Editing Battle of the Strait of Malacca

{{Era|Timeline}}
{{Spoilerhd|27 August 2025|[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]}}
{{Conjecture}}
{{Quote|Where the tiger stalks its prey, the hungry wolves dare to take their chance. Can't be complaining as the metaphorical prey in this scenario, eh?|Edward Kenway to Rupiya, while fleeing from their assailants, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 109}}
{{Battle Infobox
|prev = [[Battle of Sulu]]
|conc = [[Golden Age of Piracy]]
|next = [[Maroon rebellion]]
|image = 
|date = 1725
|place = [[Strait of Malacca]]
|result = *[[East India Company]] retained possession of the [[Lantern (Piece of Eden)|lantern]]
*The [[Zhawang Corporation|Zhang Wei Union]] escaped with help from the [[Dutch East India Company]]
|side1 = *Zhang Wei Union
*Dutch East India Company {{c|late}}
|side2 = East India Company
|side3 = [[Qing dynasty|Qing Empire]]
|commanders1 = *[[Edward Kenway]]
*[[Shimazu Saito]]
*[[Jan van Aert]] {{c|late}}
|commanders2 = *[[Alan Jacob]]
*[[John Young]]
|commanders3 = [[Jeong]]
|forces1 = *''[[Fenghuang]]''
*1 [[mercenary]] ship
*2 {{Wiki|long-tail boat}}s
*1 [[Man O' War]] {{c|late}}
*4 [[privateer]] ships {{c|late}}
|forces2 = *6 Men O' War
*At least 3 [[frigate]]s
|forces3 = * 5 [[junk]]s
|casual1 = {{-}}
|casual2 = *All the frigates
*1 Man O' War damaged
|casual3 = {{-}}
}}
The '''Battle of the Strait of Malacca''' was a naval clash in 1725 between the [[Zhawang Corporation|Zhang Wei Union]], the [[East India Company]], and, eventually, Admiral [[Jeong]]'s fleet and the [[Dutch East India Company]].

The battle was initially fought between the Union and the [[Templars|Templar]]-affiliated East India Company, the former of which sought to recover a [[Lantern (Piece of Eden)|lantern-shaped]] [[Piece of Eden]] that had been stolen by the Templar spy [[John Young]]. The ''[[Fenghuang]]''{{'}}s crew, aided by their [[mercenary]] allies, succeeded in damaging and boarding the ship carrying John, but were forced to retreat following the arrival of a Company fleet commanded by [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] [[Alan Jacob]].

As the ''Fenghuang'' and its allies fled the battle, a [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] fleet under the command of Admiral Jeong joined the engagement, intending to take advantage of the chaos to eliminate both the Union and the East India Company. The Union members were saved by the timely arrival of [[Jan van Aert]], who led a fleet composed of both Dutch East India Company and [[privateer]] ships. Outnumbered, Alan and Jeong ordered their respective forces to retreat, ending the battle in a stalemate.

==Prelude==
{{Quote|We give chase. That ship on the horizon is carrying John. And I'll be damned... if I let a friend walk down the road to damnation.|Edward ordering the ''Fenghuang''{{'}}s crew to chase after John, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 107}}
After [[Edward Kenway]] and [[Shimazu Saito]] retrieved the [[Shwedagon Pagoda]]'s [[Piece of Eden]], [[John Young]] betrayed them, stole the [[Lantern (Piece of Eden)|artifact]], and revealed himself as a [[Templars|Templar]] double agent. Blaming Edward for the death of his fiancée, [[Xialun Qing]], John revealed that the Templars had promised him a way to resurrect Qing in exchange for helping them acquire all [[Southeast Asian Pieces of Eden|three Pieces of Eden]] in [[Southeast Asia]].<ref name="EP 106">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 106|Episode 106]]</ref>

Meanwhile, three [[East India Company]] ships arrived to pick up John and attacked the [[Zhawang Corporation|Zhang Wei Union]]'s flagship, the ''[[Fenghuang]]'', which was waiting for Edward, Saito, John, and [[Yun Pyeong-Gyu]]'s return. One of the Company ships sank the boat carrying the group, allowing John to escape during the confusion and board the [[Man O' War]].<ref name="EP 106" /> With the Piece of Eden in the Templars' possession, the ship's captain ordered a retreat while the other two Men O' War were left to finish off the ''Fenghuang''.<ref name="EP 107">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 107|Episode 107]]</ref>

However, the Men O' War were attacked by the Union's ally [[Nagamasa]] and a group of warriors from the {{Wiki|Ayutthaya Kingdom}} he had recruited. Using their {{Wiki|long-tail boat}}s, the Ayutthayan warriors boarded the Men O' War and eliminated their crews while Nagamasa picked up Edward, Saito, and Yun from the water. After returning to the ''Fenghuang'', Edward informed Captain [[Mustafa|Rupiya]] of John's betrayal and gave the order to chase the ship carrying him in order to recover the stolen Piece of Eden.<ref name="EP 107" />

==The battle==
===Initial pursuit===
{{Quote|You may be a useless, blundering fool... but I thought you would stand with Kenway to the last! How dare you betray us like this!|Saito to John during their confrontation, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 108}}
The ''Fenghuang'', Nagamasa's ship, and the Ayutthayan boats pursued the East India Company ship carrying John and the Piece of Eden to the [[Strait of Malacca]], where the Zhang Wei Union commenced their assault. The ''Fenghuang'' opened fire on the enemy vessel, damaging its stern and forcing it to stop and return fire. This allowed Nagamasa's ship and the Ayutthayan boats to close the distance and ambush the Man O' War from the opposite side. After using their harpoons to immobilize the Man O' War, Saito, the mercenaries, and the  Ayutthayan warriors boarded the ship and began killing its crew.<ref name="EP 108">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 108|Episode 108]]</ref>

Spotting John, Saito viciously attacked him for his betrayal, but the Templar was able to defend himself using a [[musket]]. He then claimed that Saito should understand his position better than anyone else, as she would also use the Pieces of Eden's powers to resurrect her deceased friends if given the chance. With the [[samurai]]'s guard lowered, John seized the opportunity to push her back before pulling out the bag containing the Piece of Eden and threatening to drop it overboard. Saito fell for the bluff and, unwilling to risk losing the artifact, she and John were left at an impasse.<ref name="EP 108" />

Meanwhile, the ''Fenghuang'' also managed to reach the Man O' War, but before it could engage it, Edward and Rupiya witnessed the arrival of a sizeable East India Company fleet.<ref name="EP 108" /> Commanded by [[Alan Jacob]], the fleet opened fire on the ''Fenghuang'' and the other ships, forcing them to retreat.<ref name="EP 109">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 109|Episode 109]]</ref>

During the confusion, John dropped the bag he was holding and Saito caught it, only to discover that it was empty and that John had the Piece of Eden on his person. John then kicked Saito overboard, leaving her hanging from a rope. After Nagamasa arrived and informed her of the East India Company fleet's attack, Saito reluctantly decided to abandon the pursuit of the Piece of Eden and ordered her allies to return to their ships and flee to safety.<ref name="EP 109" />

===The Zhang Wei Union's retreat===
{{Quote|The artifact may be our primary concern, but we cannot afford to leave any loose ends. Send our swiftest frigates to block their retreat. Once they're cornered, there can be no mercy for vermin.|Alan Jacob ordering the obliteration of the Zhang Wei Union's fleet, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 109}}
Despite the Zhang Wei Union abandoning the battle, Alan did not want to leave any "loose ends" and ordered his men to chase the ''Fenghuang''. As the ship was surrounded by a number of East India Company [[frigate]]s, the enemy vessels were suddenly sunk by Admiral [[Jeong]]'s fleet. Having stumbled upon the engagement by chance, the admiral nonetheless wished to seize this opportunity to eliminate both the Union and the East India Company, to serve the interests of her employer, [[Lee Huiyin]].<ref name="EP 109" />

Alan ordered his fleet to return fire, and the Union members took advantage of the unexpected distraction to sail away from the battle. However, both Alan and Jeong eventually took notice of the ''Fenghuang''{{'}}s attempted escape and ended their fight to give chase. As their enemies closed the distance, the Union members were again saved, this time by the arrival of a [[Dutch East India Company]] fleet commanded by [[Jan van Aert]].<ref name="EP 109" />

Having been contacted by [[Zhang (Macanese)|Zhang]], Jan came to the Union's rescue after assembling an armada of [[privateer]] ships, which outnumbered both the East India Company and Jeong's fleets. Realizing this, Alan reluctantly ordered his men to retreat, having achieved their primary objective of securing the Piece of Eden in John's possession. Meanwhile, Jeong required some convincing from her lieutenant, but in the end she also gave the order to retreat, to avoid being killed by the superior enemy force.<ref name="EP 110">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 110|Episode 110]]</ref>

==Aftermath==
{{Quote|Once you lost the two artifacts you had in your possession, Kenway... I fear you inadvertently pushed the British East India Company and Madam Lee into this little game of ours. And now that we no longer hold the Sultanate of Sulu in our hand, we had only one place to turn to.|Jan van Aert explaining his reason for coming to the Zhang Wei Union's rescue, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 110}}
The Zhang Wei Union members ultimately failed in their goal to capture John Young and recover the Piece of Eden he had stolen, but the timely arrival of Jan van Aert and Zhang allowed them to escape the battle with their lives. After sailing to [[Jakarta|Batavia]], Edward Kenway spoke with both Jan and Zhang, and the former informed him that he had decided to resume his partnership with the Union despite their previous falling out in the [[Sultanate of Sulu]].<ref name="EP 110" />

Jan explained that, with their enemies in possession of two Pieces of Eden, he had no choice but to turn to Edward for help in order to retrieve the artifacts and restore the balance of power in [[Southeast Asia]]. The Assassin agreed to work alongside Jan and the Dutch East India Company once more, while his crew also decided to trust Jan despite some of their misgivings. The group then began making preparations for a final expedition to recover the [[Lotus disk|Piece of Eden]] housed in [[Angkor]] ahead of their enemies.<ref name="EP 110" />

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Timeline}}
{{ACFT}}
[[Category:Battles]]
[[Category:Assassin-Templar War]]
[[Category:Timeline]]