Chapter 494

"Good!"

Su Qiao knew little about naval warfare.

Or rather, Su Qiao had no real understanding of various battle tactics.

Even knowing that in later times Zheng Zhilong used the method of bait, Su Qiao still hadn't quite figured it out.

But in later times, one could only look at cold, lifeless records.

Now Zheng Zhilong and the others are right here.

Moreover, the situation of the Great Ming Navy is completely different from history.

How to fight this time, how to deal with the Dutch.

Su Qiao happened to pull Zheng Zhilong aside to ask him properly.

If talking about other things doesn't work.

When talking about how to fight at sea, the entire Zheng family rolled up their sleeves and flexed their arms, completely different from their previous quiet, muffled demeanor.

In Su Qiao's study, using a simple sea chart, they began a heated discussion.

Overall, it still comes down to luring the enemy deep, then surrounding and ambushing them halfway!

How to put it?

At first Su Qiao didn't quite understand, but after Zheng Zhilong explained it, he got it.

The Dutch Navy's warships are very powerful; the Great Ming Navy's warships were weak before, but now they are a step ahead of the Dutch.

The cannons are also a bit more advanced.

But there is a problem!

On the boundless open sea, if the Dutch fight desperately to escape, can the Great Ming Navy fight desperately to chase and catch them?

This is quite difficult.

Although the Great Ming Navy's warships are a step ahead, it cannot be said that the navy's ships absolutely crush the Dutch galleons in sailing speed.

In that case, once the Dutch escape, the Great Ming Navy has no real method.

Then fighting a battle, working hard, wasting manpower, resources, and vast amounts of grain and fodder, and so on.

Without annihilating the main Dutch force, the effect is not great.

So after the Zheng brothers discussed it, they decided to lure the Dutch into an ambush point, then attack together, annihilate their main force, and sweep away enemy warships in places like Lu Song and Malacca.

The Great Ming would then control the entire gateway.

Su Qiao also looked at Zheng Zhilong and the others with a different eye.

He came from later times and knew the importance of the Strait of Malacca.

Zheng Zhilong and the others relied entirely on their own keen judgment!

"General Zheng, when I came last time, I mentioned to you that in the battle with the Dutch, you would serve as the Regional Commander; you agreed and even signed a military pledge with me. This time I have come prepared to take action against the Dutch. Next, I will leave the training and integration of the navy to you. What do you think?"

Su Qiao stared straight into his eyes, revealing his true intent.

Now that it has come to this, how could he refuse?

Zheng Zhilong quickly kicked his three younger brothers, pulled his son down to one knee, and said, "This subordinate will not disgrace the mission; I will sweep the Dutch away!"

"Good! You know the consequences of failure. If anyone disobeys, let them come find me!"

Su Qiao had set another trap for Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong raised an eyebrow and quickly agreed, "Yes!"

Under Su Qiao's strong insistence, Zheng Zhilong and the others stayed for a meal.

At the table, Su Qiao praised Zheng Sen greatly and even offered to let Zheng Sen stay by his side for the time being.

Zheng Zhilong was overjoyed and immediately pulled Zheng Sen to agree.

But after returning happily to the residence, Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but sigh.

"Ah, today was truly a loss! That little fox is too powerful! I thought about avoiding the trap, but I still got caught in his scheme!"

The expression on Zheng Zhilong's face was very complex.

Controlling the entire navy and serving as Regional Commander means power has suddenly been raised to the peak.

It counts as good news!

But what about the rest?

The rest may not be good news!

448, General Putman's considerations!

If we win decisively, it's easy to talk about; if we fail, the responsibility is absolutely mine.

Even if I let the main Dutch fleet escape, I won't have any good outcome.

What Zheng Zhilong thought more about was what position he would have to stand in and how to fight this battle well.

After all, for him, destroying the Dutch is the most important thing.

"Father, only today did I truly see that this Imperial Envoy is specifically digging pits for you! It's a pit at every step, forcing you to become this so-called Regional Commander."

Zheng Sen is not stupid; he saw it back at the relay station.

He is just a junior, so it wasn't his place to speak.

Even if he wanted to remind, he couldn't be used; instead, he could only stand aside and worry helplessly.

This time, since we are back home, I can finally speak.

Hearing his words, Zheng Zhilong looked at him and waved his hand, "Do you think your father and your three uncles don't know? We all know, we all understand! But he is an Imperial Envoy, do you understand? His status is right there. Even if you have other thoughts, it's useless."

"But Father..."

Hearing this, Zheng Sen still felt somewhat unwilling and wanted to say something more.

But Zheng Zhilong waved his hand to cut him off. "Enough! This time, just listen quietly and watch!"

Having spoken, Zheng Zhilong ignored Zheng Sen and instead rallied his spirits to discuss with Zheng Zhihu and Zheng Zhibao how to train the naval forces and how to lure the Dutch.

In the following days, many officials of Quanzhou Prefect visited Su Qiao individually to cultivate ties.

This was because Zheng Zhilong had already begun taking over the training of the naval forces.

Anyone could see that the battle would break out very soon.

If they did not cultivate ties now, they feared Su Qiao would not let them continue to participate.

Although the official ranks of these people were not as high as Prefect Zhou Xun's Fourth Rank, Senior Grade.

They were still considered relatively important positions within Quanzhou Prefecture.

Su Qiao had no intention of playing the villain.

Whoever came seeking a role and possessed ability, Su Qiao did not refuse.

Subsequently, at the Quanzhou Prefectural Yamen, it was officially declared that for this battle, the main commander of the naval forces would be Zheng Zhilong.

Su Qiao would stabilize the rear and oversee the entire situation.

The other officials each performed their respective duties, with everything prepared for wartime needs!

Whether big matters or small matters, almost everyone had their own tasks.

Everyone could be said to have missed nothing; all were quite satisfied and willing to get involved.

Although not giving two hundred percent of their utmost effort, everyone's minds were focused in one direction, all wanting to win this battle.

It was fundamentally impossible to keep the news hidden.

The Dutch also received the news and learned that the Great Ming was actively preparing for war and was about to engage them.

To say it, at the start, General Putmans and the high-ranking officials of the East India Company shared the same thoughts.

They felt that doing business with the Great Ming, having to listen entirely to the Great Ming, was unsatisfying!

They Dutch were no longer the little brothers of the past.

The Dutch had become the pirates of the sea and had begun to surpass the Spanish and the Portuguese!

They had transformed from little brothers of the past into little overlords.

They felt their wings had hardened and they could contend with the Great Ming.

That is why Putmans led his fleet to wander near the Ryukyu Islands, preparing to defeat the Great Ming's naval forces in one stroke.

Just as they were stirring with intent to strike the Great Ming.

They discovered that a plague had broken out in Quanzhou.