These huge warships, the flag is red, the sails are white, and the hull is white. Even the sailors' uniforms are white. In normal times, many people think of white as a harmless color. However, when this color is used on warships, it is different. Who would think that a white warship is not a dangerous surname?

"What? The white fleet? Unidentified? Unclear motives? ”

The Spanish Far East Fleet, which was responsible for guarding the port, was taken aback and hurriedly ordered to be on guard.

At that time, the Spanish Far East Fleet had a total of 18 warships, including 5 large warships with a displacement of 800 tons and 13 large warships with a displacement of about 600 tons. In a hurry, they hurried in front of the harbor, lined up in line tactics. All the cannon windows were all opened, and the black hole of the cannon was facing the outside of the port. At the same time, the garrison batteries around the port were all in a state of battle.

Fortunately, the Spanish fleet was, after all, the most powerful maritime power in the past, and the former invincible armada was made by them. Although it has weakened a little over the years, and it was accidentally overtaken by the Dutch, the foundation is still there. Trained sailors, they were quickly ready for battle. However, the commander of the fleet, Herbert, was not happy at the outstanding performance of his men, on the contrary, he seemed quite worried.

There was no way, the unidentified fleet that arrived suddenly had a full thirty warships. In terms of the largest warships, the tonnage is comparable to that of the main battleships of the Spanish Far East Fleet. The opponent had twice as many warships as his own, and Herbert could not be cautious. What's worse is that he doesn't know whose fleet the other party is.

It's kind of funny to say this. As the commander of the Spanish Far East Fleet, he was tasked with guarding Spanish interests in the Far East, and Herbert's pressure could be imagined. Therefore, Herbert is still very careful about the changes in power around him. His intelligence network is spread throughout the South Seas. However, with such a large fleet, without any warning, he did not get any news.

Obviously, this is absolutely abnormal, so abnormal.

If this fleet of unknown origin had come to trouble the Spanish fleet, they could have directly raided the port of Manila, leaving the Spanish Far Eastern Fleet with no chance to protect the port at all. Even, if the opponent's tactics were a little more clever, they could induce the Spanish fleet to attack and fall into their encirclement, thus annihilating them in one fell swoop. Herbert simply shuddered at the thought of the terrible consequences.

"Whose fleet the hell are they?"

Herbert was puzzled and questioned the staff officers beside him.

As a result, the staff officers around him were also puzzled and could not explain it reasonably.

If it was the Dutch or the British fleet, they could not have known it. The intelligence network of the Spaniards, which had both the Dutch and the British in its eyes, could not give the other side a chance to sneak attack. Even the Dutch and the British themselves, who never counted on it, had a chance to sneak up on Manila. Because, it's simply not possible. As long as their fleet was just sorted, the Spaniards would have received accurate intelligence.

In addition to the Dutch and English, the Portuguese and the French were also under the watchful eye of the Spaniards. As long as they make a big move, it is absolutely impossible to hide from the Spaniards. Such a thing as mobilizing a large fleet is even more impossible. Therefore, it is clear that the sudden arrival of the fleet does not belong to any of the above-mentioned countries.

"What a bastard! Which country sent them? ”

After receiving a report from his subordinates, the Spanish governor in Manila, Pagos, could not calm down.

If Herbert hadn't led the fleet out to sea to intercept it, he would have smashed the intelligence directly into Herbert's face.

Dereliction of duty, this is shameful, gross dereliction of duty!

With such a serious dereliction of duty, it is completely possible to go directly to a military court!

It is simply unforgivable that such a large naval fleet quietly appeared near Manila, and the Spaniards did not know it. If the other party is really hostile, it is estimated that Manila is already a sea of fire. Whether he, the governor of Manila, will survive is still unknown.

But now is not the time to hold accountable.

The top priority now is to find out the identity of the other party, which country's fleet are they? What was their purpose in coming to Manila? These are two of the issues that concern Pargos the most. He repeatedly combed through all the information he had, but as a result, he still had no clue.

Undoubtedly, these two issues are also the two issues that Herbert is most concerned about.

Herbert's fleet kept issuing flags and trying to make contact with each other. As a result, the other party did not respond at all. Just when Herbert felt his scalp tingle, the other party finally sent a small boat and staggered towards the Spanish fleet.

Half an hour later, the boat arrived at the Spanish Far East Fleet. A young officer, dressed in a crisp naval uniform, appeared in front of Herbert. He didn't need a translator to communicate directly with Herbert.

"What?"

"You're the White Navy?"

"You are a naval fleet belonging to the Ming Empire?"

After listening to the other party's explanation, Herbert was still full of question marks.

The name of the Ming Empire, he knows. The Ming Empire was just north of Manila. Manila had many merchant ships coming and going to and from the Ming Empire. However, in Herbert's impression, the Ming Empire did not have a navy at all! Their little sailors can only go around in the rivers and lakes, and it is impossible for them to go to sea. The Ming Empire, when did it have such a huge fleet? It's just incredible.

In fact, it was the mixed fleet of the White Army and Navy led by Chen Xinhai who came to the port of Manila this time. According to Xu Xingxia's explanation, their main task is to show the existence of the white-clothed army and navy in various ports in the South Seas. Xu Xingxia wants all the countries and forces in the Nanyang region to remember the name of the white-clothed army and navy from now on.

In foreign affairs, the white-clothed army has always used the banner of the Ming Empire, and this time is no exception. In the eyes of those who do not know, the white-clothed army is part of the Ming Empire. Only those who know the truth will secretly smile bitterly. The current Ming Empire is almost part of the White Army. It is said that Emperor Yanjing of Lian Taichang is ready to formally accept the constitutional monarchy.

"We are the South Ocean Fleet of the White Army Navy!" The young officer in white again repeated the emphasis. The officer messenger sent by the White Clothes Army was called Lei Fei, and his rank was Navy Major. He is clearly not a qualified diplomat, and speaks very impulsively and directly.

After the establishment of the White Clothes Navy, Xu Xingxia imitated the navy of later generations and established a perfect military rank system. The navy is a technical branch of the armed forces, and there is no way to effectively manage it without a clear set of military ranks. It is not too abrupt to adopt a new way of rank in the Navy. It seems a little strange if the army also fully adopted the military rank system of later generations.

Rear Admiral Lei Fei is obviously not a diplomatic talent, and he does not regard his arrival as a diplomatic mission at all. His arrival is to inform the existence of the White Coats Navy. To put it bluntly, I want to tell you the Spaniards that we, the white-clothed army and navy, will also eat in the Nanyang region in the future. In order to avoid unnecessary conflicts, let's say hello to you first. As for what attitude you are going to use to greet us, that's your business, and we don't care. Whatever attitude you take, we, the White Coats and Navy, will follow.

Under normal circumstances, Herbert would probably laugh at such a briefing. An inexplicable fleet, inexplicable reports, everything is so inexplicable, it's just so funny. It is even possible that he will order the fleet to shell the opposing side and sink all the opposing warships as a warning.

Nanyang, when will it be your turn to intervene?

Now, however, he can't. Even, he couldn't express too obvious unhappiness to come. The reason is very simple, heroes don't suffer immediate losses! The white-clothed navy is clearly prepared, and the number of combat ships is more than that of the Spaniards!

If it really started, Herbert was not sure at all. He doesn't know the depth of the white-clothed navy! Generals with a little common sense know that on the battlefield, the most taboo thing is to know nothing about their opponents. This is the case with Herbert now. He knew nothing about the white-clothed army and navy, and he was blind.

Even if he wins by luck, it is estimated that his own losses will not be less. Since others dare to swagger to the port of Manila and swagger to report to you, they obviously have a little bit of confidence. Now, the Dutch are persecuting the Spaniards very strongly, and there is an Englishman eyeing them, and if the Far East Fleet led by him suffers huge losses, the Dutch and the British will definitely swarm up and eat them away.

Herbert was all too clear about the grave consequences of defeat. If the Spaniards wanted to protect their interests in the Far East, they could not allow their main fleet to suffer too many losses. Otherwise, it's useless to say anything. Nanyang is the first naked display of force. With strong force in your hands, you can survive and thrive. Otherwise, you will perish.

After a moment of silence, Herbert said euphemistically: "I don't know where the home port of your fleet is?" I don't know if your team needs help? ”

Now that the identity of the other party has been clarified, the next question is to figure out the other party's motives. Herbert is not an idiot, so he will not believe that the white-clothed army and navy really only came to make a report, and he is just familiar. I can think with my heels that since the other party has arrived with a swagger, next, he must set up camp in the Nanyang region. In other words, in the future, there will be more white-clothed navy in the Nanyang region.

In the South Seas, there are many islands and many good harbors. Among them, there are many good harbors, but in fact, there is no clear belonging. The Western powers came from afar, and it was impossible for them to put all the ports into their pockets at once. Therefore, the arrival of the White Army Navy at this time, there is still no difficulty in finding a few good ports.

As a matter of fact, when the Western powers came to Nanyang, they either seized or leased them at a low price, but no country claimed to include the Nanyang region as its own territory. This gave the White Army and Navy a great opportunity. As long as the navy of the white coat army occupies a bay and brings in a large amount of reinforced concrete, the port can be built soon.

In the XVII century, it was enough to be able to dock ships with a displacement of three thousand tons. At that time, the largest merchant ship had a displacement of less than 3,000 tons. And for a large ship of 3,000 tons, the depth of the draft is about three meters. Therefore, the difficulty of building a port is almost non-existent. Ports with a water depth of three meters are everywhere in the Nanyang region!

Lei Fei replied: "There are two options for the home port of our fleet in the South Seas. One is Dernat to the east, and the other is Balimbian to the west. Of course, these are preliminary plans and may be subject to change. ”

Herbert's face suddenly became a little ugly.

The staff officers behind him also looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

There was no way, the White Navy chose Delnate as a port, which was obviously not good for the Spaniards. So, Delnat, just south of Manila, about a thousand nautical miles from Manila, if the White Navy were to use this as their home port, would have to pass through the waters near Manila every time they made their way back and forth.

Everyone knows that warships are the most important way to assert sovereignty in the South Seas. A warship is a mobile land. Whose warship is anchored in whichever port is under whose jurisdiction it is. It seems that the port of Manila can only be used for the warships of the Spaniards, and it is impossible for warships from other countries to enter. Unless it's a friendly visit. And the waters near the port are obviously inaccessible to warships of other countries.

But what is the white navy warship that often passes near Manila? What do those merchant ships that come in and out of Manila's ports think when they see the white-coated navy near Manila's ports every day? Could it be that the Spaniards can't even control their own doorstep? Has Spain weakened to such a point? This is not a passing by at all, but a naked provocation!

"Damn it!"

"These cunning Ming people!"

Herbert cursed fiercely in his heart.

I know that the white-clothed navy will not just come to make a report, say hello and leave, they will definitely have other dirty purposes. As a result, unexpectedly, their first purpose was to come to the Spaniards. To put it mildly, the White Navy dispatched so many warships, obviously to give the Spaniards a look.

However, Herbert had to accept this ugly face.

Because, if the Spaniards and the white-coated navy rashly went to war, the Dutch and the British would secretly laugh. Manila, occupied by the Spaniards, was originally coveted by the Dutch and British. If, after the battle, the strength of the Spanish Far East Fleet had been greatly weakened, the Dutch and the British would have taken advantage of it.

Moreover, geographically, Manila is located in the northernmost part of the South Seas region, and is isolated. If the white-coated navy launched an attack with all its might, the Spanish Far East Fleet would definitely be embattled and miserable. Spain had three fleets in the Far East. At the moment, the other two fleets, both somewhere else, are simply not able to provide reinforcements.

"Very well, Delnate is indeed a deep-water harbour, and I have anchored there. I think it is very fitting that your country has chosen it as a port of call. However, I think that the Pakistani neighborhood is more suitable for docking your country's powerful fleet. ”

Herbert had to suppress the anger in his heart and said with a forced smile.

Faced with strong pressure from the White Navy, Herbert had to make a decisive decision to give the port of Delnate to the White Navy. With the current strength of the Spanish fleet, it is unrealistic to want to effectively control Delnat. Since it can't be effectively controlled, it can be regarded as a friendly gesture to simply give it to the White Army Navy.

Moreover, the White Navy has another port of call, that is, Palin. Thinking of Ba Lin, Herbert's mood slowly calmed down. If the White Navy chose Dernat to take a small piece of meat from the Spaniards, then the White Navy sought out the Patricks purely to disgust the Dutch and Portuguese.

Where is Pakistan? It's right between Malacca and Jakarta. Malacca is the traditional territory of the Portuguese, who were the first to arrive in the South Seas and therefore occupy the best port. Malacca is also the most strategically located. In order to keep Malacca, the Portuguese abandoned almost all other ports in the South Seas.

Jakarta, on the other hand, is a traditional territory for the Dutch. The interests of the Dutch in the Far East were almost always expanded from Jakarta (also known as Batavia) as the core. Therefore, Jakarta's status is also very important to the Dutch, and it cannot be missed. Now, the white-coated navy has inserted a pole and forced a nail between the Portuguese and Dutch families, and it is strange that the two of them can be comfortable.

Especially the strong Dutch, who were disgusted. When their merchant ships sailed between the Far East and their own countries, they had to pass through the sea near Pakistan when they set off from Jakarta and other places. In case the navy of the white coats came to inspect or intercept something, the Dutch would probably vomit blood. Therefore, the reaction of the Dutch must not be so peaceful.

"We think so too, and the port of Pakistan is indeed more suitable for us. Therefore, more often than not, our fleet will dock at the port of Pakistan. Major Lei Fei replied solemnly, not caring about the presence of the Dutch.

Herbert finally breathed a sigh of relief and relieved.

It seems that the main target of the white-coated navy seems to be the Dutch!

(To be continued)