In September, the sea of Malacca is a long day, and the gentle sea breeze blows people who want to doze off, but the city of Malacca is full of slaughter, everything is just the calm before the storm, and the port full of warships indicates that a great war is about to break out.

Rows of soldiers on the walls of the port were waiting for the sun, and there were people arguing on the side of the wall facing the port.

"Your Highness, your old man will intercede with us, and let us be the pioneer if you say anything." Qi Yuanbi, the gray-haired and bearded governor of Malacca, asked Liu Hong with a shy face.

Qi Laosan has been stationed in Malacca Port for more than ten years, during which he has been on duty twice in the Beiyang and Nanyang naval divisions at the behest of the imperial court, but if it comes to a sense of belonging, Qi Laosan has always believed that Malacca is his treasure land.

He witnessed the whole process of the rise of the Daming Naval Division, and personally built the Malacca Port into the first port in the world, and the Daming Malacca Port Detachment has been protecting the Han people in this land, all of which is the credit of Qi Laosan.

Qi Laosan worked so hard, in addition to serving the court, almost all of them were to get the approval of his two elder brothers, and he wanted to prove that he was not a gentleman who could only eat, drink, prostitute and gamble.

But there has been no major war in the Ming Dynasty for nearly thirty years, and it was not easy to survive such a big war, but His Majesty made Zheng Sen's kid the commander of the former army, which made Qi Laosan feel like a fish in his throat.

Qi Laosan felt that if he wasn't crazy, he would be old.

"This king thought you were looking for me to catch up, but I didn't expect that after thirty years, I still have such an impatient temperament, this battle is related to the national fortune of the Ming Dynasty, I and the emperor attach great importance to it, the emperor is the royal driver, it is useless for you to find me, the battle plan is determined after repeated discussions in the staff headquarters." Liu Hong gradually looked at the battleships covering the harbor and stroked his beard.

Zheng Sen, as the commander of the Nanyang Naval Division, was strict in governing the army, clear in rewards and punishments, and calm, and showed the qualities of an excellent general in all previous maritime patrols and escorts.

For this brother Liu Hongchuan has always felt a little guilty, if it weren't for his own arrival, Zheng Sen would have become a national hero in the eyes of the Chinese descendants of the whole world, and now, the opportunity has come.

"Lord Wang! The emperor listens to you the most, you can help us, we are almost sixty, prince, let's kowtow to you! ”

Qi Laosan looked disappointed when he heard this, but he still didn't give up, he didn't want to beg his eldest brother, and the only thing in the entire court who could help him was the old leader in front of him, he really didn't want to stay in the port as an officer.

"Sensei came to this set with this king, you also know that you are old, this is a military order, how can you say that if you change the general, you will change the general?" Liu Hong gradually snorted lightly, and he didn't have a good airway.

"If we can't participate in this big war, we won't be able to close our eyes even if we die, if the prince refuses to help us, let's go and ask the second brother!"

Qi Laosan's stubborn temper rose, and the ten cows couldn't be pulled back, so he stood up and was about to go to the governor's mansion after speaking.

"Without the emperor's approval, even if you go to ask the king of heaven, it is useless!" Liu Hong gradually pointed at Qi Laosan's back and scolded angrily.

But he thought about it for a while, and felt that there was no need to chill the heart of this old stubborn donkey, wasn't it just an opportunity to join the war?

"Come back!" Liu Hong gradually made up his mind and said to Qi Laosan.

Qi Laosan didn't know what he was saying, but as a subordinate, he still blew his beard and ran over.

"It's not hard for you to go to war, but don't think about it, it's just that this task is very dangerous, and you'd better consider discussing it with your brother." Liu Hong gradually sold a pass.

"Think about it! Lord Wang, if we can't complete the task, come and see you! Qi Laosan stared at the boss.

"Alright, you come here!"

……

The distance between the Cape of Good Hope and Malacca was 20,000 li, and Liu Hongjian and Zhu Cihong waited for eight days to determine the location of the Europa Combined Fleet.

"Looking at their formation, they seem to be very confident!" Zhu Cihong stood on the deck, leaning over and holding the telescope Nan Nandao.

As early as three days ago, when the outpost ships discovered the location of the Europa fleet, they had already obtained more detailed information about the enemy, and in terms of the number of fleets, the Ming fleet plus Liu Hongji's Great Qin Naval Division, excluding the auxiliary ships, totaled 486.

With such a huge fleet, I am afraid that no country in the world can compare, but the reason why Zhu Cihong sighed this way is that the Europa coalition army was beyond previous expectations.

On the endless sea, the Europa fleet is lined up in a linear array, divided into nine according to the different countries, the most central is the Europa rookie England fleet and the Europa old power France.

This can be seen from the flags on the warships of all sides, and on both sides of the fleets of England and France are Italy, Austria, Sweden, Prussia, Poland and Francis, eight flags of eight countries, with bells and whistles like eight immortals crossing the sea.

Behind the flanks of the phalanx is a slightly larger motley phalanx, which is said because although it is slightly larger, it is interspersed with four or five flags representing different countries.

Qi Yuangong is also old, and he looked at the telescope for a long time before confirming them one by one and reporting them to Liu Hongjian and the others.

From the estimation of the fleet formation, the number of Europa coalition warships is especially better than that of the Daming Naval Division, which is why Zhu Cihong sighed so much.

"The emperor doesn't need to worry, although there are many enemy warships, most of them are medium-sized warships compared to my Ming Dynasty, and they may not be as good as my Ming warships." Qi Yuangong said soothingly.

At first, Qi Yuangong was also taken aback by this formation, the ironclad ship was shining with cold light reflecting the sun, and anyone who saw such a huge fleet would have their blood gushing.

"With you here, I, fearless, prepare for battle." Zhu Cihong raised his eyebrows and glanced at Qi Yuangong, and ordered.

"Humble and ask for war!" As soon as Zhu Cihong finished speaking, Zheng Sen, the commander of the Nanyang Navy Division and the deputy commander of the Ming fleet, lifted his battle robe and knelt down to ask for battle.

The opportunity of the forward army was won by his eldest brother, and Zheng Sen naturally refused to miss it.

"What's the hurry? Since it was the Europa people who declared war, it was natural to let them attack, let's see what they were capable of, didn't the emperor say? Liu Hong gradually looked at Zhu Cihong and smiled.

He knew that what Zhu Cihong said just now was not because he was afraid, but Qi Yuangong couldn't speak, so Zhu Cihong was displeased.

The strength of the Ming Dynasty is unimaginable to the Europa, and the coastal defense specifications of the Ming Dynasty are deployed with the strength of their own fleet, in other words, even if the Ming Dynasty is defeated this time, it will be difficult for the Europa people to attack the Ming mainland.

The Ming Dynasty, which has a strong country and three dockyard bases, will only need two years or even less to recover, but Europa cannot, the Spanish Armada and the Dutch coachmen of later generations are good examples, to put it bluntly, they can't afford to win or lose.

Zhu Cihong, who is already over half a hundred years old, no matter how confused he is, this truth must be understood.

"Liu Qing is reasonable, Zheng Aiqing is flat, and waiting for them to attack, I am here to watch." Although Zhu Cihong was enthusiastic about the expedition, he actually knew nothing about the war.

But what Zhu Cihong didn't know was that Liu Hongjian was actually a half-hanger, don't look at him who had fought countless battles in half his life, in fact, he relied on his subordinates to work, in his opinion, especially in ancient times, as long as the right generals were chosen, there would be no big problems if the leaders did not blindly command.

He thinks so and does this, so even if he doesn't know much about fighting, the Ming Dynasty respects him as the god of war.

"That won't do! What's the point of staring like this, we've got to him and listen to it!

Old Qi, order the gunners, the bow of the ship and the main gun to prepare, give me a look at the flag of the English fleet, and open fire immediately! ”

……