Chapter 642: Warships Enter Service

Pingyuan City

Zhao Xu stood at the Pingyuan Ferry, gazing toward the Fortress on the opposite side of the Jin River, with Chang Wei at his side.

This was built by Qi after their defeat at Pingyuan to correspond with the ferry.

Besides the Fortress, there were also numerous Forts near the ferry.

After verifying the power of the Yellow Gunpowder, he headed to Pingyuan City to inspect the military equipment.

At present, in the territory he controlled, there was Yanguan to the north and Qin Pass to the west.

With the firearms he currently possessed, no force in Dongtu could hope to take these two passes.

Therefore, these two directions were absolutely secure.

And the eastern sea area was guarded by Zhou Yi's fleet.

According to Chen Shou's promise to him, in another ten days or so, twenty-four warships would be launched on schedule and join the ranks of the Yanzhou Navy.

Thus, security on the eastern sea was not a problem either.

The only hidden danger to security was the southern side.

However, he had not come to Pingyuan City this time to inspect defenses.

Instead, he was there to instruct Chang Wei to receive the Yellow Gunpowder and distribute it to the army.

At the same time, they were to discuss how to deal with the Anti-Yan Coalition.

Just as he had burned the flames of war to Ningjin Dusi last time, this time, he would likewise not let the flames of war reach Yanzhou.

He decided to adopt a strategy of offense over defense.

Once the second Lu City Alliance was held and the Anti-Yan Alliance was established, with the determination to crusade against Yanzhou.

He would order the Prince's Personal Army to cross the river and head south, taking the initiative to engage the Anti-Yan Coalition in a decisive battle.

By then, this war would be the largest war he had faced since his transmigration.

The battlefield would include both land and sea.

Wasn't the Eastern Japanese establishing a maritime alliance just to wait for this opportunity?

And on land, the Northern Di Cavalry would also join the camp of the Shizu.

If they entered Yanzhou, they would cause enormous destruction to Yanzhou.

Therefore, the decisive battle must be fought outside of Yanzhou.

"Hehe, with this Yellow Gunpowder, this subordinate will definitely beat the shit out of this so-called bullshit Anti-Yan Alliance." Chang Wei shook his fist toward the opposite side, his expression confident.

The two-hundred-meter range of the Rifled Musket had already exceeded his understanding.

Now, with the Yellow Gunpowder, the range of the Rifled Musket had been increased to three hundred and fifty meters; it was simply terrifying.

In the past, when the Prince's Personal Army fought the Shizu Army, it was like adults fighting eleven or twelve-year-old children.

From now on, fighting the Shizu Army would likely be like fighting three or four-year-olds.

Zhao Xu smiled, "This Prince is waiting for that day."

Pausing for a moment, he said, "Before that, you should simulate the warfare many more times and conduct a few more targeted drills; after all, the Northern Di Cavalry might also participate in this war."

Before the Machine Gun appeared, one still could not underestimate the cavalry on the battlefield.

If the cavalry found an opportunity to close in, it would still be very dangerous for the Infantry.

"Yes, Your Highness," Chang Wei said loudly.

As the two were speaking, a cavalryman hurried over at this moment and delivered a letter to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu took the letter and glanced at it, his brow furrowing involuntarily.

This letter had been sent by Xu Ke's order, but the intelligence within it was provided by Tianxiang Lou.

According to Tianxiang Lou, a mutiny seemed to have occurred in Maerka, which was controlled by the Folangji in Yizhou.

The Governor of Maerka, Fei Wen, had been imprisoned, and a commander named Steven had taken control of Maerka.

"The Eastern Japanese have truly gone to great pains." After a brief thought, Zhao Xu grasped the key to it.

It must have been the Eastern Japanese and a mole among the Folangji who orchestrated this incident.

Otherwise, it would not be such a coincidence that just as Dong An had left, such a change occurred in Maerka.

The Eastern Japanese were determined to form a maritime alliance to attack him.

But how could he let the Eastern Japanese have their way?

After thinking it over, he decided to take action after the warships were launched; the war at sea could be planned in advance.

Fifteen days later.

Zhao Xu arrived at Jinghai County once again.

At this moment, the twelve warships had all been rigged with Soft Sails, and Chen Shou and the officials of the Shipbuilding Department were gathered at the Jinghai Wharf, waiting for his order.

Besides them, there were seven thousand naval soldiers.

They had boarded their warships in advance and were making final preparations.

Once the Dry Dock was flooded, they would operate the warships to head out to sea and conduct a month of sea trial training.

While this batch of warships was being built, Zhou Yi had recruited a corresponding number of crew members for training.

At the same time, he selected the best among these crew members to be sent to the Naval Academy for cultivation, allowing them to serve as warship commanders.

Therefore, the warships could be put into use as soon as they were launched.

"Launch." Seeing that the sun was about to reach high noon, Zhao Xu gave the order.

Following his order, Chen Shou commanded the craftsmen of the Shipbuilding Department to open the sluice gates of the Dry Dock, and seawater immediately flooded into the Dry Dock.

The warships floated up one by one until they were level with the seawater.

Zhou Yi had also specifically traveled from Leting County to Jinghai this time to participate in this launching ceremony.

At this time, he said, "Your Highness, is it time to set sail?"

After the warships were launched, these warships were officially commissioned into the navy.

At this moment, he could hardly suppress the excitement in his heart, and he beamed with joy.

Compared to Zhou Yi, Chen Shou's mood was somewhat complicated, as if he were marrying off a daughter—both happy and reluctant to let go.

However, thinking that he would soon be able to research and build a Steamship, he immediately cast everything to the back of his mind and only said to Zhou Yi, "You must use these warships carefully."

Zhou Yi laughed twice and said, "Rest assured, we treasure them even more than you do."

Then, he said to the generals on the warships, "His Highness has ordered that you may set sail."

"Yes." The naval generals stood on the deck and saluted Zhao Xu and Zhou Yi.

Immediately, the sails on the warships were hoisted high, and under the blowing of the sea breeze, the twelve warships sailed one after another from the Dry Dock toward the open sea.

Zhao Xu watched the warships depart, and after their figures gradually disappeared, he said, "The warships in Pingcheng should have been launched as well, right?"

Chen Shou nodded, "Your subject had them launched at the same hour; there will be no mistakes."

Zhao Xu nodded with satisfaction.

With twenty-four warships launched, the stone that had been hanging in his heart finally fell.

With these thirty-six warships, he could finally take bolder actions on the ocean.

Over these years, taking advantage of the weakness of Dasong, Dongying had encroached upon too many islands in the Dongtu seas, including the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Next, he would not only thwart Dongying's conspiracy and sever the tentacles they had extended toward Dasong, but also take back everything they had seized.

Thinking of this, he said to Zhou Yi, "This Prince wants you to dispatch six warships south to Yizhou to rescue Governor Fei Wen of Maerka."

Although the twenty-four warships still required a month of adaptive training.

They were already part of the navy's combat strength.

They were capable of guarding the Yanzhou seas.

Therefore, he could rest assured in letting Zhou Yi dispatch the fleet south.

When Dong An went south, Zhou Yi had already understood Dongying's conspiracy at sea.

Before the warships were launched, Yan Wang had also mentioned the incident at Maerka to him.

He was already fully aware of this matter, so he said, "Yes, Your Highness."

Zhao Xu nodded and asked again, "How is the training of your Marine Corps going?"

After the Ningjin Battle, he had granted Zhou Yi a quota of eight thousand for the Marine Corps.

"Reporting to Your Highness, they are absolutely capable of handling this war," Zhou Yi said, full of confidence.

"That is good. This Prince will prioritize providing your Marine Corps with Yellow Gunpowder; handle this Yizhou matter beautifully for this Prince."

Warships could only sail on the sea; to resolve the matter of Maerka, one must rely on the Marine Corps.

If he could thwart the conspiracy of Dongying and the Folangji traitors, the Governor Fei Wen he rescued would become his window into the Western Lands.

Of course, if the rescue operation failed and Fei Wen died.

He would only be able to take Maerka and destroy the Franks' warships.

He would not give them the chance to participate in the Coalition at sea.