Zhang Wanfeng commanded the navy to destroy the Portuguese fleet, took control of the port, and notified the army to land and seize the city.
Ninth Army Commander Lu Xiaoqiu disembarked from the troop transport ship.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the special-shaped Danma Xicheng in front of him.
"I was just wearing a single shirt and I was sweating all over.
I thought it would be extremely hot in Guangdong and Guangxi, but I didn’t expect it to be even hotter here.
Fortunately, most of the soldiers in our army are descendants of Guangdong and Guangxi.
The army also prepared sufficient supplies of herbal tea and other heat-relieving supplies.
In this way, the army cannot fight at noon.
In this scorching hot weather, fighting at noon will result in serious non-combat attrition."
Mi Yu, the commander of the Ninth Army, said with a smile: "It's hot here, but being able to achieve military exploits makes the soldiers feel even hotter.
Our army has sufficient experience in summer vacation in Guangdong and Guangxi, which is why His Majesty chose our Ninth Army.
In the small town ahead called Danmaxi, the defenders were unprepared and the city defenses were sparse.
It was easy for our army to capture it.
It looks very strange, this is the bastion built by Westerners."
Lu Xiaoqiu looked at the bastion city in front of him, and he said easily: "The bastion still has certain advantages against cold weapons and muzzle-loading cannons.
It is a dream to resist our army's attack. This kind of masonry wall is not as strong as a concrete wall.
This is not the first time we have attacked the bastion and destroyed it with artillery. The bastion has no effect at all."
After Lu Xiaoqiu finished speaking, he looked at the first regiment of the first brigade of the Ninth Army that had completely landed on land.
The Ninth Army was ready to attack the city, and Lu Xiaoqiu commanded his troops to attack Danmasixicheng.
The siege process of the Ninth Army went smoothly. The bastion could not withstand the artillery. The city wall was quickly breached and the soldiers of the Ninth Army rushed into the city.
Danmasixi City was captured, and the Portuguese soldiers did not choose to continue to resist.
The Ninth Army captured a large number of Portuguese soldiers and indigenous soldiers.
…………………………
In Danmaxi City, senior officials of the Dahua Army gathered together to celebrate the victory of the war.
After the dinner, Lu Yuanshan invited everyone to the temporarily arranged war room of Danmaxi Governor's Mansion for a meeting.
As the commander-in-chief of this southern expedition, Lu Yuanshan said happily: "We fought very well this time, destroying the Portuguese fleet and occupying the Strait of Malacca.
We did not fully control the Strait of Malacca and allowed the Portuguese Governor Antonio to run away with the Portuguese nobles in the city.
But the Portuguese assets, especially the city of Danmaxi, could not escape.
By controlling Tan Masi, our Great China Dynasty can control the Strait of Malacca and complete the tasks entrusted by His Majesty.
Everyone is a meritorious person, and I will write military reports and memorials later to ask for merit for everyone."
As soon as Lu Yuanshan finished speaking, warm applause erupted in the room.
They completed the tasks assigned by His Majesty, and each of them received a large amount of military merit.
After the war, most people were promoted in their titles and positions.
Lu Yuanshan looked at the happy people, clenched his fists and said: "The Third Fleet worked hard to conquer the Strait of Malacca, which is worthy of joy.
But we must defend the Strait of Malacca.
Once the Strait of Malacca is lost in our hands, not only will the military merits we have achieved disappear, but we will also be punished by His Majesty."
Zhang Wanfeng, the commander-in-chief of the Third Fleet, volunteered: "Half of our Third Fleet's warships are left to guard the Strait of Malacca.
I personally stayed in Danmaxi City to take charge, and the Portuguese and indigenous people took advantage of it and asked them to use concrete to build coastal defense forts.
We also need to build hospitals and ports to support the operations of the First Fleet.
Let the battleship Wei Qing lead the other half of the Third Fleet and follow the First Fleet on the expedition."
Zhang Wanfeng led the Third Fleet and had captured the Strait of Malacca.
He has achieved sufficient military success.
The battle against the Dutch was mainly commanded by Governor Lu Yuanshan, who did not receive much military glory.
Zhang Wanfeng retreated bravely from the rapids and chose to stay in the Strait of Malacca.
Only by protecting the Strait of Malacca can you ensure that you retain your military merits and leave a good impression on others.
When Lu Yuanshan heard that Governor Zhang Wanfeng took the initiative to invite him, he smiled.
Zhang Wanfeng is responsible for staying in the Malacca Strait, and the next task is easy to arrange.
He can also more conveniently command the Third Fleet in operations.
Lu Yuanshan looked at Ninth Army Commander Lu Xiaoqiu and said: "Army Commander, we only occupy Danmasixicheng now.
A large part of the narrow Strait of Malacca is still controlled by the Portuguese.
The main force of the Portuguese navy has been eliminated by us, and you have also seen that the Portuguese army has very weak combat effectiveness.
I suggest that the Ninth Army stay here in Malacca and, with the assistance of Governor Zhang, control the Strait of Malacca.
In the Old Port Xuanwei Division opposite Danmasixicheng, the army can also take over this big island with the assistance of the Third Fleet.
In this way we can fully control the Strait of Malacca.
Wait until the naval battle between our First Fleet and the Dutch Fleet determines the winner.
I am sending someone to inform the army to set off from Malacca and land in Batavia."
Lu Yuanshan chose to keep the army here in Malacca so that the First Fleet could go into battle lightly.
The strength of the Dutch fleet was stronger than that of the Portuguese, and they lost the opportunity to raid again.
The Royal Navy of China could easily defeat the Portuguese fleet.
This is closely related to the fact that the Portuguese underestimated their enemies.
Lu Yuanshan reviewed the naval battle and found that the Portuguese underestimated the enemy.
Their misjudgment of the range of the Royal Navy's naval guns was the main reason for their defeat.
The Portuguese fleet entered directly within the effective range of the naval guns.
The battleship Huo Qubing fired three salvos, sinking and damaging several major warships, including the flagship of the Portuguese fleet.
The Third Fleet was in an invincible position right from the start.
Taking a lesson from the Battle of Malacca, the Dutch would never give them this chance.
The Dutch are more familiar with the waters near Java Island, and they will use the terrain to deal with the Royal Navy of China.
They will definitely use tactics such as sneak attacks.
Troop ships and transport ships, slow and incompetent ships, will be a breakthrough for the Dutch.
The Ninth Army was of no help at all during the naval battle, and was asked to allocate troops for protection.
Before the war started, Lu Yuanshan saw the fatal weaknesses exposed by their expedition.
Only then would he insist on attacking Malacca first, seizing an advance base, and placing the army in Malacca.
Malacca is very close to Java Island. After the navy wins, arranging the army to set off from Malacca will not affect the war situation.
Once the navy loses, it will be easier for them to retreat without the encumbrance of the army.
Lu Xiaoqiu knew the mission of the Ninth Army. They were here to cooperate with the navy's operations.
His superior, Zhang Yuliang, the Governor of the Southeast Governor's Mansion, specifically told Lu Xiaoqiu before the Ninth Army set off for the expedition.
This time they went to fight in Nanyang. The Ninth Army had to obey the command of the navy before landing.
Lu Xiaoqiu nodded and said: "Governor Lu, our Ninth Army will cooperate with the navy's operations.
During this period, we will occupy other areas of Danmaxixi City. When the time is right, we will cross the sea and capture the Old Port Xuanwei Division.
Take advantage of this opportunity to completely control the Strait of Malacca.
Wait for the naval victory and then sail to Batavia."
Lu Yuanshan saw that Commander Lu Xiaoqiu of the Ninth Army was very cooperative.
He felt more relaxed and continued to arrange the navy.
"The First Fleet and the Third Fleet have traveled a long distance from Guangzhou, and the condition of the warships needs to be thoroughly inspected.
We are about to face a large-scale battle, and we cannot allow warships to enter the battlefield with injuries.
The Portuguese shipyard was relatively well preserved, allowing craftsmen accompanying the army to immediately resume operation of the Danmasi Shipyard.
The shipyard's capabilities must at least be enough to repair damaged warships.
Navy officers and soldiers live on ships for a long time, and they are also very tired.
Let them go ashore to rest and recharge their batteries for the coming war.
The Battle of Malacca has proven to us the power of new artillery shells.
We stayed in Malacca to rest while waiting for the first batch of supplies from Guangzhou."
Lu Yuanshan made arrangements to allow the navy officers and soldiers to rest and the warships to enter the shipyard for maintenance.
He summoned his officers and began to discuss a battle plan to attack Java Island.
Lu Yuanshan did not say clearly when he would go on an expedition, but all officers knew that the navy would go out when the supply of new artillery shells was in place.
…………………………
Yuan Pingsheng used a sextant to calculate his location.
He led all the men of the Military Intelligence Bureau on a large sea ship and drifted in the sea.
They received information about the Dutch in Batavia and immediately fled the port.
The Dutch reacted very quickly. After realizing that something was wrong, they sent a ship to pursue them, but it was already too late.
Yuan Pingsheng got rid of the Dutch pursuit and did not dare to take the main route, but went directly into the vast sea.
He had a sextant and compass in his hand to determine the ship's position, so he did not lose his way.
"Sir, which direction are we going?"
When his men saw Yuan Pingsheng put down his sextant, they quickly asked.
Yuan Pingsheng pointed to the northwest and said: "The information we have obtained through hard work is just to bring to the navy."
He knew the navy would move along the coast of Vietnam.
He only needs to head northwest to the Strait of Malacca, then turn the ship and head north.
The navy's marching speed is slower, and they can also meet the navy.
The ship was drifting in the sea. After a long voyage, the situation was far worse than Yuan Pingsheng imagined.
They were afraid of being discovered by the Dutch and did not dare to land at all.
The water stored in the cabin has become sour and bitter, and the vegetables have been used up. They make a living by catching sea fish.
"Sir, there is a warship ahead, and above it is the flag of our Great China Dynasty."
"Very good."
Yuan Pingsheng was overjoyed. As soon as he opened his mouth, his chapped lips began to bleed.
He picked up his binoculars and looked at the warships patrolling the sea ahead.
He had seen this kind of slender warship in Guangzhou. This type of ship is called a clipper ship.
They are generally used for patrols and communications.
Seeing this situation, Yuan Pingsheng kept thinking in his mind.
Could it be that the navy already controls this sea area?
Yuan Pingsheng glanced at Dutch officer Rust.
The prisoner he had brought from Batavia was now severely dehydrated, but not dead yet.
He looked at his subordinates and ordered: "You remember, we are Han merchants in the Nanyang region, don't expose our identities."
Yuan Pingsheng was still full of vigilance, and he was not prepared to reveal his identity.
Their sea ship is close to the navy's clipper ship.
Yuan Pingsheng used his diplomatic skills to exchange a bucket of water and some food from the navy.
At the same time, he learned from these soldiers that the navy had occupied the Strait of Malacca.
When Yuan Pingsheng learned about this situation, he was completely relieved.
His identity makes him always vigilant and he will not trust anyone easily.
He sailed a ship to Danmasixicheng and met the commander of the Southern Expedition Fleet before he could tell all the information he had learned.
…………………………
Lu Yuanshan looked sad. The captain and staff of the First Fleet discussed the battle plan many times.
None of them reached an agreement, mainly because they knew too little about the Dutch.
They proposed many combat plans, but these were completely castles in the air.
"Governor, good news. Yuan Pingsheng, director of the Nanyang Department of the Military Intelligence Bureau, is asking for an audience. He has a lot of confidential information about the Dutch in his hands.
Director Yuan didn't know me, so I asked him for confidential information, but he kept silent and asked the governor to see him in person."
When Lu Yuanshan heard what Chief of Staff Zhou You said, he was extremely excited.
"Take me quickly to see Director Yuan Pingsheng. With these Dutch confidential information, we can formulate a targeted combat plan."
Lu Yuanshan and Zhou You took several staff officers to the next room to meet Yuan Pingsheng, director of the Nanyang Department of the Military Intelligence Bureau.
He saw Yuan Pingsheng's hair was dry, his lips were chapped, and he looked extremely dehydrated.
Lu Yuanshan and Yuan Pingsheng had met several times before.
The two of them were not familiar with each other, but they both knew each other.
"Director Yuan, thank you for your hard work."
Yuan Pingsheng smiled and said: "It's all for your Majesty's service, so why does this little hardship count?"
After the two of them confirmed each other's identity.
Only then did Yuan Pingsheng hand over the intelligence that the Military Intelligence Bureau had worked so hard to obtain to Lu Yuanshan.
After Lu Yuanshan and Zhou You read the information, they looked surprised.
The intelligence was very detailed and contained detailed information about the Dutch fleet.
The layout and power of the Batavia coastal defense batteries.
The most critical point is that Yuan Pingsheng actually captured a prisoner.
As long as the prisoner's mouth is pried open, the Dutch fleet's fighting habits can be understood.
Knowing this information, they can formulate targeted combat plans.
…………………………
Lu Yuanshan stood next to a huge map. He looked at the captains of the ships standing in front.
Military Intelligence provided detailed intelligence on the Dutch.
Based on this information, they have formulated three sets of combat plans.
Two of them are offensive battle plans, and the other is a defeated and retreat battle plan.
Lu Yuanshan looked at everyone and said: "Everyone has learned that the Dutch fleet is not weak at all.
The Dutch fleet in Batavia has received local support.
They have a total of five sailing battleships that are similar to our second-tier battleships.
Forty-two warships similar to cruisers, as well as several smaller warships.
The Dutch fleet is not much different from ours in strength, and they have an advantageous location.
Our only advantage now is that our naval guns have a long range.
This time, the two combat plans A and B both make full use of the advantages of our warships.
Today, the supplies supported by Guangzhou have arrived in Danmasixicheng.
The new artillery shells we have stored are enough for a large-scale naval battle.
After these days of rest and recuperation in the Navy, the physical fitness of the soldiers and the morale of the army have returned to their peak.
The shipyard has also detected hidden dangers in some warships.
Now I am ordering the Royal Navy’s Southern Expedition Fleet to officially set off tomorrow.”
After Lu Yuanshan gave an order, the naval officers and soldiers were resting in Damxicheng.
They received orders from their superiors and all returned to the warships to prepare for the expedition. This chapter has been completed!
