Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 1153 The Prodigal General
After Zhu Su finished speaking, he didn't even look at the enemy ship that was still charging, and went into the cabin without looking back.

As the saying goes, "the general is the courage of the soldiers." In the battlefield of the cold weapon era, the bravery of the generals could often inspire the bravery of the soldiers under their command, thus playing a role in determining the outcome of the battle.

The naval battles of the European fleets during this era were not much different from the cold weapon battles on land. Before the popularity of artillery, naval battles still relied on boarding and hacking, and bravery still played a very important role.

Just like Zhang Dingbian's attack on Zhu Yuanzhang's flagship almost changed the outcome of the "Poyang Lake Battle" that determined the founding of the Ming Dynasty. If Zhu Yuanzhang's warship had not been unable to retreat because of the sudden turn of the rudder, the ship had run aground; if Chang Yuchun had not shot Zhang Dingbian's arm, Zhang Dingbian would have successfully attacked Zhu Yuanzhang's flagship... China's history might have really changed because of Zhang Dingbian's bravery.

The Western warship was undoubtedly aroused to its bloody courage. It bravely moved forward, and although the ammunition of the naval guns had grazed its sails and the cross sculpture on the bow was also on fire... But it still did not retreat. The soldiers on the deck shouted loudly, and they kept swinging their swords to cut the fishing nets entangled on the hull and oars, while steering the ship forward.

Inspired by this, the Western Yi fleet, which had been in a mess, was also inspired to regroup and launch a fearless charge towards the Ming fleet. If they could break into the vicinity of the Ming flagship and kill Zhu Su, then the balance of victory or defeat in this naval battle might really be reversed.

Unfortunately, they are not Zhang Dingbian. The Ming fleet at this time is far from the old Zhu who hastily fought against Chen Youliang in Poyang Lake...

"Your Highness has ordered! Capture the enemy ship alive!"

"Your Highness has ordered! Capture the enemy ship alive!"

Zhu Su's order was passed down layer by layer. The flag soldiers on the lookout raised their flags, and the two Ming Dynasty ships that were originally lying sideways began to slowly turn their bows.

Tie Xuan frowned as he watched the Fu ship ramming the leading Western warship. He said to Li Jinglong, who had just issued an order at the bow, "General Li, the enemy ship is advancing rapidly and is full of vigor. If we engage it at this time, we will be facing the enemy's advantage. A wise man would not do that."

"Why not temporarily avoid the front and wait until the enemy's energy is exhausted after three attacks, and then engage in battle? This will also save our Ming soldiers from casualties."

"It was an unexpected shipwreck. There are too few Ming soldiers who have made it here, and each one is extremely valuable."

Li Jinglong chuckled and said, "Master Tie, relax. You are a scholar, and I am a military hero. I know better than you how precious soldiers are."

"Your Highness wants me to capture the enemy ship alive, so of course I have to fight on board. So what if he is in the prime of his enthusiasm? I am going to... beat down his enthusiasm!" Li Jinglong clenched his right hand into a fist, as if he wanted to grasp the enemy ship in his hand.

As they were talking, the enemy ship had already rushed through the fishing nets. Inspired by the leading ship, the other enemy ships also broke through the fishing nets one after another and headed towards the Ming fleet. Li Jinglong saw that the two Fu ships had turned their angles and sneered excitedly.

He took something handed to him by his left and right hands, put it into his ears as if nothing had happened, then raised his right hand and waved it forward in a very heroic manner.

"Pass my order... Release!"

"Fire!" The messenger on high waved the flag. The next moment.

The sky collapses...

Sea cracks!

The sound of artillery fire suddenly rang out continuously, as if to tear the sky and earth apart. Almost all the artillery on the treasure ship Fuzhou roared at the same time, and the originally calm sea trembled instantly. Countless huge water columns rose out of thin air, together with the artillery fire and gunpowder smoke, almost covering the boundless sea.

Tie Xuan was startled by the sudden noise, and felt a buzzing in his ears. Then he realized that what Li Jinglong had put in his ears was something like earplugs. Although he had commanded a long-distance fleet, he was a civilian after all. The Fengmingzhou fleet had mostly faced small characters like a few indigenous rebels. How could he have seen such a spectacular sight of thousands of cannons roaring at the same time?
Having said that... apart from Li Jinglong, there is no other naval general in the world today who would not hesitate to launch such luxurious and exaggerated firepower attacks.

Li Jinglong's training with the pirates in Nanyang was not entirely without results. At least, he really worked hard to make the firepower of the ship's guns more accurate. The fishing nets arranged in front of the fleet array were not only to block the enemy, but also to mark the distance: the area beyond the fishing nets could not be aimed at by the ship's guns, and it was all a matter of chance; and the area beyond the fishing nets was the best area for the guns to cover. The gunners on the deck could shoot wherever they pointed, and rarely missed!

The tall treasure ships and the shorter Fu ships formed a firepower network with different heights. The cannons fired continuously as if they were free. In an instant, more than 70% of the ships of the Western Yi fleet, which had just charged forward with great momentum across the fishing nets, were either on fire or sunk in the sea. A group of red-haired, golden-haired and brown-haired Western Yi jumped into the sea like dumplings. Their originally brave and fearless shouts turned into shrill cries of surprise and despair.

The morale that was finally aroused was abruptly extinguished!

"This...this..." Looking at the sea where the smoke had dissipated, Tie Xuan was stunned.

Li Jinglong was quite proud. He patted Tie Xuan on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Xiao Tie, you are still too young."

"Although you have led a fleet, you are still a civilian after all. You don't know the military knowledge of our military meritorious service."

"It's okay, it's okay. There's no need to admire me so much. My, Li Jiujiang's, ability is far more than that... You and I are both under the command of Uncle Fifth, so how could I keep something from you? I will teach you slowly in the future. Hahahaha!" After saying this, he walked away with great satisfaction and went to command the two Fu ships to capture the heroic flagship alive.

Tie Xuan twitched his lips. How could he be in awe? Li Jiujiang was confident. He thought that he would come up with some brilliant military strategy... He didn't expect it to be such a trick of using force to defeat cleverness. They came from a long way. How many shells could they bring on the ship? At least 30% of them would be used in this firing...

"No wonder, no wonder the rumor spread that Duke Cao's mansion was in financial difficulties... Alas!" Tie Xuan shook his head and smiled bitterly. Now that things have come to this, there is no point in talking about it. He can only keep an eye on Li Jiujiang and make sure he doesn't squander all the money he brought with him.

They were deep behind enemy lines, and they could only rely on strong ships and powerful guns. If they didn't have shells, wouldn't they be like fish on the chopping board? Moreover, each shell was very expensive. One shell was worth half a month's salary...

Thinking of this, the smell of gunpowder in the air inexplicably became heart-wrenching. Tie Xuan quickly withdrew his gaze, and simply turned a blind eye to it, and also got into the cabin where Zhu Su was.

(End of this chapter)