With the commissioning of the second batch of 31 warships of the Longcheng Navy, especially the appearance of this super warship that is almost certain to be named "Destroy the Japanese" by Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, the strength and combat power of the Longcheng Navy have been greatly enhanced.
However, the mere 51 warships were still insufficient to meet the manpower needs of the more than 108,000 officers and soldiers of the Longcheng Navy.
It can only alleviate the immediate crisis.
Chen Huai'an and Qi Jiguang boarded the super warship "Destroy the Japanese Pirates". Standing on the deck, they looked out at the naval camp and barbican with its banners fluttering in the distance. They were filled with mixed feelings and deep emotions.
Chen Huai'an said, "General Qi, there are 31 warships here. Effective immediately, they will all be handed over to the Longcheng Navy. I hope the officers and soldiers of the Navy will continue to uphold their spirit of hard work and diligently hone their skills in fighting the enemy at sea."
"To conquer the stars and the sea for our great Han nation and establish immortal achievements!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang clasped his hands in a fist and solemnly promised, "I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's favor. This humble general and the officers and soldiers of the Longcheng Navy will certainly not fail in our mission!"
Um!
Chen Huai'an nodded and continued, "General Qi, yesterday you reported to me that there are currently about 20,000 officers and soldiers in the Longcheng Navy who are capable of fighting on ships, is that right?"
Qi Jiguang replied without hesitation, "Yes, Your Highness!"
After thinking for a moment, Qi Jiguang, seemingly realizing something, added, "Your Highness, if there are enough warships, the remaining naval officers and soldiers can also board ships and go to sea to train through combat."
"In this way, the Dragon City Navy will have more than 50,000 combat-ready soldiers!"
Ha ha!
Chen Huai'an laughed heartily and boldly a few times, naturally understanding Qi Jiguang's implied meaning.
He patted Qi Jiguang on the shoulder and said, "General Qi, we don't need 50,000 naval troops, 30,000 will suffice!"
"I hereby issue this order: 30,000 officers and soldiers of the Dragon City Navy shall assemble and board ships before noon today, and follow me out of the Bohai Sea, through the Yellow Sea, and finally to the East China Sea. We will then enter the inland waterway at the mouth of the Yangtze River and head straight for the Great Xin Dynasty's naval headquarters in Jiangyin!"
"The matter is urgent, General Qi, please make arrangements immediately!"
Qi Jiguang raised an eyebrow and immediately clasped his hands in obeisance, saying, "This humble general obeys!"
Chen Huai'an then said, "By the way, General Qi, for this first naval battle of the Longcheng Fleet, you, as the naval admiral, will accompany me on this 'Destroy the Japanese' warship."
"In addition, the daily training of the remaining naval officers and soldiers cannot be neglected; all of this will be handled by the naval deputy admiral!"
"Once we achieve a great victory in the southern campaign, I will personally replenish all the remaining warships for the Dragon City Navy!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
......
With a command from Prince Chen Huai'an, the officers and soldiers stationed at the naval camp in the Wengcheng of Bohai Bay instantly transformed into a well-organized war machine, operating in an orderly manner.
Inside the naval camp, combat troops were busy preparing weapons for battle; supply troops were busy loading necessary supplies such as food, fresh water, cannonballs, and arrows onto the warships.
The entire naval camp was in a state of tense but orderly busy activity.
Chen Huai'an was not idle either. He changed his mind at the last minute and personally led his naval officers and soldiers to detour through Jiangyin, with the aim of joining the struggle for control of the Lingwu Emperor in order to obtain the Imperial Seal of the State.
As a result, the original plan for the southern expedition had to be overturned and rewritten.
Inside the central command tent, Chen Huai'an began instructing the messengers:
"The messenger shall immediately dispatch messengers on an urgent journey of eight hundred li to convey my imperial edict to Chang Yuchun, the commander-in-chief of the Southern Expeditionary Army stationed in Jinan Prefecture, and Wang Jian, the commander-in-chief of the Southern Expeditionary Reinforcements who are currently resting in Yingzhou."
"I order General Wang Jian to immediately assemble a large army and march south to Jinan Prefecture to meet with Deputy Commander Chang upon receiving my imperial edict."
"Order Chang Yuchun to immediately dispatch a vanguard south to clear obstacles on the army's southern expedition route. Once they join forces with the southern reinforcements, they will then advance in one fell swoop to the north of the Yangtze River."
"Furthermore, convey my imperial edict to Wang Jian and Chang Yuchun respectively: all command of the southern expeditionary army shall be entrusted to Chang Yuchun, the deputy marshal of the Longcheng army, and there shall be no mistakes!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
The messenger immediately took the order and left.
Immediately afterwards, the voice of Qi Jiguang, the naval commander of Longcheng, came from outside the tent:
"Report—"
"Your Highness Prince Jin, all 30,000 officers and soldiers of the Longcheng Navy have boarded their ships and assembled according to Your Highness's orders. The 31 warships are also ready to set sail at any time. Please give your instructions, Your Highness!"
"good!"
Chen Huai'an exclaimed "Good!", picked up the golden helmet on the table, and strode out of the central command tent.
Outside the main tent, Xiao Po, the commander of the Golden Guard, had already prepared a warhorse for him.
While calling to Qi Jiguang, Chen Huai'an skillfully mounted his horse, then waved his hand and ordered, "General Qi, depart for the dock and board the ship to go out to sea!"
drive!
Before he finished speaking, Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, clad in golden armor and wearing a golden helmet, rode out of the gate of the naval camp in the barracks, leaving everyone else in the dust.
All that remained was a graceful golden afterimage in the eyes of the generals.
Seeing this, Naval Commander Qi Jiguang, Commander of the Golden Guard Xiao Po, and a group of Golden Guard soldiers clad in golden armor hurriedly mounted their horses, pounded their flanks, and followed closely behind Prince Jin.
Before long, Chen Huai'an and his party boarded the "Destroy the Japanese" treasure ship.
It was just past noon.
Standing proudly at the bow of the treasure ship "Destroy the Japanese Pirates," Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin gave the order: "Dragon City Naval Fleet, set sail!"
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
Woohoo—
Immediately afterwards, war drums thundered and horns sounded on all the ships in the fleet.
The "Destroy the Japanese" super warship, at the bow, was the first to set sail, slowly departing from the Wengcheng Wharf in the Bohai Bay.
Immediately afterwards, the remaining thirty medium-sized warships of the Dragon City naval fleet slowly sailed out of the port one after another, like giant dragons poised to take flight, churning on the sea.
Standing on the deck, Chen Huai'an and his group turned around and saw sails fluttering on the azure sea, colorful and embroidered with dragon and auspicious cloud patterns, the sails rustling in the sea breeze.
The super warship that Chen Huai'an was on was a unique presence in the Dragon City naval fleet.
Not only is the ship longer and wider, but a huge wooden dragon head also stands proudly at the bow, with a pair of bright and piercing eyes, exuding endless pressure and royal majesty, making people feel awe.
As the Longcheng naval fleet sailed out of the port and into the vast Bohai Sea, the movement of the ships in the fleet gradually calmed down.
Chen Huai'an and his group also left the deck and returned to the crew cabin of the warship.
The crew quarters of this super warship, though called cabins, are actually a magnificent palace.
Among them, the grand hall, with its extremely luxurious decorations, is no less impressive than the Taihe Hall of the Jin Prince's Palace in Longcheng, his fiefdom.
The group then rested in the main hall, waiting for the fleet to arrive in Jiangyin.
The next day.
Chen Huai'an was looking at nautical charts inside the main hall when a messenger's voice suddenly came from outside:
"Report—"
"Your Highness Prince Jin, the fleet has spotted dozens of unidentified ships in the Yellow Sea ahead!"
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