Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 50 Hunting

After March, there are fewer and fewer ships calling at the port.During this period Blanco Almeida came once from San Vicente, bringing 3 tons of coal and some agricultural products.He bluntly told the cross-travelers that the Governor of Peru has exerted tremendous pressure on them. After March, the trade between the two sides will be suspended, and everything will be discussed after the end of the war.However, he also assured that immigration from the Far East would not be affected.

Apart from the Brazilians, there were only some ill-informed Baltics.After a long and difficult journey across the oceans, they suddenly found that all trade had ceased.The people across the world are producing cannons, armor, and muskets at full capacity. Even if they have spare equipment, they have stored them, and they have no intention of selling them.Fortunately, all the supplies they brought were sold at a good price, so they wouldn't make an empty trip.

From the end of February to the first ten days of April, Travelers received more than 2 heads of livestock, 4 tons of coal, 500 tons of pig iron, 120 barrels of gunpowder, 850 tons of lead, and more than 100 Ukrainian and Livonian immigrants. .On April 500, Spanish warships appeared in the open sea and began to implement a blockade policy, intercepting various ships entering and leaving the port.At this point, trade was finally completely cut off.

However, the Spaniards' ships had no intention of forcibly breaking into the port. Perhaps they were still waiting for the main fleet, or perhaps they also realized that it would be foolish to forcefully break into a well-fortified port under the watchful eye of more than 4 artillery pieces from 40 forts. things, especially when the enemy obviously has multiple long-barreled heavy artillery.

The executive committee is building city defense facilities, expanding the armed forces, and hoarding war materials step by step according to the plan. The Spaniards are obviously doing the same thing, so the two sides are currently at a stalemate.

There is no war on land, but the hunting at sea never stops.

April 4.Sunny, west wind 20.

The "Eagle of the East Coast" and the Yunsheng No. 8 formed a two-ship formation floating with the waves in the southeast waters outside the entrance of the Strait of Magellan.They have been wandering here for several days, trying to capture the Spaniard's supply ships or lone warships, but the Spaniards obviously didn't let them go.During this period, there was a wave of Spanish fleets passing through the Strait of Magellan, but the fleet that passed through had [-] large warships and several supply ships, and its strength should not be underestimated.Even if Yunsheng No. [-] goes up to fight at a high speed, I'm afraid it won't be able to please.

Xiao Bailang and Wang Tiechui sat in the captain's cabin of Yunsheng No. [-] and chatted.The old couple sat again in this room full of memories after more than two years. The strong sense of time and space disorder made both of them a little emotional.

"Old Wang, you and Lao Han have suffered a lot in the past two years. To be honest, when I went to Dingyuan Fort, I wanted to call you two, but I was really worried about handing Yunsheng No. [-] to a bunch of laymen. It’s why you two stayed in the navy. I didn’t expect that this stay would delay the future of both of you, alas.” Xiao Bailang took a sip of water and spoke first.

"Actually, it's nothing." Wang Tiehammer smiled wryly, and said, "Isn't it just letting Wang Qinian hang out for a year, who made us all have the label of the Department of Transportation. In fact, when the navy was first established, it was hard to say that Wang Qinian He, the naval commissioner, is actually a loner. So he has always been wary of our group of Yunsheng No. [-] crew members. We have to use us too, but I didn't expect him to start with the coastal defense artillery and the nautical school, and he just slowly broke through the situation. In this way, we will only have to stand aside, ha ha. At least he still has some conscience , After leaving us alone enough, we will still be remembered for this dispatch.”

Xiao Bailang was a little speechless, pretending not to hear the vague complaints in Wang Tiechui's words, he laughed and revealed it.At this moment, the newly appointed first officer, Ruben Demel, came in and reported: "The lookout on the mast tower found a signal flag raised at the signal transmission point on the coast."

"What?!" The two of them regained their spirits immediately, and after wandering around for so many days, they finally caught a soft persimmon that could be pinched.The two immediately left the captain's room and went to the deck to observe.There is a tall tree trunk on the hillside by the coast. At this time, a red pennant flag is fluttering in the wind on the top of the trunk.Sure enough, there is a situation!

"When did you find out?" Xiao Bailang asked in a slightly hasty tone.

"Just now!" Demel said, "The watchman on the mast tower just discovered that the signal flag was raised over there." After speaking, he pointed to the top of the mast tower.The mast tower was swayed by the strong sea wind, and the person sitting inside was an intern of the nautical school—an officer candidate Ji Wen from Ireland.

Xiao Bailang nodded, and smiled at Wang Tiehammer: "Old Wang, business is here. Now you are the captain, and you are in command."

Wang Tiehammer was not pretentious, and began to order: "Mate Demel, lower the mainsail and foremast sail; Lao Han, the main engine starts to warm up. Everyone is in position and ready for battle. In addition, hang the red battle flag and the green follow flag , to remind the people on the 'Eagle of the East Coast' to follow closely."

Yunsheng No. 3 then sailed northeastward at a low speed of [-] knots, and the "Eagle of the East Bank" apparently also observed the situation on the shore and followed closely behind.According to the efficiency of information transmission on the shore, it will take almost a day for the enemy's ships to arrive at the eastern entrance and exit of the Strait of Magellan, which is enough time for everyone to rush over and intercept them.

……

Outside the entrance and exit on the east side of the Strait of Magellan, the wind is high and the waves are rough, and two Spanish ships are traveling together. The 400-ton armed merchant ship "Enrique the Brave" was at the back, and the 200-ton battleship "Toledo Zealot" was leading the way. The two ships set sail from Lima and finally passed through the narrow , the dangerous Strait of Magellan, into the vast South Atlantic Ocean.This sea area is relatively safe in the eyes of the Spaniards. After all, apart from the Dutch, British or French pirates that pop up from time to time, no force has dared to openly challenge the authority of the Kingdom of Spain here.

But they soon stopped laughing.Two unidentified ships appeared in the southeast sea, the one in front looked quite tall, and a tall building-like building was built in the middle of the ship inexplicably.There was a mast on the forward half of the deck, and it looked like it could hang three sails.But this is also what surprised the Spaniards the most. Without sails, the ship was approaching at a high cruising speed of 3-4 knots.Behind this ship was a three-masted sailing ship of small tonnage. Both ships raised a flag with a red background. An eagle in a pouncing stance.

The two ships were obviously not going to come over to say hello in a friendly manner. The busy crowd on the opposing deck and the dark muzzle of the guns explained everything.The Spaniards immediately decided to turn the rudder to the north, preparing to get rid of these two hostile ships. Their weak firepower could not fight against these two seemingly powerful warships.

"Tack the wind and get out at full speed." Diego, the captain of the "Toledo Fanatic" ordered solemnly, "The special envoy of the Governor must be sent safely to Buenos Aires. As for the 'Brave Envoy' Rick', God bless them."

The "Toledo Zealot" is a small warship that has served for more than ten years and belongs to the Peruvian Regional Fleet.The sailors have been dealing with British and Dutch pirates on the coast of the Western Pacific all year round, and they are fairly well-trained.They turned the yard at the first time, and started tackling in a zigzag pattern.However, their efforts were doomed to be in vain. The tall ship of the opponent rushed straight at a relatively high speed of 4 knots without raising any sails, and the distance between the two sides was rapidly shrinking.

"God, that must be a ship sent by the devil." Captain Diego kept crossing his chest, "Gentlemen, prepare to fight!"

"The Spaniards are going to run! Haha, don't you think I can run at such a slow speed?" Wang Tiehammer laughed while holding up his binoculars, "Old Han, follow up. Gunner, shoot warning shots after entering the range."

"Boom! Boom!" Before the bow guns came into range, several gun groups on the port side had already started shelling the slow and clumsy armed merchant ship "Brave Enrique" on the side.The Spaniards also showed their tenacious will to fight at this time. The few 6-pound and 8-pound guns on the armed sailboat quickly counterattacked towards Yunsheng No. [-], and some Spanish troops on the deck were also shooting with matchlock guns.

"Don't worry about this ship, it won't run away! Let Lu Ming and the others take care of it. Let's keep an eye on the battleship ahead and don't let her run away!" Wang Tiehammer ordered.

Yunsheng No. 12 quickly approached the "Toledo Fanatic". The two 8-pound guns and two [-]-pound guns on the bow fired the first round of shooting under the undulating waves. Most of the shells missed, and only one shot was aimed. The chain bullets going off the mast bizarrely hit the poop of the enemy battleship, but it seems that it did not cause any damage to the enemy.

"Come again!" At this time, Yunsheng No. 24 has gradually kept pace with the "Toledo Fanatic", and some broadside guns have also joined the shooting.In particular, a [-]-pound heavy gun showed its extraordinary power as soon as it joined. The huge iron projectile hit the opponent's side deck, breaking a big hole in the deck, and the broken sawdust even injured several on the opponent's deck. famous sailor.

Soon, the 18-pound and 12-pound naval guns also joined in the shooting, and the fierce artillery fire almost completely smashed the opponent's starboard side.However, the few 8-pound artillery shells fired back by the opponent only knocked out some sandbags hanging on the side of Yunsheng No. 24 ship. Everyone who was still standing on the opponent's right deck was beaten into a sieve.

"Haha! Have fun!" Wang Tiechui laughed and said, "Huh? Still not surrendering? Well, you are tough enough! Come on, let them be fulfilled! Beat me to death and sink her!"

The booming cannon sounded again.

On April 1633, 4, off the Strait of Magellan in the South Atlantic, the Spanish armed merchant ship "Enrique the Brave" and the small warship "The Toledo Zealot" were sunk, and more than 20 people were drowned in the icy South Atlantic waters. Among them were Viscount Fernandez, special envoy of the Governor of Peru, and 260 Army musketeers.

PS: Just got back.The computer has also been repaired, and I have to work overtime tomorrow, so I won't say much, let's code first.

(End of this chapter)