Shang Kexi became a traitor more virtuous than Kong, Geng Zhongming came a few years later, and before Huang Taiji became emperor, he had not done any great service for the Tatars.

So how did he gain a superior status unlike other traitors in the Tatar-Manchu Qing Dynasty, and was granted the title of prince at the same time as Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming?

In the final analysis, it was actually because when Shang Kexi defected to the Manchu side, he kidnapped and took away most of the remaining troops, islanders, and military supplies that originally belonged to Dongjiang Town.

Not only did it bring Huang Taiji a large number of valuable soldiers and horses, but it also fundamentally damaged Dongjiang Town, which was isolated behind enemy lines, and basically cut off the possibility of the Ming Dynasty reviving Dongjiang Town behind the Qing Dynasty.

Because the large number of Liaodong Han people who fled to the islands along the islands were the foundation for Mao Wenlong to create Dongjiang Town, and the foundation for Dongjiang Town to continue to exist after Mao Wenlong's death.

When Shang Kexi surrendered to the Manchus, he not only took away his troops, but also took away all the remaining islanders on the major islands along the coast. Only a few islands that were still in the hands of Shen Shikui remained.

Come down.

This was a real effort to draw fire from the cauldron, which was equivalent to eliminating the huge hidden danger from the rear for the Qing Dynasty to march into western Liaoning and even into the pass.

So, these islanders were brought ashore by Shang Kexi and surrendered to the Manchus. The Manchus had to have a place to settle them and let them cultivate and cultivate land to support themselves.

In this way, Huang Taiji not only gave Shang Kexi a lot of land in Haizhou area as a reward to Shang Kexi's family, but also resettled many old islanders brought by Shang Kexi to the south of Haizhou and all the way to Gaizhou.

, on the land around Fuzhou.

After that, in order to monitor and restrain the Han people who were resettled in southern Liaoning, Huang Taiji successively gave some land here to the Manchu Tatars and the Two White Banners in the following years.

Their relatives and nobles became their farm land.

Later, when Huang Taiji established the Eight Banners of the Han Army, he directly incorporated Shang Kexi and his men, Martin and his family, into the Xianglan Banner of the Han Army.

In later generations, in the southern part of the Liaodong Peninsula, there were many so-called Xiangbai Banner Villages and Xianglan Banner Villages. This is how place names were gradually formed.

In addition to these relatives, heroes and surrendered people who were resettled by the Manchu and Qing Tatars to the southern Liaoning area, the original owners of this land were the Ming Dynasty people who had lived in the Liaodong Peninsula for generations in the land of Jin, Fu, Gai and Haiwei.

The soldiers and civilians in the villages had already been slaughtered by the Eastern Tatars in the wars where the Tatars invaded the invaders again and again.

The current Liaodong Peninsula is vast and sparsely populated. Except for a few important cities where Tatar soldiers and horses are stationed, and there are Tatar or two Tatar farms scattered around the cities, most of the other areas are deserted.

However, although Yang Zhen was not worried that the Tatars would go crazy and stationed heavy troops in southern Liaoning, he was very worried about the weather in April and May.

The firearms equipped by his subordinates were a bit more advanced than the firearms of the previous Ming Army, but in terms of fear of rain, they were not much different from the firearms of the previous Ming Army.

Because his men still need open flames to ignite or detonate firearms. For example, the tens of thousands of enemies he wants to use to ambush and blow up the city, as well as the "Flying General" grenades used to throw, all need open flames to ignite.

In addition, even the musketry team that has now been converted into flintlock muskets has no way to continuously reload ammunition and shoot in the wild on rainy days.

Because once water enters the fire door groove and the ignition powder gets damp, even if you can rely on flint to strike sparks, it will be of no use.

Yang Zhen was thinking about when he could find a way to make improvements so that the Musketeers and Grenadier teams he relied on would not be afraid of wind and rain.

However, he has not thought of a simple and easy way at the moment, and he does not have the energy or time to think about this matter specifically.

Fortunately, God was not so cruel. Around late afternoon that day, the wind picked up from the sea and gradually blew away the fog in the bay. It also seemed that the dark clouds that shrouded the area had dissipated a lot.

Although the weather never cleared up, it never rained.

During this day, except for secretly worrying about the upcoming weather changes in the Liaodong Peninsula, Yang Zhen did not convene anyone to discuss matters.

Instead, Jin Shijun, Ma Keqing, and Deng En were sent to deliver the order, so that Lu Pinqi's cavalry, Zhang Chen's musketeers, and Li Lu's grenadiers would seize the time to recuperate their troops, make dry food, take inventory of ordnance, and prepare to attack in the early morning of the next morning.

preparation.

As for whether Yuan Jin and Hu Dabao could successfully persuade Hu Changhai to lead the large and small pirate gangs near Changxing Island when they went south this time to participate in the attack they designed and launched, Yang Zhen was not too worried.

It's good to have them here, it's the icing on the cake and everyone is happy.

But if they don't come, it doesn't matter. When Yang Zhen set out from Songshan, he never thought of using the pirate forces in this area to go ashore to fight.

Deep in his heart, as long as the pirate gangs in this area don't cause trouble for him, this is the bottom line he can accept.

In this way, the time to prepare for war passed by in an instant. In the evening, mist rose again in the bay, the sky was still gloomy, and smoke from the mountains and forests on both sides of the bay also rose.

Yang Zhen asked someone to rekindle a fire at the entrance of his shed. While he was eating salted fish and dry food prepared in the camp, he was thinking about the itinerary of Yuan Jin, Hu Dabao and others.

.

Before Yuan Jin and the others set out, Yang Zhen had already told them that no matter whether the trip was successful or not, a message would be sent back tonight.

This message will determine the next actions of Yang Zhen and others.

As the night got darker and the mountain wind became colder, Lu Pinqi, Li Lu and Zhang Chen, who could no longer wait in their camp, arrived at Yang Zhen's camp one after another.

Everyone sat around the fire, talking to each other.

"Brother General, General Yuan and that Hu Dabao have been gone for almost two days! So far, there is no news. Regarding our departure in the early morning, should everything be done as planned, or should we wait and see?

?It’s getting late now, you have to make a decision and make an idea as soon as possible!”

After Lu Pinqi finished speaking, he looked at Yang Zhen, as did Zhang Chen and Li Lu, all waiting for Yang Zhen to make the final decision.

Yang Zhen looked up at the foggy bay ahead, hesitating in his mind whether to persist or give up tomorrow's action. At this moment, he suddenly heard a sharp whistle:

"?——!"

The whistle penetrated through the night, through the fog, through the surging waves in the bay, and fell into Yang Zhen's ears, and into the ears of everyone!

"What sound?!"

Lu Pinqi suddenly stood up and looked at the cliff in the distance of the bay, where the sound came from.

Corresponding to Lu Pinqi's panic, Zhang Chen and Li Lu were surprised. The two of them quickly stood up and looked towards the bay with joyful faces.

"It's Yuan Jin and the others who are back! - This is the news sent back by the sentry sentry I arranged with the whistle!"

At this time, Yang Zhen also slowly stood up, walked to Lu Pinqi's side, patted him on the shoulder, and explained to him: "Whether it's good news or bad news, they finally have news back!"

As early as the afternoon, Yang Zhen had arranged in advance for Jin Shijun to take Hu Liu's group of soldiers and an iron caller to set up a lookout at the end of the cliff on Rabbit Island.

At this time, the agreed whistle finally sounded, indicating that Yuan Jin and Hu Dabao's southbound ship had returned to the outside of the bay.

Sure enough, not long after, the light of lights finally appeared faintly in the fog-shrouded bay.

After a while, the lights in the bay became more and more bright, and gradually almost filled the entire dustpan-shaped bay.

Everyone was overjoyed when they saw this. They sent people around them back to the camp to convey orders not to leave the camp in disorder. They quickly lit torches and followed Yang Zhen to the bay dock at the foot of the hillside.

In this situation, it is not just that the ships and men that Yuan Jin and Hu Dabao took away have returned. Judging from this posture, they must have persuaded the pirates on Changxing Island to come with them.

Because the bright lights that appeared in the bay at this time were completely the size of a fleet!

When Yang Zhen arrived with the generals, the dock was already brightly lit and crowded. Zhang Guogan, Deng En, Pan Xi and others had already arrived there with the teams camped nearby.

As soon as Yang Zhen arrived, everyone made way for him and several other generals to board the dock smoothly.

"Brother Yang! General Yang! It's me! I'm Yuan Jin! We're back! Brother, I've invited all the brothers from Hu Da's family in Changxing Island for you! Fortunately, Mr. Yuan has lived up to his command! Hahahaha!"

Yuan Jin's boat has not yet docked, but his voice has reached the shore through the night and fog. His shouts are full of joyful messages, and there is also a sense of excitement in this joy.
Chapter completed!