Li Shaojie listened to Fanbit's words and smiled secretly in his heart. Even in modern society, the Dutch and the British do not look at each other very harmoniously, as can be seen in the football game.

How did Van Bit know that from 1652 to 1672, in just twenty years, there were three wars between England and the Netherlands. In the first Anglo-Dutch war alone, almost 2-30,000 sailors and 6,000-8,000 cannons were invested in each naval battle, and the number of battles was probably rare in history.

In just 15 months, from May 1652 to August 1653, the fleets of both sides fought as many battles as all the world's seas combined. The Dutch were defeated, and the peak of their golden age came to an abrupt end in 1672, when the Dutch finally handed over maritime supremacy to England.

Therefore, in the eyes of the Admiralty of the Far East Company, the biggest threat to the sea in the next few decades will definitely be the British, and they will be the most important enemy of the Admiralty of the Far East Company in the future.

Qiu Lei, who was next to him, put down his binoculars and said suspiciously: "Why haven't these Brits signaled us to join the war?" ”

Li Shaojie sneered and said, "You think they are so kind." When they take those Spanish warships, they will let us be cannon fodder and seize those galleons for them. Hum...... Thinking of beautiful things, we can still give them if we occupy a big boat. ”

He turned his head to Qiu Lei and asked, "Old Qiao, how long will it take for them to reach the battlefield?" ”

Qiu Lei shook his head and smiled bitterly: "It is estimated that it will take more than an hour, but looking at the current meaning, those British guys estimate that it won't take an hour to settle those Spanish warships, and now the Spanish warships are being pressed there by the British." ”

Van Bit shook his head and said: "It is not so easy for the British to sink those Spanish warships, and these warships are also Spanish galleons of about 500 tons. Although the British fast-armed merchant ships were armed with a large number of heavy guns of more than 18 pounds, the Spanish giant ships were quite sturdy, and they often sank lightly after being hit by hundreds of bullets.

The small size, narrow and long size, and low side of the fast armed merchant ship completely eliminated the forward building and reduced the rear building, so that the center of gravity was greatly reduced, although it could be equipped with large-caliber heavy guns without affecting the stability of the hull. But if it is taken by the enemy, it will definitely lose, so the British will definitely not take the ship. ”

Li Shaojie turned his head to look at Van Bit and asked, "Then what do you mean, these British pirates can't sink those Spanish warships for a while?" ”

Van Bit nodded and said firmly: "Yes sir, at least in an hour, they can't all sink those Spanish warships." The Spanish warships were equipped with two cannons, four long guns, ten and a half guns, and four falcon guns. The firepower is just as strong.

Even if they sank those Spanish warships, their own losses would not be small, and even if they did not sink, their combat power would be greatly reduced. Their strategy should be to make us the main force in the broadside battle of those big ships. When we take the ships with heavy casualties, it is when they show their fangs, which is the usual trick of the British royal pirates. ”

Everyone was relieved to hear Van Pitt's words. If Qiao Haipeng arrived here within an hour, then they would definitely win today, but if it was more than an hour, then they would have to fight.

In the face of the cannons and cannons on the Manila galleon of nearly 1,000 tons, the "Black Pearl" also had to be in danger. The 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns they were armed with had a maximum range of 1,500 meters, while the Spanish giants were armed with 24-pounder cannons with a maximum range of 2,000 yards (1,828 meters) and 17-pounder guns that could shoot shells up to 2,500 yards (2,285 meters).

Although this is only the maximum range, the actual range is much smaller, but if it really matches these galleons, each ship of the other side has dozens of heavy guns, in case the blind cat touches the dead mouse, their 350-ton fast armed merchant ship, as long as it takes a few shots, there will be heavy casualties.

Not to mention the numerous rotary guns on the sides of the galleons, as well as a large number of arquebuses, which were hidden behind the thick planks, and it was difficult to take them without casualties with the help of 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine guns. This can only be achieved with the use of modern weapons.

Of course, if they used armor-piercing fire* incendiary bombs, it would be absolutely fine, and they could easily set these galleons on fire, but they spent so much effort to come here for what they were doing.

Isn't it just to rob these Manila galleons, they are all lit and robbed of a fart?

There was a loud "boom".

Startling everyone, the ammunition compartment of a Dutch warship was detonated, and the 500-ton Spanish warship suddenly burst into flames, and after a while, the hull began to disintegrate and slowly sank to the bottom of the sea.

Countless Spanish sailors, officers and soldiers jumped into the sea like crazy, and many of them were still covered in flames when they jumped down. But most of them did not escape and were burned alive in the cabin.

The remaining five Spanish battleships were also scarred, and one of them even had its mainmast interrupted by British fire, and its speed had dropped a lot, and it didn't even have the ability to return fire.

More than two dozen British corsairs, all of which were not damaged by Cheng Dù, and two of them had withdrawn from the battle. However, they were still like wolves in the sea, taking turns to attack the remaining five Spanish naval warships.

Captain Edwin, who had been watching the battle on the Manila galleon, shook his head with a solemn face, although several of their galleons were also desperately firing heavy artillery, but the British clippers were so fast that they couldn't hit it at all.

He turned around and ordered loudly: "Inform the other ships, full speed ahead, we rush out......"

Edwin knew that his order might be in vain, but he couldn't stay here and die. Four galleons spread their sails and moved their huge hulls at full speed in the direction of Manila.

Wood was directing the pirates into battle, and although they had inflicted heavy damage on the Spanish navy, his ship had also been hit with several shots, and a chain bullet had nearly broken his hindmast, and the entire aftermast's sails were swept to pieces.

Suddenly, Hall next to him held up a single-pass telescope and shouted, "Wood, those big guys are going to run." ”

Wood rushed over, snatched the binoculars, and looked into the distance. Then he laughed and said, "I want to run...... It's not that easy. Hall, you go and signal those ships and let them take charge of interception. ”

He put down his binoculars and shouted to the sailors on board, "Guys, let's work harder and sink those ships, haha...... When we rob those big guys, we'll send it! ”

Qiu Lei put down the binoculars and said loudly: "Shaojie, the British have sent a signal for us to intercept those galleons." ”

When Li Shaojie heard this, he immediately shouted to Fan Bit beside him: "Old Fan, now the "Black Pearl" is under your command, try to intercept those galleons, but don't touch them, just entangle them." ”

Van Bit nodded slightly and said, "Yes, sir......"

Qiu Lei frowned and said, "It seems that we still have to participate in the war, I hope Lao Qiao and they will come soon." ”

Li Shaojie said with a smile: "Let's fight, we can't always just talk and not practice." Look at the energy of the British, with sailboats and front-loading guns, they have played with such an effect. No wonder it can become a kingdom on which the sun never sets in the future, ruling the world's sea power for more than 100 years. ”

The Black Pearl began to set sail and headed for several Spanish galleons. Several other pirate ships also circled the Spanish galleons that wanted to run. Several Spanish galleons also began to fire frantically in counterattack, and more than 200 heavy guns were fired one after another.

"Uh......h Woo......"

Solid shells of 24-pound, 18-pound, and 12-pound guns whizzed through the sky above the "Black Pearl," and several of them smashed into the sea more than 10 meters from the ship, causing a splash several meters high. There were even two that went straight through the sails. scared Li Shaojie and the others on the black pearl into a cold sweat.

But the Black Pearl and other pirate ships are small, but they are fast and very agile. They continued to harass around the four Spanish galleons, and even two pirate ships on a whim, frantically approached a few hundred meters of the galleons and fired cannons to bombard the galleons.

However, it was immediately counterattacked by dozens of heavy guns from the Spaniards, and one of the pirate ships was unlucky enough to be hit by several 18-pound shells, and the ship suffered heavy casualties. Even the rear mast was broken, and they fought with all their lives to escape, but the hull of the ship was tilted and temporarily lost its combat effectiveness.

Li Shaojie and the others stood on the "Black Pearl" and saw this scene with a telescope, and their hearts "chuckled". It seems that these big guys are not so easy to gnaw.

Qiu Lei shook his head and said, "Good guy, this heavy artillery is too violent." The ship had only been hit by a few 18-pounder shells, and it had been so badly beaten that if it had been hit by a few 24-pounder cannons, it might have been sunk.

Van Bit shook his head and smiled bitterly: "It's okay, it's okay if we get farther away, their heavy artillery will not be accurate if it exceeds 500 meters." If only the Black Pearl had a rudder and tiller cable system installed as well, then we would be safer. Although it is fast now, it is still not as agile as the company's modified sailboats. ”

Li Shaojie next to him listened to Fan Bit's words, and a flash of inspiration suddenly flashed in his mind, he turned his head sharply and said, "Old Fan, you said that if we break their tail rudder, can they still escape?" ”

Van Bit thought for a moment and said, "Sir, if the rudder of any sailboat is damaged, it will be difficult to move an inch in the sea. ”

Li Shaojie laughed when he heard this, he patted Van Bit on the shoulder and said, "Haha...... Old Fan, I've given you a mission to get the Black Pearl to the stern of a Spanish galleon. ”R1152