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Chapter 1359 Danger 2
"...It's only 600 kilometers from the area of ​​the last naval battle, and just over 1300 kilometers from Enni Port. This isn't good. If they manage to establish a foothold, things could change drastically!"

Wu Binggang put down the compass and protractor, but Setter grabbed them again, did another round of calculations, then lit a cigar with a dark face and muttered to himself while looking at the circles and dots on the nautical chart.

"That's why I rushed here to find you. I didn't dare tell the army, but luckily we had the silver transport ship as a cover. I thought Governor Du would take charge, but he's not here. Brother Sai, this matter must not be made public. You need to make a decision as soon as possible!"

Wu Bingbai completely agreed with Setter's assessment, but he knew he didn't have the ability or any brilliant ideas, so he came to try and pass the heavy responsibility to the Army Governor. Unexpectedly, Du Wenhuan wasn't there, so he had to trouble another deputy commander-in-chief.

"Well, Brother Wu, I apologize to you first. I was indeed overthinking things. Forgive me. Since you are indifferent to fame and fortune, then I will not stand on ceremony for this merit. Leave the rest to me. You should return to Lima as soon as possible. Lima must not be allowed to fall into any danger."

It was only then that Setter fully understood Wu Bing's purpose in coming. He was afraid that the news would leak and cause the officers and soldiers to have something to think, so he used the pretext of transporting silver ships to send over all the prisoners and those who knew the truth.

After all, being thousands of miles away, if they learned of the danger at Enni Port, it would mean that the Asian maritime defense line might be wide open, and their emotions would certainly not be at peace. If this were to cause rumors, it would be extremely difficult to control; admitting it would be problematic, and denying it would be equally problematic. This is what it means to disrupt morale; it is a serious crime and a major taboo, which in the previous dynasty would have resulted in immediate execution.

However, he couldn't think of a solution for the time being, or rather, no one could do anything about it. This was because the incident had occurred several months prior, and it hadn't been discovered before the expeditionary fleet set sail.

So, six months have passed, and the European coalition certainly won't just stand there waiting. The only thing they can do now is to send a communications ship to Pearl Harbor as fast as they can, day and night.

However, it was merely a routine matter. It would take more than two months for the news to reach the Indian Ocean Fleet and Enni Port, by which time what was going to happen would have already happened, so it wouldn't have much effect.

Regardless of whether there is a way or not, we must take responsibility for strictly blocking information and ensure the stability of the expeditionary fleet before waiting for a response from the mainland.

"With Gao Dusi in charge, Lima is as stable as a mountain... Hehe, to be honest, Lima was taken without firing a single shot, and the Spanish suffered heavy casualties inside the city."

After Gao Dusi entered the city, he arrested several hundred more rioters with blood on their hands and executed them on the spot. The locals not only did not hate us, but also actively sought to get close to us. Whenever they encountered a matter that needed to be adjudicated, they would immediately go to the gate of the military camp to plead their case.

However, much of the food stored in Lima was destroyed during the riots, and if the population hadn't also decreased significantly, people would probably be starving.

If the situation here isn't too dire, could we borrow some food first? We could eat sparingly until the supply fleet arrives. Otherwise, the soldiers will have to tighten their belts and use some of their rations.

Wu Bing wasn't in a hurry to go back, nor was he worried about the safety of Lima. It wasn't that he was arrogant, nor that he was ignorant or incompetent; rather, after the city-wide riots, the elite class in Lima had either died or fled, and no one had the prestige to command a large following.

The local people who had narrowly escaped the calamity once again regarded the Ming army as their saviors, and at least for a period of time, there would be no large-scale rebellion. But this was contingent on having enough to eat; if they went hungry, even God himself would be trampled to death by the people.

"We have no grain, but we have meat. Do you want some?" Setter had roughly heard about the attack on Lima, and then looked helpless. Luck is something no one can control; the lucky ones don't have to work hard, while the unlucky ones run themselves ragged.

"Don't joke around, this is a serious matter!" Wu Bing dismissed the fact that there was meat even though there was no grain as nonsense.

"You call yourself a navy officer? Haven't you noticed that whales frequently appear in the sea? You're like a gold mine that keeps you poor!" Setter had to criticize Wu Bing's performance. The army might not think of hunting whales for meat, but how could the navy turn a blind eye to it?

"...Oh dear, what an oversight! I am ashamed to admit that I am better than you in terms of intelligence. No wonder His Majesty appointed you as the deputy commander-in-chief, on equal footing with the governor. He truly has a discerning eye!"

"But Commander Sai, what do you think the European coalition is trying to do there? Could it be that they also want to build a port to rival us?" Upon hearing the word "whale," Wu Bing's mouth hung open for a long time before he slapped his forehead hard, his face full of regret.

If Setter hadn't reminded him, he might have made his soldiers, along with the ignorant army, eat only half-full meals every day, distributing the saved rations to the local people to help them through the crisis. He felt truly ashamed.

Then he praised Setter for his intelligence, even bringing up the emperor and bestowing upon him the title of talent scout. Finally, he smoothly slipped away, picking up the topic of the European coalition again, his eyes brimming with a thirst for knowledge.

"...It's hard to say. Anyway, you're not in a hurry to leave, so why not have a drink? I have some wine that was presented as tribute to the King of Spain, and some veal that can be eaten raw... Guards, guards, tell the kitchen to prepare a table full of hearty dishes for Captain Wu, and also bring out two bottles of his hidden spoils!"

Setter didn't dare answer this question casually, mainly because there was too little time and too little information to make a judgment. Just then, the melodious chimes of the city rang out; it was almost noon. Meeting old friends while preoccupied with official business was too impersonal. Luckily, he had some good stuff on hand, so it would be much more pleasant to eat and chat.

"Brother Wu, if we choose to travel by ship from St. James's to Enbird Port, we will likely be unable to avoid the blockade of the garrison fleet, and we will probably not be able to win a naval battle. However, if we take the inland route, it is only about 1000 kilometers away, which should take more than two months at a rate of 15 kilometers per day."

If an army of several thousand men suddenly appears behind Enbird City and launches an effective surprise attack, our defenders will likely be in grave danger.

If the land battle fails, the port will soon fall as well; naval guns alone cannot win a siege. Without supplies from the port, the garrisoned fleet is like a rootless duckweed, unable to hold out for long.

They said they were just drinking and chatting, but after only a few words, Old Settle took his wine glass and wandered over to the chart table, looking around at it. In the end, he couldn't resist and started talking, beginning to discuss the tactics that the European coalition might use.

The idea of ​​a naval battle was initially dismissed. Although neither of them had been stationed at Enniu Harbor for an extended period, they had both made short stops there and had some understanding of the general geography and defenses of the area. They were also aware of the strength of the garrison fleet and did not believe that the Europeans had any chance of winning at sea.

However, besides the sea, there is another route from southwestern Africa to Ngorongoro: heading southeast across the South African interior. Judging from the distance, it shouldn't be too difficult.

(End of this chapter)