The big ship went out to sea from Chongming Island. In order to experience the deep sea and test the ship's navigation ability, it traveled eastward for dozens of miles and reached the blue water area before heading north.
Along the way, the ship conducted various tests. Wang Hong set up many subjects, such as rapid maneuvering, small radius turning, temporary enemy encounter test, sea escape test, etc.
On the one hand, these subjects test the ability of ships, and on the other hand, they also train the navy. This group of soldiers is basically selected from the regiment camp. Although last year, Huo Shijian and Tian Dongxin, who came from Guangdong and were good at water, were trained on the Yongding River outside Beijing.
After a few months of fighting, I learned a lot about water-based and water-based combat skills. But after all, it was just a small river and could not be compared with the sea.
Wang Hong said that he hoped for a storm so that he could test the ship and crew to the maximum extent. Because the storm at sea is the real test. Stormy seas are the best environment for training soldiers and horses.
However, Zhang Yanling did not want to encounter bad weather. His wife, concubines, and children were all around him. What would he do if something went wrong if he encountered rough seas, thunderous storms? He was not afraid of death, so he did not want to harm his family.
Moreover, Zhang Yanling does not believe that it is necessary to experience extreme bad weather in order to train soldiers and horses and inspect ships. After all, big ships go out to sea not to experience wind and waves. Wouldn't they hide when encountering wind and waves? Do they have to fight the wind and waves and fight the sea? There is no such thing.
necessary.
What Zhang Yanling values most is the actual combat capabilities of the soldiers and the firearms on the ship. Wang Hong said that several cannons were fired at sea during the trial voyage, but that was not actual combat. It was just to test the performance of the artillery and collect data on the cannons fired on the ship. In addition, there were also
Check the sturdiness of the hull.
It may be unbelievable to say, but Zhang Yanling heard that early wooden ships were equipped with artillery, and the hull of the ship was broken when it was fired from the side. Although this incident sounds funny, it is indeed possible.
Especially for a wooden sailing ship with a structure like this, large-caliber artillery firing sideways may even cause the entire ship to tilt and drift on the water.
However, the Star has no such worries, because a large ship with a size of several thousand tons and a displacement of several thousand tons is comparable to an aircraft carrier or a cruiser in this era. The salvos of dozens of Tiger Howling Cannons should not be able to shake it in the slightest.
However, without the enemy, there is no actual combat. Firing artillery is just training, and the effect and encountering the enemy are two different things.
While Wang Hong, Chen Shiyi and others were sitting on the bow of the boat chatting and looking at the scenery, Zhang Yanling suddenly remembered something.
"Master Wang, aren't there Japanese pirates at sea? I remember when I went to Guangdong the year before last, I heard you say that the Folangji people drove the Japanese pirates from the south to the coastal areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang in the north. Where we are now, isn't it Yangzhou and Huai'an Prefecture?
Along the coast? I wonder if there are any Japanese pirates. If there are Japanese pirates, if we destroy them along the way, it will be considered an actual battle." Zhang Yanling asked.
Wang Hong said: "That's right. The Folangji people did drive away all the Japanese pirates in Fujian and Guangdong. I don't know if they are telling the truth. If it is true, there should be Japanese pirates in this area."
Chen Shiyi also said: "I don't know if Duke Guo and Master Wang have noticed that since we entered the sea from Chongming, there has not been a single ship on the sea. It has been more than half a year since the imperial decree abolished the sea ban. How can there be no ship on the sea?"
Boat
What? When we were in Guangzhou, even though the sea ban had not been lifted, fishermen in the Pearl River estuary area were still going to sea. As the saying goes, live by the sea and eat the sea. It is impossible for the people on the seaside not to go to sea to fish. I am afraid that the sea ban is also
Can't help it."
What Chen Shiyi said made sense to both Zhang Yanling and Wang Hong. Really, since they went north, they haven't seen any ships on the sea. Not even a small sampan. What does this mean? Common people
Don’t you know that the sea ban has been lifted? Or are you worried about something? Don’t you dare to go into the sea?
"Is it possible that there are really Japanese pirates running rampant in this area? Even if the maritime ban is lifted, people will not dare to sail out to sea?" Zhang Yanling asked.
"It's very possible." Chen Shiyi and Wang Hong both nodded.
Zhang Yanling thought for a while and said: "Bring me a chart and take a look. If there are Japanese pirates, they cannot live on the ship. They must have nests. See if there are any islands or reefs nearby for them to establish a foothold."
Wang Hong hurriedly ordered someone to fetch a large chart, and the three men searched it carefully.
"We set out to sea from Chongming Island the day before yesterday. In three days, we have been heading north. According to the speed, our current position should be in the outer sea area at the junction of Yangzhou Prefecture and Huai'an Prefecture."
Zhang Yanling's hand followed the sailing route north and moved to an area on the sea surface. Chen Shiyi's eyes followed, and then he was disappointed.
"This area is completely empty, there are no islands or reefs at all." Chen Shi said.
Wang Hong frowned and took a closer look, pointing at a thin dot and saying: "Isn't this? It's a large piece."
Chen Shiyi's eyes widened and he said in astonishment: "Is this also an island reef? I thought it was the place where the person who drew the picture made it dirty. Are these spots also an island reef?"
"This is a sand reef. Most of them are sand banks and lake topography, and some are relatively large and can be lived in. Such a large area must be many sand reefs connected together. The Duke of the country believes that if there are Japanese pirates in this area,
The only option is to hide on this sandy reef." Wang Hong said.
Zhang Yanling nodded slowly and said: "No matter what, if you go and take a look, it will only delay the voyage for a day. Looking at the distance, it should be fifty or sixty miles away in the northeast. Send the order, turn the helm, and go have a look."
The order was issued. When they heard that they were going to find the Japanese pirates, the officers and men on the ship were excited. Sailing on the sea was very boring, but it would be a good pastime if they could fight.
Xu Wanyi quickly called Zhang Yanling into the cabin, where all his wives and concubines gathered.
"Husband, are you going to fight the Japanese pirates?" Xu Wanyi said.
"Yeah, I don't know if there are any. Go and have a look at those reefs. If there are any, destroy them." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
"You can still laugh? We are a family on a boat, and you want to sail the boat to fight? How ferocious are the Japanese pirates? We only have one boat, what if something happens to us? That's fine with us, your two sons from the Zhang family are both
On the boat. Why take risks?" Xu Wanyi shouted.
Zhang Yanling burst out laughing.
"Adventure? Don't worry, this is not an adventure. These Japanese pirates are our enemies. You have never seen the power of artillery, nor have you seen me fighting. This time I will open your eyes." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
Xu Wanyi said: "I don't want to see a war."
Zhang Yanling said: "You can hide in the cabin. As for my two little ones, it just allows them to see how his father fights. They need to experience it from a young age, otherwise how will they survive in this cruel world in the future?"
Xu Wan was very angry. Someone next to her tried to persuade her.
"Sister Princess, don't worry, our artillery is very powerful. Who are the Japanese pirates and these little thieves? Are they comparable to the Folangji people? Are they comparable to the rebel thieves?" The speaker was Xu Youtang.
"Yes, the Duke must be completely sure, otherwise he would not take his family to take risks. Princess Ruyi, you don't have to worry. My family is not afraid of Zhang Chi. He stretched his neck to look for artillery fire in the street.
." Zhu Qingyi also said.
Xu Wanyi looked at Tan Ruqing and said, "What did you say?"
Tan Ruqing smiled and said, "I'm not worried, and you don't have to worry either."
Xu Wanyi spread his hands and said: "Well, it seems that I am troublesome. If you are not afraid of death, am I afraid? I didn't tell you. Anyway, if Zhang Yi is frightened, Zhang Yanling, I will not finish with you.
."
Zhang Yanling smiled and comforted: "I understand your mood, but you really don't have to worry. Zhang Yi won't be afraid either. He has been very interested in artillery these days, circling around and touching it. I see that he also
You won't be afraid. Besides, we just went to take a look, so there may not be any Japanese pirates. You are overreacting. Maybe there is nothing."
Xu Wanyi sighed and had no choice but to give up. She thought to herself: What's wrong with me? Why have I become so out of place? This can't go on like this.
The big ship sailed sixty or seventy miles to the northeast, and under the guidance of the compass, arrived at the sandy reef marked on the map.
Soon after, Zhang Yanling and others who were standing on the ship building saw through the telescope the sandy reef area on the sea in the distance. It was indeed a continuous sand island. It was actually lush and green, with trees growing here and there.
Lush forests and individual sand islands are not big, but they are connected together and cover an area of more than ten miles.
"The cruise ship is in the middle of the lake. I saw the reflection of the white sails." Wang Hong shouted.
Zhang Yanling was busy observing carefully, and saw that under the setting sun, in the lake surrounded by a sand embankment on the other side of a large forest, there was a large gathering of white sails. It was definitely not one or two ships, but a large number of ships.
"Sons of bitches, they are all hiding here as expected." Chen Shi yelled and cursed.
"Maybe it's a fisherman, I don't know." Wang Hong said.
"I saw the sentry tower. I saw the man with the weapon." Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice while moving the telescope.
Wang Hong smiled bitterly and said: "It seems that I have overthought it. I also saw it. Lord Protector, I also saw the house. There is no doubt that it is a Japanese pirate."
Chen Shi said, "Then what are you waiting for? Let's do it."
Zhang Yanling looked at the sky and said in a deep voice: "No rush, let's retreat ten miles and start again tomorrow morning. The sun is almost setting now, so it's not good to fight. If they run away, they can't be chased. Since we want to fight,
, then we have to take the blame. Don’t let them escape. Move back ten miles to avoid being found. The lights will be turned off tonight.”
Wang Hong said in a deep voice: "I humbly obey my orders!"