Chapter 536: Excitement and Nervousness

Red flares rose on the surface of the sea, and a tug-of-war in progress ended immediately. The soldiers who had dropped the rope immediately ran forward in a frantic and orderly manner, returning to their respective posts. The only calm person on the battleship was Chen Xie, still slowly sipping juice under the sun umbrella.

The signalman shouted from above: "I found a red flare, and I found another, and I saw it." ”

Anthony, who was in charge of commanding the main fleet, was extremely nervous at this time holding a telescope and trying to find targets at sea. The sea was too big and it was too difficult to find a boat. Although it took more than ten years to build a fleet, many things could not be overcome by the technological level of this era. Even in modern society, it is very difficult to find a target who has lost contact at sea.

"Front left! Thirty-five°. The signalman reascertained his position, and Anthony immediately turned, and finally saw the sail, which was a clipping ship. Quick, determine the location, where are we? As soon as he finished speaking, a young staff officer immediately replied: "The sea north of the Palawan Islands is no more than fifty nautical miles from the coast. No signs of deviation from course have been found at this time. ”

An hour later, the clippers became clear, and the signalman translated the flag: "Thirty enemy ships, the course is normal." ”

Subconsciously looking down at the real time on his watch, Anthony's face darkened, and he scolded: "Damn." ”

Hurriedly walking to the foredeck, Anthony stood in front of Chen Xie and immediately reported: "Lord Cabinet, the patrol fleet has discovered the Dutch fleet, and it can be inferred from the distance that it was already dark when it encountered the enemy ship. ”

"What, are you worried about the Dutch fleet fighting at night?" Chen Xie smiled, and asked rhetorically as if he didn't care about anything. Anthony replied, "I'm worried. The enemy ships took advantage of the darkness to escape. Chen Xie said lightly: "Where else can I run?" Although the South China Sea is not large, it is also full of unknown risks when it leaves the shipping route. Now look at the Silao Sutra, he only needs to get to Batavia before the Dutch fleet, and we will be able to annihilate this fleet on the sea. ”

Chen Xie's eyes couldn't help but look north, the second squadron commanded by Su Haochen at this time. It should be from Qiongzhou, right? They took a different route, heading south from the waters of Annam to Temasek (Singapore). There is really no shortage of leading parties in that part of the Malay Peninsula, and the Chinese have settled there for a long time. Representatives of the local Chinese have gone to Huating many times to kneel down and beg Wang Shi to crusade against him. Unfortunately, in Temasek, where the Chinese settlement was once destroyed by the Portuguese, the two sides are now allies. There are only interests between the state and the state. The sacrifices are all small people. It's cruel.

"Your Excellency Silao must have crossed the Sulu Sea and entered the Sea of Celebes, and if there is no accident, you will surely reach Batavia within half a month. What do you mean, we don't need to be in a hurry? Anthony immediately felt a little ashamed when he thought of this. Chen Xie smiled and said, "As a commander, your words and deeds will have a great impact on your subordinates. Calm down. Waiting slowly, I am convinced that the Dutch will see our fleet before dark. Immediately turn around and run. So, don't worry about them running away, but think about where it's better for us to catch up with them. ”

The fact that one or two clippers were following the Dutch fleet at all times was now unconditionally accepted by Knight. There is no way to accept them, they are too fast. Thirteen verses? Or fifteen verses? It's like flying on the surface of the sea. The Dutch fleet, with a maximum speed of only eight knots, could not catch up with these Exocets at all.

After entering the waters of the Palawan Islands, Knight became very cautious, and the huge fleet of the Ming Empire never appeared. The enemies that don't appear are often the most terrifying. Because you don't know where they are. What scale? What equipment and what su zhì and so on. Standing next to Knight, Kuichi didn't seem to give up his efforts, and took the trouble to mention his defeat again. His purpose was one, and Knight immediately turned around and went home, not to consume the precious fleet in this pointless operation. It is clear that Knight is also a stubborn soldier who will not turn around without receiving an order from India. It is also clear that this plan could not have been revoked without waiting for an order from India at the time of leaving Batavia.

The plan of the Indian side, in the eyes of the Dutch over there, is already very conservative, to show off the force at sea in the Daming Sea, and it is absolutely not allowed to get close to the coastal waters of the Daming or even land. The dignified sea coachman is already very conservative in doing this.

"As a fellow admiral of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, I can understand Mr. Kuichi's concerns. But I think you should understand my dilemma too. I have received a military order, and without further instructions from above, I must complete this mission. Unless I personally determine that this task is impossible, I will not order the fleet to turn around. Although I have accepted your statement, that does not change anything. Nat patiently said this to Kuichi and continued to look at the sea with a telescope.

Soon he saw a damn clipper, with a unique shape and flying at the same speed, what a nasty thing.

Dusk came, and the fleet, formed in a column, continued to sail on the sea. I don't know how many times I've seen the sunset at the end of the sea, and although it is so gorgeous every time, it can't attract Knight's attention. His attention has been in the northeastern sea.

"Damn it!" Suddenly, a white sail appeared in the telescope, and more white sails continued to appear. Based on his experience, it is not difficult to judge that this is a battleship. Almost at the same time, he exclaimed: "Look, look, the battleship in front has sent a signal to find a large fleet. ”

"I've seen it, and they're definitely not here to visit. Well, wait a little longer, just ten minutes. Knight looked a little nervous, speaking in a faster tone and breathing faster. Ten minutes passed quickly, and then very slowly, and when it was finally determined that this was an unknown fleet, looking at the number of white sails, the fool knew what to do.

"Fifty, see clearly. It's not as exaggerated as you say, but it's powerful. Command the fleet, immediately turn around, and return to Batavia. Knight gave the order, but at this time he ignored him at all, but muttered to himself, "It's late, they're speeding up, and they can catch up with us by noon tomorrow at the latest." ”

"What do you say? How is this possible? Knight was shocked, sighed, put down the binoculars, and said, "I can conclude that the average speed of their fleet is around ten knots. It's something I've experienced firsthand, and I can't be mistaken. God willing, we can use the night to get rid of them. ”

Shake off? After Knight gave the order, he helplessly looked at a clipper ship that was approaching at a faster speed, did he come forward to take a closer look? It's such a bully, these damn flies. I don't know how many times I tried to kill these guys along the way, but none of them could see any hope of success.

After the fleet completed the turn, the Ming fleet behind it could see more clearly in the telescope. A red flag, flying over a giant battleship, with a motif of a sun and a moon on it. The fleet formed a column and was moving rapidly south. Turning his head to look at the sun in the west, it was okay, it was falling into the sea.

Night fell, and nothing could be seen on the sea, except for the lights of the ship. At this time, Chen Xie was enjoying his dinner slowly. The main course was a fish, he was not one of those navy soldiers, and the fish had already eaten to the point of vomiting. I'd rather go and eat those unpalatable cans than fish.

After eating, walking on the deck, the unhurried footsteps, falling in the eyes of every soldier, seemed to be less nervous. What is there to worry about when Lord Chen is with everyone? This is the undefeated god of war! In the Dengzhou camp, whether it is the navy or the army, Chen Xie is the image after being mythologized. Even if he looks similar to others, even if he looks like an ordinary person no matter how he looks at it, it will not affect this god-like existence in the minds of the soldiers.

Because of the existence of such a factor, the officers and men of the fleet were unexpectedly calm, and they seemed to be less nervous about the upcoming battle. Eat what you should eat, sleep what you should sleep, I really can't sleep nervously, so I got up and looked at the brightly lit battleship. It seems that one glance at it is not nervous. The ordinary people of the Ming Dynasty are just cheap people, and they dare not compare with the adults of the cabinet.

The unexpected calm of the night, at the time of destiny, the clanging sound woke Chen Xie, opened his eyes and looked around, the back of one hand was used as a pillow, firmly grasped in his hand, and pillowed on his neck. This woman's habit of sleeping and kicking the quilt has not changed, and the bag is twisted into a ball, and the two lumps of flesh are exposed.

The red lady woke up when she was poked in, turned around and squinted her eyes, her eyes were curved like a crescent moon, and she automatically pushed back after a few clicks, twisting her waist and sending her hips to cooperate with the morning exercise. It's already dawn, and I can't make too much noise, so I can only stuff a hand into my mouth, as if I haven't washed my hands after masturbating there last night.

Chen Xie seemed to be a little excited, his concentration was not as long as before, and the red lady who climbed to the top just contracted rapidly, and before her body softened, she stopped stirring behind. Sensing this, the red lady looked back and asked in surprise, "What's wrong?" ”

Chen Xie said lightly: "It's nothing, but I'm just a little nervous." It's like this before every big war, nervous and excited, and soon it's all right. The red lady, who didn't have much strength left, still got up, put on a nightgown casually, and beckoned the North Korean women to come in. On this deck, there can't be a single soldier.

After freshening up, Chen Xie, dressed in military uniform, climbed to the deck like a dog and appeared in the canteen where the soldiers ate. The women could eat below, and Chen Xie had to come here and line up for breakfast like the soldiers. (To be continued......)