Iron Dynasty Chapter 1071

A peculiar grin graced Yue Yun’s features as his gaze swept over the burning sailing warships dotting the sea.

Beside him, Liu Chen’s laughter was unrestrained. “General, who would have thought your jest would become reality? These Europeans actually launched a night raid.”

“What I said earlier wasn’t merely a jest. Faced with our ironclads, they were left with no alternative but to resort to unconventional attack methods,” Yue Yun stated.

Upon reaching the waters near Calcutta, he had casually remarked to his officers that the European fleet might attempt a nighttime surprise assault, intending to utilize boarding tactics to negate the technological gap.

It was precisely this foresight that led them to refrain from activating their customary warning searchlights. This time, deliberately leaving the searchlights off, they concealed the advanced capabilities of the ironclads. He never imagined these Europeans would genuinely attempt a clandestine approach under the cloak of darkness.

“Regardless, the European combined fleet has sailed directly into our jaws. We shall send every last one of them to the depths tonight,” declared Liu Chen.

After reaching their objective, intelligence revealed that the combined fleet’s warships were concealed upstream along the Ganges River. This geographical positioning presented a significant disadvantage, as any foray into the river would render their ironclads vulnerable to the army’s land-based artillery.

Yue Yun’s eyes remained fixed on the seascape, his expression growing grave. “Let us not be complacent. Ensure all marines are in position. This battle has only just commenced.”

Hearing this, Liu Chen looked forward and witnessed a blazing sailing warship hurtling towards them. It was evident the combined fleet was demonstrating considerable resolve in this engagement.

Liu Chen, recognizing the persistent danger, promptly ordered the marines to deploy machine guns on the deck. Their crucial role would be to defend the warships should the enemy ships succeed in closing the gap.

“Boom boom boom…”

The King-Class ironclad warship unleashed its full might, its cannons roaring. Salvo after salvo streaked towards the charging sailing warship. Repeatedly struck, the vessel eventually began a slow submersion.

Concurrently, the other ironclads unleashed their formidable firepower. Brilliant bursts of flame erupted across the sea, and with each ignition, numerous warships of the combined fleet were struck and sank.

For a time, the ocean's surface became a tableau of burning wreckage. Interspersed with the thunder of cannons were the desperate cries of enemy soldiers struggling in the water, echoing through the night sky.

Their flagship occupied the fleet's center. Witnessing the vanguard suffer such a catastrophic defeat instilled a sense of unease and fear in them, the observers.

Corbán, recovering from his initial astonishment, responded, “We cannot continue this headlong charge; it will lead to the annihilation of all our warships. Lower the smaller boats and have the soldiers disembark onto them to approach the enemy vessels. This maneuver will disperse their concentrated firepower, affording us a semblance of a chance for victory.”

He paused, then gestured towards the beams of light emanating from the Empire’s warships. “These peculiar lights have betrayed our position. Inform the soldiers that once they are within range, they are to target these lights. Though their nature remains unknown, they must represent the Empire’s latest technological advancements.”

Philine nodded emphatically upon hearing this. He immediately signaled a signaler, who raised a lantern and executed a series of specific movements – their established method of communication.

Upon receiving the directive, the soldiers aboard the warships promptly lowered small wooden boats. Groups of twenty men embarked, rowing towards the Empire’s fleet, while two of these small craft were laden with explosives, a grim instruction from Corbán.

Each sailing warship dispatched ten smaller boats, and the remaining hundred-plus vessels launched thousands of these boats, all converging on the Empire’s fleet.

In short order, the entire expanse of the sea was swarming with the small wooden boats of the combined fleet. As they advanced toward the Empire’s formation, these boats simultaneously commenced rescuing soldiers who had been cast into the water, all pressing forward in unison.

The maneuvers of the combined fleet did not escape Yue Yun’s notice. From a distance, the Empire’s warships adjusted their positions, preparing to engage. The sight of thousands of small wooden boats advancing bore the unmistakable semblance of a wolf pack’s coordinated assault.

Yue Yun was no stranger to this tactic employed by the combined fleet, as such battle scenarios were documented in the annals of the Empire’s Naval Academy textbooks.

Historical accounts detailed a significant naval engagement between Spain and Britain, where Britain employed agile fire ships, vessels laden with explosives and troops, to secure a decisive victory. This strategy proved effective because, during large-scale naval warfare, the maneuverability of massive warships was drastically inferior to that of smaller, swifter boats. Once threatened, combatants aboard these smaller vessels could engage in acts of sabotage, detonation, or arson.

In the current conflict, the allied fleet found itself at a numerical disadvantage. Now, with the combined fleet adopting a similar tactic, they were immediately forced into a defensive posture. The sheer volume of enemy combatants and the minuscule size of their targets made precise engagement akin to using a colossal cannonball to hit a gnat.

However, ignoring these approaching vessels would lead to severe complications should they manage to close the distance.

“Relay the command to the remaining vessels: main batteries are to persist in targeting the enemy’s larger warships, while secondary and projectile cannons are to engage the smaller craft on the water, preventing their advance. Simultaneously, deploy the marines to fire upon any enemy boats attempting to breach our lines. Prepare the grenades as well.”

The swarm of densely packed small boats drew nearer, their approach creating a palpable sense of unease. Yue Yun recognized the gravity of the situation and dared not lower his guard.

Upon receiving the directive, the searchlight atop the King-Class ironclad warship flickered. Having recently integrated searchlight technology, they had also become adept at utilizing lantern signals, an indispensable communication method in the darkness of night.

The alteration in the King-Class ironclad’s searchlight was immediately observed by the other warships. They commenced executing the orders, and the marines, who had been resting within the ship’s compartments, rapidly transitioned into a combat-ready stance.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh…”

To better pinpoint the location of the enemy’s smaller vessels, flares were discharged into the night sky above the sea. Illuminated by the sudden glare, the combined fleet’s small boats were starkly exposed without any means of concealment.

“Dah dah dah…”

At this critical juncture, the machine guns mounted on the King-Class ironclad unleashed their fury, targeting a small boat that had ventured within range.

A volley of bullets struck the wooden craft, and before the soldiers aboard could even react, they plummeted into the bloody waters below.

Concurrently, an increasing number of machine guns opened fire, cutting down soldiers in the small boats under the relentless hail of bullets. Yet, the combatants in the small boats retaliated, their gunfire erupting in continuous flashes, illuminating the ironclads and inflicting casualties upon those aboard.

The intensity of the battle escalated. Despite the significant damage inflicted by the machine gun fire upon the small boats, their sheer numbers overwhelmed the defenses. They surged forward, attempting to close with the ironclads, much like a maddened charge.

“Crack!”

Just as Yue Yun was anxiously assessing the unfolding chaos, a stray bullet struck a searchlight, abruptly extinguishing the beam that had been probing the enemy warships.

Witnessing this, Yue Yun’s heart leaped into his throat. He commanded urgently, “Quickly, replace it with the spare searchlight!”