Medics and medics scrambled to carry Lieutenant Colonel Linz and Major Hausen, the deputy commander of the flotilla, down, and the blood on the ground was covered with sand to prevent anyone from slipping and falling from stepping on blood. The grumpy Ensign Baul stood on the port side, leaning out for the most part and shouting to the other woman's relatives, as a flaming fireball fell to the ground not far behind.

(That's a hassle...... ）

Scratching his head vigorously, Parsifal looked distressed.

When the ill-intentioned cruisers demanded that the fleet stop for inspection, Lieutenant Commander Linz rejected the extremely suspicious request and ordered the fleet to be on higher alert. But then when the other party proposed to send someone on board for a routine inspection, and there was no need to stop the ship, the lieutenant colonel hesitated.

Lieutenant Commander Linz's career as an assault ship had given him unrivalled experience in ship hijacking, and no ship had ever been hijacked by one or two people in his memory. Generally, raiders disguised as merchant ships or warships of other countries approach their ignorant prey, suddenly tear off their camouflage, open fire and order the other side to stop the ship. This is the standard process of hijacking a ship. Now the other side is only asking for someone to board the ship to confirm the purpose of the voyage, and in this case, the rash refusal to lead to a conflict and the failure of the evacuation work can be said to be worth the loss. Coupled with confidence in the strength of his fleet, the lieutenant colonel agreed to the request of the USS Utopian, a float cruiser of the second class, to sail parallel and send someone on board to check the logbook.

Lieutenant Commander Linz had a correct understanding of the operational procedures of camouflaged assault ships, but he forgot that the technical level of the defense forces was far ahead of other countries, and that those raiding ships did not need to be close to their targets to engage in broadside and close-board battles, but could end the battle from a distance. Charlemagne's army did not have this kind of convenience, so they had to hijack ships in the most ancient way - jumping ship and white-knuckle combat.

On one side is the inertia of thinking, and on the other side is the rigid thinking limited by conditions, and the two sides perform a scene with their own words and close cooperation. The play could have been a little more presentable, but Lieutenant Colonel Linz had to wait gentlemanly for Charlemagne to leave on his own. And Charlemagne was a little too anxious, and as soon as he took the port, he screamed that he was copying the guy. What was supposed to be a high-profile ship-grabbing battle turned into a one-sided massacre with a bit of black humor.

The elves had already prepared, and as soon as Charlemagne snorted, the marines immediately rushed out. The combination of a submachine gun and a 9mm air-tipped round is a super cheat in this kind of close-quarters melee, where a single musket has just fired a shot, and it is too late to draw another musket pinned to his waist. Half of the drum has been swept away over there. By the time the twin 12.7mm machine gun mounts were raised to join the battle, what happened on deck could only be called a carnage.

In no more than 10 minutes, Charlemagne's attempts to seize the ship were reduced to sieves or shredded pieces. At this moment, the 128mm cannon began to wield its might, worthy of the nickname "128mm machine gun", and a barrage of high-explosive shells entered the hull of the Utopia. However, due to the distance between the two sides of less than 100 meters, and the muzzle velocity of the shells was too high, the first eight shells all penetrated the enemy ship and exploded on the other side, and the damage effect was almost the same as that of solid shells. The gunners scolded "waste wood". Hurriedly replaced with white phosphorus incendiary bombs, and in a short time turned the wooden-hulled cruiser into a flying crematorium. After an earth-shattering explosion, only a section of the burning stern fell to the ground.

A perfect victory, but Parsifal and the rest of the crew couldn't laugh at all.

During the battle, the Reda suffered only five wounded, including the captain and deputy commander of the flotilla. Lieutenant Colonel Linz was the first wounded, I don't know what Charlemagne thought, there was actually a crossbowman in the assault team that boarded the ship, and the shooter stepped on the air and fell when he boarded the ship. As a result, the trigger was pulled, and the arrow hit Lieutenant Colonel Linz in the knee. The lieutenant colonel, who was unsteady on his feet, had just fallen to the ground. He was shot through the stomach with a musket from nowhere. Lieutenant Colonel Linz's luck was not exhausted, and the deputy commander, Major Hausen, rushed up and snatched him back, and in the process the Major was also shot.

As a result of this series of unbelievable circumstances, the command structure of this fleet has in fact been put to rest.

The convoy still had the advantage in firepower, but the loss of command and the fact that the main forces of the enemy were still present and began to encircle would inevitably have an impact on morale, not to mention the loss of commander. The highest rank is the five captains. But they are all captains, and in this case, the flagship captain should be the supreme commander, but this fleet is not a front-line combat force after all, and they cannot be expected to react as quickly as a regular fleet, and I am afraid that the command of the same level will still bring problems to the subsequent battles after all. If it goes on like this—

"Lieutenant Parsifal ......"

Just as Parsifal was in the middle of a lawsuit. Lieutenant Colonel Linz's stretcher passed by, and the commander of the flotilla called out to the young lieutenant.

"The command of the fleet is in your hands......"

"Me?"

Not only the people involved, but also the expressions of surprise and stunned all around.

"But I'm ...... No, the lower officer is only a lieutenant, and he has no experience in actually commanding a fleet in battle. ”

“...... The fleet is under the management of the logistics department before entering the port and unloading. ”

“......”

In the military system, military rank is a sign of status, and no one can transgress the ranks. However, there is also a system of grading according to the rank of the defense force, and according to this bureaucratic rule, the fleet under the management of the logistics department, in addition to the chief and deputy commanders of the fleet, the largest is Parsifal, the field personnel of the logistics department. Theoretically, he's half a rank older than all captains, and there's nothing wrong with a cameo as an admiral.

"Besides, your military talent is ......"

Before he could finish speaking, the lieutenant colonel fainted, and the military doctor hurriedly asked the medic to lift the lieutenant colonel, who still had an arrow in his knee, down.

"The lieutenant colonel has a very high opinion of you. ”

Second Lieutenant Bauer, who ran back after scolding, just heard the end, and the second lieutenant, who always looked down on the "little white face of the logistics department" on weekdays, seemed to have found the backbone at this time, and his face was full of excitement.

"Really?"

Parsifal smiled wryly.

For a man who aspires to be a salary thief and wants to retire early to live a comfortable life as a historian, the term "military talent" is a travesty.

At this point, it is useless to be more emotional.

"Turn on the communication device, and I'm going to take over the command of the fleet as the on-site commander. ”

Putting on his military hat, Parsifal rushed to the captain's quarters, and three minutes later the young voice followed the radio waves into each transport.

"Inform all the crew! I am Lieutenant Parsifal of the Logistics Department who has been dispatched to supervise the scene! The flagship Ruida was attacked by enemy troops, and Lieutenant Colonel Linz was unfortunately wounded. By order of the commander of the flotilla. Command the fleet on behalf of the officer!"

"How is that possible!"

The first to recover from the shock was Captain Schneider, the captain of the Hermann, who almost pressed his face to the interface and yelled hoarsely:

"It's just a lieutenant in the logistics department, what authority does it have to command the fleet in actual combat!

"I'm very sorry, Your Excellency, but in fact it was the documents that made the war possible. ”

After a riposte that is neither humble nor arrogant. Parsifal pulled a document from his briefcase.

“...... According to the "Ship Requisition Regulations", before the requisitioned ships are officially assigned to their belongings, they will be dispatched and managed by the logistics department, and the actual operation will be fully managed by the relevant troops. However, before arriving at the destination, the ship, the equipment and the load on board are within the scope of the on-site personnel management of the logistics department. Together with the orders of the Fleet Commander, the officer's assumption of command of the fleet was in full compliance with the relevant regulations. If you are not satisfied, please report to the headquarters and submit an official document. ”

Captain Schneider's face flushed, the other three captains on the communication interface also showed expressions of eating flies, and Captain Kurudio Fallenheitt, who was standing behind Parsifal, smiled wryly thoughtfully.

Parsifal's speech was a clear example of a bureaucratic approach that used rank and command to suppress dissent. There is even a little suspicion of a fox and a fake tiger. However, in the current situation, the most important thing is not to prioritize seniority and moral justice, but to unify the command system as the first priority. Just as the captain has been a god on board since the beginning of the Age of Sail, the quickest and easiest way to control a group of unruly captains is to force rather than appease. Moreover, with the technical superiority of the transport fleet, the worst is to run away, and if anyone jumps out to take responsibility, the captains are also willing to hand over the command.

It's not complicated. If you think about it patiently, anyone can think about it in the end. But in a critical situation. Being able to think of it and decisively put it into practice, although this thought and decision cannot be called a famous general, there is no doubt that it has the foundation to become a famous general.

(This battle might be interesting.) ）

Captain Falenheitt raised his eyebrows slightly, and continued to listen to Parsifal's speech.

"Captains are requested to report the condition of their ships, including performance parameters, damaged conditions, number of personnel, and remaining ammunition. ”

After giving the order, Parsifal took a deep breath. It allowed officers and enlisted men to absorb the drastic changes in the situation.

"You don't have to worry, as long as you follow the instructions of this official, you will definitely be out of danger. Although the current situation is not good, it will definitely be our army that will win in the end!"

(I'd say that kind of boastful thing.) ）

Swallowing a wry smile, Parsifal continued to show the demeanor of a "commander who is not in danger". As a commander. Negative emotions must not be superficial, everyone in the fleet is watching the new commander, and the slightest superficial emotional change will affect them. He can only hold his head high and face everything with an optimistic attitude.

"Our army will not lose, and the glorious defense forces have not suffered a single defeat so far! Please concentrate on the battle at hand! ”

The captains reflexively stood up and saluted, and after a second or two they realized that they were saluting a lieutenant, and the captains who had 10,000 of those animals rushing by in their hearts immediately turned around and ordered the crew to collect and sort out all kinds of information.

In less than 3 minutes, everything was reported. In fact, as the on-site supervisor, Parsifal knew the details of each ship better than anyone else, and the situation reported was not much worse than expected.

As a result of Lieutenant Commander Linz's early order, with the exception of the Ryda, the four ships Hammarburg, Lyubikai, Wilhelm Gustaf, and Augustus were not materially damaged, but only some ammunition was consumed. Both personnel and ships are in good condition.

In normal times, Parsifal would not hesitate to order the fleet to climb altitude, increase speed, and run away. This is not the time to carry forward the fearless heroism, whoever wants to scold the "coward" should be scolded by him, this lieutenant is best at running away, getting off the trap, drinking black tea, you have the ability to bite me? "In the event of an enemy attack, you can directly return fire and destroy the enemy, but it is strictly forbidden to do anything that puts the ship's own supplies in danger" - this is written in black and white, and Parsifal wins the lawsuit wherever he goes.

However, now escape has become a rather difficult task. Due to the fact that each transport ship is close to overloading. Even if the cargo ship is not very fast, it is only a knot or two faster than a sail warship with a tailwind, even if it is at full power, and the climb altitude will kill the engine. At present, the enemy has exactly 4 sail cruisers in the upper hand position copying Parsifal's rear path, and 6 newly built steam-powered wooden-hulled cruisers in front of them are beginning to seize the T-shaped crosshead position. Reckless head-turning will only increase the time it takes for the opponent to complete the encirclement. When the other side completes the two parallel battle lines, I am afraid that this side is still adjusting the formation in a mess, even if it relies on the absolute superiority in artillery performance to fight a bloody way, but the fate of several cargo ships encountered concentrated fire is not much better. In particular, the Augustus was loaded with industrial oil, which happened to be blown up in case the fleet was crammed...... That's the rhythm of pills together.

(Abandoning the cargo to speed up the restoration of normal power output is also a solution, that is, it is very troublesome to be held accountable afterwards, and judging from the performance of the other party's commander so far, it is obvious that he is inclined to fight in a dignified manner', and this type of enemy ship encounters an escaped enemy ship, the first reaction must be -)

Parsifal took off his boat-shaped beanie and habitually scratched his hair. After putting back on the military cap, he categorically ordered:

"With the Ruida as the center, the wingmen are lined up in a wheeled air defense array!"

"What?!"

The four captains were dumbfounded, and only Captain Falenheitt looked at Parsifal thoughtfully.

"The enemy's purpose is not to sink all the warships, but to obtain the supplies on the warships in order to achieve a certain goal, otherwise there is no need to send an assault team to start a broadside battle just now, just let the boats be filled with explosives, and detonate them after getting close to the ships! Although I don't know what the enemy's purpose is, if the enemy is really aiming to capture the warships. Next, it is inevitable to send flying beast troops to disrupt our formation, preventing us from abandoning supplies and speeding up the evacuation. Buy time for the fleet to form a battle line and flank your own fleet. ”

"It's just your one-sided ......"

"Enemy flying beasts have been detected!!"

The lookout's voice was high-pitched and sharp, like the high-pitched voice of a tenor, and the captains' faces changed again and again.

"With this ship as the center, immediately change the air defense formation! The Hanmaburg and the Lyubikai go forward! The Wilhelm Gustaf and the Augustus are behind! Don't let those flying bastards touch our butts!!"

"Yes...... Yes!!"

Captain Fallenheitt woke up the captains with a timely shout, and the ships began to maneuver as directed, the barrage of tracer bullets from the anti-aircraft machine guns into the sky. Every now and then one or two griffons and Pellidon's figures are illuminated, and then they disappear into the night waiting for another surprise attack on the engines and servos, and the two sides move forward and backward, as they move forward.

(What should I do next?)

With a sigh of relief, Parsifal sat cross-legged at the command table. In the face of the commander's serious violation of military appearance and discipline, the soldiers felt extremely relieved. No one knew that the young lieutenant's heart was not as calm and relaxed as it appeared.

At present, the development of the situation is still not beyond the predicted range, the enemy forces have not stopped the pace of the fleet as expected, but they have also succeeded in stumbling the pace of the opponent, and the two fleets are slowly forming a formation with the letter "H" as they sail. To the left and right were Charlemagne's battle lines, and in the middle were the convoys of transports. It is believed that it will not be long before the opponent will shorten the distance and start an artillery battle, and the wheeled array will not be able to exert the power of all the naval guns, and the opponent will have a great chance to suppress it with the number of artillery and start a broadside battle to seize the ship again. The enemy's intentions have been fully expressed in action.

The problem is that if we can do what he envisions, it would be fine, but if we take a wrong step, there is a risk that the whole army will be annihilated, so what should we do then?

"Forget it...... When things are at the worst they will mend. ”

Scratching his hair, Parsifar whispered to himself.

He is not the mother goddess of the all-powerful, nor is he the spokesman of the all-powerful God, he cannot predict everything, nor can he act recklessly.

Parsifal can only do things within the scope of his ability and responsibility, and no one can face anything else. (To be continued......)