"In order to buy enough time for the engineers building the fortress, the navy officers knew they were outnumbered, but they still left the port without hesitation... After one day and two nights of fierce fighting, the main fleet of the Ming Navy fought hard for a full 36 hours. Yunnan

The USS was sunk, the Guizhou was sunk, the Sichuan was sunk, and even the flagship Jilin was severely damaged... But we still refused to retreat! Admiral Li Guozhu was killed, and the battle continued with another commander! There are even more battleships like the Shangqiu, in

After emergency repairs outside the battlefield, they immediately returned to the battlefield. At the most dangerous moment of the battle, they rammed the enemy ship with their own bodies. The captain Zhu Congquan and the gunnery chief Zhang Daniu did not hesitate to feed the thunder with their own bodies, and exchanged their own bodies for the enemy.

A heavy blow to the flagship!

...Finally, thanks to the hard work of the soldiers at the front, the mine fleet was able to lay several layers of mines along the Singapore Harbor. By the time the enemy again mobilized cannon fodder ships to brave the mine array, 72 hours had already passed. Facing the defense

The enemy had to withdraw from the well-established Singapore Fortress..."

On December 9, the 22nd year of the Great Ming Dynasty, Yanjing Daily was the first to publish it, and other major newspapers quickly followed suit. This article, "Knowing that they were defeated, they still had no hesitation", written by Zhu Youdong himself and written in pure vernacular, completely detonated

The mood of the people in the Ming Dynasty. For a time, in addition to young people enthusiastically signing up to join the army, countless people donated money and materials.

However, although Zhu Youdong used a very sensational article to cover up the Ming Dynasty's dilemma in sea control, it is an indisputable fact that sea control has changed hands.

In the Battle of Malacca from November 5 to 7, 1639, the Ming Dynasty's main fleet deployed thirty ironclad ships, but in the end only six 3,000-ton battleships were withdrawn. More than 9,000 people on board the battleships.

They went out, died in battle, disappeared, were captured... In short, they failed to return to Singapore Port, a total of 6,000 people!

The Ming Navy suffered a spine-breaking injury for the first time since Zhu Youdong rebuilt it.

When the news of the war reached Beijing, Zhu Youdong was so distressed that he shed tears on the spot. Then he lost his temper and cursed Li Guozhu from the air. In this battle, he was seriously injured and lost his life.

Yan Siqi lost one eye and one arm.

In his opinion, if the Singapore Fortress is not completed and cannot be defended, then there is no need to defend it. Preserving the main force of the navy is more important than anything else. There is no doubt that the enemy's plan is very clear: to capture Singapore? Not to mention blocking the Ming Dynasty's forces in the South China Sea.

Spain, having obtained Singapore, could also use it as a base to send warships to invade the Ming Dynasty itself and the coastal areas of various vassal states.

Now? Is Singapore defended? But for the Spaniards, who have almost annihilated the main fleet of the Ming Dynasty. Although they cannot capture Singapore for the time being, the hinterland of the South China Sea of ​​the Ming Dynasty is still completely open.

Think about it? If the Spaniards get Singapore, but the main fleet of the Ming Dynasty is still there. Then the Spaniards want to invade the coastal areas of the Ming Dynasty and its vassals? For safety reasons? The entire fleet must be united.

And now, although the Spanish failed to get Singapore, the Ming Dynasty's fleet almost no longer exists, so wouldn't Spain be able to split the fleet into many squadrons? And harass most places of the Ming Dynasty and its vassals at the same time?

So? Although Li Guozhu and Yan Siqi destroyed the opponent's four heavy cruisers and fifteen light cruisers and destroyers with inferior forces, the Marquis and the Duke had to return to the mainland for repairs before they could return to the battle line. But the enemy was left One 10,000-ton battleship and two heavy cruisers can already move sideways in the South China Sea.

Ming's strategic situation has become worse than ever.

On December 15, Zhu Youdong summoned someone in Qianqing Palace.

"Your Majesty, Quanyang Donger, please pay homage to our emperor."

"General Inukai, please rise? General, thank you for your hard work in the battle of Malacca."

"I am ashamed? The country helped the general become a benevolent hero, and I was originally prepared to follow his path. But then I remembered the emperor's teachings of saving people and losing land? People and land can survive. So that day, the rear torpedo team sent someone to inform us that it was After the mine array was deployed, I did not take the remaining three warships to fight to the end? Instead, I chose to rush to the beach nearby? I just wanted to leave more naval seeds for the emperor."

"Can you think of this when the battle is at its fiercest? I am very relieved. Hey, if all the officers and men on your three battleships are killed, my navy will have no one to use in the future."

This is not a lie: before the EU attack on India, the Ming Dynasty had four fleets: the mainland, Nanyang, America, and India. After the Malacca naval battle in November, the Ming Dynasty now only had to replace Zheng Zhilong, who had just been replaced as the commander of the Nanyang Fleet. The structure of the American Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Du Youning, who was transferred to Commander of the American Fleet during his official tenure, is still relatively complete.

Fortunately, Inukai Touji led three 5,000-ton ships to seize the beach that day. After the personnel of the three ships landed, in order to prevent the three warships from being captured by the enemy, they safely retreated after blowing up the keels of the warships - thus bringing nearly Two thousand people come back. Otherwise, the Ming Navy will really lose its capital.

"Now, I am preparing to rebuild the Ming Dynasty's home fleet. After discussing with the important ministers of the country, we all agreed that you will be the commander of the home fleet."

"Ah? Your Majesty, is this inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate?"

"Chen, I am Japanese, no, of Japanese descent, and of the He clan."

"so what?"

"Your Majesty, where is General Yan Siqi?"

"He was seriously injured and will need a long time to recuperate. Even if he recovers, I do not plan to let him board the ship. His future position is to succeed the elderly Mr. Xiong as Privy Councilor."

"Oh, this is really good news. Can our navy also serve as privy envoys?"

"Why not? After the war with Spain, everyone has understood that without the navy, the army will be passive. Therefore, it is natural for people with naval background to serve as privy envoys at this time."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty. However, I still feel that it is not suitable for you. What about General Du?"

"He has just been transferred to the Americas. How can there be any reason that it took him half a year to go there and then transfer him back? Besides, you also know that the old team of our navy in Ming Dynasty are still Li Guozhu and Yan Siqi who were brought back from Japan. There are many heroes. Now it seems that only you can control these people."

"...I understand. In this case, I will accept this position humbly. I sincerely ask the emperor to find a suitable candidate to replace me as soon as possible."

"Very good." Zhu Youdong stood up and walked to Inukai Dongji: "Next, how do you think the battle situation will change?"

"Your Majesty, there is no doubt that after the Battle of Malacca, we will lose control of the South China Sea to a great extent. Not only will our merchant ships not be able to navigate the Strait of Malacca, it will be very unsafe in the South China Sea. The current task of the Navy is to use all available

We must concentrate our war power and carry out guerrilla warfare on the sea in accordance with what the Emperor taught us in his early years: "When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy is stationed, we harass; when the enemy is tired, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue" and conduct guerrilla warfare at sea. Once a local advantage is formed, try to attack the enemy

Carry out attacks and even annihilate. Rely on multiple battles to gradually eliminate the enemy."

Hiss, how can this guy learn so well? Also, Li Guozhu and Yan Siqi, especially Li Guozhu, have been on their own at sea for a long time before following me. Their thinking has long been formed. Especially in their hearts, there will be "The emperor is impossible"

He knows more about naval warfare than I do, so I’ll just listen to what he says and I’ll tell you later if he does it or not.”

But this Quanyang Donger was different. He came from a humble background and came to the Ming Dynasty and was favored by the emperor. He kept Zhu Youdong's words in mind and kept them in mind. So now he sounds so clear and logical.

"General Inukai, what you just said was very good. Now I feel more confident about handing over all the Ming Dynasty's home fleet to you."

"Uh, Your Majesty, Rong Chen dares to ask. How many ships do I, the commander of the Home Fleet, have under my command? Is it possible to recall some more from the American Squadron? After all, as far as I know, the Home Fleet now has a fleet of five thousand ships.

There are no more ton-class ships.”

"Well, it's true. I'll tell you the truth. According to statistics from the Privy Council and the Ministry of National Defense, in the entire South China Sea, our Ming Dynasty only has eleven 3,000-ton warships. In addition, in the shipyard, except for the two ships Yu Tonghai and Zheng He

While the battleships are under construction, ten more two-thousand-ton battleships will be commissioned within a month."

"Huh?" Inukai Toji raised his head in surprise: "Your Majesty, I know that Yu Tonghai and Zheng He will not be commissioned for at least two years, and I don't expect to have a 10,000-ton giant ship in the short term. But, I remember

Both the Changsha Factory and the Binhai Factory have a five-thousand-ton warship that has been outfitted and has begun sea trials. You have to give me these two ships."

"There are no 5,000-ton warships. In addition to the three 5,000-ton warships currently in the American Fleet, the two new ones will also be sent to the Americas. I have decided that since the Western thieves took India, it is not enough.

If you still want to take Southeast Asia, then I will invest heavily in the Americas and completely destroy his backyard... Therefore, the naval power of the Americas must be strengthened."

"Your Majesty!" Inukai Touji was about to cry: "I originally thought that the South China Sea is much wider than Malacca, and there are no points that must be defended. I would rely on two 5,000-ton warships as the backbone, and a group of 3,000 tons.

Ton battleship, taking advantage of the fact that the enemy only has one 10,000-ton giant ship available... As long as I am smart, the navy can still do something. But you arrange it this way... The emperor has a far-sighted view and has overall overall control. At this time, he has invested heavily in the Americas.

I agree with both hands. But this is my homeland of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Hahaha, General Inukai, how can I make things difficult for you? Don't worry, my Ming Dynasty still has a chance in the next naval battle. The balance of victory will fall on the ten two-thousand-ton fast battleships that are about to be commissioned.

.”

"Your Majesty, please stop playing tricks. What's the use of a two-thousand-ton battleship? Can it be used as a communication ship by relying on high speed?"

"Well, I didn't make it clear to the general. Of course, this matter is also an absolute secret. Everyone at Fangshan Academy of Sciences feels deeply guilty because of our unfavorable naval battle in Ming Dynasty. When they can't build a giant ship in the short term,
Chapter completed!