I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 335: A Heart-breaking Song, Where Can I Find a Soulmate in the World?
A fleet was anchored on the sea north of an island in Sulu (Panay Island).

These warships were tall and huge, with three masts reaching up into the blue sky. The white sails were lowered and tied to the crossbars. The long round hulls swayed left and right with the waves.

This is the Suzaku Fleet of the Ming Dynasty Navy, which is full of princely sailing ships, including twenty-six Class B battleships, ten frigates, twelve cruisers and several communication ships.

On the stern of one of the largest and newest warships, Admiral Li Chao of the Suzaku Navy summoned all the captains and officers to discuss matters.

Li Chao looked up at the sky, stretched out his hand, turned his palm in the wind, and spoke first.

"The north wind is blowing now. It is impossible for the Spanish fleet to sail north against the wind and return to their home base, New Spain, via the East Japan."

He was in his thirties, not very tall, but sturdy and strong, with a dark but delicate face. Sitting there, he looked like a country scholar giving a lecture.

"Now that my imperial edict has spread throughout the South China Sea, I believe that Malacca, Siam, Cambodia, the Zheng family of Annan, Borneo, as well as the Portuguese and the Dutch, will not dare to disobey my order and openly contact the Spaniards.

We sent out a large number of patrol boats to investigate, and also offered a large sum of money to collect traces of Spanish ships from the natives and boat owners of various vassal states. According to the information collected by various parties, the Spanish fleet had previously been wandering around Malacca, trying to purchase silk and tea.

But after being rejected by the Portuguese and the Dutch, they went to Zhenla and Siam again, but still returned empty-handed. Now Admiral Yu led the South China Sea Navy's left camp and headed straight to Malacca, where they would surely be able to gain a foothold soon. The Spanish would not go there for a while.

It is reported that their main force is gathered in Cebu Island. They are planning something in their lair in the South China Sea. "

A captain said: "These Western barbarians are used to being robbers. Since they didn't buy any goods in the past two months, they might want to rob them."

Everyone nodded: "It's possible."

"Most of these bastards are like this. If they can't buy it, they will just rob it."

Li Chao waved his hand to suppress the crowd, and everyone soon quieted down.

"The Spanish will rob, very likely. So where will they rob?"

"Guangzhou?"

"Quanzhou?"

"You're kidding. The wind is blowing from the north and we're sailing against the wind. They're all Carrick ships, not our Wusong ships. If they sail so far against the wind, the sailors will be exhausted to death."

"Then we can only hide in Cebu Island and wait for the south wind to blow again?"

Li Chao glanced at everyone and said coldly, "I have been waiting for two months, waiting for the north wind to blow, waiting for these Spaniards to be unable to go north, and the western ports to be blocked, so they can only hide in their old nest, and then catch them all in one fell swoop!
I have sent out cruisers and communication ships to investigate. As long as we are sure that the main force of the Spanish is on Cebu Island, we will attack with all our forces and wipe out these Western bandits in one fell swoop!"

Everyone looked at each other and said excitedly: "Admiral, please give the order!"

"I will organize the teams first. The left team will have eight Class B battleships, the right team will have eight Class B battleships, the squadron will have ten Class B battleships, ten frigates and twelve cruisers, and they will be organized into the front team. Now I will appoint the captains and vice captains of each team."

"Alright, we're done organizing. Everyone, return to your respective teams and get into formation. Once the patrol boat comes back and confirms everything is OK, we'll set out immediately to beat those damn Spaniards!"

"Follow the order!"

"Dismissed, now everyone go back to your boats. I'm going to have lunch."

A captain asked, "Admiral, you won't stay for lunch?"

"Let me keep you here? Then I'll have nothing to eat! Get out of here!"

Li Chao finished his lunch, which consisted of canned meat, two steamed buns, and a small dish of pickles.

Yes, there are canned foods in Ming Dynasty now.

The emergence of large steel companies in Kaiping and Taiyuan, plus hydraulic rolling mills, caused the price of tin sheets to plummet. Previously, ceramic cans were still somewhat breathable and could not be stored for long.

Now tin cans are made of tinplate, which can be stored for a long time. Taiyuan and Liaoyang are the two major canned food production centers. With the support of steel mills, they purchase a large number of cattle and sheep from southern Mongolia and Northeast China, slaughter and cut them, and process them into canned food, which becomes the main military rations.

After drinking a cup of secret hot tea, Li Chao felt relaxed all over. He picked up the erhu hanging in the captain's room, went to the stern deck, and started playing against the wind.

The melodious and sad piano music, accompanied by the sea breeze, floats on the surface of the South China Sea.

After the song was finished, the captain and the first mate asked, "Admiral, the erhu music you played today is different from the past. Did you learn a new piece? What piece is it?"

Li Chao chuckled, "What song? I composed it myself. It's called 'A Heart-Broken Song, Where Can I Find a Soulmate in the World'. Does it sound good?"

The captain and the first mate looked at each other and replied awkwardly, "Not bad."

"good?"

"Just a little bit inferior to Mr. Lu."

Li Chao cursed, "Bah! I learned to play the erhu from Mr. Lu, so of course I can't play it as well as Mr. Lu. If it's unbearable to the ear, just say it directly. It's not very straightforward to try to cover it up!"

The captain quickly replied: "It's lonely on the sea, it's good to have some piano music to listen to."

Li Chao nodded, "Yes, it's lonely on the sea. But my navy is full of talented people. After we defeat the Spaniards, I will hold a banquet in their Cebu Port. Those who are good at singing and dancing, playing the flute and the violin will show their talents. Everyone will go up and perform. I will take the lead!"

"Okay."

As they were chatting, the lookout shouted, "Flag signal! The patrol ship is reporting! The Spanish are coming north, with a total of fourteen warships. They are the main force of the Spanish!"

The battleship was in an uproar, and everyone looked at Li Chao without any prior communication.

Li Chao calmly put away the erhu and handed it to his personal soldier. "Hang it up. Don't break it when the fight breaks out."

"Yes."

"Pass the flags, line up and prepare for battle!"

"Yes!"

"Everyone, do you know the name of the ship we are on?"

"Jiang Wanchuan!"

"Come here, hang up the Guanghaijia No. 6 flag that we salvaged from Longtou Island in Wanli Shitang on the main mast. Pass the flag message to all ships, telling them to fight hard to kill the enemy in return for the emperor's grace! May the spirits of the heroes in heaven protect us!"

"Follow the order!"

A long banner was hung high up, fluttering next to the big flag with the word "Ming". It was tattered and old, like a piece of rag picked up from somewhere, but all the officers and soldiers of the Suzaku Navy looked at it with firm eyes and solemn expressions.

"Guanghai Jia No. 6!"

Two hours later, the lookout in the front team sent a flag signal, saying that the Spanish warships were seen. They were sailing northwest, struggling against the wind, and staggering towards them.

"Send the order, the front team turns aside and cruises on the periphery. The left and right teams take advantage of the wind to encircle the enemy ship, the middle team goes straight to the enemy ship, and the three teams go parallel with the wind, approaching and firing in turn!
Be careful not to fall behind! "

"Follow the order!"

The main force of the Suzaku Navy appeared on the sea. Legazpi and Urdaneta were stunned by the huge ships, towering masts, bulging sails, and the number of them.

Is this the main force of the Ming Dynasty Navy?

Why didn't anyone tell us that their ships were also carrick sailing ships, which looked bigger, longer, and sturdier, with densely packed black gun muzzles?

Not only are their ships strong and their guns powerful, but there are so many of them. Almost twice as many as us. How can we defeat them?
"Oh, God!"

That was the only word left in both of their mouths.

Urdaneta pointed sharply to the other side and said, "The La Romos and the El Pirro, they are trying to escape."

Legazpi turned around and looked in the direction his finger pointed, and sure enough, the two Spanish sailing ships were turning hurriedly.

"You can't run away! The Ming army's warships are trying to get the upper hand, and they have so many sails, how can we outrun them?"

Legazpi said with a tragic look on his face: "Let them run, and tell the other ships, for God's sake! For the glory of Spain, follow the flag of the Duke of Magamara, charge forward, and fire at the infidels!
Long live the King of Spain!"

Half an hour later, the "Jiang Wanchuan" took the lead and rushed towards the flagship "Duke of Magamara" where Legazpi was riding.

Legazpi saw the Jiang Wanchuan tilting to the right and coming towards him from the upwind side. The sailor standing on the mast took in half of the sail that had just been hoisted, and the speed of the ship gradually slowed down.

It can be seen that his opponent is experienced and very sophisticated.

Seeing the "Jiang Wanchuan" coming like a cavalryman with heavy armor on both the man and the horse, as fast as thunder, getting closer and closer, almost colliding with the "Duke of Magamara", Legazpi was so scared that his face turned pale.

Less than thirty meters away, the "Jiang Wanchuan" began to turn and intersected with the "Duke of Magamara", passing by each other with a distance of more than ten meters.

This distance is too close!
Legazpi was very worried that the two ships, pitching from side to side, would get tangled up in their tall masts.

These damn pagans are crazy!
He actually fired from so close!
This is a naval battle! Do you still think it's knights charging at each other and fighting in close combat?
The barbaric and ignorant people of the Ming Dynasty!

"boom!"

Before Legazpi could react, the gunners of the two ships, who were ready to fire, ordered to open fire. The huge roar made people's ears go deaf instantly. The two ships sprayed fire and poured projectiles at each other.

A terrifying whistling sound echoed on the sea, and smoke quickly covered the sea area.

At dusk, in the waters off Cebu Island, standing on the "Chiang Wanchuan", you can see black smoke rising everywhere in Cebu Harbor. There is a sunken ship in the port area with the tip of its mast exposed.

After a long battle, the Ming Navy's Suzaku Division sank four Spanish warships, captured seven, and two escaped. Legazpi died of his wounds, and Urdaneta was captured.

Li Chao commanded the navy to continue moving southward. The Cebu Port was blocked by the advance team that arrived first. One of the two Spanish ships resisted stubbornly and was sunk; the other surrendered.

Li Chao asked his personal soldiers to take out his erhu and prepare to play another song.

He took off his helmet, revealing an injured left face and half of his head wrapped in gauze.

Behind them was the Cebu Harbor with billowing black smoke, in front of them was the sea dyed blood red by the setting sun, and around them was the victorious Suzaku Navy.

Before the gong started, a sailor who was wiping blood from his butt on the deck looked up and asked, "Admiral, let's change the song today, something nicer."

Li Chao said disdainfully: "Change your shit! Every piece I play is beautiful.

Damn, I thought I had finally met my match this time, but in the end I was still no match for him!
Alas, this song breaks my heart, where can I find a soulmate in this world? "

The sad and mournful sound of the erhu sounded again, floating on the surface of the South China Sea at sunset.

(End of this chapter)