When the returning envoy recounted Wu Chenghou's words intact, even Emperor Xin was stunned.
"Get down!"
He waved his hand, and with some surprise opened the letter sent back by Marquis Wu Cheng, and found that the content above was exactly the same as what the messenger had conveyed.
Not only that.
It is written in the book that Emperor Xin originally planned to borrow only five tower ships, ten fighting ships and thirty stern ships, but Marquis Wu Cheng felt that this number was too small and took the initiative to increase the number.
Among them, the number of high-rise ships has not changed, still five, but the number of fighting ships and stern ships has been doubled.
What is this concept?
A building ship is a large warship with multi-story buildings and offensive and defensive facilities. It looks like a building, so it is called a building ship. Based on the manufacturing level of this era, Dali's building ship can carry between 4,000 and 5,000 people.
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With the number of Di Xin's current expeditionary force, no matter how large it is, it cannot be controlled, so five tower ships are just enough.
However, because the large ship is too large, although it has strong combat power, its ability to move on the sea is also extremely limited. If there are constant harassment by small boats, the large ship will not be able to catch up.
At this time, a battleship is needed.
The scale of the fighting ship is much smaller than that of the building ship, and the number of people it can accommodate is not that many. Depending on the size, it can accommodate about one hundred to five hundred people.
However, generally speaking, most people choose a fighting ship that can accommodate 150 to 200 people. This not only ensures the combat effectiveness of the fighting ship, but also does not affect the speed of the fighting ship.
For a battleship of this size, there is a parapet on the ship, which is about three feet high, and a hole is opened under the ship. Five feet inside the ship, a shed is built, which is in line with the parapet. On the shed, a parapet is built to line up the warriors. There are trees on the front, back, left and right.
Flags, streamers, and golden drums.
Those holes are used for inserting oars, and there are arrow holes on the parapet. Soldiers on the upper platform of the stern are responsible for observing the situation on the water, and they will fight with flags, streamers and golden drums to boost their momentum.
If there is an attack from a faster boat, the fighting ship will take the initiative to attack it.
Naturally, war at sea cannot be all about shooting at each other with bows and crossbows. In order to destroy the enemy at the end of the battle, boarding battles are also indispensable.
However, given the size of a building ship, many shores cannot be approached at all and are easily stranded, even for some larger fighting ships.
What is needed at this time is the cockroach.
The small boat wrapped in cowhide does not carry any weapons, but it is extremely fast. During boarding battles, it can transport soldiers to the enemy's ship as quickly as possible.
Of course, the number of people that can be accommodated by the banquet is also the smallest, probably around twenty to thirty.
Most of these ships are placed on high-rise ships, and a few are on battleships. They are only launched into the water during boarding battles or when troops land.
Building ships, fighting ships and stern ships, if used in Blue Star terms, are probably equivalent to Dali's aircraft carriers, destroyers and warships.
Five tower ships, ten battleships, and thirty stern ships were enough to send Emperor Xin's entire expeditionary force to Ryukyu Island.
However, if a fleet of this size encounters an enemy at sea, in order to ensure the safety of the building ship, the fighting ships cannot move too far away from the building ship, so they can only focus on defense.
But it can only prevent the enemy from constantly harassing them with small boats. If the enemy takes the initiative to engage in a boarding battle, a fleet of this size cannot stop it.
However, Emperor Xin would not be afraid if he came to the side.
What the majestic immortal army is least afraid of is this kind of close combat.
It’s not that Di Xin didn’t want more warships.
However, Southern Xinjiang does not have this obligation to provide warships to the Northern Xinjiang expeditionary force. Without the order of the imperial court, it is possible to refuse with a letter.
Coupled with the relationship between Wu Chenghou and Emperor Xin.
Therefore, Emperor Xin could not speak too loudly, and a fleet of this size was also the minimum requirement for the expeditionary force to cross the sea.
But even so, Di Xin is ready for a protracted war.
If he refused once, he asked twice, and twice asked three times. After capturing the Uighur clan and realizing the possible conspiracy of the barbarians, Emperor Xin was not in a hurry to start his expedition.
Di Xin didn't mind delaying for a while and waiting for the next batch of supplies from Northern Xinjiang.
As the distance between the expeditionary force continues to grow, the food and supplies sent from northern Xinjiang will also take longer.
But he didn't expect that Marquis Wu Cheng would agree without even a moment's hesitation.
Yes, there was not even a hesitation.
That's right, based on the distance between the camp and Shuilaoguan, it was probably not as if his letter had just arrived in the hands of Marquis Wu Cheng, so he wrote a reply and had it delivered back.
It felt like I had been waiting for a long time and was afraid that Di Xin would suddenly regret it.
In his reply, Wu Chenghou also added ten battleships and thirty stern ships to him.
The addition of these warships means that after encountering an enemy at sea, Di Xin can launch a counterattack against the enemy's warships after leaving enough fighting ships to protect the building's ships.
this……
Di Xin couldn't help but narrowed his eyes.
When did that Marquis Wu Cheng become so kind?
But since it is a free benefit, he will not refuse it. Even if there is any conspiracy, he will just expose it as soon as he sees it.
And considering the possible coalition forces of the barbarians, the bigger the fleet, the better.
"Tell me to go down and prepare to receive the fleet sent by Marquis Wu Cheng in three days."
Following Di Xin's order, the army became busy again.
Before the arrival of the fleet, it takes three days to build a simple port.
Of course, it is impossible to repair the building to the docking ship in three days, but there is no problem if we hurry up and allow the fighting ship to dock.
Anyway, it is just a temporary port, as long as it can be used temporarily.
The location of the port can be reached from the cliff where the camp is located, along the sea line. If an enemy wants to attack the port, the condescending army can launch a counterattack from the camp with bows and arrows.
Not to mention, facing the direction of the port, Di Xin also set up a row of giant crossbows with greater lethality.
This lasted until three days later.
It was almost dawn when the soldiers on patrol discovered traces of the fleet on the sea where the fog had not yet dissipated.
The flag hanging on the fleet is the symbol of the Southern Xinjiang Navy.
…
Under the command of the soldiers, the building boat stopped a little further away, then put down a few sterns, and parked together with the fighting ship at the temporarily built port.
After getting off the boat, Marquis Wu Cheng, who was wearing armor, took the lead and knelt down to Emperor Xin.
"I have met His Royal Highness Prince Yu in my humble position."
"Don't do this. Marquis Wu Cheng is really embarrassing this king."
Di Xin quickly stretched out his hand to stop his movement.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty. It is natural for all ministers to pay homage to you. There is no such thing as a curse."
As he said this, Wu Chenghou followed Di Xin's movements and stood up.
With enthusiasm almost overflowing from his face, Emperor Xin held Wuchenghou's arms and said humbly: "Wuchenghou is King Jing's uncle, and King Jing is my third brother. Speaking of which, Wuchenghou
The lord is also my elder."
"You are an elder, how can you kneel down to me?"
"If my father knew about it, he wouldn't know how to reprimand me!"