On May 7, the morning of the third day after the interception of the eastbound channel of Zhongkui Island, a squadron headed by the battleship Sichuan, four heavy-driven ships and eight frigates separated from Chen Shandao's main fleet.
Begin to withdraw from the eastbound channel, preparing to detour to the south side of the Zhongkui Island waters and join the peripheral blocking fleet commanded by Huang Bingyue.
This squadron is not equipped with patrol ships and wind speed boats. These two types of ships are light and flexible. Under the current situation, they are more suitable for continuing to intercept the eastbound channel.
When the squadron sailed toward noon, the sky suddenly changed. Rolling dark clouds pressed in from the direction of the Sea of Demons and Hell, and heavy rain poured down.
Fortunately, the sea area of Zhongkui Island is surrounded by reefs, and the waves are not high. The impact on the ships is not great and no losses are caused. However, the water flow is not stable under the agitation of strong winds. The squadrons are all large ships, so in the narrow
If we continued sailing in the waterway, we would easily run into rocks, so the squadron had no choice but to anchor and pause.
The heavy rain lasted for nearly two hours and gradually stopped in the afternoon, but fog began to form on the sea, which became thicker and thicker, and could not be seen beyond ten feet.
The fleet was still unable to move forward, so they had no choice but to report to Chen Shandao Feifu and continue to stay where they were.
This is the usual weather in Zhongkui Island, except that the sea fog today is bigger and thicker.
Chen Shandao summoned Shu Chi and asked, "With this kind of celestial phenomenon, will the pirates move out?"
Shu Chi said: "As far as I know, there are several island owners who are very familiar with the local waterways. It is not difficult to travel through Kui Island in heavy fog. You just need to go slowly - at least I can do it."
"
Chen Shandao immediately issued military orders to prepare all fleets for battle.
The Third Squadron also received the military order, and the entire fleet began to prepare for the war under the command of Fei Fu.
Fleet Commander Xiao Shan knew Yang Xianxian's origins and relied heavily on the new trainee navy master, so he specially called him to consult.
Yang Xianjin was very sure that Wutong had an 80% chance of breaking out of the encirclement. He pointed at the whiteboard and said: "Some old island owners and shopkeepers are very familiar with the sea routes. They can sail a boat with their eyes closed and have the ability to bring out the fleet.
And to be honest, if it were me, I would
We will also choose such a celestial phenomenon to break out. There is no flying magic weapon in the sky to monitor, and our French crossbow heavy artillery cannot exert its long-range advantage. If we don’t leave now, how long will it take? I suggest that the dare team be prepared immediately. Once a fight starts, it will inevitably evolve.
Chengtiao Gang fights."
Xiao Shan nodded. He completely agreed with Yang Xianjin's judgment and immediately ordered all ships to mobilize urgently. Not only did the daredevil team prepare to join gangs and fight, but all gunners and sailors also had to prepare for hand-to-hand fighting.
At the same time, as the squadron commander, Xiao Shan knew more information than Yang Xianxian. Among the four blocking squadrons, the third and fourth squadrons were more likely to encounter the enemy because they did not have battleships.
In my eyes, the northwest and southwest entrances are slightly weaker.
Now it depends on whether the pirates will break out from their own side or choose Wang Shouyu's side.
Huang Bingyue, who was in charge of the First Squadron, was also considering this issue. He also judged that if the pirates wanted to break through, the most likely direction of attack would be the northwest and southwest exits.
Huang Bingyue was in charge of the First Squadron, blocking the due west exit. The Third Squadron was on his left, and the Fourth Squadron was on his right. He had to choose whether to go north or south, or stay put.
This is a huge test.
Huang Bingyue had no experience in commanding naval battles. In fact, he, Zhao Ran, and even Chen Shandao all knew why he appeared here.
But a heavy fog made him unable to sit still. He had to make a decision as soon as possible. Based on his past military experience, he issued an order to separate the mobile fleet in his hands from the First Fleet and move five miles northward.
inside.
This position is at the midpoint of the northwest and southwest lines. No matter where you go, the time is the same. Of course, this order is very risky, and the mobile fleet is very likely to lose its way in the fog, but Huang Bingyue believes that
, moving is better than not moving.
Organizing ships in heavy fog is an impossible task. This is why Huang Bingyue did not remove the ships from the First Squadron. The only thing he could mobilize was the mobile fleet parked behind - sixteen frigates.
and sixteen patrol vessels.
Huang Bingyue got off Lu Xixing's flagship, took the wind speed boat, and carefully looked westward for the mobile fleet. Fortunately, the distance was only two miles. It took Huang Bingyue half an hour to finally find the frigate Yongzhen in the thick fog, and then sailed to Yongzhen.
After contacting the town number, they boarded the Hongyuan, the flagship of the mobile fleet.
After the commander boarded the ship, the entire mobile fleet began to slowly turn on the spot. To this end, the monks on all the frigates played fire charms on the watchtowers.
Relying on this weak indicator light, the fleet completed the turn on the spot, but three collisions still inevitably occurred.
Because of the slow speed, the collision was not serious. The frigate only injured a few sergeants, while the patrol boats were slightly more seriously injured. One of them was even unable to move forward.
Huang Bingyue decisively asked them to abandon ship, and eighteen crew members boarded the flagship Hongyuan and followed the army.
Due to the heavy fog, the direction could not be determined accurately, and the operation could only rely on the speed drawings. The fleet kept sailing at a tortoise speed of two-tenths of a watch. After sailing for an hour, it anchored and stopped, and stood by in place.
According to the drawing work, this is roughly the center of the connection between the Third Fleet and the Fourth Fleet. All that is left is to wait for the pirates to break through.
If the pirates choose the direction of the Third Squadron to break out, Huang Bingyue's mobile fleet will save an hour. If it is the direction of the Fourth Fleet, the mobile fleet will arrive an hour later.
There is no such thing as the best of both worlds. The military order issued by Huang Bingyue is actually a kind of balance. When the strategic situation is beneficial to one's own side, a conservative and prudent balance is generally the most beneficial, nothing more.
Not long after staying at the same place, Huang Bingyue received the flying charm from the Fourth Fleet. Wang Shouyu said that the pirates had launched an attack from the direction of the Fourth Fleet. It was impossible to determine the number of enemy ships, but he had received the flying charm from the patrol ship at the front.
Reports indicate that some ships have entered docking status.
The one closest to Wang Shouyu was the First Squadron that Huang Bingyue had just left. Huang Bingyue did not ask Lu Xixing to remove the battleships for nearby support. He just passed the battle report to Lu Xixing. He knew that it was very difficult to support him in such a celestial phenomenon. He could only wait for the big force to get through.
This will only be possible once the fog clears.
He also believed that Lu Xixing would definitely find a way to make some efforts, but he could not put more pressure on Lu Xixing. Any words from his superiors, even ambiguous hints, would shake the tactical determination of front-line commanders, which would often lead to the failure of the operation.
As for the mobile fleet, Huang Bingyue did not issue any instructions. There was not enough news, so he had to continue to wait.