A little apprehension in the hearts of the two commanders of the British Eastern Intervention Fleet, which seemed to be the most powerful fleet in the world at present, had been completely replaced by the confidence that came with powerful rocket battleships.

Oh, yes.

With these dozens of huge battleships and a large number of ultra-long-range Congreve rockets, the range of such rockets can reach ten kilometers, but the distance of ten kilometers above the sea is a little too far, and it is beyond the limit of sight.

Therefore, it is generally considered a relatively ideal engagement distance when launched at a distance of five kilometers.

Never before in history has a warship's guns been able to pose any threat at a distance of five kilometers.

And the rocket thing relies on a range attack, using a large number of rockets to carry out a cover-type bombardment.

The requirements for precision are not too high.

"Yes, now what we need to consider is what kind of conditions to accept the peace of the Ming Empire!" Nelson smiled, "Maybe it is most appropriate to cede the Governor's Palace of the Strait of Malacca and open the ports of Guangzhou, Ningbo, and Songjiang, and the Ming Empire must also respect the free trade power monopolized by Britain!" ”

"The Chinese must realize that on the sea, they are far from being the Celestial Empire. Their Emperor His Majesty must bow his proud head and accept and respect the rules and order we have made. Respect our dominion in the South Asian subcontinent, in the Indian Ocean, in Southeast Asia, in Australia and the surrounding seas! ”

Nelson said that as commander of the Eastern Intervention Fleet appointed by the King of Britain, Nelson's authority was not limited to commanding the fleet in battle.

The purpose of the fleet was to serve the national interests of Britain.

Victory in the war must bring sufficient benefits.

And King George III of Britain and Prime Minister William the Younger. Pete seems.

Only these benefits can be obtained.

It would be worthwhile to form an Eastern Intervention Fleet.

"We may also be able to ask the Ming Empire to suspend its attack on the Qing Empire. Maintain the long-term war between the Ming Empire and the Qing Empire, so that Britain can make enough profits in the war between the two sides! ”

Right now.

The bell rang when the bell rang.

On the lookout post, the voice of the lookout soldier sounded rapidly: "At six o'clock ahead, an unknown fleet has been found!" More than 10 ships! Sixty thousand yards away! ”

"They have also spotted our fleet and are retreating!"

Nelson and Collingwood glanced at each other.

The two discussed before that it was a good thing to let the Ming Dynasty cede land and pay compensation to open up the market.

It must be built on the basis of defeating the Ming fleet.

So now the sudden sound of the alarm and the shouts of the lookout made the two of them quickly return to reality from their previous imagination.

The first condition for defeating the Ming fleet.

It's about to take place a decisive battle with the main fleet!

Otherwise, the Ming Indian Ocean fleet is floating all over the Indian Ocean, which is also a great threat to the British Indian colonies.

"Order, bite this Ming army's reconnaissance fleet, and find out the specific location of their main fleet as soon as possible!"

In fact, there is no need for ships of the British Navy to look for the main force of the Ming Indian Ocean Fleet.

Because the Ming army is also planning a decisive battle.

The next few days.

Exchanges of fire between reconnaissance ships on both sides became more frequent.

This shows that the distance between the main fleets of the two sides is getting closer and closer!

"It has to be said that the Chinese have the possibility of having a strong navy! Their sailors are quite brave, but they are not as good at operating warships on the ocean as we are! ”

On the battleship Victory.

Nelson also showed an optimistic look on his face after summing up the exchange of fire between the reconnaissance ships of the two sides in the past few days.

In exchange ratios.

The British Navy clearly had the upper hand.

In the past few days, there have been eight light bombardment gunboats of the Ming Army that have been sunk!

And the Eastern Intervention Fleet lost only three light Arrow bombardment gunboats.

Although the artillery performance of the Ming army was better than that of the British army, with their knowledge of the Indian Ocean and superb naval combat experience, British naval ships were often able to occupy an advantageous combat position and concentrate more powerful firepower.

Most of the sailors of the Ming army on the opposite side were recruited by pirates and fishermen who were active on the southeast coast of China.

They have no fear of the sea.

But for the modern model of naval warfare is clearly inexperienced.

These skirmishes existed only between the reconnaissance gunboats of both sides.

But the gap in the capabilities of the two sides in naval warfare has already been reflected.

This gave Nelson greater confidence.

Even if he didn't have a secret weapon, he didn't think that the Ming Indian Ocean Fleet on the opposite side would be able to defeat the Eastern Intervention Fleet.

On the opposite side is a group of rookies equipped with advanced gunboats!

And in quantity.

They also do not have an absolute advantage, even in terms of firepower density.

The Indian Ocean Fleet of the Ming Army was even at a disadvantage.

At all costs.

Nelson couldn't have imagined that he could lose.

"Military Gate! Discover the Britannica's fleet! Just about three hundred miles to the southeast, our reconnaissance ship had an intensive exchange of fire with the opposing side, and the losses were heavy! ”

On the side of the Daming Indian Ocean Fleet.

The commander of the Ming Indian Ocean Fleet made Zhu Li's tightly knit brows instantly relax after hearing the information!

"Finally found it!"

Zhu Mian said excitedly.

The situation he was most worried about did not happen: that is, the Britons did not seek a decisive battle, but in the Indian Ocean and the Ming naval fleet, in this way, the Ming Indian Ocean Fleet will be busy in the future, because the ironclad ship is suitable for a decisive battle, but it is not suitable for cruising on the ocean, so if the war situation between the two sides is not a decisive battle of the main naval fleet, but a chase battle in the ocean, then the Ming fleet will not have much advantage!

If the Britons could not be wiped out in a war, the route from Malacca to India would be under constant threat from the British.

For Da Ming.

The purpose of this war was to completely open up the market of the South Asian subcontinent.

To ensure the security of the Indian Ocean shipping routes, to ensure that the coalition of Indian princes can be supported by the Ming dynasty proper, to sustain the war against the Britons in the South Asian subcontinent, and eventually to monopolize the Indian market, which has a population of nearly 200 million people, and has amassed a great deal of wealth because of its long-term trade advantages.

India now.

It was not the poor place that people would image as having a lower GDP per capita than the African continent.

It's a place where it's really rich!

Otherwise, how could the imperialism of the West come all the way to bully the Indian people?

In this wave of carving up the wealth of the ancient South Asian subcontinent.

Daming not only can't be absent.

I'm going to take up all this mat!

No way.

Who made Da Ming's appetite too big.

As for the losses of reconnaissance gunboats.

In Zhu Li's opinion, it is normal.

These sailboats, although generally armed with bombardment, were all artillery guns.

However, in terms of operational concepts and models, they are not much different from before.

In the case that both sides are armed with shelling artillery.

In the middle of the ocean, it was not uncommon for the British, who were more experienced in combat, to have the upper hand.

Not at all surprising.

The point is that the other party doesn't know the Ming Army's hole cards at all!

If he knew, the other party would not have been able to make a decisive battle at all!

"Order, the Turtle strikes, and drags the Turtle southeast to the distance as close as possible to the enemy fleet!"

Zhu Li ordered loudly.

The combat radius of the Wei-class ironclad ships is as high as 1,500 miles.

As long as the twelve Gangwei-class ironclad ships bite the main force of the British fleet, with the speed of the ironclad ships, it is impossible to let the other party escape!

"Junmen, if our army wants to sail in the southeast direction now, it will almost be completely against the wind, and the other party is coming with a tailwind, and the wind is not good for our army!"

"It's okay!" Zhu Li waved his hand, "The main force of this battle is the twelve Wei-class ironclad ships, and the rest of the ships are only used to lure the enemy and escort the enemy!" ”

"The fleet can be divided into two routes, with all the light and fast gunboat convoys escorting the convoy, thirty-six three-masted schooners and twelve Wei-class ironclad ships, and thirty-six three-masted schooners to lure the enemy forward and lead the enemy into the predetermined battlefield." Li Changgeng, the deputy commander, said, "It is a headwind to the southeast of Wang, but if we turn the bow of the ship to lure the enemy, it will be a tailwind, and they may not be able to catch up!" ”

"Yes, the Wei-class ironclad should save as much fuel as possible! It's best to let their main fleet come over on their own, and if they want to turn back and flee for their lives, it will become a headwind, and the speed advantage of the ironclad will become even greater! ”

Chief of Staff Colonel Guo Xuexian said.

Guo Xuexian was originally a pirate gang entrenched in the mouth of the Pearl River, the son of Guo Yi, the leader of the Black Flag Gang, after returning to the Ming Dynasty, Guo has gone ashore to become a rich man, and his son Guo Xuexian entered the Ming Naval Academy for further study, and is the first batch of students who graduated from the Naval Academy.

Now less than thirty years old, he is already the chief of staff of the Ming Indian Ocean Fleet.

The future is promising.

"Keep your distance as much as possible, the Britons' large battleships are armed with sixty-four-pounder fortress guns."

Li Changgeng said.

"In addition, the fleet should continue to go north, as far away from the battlefield as possible, and not give the Britons a chance!"

Several naval officers of the Ming Dynasty quickly finalized the battle plan.

In fact, the plan is simple and executable.

Twelve ironclad ships lay in ambush on the predetermined battlefield.

Thirty-six three-masted schooners advanced to carry out the plan to lure the enemy.

Thirty-six three-masted schooners were the absolute main fleet of the Ming Indian Ocean Navy in the intelligence of the Britons.

So this allure is sufficient.

When the enemy fleet pursues the predetermined battlefield, the twelve Wei-class ironclad ships that are ready to pounce on them at absolute speed for close-range face-to-face output!

In the case of having almost absolute defense.

Twelve Wei-class ironclad ships completely annihilated Britain's Eastern Intervention Fleet is not a problem!

With the speed of a sail battleship, it is impossible to escape the hunt of the Wei-class ironclad ship!

It's in the bag!

It's a win!

(End of chapter)