The Marines conquered several tribes in Palembang and began to build a bastion in Palembang, and at the same time built a shipyard to equip the captured warships.

More and more merchant ships and warships were captured. The Nanyang team led by Wen Bangliang captured twelve merchant ships and five warships at the same time.

In May, the number of intercepted merchant ships reached sixteen, an increase, but the number of warships captured only two, and there were no Dutch warships that sank.

In June, there was a decline in trend, with only eleven merchant ships.

This is because in June, the Dutch had assembled thirty warships to find trouble in the South China Sea to plunder merchant ships. Although the frigate did not suffer any losses, it was seriously interfered with the speed of the "operation".

By October, the total number of merchant ships captured had reached 67, which was more efficient than the American fleet. As long as it was still stuck in the Sunda Strait, there were many routes on the Atlantic Ocean. If the American fleet wanted to plunder and circle the east coast, the efficiency was naturally not as high as that of the South China Sea team.

In addition to large merchant ships, those small tonnages were also used as offshore transportation in Shandong to grab hundreds of merchant ships, with the tonnage of these hundreds of merchant ships less than 800 tons.

Shandong's use of merchant ships is expected to be used for offshore transportation of merchant ships below 800 tons, and for offshore transportation of more than 800 tons.

Not only is it because it is more dangerous for merchant ships to go to sea with small tonnage, but also because trade between the north and the south is becoming more frequent, and there is a huge gap in the required transportation capacity.

It was almost the end of the year, and the Nanyang Detachment began to prepare to drive the ships back to Shandong.

Because the power is too little, the ships that were grabbed were towed back to Palembang. After all, on the way back, it is very likely that they were intercepted by the Dutch and Zheng Group.

Therefore, it is safest to concentrate your efforts and return to Shandong next time.

However, just when the Nanyang detachment was planning to escort the fleet back to Shandong, the scissors who were investigating outside came to report that the Dutch gathered 32 warships, rushed into the Musi River, and rushed towards Palembang with great momentum.

The Musi River, a southern river in Sumatra Island, originates from the Balisang Mountains, roughly from west to east, flows through Palembang and then turns north, and flows into the South China Sea. It has a total length of 520 kilometers.

The upper reaches of the Musi River are mostly canyons and waterfalls, and the middle reaches flow into a wide plain, with wide and shallow riverbeds; the lower banks of Palembang are full of swamps; the delta is about 390 kilometers wide.

There are rich forests in the basin and it is a plain area. Ships of 10,000 tons can reach Palembang by tide 90 kilometers, and ships from the Nanyang detachment can sail to major towns upstream coasts.

It was because Wen Bangliang valued these advantages that he set up his stronghold in Palembang.

The Muxi River Basin is rich in resources and is also a plain area. As long as it is developed, it will be a prosperous place.

The Dutch learned about the stronghold of the Nanyang Detachment from somewhere, but they gathered 32 warships and rushed into the Musi River. It was obvious that they wanted to do a one-time deal and wiped out all the Nanyang Detachment in Musi River.

After being shocked, Wen Bangliang immediately came up with a plan to lose his family.

He said to his officers: "Since the Dutch were going to fight in this battle, we will fight with him and let their navy destroy all the Musihe."

What!

All ruined?

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

"There are several forks on the Musi River, which are generally Y-shaped. There are two small forks below, one winds westward and the other northward, and meets the left fork on the Y-shaped side at the entrance of the sea. Since the Dutch rushed into the Musi River, we will dig a ship to block the entrance. First, at the gate of Palembang, the position of the gate of Palembang must be reached, and the Dutch artillery cannot block the river surface so that it can only accommodate one warship through. Then we use seven warships across the river surface and put one to hit one."

"The Dutch fight to a certain extent and will naturally retreat. How can they be ruined?"

"Take ten merchant ships and five frigates immediately, hide in the forks of the river, and wait for the Dutch to pass, and immediately dig the ship to block the entrance, and completely block it." Wen Bangliang continued, "Time is tight, act immediately."

"Captain, those ships are filled with things. If this is sunk..."

"I can't bear to leave my children and can't trap the wolf, so I choose the worthless chisel."

"yes."

After Wen Bangliang's strategy, Palembang suddenly became busy. Ten merchant ships and five frigates drove out of Palembang directly and headed towards a fork thirty kilometers away.

The fork thirty miles away is strictly just a small island, which divides the Muxi River into three rivers, and these two rivers gather again ten kilometers away.

Another river is very small, but it is winding towards the west. Merchant ships can enter, and it is an excellent hiding point. The Dutch people who are heading straight to Palembang will naturally not be able to run into that small river.

The seven equipped warships were also put into battle for the first time, and there were five frigates behind them. Five merchant ships sank directly and blocked the waterway 500 meters away from Paleonia, leaving only a hole to accommodate the ships.

The goods on the merchant ships just moved out the valuables, and all other less valuables were sunk to the bottom of the water, waiting for the war before salvaging. However, some things were put into the water, so they were naturally useless.

However, these merchant ships are fished up and repaired for some time, and they can still be used.

The ten merchant ships and five frigates that set out were all moving fast. In order to make the speed faster, they arrived at the fork before the Dutch arrived. The soldiers on the merchant ship kept throwing the cargo they put into the river to increase the speed of the merchant ship.

Although it is impossible for the Dutch to continue rushing at night, time is still tight.

Fortunately, when they arrived at the fork before nightfall, they did not encounter the Dutch. Ten merchant ships hid in the small waterway smoothly. The river here was clear and green, and there were quiet forests on both sides.

The two frigates stayed outside to look at the wind. Once they found the Dutch, they would leave their sight and hide in the waterway. After the Dutch passed, they could block the mouth.

The river channel outside is wider, and all ten merchant ships must be sunk to be completely blocked.

...The Dutch gathered 32 warships to rush into the Musi River this time, so they naturally had the confidence to win. According to their thoughts, those damn pirate ships would definitely not be able to use their speed advantage in the river.

As long as you have no advantage in speed, you can fight these pirates in the river. If you can successfully create a melee, you can annihilate these pirates in one fell swoop.

If it is impossible to cause a melee, they can also withdraw from the Musihe River.

Wen Bangliang thought of the plan to block the entrance. At the same time, he asked someone to prepare a fire boat. When the Dutch were blocked in the river, he would release the boat to burn all their warships.

I can only say that the Dutch's ideas are naive, and Wen Bangliang's plan is too vicious.

The Dutch drove all the way on the Musi River and parked in a river berth at night.

The next day, the Dutch continued to go upstream. At noon, they passed the fork and did not find the ship hiding in the small waterway, but drove directly past.

"It's past, they're past."

"Wait a little longer, don't stop blocking the mouth so early, it's still time."

The captains hiding in the waterway were very calm and waited for half an hour before the Dutch passed out to investigate. Seeing that there was no sign of the Dutch, they went back to notify them.

Ten merchant ships sailed out of the waterway one after another, came to the riverway, and began to dig a ship to block the entrance.

The Musi River has a wide surface, but the water depth is not shallow. If these merchant ships sink, it is almost impossible for the Dutch warships with large tonnage to pass through. Those clutches that use paddles can pass through.

It took them two hours to sank all the ten merchant ships. The Marines on the merchant ship began to build simple forts on the high ground on the shore to block the river bank so that the Dutch would not move the merchant ships under the water away.

...Around three o'clock in the afternoon, the Dutch finally saw Palembang.

While seeing Palembang, on the river ahead, I also saw seven warships lined up in line, aiming at them.

"Storm up and destroy them." When the Dutch commander saw the seven warships, his eyes gushed out. The seven warships were all theirs, these damn Far East robbers.

The Dutch's usual way of melee was to rush into the enemy ships, disrupt the opponent's formation, and then start a melee, so that the melee would be even better in the river. Although it was impossible to put thirty-two warships into battle at once, as long as it was a melee, the Dutch would have the confidence to win.

The Dutch warships were in sharp shape and rushed towards the seven warships in the distance. The shore defense cannons on the city were covered by things, which made the Dutch feel relieved. Although they could see that they were artillery, according to their thoughts, the power should not be too great. After the melee, the cannons on the bastion would not be able to be fired.

Soon, the Dutch warship rushed to a place six hundred meters away from the seven warships.

Suddenly, a warship in front slammed and the hull suddenly shook and stayed in place. The Dutch sailors on the ship were almost shocked and fell to the ground.

"Has it hit the rock?"

Everyone was stunned on their faces, and then they looked around and saw other warships rushing up being stranded in place.

Only one warship next to it passed smoothly.

There is only one passage on the entire river.

Oops!

Many Dutch people, even sailors, could see that they were stranding into a trap.

Sure enough, when the passing warship sailed about fifty meters, suddenly, the seven warships suddenly opened fire in the bastion in the distance.

The seven warships were all aimed at the Dutch warship that rushed in, and the shells fell on the hull and deck of the warship like raindrops.

Explosions continued.

The warship was bombed and then it crackled a few times in a short while and disintegrated with a loud bang.

The cannons in the brink were even more abnormal. The huge shore defense cannon showed a ferocious face. With a few loud bangs, huge shells flew over.

A shell directly drilled into the waterline of a Dutch warship. With a bang, the waterline was blown open to a huge hole, and drinking water kept pouring into it, and the entire warship slowly sank.

Other shells fell on the decks of other warships, and their lethality was unparalleled. The 260mm caliber shell was a big hole when it exploded.

However, there are only five shore defense cannons on the bastion. The other shells are of two sizes: 125mm and 75mm. Although the lethality is not as strong as the shore defense cannon, they are better than the number of them. They blast down and form dense firepower.

"Retreat, retreat quickly."

The Dutch were shocked and instantly had the idea of ​​retreating. More than 30 warships were burning flames everywhere. The Dutch sailors on the ships began to put out the fire and plug the leaks while driving the sails. The sailors possessed the sailors were incomparable to Shandong sailors. In such a chaotic situation, these sailors were still able to deal with them calmly.

However, although the river channel was spacious, more than 30 warships were crowded together, and they were blocked from the front and back, and they could not turn to retreat for a while. At this time, groups of rockets suddenly flew over the walls of the castle.

Rockets were continuously launched from the city, tilting and crowding into a group of Dutch warships.

The city and the seven warships were still constantly bombarding the Dutch. The frequency of shelling was very high, so you basically didn't need to aim and just blast it in front.

Two shells per minute!

It took nearly two minutes for the Dutch to retreat, and four shellings were bombarded in the middle, and thousands of rockets were poured out.

The fire instantly ignited on the Dutch warship, and the Dutch warship was emitting thick smoke and fled down the current in a mess.

The eight Dutch warships were unable to turn, and kept sinking. Under the fierce artillery fire, the eight warships were sunk on the spot.

Other warships caught fire on each ship, and five or six of them had ignited fires, but the ships were still drifting down.

The Dutch on the boat jumped into the water like dumplings, without any hesitation.

The Dutch warship in front saw such a big water fire rushing towards him and fled downstream one by one. Finally, when they fled to a river beside, the burning ships squeezed together and did not continue to drift downwards.

The Dutch, who was in a very embarrassed manner, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, the Shandong robbers behind did not chase after him, and they couldn't help but feel like they had a life after the disaster. The commander of the fleet who wanted to rush into Muxihe to destroy the robbers was now scolded by the top and the other side in their hearts.

But they put their support behind them. Since they came to East Asia, the Dutch, who had a very big appetite and arrogant heart, were dejected and cursed.

Soon, the warships gathered together.

The fleet commander counted the losses and was in tears. He actually lost sixteen warships, exactly half. Five of the remaining sixteen were severely damaged, some of the sails were burned out, while others had many large holes in the hull. Fortunately, they were not hit on the water line and could not sink for a while, and the remaining eleven were damaged to varying degrees.

The commander began to order the ships to repair the sails and leaks, and continue to drift downwards and flee.

If you are caught up, it will be no fun.

The Dutch, who had more than 30 warships, dared to play melee with the Nanyang team, but now the warships have lost nearly half of them, but they have no confidence.

What they didn't know was that the roadblock was waiting for them to appear...

(To be continued)
Chapter completed!