The huge fleet was traveling in the night, at a very slow speed, only about two-tenths of a second, but it was pressing firmly towards Zhongkui Island.
Chen Shandao's ship was the first 2,000-material three-deck battleship launched into the water. The ship was named Nanzhili. It had forty-eight battle array weapons on board, and its power was terrifying.
Because of the longitudinal sail design, most of the battle array magic weapons are arranged on both sides. Twenty-four magic weapons can participate in a single fire attack.
Taoist Amber has conducted tests and found that one salvo within a hundred feet can smash a patrol ship with 200 materials on the spot, and three volleys can sink a warship with 500 materials.
In addition to its extremely strong attack power, its protective power is also second to none. Because the platform is large enough, a small protective light shield has been installed on a sea ship for the first time, which can maximize the resistance to damage to the ship body by various magic methods, such as Fire Dance
Dragon, a magic weapon that shoots fire talismans as a means of attack, has almost no way to defeat the Nan Zhili.
If the French crossbow fired from the heavy French crossbow cannon is attached with armor-breaking Taoist magic such as metallic Taoist talismans, it will also be intercepted, and the attached Taoist magic will be blocked, leaving only the power of the heavy crossbow itself.
As for the head-on attack by the trebuchets and heavy crossbows that were often equipped on pirate ships, the Nan Zhili was also equipped with iron wood on its side to ensure that it would not be easily penetrated.
Such warships are invincible in the East China Sea. There are currently seven in the inspection fleet! Chen Shandao's main fleet includes four.
At midnight, the fleet slowly stopped. Shu Chi rubbed his eyes, slid down from the watchtower, and returned to the command room.
Seeing so many fleet executives looking at him, he felt a little nervous for a moment, and explained again: "I really can't see clearly, I have to wait until dawn."
Chen Shandao nodded and asked her to sit and wait in the corner next to him. He and Tingfeng Taoist continued to study the chart.
The depiction of Zhongkui Island on the chart is very clear, and the waterways that can be used by ships are all marked with lines. This was presented by Shu Chi anyway. Except for her, no one in the fleet knew the waterway route of Zhongkui Island, so there was no way to know it.
Arrive at this key route that seals Zhongkui Island and the Demonic Hell Sea.
The mission of the main fleet is to cut off the channels for the pirates to escape into the Demonic Hell Sea, and strive to annihilate the more than 800 ships gathered here by the pirate alliance.
It was very quiet in the command cabin. The combat plan had been issued long ago. There was nothing that needed to be rearranged. Everything was waiting for dawn.
The morning on Zhongkui Island is a little later than elsewhere. It often fogs here, and today is no exception. You can only see about 50 to 60 feet.
It is impossible to start a battle in such weather. Of course, there is no need to worry about being discovered by pirates, which is very convenient for concealed entry.
Everything is ready, just wait for the fog to clear.
According to Shu Chi, who is familiar with this place, the foggy days on Zhongkui Island rarely last for more than three days, usually one or two days, and then it becomes clear for two or three days, and then it is shrouded in fog again. Now the entire fleet is
Waiting for the window of foggy weather, it may be one day, maybe two days, or three days, no matter how many days, Chen Shandao has enough patience.
In fact, there is no need to wait that long. At a quarter past three o'clock, the sun is bright enough, the fog gradually dissipates, and the true appearance of Zhongkui Island is revealed.
More than twenty feet away to the side and rear is an atoll with only three feet above the water. If Shu Chi hadn't led the way, the Nan Zhili might have hit the rocks.
Shu Chi climbed back up to the watchtower and carefully guided the way up there. The fleet traveled for another half an hour and finally arrived at an open water area. This was the passage connecting Zhongkui Island to the Demonic Hell Sea.
In the case of early entry, the sea topography of Zhongkui Island is very conducive for the inspection fleet to exert its long-range fire advantage.
Due to the dense reefs, the pirates can only travel through six narrow waterways, two of which are not far from each other and lead to the Demonic Hell Sea. As long as these six waterways are blocked, the pirates' main ships will be almost unable to fly.
Maybe we can escape on a light boat with less than 100 materials.
Chen Shandao once again adjusted the fleet. The four battleships were divided into two teams, each with six heavy destroyers and twelve frigates. They formed battle lines and got stuck on two waterways not far apart.
They each deployed more than twenty patrol ships in front of them to cover the battle line and block the fire attack ship tactics that the pirates would most likely launch.
There are more than 80 light boats around, also to prevent pirates from attacking with small boats, or even approaching from the side to join the gang and fight.
In the hands of Chen Shandao, there are also four heavy cruisers, 16 frigates and 26 patrol ships as a reserve force.
The core of the entire tactic is to give full play to the long-range output advantages of the forty large battleships on the two battle lines to seal the pirates in their pockets.
Chen Shandao personally led the team into Zhongkui Island, and the commander-in-chief responsible for blocking the four peripheral waterways was Huang Bingyue, who was temporarily appointed.
Huang Bingyue is an expert who has experienced battles for a long time. Although he is not familiar with naval warfare, military commands are often similar. What's more, the four squadron commanders he is responsible for are all naval warfare experts who have experienced it in the past few years:
The first squadron is commanded by Tongzhi Lu Xixing, who has two battleships, six heavy destroyers, 22 frigates, 48 patrol ships, and 60 sailing ships;
The second squadron is commanded by Commander Du Xingchen, who has two battleships, five heavy destroyers, eighteen frigates, thirty-two patrol ships, and fifty-eight sailing ships;
The commander of the third squadron is Xiao Shan, the elder of the Penglai Hall in Dengzhou, Shandong. This gentleman, who is at the master training level, was recommended by Zhao Zhenren of Dongji Pavilion through Wei Chaozong to join the army at the beginning of last year. For more than a year, under the command of Chen Shandao,
The attaché of the Ministry was transferred to the command of the container fleet, and then transferred to Du Yangchen's command. He gradually showed his commanding talents in more than ten escort battles, and was finally entrusted with the important task of commanding a squadron alone in today's decisive battle.
Xiaoshan does not have battleships under his command, but he has six heavy destroyers, eighteen frigates, twenty-eight patrol ships, and forty light ships. His strength is equally impressive.
The Fourth Squadron was commanded by Wang Shouyu who had urgently ended his sleep. He was not depressed because his sleep was interrupted. On the contrary, he was very excited. The decisive battle was finally coming. For Wang Shouyu, who had been fighting at sea for three years, this was his climb.
Can you not be excited about this important moment at the pinnacle of your life?
This is also the largest fleet he has ever commanded: eight heavy destroyers, twenty-four frigates, fifty-six patrol ships, and sixty-eight light ships!
The fleets vary in strength, but they are all organized according to the water channel information provided by Shu Chi. After many demonstrations, they can ensure that the water channels they are responsible for are blocked.
Huang Bingyue knew that in a real fight, tactical issues must not be interfered with blindly, so he gave the four fleet commanders full autonomy in battle. His role was to deploy among the four squadrons and provide support.
In addition, he also has a support fleet consisting of sixteen frigates and sixteen patrol ships, ready to fill the hole at any time.
At the first quarter of the hour, Huang Bingyue flew a symbol to Chen Shandao: "When everything is ready, Master Chen can choose the opportunity to start the battle."