Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 244 The Wind Rises
Zhao Shuanzhu held the reins with his left hand and gently stroked the horse's mane with his right hand. It seemed that he was trying to soothe the horse's anxiety, but in fact he was hiding his own excitement.

His fingers trembled slightly, and his heartbeat echoed in his chest like a drum.

Xiyi is finally here!

This long-awaited moment has finally arrived.

An hour ago, a distant and passionate bugle call sounded in the military camp, breaking the noisy afternoon training ground.

The officers immediately blew the whistle for emergency assembly, and the sharp whistle immediately echoed in the empty training ground.

The soldiers immediately formed up and gathered according to their respective units. The sounds of footsteps and shouts intertwined together, and the entire military camp instantly became boiling.

The door of the arms depot was opened, and the officers on duty began to distribute weapons and equipment in an orderly manner.

Emergency drills like this are conducted several times a month in the army, and all soldiers are used to it.

However, the atmosphere today is different from usual.

There was a tense and exciting atmosphere in the air, as if a real battle was about to begin.

After Zhao Shuanzhu was dressed, he ran to the armory with his companions to collect the lances, sabers, single-barreled guns (flintlock pistols), armor, gunpowder and bullets needed for the cavalry.

Except for the horses, which were inferior to the Liaodong Guanning Cavalry, Xinhua's cavalry equipment was far superior to that of the other side in other weapons and equipment.

In particular, a double-sided breastplate, modeled after the design of the cuirassiers of the Napoleonic era, is die-cast with fine steel and is extremely tough. It can not only prevent close-range piercing and slashing from swords and guns, but can also block the shooting of muskets at a distance of 90-100 meters.

胸甲厚度2.8-3毫米，重量仅8.5公斤（前胸甲稍厚重，后背甲较轻薄），比关宁骑兵所装备的棉甲还要轻2-5公斤（关宁骑兵的棉甲重量在10至15公斤之间）。

In addition to the double-sided breastplate, their cavalry was also equipped with an iron helmet.

Although it has no face armor or ear protection, this helmet with a soft leather lining can ensure that the head will not be split open by the enemy's sword when charging into battle.

When making protective gear for their cavalry, the military required that the double-sided breastplate maintain the best possible balance between defensive performance and weight.

According to the requirements, the weight of the protective gear should not exceed 7-8 kilograms, so as to achieve the effect of immunity to cold weapon attacks and block stray arrows (or stray bullets) on the battlefield.

As for facing the close-range direct fire of the musketeers, that is not within the scope of consideration.

In other words, the tactical purpose of the breastplate equipped by the Xinhua cavalry was to resist attacks from cold weapons, block hand cannon bullets as much as possible, and at the same time strive to defend against musket bullets fired from medium and long distances.

As for the specific definition of medium and long distances, a full set of double-sided breastplate from the Napoleonic era can generally block rifle bullets fired from 35 meters away and pistol bullets fired from meters away.

Of course, when it comes down to it, the main function of the breastplate is to protect against cold weapons, and bulletproofing is just an additional benefit.

However, since it's already worn, wouldn't it be better to improve its bulletproof performance?

After all, Xinhua’s soldiers were too few in number, and without consumption, they could only pile up equipment as much as possible, wishing they could stuff all the soldiers into a tin can.

If the horses ridden by the Xinhua cavalry were not of such poor quality that they could not pull such heavy equipment, the cavalry's armor would probably be thicker and they would carry more weapons.

After Zhao Shuanzhu finished putting on his armor, he jumped onto his horse and immediately felt the weight of the breastplate pressing tightly against his body.

All the soldiers' faces were filled with tension and anticipation. Although everyone knew that the upcoming battle would be a life-and-death struggle, they did not have the slightest fear in their hearts.

On the contrary, they felt an unprecedented excitement and pride.

However, they were riding on horses, wearing flashy equipment, and before they could show off in front of the line of infantry, they received orders from their superiors.

Everyone dismounted, took off their armor, and waited for the next order.

"Brothers, the battle is about to begin. Are you all ready?" Deng Kun, deputy captain of the cavalry squad, stood on a high slope and shouted loudly, his voice echoing in the empty playground.

"Ready!" the soldiers responded in unison, their voices as shocking as thunder.

"Very good!" Deng Kun nodded with satisfaction and shouted, "Everyone, sit down and rest! ... The Western Barbarians haven't landed yet. Let's gather our strength and await the command from our superiors."

"If the Western Barbarians come ashore, I will fight alongside you brothers, fighting with one heart and one purpose, and I will not turn back until I die!"

"Xinhua will win!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"The morale of the army is high!" Deng Kun was very pleased when he saw the more than 30 cavalrymen in front of him, waving their arms, shouting loudly, and showing high morale.

"It takes a thousand days to train an army, but only a moment to deploy it!" Cavalry squad leader Zheng Lihui nodded and said solemnly, "We in Xinhua pay our soldiers generously and train them diligently day and night, isn't it all for this day? In this battle, our cavalry squad will fight with courage and determination, demonstrating our prestige and momentum."

"Yes, Captain!" Deng Kun saluted solemnly. "In this battle, my cavalry squad will not be left behind and will definitely take the lead."

Zheng Lihui took a deep breath and turned to look towards the port.

The Spaniards wouldn't be so stubborn as to force their way in, would they?
-

Outside Shixing Port, as many as eight Spanish warships gathered on the sea like a dark cloud pressing down on a city, with heavy sails and numerous cannon muzzles, showing their fangs.

However, Wang Jiarong, commander of the port's coastal defense battery, appeared quite relaxed, with even a hint of contempt at the corner of his mouth.

The Spaniards have been holding back for so long, how come eight warships have arrived!
Who do you look down on?
There are three artillery batteries in Shixing Port, with 32 guns of various calibers deployed, including -pound long-barreled cannons.

These artillery pieces not only have a long range and great power, but also have extremely high accuracy.

Battery No. 2 and Battery No. 3, located on the left and right hills, enjoy a commanding position with excellent visibility and the ability to form cross-fire. They can use "doubles mode" against any Spanish warship that dares to enter the bay, allowing the enemy to truly feel their meticulous "care" and "consideration" from multiple angles.

After the emergency mobilization, the entire artillery fort had more than two hundred officers and soldiers. With just one order, they could definitely fire with the huge momentum of thousands of cannons roaring at the same time.

You know, since the Spanish declared war several months ago, the artillery officers and soldiers have had to fire one or two rounds of live ammunition almost every day. This not only allows them to feel the battlefield atmosphere in advance, but also further improves the gunners' observation and aiming skills and coordination proficiency.

At the same time, the previously calibrated shooting parameters were repeatedly confirmed in order to be able to give the most accurate strike at the first moment when the Spanish warships approached.

"The Spanish ship is moving!" The observer put down the telescope and turned around and shouted excitedly.

"Well, notify all artillery positions and prepare to fire!"

Wang Jiarong was overjoyed when he saw that the Spanish ship outside the harbor had been hesitating for more than two hours and finally couldn't help but want to come up and test the strength of the artillery.

"Attention! Two Spanish warships are attempting to force their way into the harbor! No one is allowed to fire at will. Follow my orders!"

As he was speaking, the "Our Lady of the Rosary" and "Light of Dawn" belonging to the Spanish expeditionary fleet sailed out of the fleet formation and headed towards the port one after the other.

They seemed to know that the port had several artillery batteries and deployed a lot of powerful coastal defense artillery, so they drove very cautiously and at a very low speed, as if they were ready to escape immediately if something went wrong.

Fleet commander General Gomez stood in the bow command cabin of the flagship "Salti", observing the situation in the port through a monocular telescope.

Although he tried to maintain a calm demeanor, his heart was pounding and he was mumbling something silently. According to information provided by Captain Calles and Lieutenant Guardado, the pirates had built several artillery batteries in the harbor, with approximately twenty to twenty-five guns.

There are 8-pound guns, 12-pound guns, and powerful 24-pound guns, and several gun batteries are set up on the mountains on both sides, and the firepower can cover any sea surface in the harbor.

Two years ago, an armed ship of the exploration fleet was damaged by pirates and then captured by the enemy.

It stands to reason that when a fleet encounters a situation with tight coastal artillery defenses, it is best to stay as far away as possible to reduce its own damage.

After all, compared with coastal artillery batteries, warships themselves have too many weaknesses, and it is difficult to gain an advantage by bombarding them.

Although the coastal defense artillery cannot be moved, the enemy can hide ammunition and other explosive materials in closed or semi-closed solid bunkers, and even build a semi-covered fortress for the fortress gun itself to protect it and the gunners.

Unless the coastal defense artillery is directly hit or its supporting facilities are destroyed, it has strong survivability when engaging in a firefight with surface ships.

When a warship is engaged at sea, in order to hit an enemy, it not only needs to obtain data such as the target's distance, course, and speed, but also needs to correct for ship motions such as pitch and roll. Even if the target is a stationary gun turret, the constant motion of the warship makes it difficult to hit it.

What is more worrying is that coastal defense batteries can improve the accuracy of artillery fire by conducting test firing in the surrounding controlled waters in advance to calibrate the fire zones and impact points.

This is definitely better than a warship that still has to start the fire control process of observation, aiming, test firing, and correction from scratch after entering the firing position.

If so, the warship is not very clear about the specific location of the enemy's coastal defense artillery, and the enemy's concealment engineering is not bad, the difficulty of observation and correction will be further increased.

In contrast, when coastal defense batteries attack ships at sea, they can easily determine whether the missiles are long-range or short-range by the splashes, and make corrections accordingly.

If the enemy's coastal defense artillery is built on higher ground or in a place with good visibility, the advantage in observing and correcting the impact point will be even greater.

Under normal circumstances, coastal defense batteries have the advantage of firing first and shooting accuracy. When a ship is bombarded by coastal artillery, even if it is not hit in the vital parts, if the gun deck or bridge is hit, it will still affect its subsequent combat capability, thereby further expanding its disadvantage in the battle.

Of course, warships can evade attacks from coastal artillery batteries by maneuvering, but this will disrupt their own shooting and aiming, reducing shooting efficiency.

To maximize your shooting accuracy, you can't maneuver too much. And to further improve your shooting accuracy, you have to get closer to the gun platform.

But in this case, the probability of the warship being hit will increase exponentially.

In other words, it is better for a person to throw a stone on land than to throw a stone while being swayed on the water by a ship!

However, Gomez, commander of the Spanish expeditionary fleet, still wanted to give it a try.

Because their fleet possessed a powerful firepower of over 180 guns. Even if only one side of the warship could fire, there were still more than 90 guns.

The pirates' port batteries probably have no more than 20 or 30 guns. In terms of numbers, we have an overwhelming advantage and should be able to destroy their batteries, thereby occupying the dock and laying a good foundation for the next battle.

As long as we are willing to pay a certain price!

After the two exploratory warships sailed out more than 200 meters, two more warships of the Spanish fleet started up, following the sailing track of their companions and slowly moving into the harbor.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

The shells pierced the air with a sharp whistling sound, landing precisely near the two Spanish warships. Several huge waves suddenly rose on the water surface, and one of the shells hit the bow of the "Light of Dawn", sending flying wood blocks and instantly knocking down several sailors.

"hiss!……"

Gomez took a breath when he saw this.

The first round of firing from the enemy's artillery hit one of our warships, which showed that the pirate gunners were extremely well-trained and were able to fire such accurate volleys in a pre-marked firing area.

Faced with the bombardment of the artillery, the Spanish warships did not panic. Instead, they began to adjust their course and prepared to turn the ship sideways to unleash the power of the broadside artillery.

However, the firepower of the coastal artillery far exceeded their expectations.

In less than ten minutes, the mizzenmast of the "Our Lady of the Rosary" was hit by a chain bullet and broke into two pieces; the "Light of Dawn" was hit again, the bow cabin was pierced, and seawater poured into the cabin.

Seeing this, the two warships that were slightly behind slowly moved forward while adjusting their direction, trying to turn their hulls sideways when they reached the bombardment position so that they could quickly join the battle.

Then, a fierce artillery battle began.

The sound of cannons rumbled in the harbor, and huge splashes of water continued to appear on the water.

In less than ten minutes, in addition to the "Light of Dawn" being hit by several shells again, the other three warships were also hit one after another, the decks were torn, wood chips and debris flew everywhere, the sailors on the ship were knocked down, and screams rang out one after another.

Seeing that his four warships were unable to suppress the enemy's coastal defense artillery, Gomez, despite everyone's opposition, immediately ordered the "San Jose" and "Endless Ocean" to move forward and join the bombardment of the port.

"General, we can't take any risks!"

Captain Calles of the San José, after receiving the order, did not lead his ships forward. Instead, he took a transport boat to the Salti and advised General Gomez, "The enemy's batteries on the hills on either side have not yet opened fire. They must be waiting for all our main battleships to enter the harbor before unleashing a concentrated barrage to block our retreat."

"So, we can't send any more warships into the harbor. This is a pirate trap. If our task force suffers heavy losses, it will be a huge disaster for us and will cause us to lose the initiative on the battlefield!"

"General, I request that you order all our warships to retreat to preserve our naval strength. We can sail along the coast and find a suitable beachhead for landing. There's no need to engage in a meaningless battle with the pirates' coastal defense batteries."

“…” Gomez stared at his subordinate with bloodshot eyes.

What if our entire fleet were to move forward and successfully destroy the enemy's coastal defense batteries with our huge advantage in artillery numbers?
"General, the 'Light of Dawn' has been hit again!"

At this moment, the adjutant Major Fernandez, holding up a monocular, exclaimed: "Oh, God, it was hit by two, no, three shells, and hit the bow cabin accurately!"

"It's terrible, the foremast of the 'Our Lady of the Rosary' was hit by a chain bullet and broke into two pieces!" An officer also shouted.

"General..." Calles glanced back at the battle situation ahead, then looked at Gomez anxiously.

"The artillery batteries they deployed on the mountains on both sides...will the firepower be as fierce as this?" Gomez hesitated.

"Yes!...I definitely will!" Calles nodded heavily.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

As if to verify what he said, huge artillery roars suddenly sounded from the mountains on both sides of the bay.

The "Endless Ocean", which had just entered the bay, was attacked by artillery on both sides. Dense shells rained down around it, and more than ten water columns shot up into the sky, almost covering the entire warship.

Through observation through the telescope, it can be clearly seen that the "Endless Ocean" was hit by at least four shells, one hit the starboard gun deck, one hit the stern, and two hit the port side plate hard, breaking two large holes.

This round of shelling caused huge damage to the battleship with a displacement of more than 500 tons.

"It's a 24-pounder! ... Or maybe a 32-pounder!"

When everyone saw this, their faces changed color.

"Send flags and ask all the warships to withdraw!" Gomez shouted loudly with a grim face.

(End of this chapter)