1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 835 Action Plan
With the current strength of the Haihan Army, not to mention these East China Sea pirates with primitive equipment, lack of combat capability and experience, even the Netherlands and Spain, the Western tycoons who are colonizing the world in this era, have already been in the Haihan militia. In front of him lowered his mighty head.The Portuguese had done it before, the Dutch had done it before, and the Spaniards had surrendered twice in a row recently. To Haihan, it was nothing unusual.

According to the description in the secret letter by Xu Ke and another lurker, the pirates around the Zhoushan Islands may be a little weaker than Haihan's previous estimate.Although these pirates can survive by relying on various hidden interests with local governments and powerful families, they are different from the Shibazhi who were rampant in Fujian a few years ago. Most of the time, they are only reached by some powerful figures It is a tool for personal purposes, not an armed force like Shibazhi, which is powerful enough to affect the situation of one side.In order to prevent these "tools" from becoming overwhelmed and difficult to control, the armed level of the Zhoushan Islands pirate gangs has been consciously manipulated and controlled.

Although Qian Tiandun spoke loudly, Xu Xinsu, who knew the situation, would not think that there was anything wrong with his statement. As long as Haihan could pull out one or two powerful pirate dens with a thunderbolt at the beginning, other There's a real possibility that pirate gangs might catch wind of it.

If such a situation arises, it is of course the most ideal. The Haihan military has always followed the line of elite soldiers to complete various combat tasks with limited troops. If they can invest less troops, the saved military expenditures can be used for other purposes. Aspects-such as refitting the army with the latest field artillery, or increasing the construction cost of one or two warships for the navy.

Xu Xinsu also knew that Qian Tiandun's statement was not a big show, but that the Haihan Army always controlled the dispatched troops more accurately, so he tentatively asked: "Then I will base your dispatch of 3000 troops on the basis of , Prepare the food and supplies needed for a month's battle, what does General Qian think?"

The amount of grain and grass materials consumed by 3000 people fighting for a month is not a small amount, not to mention that these materials have to be transported from Fujian to Zhejiang, which will invisibly increase the cost.And Xu Xinsu's statement undoubtedly represented the Fujian government, or Xu's family, taking over this matter, and his sincerity was quite sufficient.Qian Tiandun understood Xu Xinsu's meaning, and immediately responded: "Master Xu is really polite! I don't think it is worse than this. For the establishment of 3000 people, we will send 2000 people, and Master Xu will send another thousand people to join. How about it?"

Qian Tiandun knew that Xu Xinsu was willing to spend money to prepare food and supplies for the Haihan army, and was responsible for the logistics supply, and it was not without purpose, so he took the initiative to help him out.

Xu Xinsu pretended to decline: "If it affects your army's battle plan, wouldn't it be a crime!"

Qian Tiandun said with a smile: "Master Xu, don't be polite. Your army has cooperated with our army many times before, and they have always cooperated tacitly. I am very assured of your army's strength."

Although the Haihan military attaches great importance to the pirate issue in the Zhoushan Islands, considering the opponent's limited strength, they do not plan to send a large number of troops to carry out the mission of clearing and suppressing. The 2000 people are Qian Tiandun, Shi Diwen, Chen Yixin, Gao Qiaonan and others. conclusions drawn after discussion.Now that Xu Xinsu is taking the initiative to sell well, Qian Tiandun will also be a favor so that Xu Xinsu's people can participate in the next military operation in Zhejiang.

Shi Diwen did not forget to remind: "Master Xu's subordinates will certainly have no problem participating in the operation, but this identity probably needs to be concealed, so as not to cause inconvenience to Master Xu."

Although Xu Xinsu is the commander-in-chief of Fujian, it is obviously against the rules to dispatch troops to carry out military operations in Zhejiang waters without informing the Zhejiang government and obtaining the consent of the Ministry of War.At that time, Zhejiang side will submit a book to the imperial court, regardless of whether Xu Xinsu is going to fight pirates, the reason is not on Xu Xinsu's side, although the imperial court and the Ministry of War may not be able to do anything about Xu Xinsu, a local tyrant, but the next article will be reprimanded Xu Xinsu, that was also a very embarrassing thing for him.What's more, Xu Xinsu didn't want to offend the official circles in Zhejiang all over the place. After all, he wanted to do business in this area in the future.

Xu Xinsu thanked: "General Shi is right, how about I pretend to be your army for the time being? As for the command on the battlefield, I will naturally have to thank you generals!"

As long as he seizes the opportunity to cooperate with the Haihan militia, Xu Xinsu will always try his best to send his most elite troops to participate in the operation.However, it is not always possible to get the opportunity to fight on the front line. Most of the time, they can only be assigned to assist in the defense or even cover the logistics. In addition, the combat speed of the Shanghai Han Militia is very fast, and the battle is often resolved within two or three days. Sometimes the troops Xu Xinsu sent to participate in the war did not wait for the opportunity to play, and the war ended, and the training effect they could play was not very great.

And this time the Haihan people decided to do it in Zhoushan, Xu Xinsu thought it was a good opportunity to train soldiers.Currently, the northernmost station of Haihan is Jilonggang in Taipei, but the main force is still stationed in Penghu. Xu Xinsu also knows the approximate size of Haihan's garrison, and has an estimate of the number of combat troops he can dispatch. Only then did they propose to subsidize 3000 people with the food and supplies needed for combat. The calculation was that Haihan could not send so many troops to Zhejiang to fight, and the vacant troops could be filled by the Fujian Ming Army.

Even if Shi Diwen didn't remind him, Xu Xinsu would not make the low-level mistakes he mentioned.After all, he has been in the officialdom for six or seven years, what can and cannot be done, and what are the taboos in the bureaucratic system, Xu Xinsu's mind is very clear.Xu Xinsu knew that Shi Diwen had handed him a ladder, so he went down the donkey immediately, and immediately expressed his willingness to hand over the command of the participating troops to the Haihan military.

The elite troops under Xu Xinsu's command are basically organized and trained according to the methods formulated by the Haihan military. The organization, combat system and tactics are all in line with Haihan. Or problems such as the inability to connect the command system.Under the direct command of the battlefield by senior Haihan officers, the combat skills that can be learned are definitely much more than the usual theoretical training or military exercises.As long as he can learn the real skills, Xu Xinsu thinks it is worth spending more money, because he believes that Haihan's success model has fully demonstrated the importance of armed forces. Even if it develops into a local separatist force like Haihan, a powerful armed force is absolutely indispensable.

However, since the southeast side drove Shibazhi and the red-haired people away, there is no more fighting to speak of, and it is difficult to have the opportunity to practice in actual combat.Xu Xinsu wants to temper the troops under his command, but he can only look outside the province. Even if he needs to pay more expenses and take greater risks for this, Xu Xinsu believes that these costs are worth it-of course, the premise is that there is a sea The escort of the Han militia.

Xu Xinsu's proposal was also expected by the Haihan military, so after a few words of humility, he followed suit and agreed to Xu Xinsu's request.In the end, Xu Xinsu called his guard officer in: "Go and bring in the gifts I prepared for Hai Han's chiefs!"

After the guard went out, Xu Xinsu took the initiative to explain: "It's the sixth anniversary of Haihan's coming to Ming Dynasty, and I have nothing to express, so I can only prepare a small gift to show my heart! Don't mind if this gift is too much. Shabby!"

Qian Tiandun even said he didn't dare, but he thought that Xu Xinsu would give gifts at this juncture in previous years, but it had nothing to do with shabbyness.On one year's anniversary, the envoy he sent to Sanya to observe the ceremony brought three boats totaling [-] cattle.

After a while, Xu Xinsu's subordinates brought a plaque in. Xu Xinsu got up and took off the covering on the plaque, and introduced to Qian Tiandun and others: "The words 'Dazhan Hongtu' on this plaque are pure gold. I hope everyone in Haihan can achieve their goals this year.”

The plaque is more than five feet wide and about two feet high. The four golden characters on it are inlaid on the black backboard, which is particularly eye-catching.These gold letters were not pasted with gold foil, but real gold letters.Judging from the strokes and the size of the characters, I am afraid that each character weighs one or two catties.If the presents are all shabby, then many people probably won't be able to take out the presents they prepared.

After being polite, Qian Tiandun accepted it on behalf of the executive committee.He knew that if he didn't accept this gift, Xu Xinsu probably wouldn't feel at ease either.

After the military's action plan was put into writing and reported back to the executive committee, the approval received was that it would not start until after the anniversary.It is obviously impossible for the personnel stationed in Penghu to rush back to Sanya to participate in the military parade at this juncture, so they only held a simple celebration ceremony in the base.Of course, adding meals to the soldiers who are about to go to the battlefield again is also one of the essential activities.

On April 800, the Haihan troops, including [-] Ming troops who had come from Zhangzhou and had already changed their outfits, began to gather at Magong Port, Penghu.There were about [-] armed personnel participating in this mission, but with the civilian husbands in charge of logistics, the total number had already exceeded [-].

In addition to combat ships, troop carriers, and supply ships, this time there is also a merchant fleet that will set off together with the armed fleet. The purpose is to provide a reason for the armed fleet that follows, as long as the pirates in Zhoushan dare to attack If you do it, Haihan can rush over to make a record with lightning speed.

On April [-], the merchant fleet used as bait left the port first and headed north.Of course, although this fleet is just a decoy, for safety reasons, at least a dozen militia soldiers are arranged on each ship and equipped with corresponding weapons.

The regular army did not set off until at least three hours after the bait left. All the ships in this fleet were produced by Haihan, and the speed must be faster than before.About five hours after the fleet sailed away from Magong Port, it had already caught up with the fleet that set out earlier at sea.

The fleet's first port of call was Nanri Island, which had been included in the restricted area by Shibazhi earlier, but with Haihan's assistance, it not only snatched this place from Zheng Zhilong's hands, but also Many fortifications were built on the island.The reason for stopping here is that apart from replenishing water and food, there are about [-] Ming soldiers who have changed their clothes to join the team from here.

Xu Xinsu also came here with the Haihan fleet, but he didn't follow all the way to Zhoushan. After handing over his private army to the Haihan people here, Xu Xinsu took the initiative to say goodbye to Haihan: "My old Xu's sons , it depends on the chiefs to take care of you a little bit."

The voyage from Nanri Island to the destination of Zhoushan Islands off the coast of Ningbo is more than 300 nautical miles. If it is the Haihan warship alone, it will not be delayed for too long on the way, and it will take about two days and two nights to arrive.In order not to startle the enemy too early, the Haihan fleet will keep a certain distance from the coast, and try to avoid being discovered by fishermen, merchant ships or others near the shore.The merchant fleet, on the other hand, stretched the formation very wide, trying to focus the attention of others on their own side, so as to better cover up the whereabouts of the Haihan fleet.

On April [-]th, the merchant fleet ran into the first unlucky man in this operation in Wenzhou—two pirate ships spotted a single Haihan merchant ship, and immediately swarmed over it.It's a pity that they underestimated their opponents and overestimated themselves. The merchant ship made a circle on the sea and fled towards the sea to the east.The two pirate ships followed unhurriedly, keeping a reasonable distance.

However, after they sailed out to sea for more than an hour, the situation finally changed.There is a huge cyclone on the sea level in the distance, which causes the sea conditions to fluctuate greatly, making it difficult to choose a reasonable direction.

When they were hesitating, two "expedition-class" warships of the Haihan fleet had appeared behind them.

"Send the order, raise the flag, and prepare for battle!" Shi Diwen didn't dare to be careless, and immediately ordered to start preparing for battle.

The entire process of the battle was lackluster. It took only 30 seconds to eliminate one of the pirate ships. A shell hit the mast with great luck, and immediately dismantled it into two parts.The other pirate ship saw that the situation was not going well and planned to escape, but when the Haihan warship stuck to it, the other party had no chance of escape.

Through interrogation, it was determined that the two pirate ships were just a small gang nearby.They were also unlucky, the first time they came out in full force after the beginning of spring, they encountered this fleet disguised as bait.The pirates didn't even understand what happened before they became prisoners, and they couldn't guess the answer to the origin of the armed forces that captured them.

(End of this chapter)