If we discuss the strongest maritime power in the East in the seventeenth century, the Dutch East India Company, which has seventy Galen sailing ships (mostly armed merchant ships), is well deserved, but if we want to discuss the ranking of naval forces, the Spanish fleet in the Philippine Governor's district is the best.

The Battle of Zamboanga in May 16, Chongzhen was enough to prove the strength of the Spanish Navy. The Spanish Navy defeated the Dutch and Philippine in an almost lossless state. At that time, the Spanish Navy's strength was weakened by the community. In the battle between the community and the Philippine Governor, Spain lost as many as five main ships.

(The predecessor of the Tiger Shark was the San Juan, the predecessor of the Saint-Idfonso in the Philippines Governor's District of the Philippines, and the heavy armed transport ship of the Blue Whale was the Manila Sailor. In addition, the Ibolito was sunk in the Battle of Guam, and was seized and sold to the Piron, the Edslo. There were two main battleships, two large sailing ships and a cruise ship.)

Of course, the Philippine Governor's District also received support from the Spanish Governor's District. Among these supported warships, three cruise ships and a large sailing ship are still serving in the Philippine Governor's District.

The society has a very comprehensive understanding of the naval forces of the Philippine Governor's District. After all, the society not only has officers from the former Spanish fleet like Simmons, but also captured prisoners in the war. In the information compiled by the Navy, the Philippines Governor's District has nine main battleships, which is different from the fourteen in the Dutch information. In fact, it is not that there is any intelligence problem, but that the society and the Dutch East India Company have different definitions of the main battleships.

The Dutch East India Company's definition of main ships is more oriental. It is defined by tonnage. Those with more than 400 tons are considered main ships. Therefore, in its statistics, some medium-sized Galen warships, large armed merchant ships and cruise ships are included, while the community's definition of main ships is closer to reality. Only warships qualified to participate in battle line duels can be called main ships.

In the middle of the seventeenth century, battle line tactics had become the main tactics of fleet combat and were regarded as iron law by many European countries. Whether they are qualified to participate in battle line depends on the number of artillery. Although there has not been any regulations in this era, the naval generals of major countries all had a vague understanding, that is, if the number of artillery of a warship is less than two-thirds of the opponent's guns, then they would not be able to fight the battle line duel. In fact, a more scientific definition should be two-thirds of the firepower.

For an extreme example, a warship with 100 six-pound cannons is not an opponent of forty-level heavy gunboats like the Tiger Shark, because the six-pound cannon cannot achieve the effect of breaking the battleships at all. When the main battleships of the community generally use 24-pound Koufeilin and 18-pound cannons as the main cannons, the opponent has more than two-thirds of the number of 12-pound cannons and more powerful cannons, so they are qualified to fight against the main battleships of the community.

(This is why the 74-Arch 3rd-level battleship was the main battleship of various countries in the era of sail warships. It is impossible to fight against the first-level battleship at a young age.)

Specifically for Spain and the community, the main fleet of the community has five heavy gunboats, including the three 800-ton warships with about 45 heavy guns, as well as two super heavy ships, Orca and Furious Whale, with a displacement of about 1,100 tons and sixty heavy guns. The five heavy gunboats have an average of fifty heavy guns per ship, which means at least Spanish warships have 34 heavy guns to fight against them.

There are many warships with more than 34 artillery guns in the Spanish fleet, but some medium-sized Garen and cruise ships are often equipped with the main guns of eight-pound guns, so these warships are naturally not listed among the main ships by the club.

Among the information provided by the Navy of the Society to the Senate, the Philippine Governor's Governor's District has nine main battleships, including only the tonnage of the Santa Maria and a large sailboat with a capacity of more than 1,000 tons, and the rest are heavy gunboats such as the Tiger Shark with a capacity of about 750 tons. In addition, there are five cruise ships, two of which are large cruise ships with an capacity of 18 pounders, and three cruise ships with a capacity of about 350 tons. Even the Dutch were not listed as main ships. In addition to heavy gunboats and cruise ships, the Philippine Governor's District also has four medium-sized Garen and three large armed merchant ships worthy of attention, but the firepower of these ships is not greater than that of the Ester.

The reason why these warships are classified is actually very simple. These are things that community frigates cannot deal with. After all, even large frigates specially designed to cooperate with the main battleships have only twelve six-pound guns, which have no advantage in firepower.

Although the Spanish fleet in the Philippine Governor's District has an absolute number advantage, it does not hinder Li Mingxun's determination to take the initiative, because the club has an advantage that the Spanish cannot reach, that is, they can concentrate their troops. Among the various strongholds of the club, only Taiwan and Hong Kong need to face relatively large threats. However, now the Dutch East India Company and the club are in a honeymoon period, and the Portuguese in Macau have just suffered setbacks, so it doesn't matter that the club will put all the main battleships in it.

The Spaniards did not have such good conditions. Intelligence shows that their fleet was split into four parts. Manila has a main fleet, with five heavy gunboats dominating one side and the general reserve team of the Philippine Governor's District. The other fleet is the Zamboanga Fleet, two heavy gunboats and two medium-sized Garen ships. After all, the Pilar Fort here is the main position facing the indigenous people in the south and requires a powerful fleet to cooperate. A fleet of one main ship and three warships of twenty-six artillery (unknown intelligence) is stationed in Hele Port. This was once the capital of Sulu Sultan and the nest of indigenous pirates.

The fourth fleet consisting of four cruisers and several frigates was led by Raphael, a newly formed fleet. It was originally returned to Manila between Macau and was preparing to continue the attack on the Pearl River Estuary. However, the pirates and privateers led by Piron were sweeping the western Philippine city of Legaspi. The cruise fleet had already gone to chase and suppress them. As for other large gunboats, they were stationed in various strongholds, cities or as armed merchant ships.

Judging from the summary information, Spain has an absolute strength advantage over the club, but it can also be seen that among the four main fleets, only the main fleet of Manila is unbearable for the club, while the other three fleets do not have the ability to fight against the large fleet. As long as the club succeeds in a surprise attack, any of the other three fleets can be eliminated. No matter which fleet's losses are a major loss for the Philippine Governor.

"The Dutch rejected our kindness!"

Li Mingxun was furious in the study of the base camp. Although he guessed the ending, he still couldn't accept it. The situation caused by this is that in the next three years or even longer, the resources and energy of the community will be involved by the Spanish, and it will be impossible to stop the Qing Dynasty from entering the country, so the situation in the mainland will be completely out of control.

"Your Excellency, why do you have to force it even though you know you can't do it?" There was only one person in the study, and that was Simmons.

Simmons smiled slightly: "You always think that the situation in the mainland is about to collapse. If you want to support the building, it requires strength. I don't think you have this strength. I heard that the Tatars have more than 100,000 elite troops, and the rebels of the empire also have hundreds of thousands of troops. His Majesty the Great Emperor is on guard against you. The nobles and officials in Jiangnan do not seem to be related to the situation in the mainland. I don't understand why you care more than the rulers of the Ming Dynasty, and you, even less understand. You, who have always been wise and calm, have lost your standard in the judgment of the situation in the mainland?"

"Lost the level?" Li Mingxun turned around and looked at Simmons and asked.

Simmons shrugged and said, "Competitioning for the Central Plains is the dream of you Chinese politicians. This requires strength. Even the army of the community needs about 50,000 to be qualified. 50,000 troops. It takes five years or even more to establish and arm such an army even under the premise of abundant finances..."

Seeing Li Mingxun frowning, Simmons put away a little playfulness and said seriously: "I am a Portuguese and have no sense of belonging to your nation and civilization. I also think these things have affected your normal judgment. I can say responsibly that you are not qualified to compete in the Central Plains. It is better to do what you are in front of you and give up unrealistic fantasies."

Li Mingxun was silent for a long time and said, "Only you dare to speak to me like this."

Simmons smiled without answering. Lee Mingxun closed the door and said, "Forget it, don't worry about the mainland battlefield, let's do our own business."

Simmons was intrigued and spread out a map he brought with him. The map range extends from Fujian to south to New Holland (northwest corner of Australia). The map is very detailed, and the main islands have been marked, especially in the Philippines.

"Target, Zamboanga Fleet!" Simmons pointed his hand at a corner of Mindanao Island in southern Philippines and said solemnly.

"Reason!" Li Mingxun sat down and asked.

Simmons immediately replied: "It's actually very simple. The main fleet of Manila cannot defeat it. Raphael's cruise fleet cannot be found. The Hele Island resident fleet is not worth it. The only option is the Zamboanga squadron."

"The Zamboanga fleet has two large and two small four Garen ships. If this fleet can be successfully annihilated, it will be a major blow to the Spaniards. When the southwest monsoon strikes next year and the Spaniards take revenge, they will not come up with a fleet that we cannot cope with." Simmons said with great confidence.

Li Mingxun made a simple calculation and it was true. After all, when the southwest monsoon exploded next year, the community would have three more battleships. Although the Spanish fleet was large in size, it would have to leave enough strength to guard against the Dutch, Philippine natives and pirate fleets. The scale of the fleet would definitely be reduced, one step further and one step lower, and one side would have a much greater grasp.

"Where is the route."

Li Mingxun placed the whale oil lamp on the map and illuminated a large area. Simmons said: "We set out from Keelung, not going to the Taiwan Strait, but heading south from the outer sea and heading south along the east coast of Luzon Island. We walked this route last year when we attacked the sailing fleet. The east coast of the Philippines is a backward area developed by the Spanish. Except for Legaspi and Samar, there are few Spanish ships and towns, and the possibility of being discovered is low. Only crossing Samar Island

Yes, we traveled through the waters between Mindanao and Sama Island, and went straight to the north of the Zamboanga Peninsula, occupying an advantageous position. In the second half, we are in the area of ​​Cebu Island, the core ruled by the Spanish, and we can also engage in a battle of war. The Spaniards found that we could not arrive at the Manila fleet. Only the Hele Island fleet might rescue, but it was too late. Perhaps we annihilated the Zamboanga fleet and could kill the Hele Island fleet in turn."

"If the Manila fleet arrives, or if the Raphael fleet is around, we will lose, what if we do?" Li Mingxun asked.

Simmons smiled: "Of course I retreated, but I won't retreat north, but continue to retreat south, to the Spice Islands, and to Port Ambon."

"That's the Dutch territory!" Li Mingxun reminded.

Simmons said: "Didn't the Dutch sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight? We just want to pull them in. They make us uncomfortable and we can't make them safe, right?"

“When will we set out?”

Simmons said: "I set out before the New Year. Everyone knows the significance of the Spring Festival to you Han people. No one would have thought that there would be such a large-scale military operation during the Spring Festival!"

Li Mingxun thought for a moment and shook his head slightly: "No, it's too early, we'll set off in mid-January."

"Why?" Simmons asked in surprise.

Lee Mingxun said: "Simmons, the purpose of our battle is to weaken the strength of the Spaniards, but we must also preserve our strength. If our large fleet suffers too much, it will make no sense to achieve any great results in Zamboanga."

"Is this related to the time of sending troops?" Simmons looked puzzled.

Lee Mingxun smiled: "Of course it's relevant. The northeastern monsoon of the East Indies will last until March. We set out in mid-January. It would be fine if everything goes well. If it doesn't go well, when our battle is over, we can sail southwest, then turn west and enter Batavia to hide. When the southwest monsoon in April, we can return to Hong Kong along the Western route, so that we will always be in a downwind position. As long as we don't make big mistakes, the main warships will not be lost."
Chapter completed!