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Chapter 1144 Total Blockade
“There’s no need to discuss this issue any further. Let’s first assign the tasks, and then take the time to talk to our subordinates and get to know each other better.

Du Wenhuan, you are a veteran in the army, and you have an advantage in knowing the people. I intend to let you lead a guard to stay in Fao Port and coordinate logistics and transportation. No matter what method you use, you must ensure that the combat supplies can be smoothly transported to the main attacking force. "

Hong Tao did not disappoint Zhu Haiou. He rejected Ding Shun's suggestion very straightforwardly, but he had no intention of standing up for the navy. He directly changed the topic and began to assign specific tasks.

"...I obey your command!" Du Wenhuan was obviously not satisfied with this job. As the commander-in-chief of the army, he followed the emperor to lead the army. It was okay that he could not be the commander-in-chief, but how come he could not even join the main force?

But he didn't dare to act rashly in front of the emperor, so he could only bite the bullet and agree. How Zhu Haiou felt just now, he should feel the same way now, a typical retribution in this life.

"Zhu Haiou, you too, don't run forward, and keep an eye on the material transfer work at Colombo Port. No ship damage is allowed in normal weather, and no pirate attacks are allowed along the way.

At the same time, you must keep an eye on Enniao Port at all times. If an accident really occurs, you don't need to report to me, but immediately initiate emergency measures, even if you have to pull all the navy aboard to ensure the safety of Enniao Port."

"Student obeys your order..." Zhu Haiou's smile didn't fully develop before it froze on his face. He was even more miserable than Du Wenhuan, he couldn't even touch the edge of the battlefield, but the burden on his shoulders was heavier.

"Ding Shun, you will lead the main force of the army as the central army. You must try your best to ensure the stability of each occupied city. The Navy Staff has sent people to send the Mamluk nobles in Suez City to the port of Hormuz. At that time, they will serve as interpreters for the army. When it comes to getting along with the local tribes, listen to their opinions."

"Don't worry, Marshal. Your Majesty, what about you?"

All logistical work was undertaken by Du Wenhuan and Zhu Haiou. Ding Shun had to be full of confidence. It seemed that the emperor still liked to use old people. He thought about how he had followed the emperor out of Shanhaiguan and fought against the main force of the Jurchens.

But the joy only lasted for a few seconds before it was replaced by a bigger question. If he led the main force of the army, where would the emperor be placed? He couldn't be his deputy.

"I specially brought the Warrior Battalion and the Four Guard Battalion out this time. They are equipped with several new weapons. Exercises alone cannot fully test their quality. We must test their effects on the battlefield. If no major defects are found, the Industrial Group can mass-produce them and prepare for deployment.

But none of you can command these 3,000 people, so I can only lead them as the vanguard myself. The remaining number can be deployed from the army, and 10,000 people will be enough. "

"…Your Majesty, if I have a different opinion, I cannot say it!"

The emperor led a small army as the vanguard. This arrangement made the three generals dumbfounded, and then they exchanged glances. Finally, it was Du Wenhuan, the oldest and most experienced, who asked.

"Well, I've said that you're disobeying orders! Now get ready. The commanders of the 6th, 7th, and 10th guards of the Central and Eastern, Central, and Central and Western Military Districts, and the 3rd, 33rd, and 37th guards of the Northern, Western, and Zhili Military Districts will all be on board before tonight. You pick four thousand households from them and leave them to me, and the rest can be arranged by yourselves."

After riding for several days, Hong Tao was really tired and didn't want to talk nonsense and clichés anymore, so he waved his hand to signal the end of the meeting. In January of the 1638th year of Jingyang (), Hormuz Island, a port that was not particularly busy on weekdays, was now surrounded by layers of towering sails, and the sun and moon flags were hung on the main masts of each ship.

With three gunshots, a fleet slowly raised half sails, twisted its huge body, and sailed out of the port area through the dense forest of ships. The sun and moon flag hoisted on the main mast of one of the ships was slightly different. The rising sun and moon set off the sea waves not blue but golden.

"General, General, it's been almost ten days. When will we be allowed to leave?"

As the fleet left the port, there was a burst of noise from the dock. An old European man cautiously approached a soldier in camouflage uniform who was patrolling with a musket, and opened his palm to reveal three golden coins.

He was the captain of a Portuguese merchant ship. He had left the port of Muscat nine days ago and planned to return to Europe. However, he was stopped by several large sailing ships flying the sun and moon flags less than half a day after he left. He was forcibly brought here without any explanation and has been trapped on the island ever since.

He was very familiar with those large sailing ships flying the sun and moon flags. They were the navy warships of the Ming Empire. Although they were not as large as the Spanish sailing ships, they were very powerful and had a very fast speed. They cruised around the waters around the Ming Empire all year round, and they could be found in all the important ports and waterways.

However, these warships were more disciplined than those of European countries and basically would not harass merchant ships. The premise was that merchant ships were engaged in legitimate trade, and privateering ships that were half merchant and half bandit were not included. Once discovered, the ship and the people would be detained, and at the very least, they would be confiscated and fined, or even worse, they would not be able to return with the people, goods, and ships.

But the warships of the Ming Empire Navy that they encountered this time suddenly changed their tempers, and each one of them was like a ferocious monster. There were also some soldiers wearing fancy clothes on the ship, with very strange and complicated accents.

"Hua La... Stand back! We are the 37th Guard of the Ming Empire Army. We have been ordered to blockade this port. No person or ship is allowed to leave. If you have any questions, go to the port office to register and ask!"

The soldier looked down at the gold coin, then reached out his hand, but instead of taking it, he yanked on the back of his musket, pointed the muzzle at the Portuguese captain, and read aloud in Latin.

"Oh my God... I hear this several times a day. Can't you say it another way? My shipowner is waiting for the cargo on the ship in Porto. We all rely on these cargoes to support our families. If you can't let us go now, please tell me a specific time!"

The old captain might be really anxious. Even though he knew that these people were soldiers of the Ming Empire and were carrying out military orders and were probably not being perfunctory, he still roared loudly. Only in this way could he vent some of the resentment in his heart.

"Bang...crash...this is my last warning. If you still don't retreat, I will kill you without mercy!"

But what he got in response was not an explanation, but a crisp explosion. The soldier fired a shot into the sky, then pulled the end of the musket again, took something out of the leather holster at his waist and stuffed it in, then he glared and began to roar.

"Clatter... Clatter..." Almost at the same time, all the nearby soldiers did the same thing and pointed their guns at the crowd gathered at the entrance of the port area.

(End of this chapter)