The huge fleet cut through the waves, and the sails ate enough wind, driving the warships to quickly surpass the galloping horses. This is a fleet of two large warships of the Sea Falcon, thirty warships of various types and dozens of merchant ships. The entire fleet stretches for miles and moves forward in a mighty manner.

As a flagship, Dingyuan is the first Haixia-class warship of Haixing Shipyard and also Pan Motang's flagship. Since taking over this behemoth last year, Pan Motang has taken this warship to sea continuously. For sea veterans like him, how to fight such a large warship is also a brand new topic.

The pirate ship he led in the past emphasized speed, after catching up with prey, he stuck it on it, and then climbed onto the opponent's ships and fought hand in hand. But this kind of warship is obviously not the case. Even Pan Motang was shocked by the long-range strike ability he had. He thought that once his warships encountered warships like the Haixia-level warships, they would not have much chance to lean on it at all, and would be sunk and injured halfway. Even if they leaned on it, how could they climb? The design of the warship itself took this into consideration, and the unique design of the ship side eliminated this.

Diving into the sea to dig holes? It's okay to deal with ordinary warships, but the Sea Falcon-class warships use watertight cabins, and each watertight cabin is partitioned. It's impossible to sink it by digging holes.

In Pan Motang's view, such a warship is a giant on the sea, an invincible person. With him, who can compete with him at sea?

But what puzzled him was that when the ship was launched, Li Xiang came to cut the color himself. At that time, Li Xiang stroked the ship's side, but his face was filled with joy, but sighed, and seemed to be unsatisfied.

Of course, Pan Motang didn't know that Li Ze at that time thought that if such a warship was equipped with dozens or hundreds of cannons, then in this era, he would be invincible in the world.

Unfortunately, the development of gunpowder has been going on for many years. Until now, it is not much better than the second kick. The iron smelting and steelmaking technology continues to improve, but it is still far from the level of being able to build gun barrels.

Li Ze knew very well that these things were unhurried. Any technological advancement requires long-term technical accumulation, and there is no shortcut to take one step at a time. If you can hear the roar of cannons in your lifetime, you will be quite satisfied.

Li Ze had regrets, but Pan Motang was too satisfied.

After a year, he understood the performance of Dingyuan, and then under his suggestion, the weapons and equipment on the Haigu were upgraded in a new round, and then practiced dozens of sets of coordinated attacks and defensive tactics with various types of ships, which finally made this brand new fleet develop combat effectiveness.

This year, the second Sea Falcon-class battleship Fuyuan was finally launched.

This long voyage was also a real sea test for the Fuyuan. By the time of return, the officers and soldiers on the Fuyuan were generally used to the control and combat of this warship.

Pan Motang stood on the command bridge and looked down at the entire fleet under his command, fulfilling his ambition. This is what life should be like. Seeing the current fleet, the hundreds of pirate ships he had commanded before, were undoubtedly garbage.

Thinking of the capable subordinates of Zeng's level under his command, I couldn't help but feel a little regretful. If they knew it was today, would they regret leaving me?

Opportunities were once placed in front of everyone, but not everyone could grasp them.

Above the tall and deceiving head, the lookout soldiers suddenly blew the horn, and Pan Motang was excited. This was a warning to discover a fleet in the distance, and this was not an ordinary merchant ship.

He really hopes that there will be an eye-opening pirate team to tease him, and then let him enjoy himself well, and truly test the combat effectiveness of his fleet in actual combat.

The sound of the horn continued to sound, and after a moment, the entire fleet became active. On the verge of the waving flag, the sound of the horn continued to stop. The merchant ships in the fleet began to slow down and moved closer to the middle, while the warships accelerated and rushed up.

The half-incense stick of Kung Fu, centered on the two Sea Falcon-class warships of Dingyuan and Fuyuan, quickly organized into two combat groups, guarding dozens of merchant ships in the center.

In fact, these merchant ships are not without the power to fight back. In Pan Motang's view, the sailors on each sea boat are all sailors and those who run on the sea boat. Without a few brushes, it would be impossible for them to survive until now.

Of course, with the Tang Dynasty Navy here, it was not their turn to play at the first time.

"Don't worry, this place is not far from Guangzhou Port, and there is no possibility of pirates appearing." Zhang Hui held a book in his hand and appeared leisurely beside Pan Motang. "Besides, that pirate team is so unhappy, dare to come and cause trouble for such a large fleet?"

"What the lookout soldiers discovered was an armed fleet!" Pan Motang said simply.

"I guess it must be the Lingnan Navy to welcome us." Zhang replied.

"No matter whether it is or not, you must always be prepared for battle." Pan Motang said.

"This is natural!" Zhang Hui smiled and said, "Isn't this a more effective demonstration?"

At sea level, a fleet of blurred shadows finally appeared in Pan Motang's vision.

The banner above the deceitful head kept waving, and the news about the other side's fleet became clearer little by little.

It is indeed the Lingnan Navy, with a total of twenty warships of various types.

It seems that they are really here to welcome them.

Both sides quickly approached China.

Xiang Zhen stood on the largest warship and looked at the Tang fleet in the distance, feeling both emotion and fear. When he went to Wuyi a few months ago, he saw the Tang fleet in Haixing Port. At that time, he did not see many other types of warships except one Haixiao-class, but that already shocked him. And this time, what appeared in his eyes were two Haixiao-class warships and other different types of warships.

Any of these warships is larger than the warships he is currently on.

Unlike what others know, Xiang Zhen is more clear that the warships of the Tang Dynasty Navy are fundamentally different from those of the Lingnan Navy, because the Lingnan Navy is generally not much different from the merchant ships, and are basically modified with merchant ships. The purpose of the warships of the Tang Dynasty was to fight when they were initially manufactured. The layout of the ship and the setting of weapons have only one purpose to serve the battle.

Now he already has drawings of various warships of the Tang Dynasty Navy. After returning to Lingnan, he immediately summoned several masters from the most powerful shipyards in Lingnanjie Town to study these drawings. He wanted to create the same warship in the shortest time.

But the great craftsmen's reply frustrated him.

Let’s not talk about the technical reserves required for the manufacturing of this kind of warship, which cannot be made with drawings alone. They cannot achieve the reserves of materials just now.

The warships of the Datang Navy adopted the technology of keel for the first time.

Xiang Zhen’s reply was that even if you prepare materials from now on and start experiments, it is impossible to get a ship in at least one year.

This made Xiang Zhen very frustrated.

Apart from encouraging and offering higher rewards, he had no other way.

After a flag exchange between the two fleets was about two miles apart, Pan Motang finally issued an order to remove the combat alarm. The Tang Dynasty naval army resumed its navigation state, while the Lingnan naval warships were divided into two lines, lined up on the sea surface, and Xiang Zhen was sailing towards the Dingyuan.

The two warships slowly moved closer, Xiang Zhen looked up at the warship with the closer they felt the more oppressed, and felt even more powerless. Standing in his position, the two words Dingyuan painted in white paint seemed extremely huge.

A springboard was put down from the Dingyuan and placed it on the Lingnan warship. Xiang Zhen tidied up his clothes and took two followers along the springboard to the Dingyuan.

"I've seen Mr. Zhang!" Xiang Zhen was also surprised when he saw Zhang Hui at the first time. He never expected that this time, the one sent by Wuyi to welcome the bride was Zhang Hui, one of the core trio of the imperial court. "Mr. Zhang came in close contact, and the Xiang family in Lingnan was shining brightly!"

"Young Marshal!" Zhang Hui smiled and clasped his fists and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty is a great marriage, this is the first major event of the court. As the Minister of Rites, I should naturally experience it myself. Come on, I will introduce you to the entourage this time."

The officials who had met the wedding one by one were basically officials from the Ministry of Rites. Xiang Zhen didn't care much. The only thing that made him quite alert was Pan Motang, who had only one arm but an iron hook on the other hand.

On the sea, the bandit number of Iron Hook is still well-known. Although I had known from Han Qi that this person had become the commander of the Tang Dynasty's Navy, it was the first time I saw the real person.

You know, in the past, many of the merchant ships in Lingnan fell into the hands of this pirate leader.

Seeing such a huge fleet, Xiang Zhen didn't understand. This was Li Ze showing his strength. Otherwise, why would he have to send a fleet of such a large size?

There is no need to think about competing with the other party at sea for at least one or two years. However, when he saw the dozens of merchant ships accompanying him, his eyes still had a keen light.

That was the various types of armies that the court supported them in response to the request of Lingnan. Among them were the large armies he wanted very much, such as large catapults, large powerful crossbows, crossbows, armor, and even hundreds of swords.

These dozens of ships of armed arms are enough to arm Lingnan an army of tens of thousands of people.
Chapter completed!