Chapter 15: Who's Looking for Death?

At the peak of this Age of Discovery.

Whether it's the Dutch or Zhu Daohua.

are well aware of the importance of sea power.

Even the Chinese forces in Nanyang, as well as the local indigenous forces, can vaguely feel the significance of this war against the two sides.

Twenty-one warships sailed from Batam.

Twenty-one plows were turned into white lines on the surface of the sea.

Go to the predetermined sea area.

Meanwhile.

The Dutch fleet from the island of Java has also departed.

It's on the Sea Eagle-class ship 001.

Macartney described to Zhu Daohua the strength of the Dutchman's third-class battleships.

"His Royal Highness King Ming, the third-class battleship is also the main battleship in the Atlantic Ocean. Three-deck battleships of the third rank were usually armed with sixty-four cannons, of which there were 26 24-pounder guns, 26 12-pounder guns, 12 6-pounder guns. ”

"A warship with such firepower is almost invincible in the eastern seas .... Although I don't know where your confidence comes from, the total number of guns on these twenty ships under your command is less than three hundred .... And the forty-two-three sail battleships of the Dutch East India Company that you are fighting against! ”

Macartney's voice fell.

On the other side, Bourblon added: "Even in Europe, the strength of such a fleet should not be underestimated, and the British Royal Navy only has two hundred and forty third-class battleships, fifty-three second-class battleships, and twelve first-class battleships..."

Nothing more?

Macartney looked at Bourblon dissatisfied.

Just this, the French have the face to say that the number of battleships owned by the most powerful navy in the world is "that's it"?

But he didn't argue either.

Because the forty-two third-class battleships of the Holan East India Company were indeed a formidable naval force.

Equivalent... Seven or eight of the British Royal Navy ....

Zhu Daohua smiled slightly and said: "Southeast Asia belongs to the Orientals, I don't think the Dutch should exist here!" ”

"Your Highness, the sea is free, I think you should support the principle of free trade, right?"

Macartney frowned and reminded.

"Of course, I'm for free trade."

"Rules-based free trade."

Macartney nodded slightly when he heard this, he believed that Zhu Daohua would not have a hot brain, and thought that he had the strength to challenge the maritime hegemony of the British Empire...

Rules-based free trade.

It can only be based on the rules of the British Empire.

"Crotch crotch crotch crotch crotch block!"

The clanging gong sounded on the Sea Eagle-class ship 001.

Zhu Daohua also didn't have the heart to do anything serious with the two ministers of the two countries (according to the plan, these two should go north to negotiate with the old man Qianlong at this time).

Instead, he immediately walked to the side of the ship and pulled out the binoculars.

The Eagle-class 001 ship has a lookout with a telescope on the mast.

But based on the size of the ships of both sides.

The Dutch, with their higher masts, must have spotted their opponents earlier than the Ming army.

Therefore....

When the sea eagle class sounded the gong siren of the battle.

The Dutch on the opposite side must have begun to seize advantageous battlefield positions!

"The Dutch, my lord!"

One of the sailors shouted.

Zhu Daohua took a deep breath.

Napoleon, beside him, said: "Your Highness, according to the naval combat manual of the Dutch, they will not fire until they are within three hundred meters!" ”

"This is our chance!"

Although it is said that the firing range of naval guns in this era was generally more than 1 to 2 kilometers.

However, based on the accuracy of the front-loading smoothbore gun, the accuracy of shooting more than 500 meters is basically dependent on God blessing.

And the artillery of this era was usually aimed at straight ahead.

If you want the shell to fall back into the water after more than 500 meters, the muzzle of the cannon should be appropriately raised and at a certain angle to the surface of the ship, forming a curved fire.

This makes it more difficult to hit.

In addition, the main goal of naval warfare now is to destroy the enemy's warships and sails by chain bullets, and to kill and injure the enemy's shipboard personnel by shotguns.

You want to smash your opponent's ship by launching a solid iron ball from a distance.

That's unthinkable....

So.

Nowadays, European navies will close the distance as much as possible when engaging in war, so as to take advantage of the advantages of shotguns and chain bullets.

In the Battle of Trafalgar, in which Britain defeated Napoleon, there were even scenes of battleships firing artillery salvos from a distance of only twenty meters.

So.

Even if Zhu Daohua knew that these extremely fast boats under his command had weaknesses in "vision".

He wasn't worried.

"King! The Dutch lined up in a line and seized the upper hand! They're going to take the T position! ”

"King! The Dutch now have the upper hand! ”

"My lord, a large number of ships and boats were found in the north of the Dutch fleet, some of which were hung with the Dutch tricolor, and some of which were not flown at all!"

These groups of ships must have been the Chinese forces that were heralded by the Dutch.

But now most of these Chinese forces are going to be cheerleaders.

None of you are stupid.

Whoever wins, they will help.

As the distance between the two fleets approached, the actions of the Dutch were also observed by the high lookout post, and they were reported to Zhu Daohua as soon as possible.

"King! All forty-two of the enemy's capital ships were dispatched, divided into left and right wings..."

"They're going to fight on both sides!!"

Napoleon said.

"Your Highness, now our side is a headwind, the enemy is a tailwind, once the war is unfavorable, our side will be very passive!"

Once the war is unfavorable.

I can't run away if I want to.

But.....

Zhu Daohua didn't plan to run.

He patted the side of the ship lightly and said: "The battleships of the Dutch are outdated, and after today, the navies of all European countries are outdated coffins at sea!" ”

Zhu Daohua, who was a seaman in his previous life, knew the history of warships very well.

After the advent of high explosives, reliable flowering shells.

The era of extraordinarily expensive sail battleships, armed with hundreds of cannons at every turn, is over - no wooden ship can withstand the bombardment of high-explosive explosives such as several kilograms of mercury thunderate!

Come to think of it.

Zhu Daohua suddenly raised his voice.

"Herald! Change the formation of a column and attack at high speed! All ships follow the flagship!! ”

"Order!"

There was a loud chord of voices around him.

Signal flag waving.

Convey Zhu Daohua's order to the entire fleet.

The advantages of a high-speed schooner are fully demonstrated.

All the sails were raised.

Twenty-one battleships accelerated abruptly.

In the middle of the voyage.

Turned into a column.

Like a tiger descending from a mountain.

Pounced on the Dutch fleet!

In front of these twenty-one high-speed warships.

The Dutch battleships were as slow as snails crawling on the sea....

"Are these Chinese crazy?"

The flagship of the Dutch fleet, after pulling open the binoculars to see the actions of the Ming army.

Viceroy of Batavia. Kreuz exclaimed.

"The Chinese don't know naval warfare at all!"

Dutch Rear Admiral Franky, who commanded the battle. St Karen sneered.

"Your Excellency the Governor, they are looking for death!"