Total War: Restoration of the Ming Dynasty in Luzon

Chapter 4 Enemy Ship

When the Qing army's pursuit force arrived at the seaside, there wasn't a single ship left in the water. The captain, looking at the footprints still visible in the waves, could only grit his teeth, punch his palm, and curse:

"Damn those remnants of the Ming dynasty, they actually ran away so fast!"

After a period of powerless rage at the sea, he could only slink back to his post and prepare to report the situation to his superiors.

Zhu Jiheng was completely unaware of this. At this moment, he was standing on the deck of the sixth-class ship "Hope", gazing at the beautiful scenery where the sea and sky met in the distance. However, despite the beautiful scenery in front of him, he still could not relax.

The threat posed by Shi Lang's Fujian Navy was like the Sword of Damocles, hanging over Zhu Jiheng's head and ready to fall at any moment. If the Fujian Navy discovered and entangled him, it would be difficult for this single sixth-class ship to escape alive.

Although the Qing Dynasty was inherently weak in the navy since its founding, it gained warships and naval talents like Shi Lang when Zheng surrendered, so its control over the Taiwan Strait was not to be underestimated. Moreover, the Qing court would never allow a member of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family to escape to Taiwan.

Even though the last resistance forces of the Ming Dynasty had been eliminated.

"Your Highness, the wind has shifted to the southeast, which is favorable for our ship to travel at a speed."

Just then, the captain's voice came from beside him. This experienced old sailor had been standing by his side the whole time. On the deck, the sailors equipped for the sixth-class ships were skillfully operating the ropes and sails. The general's guard and line infantry took turns assisting in the guard duty. The warhorses were placed in the lower deck, and occasionally a few neighs could be heard.

Zhu Jiheng nodded slightly, offering no comment. He only hoped that the sixth-class ships could leave the strait before the Fujian Navy could react.

However, things don't always go as planned.

Suddenly, the lookout at the top of the mast sounded a sharp alarm, shouting, "Enemy ships! To the northeast! Two Qing warships are approaching!"

Zhu Jiheng's heart tightened, and he quickly ran to the stern of the ship and looked around. He saw several black dots appearing on the horizon, and the Qing army's battle flags on the sails were faintly visible. The enemy had obviously discovered this Western-style warship that was not flying a national flag and was rushing towards it in an encircling manner.

Captain Lin Chen of the sixth-class ship picked up a monocular and looked inside. He quickly put it down with a serious expression and said to Zhu Jiheng, "It's a Fujian-style ship, with about ten cannons on each ship... Your Highness, they are very fast, and I'm afraid we can't shake them off."

"Pass down the order: everyone prepare for battle!"

Zhu Jiheng's voice was resolute, his eyes showing no fear. He said to Lin Chen, "The Qing army will most likely not guess that I'm on this ship. Although the Hope doesn't fly any flags to identify itself, its appearance alone is enough to deceive them. This is our golden opportunity to strike first!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen quickly guessed Zhu Jiheng's intention. His eyes lit up, and he said, "You mean... to pretend to be inspected, and then fire at close range after the enemy ship gets close?"

Zhu Jiheng nodded and calmly said, "The deck of the Hope is higher than that of the Fujian ship. Have the soldiers bend down and hide behind the ship's side. The gunners should load grapeshot in advance and open the gun ports to fire at the enemy ship as soon as they receive the order. Only a few sailors should be left to deal with the Qing army's questioning."

"Yes, sir!" Lin Chen agreed with Zhu Jiheng's plan and immediately turned around to relay Zhu Jiheng's orders.

As the order was given, the atmosphere on the Hope instantly became tense. The line infantrymen who had been resting in the cabins went up to the deck to load ammunition and then took cover behind the sides of the ship. The gunners also loaded ammunition in an orderly manner, ready to be deployed at any time.

The Hope deliberately slowed down, allowing the two Fujian ships to catch up quickly. They did not rush to get close. One of the ships accelerated to encircle the other, attempting to form a pincer attack. Seeing that the ship in front had blocked the course, the Fujian ship behind finally came up from the left.

"Hey! Listen up, everyone on board!" A man dressed as an officer stood on the gunwale of the left-hand Fujian-style ship and shouted in thick Hokkien, "I am a patrol ship of the Fujian Navy of the Great Qing Dynasty! Who are you? Why are you not flying your flags! Lower your sails and stop immediately for inspection! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

Zhu Jiheng didn't respond, but instead gave Lin Chen a wink. Lin Chen immediately understood and deliberately shouted in an arrogant tone, "This ship is protected by the Dutch East India Company! The company has reached an agreement with you, and we have the right to freedom of navigation!"

"Hey! It really is a ship from those red-haired barbarians." The captain, hearing Lin Chen's shout, spat disdainfully into the sea. "What kind of bullshit East India Company is this? This is the territory patrolled by the royal army! Red or green, all of you, lower your sails! One more word and we'll have cannons ready!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Qing soldiers behind him began to shout and raise their guns and spears at the Hope, and even pushed out several heavy homemade cannons, their dark muzzles posing a strong threat.

Seeing the Qing soldiers' arrogant attitude, Lin Chen immediately changed his expression and feigned submission: "Sir, please don't fire! We'll lower the sails right away!"

After saying that, he gave the sailors a look, and the sailors cooperated by lowering the sails. The Qing officer saw this and sneered, thinking that the ship had really given in. He then waved his hand and ordered the Fujian ship to move closer.

Several Qing soldiers with knives and guns at the bow were ready to board the ship for inspection. The captain held his head high and his face was full of disdain for the "red-haired barbarians".

"You guys know what's good for you! Let the men come up and check if you've brought anything contraband..."

Before the captain had finished speaking, just as the distance between the two ships had shrunk to less than twenty paces, and the Qing soldiers were about to throw their grappling hooks onto the deck of the Hope—

A fierce glint flashed in Zhu Jiheng's eyes. He abruptly waved his hand and shouted, "Now! Fire!"

The long-awaited order was like igniting a powder keg!

"fire!"

Lin Chen roared with all his might, and at the same time, his adjutant gave orders to the line infantry on the deck.

Swah——

The next instant, the gun ports on the left side of the Hope opened, and the cannons, which had been ready to fire, were pushed out, their dark muzzles pointing directly at the unsuspecting Qing soldiers.

Before they could react, several cannons spewed out deadly tongues of fire, and thousands of tiny grapeshots shot out from the flames, like a death storm from hell, sweeping across the deck of the Fujian ship in a fan shape!

The Qing soldiers who were preparing to board the ship were the first to be hit. Their thin uniforms or exposed skin were torn apart instantly, and blood and flesh flew everywhere. Their screams were drowned out by the sound of cannons and the shrill sound of iron balls tearing through the air.

Before the arrogant captain could even utter a sound, he was riddled with bullets and his body plunged into the sea like a tattered sack.