"Your Highness, look at this island..." Li Jiqian was about to explain to him why he ordered the adjustment of the route. But at this moment, the messenger on the ship suddenly shouted loudly: "Many pirate ships were spotted behind the fleet!"
"Many pirate ships were found? How many are there?" Li Jiqian asked immediately after hearing the messenger's words.
"According to the semaphore, there are at least, at least, at least three hundred ships!" The messenger translated the semaphore with a trembling voice, almost unable to pronounce the second half of the sentence.
"Three hundred ships!" Wen Di was immediately shocked by the number of ships.
"Your Highness, don't worry. Pirate ships are all small ships. Even if there are so many, they are no match for the fleet." Li Jiqian said this immediately to appease Wen Di.
Wen Di calmed down a little, but then he became even more shocked. Because just in front of them, several more ships turned out from the side of Socotra Island, and judging from their appearance, there were ships following behind.
"The fleet will immediately turn to the north." Li Jiqian ordered again. Obviously, these people, who do not know whether they are real pirates, took advantage of the geographical location of Socotra Island to set up an ambush, and gathered ships that exceeded the strength of the Indian Ocean Squadron to ambush
. Li Jiqian may not be unable to engage in a head-on attack by using the ships he currently has, but firstly, there is His Royal Highness the Seventh Emperor on board who must not allow any loss; secondly, the fleet also needs to protect the transport ships transporting the soldiers of the Army Division, and cannot confront the enemy here.
A bloody battle. Li Jiqian rationally chose a strategic retreat.
When he issued the order, all the ships in the entire fleet had already learned that enemy ships had appeared before and after them. They were all a little panicked. When they saw the signal from the flagship, they immediately ordered the sailors to turn the steering wheel to the north. Because of the rush, the fleet was slightly confused.
.
At this moment, the three pirate ships that had been harassing them stopped and were blocking the Ming Dynasty fleet to the north, seeming to block their strategic retreat. The people on these three ships were all carefully selected crazy people.
The mission of the believers was to stop the Ming fleet heading north at the critical moment. Not only did they stop at this time, but they also set up catapults to hit the Ming ships. As for the more powerful artillery, the battleships were equipped with it.
If it's not enough, of course it won't be placed on cannon fodder.
"Vice Admiral Li, quickly order to bombard these three ships!" Wen Di shouted. But Li Jiqian said: "No, Your Highness, we can't bombard them now. The guns on our ship are on both sides, and there are no guns on the bow.
Now most of the ships are turning again and there is no way to bombard them."
"What should we do?" Wen Di was a little confused.
"Just hit it." Li Jiqian was still calm. "Several large ships have collision angles, and these three ships are all thin-skinned and sailed. They will sink in one collision, so don't worry."
Li Jiqian was right. These three ships were indeed thin-skinned ships with galleys and sails. They could easily be rammed and sunk by several large ships. Although some people climbed onto the Ming army's ship before being rammed and sunk, the Ming army on the deck
The soldiers were already prepared, and a round of fire and arrows wiped them all out.
However, because they were about to collide with these three ships, several large ships came over first, which slightly affected the formation. Li Jiqian had to immediately order the adjustment of the formation, and the speed was slower.
At this time, the Tianfang Sect's fleet that was ambushing here had completely arrived to the north of Socotra Island, showing its huge team, chasing after the Ming army's fleet. The Tianfang Sect's fleet all used oars and sails, even though the Ming army
The ship had already pulled up to full sail, but it still couldn't get away from them, and was tightly held behind them.
"Vice Admiral Li, think of a way to get rid of these ships!" Wen Di said loudly. He took a rough look and saw that there were more than 500 ships chasing behind, while the Ming army fleet only had 60 warships. Even if the Tianfang Sect
The pirate ships in the fleet are not as good as the Ming army's warships, and their artillery is far less. However, there are so many ants that they can kill elephants. If they are caught up, they will probably not be able to defeat them. Even if they can be defeated, there are still so many transport ships. It is fierce.
How can warships protect transport ships in a naval battle? If these transport ships are sunk, will he rely on the sailors of the warships to fight against the Mamluks in Egypt?
And he was also afraid. No matter how smart Wen Di was, after all, he was just a fifteen-year-old kid who had not experienced many things. Faced with the current situation where he might die, he was very scared and wanted to stay away immediately.
Drive them and keep yourself safe.
Li Jiqian had a sullen face and said nothing. The most correct tactic at this time is of course to have most of the battleships break off and a few to protect the transport ships and continue to escape. It is absolutely impossible for the Tianfang Sect to organize another large-scale fleet. The transport ships must be able to
It will be safe to escape. Then you can safely pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and reach Egypt.
But not only did the transport ship carrying the soldiers of the Land Division have to leave, His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince must not stay in the dangerous place and must leave. But he is now on the Success with the Seventh Prince, and if the Seventh Prince wants to leave, he can only leave together.
This means that he will not be able to command the fleet for a period of time. It is not his boast, the entire fleet cannot find anyone who can command a better command than him. If he cannot command, it will be more difficult to defeat the Tianfang Sect fleet. And the same is true for the Success
The main ship of this fleet has seventy-two cannons on both sides. It is also one of the only three capital ships in the fleet. If this ship is separated from the battle, it will be more difficult to fight.
Li Jiqian faced a dilemma: if he kept retreating like this, he would be overtaken sooner or later, and the battle would be disrupted, and the transport ship would probably not be saved; if he allowed the Success and the transport ship to evacuate first, the remaining ships might not be able to win this battle.
He couldn't decide for a while.
"Vice General Li, think of a solution quickly!" Wen Di said again, and his voice was very urgent.
"Your Highness, there are two options at this time." Seeing this situation, Li Jiqian simply told Wen Di the dilemma.
Hearing Li Jiqian's words, Wen Di became silent again. After a while, he raised his head and looked at the chasing Tianfang Sect fleet a few miles behind him with eyes full of panic and fear, and asked again: "No
Is there any other way? If the Victory breaks away, the naval battle will be lost?"
"We may not necessarily fail, but the possibility of failure is greater." Li Jiqian replied.
Wen Di bit his lip with his teeth, and after a while, he said to Li Jiqian: "Immediately order a few small warships to escort the transport ship to evacuate, leaving behind the Success. You will command the Indian Ocean fleet to fight the Tianfang Sect's fleet.