The biggest disadvantage of the Ming Dynasty ships is that they cannot be equipped with too many high-powered guns, which is a congenital defect brought about by the structural setting of the Ming Dynasty ships.

However, with the "Yang Fan" warship, the Hongtang warship was able to use the bulky and powerful artillery in clusters like the Westerners, and the effect was geometrically increased.

Of course, the Ming Fujian officials themselves have already taken precautions against the gradual expansion of the sphere of influence of Bengang, and if they learn that the Bengang people can imitate the advanced warships of the West at this time, I am afraid that they will be even more frightened!

Without Shen Yourong as the microphone and lubricant between Bengang and the Fujian governor, the Bengang team has to be careful in everything they do now.

Therefore, although the Hongtang fleet has a total of fourteen Western-style warships in service, the warships that actually act in front of people are only the six warships that have acted on the sea at the beginning, and the eight seagoing ships that have been newly launched have been scattered and hidden by Li Tianyang and them in several strongholds such as the secret base of Bengang, Turtle Island and Huludao.

After getting the twelve warships delivered by Bengang, Wu Daofu has always wanted to take the team out to patrol once, firstly, he wants to familiarize everyone with the performance of these warships through actual training patrols, and secondly, he also wants to find opportunities and opponents to try the strength of his current team.

Soon, Wu Daofu's wish was fulfilled, and on July 13, when Wu Daofu was carrying out a routine patrol around the island with ten warships, a thick black smoke rose from the sea in the distance, which was observed by the sharp-eyed sailor's lookout.

Since equipping twelve warships, the more than 20 warships of the Hongtang Whale Department have naturally handed over the sea area of Iriomote Island to Wu Daofu and them to manage, while the Whale Department focuses on guarding the waters around the five islands of Amami.

Originally, although Wu Daofu was a little moved these days, he wanted to find an eyeless opponent to try the catties of the sons and daughters below, but since Bengang Hongtang put the three islands of Iriomote into his hands, the first thing he did was to clean up the pirates in this sea area.

Therefore, now, except for the rogues who Lin Xing is committing crimes everywhere, or the newcomers who have just entered the water to do business and don't know the depths, the sea areas around Iriomote have gradually returned to calm.

It was not easy for Wu Daofu and them to meet such an opponent, how could he let it go: "Give an order, and the whole army will move forward at full speed!" ”

The black smoke is a kind of communication fireworks specially made by Hong Tang to the maritime merchants and seamen who have paid the toll in the past for the purpose of calling for help, as long as it is lit, even on the sea surface with strong sea breeze, this bright smoke can also let other sea ships within a radius of dozens of miles see their distress signal.

The more troublesome thing on the sea is that it is not easy to hide his figure, on the flat sea, more than ten miles away, the pirate rogue on the opposite side found the figure of Wu Daofu and their fleet. From the telescope, Wu Daofu could see that the two sea ships of the other side surrounded a merchant ship of a maritime merchant, and the attack became more intense, and from time to time a figure fell into the water from the ship.

However, Wu Daofu was not very worried, in order to occupy the upper hand, his fleet went around an arc before coming, at this time at full speed, the speed was quite fast, according to his estimate, it would not take more than half an hour to arrive at the scene of the incident and save the surrounded merchant ship opposite.

"Who can tell which merchant ship belongs to?" The only thing that made Wu Daofu a little suspicious was that the attacked merchant ship did not fly any flags or signs that could prove their identity, so he turned his head and asked the people around him.

Everyone picked up the binoculars in their hands and looked at them carefully, but soon after they put down the binoculars and shook their heads silently, it seemed that they did not know the ship.

This made Wu Daofu feel a little uneasy in his heart, but then he abandoned it, because of the proximity to the Wa Kingdom, many merchant ships here went back and forth between the Wa Kingdom and the Ryukyu Kingdom, or between the Ryukyu Kingdom and the Ming Dynasty for shorter trade.

Therefore, it is inevitable that there will be some whims at sea and go to the Ming Dynasty to see it, and this unrecognized sea ship may be such an existence.

"Prepare for battle!"

On the fleet, the members of the Ryukyu Naval Division, who had just entered the battlefield, nervously clenched the swords, bows and crossbows in their hands under the shouts of their respective non-commissioned officers, and looked forward to the three sea ships that were getting closer and closer to the entanglement.

While observing the battlefield, Wu Daofu was also paying attention to the situation of the group of soldiers around him, which made her relieved that in the face of the upcoming battle, this group of junior brothers did not appear to be afraid of battle or low morale, although some nervousness was precipitating, but still maintained a good formation.

Because of their many years of civilization, although the indigenous people of Iriomote Mishima were somewhat poor, thanks to the prosperous trade routes, they rarely experienced a hard hunting career, or fought with other families to fight for a chance to survive.

Therefore, it is not so much that the indigenous people of these islands are indigenous, but that they are a group of ordinary fishermen or farmers dressed as natives.

Such a soldier has not experienced the baptism of blood and sweat on the battlefield, and no matter how well he trains on weekdays, Wu Daofu does not estimate their actual combat ability.

It was only three or four miles away from the battlefield, and after a cup or two of tea, the fleet of the Ryukyu sailors was engaged in a fire with the opposing warship, and the non-commissioned officers and captains of each warship were cheering up the team members around them, and the whole fleet was already in a state of mental tension.

"Slow down, order the two warships of Zirat and Ugly Cow to break away from the team, Zirat to the west and Ugly Cow to the east, patrol the surrounding seas, and immediately send a signal if there is any movement!" However, at this time, Wu Daofu reversed his previous excitement, his face gradually calmed down, and even with a slightly solemn expression, he issued an order that surprised everyone.

Beside Wu Daofu, Xiao Xiurong, who was still sitting in Wu Daofu's think tank, had just reminded Wu Daofu to give this order, and at the same time he also raised the monocular in his hand, shook his head left and right, and carefully observed the movements on the surrounding sea.

Seeing Xiao Xiurong's actions at this time, the non-commissioned officers on Wu Daofuza's ship had a little guess, and they couldn't help but start looking around.

However, there was still no other unusual movement on the entire sea, and as the two warships named after the twelve zodiac signs broke away from the fleet and patrolled around, Wu Daofu and the others had to take their eyes back again.

(End of chapter)