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Chapter 1373 Battle of Enbird Port 2
The two sides remained locked in a stalemate at sea for two days, with the garrison fleet suffering no losses, while the combined fleet lost two ships and damaged three.

It sounded like the garrison fleet had the upper hand, but it was being pushed little by little into the open sea, getting further and further away from the port.

"Commander, another fleet is approaching from the west, numbering about 10 ships. Judging from their type, they are all cargo ships, likely carrying army troops. The enemy intends to drive us away and then send in their army to land and seize the port!"

Just as both sides were briefly exchanging fire again and readjusting their formations, the navigator of the garrison flagship brought Yan Busi the latest observation results, which were not good news: the enemy had sent reinforcements again.

"What's the panic? If such a petty trick could succeed so easily, I'd jump into the sea and feed the fish myself without even needing the emperor's decree! Let them try it. After they try, they'll realize that it's safest to play along with us!"

Seeing the blush on the navigator's young face caused by nervousness and excitement, Yan Busi missed his old friends.

At the beginning of the year, the navigator, gunner, and first mate stationed on the fleet flagship were promoted and then transferred to other ships to take on higher positions, leaving Enni Port one after another.

Of course, I don't want them to leave. After years of working together, their temperaments may not be compatible, but their combat experience is absolutely seamless and they can be used as one's own limbs.

Of course, he couldn't stop them; aside from a very few exceptions, no one was unwilling to be promoted and make money. As the conflict between Asia and Europe intensified, the Imperial Navy was rapidly expanding, with new warships being launched one after another and new sailors boarding ships in batches. Experienced officers were needed to ensure combat effectiveness.

These newly recruited young officers are highly enthusiastic and possess a more solid and comprehensive understanding of combat theory, but they lack practical combat experience. This is something that cannot be quickly acquired through hard work and effort; it can only be accumulated through repeated battles.

They were lucky; they arrived shortly after their deployment just as the European coalition launched a major offensive. The sheer number of warships made it the largest naval battle in the navy's history, not to mention the fierce fighting also raging on land.

Such large-scale, all-encompassing events are the best training ground for officers. Young officers with suitable personalities and thorough preparation may quickly grow into seasoned commanders through such a battle.

"Then...then shall we just watch from afar?" The navigator knew very well what kind of defense system Enbird Port had, and it was completely different from the one when the Anglo-Spanish Allied Forces invaded before.

During these five years, Yan Busi and Zhang Yongling devoted almost 70% of their energy to building defensive fortifications. To this end, they even requested the Ministry of Construction to send craftsmen to build lime kilns in the nearby mountain gullies to produce lime using local materials.

Stretching 27 kilometers from the mouth of the Enni River in the north to the cape in the south, the area is dotted with over 200 gun emplacements and more than 300 bunkers, most of which are connected by a trench system. A frontal landing would be virtually impossible without effective heavy firepower to counter the fortifications.

However, as a garrison fleet, it doesn't seem quite right to just stand by and watch the home port besieged by the enemy. Logically speaking, they should at least take some action, such as trying to break through the enemy's naval blockade and let the garrison in the port area know that the fleet is still there.

"Just watching will definitely get us arrested by the military police! But foolishly charging in and causing heavy losses to the fleet will also get us arrested. Now is not the time to act rashly. We must stay calm, carefully consider what the enemy fears most and what they want most, and then do the opposite—just refuse to give it to them!"

Judging from his resume, the new navigator is not entirely a new recruit. He graduated five years ago, first interned at the Maritime Transport Command for a year, and joined the East China Sea Fleet with an excellent evaluation. He has extensive experience in dealing with pirates and smuggling ships, and has been patrolling the waters between Korea and Japan for many years.

Two years ago, when the emperor led his troops to conquer the Persian Gulf, he was also selected to serve as the first lookout in the expeditionary fleet. He participated in the operation to encircle and annihilate the Ottoman navy in the Red Sea and performed outstandingly. As a result, he was promoted to navigator after the war.

Since the other party was not a novice, and young people don't like listening to the older generation's nagging, Yan Busi abandoned the conventional approach and took a different approach by focusing on whether it violated military regulations, subtly guiding the other party to follow his line of thinking.

Why go to such lengths to guide him? He's just a navigator, and there's no way he'll serve on this flagship forever. He might be transferred away any day. If you don't like what you're hearing, then don't say it. Why are you so concerned about the professor?
In short, it's traditional! The Ming Dynasty navy was a force to be reckoned with in the Asian seas, invincible wherever it went. However, the history of this navy is not very long; it only lasted about 30 years from the time Yuan Keli was ordered to oversee its construction at Dagu Port.

The ability to dominate Asian waters for 30 years can be attributed to several factors, including ship design and construction, naval gun development, a comprehensive navigation system, and investment in naval bases. However, ultimately, the most crucial element is the people. Without experienced, courageous, resilient, and highly skilled sailors, all the previous factors become meaningless.

To ensure a continuous stream of qualified naval sailors, in addition to providing substantial income and policies to encourage people to join the military, a large-scale education system and a strong tradition are also essential.

The Ming Dynasty navy started from a very low point, incorporating pirates, but it wasn't without its advantages: loyalty and camaraderie. While pirates may lack cultural and educational knowledge, they weren't stupid; on the contrary, even a fool wouldn't survive long in their ranks.

Every pirate captain and sailor has valuable experience gained from numerous life-or-death battles. Once they have gained full recognition from society, they are very willing to pass on their skills to the next generation. They will also compete with each other to see who can train the best students, and take pride in it.

It was from their generation that a tradition gradually formed in the navy of mentors teaching apprentices and then using the apprentices as a source of pride.

If two commanders meet and want to show off to each other, the first thing they will compare is their personal battle achievements and honors. If these two are about the same and they cannot determine who is better, they will bring out their apprentices.

"So-and-so was on my ship back then, someone I personally trained. Now they're all so-and-so, can you even compare?" With just one sentence, the party without a distinguished disciple to compare with is bound to be at a disadvantage. After that, they will be dejected every time they meet, never able to hold their head up high.

Yan Busi grew up in the same way. It wasn't that he hoped anyone on his ship would become a naval admiral, but he also wouldn't allow anyone to complain after leaving that he hadn't put in the effort to teach them, because that would really ruin his reputation.

"...Of course they want the port the most and are most afraid of the weather changing! If a big storm comes now, we won't have to put in any effort; nine out of ten will be shrimp and crab feed!" The navigator didn't appreciate this good intention and gave a completely irrelevant answer in a provocative manner, with a face full of disdain.

(End of this chapter)