The Foreign Intelligence Bureau judged that the armed conflict between Liu Laoxiang and Zheng Zhilong is imminent, and it is only a matter of time before the two sides start a full-scale war.
The reason for making such a judgment is that according to the historical trajectory of the old time and space, Zhu Cai Lao and Liu Xiang were defeated and eliminated after leaving their hometown in Guangdong to fight with Zheng Zhilong. During this period, there was also the blockade of Macau. These events come together to explain
It's no accident.
The Intelligence Bureau speculated that the real reason behind these events was the shrinking demand in Europe caused by the Thirty Years' War. Europeans spent their money on military expenditures, which overall led to a reduction in the export of silver to Asia in East-West trade. Merchants began to turn
Seeking input of Japanese silver.
It is very likely that Zhudu went north to intervene in the Sino-Japanese-Dutch trade, and Macao's financial importance to the Ming Dynasty declined. In the maritime melee along the coast in the late Ming Dynasty, the main battlefield was always along the coast of Fujian, not the traditional foreign trade port of Guangzhou.
Not long ago, the Ming court's order to block Macau was officially issued to Guangdong. The Foreign Intelligence Service kidnapped Gao Shunqin, which removed a major obstacle to his return to Guangzhou. However, the blockade of Macau still happened according to its usual behavior. This is explained above.
, history is still running on a normal track, but the addition of Chuanzhong has made the situation more complicated, and the situation faced by Liu Xiang Group is also more difficult.
The Liu Xiang Group decisively gave up its territory at the Pearl River Estuary and marched north. Its purpose was obviously not entirely to fear the Australian naval power, but more to compete for commercial trade. It continued to occupy the Pearl River Estuary, where the trade value had greatly declined, and with
A head-to-head decisive battle between the fierce "Kon thieves" is obviously not in line with commercial interests. After all, the Sino-Japanese-Dutch trade in Fujian is the biggest fat.
After the Battle of the Pearl River Estuary, the Navy established the Hong Kong Detachment on Hong Kong Island. In addition to protecting the navigation safety in the Pearl River Estuary, another important purpose was to use this base as a base to suppress the activities of the Liu Laoxiang Group in Daya Bay and force it to be unable to go south.
During the first phase of the shipbuilding and maintenance plan, the Navy launched the "Consolidation Operations around Hong Kong." Shi Zhiqi and Le Lin carried out a series of small-scale operations around Hong Kong to clean up small groups of local pirates and suppress local clans. Especially
Focused operations were carried out on the eastern part of Hong Kong Island, the western part of Saint Mary's Bay (Victoria Bay) and the Tseung Kwan O area. The actual control line was advanced to the Sha Tin, Yantian, Mirs Bay and Clear Water Bay lines on the back of the Kowloon Peninsula. At the same time, the maritime patrol area was
It expanded to Daya Bay and initially controlled the surrounding salt fields and rice-producing areas.
During the implementation of this consolidation operation, the Navy dispatched two 8154-class cruisers, four squadrons of special agent boats, and a brigade of mine boats to station on Hong Kong Island to prepare for a decisive naval battle at Saint Mary's Bay or Daya Bay in the event of Liu Xiang's massive counterattack.
However, Liu Xiang was not dispatched, and there was no example of direct contact with the navy at all. In addition, the intelligence collected by intelligence personnel that his main force was not in the Shanwei Chaozhou area showed that this seemed to confirm the intelligence bureau's judgment.
"Fifty people squat on the ground each! Move fast!" roared a strong man with an almost square body wearing a colorful uniform. He was wearing a Lingao Benny hat, and his neck was thick, making him look stout. Ten
There came a soldier who was also wearing colorful uniforms and had a pothead haircut, and he was doing push-ups quickly on the bumpy deck.
"Move fast! Slow down like a bitch!" The one who kept shouting like a cannibal around the soldiers was Qian Shuixie, the leader of the Sanya detachment of the Special Reconnaissance Command. The Sanya detachment was developed by the Special Reconnaissance Command.
The detachment was the first to undergo sea training and also had the best results, so it was selected to participate in Operation Engine. The detachment first selected some people to participate in the Haitian's northward reconnaissance mission.
The main task of the special reconnaissance team is to escort the exploration team ashore for exploration and mapping work. When necessary, it will also conduct armed reconnaissance operations such as harassment, ambush and assassination to test the alert status and combat capabilities of various hostile forces.
Li Ziping looked at the vz68 submachine gun that was always on Qian Shuixie's shoulder, and couldn't help but sigh that the Senate really spared no effort in the special investigation team. In terms of weapon configuration, the special investigation team has always been the first-class equipment, and they used all the old equipment.
products of time and space.
The 20-round magazine SKSD semi-automatic rifle used in the past was not suitable for reconnaissance operations due to its long length. Since the acquisition of Lando's weapons, they have all been removed and replaced with 022R bullets mgv176 submachine guns and mb77b assault rifles, and other soldiers are equipped
A bolt-action rifle with a scope is used for sniping. Even by the standards of the old time and space, it can be said to be armed to the teeth.
As a member of the Navy, Li Ziping was very interested in how the special reconnaissance team would play their role. He remembered that when his colleagues in the Navy were transferred to the Foreign Intelligence Service, he once advocated that the Navy should have its own intelligence system and force investigation.
Search team.
"There's a firework signal on the island!" the lookout shouted.
"Pay attention to the enemy's situation." Li Ziping said, raising the telescope again.
The lookouts did not observe any hostile ships on the sea, but as they approached Nan'ao Island... more obvious smoke trails emerged from the island. Apparently, the Ming army had noticed their arrival and began a full-scale alarm.
"Be on guard." Li Ziping put down the telescope and ordered, "Right rudder 14 degrees, course 29."
"Right rudder 14 degrees, heading 229" the helmsman repeated the command in tune.
The bow of the Haitian slowly tilted over, the sails fluttering... The blue morning star flag fluttered in the sea breeze... The Haitian sailed straight to Nan'ao Island under the command of Li Ziping, who was preparing to test Nan'ao Island
How alert is the Ming army? How will it react? In addition, the surveyors of the remote exploration team also need to conduct a hydrogeographic survey around Nan'ao Island, especially to correct the maps.
"Drumming to prepare for war" The drumming of "prepare for war" immediately sounded on the Haitian, indicating that the battle was imminent.
"Navigator! You come to pilot the ship!" Li Ziping ordered. After Zhu Cailao was completely defeated, Ren Fu switched to the Australians. After a period of education, he became a man of current affairs and joined the navy. He has been in Fujian and Guangdong for a long time.
He is more familiar with sea surface activities and the topography and sea conditions near Nan'ao Island than they are.
"Understood!" Ren Fu responded loudly.
The Haitian, under the command of Ren Fu, gradually approached Nan'ao Island. This move obviously triggered a higher level of alert on the island. More smoke trails rose from Nan'ao Island and nearby islands. The Ming army's troops were likely to
We are relying on this signal to mobilize.
He ordered: "Report the boiler pressure immediately!"
A messenger immediately opened the cover of the communication tube and loudly announced to the engine room, "The air pressure is normal!"
"Prepare to increase the pressure!" he ordered. The biggest disadvantage of steam engine power is that the response of the power system is too slow. In order to be prepared to run away if there is a problem, the boiler pressure must be increased from now on.
Under the command of Ren Fu, the Haitian began to sail around the entire Nan'ao Island. The surveyors on board the ship observed the shape of the coast and explored the water depth and channel in the harbor. Ren Fu was familiar with the coast, islands and reefs in this area. Although the sea surface
The wind and waves were not small, but under the command of Ren Fu, the Haitian successfully sailed around the entire island.
During the entire exploration process, Li Ziping noticed that there were some people probing along the coast on the island, but no large-scale armed personnel appeared. There were more ships near the Haitian, and there must be a number of Ming navy ships among them. They were obviously on
Beware of yourself.
Judging from the reaction of the other party, the Ming army was obviously very wary of them, but they were obviously not prepared to make enemies of the Chuanchu people. They did not even send out organized troops. Li Ziping estimated that even if he wanted to land at this time, the opponent would probably
They will also stick to the stronghold and not leave. Anyway, everyone can see that one ship cannot occupy the entire Nan'ao Island.
"What, what? A fight is about to begin." A man appeared on the deck, wearing a mi uniform, a helmet, and a gun holster. It was Liu Zheng from the long-range exploration team. This time he brought a
The exploration and mapping team followed the Haitian ship northward, carrying out lanthanum mapping exploration missions along the way.
"Not yet." Li Ziping said, "It seems that the Ming army has no intention of starting a war with us, but just to prevent us from having any intentions.
"If Nan'ao Island is captured, it will be a very suitable transit point." Li Ziping said.
Liu Zheng was also very interested in the game of soldiering. When he first set sail, he was a little seasick. He had never been on such a small ship. After getting used to it, he kept observing the environment around Nan'ao Island with great interest on the deck.
He also guided the exploration and mapping work of those naturalized civilian trainees.
"The agricultural development on this island is quite good, and the population will not be small." Liu Zheng said, "We might as well just occupy this island. I estimate that we can have a population of more than 10,000."
In addition to serving as a transit point, there are 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers and civilians on this island alone, which is much higher than the population density of Hainan Island. It is a very good source of labor and soldiers. The local Hakka people are known to endure hardships and stand hard work.
Historically, the Hakka Shuiyong in Chaozhou and Shantou were famous for their bravery and prowess in battle. As long as they could effectively break down regional barriers, they would be useful human resources under the Senate.
"It would be great if human resources could be developed on a rolling basis." Li Ziping thought: If he had enough troops, he could directly occupy Nan'ao Island and destroy Chen Ting's army. Then he could recruit enough troops from the manpower on the island.
Travel to the next island for development. This is a common method used by warlords and grass-headed kings in troubled times: completely destroy towns and villages, forcing everyone to follow them, and soon they can snowball and recruit a large number of troops.