According to ancient communications, the speed of sailing ships was difficult to control, and with the positioning technology at the time, no one could guarantee that they would be able to meet on time and launch an attack at the same time, despite prior rehearsals.
Not to mention sailing ships, even steam-fueled warships hundreds of years later would often deviate from their course or avoid the wind and waves in the vast ocean.
Therefore, Shen Yourong mobilized so many military forces, also because he had the idea of being prepared for any eventuality. Since the emperor wanted to annihilate the enemy completely, or at least to deal a heavy blow, it was reasonable for him to play it safe.
This strategy of seeking stability means that each squadron is very strong. Even if the red-haired barbarians dispatch more than a dozen warships, each fleet has the ability to fight alone.
In fact, Shen Yourong's strategy of playing it safe actually worked. Before the Ming army could completely encircle them, the Red Haired Barbarians' fleet sailed westward, staying in the waters near Macau for only two days.
The reason was very simple. The red-haired barbarians discovered that the Portuguese did not even have a warship in Macau, and the so-called blockade was completely in vain.
Of course, they could also stay there for a long time to block Portuguese ships from Goa.
However, when the Red Haired Barbarians wanted to dock at the Guangzhou port to replenish fresh water supplies, they were rejected by the Ming government. They had to turn to Cam Ranh Bay to seek a transit port for supplies.
This was the tactic the Dutch used when they attacked Macau last time. There were ports of the two major Annan forces, the Nguyen Dynasty and the Zheng Dynasty. The Nguyen Dynasty had connections with the Portuguese and purchased muskets and cannons from the Portuguese.
The Northern Zheng obtained advanced weapons from the Dutch Red Haired Barbarians and launched attacks again and again.
The Nguyen Dynasty in the South and the Zheng Dynasty in the North of Annan are quite interesting. The Zheng Dynasty in the North can mobilize more than 100,000 people at a time, while the Nguyen Dynasty has at most more than 20,000 people. However, they can fight for decades or even hundreds of years and neither can defeat the other.
The Dutch red-haired barbarians were going to resupply, but they encountered the first squadron dispatched from Saigon Port, and the Ming Dynasty Navy's first foreign war began.
This was beyond the expectations of the Ming Dynasty navy and was not something the Dutch had considered. The Dutch also had some intelligence about the Ming Dynasty navy. They did not want to go to war with the Ming Dynasty unless it was absolutely necessary.
First, there was no benefit in going to war with the Ming Dynasty. The Dutch attacked Macau several times simply to replace the Portuguese and establish a stable and reliable trading base.
Secondly, the Ming army's navy was growing stronger and stronger, and with the help of maritime merchant groups, it was able to threaten the trade routes of Dutch merchant ships to Japan.
Finally, angering the Ming would further hinder the Dutch from obtaining goods. Silk, porcelain, sugar, and mirrors were not readily available. They were very jealous of the Portuguese in Macau.
When the patrol boat of the Ming fleet discovered the Dutch red-haired barbarians, it immediately released a rocket signal. Gan Hui quickly gave orders, and the ships were deployed and various weapons were ready.
The Dutch discovered the Ming Dynasty navy's patrol boats and saw the signals they sent, but they did not think that the Ming Dynasty navy would go to war with them.
Although the Dutch also became more vigilant and adjusted their course in an attempt to avoid them, dozens of large warships of the Ming Navy appeared in their field of vision and blocked their way in battle formation.
To take the initiative, Gan Hui ordered the fleet to slow down. The artillery commander quickly calculated the distance. Within the maximum range, the rockets on the battleship deck took off first and rushed towards the enemy ship with a tail of flame.
Boom, boom, boom... As the two fleets approached each other, hundreds of rockets flew through the air and exploded in front, behind, left, right, and in the air around the Dutch ships.
There are two types of rockets: explosive and deflagration. The fuses are all cut shorter, especially the deflagration type, which is filled with kerosene and is most suitable for exploding in the air. Fireballs of various sizes burst out in all directions and can burn the sails of enemy ships.
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