1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 180 The Destruction of the Spanish Expeditionary Fleet
Major Anthony Goldstein led the expedition fleet of the remaining seven ships and patrolled the coast of Hanzhou for three days.They didn't wait for any news from the pier. Occasionally, a long and narrow fast sailing ship would protrude out of the harbor. After seeing their fleet, it retreated quickly.

"Captain Veron's landing force may have been wiped out!" Major Anthony Goldstein said sadly: "Our expedition plan has failed!"

Several captains on the flagship "St. Lawrence" all lowered their heads in frustration.Yes, the expedition plan failed and all the landing troops were lost. Can the Spanish fleet still go to land to fight those pirates?Moreover, it is impossible for the enemy's powerful coastal defense batteries to allow them to approach the dock again.

"Gentlemen, what shall we do next?" Major Anthony Goldstein asked.

What's next?Of course it's back!Several captains looked at Major Goldstein sympathetically. The expedition failed. As the commander of the entire fleet, he must bear the main responsibility. Sent to a labor camp.

Major Anthony Goldstein sighed inwardly when he saw that all the captains and officers were silent.

"Gentlemen, I propose... to return. There is no point in wandering any longer. In order to preserve the military strength of Spain, we return to Manila now!"

On the way back, they had to pass through the islands and routes controlled by the Dutch. They had to work 100% to bring the remaining seven large and small ships back to the Philippines.As for the two warships floating in the harbor, they have actually been abandoned.

The expedition was a disgraceful failure at the hands of a group of unscrupulous pirates.However, I have to admit that the defeat of the Kingdom of Spain was completely careless, and it seriously underestimated the strength of the pirates.

They have the ability to prevent the expedition fleet from approaching the coastal pier, and also have the ability to annihilate the landing force, which shows that the strength of the pirates is not as weak as the intelligence information indicates.They have at least 3000 to 700 land armed forces, otherwise they would not be able to wipe out the more than [-] Spanish soldiers.

If the Philippines conducts another expedition, I am afraid that about 500 landing troops will be mobilized, and the number of Spanish Musketeers must not be less than [-].

oh god!Mobilizing so many soldiers would almost drain most of the Philippines' armed forces.Will His Excellency the Governor make this determination?
On the tenth day of the return of the Spanish expeditionary fleet, a light sailing ship began to follow behind in the sea south of Java Island.

Major Anthony Goldstein knew that it must be the fast scouting schooner of the Dutch, who were spying on the movement of the Spanish expeditionary fleet.

He tried to send out a warship to drive out the nasty little boat, but when the warship that carried out the forceful expulsion returned, the fast boat followed, lingering like a nasty fly.

"Could it be that the Dutch want to do something unfavorable to us?" Major Anthony Goldstein felt a tinge of uneasiness in his heart, just like when he was waiting for news of the landing force on the coast of Hanzhou.

"Leave it alone, speed up all ships!" Major Anthony Goldstein ordered.Maybe at night, it might be possible to get rid of this nasty little boat.

After nightfall, the Spanish expeditionary fleet did not slow down, but moved away from the coast of Java Island slightly, and continued to sail westward.

At dawn on the second day, Major Anthony Goldstein was delighted to see that the boat that had followed along the way had disappeared, which relieved his nervousness a little.

However, the good mood lasted less than a day, and the Spanish expeditionary fleet caught up with a fast ship.

"Signal to all ships, be on alert, and respond to possible enemy fleets at any time!" Major Anthony Goldstein issued an order for all personnel to be on alert with a solemn expression.

The Dutch tracked and investigated so recklessly, and they were already very sure that they were going to attack the expeditionary fleet.

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Fifteen warships led by Colonel Aryan Van Dijk, commander of the Batavia Fleet of the Dutch East India Company, sailed out of Batavia port one day ago.The fleet turned west first, then turned south, and then stayed near the Sunda Strait, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Spanish expeditionary fleet.

"Where is the estimated position of the Spanish expeditionary fleet?" Colonel Aryan Van Dijk asked softly.

"The latest report from the fast sailing boat was near Batang five days ago. After nightfall, they lost their track and should be sailing south. Our other fast boats will soon capture their traces." An officer said. reported.

"What is the state of the Spanish expeditionary fleet?"

"Status?" The officer was stunned for a moment, looked at Colonel Van Dijk, and then understood what he was asking, "The Spanish warship seems to have gone through a battle, and the hull and sails were hit by shells. Oh, by the way, they seem to have lost two warships, and I’m not sure if they stopped in Hanzhou.”

Colonel Aryan Van Dijk nodded. The Spaniards were really stupid. After finishing fighting Hanzhou, they didn’t know that all the ships were concentrated and returned, and they left two warships to tidy up Hanzhou.After destroying these seven ships, a squadron can be sent to Hanzhou to find the two warships and wipe them out completely.

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The Spanish expedition fleet came to the westernmost side of Java Island, and all ships docked at a nearby small island (Panaitan Island), and then waited for the evening to arrive.

At this time, it was noon, and he planned to spend half a day beside this small island. In the evening, the fleet began to cross the Sunda Strait.In this way, the Spanish expeditionary fleet will use the cover of night to quickly leave this narrow waterway.He knew that the Dutch would be waiting for them in front.

Back in Manila, Major Anthony Goldstein knew what was in store for him.But as a proud Spanish naval officer, even so, he had to do his duty to bring all the ships back to the Philippines safely.

That Hanzhou must have received great assistance from the Dutch. They are a trap set by the Dutch for the Kingdom of Spain, a trap that consumes a lot of Spanish strength.He must tell the Governor the news, the biggest enemy of the Philippines is always the Dutch, stop wasting manpower and material resources on these pirates.Not only is it depleting strength, but it also has no meaning, except for the vain Spanish honor.

"Spot the ship!"

Just as Major Anthony Goldstein was dozing off in the captain's cabin, he was suddenly awakened by the loud shout of the watchman outside.He rushed out immediately, raised his binoculars and looked in the direction of Watching Finger.

A fleet of more than ten ships appeared in sight, with the striking logo "VOC" of the Dutch East India Company hanging on the towering masts!
Colonel Aryan Van Dijk received a report from the clipper in the morning that the Spanish expeditionary fleet had entered near the Sunda Strait.He knew that the Spaniards would not dare to cross the strait during the day, but would wait until night.

So, he didn't wait any longer, and commanded twelve warships to rush towards the Spanish expeditionary fleet.In order to ensure the complete annihilation of the Spanish fleet and avoid any fish caught in the net, he deliberately left three warships at the narrowest point of the strait to intercept the escaped ships.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..." After the Dutch warship approached the Spanish fleet, it took the lead in shelling.

Although the Spaniards have three powerful warships, they can easily defeat any Dutch armed merchant ship on the opposite side if they fight each other.But helplessly, there are too many enemy ships, and the four merchant ships requisitioned by our own side have almost no force.

At the beginning of the battle, twelve armed Dutch merchant ships surrounded the Spanish fleet.

In less than half an hour, a Spanish merchant ship was knocked off its sails and floated powerlessly on the sea.With the permission of the flagship "St. Lawrence", the remaining three merchant ships began to disperse and break through.

"Colonel, the enemy ships have begun to break through!" An officer reported loudly to Colonel Aryan Van Dijk.

"Paste them and sink or capture them no matter the cost!" Colonel Aryan Van Dijk ordered decisively.With such an advantage, how could the Spaniard run away so easily.

The "St. Lawrence" is like an African lion, surrounded by many "hyenas", rushing from left to right.At least two armed Dutch merchant ships, smoked from the powerful Spanish galleons, withdrew from the battle to lick their wounds.

But there are still many armed Dutch merchant ships bravely approaching the Spanish warships, shooting at low range.

Major Anthony Goldstein looked up at the sky, the bright sun was still hanging in the sky, and it would probably be a long time before it got dark.It has to be said that the Dutch chose a very favorable time to attack, and from the beginning, they had the upper hand.

Not far away, another Spanish warship was hit by a round of artillery from the opponent, and a second sail wobbled down, and the speed of the ship suddenly slowed down.Several Dutch armed merchant ships saw the opportunity and quickly surrounded them.

Major Anthony Goldstein closed his eyes in pain, the Spanish fleet might be destroyed here.

The Spanish fleet had lost all will to fight, so they unleashed their sails and tried their best to break through to the north.

The Dutch obviously made careful preparations for this battle. Not only were there many ships, but they were all empty, and their speed was a bit faster than that of the Spanish warships.Like a pack of hungry wolves, they kept chasing and biting the "flesh and blood" of the Spaniards.

By evening, five warships in the Spanish expeditionary fleet had been sunk or wounded and captured.The remaining two warships took advantage of the darkness and fled to the north.

At dawn on the second day, the "St. Lawrence" dragged its body and bruises, and took the only other remaining warship out of the narrow Sunda Strait.

Major Anthony Goldstein glanced back at the ship, his blood red eyes filled with tears.

The Spanish expedition plan suffered a complete failure, not only lost all landing troops, but also lost three warships and four merchant ships.As a result, the armed forces of the Philippines have almost been lost by more than half, and it will take at least two or three years to recover.

"Major, there are three warships ahead. ... They belong to the Dutch!" the lookout shouted in despair.

Major Anthony Goldstein fixed his eyes on the three Dutch armed merchant ships rushing forward, and ordered with a firm expression: "Signal, let the Santander break through on its own."

After finishing speaking, he turned his head and ordered the helmsman and sailor to rush straight to the three Dutch armed merchant ships.

(End of this chapter)