Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

A three-person "iron triangle" formation.

As the most basic unit in all formations, it emphasizes being small yet strong, and capable of both advancing and retreating in unison.

Their personnel and weapon configuration: Of the three, one is a shield bearer, holding a rattan shield or an iron-clad wooden shield, with a short knife at his waist; one is a spearman, using a spear more than ten feet long; and one is a knife and axe bearer, carrying a waist knife or an axe, and may also be equipped with light firearms such as bows and arrows or muskets.

When forming ranks: Shield bearers are at the front, serving as the core barrier of the formation. Spearmen follow closely behind the shield bearers on their flanks and rear, extending their spears from the top edge or side of the shields to prevent enemies from easily getting close. The final swordsmen and axemen are positioned on the left flank, responsible for protecting the flanks and rear of the spearmen, while also providing ranged attacks using firearms and bows.

A five-person "plum blossom" formation.

It was developed from the "Iron Triangle" and has added a certain depth and firepower.

The crew was expanded to include a secondary shield bearer, armed with a light shield and a single sword, and a firearms bearer, armed with a special musket.

When forming ranks: two shield bearers are in front, with the secondary shield bearer slightly behind on the right, forming a semi-circular defense. The spearman thrusts between the two, while the swordsman and axeman provide support to the left of the main shield bearer, while also ensuring the safety of the firearms bearer in the center.

Nine-person "arrowhead" formation.

This formation, with its relatively complete personnel configuration, possesses a strong ability to advance. Shaped like an arrowhead, it is often used to break through the opponent's lines.

The spearhead is usually composed of three experienced heavy shield bearers, standing side by side.

Following closely behind were two spearmen and two swordsmen and axemen, arranged in a staggered formation. The spearmen thrust, while the swordsmen and axemen protected the flanks and delivered finishing blows.

At the rear of the formation were two experienced firearmsmen, armed with muskets.

Considering that battles usually take place at sea, a spear that is ten feet long might not be very practical.

Therefore, Chi Honghai replaced the ten-foot-long spear with a half-foot-long short spear, which was more suitable for combat on the deck.

It also makes it easier for crew members to carry weapons when boarding the ship.

If it's a completely direct line-of-sight battle, then the use of long spears could be considered.

As for the combination and evolution, Chi Honghai insisted on adopting the principle that unity is achieved when combined, while multiple divisions result in more.

When the smaller formations come together as a whole, or when they combine into an eighteen-person formation.

A collective commander will be selected.

The method of generation is commanded by one of the axemen in the combined formation.

This avoids the problem of sudden command interruptions or struggles for command during intense battles.

In the practice of combining formations, the focus is on the gaps and connections between formations.

During the advance, each small formation needs to maintain an appropriate distance so that they can support each other without becoming crowded and chaotic.

When one formation encounters pressure, neighboring formations need to move closer together to provide flank cover or a pincer attack, eventually combining into a single formation.

The goal is to ensure that "advancements and retreats are coordinated, and offense and defense are not conducted in isolation."

The formation can evolve according to the actual personnel ratio and combat needs, evolving into a larger version of the wedge formation or a circular formation, etc.

At the same time, adjustments were made in conjunction with naval warfare.

Chi Honghai specifically instructed Liu Qingjiang and Instructor Lang that the deck on the ship was narrow and difficult to maneuver, so it was not advisable to form a large formation.

The formation of three to five men is fundamental to deck combat.

At this point, the number of combat personnel had reached more than 150.

Most of them had pirate experience and were highly experienced in naval battles and maritime affairs.

However, pirates have never emphasized individual or team training, and they are usually blinded by money when they are robbing and fighting.

Therefore, in the past few days, Master Chi has repeatedly emphasized that as long as there are still survivors on the deck who can wield a knife, no one should covet any fallen valuables or other items.

They summarized the key points of naval warfare training into nine words.

"Practice lower body techniques, attack the deck, and clear the narrow passage."

The so-called "lower body training" requires crew members to pay extra attention to lower body stability and center of gravity adjustment in swaying environments due to the effects of wind, waves, and ship-to-ship contact.

Boarding: As a classic boarding tactic in naval warfare, boarding naturally requires intensive training. After all, Chi Honghai and his group are, in the end, pirates, not naval personnel. They fight and hijack ships for the cargo, not for revenge.

However, if you don't jump properly, you might swing back, or even become a target while swinging in the middle.

Those who are not strong enough will skip over the next section and be reborn first.

Therefore, during training, they also emphasized that the strongest person should jump first, and after they have established a foothold, the others should follow.

Narrow passageways: The passageways, hatches, gangways, and other areas inside a ship's cabin are typically quite narrow, making it easy for attackers to be ambushed or to find themselves outnumbered. This training aims to familiarize everyone with how to quickly, safely, and collaboratively advance and fight in these environments.

During this period, Chi Honghai devoted almost all his energy to military affairs.

For him, every battle meant that someone would be injured, or even die.

Having started as a pirate, he established himself in Hong Kong.

But the root of the problem is still on this ship. Without the ship, there is no fighting power; without fighting power, there is nothing.

He demanded that these men on the training field sweat more in peacetime so that they would bleed less or even survive when it came to a real fight.

He knew that assembling a team might not be so difficult at this moment.

Building a well-trained team is not only expensive, but also time-consuming.

Time is the most precious thing.

Chi Honghai doesn't have that much time.

The Guangzhou government will eventually investigate him, and Zheng Zhilong won't care about the life or death of a nobody pirate like him.

Moreover, he understood the affairs of the imperial court.

The more you know, the faster and more tragically you will die.

Zheng Zhilong will turn against him sooner or later.

Everything, every single second, must be fought for.

For several nights in a row, Chi Honghai was unable to return to his room to rest.

I just made do and slept in the makeshift shelter on the north bank.

Although I said I was sleeping, I couldn't actually close my eyes all night long.

Shen Er, who was following him, couldn't bear to watch any longer and asked the master what he was so anxious about, but he couldn't get an answer.

Having exhausted all other options, Shen Er instructed Pang San to keep a close eye on Master Chi.

He rowed himself to the south bank and told his wife about it.

When Wu Wanruo found out, she was also very anxious.

She knew her husband was training the troops on the north bank and hadn't gone home to rest, only thinking he was too busy with other matters.

I never imagined it would turn out like this.

If this continues, Chi Honghai's health will definitely suffer.

The backbone of the island must not be allowed to fall.

After putting away the books on the table, Wu Wanruo asked Shen Er to call Ai Si.

The two of them cooked some soup and took it to the north bank.

When Wu Wanru saw Chi Honghai again, she felt that her husband had lost a lot of weight. Looking at him from the side, she could see his eyes, which, although he was looking at the training field, were almost devoid of spirit.

Shen Er was about to step forward and tell Master Chi that the Madam had arrived.

But Wu Wanruo stopped Shen Er.

He simply instructed, "Go and tell Brother Qingjiang to take some men to distribute the soup on that boat to everyone. You've all worked hard."

"Yes... Madam... but Master..."

"It's okay, I'm here."