Chapter 144: The Battle of Taiwan

The sun was shining in from the west, and it was already afternoon.

Francesca opened his pocket watch, looked at the time, and said, "It's three hours before the sun sets." We must end this battle within three hours. ”

This is a difficult requirement for a strong man. There are also sea tracking battles that last for several days in the era of sails. There was even a naval battle that lasted for several days.

But Francesca also had her own considerations when she gave such an order.

Because where they are now, not somewhere else, is Taiwan.

This Taiwan is not the other Taiwan, not the Taiwan Strait, but a sea area between Dayuan and the seven sandbanks.

This area of the sea is dangerous for Francesca. Because they don't know much about the hydrology here. It's okay if it's daytime, if it's night. I'm afraid something unexpected will happen.

So, the best option is not to spend the night here, at least Francesca does not want to spend the night in such complex waters. So he wanted to defeat the Yongguo Sailor before the sun set.

"Look, sir." Tomei suddenly became excited, and his hands grabbed the telescope and squeezed the tube tightly. Pinch your fingers to turn white.

Francesca gripped the telescope again and looked in the direction Tomei was looking. But I didn't see anything Mingtang. When I was about to ask something. Tomei's voice came and said, "That flag is the banner of King Yong, that is, His Royal Highness King Yongwang is on that ship." ”

Francesca was reminded by Tomei, and then she turned her attention to the flag of the ship at the front, a dragon flag embroidered with gold edges, embroidered with a large Yongzi on it. Francesca has seen a lot of Yongwang's banners and said, "This special symbol, which seems to be everywhere, is it the symbol of Yongwang?" ”

Tomei said: "That is the symbol of the Yongguo, and the dragon flag, which is the emblem of the Ming royal family. ”

Francesca said, "Well, that's great. He glanced at Zhu Houhuang's flag fiercely, put down the binoculars, and said: "Pass the order, in the face of the first ship, to retain firepower, I will personally capture this nobleman of the Ming Dynasty." ”

The aristocratic traditions of Europe naturally influenced Francesca, who, although the commander of the fleet, had only one knighthood. If he can capture a true nobleman. Maybe he'll become a true nobleman.

This is because of the European aristocratic tradition's support for Zhu Houhuang, but it has become Francesca's permanent regret.

Under Xu Dong's command, more than a dozen ships formed a wild goose formation and sailed south. And the fleet of the Francophiles put on a horizontal formation, and the two sides slowly docked.

Xu Dong said: "The herald is not allowed to open the cannon, and only after I fire the cannon, can the cannon be fired." ”

Zhu Houhuang frowned, in his impression, it shouldn't be a confrontation at sea, isn't it just a bombardment of artillery? How did Xu Dong give the order not to run.

Xu Dong saw Zhu Houhuang's frowning appearance, and immediately explained: "Your Highness, our artillery is not as good as the cannon of the Franc machine. In a battle like this, there is almost no chance of a second shot, and if we want to win, we have to go up and jump. ”

Zhu Houhuang remembered that the last time he saw these artillery bombardments in Beigang, he understood a little more, and said: "You are the commander here, you just need to give an order, no need to explain." ”

The ships of the two sides were close together, and the Francophiles fired first. "Boom, boom, boom." The sound of artillery rang out, and one after another bullets were shot, some of which landed on the ship, and they made a few big holes in the side of the ship, but more shells hit the sea, and I don't know if they could kill some fish.

"Your Highness." Xu Dong said: "Please stay away from it, Your Highness." ”

Zhu Houhuang waved his hand and said: "No need, even if you die here, you will understand it." "Under artillery bombardment, even in the cabin. Is it safe? Not necessarily.

Zhu Houhuang pulled out his binoculars and looked at the Franco robot artillery, frowning. He muttered, "This is the Franc cannon." ”

The so-called Franc cannon is a large number of imitation artillery in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, which is divided into cannon body and subsystem. One cannon body is equipped with several sub-systems. Swapping a shot for a subsystem allows the cannon to fire quickly. Although the range is a little closer because of the sealing, it has many advantages compared to the current Ming Dynasty firearms, otherwise it will not be copied by the Ming Dynasty in large quantities, and even become the standard equipment of the Ming army in the late Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Houhuang didn't leave, Xu Dong was only in a hurry.

I don't know if it's Zhu Houhuang's blessings, and I don't know if it's Francesca's order, no one dares to disobey it, Zhu Houhuang's ship actually didn't hit a single shot.

Xu Dong felt that the distance was very close, and said, "Open the cannon." ”

With a "boom", Zhu Houhuang felt a shock under his feet. The whole ship shuddered.

After Zhu Houhuang took the boat and opened fire, the rest of the ships also fired in turn, and more than a dozen shells were fired into the water one after another, and only one or two shells hit the boat. Smash out two or three holes.

Xu Dong grabbed Zhu Houhuang and said, "Your Highness, please forgive the ministers for being rude." He grabbed Zhu Houhuang into the cabin.

When Zhu Houhuang didn't know what was going on.

A muffled sound, this cannon sound, not as sharp as the other artillery just now. It's a little stuffy.

The sound of crackling like raindrops, the sound of hitting the deck. Then there was a terrible scream. It has also been handed down.

Zhu Houhuang suddenly understood that this time it was not a solid bullet, but a grape bomb, which is also a scattered bomb.

Immediately after that, there were several cannon sounds on the deck, which were much smaller than the sound of artillery that Zhu Houhuang had heard before. Zhu Houhuang thought about it slightly, and then he understood, this was the sound of a tiger squatting cannon.

Although Zhu Houhuang was not on the deck, he could guess at this moment that the ships of the two sides were estimated to have been mixed together.

Although the era of artillery will come after all, it is not now. Now the power of artillery is part of the combat strength. But not the decisive force.

Sure enough, as Zhu Houhuang expected, the originally neat artillery instantly became scattered, and the originally clear sound of artillery also became one after another.

Xu Dong didn't have time to grind here, he still had to go up and preside over the battle. settled Zhu Houhuang and then went to the deck.

Commands came out loud.

Zhu Houhuang was unwilling to do this, and was about to go out, but found a round lead by the door, which was stained with blood, and a trace of blood seeped from under the door.

A muffled sound, this cannon sound, not as sharp as the other artillery just now. It's a little stuffy.

The sound of crackling like raindrops, the sound of hitting the deck. Then there was a terrible scream. It has also been handed down.

Zhu Houhuang suddenly understood that this time it was not a solid bullet, but a grape bomb, which is also a scattered bomb.

Immediately after that, there were several cannon sounds on the deck, which were much smaller than the sound of artillery that Zhu Houhuang had heard before. Zhu Houhuang thought about it slightly, and then he understood, this was the sound of a tiger squatting cannon.

Although Zhu Houhuang was not on the deck, he could guess at this moment that the ships of the two sides were estimated to have been mixed together.

Although the era of artillery will come after all, it is not now. Now the power of artillery is part of the combat strength. But not the decisive force.

Sure enough, as Zhu Houhuang expected, the originally neat artillery instantly became scattered, and the originally clear sound of artillery also became one after another.

Xu Dong didn't have time to grind here, he still had to go up and preside over the battle. settled Zhu Houhuang and then went to the deck.

Commands came out loud.

Zhu Houhuang was unwilling to do this, and was about to go out, but found a round lead by the door, which was stained with blood, and a trace of blood seeped from under the door.

Sure enough, as Zhu Houhuang expected, the originally neat artillery instantly became scattered, and the originally clear sound of artillery also became one after another.

Xu Dong didn't have time to grind here, he still had to go up and preside over the battle. settled Zhu Houhuang and then went to the deck.

Commands came out loud.

Zhu Houhuang was unwilling to do this, and was about to go out, but found a round lead by the door, which was stained with blood, and a trace of blood seeped from under the door.