The Jinghua expedition fleet turned around and headed towards the direction from which the Spanish came. Gao Jing issued various orders while guessing what Huang Zhiting was thinking.
Does she want to fight the Spanish in the South China Sea, or does she just want to show off her military prowess in the hope that the Spanish will retreat despite the difficulties?
Huang Zhiting didn't explain, and Gao Jing couldn't judge, but he still decided to treat it as if he was going to have a big fight with the Spaniards, and even included the Portuguese.
Obviously, this is preparing for the worst.
Gao Jing first left six armed transport ships in two groups, forming three small formations to serve as patrol ships for patrolling and reconnaissance near Wansheng Island to prevent the Portuguese from appearing behind the main force of the fleet without warning.
He then ordered the original rearguard fleet to be notified to switch to the forward formation on the spot, and continued to investigate the movements of the Spanish fleet. If necessary - such as being expelled or attacked by the Spanish - the formation was allowed to fight back with force, but at the same time, it was also allowed to
When the formation thought that nothing could be done, it chose to retreat closer to the main fleet to preserve its strength.
Finally, he summoned the captains of the main fleet to come to the flagship for a meeting to discuss and lay out tactics.
What Gao Jing can understand right now is that the Spanish fleet may have a single-ship advantage, but is significantly weaker than the own fleet in terms of numbers. At the same time, there is another question that must be clarified, which is which of the two sides' artillery has the advantage.
Gao Jing was of course far superior to Gao Jingjing in terms of navigation skills, but he was deeply influenced by Gao Jingjing on the issue of artillery application - after all, Gao Jing was the one who decided to build Jinghua's fleet into an "artillery fleet", and he was the one who single-handedly
Founded the Jinghua Artillery Factory.
Jinghua's North and South Ocean Fleets may even be the maritime force that most firmly believes in the "big gun and giant ship doctrine" in the world today. Therefore, after discussing with these captains, Gao Jing urgently sent another one to the forward formation.
Supplementary order: "If there is a suitable opportunity, you can try to engage in an artillery battle with the Spanish fleet. If there is a battle, the primary purpose is to determine the range and weight of the other side's artillery."
The importance of artillery range does not need to be explained, but to know the weight of the opponent's shells is actually to know the power of the opponent's artillery, because at this time there were no explosive shells, high-explosive shells, armor-piercing shells and other highly professional shells in later generations. Naval battles were basically based on solid shells.
Iron bullets and chain bullets are mostly used.
The so-called chain bullets usually use a chain to connect two small shells smaller than the caliber of the gun bore in series. After being fired, one shell will drag the other shell out in a centrifugal swing. In this way, once it hits,
Targets such as sails will tear a big hole in the sail or tear the rigging, seriously reducing the power of the enemy warship.
If you are lucky enough, you can even tear off the mast, causing the enemy ship to almost completely lose power and become paralyzed on the water.
However, the hit rate of weapons such as chain bombs is too low, and generally the artillery does not need to be fully charged to fire, so it is difficult to measure the power. Therefore, the strength of the opponent's firepower can only be judged by the size of the opponent's solid iron bullets.
In other words, if you know the range and projectile weight of the opponent's artillery, you can basically know the power of the opponent's artillery.
It is precisely because the artillery level of the Spanish fleet is still unclear, Gao Jing's combat tactical arrangements can only temporarily set a rough framework. To put it simply, once a battle occurs, try to rely on the numerical advantage of the own fleet to form a two-hit battle.
One or even three-on-one situations.
Moreover, naval battles in the era of sailing have very high requirements for tactical actions such as fighting for wind direction and grabbing the T-shaped position. In many cases, it is necessary to rely on the commander to perform on the spot. Therefore, after Gao Jing informed the captains of the decision, he could only remind them
When the time comes, they must strictly follow their usual training to fight.
The usual training of the Beijing and China fleets is run by a group of guys who have been on the sea for generations. Gao Pragmatic, the big boss, actually rarely interferes, but he has put forward several strategic-level principle requirements.
As an important imaginary enemy in Gao Jingshi's mind, he tried his best to recall the advantages and disadvantages of the Spanish fleet at this time. Especially based on the famous defeat history of the "Invincible Fleet", Gao Jingshi put forward two key requirements:
The Beijing and China fleets are required to always develop and use artillery as the core force of the fleet, especially long-range heavy artillery, which must play the core and most important role.
The Beijing and China fleets are required to abandon the long-standing gang-hopping combat tactics and create and strengthen fleet battle line artillery warfare tactics. When battles inevitably occur, they must try to avoid gang-hopping battles and adopt battle line artillery battles to avoid personnel losses.
.
In view of the fact that the Jinghua Liangyang Fleet itself is a "commercial" fleet, not a national army, Gao Pragmatic specifically emphasized "avoiding personnel losses" to avoid having these people under his command fight - in Jinghua, the personnel losses were too large
Once the battle is later determined to be a command error, what awaits the commander is demotion, fine and confinement - the elegant and easy-going Gao family's third company.
The reason why it is "elegant and easy-going" is because compared with the Ming Dynasty Navy, this punishment of neither beating nor killing seems to be a model of humanitarianism. However, the fact is that the fine for violating the rules set by Gao Pragmatic can sometimes be
As a punishment, the offender's descendants will be collectively enslaved as maids for three generations and they will not be able to repay the debt.
Therefore, although the Beijing-China Liangyang Fleet had almost no chance to take action after the previous annihilation of the Fujian Sea Pirate Alliance, their overall maritime combat method has been basically fixed: battle line artillery battle.
After the meeting, the captains of each ship returned to their own ships in small boats, while Gao Jing went to the deck in person to check various navigation and combat preparations, such as whether the rigging was clean (the maritime environment determines that they are prone to moss)
slipping), whether the sail surface is intact and tough, etc.
Then he inspected the gunpowder compartment and the shell compartment, especially personally checking whether the gunpowder was damp or not.
It can be seen that because Gao Jingshi has been vaccinated against the two ocean fleets many times a long time ago, Gao Jing is still very cautious about fighting the Spanish, the "overlord of the four seas", and does not rest on his past record of defeating the Annan Navy.
Go to sleep.
And to be fair, he really didn't think that defeating the Annan Navy was a damn achievement. If we really wanted to talk about achievements, it would be better to talk about the naval battle off Bondulang with the Portuguese.
However, neither side was the main fleet that time, and it was just a small-scale encounter. Although according to the rules of naval battles, the Portuguese retreated first, so Gao Jing should be considered the winner. But in fact, he didn't feel much about it.
The joy of victory, because at that time his losses were slightly more serious than those of the Portuguese.
In Gao Jing's opinion, since the Spanish are more powerful than the Portuguese, then according to the current strength comparison of the two fleets, this battle is very dangerous, at least there is no so-called certainty of victory. In this way, of course, preparations
The more complete it is, the better.
When he returned to his command room, he discovered that Huang Zhiting was also there, and seemed to be waiting for him.
Gao Jing couldn't help but hurriedly tidied up his appearance and said hurriedly: "Have you not rested yet?"
Huang Zhiting shook her head and said: "It's still early, Commander Gao..."
"If you don't dare, just call me Gao Jing."
Just kidding, even if the person in front of me is not the deputy commander of Annan, he Gao Jing only dares to call himself "little" - she is most likely to be the wife of Beijing in the future. There is a natural chasm between the two sides in terms of identity.
commander?
Moreover, the "Annan Squadron" is not the fleet of the Annan Commandery Division. Its full name is the "Annan Squadron of the Beijing-China Nanyang Fleet." This commander is clearly an "internal position", and since it is internal... besides the master, who else can do it?
Bigger than the future lady?
"Do you have a cousin?"
Huang Zhiting seems to have acquiesced in the status gap between the two parties, but since she asked him his cousin's name, it can be seen that she still values him more.
Gao Jing's face froze slightly, and she lowered her head and said, "Go back to the capital, I haven't given you the word yet."
Huang Zhiting turned her beautiful eyes and smiled: "Well... if this expedition goes well, I will help you intercede with the high school prime minister and ask him to give you a message."
Gao Jing was shocked all over, hesitated for a moment, knelt down on one knee and said thanks: "Thank you very much, I love you."
Give me the word!
Among the servants of the Gao family in Jinghua, even Gao Xiaozhuang, who first followed Gao Pragmatic, was only named Gao Rui. Now he controls the entire Kaiping "Industrial Zone", the core industrial zone of Jinghua, and they are all "old men" with meritorious services.
, I didn’t even get a gift. If everything goes well this time, I can actually be the first to get a gift from the master. What an honor is this?
Especially my master is not an ordinary businessman, he is the number one scholar in the Sixth Prize! With his blessing, even if I face those scholars in the future, I can speak with a high chest!
Therefore, taking the wife route is always a shortcut. Whether I can become the first Gao family servant under Jinghua to be given a title this time depends on whether this expedition can achieve the results that the future wife in front of me wants.
Huang Zhiting was very satisfied when she saw him like this. In fact, she had been worried about whether these high-level servants of the Gao family would be willing to listen to her orders from an outsider, especially since she was a woman.
You must know that several high-level servants of Jinghua in Annan, such as Gao Jue, the military commander of the Shenglong Garrison, are figures who can run around in the Annan Metropolitan Government Office. Mo Maoqia, the Annan Metropolitan Commander, met with Gao Jue
I wish I could nod and bend down to talk to him.
And Cen Ling, who had a status difference between him and her before, did not dare to put on any airs in front of Gao Jue, and always talked about friendship with him - never mind Gao Jue's status as a servant, that status only had practical significance when Gao Jing was in Annan.
, as long as Gao Pingshi is not around, Gao Jue represents the 50,000 well-equipped Thang Long garrison.
High-level servants like Gao Jue and Gao Jing, as well as Gao Mengnan's pragmatic cousin, and even Gao Wuqin's pragmatic brother, had to give them face. Of course Huang Zhiting would worry about their unruly attitude or being obedient.
However, Huang Zhiting also knew that Gao Jing's attitude was probably not because of his official position, but because of...
Her face was slightly hot, and she tried her best to calm down, not to think of someone, and then said: "No need to be polite. Gao Jing, originally, according to Gao Cheng's instructions, I will not interfere in maritime operations, but because these ships are now
There are fully 20,000 soldiers, so I still want to ask you to tell me how you plan to fight this battle. I also want to ask you whether I will need Lu Shixiang's assistance."
Gao Jing stood up and replied: "If the battle goes smoothly, there is no need for the army's assistance, because our fleet combat tactics in Jinghua are different from those of the ordinary navy. Our tactics were set by the master and are called 'battle formations'"
Line artillery battle'."
As he spoke, he gave Huang Zhiting a brief introduction to the general meaning of battle line artillery tactics.
After hearing this, Huang Zhiting seemed to be enlightened. She nodded and said, "It seems that Gao Cheng's land and sea tactics have something in common. They both rely on strict formations and powerful long-range firepower to win."
This was the first time Gao Jing heard this statement, and he couldn't help being slightly startled, but after thinking about it carefully, he found that it was really the case.
The essence of Jinghua's land warfare training lies in the coordination of line infantry's musket volleys and artillery fire. The real top priority is the "strict formation and powerful long-range firepower" just summarized by Huang Zhiting. By analogy, at the fleet level,
Isn’t the artillery battle on the battle line also a replica of the one on land?
Gao Jing was the person who actually commanded the naval battle. He knew how big the difference was between executing the order and understanding the meaning of the order. But the deputy commander Huang in front of him could actually see the common points of the "Gao Jiajun" land and sea tactics at a glance. This level was comparable to that of the Ming Dynasty.
Most generals are taller.
It seems that the reason why the master chose her to command the expedition to southern Burma was not just because of their relationship.
"The emperor's eyes are as bright as a torch, and I admire him greatly."
Huang Zhiting did not answer this question, but nodded slightly, stood up at the same time, and said: "Although this tactic probably won't be used by Lu Division, for the sake of caution, you should go and pass the order to Lu Division's various departments on my behalf, so that they can prepare it."
If possible, jump into a gang and join forces to join the fight, so as not to cause an accident and ruin the high school prime minister's important affairs."
"Yes, little one, take the order."
Huang Zhiting said no more, left the command post, and headed towards her room. Two maids in military uniforms followed immediately, as did four wolf soldiers standing outside.
Nothing happened on the main fleet side that night, but in the sea area about three hundred miles northeast of the main fleet, the Beijing fleet that changed from rear guard to forward received an order from Gao Jing the next morning.
The commander of this squadron is named Takagi San, a retainer that Jinghua recruited after taking over Guangzhou Port from the Ministry of Industry.
Takagi's ancestors for five or six generations were all shipwrights. Because they had excellent carpentry skills and were especially good at splicing keels and ribs on sea ships, their lives were not that rich, but they were still decent.
Unfortunately, when it came to his father's generation, he was unlucky. One time, when his father accompanied Takagi San's mother to her parents' home, they were attacked by Japanese pirates. Takagi San's mother was humiliated and committed suicide, while his father and he were attacked by Japanese pirates.
He was kidnapped. Later, his father died in the Japanese pirates' lair, and he finally found an opportunity to escape while accompanying the Japanese pirates to the coast to plunder wood and repair ships. However, he was suspected by the local officials of being a Japanese pirate and almost died in prison.
.
Fortunately, it had not been long since he was taken prisoner, and his family's property was still there. Takagi San was released from prison after losing all his money. However, because of his reputation as a "traveler", the original boss (called boss in Guangdong, which has a lot of history)
) did not dare to use him, so Takagi San had no choice but to sell his craft and work as a servant in Beijing. He also gave up his original name and changed his name to Takagi San from then on.
As for how he climbed to his current position, that is another story, and I will not tell it here for now.
At this moment, Gao Musan stood on the bridge, looking at Gao Jing's order, and couldn't help scratching his head.
The fleet under his command, whether it is a rearguard or a forward, is actually just a change in name. In fact, the mission is the same, that is, it is used as a reconnaissance ship.
Since its main duty is only reconnaissance, the formation is not large. It is the same size as the fleet that Gao Jing left behind when he turned around to greet the Spaniards this time to monitor the movements near Wansheng Island. There are only six armed transport ships in total. Normally,
Divided into three two-ship formations.
Therefore, Gao Jing now asked him to test the power of Spanish artillery when he had the opportunity, which made him a bit embarrassed.
He had seen the size of the Spanish fleet with his own eyes. It was dozens of Galen ships! Each one was half the size of his own ship. With just the little money he had, wouldn't it be a good idea to go up and provoke them?
The old man eats arsenic - is he tired of living?
Is it okay not to go? It’s okay, after all, Commander Gao didn’t say anything to death, but if you don’t go, such a good opportunity to make a contribution will be wasted...
Takagi San was hesitating on the bridge. The sailors on the observation deck suddenly waved the small flag in their hands and shouted at the top of their lungs: "The French fleet is speeding towards us!"
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Thanks to book friends "Chen*E", "olaF", "Lingqi Zhaobixin", and "willwolf" for their monthly ticket support, thank you!
PS: Yesterday’s chapter was an anti-theft chapter published on a mobile phone. As a result, I forgot to mark the chapter title (Part 1)... This chapter is actually "Fighter Battle (Part 1)". Sigh, I really don’t know how to handle this writer’s mobile phone.
End...but I think I will divide it into sections this time.