Chapter 3606
Chapter 3606
Chapter 3606
The naval and land forces under the Luzon Region are currently concentrated in the areas around the Banda Sea to carry out clearing missions to ensure that the shipping routes between the region and the New World colonies are no longer interfered with by the Spanish.
These troops would certainly not leave the designated war zone to explore the unknown areas of the Pacific until the Spanish colonial forces in the area were completely eliminated.
At present, the only two supporting forces in Fujian and Taiwan have the conditions to do this. Although they obey the command of the Luzon Combat Command, they are not under the jurisdiction of the Manila authorities.
However, at this time, Xu Kaiyuan's Fujian Fleet was still fighting in Sulawesi Island in cooperation with the Luzon Army. Only the Taiwan Fleet led by Li Zhencheng had no enemy to fight against, and due to the limited range of activities, it could not go to Sulawesi Island to monitor the actions of the Fujian Fleet. This way, it had free time to search for the rumored secret port along the long coastline of Papua Island.
Only two hundred miles east of the sea area where we encountered the Spanish fleet that day, we discovered a bay of considerable size and good terrain. However, after searching for a while, we found no signs of colonial development here.
Li Zhencheng was not discouraged. After all, they had not yet entered the area mentioned by the Spanish sailors. He ordered to slow down the speed and continue to sail eastward along the coastline. At night, they would anchor close to the shore to avoid missing the target.
We continued to travel like this for two or three days. All we saw was the pristine coastline. There was no human habitation along the way. Not to mention the bay, we didn't even see a river mouth that was big enough to stop a boat. As for the sea, there were no other ships at all.
Li Zhencheng was also a little puzzled. Would the Spaniards really choose to settle in such a remote environment?
If the sailor really made up such a lie just to get away with it, then a telegram would have to be sent to Manila to punish him severely as a revenge.
They continued to travel eastward for several days, stopping and starting. Although they encountered several estuaries along the way, their conditions were obviously not enough to be the secret ports mentioned by the sailors. Although no one said it explicitly, everyone in the fleet felt that this trip was probably in vain.
Moreover, they did not receive any supplies except fresh water along the way. Considering the time required for the return trip, if they go further east, they may have to strictly ration the survival supplies on the ship.
Just when Li Zhencheng was about to give up and turn back, the vanguard troops who had gone out for reconnaissance brought good news. They had discovered large ships moving on the sea ahead, which was most likely a sign of the existence of a port nearby.
The location of the Taiwan fleet has long been out of Hai Han’s sphere of influence. The large sailing ships operating in this sea area cannot belong to the indigenous civilization that is still in its primitive stage, but can only be colonists from the West.
Li Zhencheng couldn't help but be overjoyed and immediately ordered all personnel to enter a state of combat readiness.
Hard work pays off. After another day, the Taiwan fleet finally found this secret port that was not marked on any map.
The port's hidden location is due to its special terrain. To sail here from west to east, you must first go south around a peninsula, then turn around and head west before you discover this bay.
There are two islands, one large and one small, on the south side of the bay, which makes the width of the channel entering the bay only about two miles, which greatly increases the concealment of the bay.
When they were still about 7 or 8 miles away from the bay, the owner finally discovered the arrival of the uninvited guest. Li Zhencheng also confirmed through the telescope that there were many Spanish sailing ships anchored in the harbor. "Pass my order, the fleet will launch an attack! Destroy the enemies at sea first, and don't let a single enemy ship leave here!"
Li Zhencheng loudly issued the combat order. This was probably the most exciting moment for him since he left Taiwan. Due to various coincidences, he finally found this secret port. How much military merit he could win in the end would depend on his actual combat performance.
Thanks to the combat experience in the past few days, Li Zhencheng also knew that the Spaniards would often not choose to fight hard, but would choose to flee immediately after confirming that the enemy was strong and they were weak. Therefore, the enemy ships must be destroyed as soon as possible to prevent the Spaniards here from escaping again.
As for the enemies on the shore, they can't escape far without the boat. There may not even be any indigenous tribes nearby, and there is only wilderness in all directions. Even if these people escape temporarily, where can they escape to?
The Majestic-class battleship where Li Zhencheng was stationed took the lead and rushed into the harbor first. As soon as it entered the range of the ship's guns, it opened fire decisively, pouring fire on the Spanish sailing ships docked on the shore.
This method of fighting was actually quite risky. The information provided by the prisoners did not provide detailed information on the fortifications here. Before the fleet confirmed whether this port had any defensive fortifications such as coastal artillery batteries, it would be at risk of being bombarded if it rashly rushed to the shore.
Fortunately, the Spaniards obviously did not invest too many resources here. Of course, it may also be that they are confident enough in the secrecy of this location. There are only a few small cannons hidden behind sandbag fortifications on the dock as a means of defense, and the firepower of these small cannons is simply unable to penetrate the external shield armor of the Majestic-class battleship at this combat distance.
Realizing that the opponent's shore defense firepower was only decorative, the Taiwanese fleet that rushed into the port was able to calmly aim at the target and open fire. With just one salvo, those small guns and their gunners were sent into the sky.
Several large sailing ships docked at the port had no time to leave the dock before they were riddled with holes from the dense artillery shells.
Several small boats that had not originally docked wanted to take advantage of the chaos to sneak out, but they were blocked on the periphery. The small boats were far less able to withstand attacks than the large ships. As long as the waterline was hit by one or two shells, they would basically capsize and sink.
The battle at sea was basically one-sided and lasted only about half an hour before it gradually ceased.
Almost all the Spanish sailing ships within sight were destroyed, and no one escaped. Several ships docked at the pier were on fire, probably because the gunpowder and other flammable materials on the ships were ignited by the bombardment just now.
Seeing that the enemy was no longer able to fight back, Li Zhencheng ordered his troops to land and continue to clear out the enemies on the shore.
However, after this battle, the Spaniards on the shore were actually given some buffer time to escape from the battlefield. After the Hai Han army landed, the town next to the port had become an empty city.
Only a few elderly, weak, women and children who had difficulty moving became the first prisoners captured by the Hai Han army here.
Through the confessions of these captives, Li Zhencheng learned that this place was called Manokwari. This was a completely unfamiliar name to him, but if his father Li Dou heard it, he would remember some information related to this place.