The lookout seemed to have discovered something, and tried his best to signal to the deck.
The messenger on the deck understood and immediately went to report.
"Report——"
"The two ships behind are our ships!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Qizhen picked up the telescope and quickly came to the deck.
"Your Majesty, this is not allowed..."
Jin Ying hurriedly followed him out. He wanted to stop but didn't dare to stop him now, so he could only follow and tried to dissuade her.
Although he knew very well that the emperor would not listen at all.
"Your Majesty, you'd better go back to the command cabin, it's dangerous outside!"
Naturally, the view from the deck was not as good as that from the observation deck. Zhu Qizhen could only vaguely see that the two ships behind him were definitely from the Ming Dynasty in terms of their style and the flags they hung.
This water area is under the jurisdiction of the Qiongzhou Guard. It seems that it is the Qiongzhou Guard.
"Jinying!"
"Huh?"
"Who is the current commander of the Qiongzhou Guard?"
"The commander of the Qiongzhou Guard is...oh, by the way!"
Jin Yingzheng thought carefully and really remembered this person.
"It's Zhang Shiying. His father Zhang De died in Annan. Zhang Shiying inherited his father's legacy and was appointed by Emperor Taizong as the commander of the Qiongzhou Guard."
"After Zhongliang."
Zhu Qizhen put down the telescope and said: "Give him a signal and order him to coordinate operations. The secondary battery is off alert and the main battery is ready for battle!"
"Yes!"
The messenger waved the flag and conveyed the message. Soon, the other party also responded.
The two ships were indeed from the Qiongzhou Guard. At this time, Zhang Shiying was standing on the deck of the flagship, also holding a telescope, carefully observing every move in front.
"This armored ship has actually been built. It looks huge, but I don't know how powerful it is."
The lieutenant beside him said: "It is said that in order to build this ship, the court spent a total of thirty million taels of silver. The emperor is really willing to do it!"
Zhang Shiying sighed and said: "If I had known that ironclad ships could really be built, I shouldn't have done that in the first place!"
The deputy general laughed along and said: "Sir, the matter has come to this, please make a decision immediately, brothers are waiting!"
Zhang Shiying sighed, shook his head, and said: "You are a dead man, let's fight!"
The deputy general asked again: "Sir, do you want to consider it no more?"
"It's ridiculous to think about colluding with foreign devils, reselling the blueprints of the imperial armored warships, and reselling arms. All of them are sins against the nine tribes. Do you think the emperor can let us go?"
"What your lord is saying is that I am humble enough to go and deliver the order now."
Zhang Shiying's eyes were cold and he said slowly: "Tell the brothers, if the emperor does not die today, all of us will be buried with our families tomorrow!"
Ever since he heard that the ironclad ship had arrived in Qiongzhou for trial sea trials, he knew that he was doomed!
The emperor must have discovered something, otherwise, how could he suddenly rush from Ningbo to Qiongzhou?
If I had known today, I would have regretted it earlier!
I originally thought that the iron armored ship was just a gimmick. Who could float such a big piece of iron?
It also has to carry people and cargo, and it also has combat capabilities. It is said that it also needs to carry a large boiler, and several thousand kilograms of coal and fresh water. Are you kidding?
Therefore, when those foreigners revealed that they hoped to see the ironclad ship drawings, he was very disapproving.
As long as you pay, what's the problem if I get it for you?
Anyway, they are all fantasy and unrealistic things. Even if I give them to you, you can’t create them.
It is said that these foreigners came from a country in the West called Eastern Rome, and they were very generous. They once spent a lot of money to purchase some artillery and muskets from themselves.
Although the imperial court has explicitly banned the smuggling of arms, but...they give me a lot of money!
The yellow gold, box after box, is so dazzling!
But who is a normal person who can withstand such temptation?
From that time on, Zhang Shiying and these Romans became business partners.
Partner, then, the other party made a request to build a port on Qiongzhou Island to be used as a foothold for ships traveling to and from the Ming Dynasty.
Zhang Shiying must have refused such a request, but they sent ten more boxes of gold, so...
Qiongzhou Island is vast and sparsely populated, and there are no people there in the first place. It seems that there will be nothing wrong with finding a secret port outside the waterway... right?
However, before his gold was warmed up, news came that the ironclad ship had successfully tested the water!
Zhang Shiying panicked. If the armored ship can really be built, it will definitely be a weapon for the country. The blueprint of the armored ship should also be among the secrets of the imperial court. The matter is serious!
He negotiated with the Romans and ordered them to come up with blueprints, dismantle the port, and immediately disappear from the Ming Dynasty.
However, the other party's reply was that the drawings had been sent back to Constantinople thousands of miles away, and the port had just been impossible to demolish, and even if it had to be demolished, it would be too late.
Zhang Shiying finally understood that she had fallen into a Roman trap!
They seduce themselves step by step, using gold... Of course, who can refuse that gold...
At this point, it's impossible for me to get away with it. This matter is too big. No matter how you cover it up, sooner or later someone will find out.
For today's plan, there is only one path left to choose.
Rebellion!
The armored ship is fighting alone and is not accompanied by a fleet. As long as it is annihilated here, there is hope for survival.
When the time comes, taking gold with you overseas will be enough for you to have enough to eat and drink for ten lifetimes.
"Sir, the emperor's flag message requires our ships to follow the ironclads and fight together!"
"Speed up!"
"But, sir..."
"But what? The Emperor is here, and I, the commander, can't go and greet him in person?"
The lieutenant general understood this and clasped his fists, saying: "This is my humble duty!"
On board the Zheng He, the herald trotted to the command cabin: "Reporting to your Majesty, the Qiongzhou Guard's ship is requesting to approach!"
"Why are you so close? Let them follow you. When I need them, I will send a message through the flag!"
"Yes!"
After a while, the messenger came back again.
"Your Majesty, the Qiongzhou Guard's ship is approaching. The flag signal indicates that the commander of the Qiongzhou Guard is here to say hello!"
Zhu Qizhen frowned, what time has it been, and you still want to say hello?
"Report!"
At this time, the flag officer in charge of the main gun ran into the command cabin.
"Your Majesty, the enemy ship has entered the main gun range!"
Zhu Qizhen said without thinking: "Fire!"
"Yes!"
On the main battery of the Zheng He, the gunners are ready.
"Aim..."
"Light the fire!"
Chichichi......
The match rope burned quickly, emitting bursts of white smoke.
Now, there are a total of six ships on the sea.
To the south of the Zheng He are three Eastern Roman ships.
The flagship is on standby, and the two frigates are on the left and right flanks.
The two ships are one big and one small. The smaller one is faster and enters the main gun range first.
On both sides of the Zheng He were the two ships of the Qiongzhou Guard that had just caught up.
Zhu Qizhen's attention was focused on the front, and he completely failed to notice that several black guns on both sides of the ship were already pointed at him.