Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

Pointing to the makeshift sand table, Chen Jie announced the battle plan for this attack on Ryukyu.

Phase 1: Defeating the Satsuma Domain fleet.

Starting from Nishijima and Miyakojima, they took a plane and headed north to directly occupy Ryukyu.

After occupying Ryukyu, they negotiated with the Satsuma Domain in the East, demanding compensation and signing a treaty confirming ownership of the Ryukyu Islands.

Next,
On the surface, this would put control of Ryukyu into the hands of the Ximen Hall, allowing the Ximen Hall to legitimately station troops on the Ryukyu Islands.

Simultaneously,

Once Ximentang controls the Ryukyu Islands, he can completely eliminate all the Japanese military bases stationed there, leaving none alive.

Absolute control!

This was Chen Jie's primary objective in attacking the Ryukyu Islands.

If the Satsuma Domain refuses to negotiate and wants to put up a fight to buy time.

Then,

Simon Hall will then launch the second phase of the operation plan.

After occupying Ryukyu, they directly sent troops to attack the Kagoshima base of the Satsuma Domain in mainland Japan.

With the overwhelming firepower of the Ximen-Dang fleet, the military base of the Satsuma Domain in Kagoshima was completely destroyed.

If the other party still doesn't kneel down, then we'll just land in Kagoshima.

of course,

This landing operation on the Japanese mainland is not for occupation, but rather for plunder, just like when the Japanese attacked the Great Qian Dynasty!
They plundered vast amounts of wealth, ships, women, and everything else from the Japanese mainland.

Furthermore, they destroyed all the major facilities on Kagoshima, disrupting the enemy's industrial foundation.

Even if the Satsuma Domain in Japan still refuses to kneel, refuses to sign a compensation agreement, and has no intention of seeking peace.

After this battle, the military strength of the Satsuma Domain in the East must be completely crippled, ensuring that it cannot develop for at least twenty years, turning it into meat on a chopping block, at the mercy of others.

Anyway,

We've got Ryukyu!
As for how badly the Satsuma Domain in the East should be crippled, that depends on how the situation develops.

Chen Jie named this battle the Battle of Breaking the Seal!
The first phase of the operation plan involves deploying thirty warships, along with French mercenaries, to directly capture Nishijima and Miyakojima.

In the second phase of the operation, the entire Fourth Fleet of the Saimondo Army was deployed to provide continuous reinforcements and attack Kagoshima, the territory of the Satsuma Domain.

If necessary, deploy the Ximengtang Marine Corps for a forced landing and sweep through Kagoshima.

As the commander-in-chief of this "battle to break the seal", Chen Jie personally took command, with Deng Yonghe and Shen Zhenhe serving as deputy commanders-in-chief, and Jack Bonaparte also present.

Although this battle was only of medium scale compared to Ximentang, there was absolutely no need for Chen Jie to personally lead the expedition.

but,

Chen Jie had another purpose, which was to travel to the deep-sea area along the way.

He wanted to take this opportunity to go to the deep sea and obtain a large amount of 'life essence'.

With several experienced naval commanders like Deng Yonghe and Jack Bonaparte, there shouldn't be any major mistakes.

in addition,

Chen Jie also authorized Deng Yonghe and Jack Bonaparte to negotiate after conquering the Satsuma Domain, giving them ample power.

All the commanders of the Fourth Fleet of the Ximen Hall listened to Chen Jie's battle plan while looking at the sand table map.

Although some people had followed Chen Jie in battles in the five islands of the East before this, and directly destroyed the three major fleets of the East.

But this time, it was completely different from the last time.

Last time it was about breaking the Japanese maritime blockade, and this time it's about seizing the Ryukyu Islands.

Therefore,
The opportunity to make a name for themselves had arrived, and everyone was extremely excited and full of fighting spirit.

Because some time ago, Chen Jie led the Ximentang Ninth Army to Hanzhong to quell a rebellion and won a great victory.

Almost all the soldiers who went to war earned a great deal of military merit.

Many people in the Ninth Army of Ximentang were promoted, and they walked with a swagger, giving people a sense of pride and triumph.

Therefore,
Many officers and soldiers in the navy harbored a deep sense of resentment.

Ximentang always judged heroes by their military achievements.

Within the Ximen Hall, your martial arts skills are merely a reference. To gain the respect and admiration of others, there are only two words: military merit!
The Ximentang Navy had few opportunities to fight within the Daqian Dynasty, especially in suppressing rebellions in various regions, where the navy and marines had almost no chance to participate.

Even if the navy is deployed, it will only be to transport supplies in the Yangtze River or help block the Yangtze River waterway.

In general,

In the internal wars of the Daqian Dynasty, the naval fleet rarely had the opportunity to directly participate in the battles. There was no need for ships to fire cannons or for marines to land and conduct operations.

So when they saw the army fiercely firing at the enemy and overwhelming them, they were overwhelmed.

The officers and soldiers of the naval fleet were itching with desire, wishing they could directly use the ship's cannons to bombard the enemy from a distance.

Now it's finally the navy's turn to show its power.

When Chen Jie drew troops from the First and Second Fleets to form the Fourth Fleet, everyone was excited and wanted to go to the battlefield.

Especially when they learned that the goal of this voyage was to attack the Ryukyu Islands, everyone was eager to try.

The soldiers were even more excited about fighting the Japanese.

Because the Beiyang Fleet of the Daqian Dynasty was completely sunk by the Dongyang Fleet in the Yellow Sea, the Daqian Dynasty was forced to blockade the sea area.

In recent years, the Japanese have committed countless atrocities on the land of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Therefore,
Every Daqian person harbors deep hatred for the Japanese.

Now we are going to attack Kagoshima, the homeland of the Japanese, and seize the Ryukyu Islands, which are Japanese colonies.

This is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself and achieve great things; a wealth of military merits await you.

To be honest, when I heard that we were going to fight the Japanese...

Not only were all of Simon's key generals excited, but even Jack Bonaparte was eager to fight.

No one had any objections to the attack plan proposed by Chen Jie.

Everyone hopes to earn enough military merits in this great battle.

The Japanese have messed with Ximen Tang, so they need to be taught a lesson.

Two days later,

With the Fourth Fleet of Ximentang ready, the second war against the Japanese began.

-

On the endless sea.

Between the sea and the sky, a faint horizon can already be seen.

Finally, we can see land!
Onboard the Spanish fleet's battleship Mancia, Commander-in-Chief General Roberto finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank God! Amen!"

Robert clasped his hands together, made the sign of the cross on his chest, and prayed to God.

After more than a month, the fleet finally arrived safely in Ryukyu.

For the past six months or so, for some unknown reason, a powerful pirate army has appeared in the Asian waters, constantly plundering passing ships.

European and American merchant ships, and even fleets, especially those bound for places like Okinawa, Manila, and Batavia, became their targets for plunder.

This pirate warship was incredibly fast and possessed overwhelming firepower; its shipborne cannons even surpassed those of European naval equipment.

More importantly, their ships flew pirate flags with skulls and crossbones on their bows, indicating not only their formidable fighting prowess but also their high level of professionalism.

Any merchant ship or warship that is targeted by this pirate group has no chance of escape.

Although some merchant ships would pay high prices to have warships escort them when transporting goods.

but,

Once they encountered this pirate group, no escorting warship could stand a chance against them.

Fortunately, this pirate fleet was not indiscriminate in its killings and was quite different from other pirates.

Unless you fight these pirates to the death and surrender by raising a white flag, this pirate group is usually not wiped out completely.

They wouldn't massacre the people on the merchant ships; after looting the cargo, they would even send out small boats to let the crew or sailors leave.

More than a month ago,
The Spanish-flagged ship "Lion King," sailing from India to Okinawa, was attacked by pirates after entering the waters around the Penghu Islands.

Fortunately, the Spanish sailors and crew, faced with overwhelming enemy firepower, chose to surrender by raising a white flag. Therefore,

In the end, only the cargo and merchant ships were stolen, and all the valuables were looted, but the crew and sailors escaped unharmed.

General Robert knew the captain of the Lion King; the two had dealt with each other while in Spain.

Robert was very surprised when he heard that the pirate fleet that appeared in the Penghu Islands was very similar in appearance to the Caribbean pirates, and that their battle flags were made of skulls.

How did Caribbean pirate groups end up in the waters of East Asia?

The key is,
The leader of this pirate fleet, as well as most of the pirates, were Westerners, including some Black people.

However, Robert didn't think too much about it. He was only thinking about ending this trip to Okinawa as soon as possible and making sure nothing went wrong.

His trip to Ryukyu was to carry out a mission for the East India Company.

Once the mission is complete, he can return to Europe.

He has already made plans: next year he will no longer work on ships, but will return to Spain, retire honorably, and enjoy life.

Running a ship is too tiring. Although he was a general in the Spanish fleet, he was almost sixty years old and his energy was not what it used to be.

After retirement, I'll find a few young and beautiful maids and live a good life, so that all my hard work over the years won't have been in vain.

Robert glanced up at the dozen or so merchant ships following behind the battleship 'Mancia' and sighed:

"It wasn't easy! We've finally arrived in Ryukyu, but I never expected it to be such a complicated and circuitous journey."

at this time,

A young man with a middle-aged or younger appearance walked out from the deck of the battleship Mancia and said with a smile:
“Mr. Robert, your journey to Ryukyu in the East has been very smooth, with almost no obstacles encountered.”

"Why are you suddenly so emotional? Surely no one in the Eastern Seas would dare to stop the Spanish fleet?"

The middle-aged man was wearing a brand-new naval uniform and looked very distinguished.

"Mr. Knicks!"

Robert nodded and smiled, and said:
"Regardless of whether we encountered any obstacles along the way, we finally arrived at our destination."

"We're almost at the Ryukyu Islands. Do you see that horizon over there? That's Ryukyu."

"This place used to be the Ryukyu Kingdom, but as the military strength of the Eastern Empire has grown stronger, it has become a colony of the Satsuma Domain of the Eastern Empire."

“But this place is very important to our East India Company; it is our largest trading location in East Asia.”

"Here you'll find the most beautiful women in Asia, the most hardworking slaves, and the best food—hahaha—!"

As he spoke, Robert burst into laughter.

"Oh! That's wonderful! Asian women, petite and delicate, I love them!"

Upon hearing that they had arrived at their destination, Knicks couldn't help but laugh, even forgetting the boredom and loneliness of the journey across the sea.

He stood on the deck, looking into the distance through binoculars.

After a while,
He exclaimed in admiration:

"What a beautiful place! I love it here!"

"I believe that I will have an unforgettable time in Ryukyu in the days to come."

Robert laughed and said, "Of course, don't worry, you'll love this place."

finished,

He pointed to Ryukyu Island and said:

"Not only is the scenery beautiful here, with the most beautiful Eastern women, but you can also make a lot of money and unimaginable wealth."

“Do you know, Nix, that Mr. Cullin made more money in his five-year term than I did in forty years with the East India Company?”

"All the goods of our East India Company are transshipped through Ryukyu, with some being delivered to the Great Qian Dynasty and some to the Eastern Empire."

"As long as we can make money, this is the most beautiful place, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Knicks!"

Upon hearing this, the Knicks couldn't help but laugh again.

"Haha—that's right! As long as we can make money here, I believe this will be the most beautiful place."

At that moment, both of them burst into laughter.

Knicks is now the East India Company's garrison commander in Okinawa, succeeding the previous commander, Curry.

After taking office,

Nicholas was in charge of all East India Company business in Okinawa, including the sale of opium and other goods.

Because in the past year or so, the previous governor, Kulien, not only nearly lost the market of the Great Qian Dynasty, but also affected the trade of the Eastern Empire.

Therefore,
The East India Company sent Nix to replace Kurion.

Since being stationed in Okinawa, Kurien has made a fortune and is now extremely wealthy.

The position of head of the East India Company stationed in Ryukyu was an extremely lucrative one, and almost everyone was vying for it.

The fact that Knicks was able to replace Curry as the East India Company's head in Okinawa is something to be envied.

After the ships docked,

The current head of the East India Company, Cullen, and a group of core members stood on the dock to welcome Knicks and Robert, who had just arrived.

"Oh! Knicks, you've finally arrived!"

Upon seeing the Knicks, Curryn went up to greet him warmly and gave him a big hug.

It looks like,
He was very enthusiastic, without the slightest affectation.

He seemed to have no attachment to his position with the East India Company in Okinawa and was eager to resign and leave immediately.

in fact,

As for the old man Kurien, he really wanted to leave Ryukyu as soon as possible.

Retiring gracefully after achieving his goals is the best outcome for him.

Since I've earned enough money, retiring now is the best option.

Since Chen Jie led the Ximentang fleet to seize the Penghu Islands, they have then attacked the Kyushu Islands in the East.

Kurien already felt a strong sense of crisis.

He knew that the Ryukyu Islands would definitely become a powder keg on the battlefield, ready to ignite at any moment.

If Ximen Tang of the Daqian Dynasty wanted to attack the Eastern Empire, then Ryukyu would be the outpost.

Kurien's information channels were far more advanced than those of Shimazu Yasutaka of the Satsuma Domain in the East.

He knew better than anyone that the Satsuma Domain of the Toyotomi Kingdom had already embarked on the road to destruction by attacking the Penghu Islands first.

Ximentang will definitely take over Ryukyu first, and then begin to set his sights on the Eastern Empire.

Despite having been stationed in Ryukyu for so many years, he had opened up trade routes for the Daqian Dynasty and established a relationship with Li Gang, the King of Min, who was in charge of trade for the Daqian Dynasty.

And in the past six months,
In fact, Kurion created a great deal of wealth for the East India Company.

Unfortunately, the Great Qian Dynasty banned opium, and without the huge profits from opium, the East India Company's total revenue was much lower than before.

This trade route with the Daqian Dynasty may very well be forcibly cut off due to the upcoming war.

Just after the Satsuma Domain fleet suffered a defeat and retreated to Kagoshima, Kurien sensed that the situation was not good.

Unexpectedly, the East India Company sent Knicks to succeed him at this critical moment, finally allowing him to retire gracefully. How could he not be enthusiastic?

of course,

The wealth that Kurien has accumulated over the years is enough for him to live a life of luxury for several lifetimes, and even for his descendants to enjoy for generations to come.

Although the Knicks felt that Curry's enthusiasm was a little strange.

But he didn't think much about it. Instead, he was preoccupied with how to make more money after taking over as the East India Company's head in Okinawa.
The core of the East India Company was—the plunder of wealth!
As for the methods used to plunder, that depends on each individual's means.

for the rest of the time,

The Knicks handed over the reins to Curry, and when they saw several large boxes of merchandise lists and various financial reports, they were greeted by a flood of cash.

hiss--!
Knicks took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

So rich!

I never imagined that the Eastern Empire and the Great Qian Dynasty were so rich!
Every transaction and every financial statement here represents wealth.

In the Knicks' eyes, the entire East is a goldmine! (End of Chapter)