The process of crossing the river was indeed very dangerous. The guard's words were true. Not only was there indeed an opponent's sentry tower on the other side of the river bank in the West District, but it was also guarded by musketeers.
However, there have been many incidents in the past where people tried to sneak across the river and sneaked into the West District, and many people were killed in the river by musketeers. In recent years, there have been no more cases of sneaking across the river. So the sentry on the other side was obviously a little distracted.
Zhang Yanling and others swam across the river. The river was wide and it was an estuary. The current was very fast and it was not easy to swim through it. It might also cause the waves to alert the sentries on the opposite side. But they had a secret weapon because among the equipment they carried
There is something called a sheepskin bag.
This was inspired by Zhang Yanling when he was riding a sheepskin raft while crossing the Yellow River in Ningxia, and then ordered the arsenal workshop to design a waterproof and inflatable sheepskin bag based on its principles.
This is actually part of the auxiliary equipment. Like magazine pouches and firearm pouches, it belongs to the military equipment produced by the arsenal. Of course, it is not a crude thing. It is after the sheepskin has been tanned and the debris on the skin has been removed.
, a leather bag sewn after double layer stacking.
The characteristic of such a sheepskin bag is that it is waterproof, light and soft. When rolled into a ball, it is only the size of a fist, and it does not take up much space when stuffed in a backpack. But once it encounters rainy weather, it can be taken out and used to store firearms and ammunition.
Put it in and make it waterproof to prevent firearms and ammunition from getting wet and unable to be used.
But obviously it has another function, that is, it can be used as an auxiliary tool for swimming. That is its most fundamental and original use.
Several people took out the sheepskin bag, stuffed gunpowder and other items into it, puffed their cheeks and blew air into the sheepskin bag. The skin bag expanded to form two connected circular air bags. Just put one on the shoulder.
Form a sheepskin lifebuoy.
With this device, a few people can swim across the river without any movement after entering the water. They only need to follow the current and adjust the direction slightly.
Although the lights on the sentry tower on the other side of the river were brightly lit, and sentries were checking from time to time. However, the sheepskin bag was completely black, floating in the dark river water like a piece of dead wood, and was not conspicuous at all. In this way, the four of them were not surprised.
I crossed the river with great difficulty.
Some simple facilities were built on the opposite bank of the river to block stowaways. For example, the embankment was built very high and extremely flat. It was made of smooth bluestone. The slope was steep, making it difficult to climb up the other side.
But these are no longer obstacles to Zhang Yanling and others. With Chen Shiyi's martial arts, such an embankment cannot stop him. He steadily reached the embankment step by step, like a gecko on the extremely smooth embankment wall.
They climbed up. Then they dropped the rope and pulled the three people to the other side one by one.
After climbing ashore, the three of them squatted in the bushes on the shore and tidied themselves up briefly. They took off their clothes and put them in the sheepskin bags, and now they put them on again.
Zhang Yanling was getting dressed while looking at the surrounding situation. The place where a few people landed was next to a street by the river. There were lights on in the street market not far away, and the sound of musical instruments, like a piano, came from a house in the distance.
There was the sound of bagpipes and unbridled laughter and applause from time to time. People came in and out from time to time, and those who came out staggered.
Zhang Yanling knew that it was a bar. The nightlife in Folangji was quite rich. You could also drink and listen to music in the bar. It was quite pleasant.
Of course, no one wanted to provoke these people. After cleaning up, a few people got out of the bushes and walked along the street to the top of the hillside. Because in order to see the warships in the port, they had to climb to the top of the mountain. There were dense woods there, which was also convenient.
Hiding.
It was the middle of the night, so of course his identity would not be revealed. But as soon as it was dawn, wandering around in this place where the Francois gathered in the West District would immediately arouse suspicion.
There were no people on the streets at night, but there were patrolling Franco soldiers from time to time, wearing tall hats, carrying muskets and lanterns, walking lazily. The four of them nimbly avoided their sight and went all the way up to the top of the mountain.
.
An hour later, Zhang Yanling and others had arrived in front of a huge manor. The manor was surrounded by tall log fences, and there was an open space inside. A huge castle with bright lights stood there, which was very majestic and majestic.
"These white-skinned pigs really know how to enjoy themselves. How much manpower does it take to build such a majestic castle? They consider this place their home." Chen Shiyi muttered.
Zhang Yanling smiled and whispered: "Do you know what a colony is? They just want to occupy this place permanently and use it as their overseas territory. In the small country of Franji, there is no such a large land for them to squander in their own country, but in this country
Elsewhere, they are like superiors and can live in any kind of mansion they want. They just need to drive others to build it for them."
Chen Shi nodded and said: "Damn it, after we conquer this place, this castle must be occupied by the Duke. Then I have to say hello to my brothers and don't destroy this castle."
Zhang Yanling smiled and thought: I don't live in a house like this. It's not as comfortable as our Ming Dynasty mansion. It's empty when you climb up and down, and it's all made of stone. It's not comfortable at all.
While they were talking, the two brothers who were scouting came back and reported that if you walk along the fence outside the castle estate, you can enter a forest. The location there is a hillside near the sea.
Zhang Yanling was so happy that the four of them walked south along the fence of the manor, and soon entered a dense forest. Further ahead, there was a slope. When they climbed up a protruding rock on the slope and looked down, they saw the entire
The harbor has a panoramic view. It is an excellent observation location.
Although the military port below was quiet at this moment, countless warships were moored neatly beside the pier. The lanterns on the warships were swaying, and the stars were dotted. The light shone on the sails, black and white, overwhelming the sky.
Ships are connected to each other, sails are mixed with sails, and it is impossible to tell how many warships are moored below.
"There are so many warships. My lord, I didn't expect that the Folangji people would have so many warships anchored here. Looking at the number, I'm afraid there are not a hundred, but maybe fifty or sixty. It's really a bit...
Worry." Chen Shiyi exclaimed.
Zhang Yanling breathed a sigh of relief and nodded: "There are indeed quite a few. I can't see how many ships are there right now. The exact number will be counted after dawn. If it's just a large number, it doesn't matter. I don't know what kind of artillery they are equipped with, and I don't know what their combat effectiveness is."
Chen Shiyi nodded silently, feeling quite worried. Before he saw these warships, he was full of confidence, thinking that the invincible fleet could sweep all enemies. But after seeing these warships, he knew that things were not that easy. Fo Lang
If robots can roam the sea, they are definitely worthy of it.
Zhang Yanling was also a little surprised, but he was not panicked yet. To truly know the capabilities of these warships, he had to see their specific numbers and their firepower configuration during the day.
In addition, Zhang Yanling was a little puzzled that the other party should know what happened in the Champa Kingdom. Why were these warships still anchored here and did not go to fight him. How did the other party intend to fight?
People are confused.
But no matter what, it's useless to worry for a while. Now that we can't see the situation clearly, we might as well take a good sleep in the woods.
So Zhang Yanling and Chen Shiyi retreated into the woods, found a flat ground, arranged to take turns on guard, and then they all lay down on the ground to rest.
Zhang Yanling's mind was agitated. Listening to the sound of the ocean tide below, she was thinking about some random things and tossed about for a long time before she fell asleep.
In the early morning, when Zhang Yanling opened his eyes, the sky was already bright. The sunlight shone in through the gaps in the trees, and the water vapor in the light filled the air, which was very beautiful.
Zhang Yanling had no time to appreciate the strange scene in the seaside woodland. He turned around and found that Chen Shiyi and the other two bodyguards were missing. So he got up and cautiously came to the boulder on the hillside where he had observed the port last night.
I found Chen Shiyi and three others squatting on a stone, stretching their necks and looking into the harbor below.
"My lord, are you awake? Give me a courtesy." One of the guards noticed Zhang Yanling and saluted hurriedly.
Chen Shi turned around and saw Zhang Yanling, smiled and jumped off the rock to salute.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Zhang Yanling frowned.
"I saw that you were sleeping soundly. It has been very hard these days, so I did not wake you up." Chen Shiyi said hurriedly.
Zhang Yanling glared at him, raised his chin down the hillside and said, "How is the situation at the port down there?"
Chen Shi said: "These guys are leaving the port. I have counted them clearly with my two brothers. There are sixty-two warships in total. In addition to the centipede ship, there are three large ships that we have never seen before."
Zhang Yanling reached out and took out the telescope, climbed up the rock and squatted down, using the telescope to look down from above. Sure enough, the Franco robot warships in the port were leaving the port one after another. Last night, it was already a large and continuous area.
At this moment, under the rising sun, countless sails reflected the light, and the sea was covered in white, and the momentum was even more amazing.
Although these warships looked small when looking down at them, Zhang Yanling could tell that the size of these warships was no less than the centipede ships he had seen before. Under Chen Shiyi's pointing, Zhang Yanling saw the three huge warships.
Warships. Those three large ships have tall turrets, tall masts, and as many as fifteen or six gun windows on the side of the ship. From this, it can be inferred that this ship carries at least thirty firearms.
At this moment, a large number of warships are leaving the port and sailing to the wide sea in the middle of the strait. Judging from the moving formation of the ships, they are orderly and well-trained.
The French sailors on the warships also calmly raised the sails and controlled the warships to leave the port. The ships, which seemed to be crowded together, soon formed a fleet and sailed out of the port at an extremely fast speed.
Zhang Yanling frowned, and the telescope followed the movement of the ships. But the distance of the telescope could not be seen too far. In addition, in the early morning, there was fog on the sea, making the view even more hazy. Only the warships of the Folangji people were visible.
After driving to the wide sea in the middle of the strait, the roar of artillery fire was heard soon after.
It should be that the other side is starting to train firearms and organize actual combat drills. The rumbling sounds that have been heard in the East District for the past two days are caused by these warships.
Zhang Yanling put down the telescope with a serious expression, jumped off the rock, frowned and sat in the shade of a tree, meditating.
Chen Shiyi and others did not dare to disturb him and kept watch. Two personal guards took out dry food and water and placed them in front of Zhang Yanling. Zhang Yanling drank water and ate dry food while he was pondering.
"I understand." Zhang Yanling said suddenly.
Chen Shi quickly swallowed the meat he was chewing and asked, "What?"
Zhang Yanling said: "I know why they didn't go to attack our fleet. They knew clearly that our Ming Invincible Fleet was coming, but they didn't go to attack it. That's because they wanted to wait and work here. The sea here is open, and the terrain they have
Familiar and easy to deploy the formation
Attack. The entrance to the strait on the east side was very narrow. Standing at the Dragon Tooth Gate at that time, you could see Sumatra Island on the opposite side. There were also several small islands and giant reefs standing in the middle of the strait. The terrain was narrow and it was not convenient for their large fleet.
Fight. So they would rather wait here."
Chen Shi thought for a while, nodded and said: "I'm afraid that's the case. I was also about to say that in the past few days, we have come from the east, and the strait has become wider and wider. You can't even see Sumatra on the opposite side from here. The strait here
It is at least fifty or sixty miles wide and the sea is very open. It is indeed suitable for them to fight."
Zhang Yanling said: "Also, this is their base camp. Their supplies and logistics are very close. If the ship is injured, it can enter the port immediately. I guess there must be a shore fort down there. If necessary, they can lure us closer to the shore."
, use shore artillery to coordinate the attack. Once their ship is injured, it will enter the harbor, but we cannot pursue it or sink their warship."
Chen Shiyi frowned and said: "That's right. If you want to sink the enemy ship, you need to attack continuously. If you fight on the sea here, even if the ship is injured, it can hold up until it enters the port. It will not cause a shipwreck or a large number of soldiers.
Horse casualties are indeed extremely beneficial."
Zhang Yanling sneered and said: "The commander-in-chief of the Eastern Fleet has two tricks up his sleeve. He is so calm and not in a hurry to fight for us. It turns out that he is just having his own wishful thinking."
Chen Shiyi said in a deep voice: "Master Guo, how should we deal with it?"