Fortunately, although the two warships were seriously injured, they were not in danger of sinking for a while. Moreover, there were fewer and fewer ships from the Big Eater, and they should be out of the interception range of the Big Eater!
Perhaps realizing that the Tang Dynasty fleet was about to break out of its interception range, the Great Eaters became even crazier, and all the Great Eater ships in front began to collide with the Datang fleet!
Su Chen immediately ordered: "Disperse the formation and charge forward in horizontal formation!"
If the formation is not adjusted, the several frigates leading the way will probably be sunk by the giant eater.
After the columns were transferred into horizontal formations, the area under attack was much larger, but the firepower output was also increased.
The important thing is to disperse the enemy's attack and reduce the pressure on the several warships in front.
After the formation dispersed, all the warships opened fire and quickly destroyed the large food ships rushing in front.
At this time, the fleet had already withstood the attack of the cannibal and rushed forward at the fastest speed. After running for more than two hours, there was no intercepting ship by the cannibal in front.
"Teacher, we have already traveled two hundred miles, right?
We should have got rid of the big cannibal, why don't we stop and help those ships."
Li Chengqian asked.
Su Chen raised his telescope and looked at the ships behind him. They were originally the first ships, but they were seriously damaged and now they are at the back.
The hulls of two of the ships have begun to tilt and their speed has dropped significantly.
Su Chen received reports from two ships. The hulls were damaged and the cabins were seriously flooded. It was urgent to get to the shore as soon as possible to repair the hulls.
But at this time, where is the chance to dock for repairs?
The fleet found a small sand island more than ten miles ahead to the left. Su Chen saw that the big eater did not catch up, so he ordered four frigates to drag him to the edge of the sand island before the two ships sank.
After the two severely damaged warships landed on Shadao, Su Chen transferred the personnel and materials on the two ships to other ships, and then abandoned the two ships.
Both warships were hit by a large amount of gunpowder from the cannibal's suicide attack ship. The hulls were seriously damaged and needed to be repaired in the dock.
At present, there is obviously no such condition, so it has to be discarded.
One-third of the other ships in the fleet were hit by gunpowder bombs and kerosene bombs thrown by the Big Eater. There were minor casualties, but no damage to the hull structure.
The fleet rested for a while near Xiaosha Island and then continued to move forward.
Of the eighteen main gunboats of Datang's naval fleet, two were sunk in Malacca and two were damaged and returned to Datang.
Now one more ship has been abandoned, leaving only thirteen ships. It can be said that the losses have been heavy.
Of the thirty-six frigates, three were sunk in Malacca and one returned to Datang. Now one is abandoned, leaving thirty-one.
"Hey, I didn't expect to lose another main gunboat!"
Su Chen sighed with a headache.
While Li Chengqian was heartbroken over the loss, he asked Su Chen: "Teacher, if you just leave our warship on a sandy island like this, aren't you afraid of the consequences?"
"There are still some guns on the gunboat that have not been dismantled. What if they are eaten by people?"
Su Chen said: "I originally wanted to blow it up directly, but after thinking about it I decided not to."
"If the big eater takes it away, take it away as they wish. Maybe we can get it back in the future."
"Even if the cannibal has a few cannons, they won't be of much use."
"If Big Eater's iron smelting quality and cannon casting technology want to catch up with ours, what it needs is time, and we will not give him this time."
Su Chen did not destroy the two damaged ships, but directly abandoned them on the sand island.
I just want to find something to do for the big eater and see what the big eater will do?
In case the big eater is kind enough to help repair the boat, we will find a way to take it back then.
As for the cannibal secretly learning shipbuilding technology?
These are the first-generation ships and equipment of the Tang Dynasty Navy, and they have no confidentiality value at all.
The red cannon is just a thing from the 16th century. It is only for temporary use. There will definitely be better ones in the future.
Not to mention the bowl-mouth blunderbuss, even the enhanced version provided by the system, it was something from the fourteenth century.
At that time, we didn’t come up with anything good. First, it was because it was too difficult to make with the current technical level of craftsmen.
Secondly, I am afraid that operating something too complicated will take too long to train the gunner.
Moreover, Su Chen estimated that the remaining members of the Tang Dynasty could almost make equivalent ships and artillery.
In order to create more obstacles for the Tang Dynasty, the traitors would spread these techniques throughout the world.
Su Chen felt that there was no need to keep the current superficial technology secret.
When the next generation of technology emerges, without sufficient accumulation of scientific knowledge, if you want to steal technology, you can only steal the superficial knowledge.
Just like the application of steam engines, the eighth prince Li Zhen took the drawings and worked hard for half a year but failed to build a practical pulverizer.
Besides, Su Chen didn't plan to give Dashi much time,
He planned to defeat Dashi within three months and then return home.
The manufacturing technology of warships and artillery was developed by Su Chen. Since Su Chen didn't care, Li Chengqian didn't say anything else.
"Teacher, we forced our way across the strait this time and suffered such losses. However, there are still many large food ships out there, which is always a hidden danger!"
"And they are guarding the strait. It will not be easy for us to get out of the Persian Gulf in the future."
Su Chen smiled and said: "Now that I've come in, I have no intention of leaving until I beat the big eater until he surrenders."
"This time I chose to rush over directly to minimize losses,"
"Who knows how many ships the Big Eaters have gathered in the strait? They are just waiting for us to enter the strait and fight with them."
"Between the islands in the strait, even if we can annihilate all the large ships in one fell swoop, the losses will definitely be greater."
Su Chen really wanted to complete his victory in one battle at the beginning. He took advantage of the Great Eater to concentrate all the ships in the Strait of Hormuz and wiped out all the Great Eater's naval power at once.
But then I thought about it, if I did this, the losses would be unpredictable.
If the big man-eating galley was playing hide-and-seek with the Tang Navy among the islands in the strait, a ship like the Tang Navy that was driven solely by wind would be very passive.
So I finally decided to just cross the strait.
If the Dashi ships dare to chase them out, then use the speed and range advantages of naval warships on the wide sea to annihilate them.
If the big cannibals don't chase them out, then let them stay in the strait and deal with them later when there is a chance.
The current purpose of the fleet is to land in the Mesopotamia as soon as possible, and then engage in a pincer attack with Byzantium to defeat the Great Eclipse as soon as possible.
But before that, it would be better if there was a reliable supply port on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
The fleet sailed for another three days and arrived at a small fishing port on the northern shore of the Persian Gulf.
Su Chen called the Persians over: "Rappasu said this is the place, right?"
