Chapter 714

The eighth day of the ninth lunar month. The first government-merchant joint fleet of the Great Ming Dynasty departed from Shanghai Port, Songjiang Prefecture, Southern Zhili. The fleet consisted of thirty merchant vessels, ten large warships, fifty small-to-medium warships, and ten support ships for reconnaissance, resupply, and transport. Before leaving the coastal waters, Zheng Chenggong ordered the supply ships to restock every vessel. He then directed the thirty accompanying small warships and one supply ship, now low on provisions, to cease their escort. Larger ships were safer for deep-ocean voyages; while smaller ones offered superior speed, they carried a significantly higher risk of capsizing. Zheng Chenggong had no desire to court unnecessary casualties. These coastal craft were not to return to port, but were instead to roam the near-shore regions. If they encountered small or medium Jiannu warships, they were to swarm them; if they encountered large Jiannu warships, they were to immediately report to the Southern Zhili navy, allowing the main fleet to take the lead in battle.