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Chapter 1233 Drifting
If there are islands nearby but you don't dare to get too close, there is a solution. Ask someone to set up at least two lights on the shore, and then have the lookout observe the distance changes of the lights at regular intervals, calculate the relative position of the ship through trigonometric functions, and make adjustments at any time.

However, the fleet cannot implement blackout at this time. Night navigation lights must be turned on to clearly inform the members of the fleet of their respective positions to avoid collision accidents.

Would turning on the night lights lead to being discovered by the enemy and then attacked at night? This plot has indeed appeared in some film and television works and literary works, but in reality it is unlikely.

Ships are like blind men on the sea at night. If a group of blind men covered with deadly stings walk around at night, the consequences can be imagined. This is equivalent to leaving your life to God. Life or death depends on luck. The more professional the navy is, the less likely it will do this.

The navy is not like the army, where they would kill people from time to time. After all, it is a technical branch of the army, and it takes too much time and money to train them. Even if they lose the battle, they will at most be taken as prisoners, and there is a high probability that they will be exchanged back home, so there is no need to take too much risk.

In addition, even if they wanted to launch a surprise attack, they had to turn on the night navigation lights to navigate. They couldn't just go around in the dark in the waterways inside the archipelago. If that was the case, Hong Tao hoped that the Spanish commander would launch a surprise attack quickly. Maybe they wouldn't have to fight, and could pick up a ready-made enemy tomorrow morning.

The reason for retreating a few kilometers was not to prevent the Spanish from attacking at night, but to make more space for the ships of the fleet. After all, it was a night voyage, and there was no strong wind on the water, but there were ocean currents under the water, and it was hard to tell where the ships would drift to.

"Your Majesty, the prisoners have been interrogated. They are all from Lima and are under the command of a colonel named Mendoza Samar. This colonel is also the naval governor of the Viceroyalty of Peru and the commander-in-chief of the Spanish fleet this time.

The captives said that he was a fair man, had rich naval experience, was young and strong, and had a good reputation. However, he did not fight in the southern waters, but stayed in the north with the fleet from the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

The governor of the New Spain Viceroyalty Fleet went back to his homeland for medical treatment more than a month ago. The captives were not very clear about his condition. The two viceroyalties each had their own jurisdiction and usually did not have much overlap.

Oh, yes, there is good news. This fleet was put together by the Viceroyalties of New Spain and Peru, and its goal was not to wipe out pirates, but to wait for the autumn monsoon to go to the Daming Islands for battle.

According to the prisoners’ accounts, I guess the Daming Islands are the Hawaiian Islands. The two smuggling ships from the Governorate of New Spain discovered that the East China Sea Fleet had built a port on the island. They were going to Japan to buy raw silk, but they encountered a hurricane and lost their way, and were blown to the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands.

Before the fleet was fully in the drifting state, Deputy Chief of Staff Bai Fan came again, holding a few pieces of paper with densely written words on them. This was the interrogation record of the rescued Spanish crew members, who were very busy and never idle for a moment.

He is a third-generation naval commander, young, energetic, and skilled, but he is generally high-profile. This is no wonder, as they have basically encountered no setbacks on their way to growth, and it was too smooth.

"That's a good name... Wang Chengen, write it down. When you go back, apply to the General Staff Headquarters to change the Hawaiian Islands to the Daming Islands. Have you eaten?"

At this time, Hong Tao was having dinner in the captain's room. He looked at Bai Fan who looked nonchalant, listened to the interrogation records, and finally spoke, but the content was basically irrelevant to the conversation.

"...I haven't had time for it yet." "If you haven't eaten yet, go eat quickly. You can't finish the work in one day. You have to learn to arrange it reasonably. The most important task now is to ensure the safety of the fleet. You are tired from doing so much work. How are you going to be on duty at night?"

Bai Fan's answer was very clear, but he was not invited to dinner. Instead, he was scolded. He had to leave the door in disappointment and not disturb the emperor's meal.

"Fuck, is this ever going to end? If you have something to say, just say it outside the door!" But before Hong Tao could finish the biscuits soaked in the broth in the bowl, there was another knock on the cabin door.

Hong Tao was really unhappy about this. As the saying goes, a loud drum does not need a heavy hammer. He had already made it clear twice in the afternoon and evening that he did not like Bai Fan's personality. Why did he still try to get close to him? It seemed that he had to talk to the astronauts after returning. People who were too utilitarian were not suitable for high-level positions.

"Your Majesty, Captain Settle is back!" But this time Hong Tao guessed wrong. It was not Bai Fan's voice, but the flat-headed brother's.

"Oh, the great hero is back, congratulations. Wang Chengen, go and get some meals for the two captains, and open two bottles of my canned food and wine." Upon hearing Settle's name, Hong Tao actually stood up and opened the door himself. Looking at the burly man in front of him with a silly look on his face, he really liked him from the bottom of his heart.

This time, Captains Settle and Wu Bing completed their mission very well. The honors and awards must be reported to the Navy Staff, but other rewards can be given immediately, such as special treatment. Eating and drinking with the emperor is an honor. Although it can't be exchanged for anything material, it can be boasted for a long time, which is a spiritual harvest.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. We had already eaten before we arrived. It would be better for us to wait outside and report back when summoned." Setel and Bai Fan had completely different personalities. They were unwilling to get close to the emperor when they had nothing to do, and took the initiative to avoid him.

"It's okay if you've eaten. Drinking a little wine won't fill up your stomach. Come on, find a place to sit and talk while drinking." Hong Tao is a mean person. He won't be happy when someone is willing to accompany him, and will force them if they don't want to.

"It's about pirates. We captured nearly a hundred pirates and two schooners in the archipelago this time. Most of them are Europeans. Some of them committed crimes, and some were persecuted by local officials and had no choice but to go to sea.

They cooperated well in the attack on coastal towns, and their leader, John Mather, provided a lot of useful information. The students and Captain Wu made a summary, all of which are here. "

Seeing that the emperor insisted on inviting him to drink, Settle did not hesitate to sit down at the table and presented his purpose while taking out a small book. The other captain, Wu Bing, was relatively reserved. After entering the room, he did not say a word and just nodded.

"…Yes, go and make a copy. Send these people to the transport fleet for custody for the time being, and hand them over to the Navy General Staff for screening one by one after we return."

Hong Tao picked it up and flipped through a few pages. He found it interesting, so he gave it to Wang Chengen for backup. As an emperor, it is not appropriate to interfere too much in the arrangement of pirates. The Navy General Staff has relevant policies, so just follow the procedures.

(End of this chapter)