Di Ming

Chapter 505 Dragon Banner Reflects the Vast Ocean, Warships Line Up the Great Wall!
Zhu Yin led only 80,000 troops south, Hao Yunlai led his army north back to Yunnan, and Naresuan led his army back to Siam.

With its military forces depleted in Yunnan and Guizhou, Hao Yunlai dared not linger. He also had another mission: to escort tens of thousands of Burmese prisoners of war back to China.

With Siam's main forces all in Myanmar, Naresuan was eager to return home.

But before leaving, Naresuan left behind the Siamese princess and the letter of state. According to the agreement with Zhu Yin, Princess Daiwei was to be sent to the palace to become Emperor Taichang's concubine.

Compared to Zheng Song, who refused to marry the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Na Lixuan was very sensible and had a strong desire to survive.

Just three days after Zhu Yin led his army south, Myanmar's long rainy season arrived. The rainy season in Myanmar often lasts for months, with thick fog and mist shrouding the forests, yet the weather is also unusually hot and humid, with rampant poisonous insects and overflowing sewage.

Fortunately, the army had a full supply of all kinds of medicines prepared by Ning Qingchen, including precious medicines such as Qingchen Frost (cinchona tree).

More importantly, he achieved a great victory, with both the Burmese and Vietnamese armies completely wiped out, freeing his army from further stalemate in Myanmar.

The roads were muddy, and the rain was relentless, greatly slowing the march; they could only cover twenty or thirty li a day. The heavy artillery carts, in particular, became stuck in the mud, making their progress extremely difficult.

Zhu Yin ordered that gunpowder be carefully stored and kept away from moisture as much as possible. The Jinghai Navy's firearms moisture-proofing technology was ahead of its time, but it was still difficult to completely prevent moisture.

The problem is that there are still tens of thousands of Vietnamese prisoners of war. Although they have been disarmed, they are still elite troops of Annam. The Ming army must be wary of them as they are escorted back to their country.

One of his generals suggested that Zhu Yin kill the prisoners, find an opportunity and a suitable place to slaughter all 40,000 Vietnamese prisoners!

Zhu Yin refused without even thinking.

He wasn't being soft-hearted; he was simply heartbroken.

Forty thousand able-bodied slaves—how much labor could that save? They'd still be used like cattle for grueling labor. The Ming Dynasty is about to embark on massive construction projects, and prisoners of war are the most important source of labor. Killing them all would be a waste of resources, wouldn't it?

Because of the slow march, it took another day to reach Dongwu.

A persistent drizzle fell, creating a misty atmosphere. The Ming soldiers were practically moldy, suffering terribly and stinking from head to toe. Many soldiers simply took off their boots and walked around in them.

The raincoats, part of the military equipment, were distributed, and the Ming soldiers wore them and bamboo hats as they marched in the rain.

Zhu Yin ordered that the soldiers would receive an extra three coins of silver per day as a reward for their arduous marching during the rainy season. Upon receiving this reward, the soldiers no longer found the hardship so difficult.

Poor Zhu Yin, the dignified Prince Regent, holding the official position of Grand Tutor, was barefoot, wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, riding a white horse.

As the commander-in-chief, he had to ride a horse so that his soldiers could see him.

The most comfortable person in the army was Princess Dewi of Siam.

She was Siamese and had long been accustomed to this harsh climate. Moreover, she rode in an elephant carriage, sheltered from the rain and wind.

Sitting atop her tall elephant carriage, Daisy looked at Zhu Yin, who resembled a fisherman or farmer, not far away, and couldn't help but feel both admiration and amusement.

Previously, she thought her father was the greatest hero in the world. Only recently did she realize that Zhu Yin was actually the greatest hero in the world.

Important figures like Mang Yingli and Zheng Song couldn't hold out much longer in the hands of this Ming Regent Prince before being dealt with. Unfortunately, this young, handsome, and incomparably noble hero had no interest in him.

However, because she had an unparalleled admiration for Zhu Yin, she was willing to follow him to the Ming Dynasty and marry the emperor as a concubine.

Seeing this god-like hero, dressed in a straw hat and raincoat, marching in the rain with his soldiers, she seemed to understand something.

Looking out, one could see endless rows of straw hats moving forward in the rain, a truly magnificent sight!

...

Upon arriving at Dongyu City, Zhu Yin ordered the troops to rest for a day, collect firewood for firewood, and allow the soldiers and gunpowder to dry.

On that very day, Huya delivered two more intelligence reports from western Sichuan and northern China.

Upon receiving the intelligence, Zhu Yin couldn't help but look around and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Excellent, excellent! Duke Qi is indeed a renowned general of our dynasty, a veteran with a heart full of ambition! On the first day of the fourth month, Duke Qi decisively defeated the Tibetan cavalry at Songzhou, another earth-shattering victory!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals were overjoyed.

It turned out that after Qi Jiguang arrived in western Sichuan to support Xiong Tingbi, he won three battles in a row, and even defeated the main force of the Tubo army at Songzhou, beheading 40,000 and capturing more than 30,000. The Tubo cavalry that marched eastward to Sichuan were almost completely wiped out.

The Tibetan commander-in-chief, Dorje Senge, the military advisor Gu Bingqian (a traitor), and the Tibetan prince Danjiong Wangbu were captured.

To win such a great victory in a place like western Sichuan is truly remarkable.

He truly deserves to be called a general who has fought countless battles!
However, Qi Jiguang was unable to capitalize on his victory and lead his army into Tibet. His soldiers found it difficult to advance further; many were dizzy and weak, forcing them to retreat.

In a letter to Zhu Yin, Qi Jiguang wrote: "Defeating the Tubo is easy, but governing the Tubo is difficult."

On his first trip to western Sichuan, he realized that military force alone was not enough to bring Tibet under the rule of the king.

The vast plateau region was extremely difficult for the Han soldiers to adapt to. Coupled with the challenges of transporting military supplies and provisions, completely conquering Tibet would be incredibly difficult.

He advised Zhu Yin: "The Tibetans are even more difficult to subdue than the Tatars. Only by combining soft and hard tactics, and employing both kindness and severity, can we achieve a permanent solution. Military force can only prevail temporarily, not permanently."

Zhu Yin read Qi Jiguang's letter and wholeheartedly agreed.

No one in the world understands better than him how difficult it is to govern Tibet. The difficulty lies in its high altitude and harsh geographical environment.

Even with the advanced technology of later generations, governing them still requires considerable effort and caution, and Han people were unwilling to go there, let alone in ancient times.

The Han Chinese were unwilling to migrate to the plateau. To defend such a large territory, they still had to rely on the Tibetans.

This shows how insightful Qi Jiguang, the adoptive father, was; he was truly remarkable.

Relying on force... Could it be that the Ming army today is stronger than the Nationalist army in the era of firearms?

Historically, none of the Han, Tang, Yuan, Ming, or Qing armies ever truly conquered Tibet by force. Even during the Qianlong reign, when control was at its strongest, it was more nominal than real; the Resident Minister in Tibet was merely an arbitrator, and the real power lay with the Kalons and the Grand Lamas.

Zhu Yin then replied to Qi Jiguang: "My adoptive father's insightful views and mature approach to governing the country make it clear that the submission of Tibet cannot be decided in a single battle. We should quickly withdraw our troops down the mountain, allow our soldiers to rest and regroup, and then devise a long-term plan. The Tibetan prisoners of war should be settled in Sichuan, and the captured generals, ministers, and crown prince should be sent to the capital..."

There was another battle report: "Zheng Guowang, Duke of Lu of the Northern Dynasty, defeated 200,000 Mongol cavalry on the left and right wings at Yehuling! The Northern Yuan Khan, San Niangzi and other high-ranking Mongol officials were almost wiped out."

Upon learning this, Zhu Yin couldn't help but give Zheng Guowang a thumbs up, and was no longer worried about the safety of the north.

If the Northern Ming suffers a major defeat and the Mongol army invades the Central Plains, they will have to go north to resist the Mongols and clean up the mess left by the Northern Dynasty.

Zheng Guowang's great victory over the Mongols saved him a lot of trouble.

This Zheng Guojiu, who was impersonating a man, was quite a character. He certainly didn't disappoint me, and my support of his military supplies and intelligence was worthwhile.

The Mongols suffered such a crushing defeat that most of their able-bodied men were killed, leaving them incapable of causing any trouble.

Upon receiving the two reports of victory, Zhu Yin was in high spirits and immediately rewarded his soldiers with a month's salary.

...

On the fifth day of the fifth month, the Ming army finally arrived at Bago Port and joined forces with the 5,000 naval troops who remained in Bago Port.

Meanwhile, intelligence arrived that the Western Allied Fleet was only a few days away from Pegu.

Zhu Yin immediately prepared to fight!

……

Off the coast of Bago, Myanmar, a warm, salty sea breeze carries the humus-like scent of the tropical rainforest—it's hard to say whether it smells pleasant or unpleasant.

The Ming fleet was already on high alert. The ships in the harbor and the camps on the shore were almost lined up in one continuous line.

May 8th, early morning.

At the horizon, a ray of dawn pierced the gloom, turning the shimmering waves a golden-red hue.

suddenly.

The lookout's shout shattered the brief silence: "45 degrees to port! A large fleet has appeared!"

I'm coming!

Zhu Yin and the others were all in high spirits.

The order for the fleet to set sail and form ranks was given immediately. Amidst the booming of the horn cannons, more than a hundred Ming warships raised their sails and sailed away, riding the wind and waves.

at the same time.

On the western horizon, more than a hundred warships of the Western Allied Fleet, escorting a large number of troop transports, pressed in like a moving castle complex. The cross flag flying on the mainmast of the flagship "San Felipe" gleamed blood-red in the morning light.

In the eastern sea area, the warships of the Ming Dynasty navy were deployed in a goose-shaped formation, and the dragon pattern on the bow of the flagship "Xianyang" was faintly visible in the morning glow.

As the flagship of the Ming Dynasty fleet, the "Xianyang" was armed to the teeth with thirty-six heavy cannons carrying forty-pound shells on its triple deck.

A tall and imposing figure stood beneath the banner, clad in the magnificent armor of a prince, surrounded by attendants. Zhu Yin gripped the bridge railing, holding binoculars, his gaze sweeping across the distance like that of a hawk.

In the morning light, hundreds of Western flags fluttered in the wind, with Spain's red and yellow vertical stripes and Portugal's blue and white cross flags intertwined, looking very domineering and arrogant.

"Dragon banners reflect on the vast ocean, warships line up like the Great Wall!" Zhu Yin casually recited, "Today is the day when the Ming Navy will be truly worthy of its name!"

Admiral Wang Huaizhen of the Jinghai Navy held a nautical chart. The ocean currents in the Bago Sea were clearly marked on the chart with ink lines. Next to the latitude data measured by the astrolabe, the direction of the monsoon observed yesterday was also marked.

Most of the navigation technology system of the Ming Dynasty navy was "innovated" by Zhu Yin.

Wang Huaizhen was skilled in sail control and sea condition assessment. He pointed his finger at the map and said, "My lord, the wind may gradually strengthen after Chenshi (7-9 AM) today, mainly from the southwest. The allied forces are sailing against the wind and their speed is not slow."

Zhu Yin nodded and tapped the hilt of his sword lightly: "On the left flank, Cao Xin will lead fifty ships to guard the eastern shoals; on the right flank, you will lead fifty ships to contain the right wing of the allied forces; in the center, thirty main battleships will follow the Xianyang and maintain distance. The cannons should be temporarily set to a range of three thousand paces."

He knew that the outcome of a battle on a sailing warship depended half on maneuvering, positioning, and tactics.

While the Ming fleet was being deployed, on the flagship of the allied forces, the Spanish nobleman and allied marshal, Count Álvaro, was standing on the bridge, overlooking his fleet.

This nobleman, clad in silver armor and wearing a feathered helmet, wore an arrogant expression, like a rooster gloating over defeating a hen.

“Those Eastern ships are nothing but wooden boxes. Antonio, your Portuguese-Indian fleet is familiar with this sea area. You must break through their formation before noon and let them taste the power of Spanish galleons and Portuguese cannons.”

As the commander-in-chief of the eastern expedition appointed by His Majesty the King, Count Alvaro was a very confident man. However, this was his first time in the East, and his understanding of the Ming Dynasty was limited to the reports of the missionaries.

He was very proud.

Good heavens, the United Kingdom has never conducted such a large-scale military operation. He vowed that he would become a hero in the history of the Church and the Kingdom.

Yes, that's right!
The deputy marshal was Count Antonio of Portugal, who was also the governor-general of the Portuguese-Indian authorities. He gazed at the distant, orderly wedge formation of the Ming fleet, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Commander, the Ming Navy's cannons are not as crude as rumored. Have you forgotten Manila and Malacca? We have already suffered losses there several times. Their naval guns have a range that is no less than ours."

At this point, he turned to an Italian officer and said, "General Guterres, are you right?"

Having already been awarded the title of general, Gutt spoke with the demeanor and tone characteristic of a professional officer: "I guarantee with my military honor and the honor of being the father of a count that the Ming army's firearms are not only no worse than ours, but even stronger!"

“Your Excellency Commander, you should trust my professionalism and integrity as a career officer.”

He had previously fled from Burma to India, and encountered the Combined Fleet when he was almost there. He immediately led several hundred of his men to join them.

At that time, the Italian shoemaker's son, in his capacity as the chief advisor to the Burmese army and commander of the Imperial Guard, immediately reported his military exploits in Burma to the two counts:
"Because of my valiant fighting and outstanding command, at least 30,000 of Zhu Yin's Ming army perished. That's right, 30,000 mothers of the Ming Dynasty lost their precious sons because of me. This is an unforgivable sin, although it is my duty as a soldier."

"Of course, I have already confessed to the Lord. This is war, a holy war against infidels! If it weren't for the stubborn and foolish Burmese king's rejection of my advice, the Ming army would have already been defeated."

He not only expressed remorse, but also reported on the Ming army's strength, weapons, and tactics, all of which were valuable intelligence.

Considering the intelligence he possessed, his noble status, and the hundreds of white men under his command, the two counts immediately placed their trust in him and jointly appointed him as general, making him the third-ranking figure in the fleet.

General Guterres was the Western military strategist who understood the Ming army and Zhu Yin best. He deserved these honors.

The newly appointed General Gutt was both hoping that the allied forces would defeat the Ming army and prepared to flee in defeat once again.

He believed that only those who could survive repeated defeats but always protect themselves were true military strategists!

"Commander," the general, who hailed from Genoa, Italy, continued, "this sea area is full of reefs and shoals. Advancing too quickly in a wedge formation could be risky. I am a veteran of the navy, and I am especially familiar with the waters of the East."

“Risk?” Count Alvaro scoffed, drawing his longsword and pointing it eastward. “We have over a hundred of the newest warships and twenty thousand of the bravest Western warriors, all wearing crosses. Their advantage is negligible!”

"Order all ships to raise their mainsails fully and move their foresails to wind-capable positions, then charge at full speed into the enemy's center!"

In reality, he didn't think much of Italians. He always felt that Italians were somewhat cunning.

On the St. Philippe, the Allied sailors shouted and signaled with flags.

Dozens of sailors climbed up the rigging, adjusted the angle of the mainsail, and used the southwest wind to stabilize the ship.

The depth sounders continuously threw out ropes with lead weights attached, shouting "50 feet deep!" and "35 feet deep!" to ensure the fleet avoided shallow waters.

At 9:00 AM, the sea breeze gradually strengthened, and the distance between the two fleets shortened to 5,000 paces.

Zhu Yin's order was relayed throughout the army via flag signals and bugle calls: "All ships, load solid shot into your guns and aim at the waterline of the Allied ships!"

The cannons manufactured in Daishan by the Ming Dynasty navy adopted a segmented loading design, which made them about 10% faster than Western cannons and had a range that was 200 paces longer. Although they did not have an overwhelming advantage, they were still clearly superior.

Closer, closer, closer still!
Both flags are clearly visible to the naked eye.

"Boom boom boom!" The vanguard ships of the allied forces opened fire first, black solid shot whistling across the sea and kicking up towering columns of water.

Immediately afterwards, the cannons on the Ming fleet's side, which had already been turned sideways, roared in unison, sending flames soaring into the sky and billowing thick smoke.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Puffs of smoke rose into the air, and the acrid smell of gunpowder stung the eyes. Shells rained down like meteorites, splashing water between the allied warships, accompanied by flying wood chips and pitiful screams.

The San Philip was hit on its port side, causing the ship to rock violently, and the Spanish soldiers on deck cried out and fell to the ground.

"What! Impossible!" Alvaro's expression changed, and he grabbed the bridge: "Retaliate! All guns, return fire! Let them know how powerful we are!"

He hadn't expected the Ming army's artillery to be so formidable; General Gutt was right!

The allied fleet opened fire with its side cannons, and a barrage of shells rained down on the Ming army's central position. One Ming ship was hit in the stern, and wood chips and canvas fragments flew everywhere.

Hundreds of warships from both sides arrayed themselves for battle, exchanging fire. But frankly, this wasn't exactly what the Spanish Navy excelled at.

Thick smoke obscured the sun on the sea, making it impossible to distinguish between the sunlight and the glow of cannon fire. The roar of cannons rose and fell, incessant and deafening.

Even with their ears plugged, both sides' soldiers were suffering from eardrum pain.

With their superior artillery and slightly faster reloading speed, the Ming army gradually gained the upper hand, but the allied forces were not weak. They were the elite force of the Western navy and their counterattack was also very powerful.

However, in less than two hours of naval battle, the allied forces had more than thirty ships destroyed. Although wooden sailing warships were not easy to sink, these ships had already lost their fighting capability.

The Ming army lost only six or seven warships. The casualties on both sides reached a terrifying five to one!

Alvaro, Antonio, and the others were all deathly pale, in disbelief.

They have always believed that the Western navy is the most powerful fleet in the world, possessing the most advanced artillery, the best warships and navigation technology, as well as the latest naval warfare tactics.

Zheng He's fleet from the ancient Eastern country has long since disappeared into the dust of history and is no longer a threat.

Only today did I realize how powerful the Ming Dynasty navy was!
They are superior to the West in everything! Artillery, warships, technology, even their sailors!
Lord! What kind of entity has the United Kingdom provoked? The military strength of the Chinese is still superior to that of the West!
It seems...it's always been like this!
So, why didn't the Chinese expand their colonies abroad? Was it because they didn't want to? Or were they genuinely peace-loving?
They can't figure it out!
Alvaro, Antonio, and others were terrified to see the tide of war inevitably tipping in favor of the Ming army.

"Pass on my order!" Alvaro roared, "All fleets, move closer to engage! The Ming army is definitely no match for close combat! General Guter can attest to that!"

General Gutt shouted, "Yes! I can attest to it! The Ming army is not good at close combat! Commander, I want a large warship so I can personally lead my warriors into battle! This is our chance to win!"

“Alright, General Gutt! I’ll give you a warship!” Alvaro was generous because of General Gutt’s bravery.

So, Gutt quickly acquired a warship, and several hundred of his men boarded it. However, after taking control of the ship, Gutt's first order was not to engage the Ming army in close combat, but to quietly retreat and withdraw from the battlefield!
"Boss, where are we going to hang out this time?" a nonchalant Frenchman asked.

Guter said, “Let’s go to the Dutch in Java! I heard that the Dutch just arrived in Java this year and are building a castle. If we go, we’ll definitely be honored guests!”

After saying that, he left the battlefield without hesitation and set sail.

Meanwhile, Alvaro, Antonio, and the others were still unaware that Guter had escaped.

At this time, Cao Xin's left flank army was engaged in a fierce battle with the allied forces near the shoals. His flagship, the Daliang, equipped with twenty-four cannons, was locked onto the side of an allied carrack and fired three volleys in succession, tearing a large hole in the ship's hull.

"General Cao, three galleons from the allied forces are charging towards us!" the lieutenant shouted.

It turned out that the Allied forces, seeing that their artillery bombardment was at a disadvantage, wanted to engage in close combat, which was a common tactical change they used.

Cao Xin, wielding a Tang sword, shouted, "Raise the flag! Lower the sails and slow down, adjust to a downwind position, let them overtake us! Musketeers, prepare to fire freely upon boarding!"

"They want to get close? Then let them have their way!"

The mainsail of the Daliang slowly lowered, and the ship's speed decreased sharply. The three galleons of the allied forces rushed ahead of the Daliang due to their excessive momentum.

Cao Xin seized the opportunity, ordered the foresail to be raised, and the ship quickly turned around. The side cannons were aimed at the weak points at the stern of the allied ships and bombarded them fiercely. Other Ming warships also followed suit.

Soon, the canvas of one of the galleons burst into flames.

"Bang bang bang—" The muskets on the Ming warships also fired, hitting the sailors on the nearest enemy ship, causing heavy casualties.

Cao Xin laughed loudly: "You're even less suited to close combat!"

...

P.S.: Naval battles are really hard to write; it took me a long time. Tomorrow the naval battles will end, and I'm going home!

(End of this chapter)