1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 634 Fighting ([-])

Although the Haihan military has mastered a variety of military black technologies, it is unrealistic to rely on a limited number of walkie-talkies to give timely command to the participating troops in such a field combat environment, and only those who pass through the army as officers Combat units are eligible for use.The means that can be used in actual combat are still very primitive, and basically can only rely on the signals sent by gongs, drums, bronze horns and flags to command the bottom combat units.After Mu Xiabai's order was issued, soldiers rang the gong, and at the same time, a new flag was raised on the flagpole behind this fort, in order to notify the defenders of the forts on the coast to retreat.

Regarding how to retreat to the second line of defense in case the fort falls, the Haihan defenders on the island have done relevant drills in advance, so although the battle situation is unfavorable and they need to retreat, they are not particularly flustered.The artillerymen on each fort immediately filled the barrel with the prepared gunpowder, pulled out a long lead, and stuffed a few shells in front, preparing to destroy the coastal defense guns on the gun positions when they evacuated.However, these cannons are all old-fashioned cannons produced in 1627-1628, and their value is not very high. It is definitely better to destroy them than to fall into the hands of the Dutch.

As for the unused gunpowder on the fort, it should not be wasted. The soldiers carried most of it with their shoulders.And the reserve company that was added just now is to provide them with cover and stop the Dutch who are trying to kill them.

Mu Xiabo actually felt it was a pity to destroy the fort that took dozens of days to build, but the situation of the war did not allow him to make another mistake, no matter how reluctant he was, he could not leave these artillery pieces to the Dutch.With a loud bang, a puff of thick smoke rose from the first fort that exploded, but to everyone's surprise, the first fort that exploded was not the place where the retreat was completed, but suffered from the Dutch attack from the very beginning. the place where men attacked.

In fact, even Mu Xiabo had given up sending troops to rescue the besieged fort. The Dutch landing force had completely surrounded it, and it was unrealistic to rescue the people inside.Mu Xiabo could only hope that he could find an opportunity to capture a few Dutchmen during the battle, and then bring back his own people by exchanging prisoners after the battle.

But the Haihan defenders on the fort were obviously not willing to be captured. This was indeed an unacceptable choice for the invincible Haihan militia. Therefore, when the few surviving gunners retreated to the fort, they were already Made up his mind to die with the enemy.Almost all of these soldiers are naturalized citizens of Annan descent. During their service careers, they have been instilled with the awareness that they are ready to be loyal to Haihan at any time. After repeated long-term brainwashing, almost everyone died in battle. Surrendering and being captured has never been one of the options on the battlefield.What's more, according to the relevant policies of Haihan, if they die on the battlefield, not only will they be awarded a level of military merit by the Military Commission, but all their immediate family members will be able to move to Sanya to settle down. people's pursuit of life goals.

Several Haihan soldiers filled the gunpowder pack into the barrel at the last moment, and then used the fire tube to directly trigger the iron pipe bomb.The power of the explosion not only lifted the pier of the fort to the sky, but also turned the area around the fort into a mess within ten meters.At least more than ten Dutch soldiers died in the explosion, and more than twenty soldiers with varying degrees of injury lost their ability to continue fighting.This is undoubtedly a huge blow to the Dutch who have just seen the hope of turning the tide of the war.

Mu Xiabo was standing hundreds of meters away from the explosion site, but he still felt the slight tremor from the ground at that moment, but it was nothing compared to the shock he felt in his heart.He never imagined that he could witness such a legendary scene of sacrificing his life for righteousness on the battlefield. Although strictly speaking, these soldiers were not Han Chinese, but when they were required to make a choice, these people could actually stand up for Hai Han, a Han Chinese. Established regimes sacrifice their own lives.

As the personnel of other forts evacuated, the sound of explosions sounded one after another on the coastline, and the forts were reduced to ruins one by one in the explosion.The Dutch were also deterred by the previous explosion. Seeing that there was nothing to do, they were no longer eager to attack other forts. Instead, they quickly established a small stronghold in the port area where they had just landed to accommodate subsequent landings.

Mu Xiabo clenched his fists, silently looking at the place where the smoke rose, and the fighting spirit in his heart was constantly rising.Now he has realized that it is far more difficult to defend the island than the military expected, and the Dutch are by no means as cautious as the military expected, and there will inevitably be some fierce fighting between the two sides.Seeing the Dutch fleet approaching the shore one after another in the harbor, Mu Xiabo secretly made up his mind to teach them a good lesson on the second line of defense.

At this time, Van Longen, who had just landed on the shore, was tremblingly reporting the damage on his side to the two commanders: "...the 'Red Hair' was hit by at least ten shells, and now the hull has capsized. Most of them were lost. I gave the order to abandon ship, but most of the crew escaped safely, only six people were killed, and three others were missing. The other ships were in good condition, not serious damage."

When the fort exploded just now, Van Longen was climbing down from the rope net on the ship's side, and almost fell into the sea in fright.The bombing made Van Longen still a little shocked at this time. Although he didn't know the specific situation of the battle ahead, but looking at the corpses and wounded who were carried down, he could also predict the intensity of the battle.

"Mr. Van Longen, let the ship in the best condition under your command empty its cargo as soon as possible, then return to Batavia immediately, and report the situation here to the company!" Spikes said anxiously.His head was tied with blood-stained gauze, and his head was also hung by debris from the ship during the artillery battle just now, but fortunately, it was only a skin trauma.

Spikes' anxiety at this time is also understandable. His subordinates were the first to rush ashore to attack the shore fort just now, but the opponent's fort, which was only defended by more than a dozen people, caused at least one blow to his troops. Four or five times the casualties.Just to lay down such a fort, he has already lost nearly a quarter of his troops. This kind of battle loss is really unacceptable to him.

"Mr. Spikes, don't panic!" Brower was the calmest at this time. After drinking Spikes, he turned his head and ordered to Van Longen: "During the battle just now, both of our two troop carriers were affected to varying degrees. Damaged and now unable to sail, we need your ship and crew to join the action!"

"Okay...then what can I do?" Van Longen also knew that the current situation was not the time for him to bargain. In wartime, he had to follow the orders of military personnel. Even if the other party wanted to requisition his ships and manpower, he could only can do so.

"I want you to send a ship in good condition to the sea immediately and give us an early warning on the periphery." Brower ordered to Van Longen: "Also let all the people in your fleet with combat experience disembark and land, we will Weapons will be distributed to them! These damned pirates must be wiped out!"

Van Longen asked hesitantly: "These guys who are fighting with us...are they really pirates?"

Based on what Van Longen had seen and heard in the Far East over the years, it was really hard for him to believe that any group of pirates had such powerful firepower and could effectively organize concentrated artillery strikes.Including Shibazhi, who once claimed to be invincible on the southeast coast of Ming Dynasty, is just outnumbered, and its weapons and equipment and combat efficiency are far inferior to this opponent.Van Longen had a vague feeling that what was fighting against his family was not the typical mob, but an army with a certain degree of military literacy—these people had at least received formal combat training.

"It should be really a pirate." Brower replied with a gloomy face: "I checked a few corpses just now. Judging from their faces, figures, and clothing, they should all be from Annan. Coupled with the Ruan flag they played, we I think it is very likely that they are the people of Annan Nanfang Gang. It is a pity that our people have not been caught alive, and there is no way to determine their identities for the time being."

The militia troops stationed on Annbuna Island had all changed their costumes before setting off, and all the soldiers knew the identities they were playing here. In addition, its composition was originally composed of Annan soldiers who accounted for the vast majority, so they wanted to play It is very easy for the remnants of the Ruan family in exile.The Dutch wanted to find clues related to the identity from the dead soldiers' bodies, but all of them could only point to the possibility designed in advance.

"The combat capability of the Annan people is so strong!" Fan Longen sighed, but after thinking about it, he felt that this evaluation was really inappropriate, so he quickly added: "Of course they are still not as good as our soldiers!"

Brower stared at him, and replied coldly: "I heard that the Portuguese trained a firearms army for them. This is probably the result of the Portuguese!"

The intelligence that Brower knew was indeed correct. At the beginning, the Communist Party controlled by the Ruan family in the south relied on the firearms troops trained by the Portuguese, and even once had an advantage in the Civil War between the North and the South.When Haihan's military intervened in the Annan Civil War, the northern army had already been defeated to the north of the Hengshan River Defense Line, and fell into a great passive state.However, what Brower didn't know was that compared with the Haihan militia, the combat effectiveness of the troops trained by the Portuguese was still more than one notch lower, and they had been exhausted in the following several battles.

Van Longen didn't dare to answer any more questions, so he hurried back to arrange his own fleet.At least one or two hundred people on his seven ships had been on the battlefield before, so it would not be a big problem to temporarily organize one or two companies of militia.

Spikes finally calmed down at this time, looking at the ruins of the fort on the shore, he said: "Their strength is insufficient, so if we break through a place, we can only choose to abandon the entire defense line and retreat to the inland."

"I just hope they don't have time to build a second line of defense. If they have built so many forts in the interior, it will be difficult to continue the fight." Brower is not optimistic about the prospects of the battle.

"With the fighting power of these people, it's not surprising that this island can be captured. But what's the use of them capturing this place? There is no property in this place!" Spikes was very puzzled by this: "Think about it , if they just want to plunder here, then there is no need to stay on the island to build forts and fortifications, if not, what is the point of occupying this place?"

"Perhaps their purpose is to rob our merchant ships here." Brower pointed to the three merchant ships belonging to the East India Company on the shore and said: "If I guess correctly, these ships probably I was captured by them after I sailed into the port, otherwise it would be impossible to be so intact. I have sent people to check the status of these ships. If everything is normal, then send someone to drive one of them back to Bada Via reports, so there is no need for Van Longen's ship to unload here."

"You still think well." Although he had some opinions on Brower, Spikes still generously admitted his strengths.At least in the current war situation, being able to keep a calm mind is an essential quality of a good commander.

However, although Browar had considered everything carefully, the reality quickly disappointed them.Those sent to inspect the three merchant ships reported that the stern rudders of all three were damaged beyond repair, at least not for the next few days.

"There is no other way, we have to requisition Van Longen's ship." Brower has no better way to deal with this result, he can only ask someone to notify Van Longen, let his ship unload here first, and then rush back with an empty ship to report .

Naturally, the Dutch's communication efficiency cannot be compared with Haihan's. While retreating to the second line of defense, Mu Xiabo used the radio to send telegrams to both the base camp and the Annan Military Region, informing the current battle situation and requesting support. .

After the previous battles, Mu Xiabo already knew that relying solely on the strength of the defenders on the island, he might not be able to compete with the Dutch for a long time.Even if the Dutch attack can be repelled this time, it is very likely that they will make a comeback before long.However, the island's ammunition reserves are limited, and it is estimated that the ammunition will gradually become stretched after a few more battles.And this place is very far away from the base camp and Annan. Considering the time it will take for reinforcements and supplies on the way, Mu Xiabo must ask for help from his superiors in advance.

However, even if the reinforcements came from Cam Ranh Port, which is the closest to the Ambuna Islands, it would take [-] nautical miles to arrive, and it would not take three or two days to arrive. Before that, Mu Xiabo still had to rely on the island's defense force. To resist the Dutch offensive.What he is most worried about now is not whether he can withstand this wave, but whether the Dutch will have a follow-up fleet to set up an ambush at sea and carry out siege for reinforcements.

(End of this chapter)