's face was flushed with excitement, and he took out a flag from his arms and ordered: "Stick it to the front of the sail." ”

Wang Tongxu took the Qing trading fleet to turn around and began to slowly sail towards the open sea, at this time it could already be seen that the escaped Fujian red ship was desperately heading straight for their fleet, and the four Western warships behind were also holding on tightly.

"Damn Hokkien" Wang Tongxu scolded hatefully, the other party came directly at their fleet, obviously trying to drag his fleet into the water, trying to disrupt their fleet, so as to take advantage of the chaos to escape. His fleet was full of cargo, and it was only a matter of time before he was caught up, followed by four Western warships.

This kind of Western sail warship, Wang Tongxu is very familiar with, it is the kind built by his brother-in-law's shipyard - a thousand materials of fast sail warships, each ship has 30-40 large and small guns, he is not sure whether the four warships will sell his account of the Qing Dynasty ocean trade fleet, but he can't be beaten passively. There are more than sixty ships in his fleet, and if they really fight together, they can still have the upper hand, and after hesitating for a while, he ordered again, "The fleet is assembled and ready for battle"

At the command, the entire fleet complained, but all the people saw the four Western warships approaching at this time, and they didn't dare to slack off, and slowly assembled into a group and lined up in order, just in case.

At this time, the lookout post on the mast came back with the news that the red-headed ship had hoisted a dragon flag on its sails

Dragon Banner? Wang Tongxu's heart jumped, and he hurriedly watched with a telescope, when he saw that the sail of the red-headed ship was pasted with a red gold dragon flag, he couldn't help but sigh unlucky, this ship must be saved, that flag is the Shanghai Ocean Fleet, that is, the flag of the navy Don't look at it anymore, he knows who is on the ship, in Manila, only the third-class guard of the fourteenth master - Zheng Qingyuan, only he has such a flag in his hand, and his nephew, Zhang Decai in Karopa, also has one in his hand.

This guy is clever, and knows that if he sticks the golden dragon flag on the front of the sail, if it rises to the top of the mast, he is afraid that it will be a fierce battle. Wang Tongxu secretly praised in his heart, and then muttered, how can he save people and avoid war, his merchant ships are full of goods, and it is naturally best not to go to war.

After a little hesitation, Wang Tongxu ordered in a deep voice: "Order all ships, let go of the red-headed ship, and prepare for a decisive battle" After a little delay, he ordered "Order Zhang Sibao and Xu Changwang to swim outside, and once the situation is not good, immediately throw away the goods and rush back to the poster." ”

Order, originally still holding a fluke mentality of the ship boss, immediately nervously arranged, although it is a merchant ship, but the South China Sea forces are complex, there are many pirates, in order to protect themselves, each ship is equipped with light artillery firearms, although the other party is a Western warship, but only four, their pressure is not great, however, this is at the door of the people's house, God knows if the other party will have warships to support? Not only do they blame Wang Tongxu in their hearts for being troublesome, but can they manage the gossip at sea?

Seeing that the red-headed ship was getting closer and closer to the Great Qing Ocean Trade Fleet, the four Spanish warships chasing behind not only hesitated, but on the front battleship, Captain Ferrando stared ahead with frowns.

He had already seen clearly that the fleet in front of him was the Great Qing Ocean Trade Fleet, although it was serving on a warship, but Manila's main trade object was the Great Qing Dynasty, how could he not know the details of the Great Qing Ocean Trade Fleet? My heart became entangled immediately.

If you don't chase, you are too unwilling, chasing, and afraid of fighting with the Qing ocean-going trade fleet, after all, the other party is also a biological person (the Spanish name for the Chinese), and the opponent's fleet also has fifty or sixty ships, once the firefight, he is not sure that he will be able to win the ticket. After a deep groan, he ordered, "Slow down and keep going." ”

Ferrando wanted to test the attitude of the Qing Dynasty's ocean-going trade fleet, if the other party could remain neutral, it would naturally be the best, he didn't want to exchange fire with the Qing Dynasty's ocean-going trade fleet, Manila could refer to relying on the Qing Dynasty's maritime trade.

Wang Tongxu saw that the speed of the Western warship had slowed down, the corner of his mouth smiled slightly, and ordered: "Fire guns to warn them." ”

The sound of the "boom boom" cannon immediately rang out.

For this kind of light cannon, Ferrando is disdainful, he is afraid of the gangside jumping gang battle, after all, the number of opponents is countless times more than himself, these merchants are actually not much different from pirates, once they rush up, the consequences are unimaginable, seeing that the attitude towards the bright, Ferrando no longer hesitated, and directly ordered, "Slow down, turn." ”

The three battleships behind also began to slow down and turn.

Seeing that the Great Luzon people had no intention of attacking, Wang Tongxu did not dare to stay here longer, since Zheng Qingyuan had escaped, presumably Manila was purging or slaughtering the Han people at this time, he did not dare to let so many people and goods from the ocean-going trade fleet take the risk, even if he was ordered to return.

As soon as he heard Wang Tongxu's order to return to the sea, the steward Xu Yunliang was anxious, and hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Wang Dongjia, this fresh water and food can't support us to go back to Macao, besides, the warships of Greater Luzon have no ill will towards us, why didn't they go in when they arrived at the gate of Manila?" ”

"There is not enough fresh water and food, I naturally know." Wang Tongxu said in a deep voice: "Although these four warships have no ill will towards us, the current situation in Manila is unknown, and I estimate that it is likely that it is likely to massacre the Han people on a large scale again, and I can't risk the entire fleet." ”

Massacre of Han Chinese again? Xu Yunliang was taken aback when he heard this, the massacre of the Han people in Greater Luzon was a household name in the entire Nanyang, and he naturally heard about it, and he couldn't help but worry at the moment: "But how to solve this problem of fresh water and food?" ”

"Can a living person be suffocated by urine?" Wang Tongxu said with a smile: "Let's go north along the coast first, there is a small port dozens of miles away, called Dala, go there to replenish." ”

Ferrando couldn't help but be surprised to see that the Great Qing Ocean Trade Fleet had returned so decisively, their warships did not show hostility to the Great Qing Ocean Trade Fleet, why were they so afraid? As soon as this fleet returns to the sea, as soon as it goes back to publicize, I am afraid that no fleet will dare to come to Manila this year.

With a slight groan, Ferrando sent a warship back to Manila quickly to report the situation to the Philippine Governor Mai Ruoting, suggesting that the remaining three warships of this fleet be annihilated, and then follow and wait for news.

Chapter 229 Manila Bay Danger

Chapter 229 Manila Bay Danger, to the website