Huangming

Chapter 500 South China Sea Flames, A Series of Schemes

The morning light at Fengguiwei, carrying sea mist, lazily spilled onto the battlefield of Shetou Mountain.

The soil was mixed with dark red bloodstains, which, when blown by the sea breeze, emitted a pungent, fishy smell.

Several Dutch soldiers were using iron hooks to drag the corpses of Ming soldiers into a pit at the foot of the mountain.

Although last night's ambush repelled the Ming army, the corpses and scattered weapons still made them uneasy.

Not far away, several Dutch military doctors dressed in medical uniforms were bandaging the wounds of wounded Ming prisoners of war with gauze soaked in alcohol.

It wasn't that he had any good intentions; these prisoners of war were "living bargaining chips" that needed to be kept to exchange for Commander Reyjoz and his captured comrades.

"Hurry up! Clean up all the bodies, and the gun positions on the emplacements need to be recalibrated!"

A Dutch officer shouted at the top of his lungs, his boots crunching over the broken arrows on the ground with a crisp "crack".

He had barely finished speaking when a scout came tumbling down the mountain path, his face contorted with terror, not even bothering to straighten his helmet which was askew.

"Commander... Commander! Something terrible has happened!"

The scout rushed up to Gao Wenlu, bent over and panting heavily, his voice trembling.

"The main force of the Ming Dynasty's Tianjin Navy has returned! They have arrived at Longmen Port and are heading towards Fengguiwei!"

"what?"

The bronze compass in Gao Wenlu's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter." He suddenly grabbed the scout's collar, his eyes looking like he wanted to devour him.

"Where did the message come from? Did you see it clearly?"

He had just breathed a sigh of relief last night because the ambush had succeeded, how come the main force of the Ming army arrived in the blink of an eye?
This speed was faster than he had expected.

The scout, struggling to breathe from being pulled, said:

"It was...it was the pirates nearby who told me! They said they saw a large fleet of Ming warships, their sails blotting out the sky, heading towards Fengguiwei!"

Gao Wenlu's heart skipped a beat.

He immediately thought of the pirates who had been chased relentlessly by Mao Wenlong.

Mao Wenlong spent several months suppressing bandits in Taiwan, killing many pirate leaders. The remaining pirates hated him to the bone, and their tip-off was clearly intended to use the Dutch to take revenge on the Ming army.

This news is most likely true!
"Damn it!"

Gao Wenlu released the scout and kicked the wooden crate next to him. The shells inside rolled out and made a clanging sound on the ground.

What he worried about most happened.

The main force of the Ming army arrived too quickly. The fortress was not yet completed, and there was no news of reinforcements. If they were blocked in the port of Fengguiwei, the thirteen ships would not even have room to turn around and could only wait to be sunk by the Ming army's cannon fire!

"Everyone, listen up! Board the ship immediately!"

Gao Wenlu screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice exploding in the sea fog.

"Sailors, raise the sails and weigh anchor immediately! Soldiers, board the ship with all ammunition and supplies! Hurry! If you're too late, it's all over!"

As soon as the order was given, the coastline at Fengguiwei instantly descended into chaos.

The Dutch soldiers no longer cared about dealing with the corpses or guarding the prisoners of war; they carried their muskets and dragged their cannonballs and ran towards the sea.

The sailors, barefoot on the cold sand, frantically turned the winch, slowly pulling up the heavy anchor chain. The creaking sound of the anchor chain rubbing against the hull was more anxious than any horn.

Those Luzon auxiliaries left on the shore saw the Dutch running in a hurry, some squeezed onto the ships, while others took the opportunity to escape into the mountains and forests, creating a chaotic scene.

Gao Wenlu stood on the shore, watching the sails of the first armed merchant ship slowly rise and billow in the sea breeze, and felt a little more at ease.

But just as he turned to board his command ship, he caught a glimpse of a dense array of sails on the distant horizon.

Those are Ming Dynasty warships!
The black hulls resembled giant beasts, breaking through the morning mist and speeding toward Fengguiwei. The apricot-yellow flags of the "Great Ming Tianjin Navy" on the sails were clearly visible in the morning light.

"Hurry! Hurry up!"

Gao Wenlu rushed towards the command ship like a madman, scrambling and rolling onto the deck, and roaring at the helmsman.

"Set sail immediately! Head out to sea! We can't let them trap us in the harbor!"

The helmsman dared not delay, and suddenly turned the rudder, causing the ship to slowly turn and head away from the coast.

The twelve Dutch ships that followed also raised their sails and followed the command ship to retreat into the deep sea.

The Dutch soldiers on deck clung to the gunwale, looking back at the approaching Ming fleet, their faces filled with lingering fear.

They could sense that the Ming warships were getting closer and closer, and they could even faintly hear the bugle calls from the enemy ships.

now.

Standing on the deck of the first-class Fujian ship, Mao Wenlong watched the Dutch ships gradually disappear into the distance, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Did you really think you could escape?"

Angelica, standing behind him, gripped the gunwale, a hint of surprise flashing in her azure eyes.

Mao Wenlong acted swiftly and decisively, almost causing a major blunder.

Fortunately, she had notified the Dutch in advance.
Otherwise, these Dutchmen would have been wiped out by the Ming army without lifting a finger.

As for why they tipped off the Dutch.

The reason is also very simple.

What she wanted was for both the Ming Dynasty and the Dutch to suffer heavy losses, not for one side to win completely.

The powerful Ming Dynasty navy was not a good thing for Portugal either.

the other side.

Deng Shizhong's troops, who had blocked the Dutch escape route in advance, were already on high alert.

"General, the Dutch are here!"

The guards beside him roared.

Deng Shizhong snapped back to his senses and locked his gaze on the Dutch armed merchant ship at the very front.

The bow cannons were slowly turning, their dark barrels aimed at his fleet.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging hatred, and roared out a command that cracked in his voice:

"Artillery Battalion!"

Calibrate the sights! Three hundred paces! Free fire!
The small convoy is ready.

"As soon as the cannon fire stops, rush up and take over the guns!"

The Ming soldiers on the deck were already poised to attack.

The gunners carried heavy shells and loaded gunpowder into the breech of the breech-loading cannon. The matchlock was lit, and the hissing sparks were particularly glaring in the humid air.

Twenty straw boats spread out close to the sea, each with five soldiers gripping short swords and iron shields, their eyes filled with a resolute determination to die.

Last night's disastrous night raid is like a thorn stuck in everyone's heart; today is the day to remove it and seek revenge.

However, the Dutch fleet reacted faster than Deng Shizhong had anticipated.

Gao Wenlu stood by the helm of the flagship, and the sudden appearance of Ming warships in his telescope made his heart sink.

There was an ambush to the south too!

He instantly realized that this was a trap set up by the Ming army, with Mao Wenlong's main force in front and Deng Shizhong's interception behind. If they couldn't break through this defensive line, the thirteen ships would be buried here sooner or later.

"Damn Ming people!"

He slammed his fist on the gunwale and roared the order:

"All ships! Hard to port! Concentrate fire on the Ming's small boats! Kofilin, prepare your long guns. Don't let them get close!"

The advantages of the Dutch ship were on full display at this moment.

Like agile sea creatures, the thirteen ships turned rapidly with the help of the sea breeze, and the long guns of the Kofilin on both sides of the ship opened fire at the same time.

This long cannon had a range of over a hundred paces greater than the Ming army's breech-loading cannons, and a faster rate of fire. Its lead bullets, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, rained down on the Ming army's small boats.

Just after the first wave of shelling, three grass boats were hit in the middle, splinters flew everywhere, and seawater rushed into the cabins instantly. The soldiers on board didn't even have time to call for help before they sank to the bottom of the sea with the capsized boats.

"General! The small boat can't get close!"

The cries of the guards came from below.

Deng Shizhong peered out and saw that the grass boats on the sea were like leaves ravaged by a gale, one after another being hit by the Dutch long cannons. Some boats had large holes punched in their hulls, and some had their masts broken in half. Floating on the sea were broken planks, scattered weapons, and the struggling figures of soldiers.

He gripped the knife even tighter.

The lesson of last night was still fresh in their minds. The Dutch long-range firepower gave them no chance to engage. If this dragged on, forget about revenge; their fleet would be crippled!

"General! If this continues, the small fleet will be wiped out!"

The deputy general was so anxious that he stamped his feet.

Deng Shizhong's gaze swept across the stern of the boat.

There were twenty converted fire ships moored there, their hulls stuffed with dry thatch and sulfur, and barrels of kerosene piled on their decks.

This was a backup plan he had prepared overnight after returning to camp last night. He had intended to save it for when all else failed, but now, there was no turning back.

"Get on the fire ship!"

Deng Shizhong suddenly drew his ring-pommel sword, pointing the tip towards the Dutch fleet, his voice filled with a desperate resolve:
"Whoever is willing to lead the boat, I will grant him the honor of being the first to scale the ship. If he dies in battle, he will be given a grand funeral! His family will be supported by the government!"

As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of dark-skinned sailors stepped out from the crowd.

They were all fishermen from the Fujian coast. Their families had been robbed by the Dutch. At this moment, there was no fear in their eyes, only a fierce determination to perish together with the enemy.

"General! Let's go!"

The lead sailor hoisted a barrel of kerosene and strode toward the fireboat, followed closely by the others. They skillfully untied the mooring ropes and poured the kerosene onto the thatch on the hull.

"ignition!"

Deng Shizhong roared.

The tinderbox was thrown at the fireboat, instantly igniting the thatch. The flames spread rapidly along the oil, soon engulfing the entire ship in flames.

Dozens of sailors rowed with all their might, and the fire ship, like five burning meteors, rushed toward the Dutch fleet with the help of the wind.

Upon seeing this, Gao Wenlu's pupils suddenly contracted:

"Quickly! Fire on those fire ships! Don't let them get close!"

The long guns of the Dutch ship, Koefering, opened fire again, and lead bullets whistled as they struck the burning ship.

Some of the fire ships were smashed to pieces, and the flames fell into the sea, splashing up a shower of sparks.

Some of the fire ships had their hulls pierced, yet they continued to surge forward due to inertia. Even when the sailors were hit by bullets, they clung tightly to the oars until the very last moment before plunging into the sea of ​​fire.

However, a few fire ships still managed to break through the cannon fire.

The first fire ship slammed into the side of a Dutch armed merchant ship. Thatch and oil instantly clung to the oak hull, and flames roared up, spreading rapidly along the gunwales and quickly reaching the cabins. The second fire ship rammed into the stern of a galleon. Oil seeped into the cabin through the gaps in the stern, igniting the gunpowder barrels inside. With a deafening roar, the galleon's stern was blown to pieces, sending splinters and flames soaring into the sky. The Dutch soldiers on board screamed and jumped into the sea, only to be burned by the oil in the water.

Chaos erupted on the sea surface.

The burning Dutch ship billowed thick black smoke, and the crew tried to put out the fire, but they couldn't extinguish the flames that were soaked in kerosene.

The other Dutch ships tried to escape, but were blocked by the burning vessels and could only spin around in place.

Deng Shizhong seized the opportunity and ordered again: "The remaining small boats, charge forward! Fujian ships, aim the main guns at the Dutch ships that are not on fire!"

The Ming army's cannons roared again, and the small fleet, taking advantage of the Dutch confusion, finally approached the enemy ships.

Soldiers, carrying iron shields, rushed onto the deck of the Dutch ship on shaky gangplanks. The sounds of daggers clashing against scimitars, the soldiers' shouts, and the crackling of flames mingled together, echoing throughout the sea.

At this moment, Mao Wenlong finally arrived with his main fleet.

Suddenly, a dense array of sails appeared on the southeastern sea. A crimson banner bearing the character "Mao" was torn open amidst the smoke and fire. Accompanied by the deafening sound of war drums, more than twenty warships cleaved through the waves like sharp swords.

It was the main force of the Tianjin Navy led by Mao Wenlong.

The first-class Fujian ship at the bow was majestic, its oak hull crashing through the waves and splashing water a few feet high. The breech-loading cannons on both sides of the ship were already loaded, their dark muzzles pointed at the center of the battlefield, instantly adding a touch of intimidation to the already tense situation.

"They are the main force of the General Headquarters!"

Standing on the deck of his warship, Deng Shizhong saw the familiar command flag, and his eyes suddenly welled up with tears, but then his heart tightened with anxiety.

At this moment, the five Dutch warships had broken through the fire ships' obstruction and were speeding towards the southern sea, their sails billowing like a herd of wild horses.

Gao Wenlu stood on the top of the remaining flagship ship, staring intently at the approaching sails of the Ming army's main force, sweat mingling with seawater streaming down his forehead.

Once entangled by Mao Wenlong's main force, there will be no chance of escape.

"Raise all the sails! Get the rowers to go all out! Forget about the damaged boats!"

"Anyone who dares to be a step too slow will be thrown to feed the sharks!"

The Dutch sailors, already terrified, were now enraged by Gao Wenlu's roar and rushed to the oars, rowing with all their might.

The soldiers in charge of operating the sails braved the Ming army's cannon fire, climbing the mast on their hands and feet to unfurl the last spare sail.

Suddenly, the Dutch warships increased their speed dramatically, their hulls skimming across the sea like arrows released from a bow, leaving a blinding white trail in the sunlight.

"Chase! Chase!"

Deng Shizhong slammed his hand on the gunwale, making the wooden railing vibrate.

His warships immediately turned around, and the sailors rowed with all their might. However, the Fujian ships were inherently bulky and had a deep draft. Although the Haicang ships were slightly faster, they were still far less agile than the Dutch warships.

The sea breeze seemed to be helping the Dutch, billowing their sails so that no matter how the Ming warships chased after them, the distance between the two sides continued to widen.

Deng Shizhong watched helplessly as the sails of the Dutch warship shrank from the size of a fist to the size of a grain of rice, and finally disappeared completely on the southern horizon.

He slammed his fist on the deck, blood seeping through his fingers, but he felt no pain whatsoever.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

He growled, his eyes burning with fury.

The humiliation of being ambushed last night, the hardship of defeating the enemy with fire ships today, and the helplessness of failing at the last moment all turned into scalding blood, stuck in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.

He had never longed for a fast ship, a warship that could catch up with the Dutch and allow him to take his revenge, as much as he did at this moment.

The smoke from the battle gradually dissipated, leaving only wrecked ship planks and broken masts floating in the waves. Occasionally, struggling soldiers could be seen being pulled up one by one by the Ming army's lifeboats.

The Dutch prisoners, soaking wet, huddled on the deck, their former arrogance gone, replaced by terrified eyes.

The Ming soldiers all looked exhausted; some leaned against the ship's side, panting, while others silently collected the bodies of their comrades. A heavy atmosphere permeated the entire battlefield.

Mao Wenlong stood on the deck of the first-class Fujian ship, his hand resting on the cold bronze telescope, the lens still reflecting the distant image of the Dutch ship.

He slowly lowered his binoculars, his gaze sweeping over the mess on the sea, his brows furrowing into a knot.

"I thought the ambush I set up would wipe them out in one fell swoop, but I didn't expect..."

He murmured quietly.

"These red-haired barbarian ships are moving so fast."

Although most of the seventeen attacking ships were sunk, five escaped. Such a result can hardly be called a victory.

The casualties suffered by the Ming navy and the looting of the people could not be compensated by a few sunken ships.
"General Mao need not be upset."

Angelica emerged from the cabin, having changed out of her previous sailor's attire and into a Portuguese long dress embroidered with gold thread. She toyed with a gilded pocket watch in her hand, a playful smile on her lips.

"The Dutch warships relied on Western keel design and triangular hard sails, and their speed and seakeeping were far superior to the Fujian ships of the Ming Dynasty."

My Portuguese caravels are comparable in performance to Dutch ships. If the Ming Dynasty is willing to pay a good price, not only can we sell the warships, but we can also hire shipbuilders.

That way, if we encounter the Dutch again, we won't be afraid of not being able to catch them.

Mao Wenlong turned to look at her, his eyes unwavering, but instead carrying a hint of pride stemming from his bloodline.

"You seem to have forgotten that during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He led his treasure ships on voyages to the Western Ocean. Those ships were over forty zhang long and eighteen zhang wide, capable of carrying a thousand people, and visited more than thirty countries. At that time, your ships were still just circling around in the coastal waters, weren't they?"

His gaze fell on the distant direction of Taiwan, and his tone became increasingly firm.

"The shipbuilding technology of the Ming Dynasty was only neglected for decades due to the maritime ban, not inferior to that of others."

Before long, the ships we build ourselves will be faster and stronger than those of the Dutch.

Why should our Celestial Empire, a superior nation, need to buy ships from others to survive?

Upon hearing this, Angelica raised an eyebrow, her joking expression vanishing, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes before turning into a faint smile.

She said no more, but leaned against the ship's railing, gazing at the distant sea.

This seemingly rough and rugged Ming general seemed to possess a tenacity that she couldn't understand.

Perhaps, this ancient empire is not as vulnerable as she imagined.

"Since General Mao trusts the shipbuilding technology of the Ming Dynasty, my staying here would be superfluous."

"Goodbye?"

Mao Wenlong's brows furrowed sharply, and his eyes instantly filled with vigilance.

"Where are you going?"

He didn't believe that this Western woman would leave without a reason. Just now she was urging him to sell the boat, but now she was in a hurry to take her leave. There must be something fishy going on.

Angelica turned around, leaning casually against the ship's railing, her deep blue eyes reflecting the shimmering sea, a calculating smile playing on her lips:
"The Dutch fled in panic, and the fresh water and food on the ships probably wouldn't last more than a few days."

The faster they fled, the more flaws they revealed.

This is the perfect opportunity for Portugal to deal with them. We can't let these bandits who robbed our Portuguese merchant ships return to Luzon peacefully, can we?

"You are using my Great Ming Dynasty!"

Mao Wenlong reacted instantly, and his tone suddenly turned stern.

She had previously sent news of the Dutch attack, but now it seems that this was not a "favor" at all, but rather a ploy to weaken the Dutch fleet through the Ming Dynasty so that she could reap the benefits!
"use?"

Angelica covered her mouth and chuckled.

"General Mao's words were unpleasant to hear."

The Ming Dynasty wanted to defend Penghu, and Portugal wanted to suppress the Netherlands. We each got what we needed; it was simply a fair trade.

As she spoke, she lifted her skirt and stepped onto the swaying gangplank to get onto the waiting boat.

Two Portuguese sailors were already poling in the boat and caught her steadily.

The small boat rowed towards the "Black Sea Dragon" not far away. Angelica suddenly turned around and shouted towards the direction of the Fujian ship:

"By the way, General Mao!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough to penetrate the sea breeze and reach Mao Wenlong's ears.

"I think you don't need to linger here any longer. You should hurry back to Longmen Port."

Those pirates you chased until they had nowhere to go are probably right now surrounding Lungmen Harbor, waiting to take advantage of any opportunity to burn, kill, and plunder!

As soon as he finished speaking, the small boat had already docked with the "Black Sea Dragon".

Angelica nimbly climbed the rope ladder, and the moment she reached the deck, she raised her hand and shouted to the helmsman:

"Full sail! Chase them southwest!"

The black sails unfurled rapidly, billowing in the sea breeze. The ship slowly turned and sped off in the direction the Dutch had fled, leaving only a receding black sail silhouette.

Mao Wenlong stood frozen on the deck of the Fujian-style ship, Angelica's last words exploding in his mind like a thunderclap.

He finally understood the woman's scheme:
She not only lured the Dutch to Penghu, causing the Ming Dynasty to fight the Dutch.

They also leaked the news that the main force of the Ming Dynasty had returned to Penghu to the pirates, inducing them to attack Longmen Port.

Now, pursuing and annihilating the weakened Dutch fleet would not only weaken the competitor but also put the Ming Dynasty in a difficult position, achieving three goals at once!
"That Western woman, what a deep scheme!"

Mao Wenlong clenched his fists tightly, his eyes almost overflowing with murderous intent.

He had previously assumed that Angelica was only interested in selling ships for profit, but he never expected that she would use the Ming Dynasty, the Netherlands, and the pirates as pawns, all to pave the way for Portugal's interests in the Ming Dynasty.

The so-called "mutual benefit" is simply using the Ming Dynasty as a shield!

"Damn it! Beautiful Western women are indeed the most untrustworthy!"

He cursed under his breath, all the goodwill he had felt towards Angelica earlier due to their "intelligence connection" now turning into a chilling coldness.

Although there are garrison troops in Longmen Port, most of them are old and weak. If pirates were to attack, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Next time I see this woman, I absolutely must not believe her lies.

And you must torture it a hundred times!

One hundred times, one hundred times!

"Send me the military order!"

Mao Wenlong whirled around and roared at his personal guards behind him:
"Deng Shizhong led his troops to stay here to clean up the battlefield, count the prisoners, and repair the warships!"
The rest of you, weigh anchor immediately and set sail with this town back to Longmen Port!

"As ordered!"

The guards responded in unison and turned to run towards their respective ships.

In an instant, the anchor chains of the Fujian ships were retracted with a "clatter," the oars of the Haicang ships were put back into the water, and the Ming warships that were originally anchored on the sea turned around and sped toward Longmen Port.

Mao Wenlong stood on the deck of the ship, gazing at the approaching Longmen Port, his heart heavy with emotion.

If Angelica's words are true, Lungmen Port may already be engulfed in war.

Damn it!
These damned pirates must be wiped out!

We have to suppress it!

(End of this chapter)