Chapter 1027: Tiger Ben Navy's Plan to Lead the Snake Out of the Hole (2)

（1027）

[Today's second update is delivered! ] 】

Between the general navy and pirates, it is indeed a bit difficult for the sailors of the Tiger Army Navy to make temporary cameo appearances as pirates. Later, Zhang Zhun thought of a workaround, that is, to transfer those sailors from the Zheng family's fleet as much as possible, temporarily deploy them to the pirate fleet of Saiviara, and return them to their respective formations after the battle.

The previous Zheng family fleet, after all, was also a pirate. The Zheng family's fleet started with pirates. Although it is just a bath at the door, although the ocean has little combat experience, it can be said that it has some experience. It's better than a blank sheet of paper. Coupled with Saviara's impromptu drills, it should be able to be used.

In fact, such a tactic is somewhat similar to a variant of Dönitz's wolf pack tactics in later generations. The basic principle is to fight more and fight less, and hit the enemy to the maximum extent in their own preset battlefield. It's just that Saviara is a decoy that is actively thrown out to attract the arrival of the enemy fleet. Therefore, whether the pirate fleet can successfully attract the arrival of the main Dutch fleet is the key to the success or failure of the Silver Serpent's dispatch plan.

"As soon as I show up, the Dutch will definitely chase me."

Saviara said confidently.

"Hmm."

Zhang Zhun has no objection to this.

After deciding on the general direction, the problem of details, the same headache. In the vast sea, the most difficult thing is probably the problem of communication. However, this communication problem has seriously affected whether or not the news of Saiviala can be sent smoothly, whether the various fleets of the Tiger Ben Army and Navy can smoothly rush to the designated position, and whether they can smoothly encircle each other.

Maritime communications, mainly relying on clippers. The speed of the clipper, even at the top of the sky, is about thirty or forty knots (about 54 to 72 kilometers per hour). If it is a headwind, it may not be ten knots (18 kilometers per hour). This speed is really too time-consuming for the vast sea.

Obviously, if Saiviara arrives at the designated position, but the fleets of the Tiger Ben Navy do not, then the opportunity will be missed. Even, there is a possibility that Saviara will be eaten. If, before Saviara arrived at the designated position, the fleets of the Tiger Ben Navy appeared. Well, the Dutch will surely retract at once.

All things considered, the distance between the bait and the ambush should not be too far or too close. If it's too far, the bait will be eaten. If it gets too close, it will be easy for the enemy fleet to detect it, and the plan will be shattered. In the end, everyone agreed that the preset battlefield would be about 100 nautical miles south of the Penghu Islands.

The various fleets of the Tiger Ben Navy were ambushed in the Penghu Islands in advance. Once Saviara had succeeded in attracting the Dutch, he should send a quick northward to inform the Tiger Navy to prepare when he reached the location of the Dongsha Islands. When Saiviara arrived at the ambush site, the Tiger Army Navy happened to arrive at the same time.

As long as there are no major mistakes in the issue of mutual cooperation. So, what follows is the dialogue between the cannon and the cannon. The Tiger Ben Navy concentrated all its main forces, and pounced fiercely on the Dutch fleet with lightning speed, first giving the opponent a dismount, and then slowly maneuvering with the opponent until the opponent was forced to retreat.

To put it simply, this plan is so simple and straightforward. However, when it really comes to every fleet, every captain, the situation is complicated. The Staff of the Navy, so to speak, was overloaded for the first time. Fortunately, among the British, there was an experienced chief of staff, Hiber Thomas, and the Tiger Army Navy, a group of energetic young staff officers. Now, Chen Taizhong, Han Li, and other staff officers have been transferred to the Navy Command and become senior staff officers.

After half a month of hard work, this so-called "magnet" plan finally has a rough idea. After repeated research and revisions by Zhang Zhun and Saiviala, it was finally basically perfected. After another half a month, everything is basically ready. In mid-July, Saviara quietly headed south with the decoy fleet.

At this time, Formosa (Taiwan) was already on full alert. When the battle in Japan ended, the Dutch governor in Formosa, Putman, immediately sensed that something was wrong. He was keenly aware that after stabilizing the situation in Japan, the next target of the Tiger Army's attack would inevitably be Formosa. He hurriedly ordered to mobilize all forces to strengthen Formosa's defenses. At the same time, someone was sent to Jakarta for help.

……

In early August, autumn is crisp.

In Formosa's Chicken Coop Harbor, you can't see the autumn scenery for the time being. Affected by the marine climate, August in Jonlong Harbor is still a little hot. The sun shines brightly, and many warships and merchant ships are shrouded in it. In the vicinity of the port, the scenery is green and picturesque.

In fact, the name Formosa means "beautiful place" in Portuguese. Almost 100 years ago, the Portuguese colonists landed on the island of Taiwan for the first time, and when they saw the verdant trees and picturesque scenery here, they couldn't help but exclaim "Formosa". Eventually, Formosa became another name for the island of Taiwan.

"Dutchman ......"

Xiong Wencan whispered to himself.

As Zhang Zhun's envoy, Xiong Wencan came to Formosa and prepared to salute the Dutch before the soldiers. As a result, when he got off the boat, he actually saw that on the vast silver-white sand, there were many Dutch people basking in the sun. Judging by their graceful appearance, it seems that they have not yet realized that war is about to befall their heads.

Such a scene, in Xiong Wencan's eyes, has become a way for the Dutch to show off. He estimated that the Dutch did not take the Tiger Army in their eyes, and felt that the Tiger Army could not beat him, so they would be so arrogant. The Dutch deserved to be unlucky, and when the Tiger Army defeated them, they would know how powerful the Tiger Army was.

"Wait!"

Xiong Wencan muttered coldly.

Speaking of Xiong Wencan's experience, it's really a little embarrassing. In the history of the late Ming Dynasty, Xiong Wencan can definitely be regarded as a capable official. He successfully persuaded the Zheng fleet to defect to the imperial court, and successfully lured the Shaanxi rebel army to surrender. Such a feat, in the Chongzhen Dynasty, can be done, there are really few people.

If it weren't for his naivety in some things - yes, naivety - perhaps, Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and others would have long since ceased to exist. Xiong Wencan's greatest ability is his mouth. It is never an exaggeration to describe it with a lotus flower with a tongue and witty words. Think about it, who can convince people like Zheng Yiguan, Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, and Zhang Xianzhong, where can the tongue be worse?

There is sufficient information to show that Xiong Wencan's ethics are much inferior to Lu Xiangsheng. He is a bit greedy for money, and his hands and feet are not particularly clean. However, Zhang Zhun didn't particularly care about this. As long as you have the ability and your ethics are not very bad, Zhang Zhun welcomes you to come over. For example, Sun Chuanting was dug up by Zhang Zhun.

After poaching Lu Xiangsheng, Zhang Zhun's eyes fell on Xiong Wencan. He knows Xiong Wencan's weaknesses and also knows his strengths. As long as Xiong Wencan is not allowed to manage money, he will not be able to be greedy for ink. Compared with Xiong Wencan, Mo Yu and the like still seem too petty. In the future, the foreign minister of the new empire will be more suitable for someone like Xiong Wencan.

Since the defeat against the Shaanxi rebel army, Xiong Wencan has been imprisoned. What is a little strange is that after he was imprisoned, the court has not tried him, as if he had forgotten him. He has been kept in the prison of the Criminal Department, and no one has paid attention to him. When the imperial court withdrew from Beijing, Zhang Zhun immediately took action and decisively brought Xiong Wencan over. Regardless of whether Xiong Wencan is mentally prepared or not, he is a member of the Tiger Army.

In fact, within the Ming Dynasty, there were not many courtiers who sympathized with Xiong Wencan. The so-called things hurt their kind, and Emperor Chongzhen was so harsh on his courtiers, which naturally caused many courtiers to resent and resist from the bottom of their hearts. They didn't have enough guts to dare to openly oppose Emperor Chongzhen's orders, but there was no problem at all in doing something behind their backs, especially inaction. For example, deliberately forgetting the existence of Xiong Wencan.

Emperor Chongzhen has a large number of government affairs to deal with every day, as long as no one reminds him, many things, he doesn't remember at all. Xiong Wencan was deliberately "forgotten" by the ministers in this way, and as a result, Emperor Chongzhen really forgot. When the Tiger Ben Army came, the people above "forgot" Xiong Wencan's existence, and as a result, Xiong Wencan fell into the hands of the Tiger Ben Army.

When he returned to Shandong in May, Zhang Zhun took the time to meet with Xiong Wencan, and the two sides had an open and honest negotiation. Like Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting, Xiong Wencan's condition for defecting to the Tiger Ben Army was not to face Emperor Chongzhen in person. It seems that guys like them, who read the "books of sages" all day long, psychologically, are always more difficult to turn for a while.

However, to deal with the Dutch, Xiong Wencan was fully supportive. Hearing that Zhang Zhun was going to follow him to the front line in Fujian and give him instructions on how to deal with the Dutch, Xiong Wencan immediately agreed. He also sincerely said that he might be able to go to Dongfan Island in advance and persuade the Dutch to leave. If the Dutch refused to leave, it would not be too late for the Tiger Army to make another move.

In fact, when he was the governor of Fujian, Xiong Wencan was thinking about whether he could drive the Dutch away. It's just that the Ming Kingdom at that time did not have such strength at all. Even the Zheng family fleet was no match for the Dutch. Without enough strength, no matter how good the plan is, it can only be a castle in the air.

"Good!"

Zhang Zhun agreed to Xiong Wencan's request.

Everyone knows that going to Dongfan Island is dangerous. The Dutch are by no means vegetarian monks. They are all over Southeast Asia, and their hands are also covered in blood. However, Xiong Wencan did not hesitate. Having spent more than a year in prison, he didn't care about the danger of the Dutch. If you die, you don't have to be tortured.

The person in charge of greeting Xiong Wencan was Putman's envoy Anita. Since the Tiger Ben Army and Navy gathered on the front line in Fujian in large numbers, Puttman's life has not been easy. The master's life is not easy, and the person in charge of running errands will naturally not have a good time.

"You're here on behalf of the Tiger Army?"

Anita stared at Xiong Wencan with gloomy eyes and said with an unkind expression.

The Dutch can still abide by the basic diplomatic concept of fighting each other and not cutting each other. However, the thought of the Tiger Benjun sharpening his sword and wanting to do something to Formosa, Anita's heart was quite uncomfortable. Therefore, as soon as the two met, Anita put on an aggressive posture in an attempt to curb the prestige of the Tiger Army.

"Yes."

Xiong Wencan said without moving.

Anita tried to dismount him, and he could see it at a glance. However, Xiong Wencan didn't care at all. The other party actually threatened him, and he didn't know what to say. With his Xiong Wencan's character, will he be threatened by the Dutch?

In his bones, Xiong Wencan even has a bit of masochism. Once the Dutch kill him, or insult him, with Zhang Zhun's character, he will definitely slaughter all the Dutch. Xiong Wencan would rather sacrifice his life so that none of the Dutch in Formosa could escape. This is the lesson he learned from the last persuasion to succeed first and then fail. For these guys who are not of my race and whose hearts are different, it is better to kill them all.

"I am ordered by the Governor of the Tiger Army of the Heavenly Empire to withdraw from Formosa."

Xiong Wencan said condescendingly, and the words were round and clear.

"You!"

Sure enough, Anita's face changed slightly.

Xiong Wencan's speech was so direct that Anita felt a little uncomfortable, as if she had been pricked by a needle. However, Anita is not an impulsive person, he will not be easily provoked by Xiong Wencan, and he will not order Xiong Wencan to be dragged out and shot because of this. If he does this, it will be a personal vendetta with the Tiger Army.

The battle between the Dutch and the Tiger Army, in general, the one who had the upper hand was definitely the Dutch. The Dutch were all over the world, with a large number of warships and sailors, and even the Spaniards and the British were no match for the Dutch. However, in Southeast Asia, especially in the waters around Formosa, the situation is a bit more delicate.

Yes, the main fleet of the Dutch is indeed formidable. The merchant fleet of the Dutch was even stronger. However, the main fleet of the Dutch in the Far Eastern Seas consisted of only two. The 13th and 14th fleets of the Dutch Navy were respectively. These two fleets were the basis for the existence and maintenance of the Dutch East India Company. Without the presence of these two fleets, the Dutch in the Far East did not even have a chance to gain a foothold. Therefore, for the use of these two fleets, the top management of the Dutch East India Company was very cautious and did not dare to be sloppy in the slightest.

Once the two main fleets of the Netherlands left the South Seas, they would inevitably be exploited by their opponents. The Spaniards are like poisonous snakes, eyeing them out. However, it seems impossible to go to the main fleet and want to fight with the Tiger Ben Navy. If you want to defeat the Tiger Army Navy quickly and completely, and the two main fleets will be dispatched together, then it is the best. But the risk is even greater.

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