"Captain, since ancient times, soldiers have been very valuable. Since the Matsuura clan's army is powerful and they have the soldiers and horses of Iki Island and Hizen Kingdom, why don't we go to meet with Commander Lin today, and then kill the chicken with a knife?

How can we capture Hirado Island in one fell swoop?"

"Yes, Governor, our army has already arrived. It is idle to park in the port. I don't think we need to wait for those foreign devils to come and join us. We can destroy that Matsuura clan by ourselves!"

On the morning of July 12, the 14th year of Chongzhen, Li Lu, Zhang Guogan, Yan Sheng and others learned that Qiu Guangyi, Lin Qingye and others had destroyed the Wudao clan by their own strength, and their morale was greatly boosted.

At the same time, they learned that Yang Zhen had sent Lin Chongfan to deliver the order, asking Lin Qingye to make more efforts to invade the Hirado clan. They were even more gearing up and asked for a fight.

In particular, Li Lu and Zhang Guogan came to the Wanghae Tower, the highest point in the inner city of Seogwipo, where Yang Zhen was staying. When they saw Yang Zhen's face, they couldn't help but get excited, and one after another made suggestions to invite Yang Zhen to join the army.

However, after Yang Zhen listened to everyone's words, he just listened quietly and smiled without saying a word. It was not until everyone who came to see him quieted down that he turned to Qiu Guangyi, who had accompanied him, and asked:

"General Qiu, when did you send troops to occupy Fujiang Island?"

"If I return to the Governor, it will be the first day of this month."

"All the warships on Fukue Island have been wiped out?"

"Well, although the Goto clan started out as a maritime merchant in the past, the Japanese slave country has been locked down for more than 20 years, and the Goto clan no longer has any decent warships."

Faced with Yang Zhen's sudden inquiry, Qiu Guangyi was a little confused. He didn't know what Yang Zhen's intention was. He could only think about it while reporting to Yang Zhen.

"It is said that the Goto clan has turned from business to farming in recent years, and has reclaimed a lot of wasteland to grow rice on the Goto Islands. However, they are a maritime island clan after all, and they do own a lot of fishing boats.

"However, we burned a batch and captured a batch that day. The other islands have very small populations. After they surrendered with Goto Morikiyo, I believe that the other ships may have been controlled by Commander Lin!"

"Haha, island siege operations are different from city siege operations. There seems to be no road on the sea, but there are roads everywhere. Since Goto Morikiyo can escape from Fukue Island to Uku Island to gather the remaining troops, it means that you have not captured all of Fukue Island.

.”

Yang Zhen couldn't say he was dissatisfied with Qiu Guangyi's answer, but he felt it was a bit too optimistic.

"What if a ship escaped from Fukue Island at that time, or when you attacked Fukue Island, Goto Mori and Goto Moriki sent messengers for help to the Kyushu feudal clans? How do you think the next battle will evolve?

"

"ah?"

"this--"

"General Qiu, is this possible?"

The last question Yang Zhen asked was beyond the expectations of everyone present.

They originally thought that Yang Zhen would not send troops temporarily because he was waiting for the Dutch fleet to come to join him, but they did not expect Yang Zhen to have such considerations.

Therefore, not only Li Lu, who had previously spoken to take charge of sending troops, but also Zhang Guogan were shocked and froze on the spot.

Even Yan Shengsan, who has always been steady, asked Qiu Guangyi doubtfully, hoping to get a definite answer from Qiu Guangyi.

However, after listening to what Yang Zhen said, Qiu Guangyi was unable to give a definite answer for a while.

Because what Yang Zhen said is right, island siege operations are different from city siege operations.

Moreover, Fujiang Island is not big, but it cannot be considered small. Although it is far less big than Yingzhou Island, it is still larger than other islands within the jurisdiction of Jinhai Town, such as the largest Yuncong Island.

Some.

Although Qiu Guangyi, Lin Qingye and his fleet had nearly 300 large and small ships, they were unable to surround the entire Fujiang Island.

If he could be surrounded and killed, Goto Morikiyo would not have escaped from Uku Island at night.

Therefore, when they launched the operation to seize the island, Qiu Guangyi was not sure for a while whether Goto Mori and Goto Moriki sent people to escape and seek help.

At least according to Yang Zhen, such a thing is entirely possible. After all, if Goto Shengqing could escape at night, it would be inevitable that other people would escape as well.

Therefore, when the three generals Yan Sheng turned to Qiu Guangyi with suspicion, Li Lu, Zhang Guangan and others also immediately turned their doubtful eyes to Qiu Guangyi.

"This——, at that time, in order to encircle and annihilate the Goto family leader Goto Moritoshi who refused to surrender while escaping from the island, he joined Lin Tongyu in his humble position, and the main force landed on the island to fight. Other aspects were inevitably overlooked. Therefore, what the governor said,

It’s not impossible.”

Under the gaze of everyone, Qiu Guangyi thought about it over and over, and finally had to admit that what Yang Zhen said was reasonable, and then he pondered and answered the questions raised by Yan Shengsan.

However, as soon as Qiu Guangyi finished speaking, Yan Shengsan immediately asked without mercy: "Then I dare to ask General Qiu, how likely is the possibility you mentioned?!"

Faced with Yan Shengsan's questioning, which was a bit aggravating, Qiu Guangyi felt very unhappy for a moment.

He admitted that at that time he only wanted to annihilate the main force of the Goto clan in one fell swoop, and there were indeed loopholes in the deployment.

However, the main focus of the battle to seize the island is to seize the island. Even if the enemy cannot be completely wiped out, it is not a serious problem. Is it necessary to hold on to it like this?

However, he saw that Yan Shengsan's expression did not mean to ridicule him at all. At the same time, he changed his previous hesitant look and became serious and serious. It was not easy to fall out at the moment. After thinking about it, he had to say:

"As the governor just said, since Goto Morikiyo and the rest of his troops were able to escape from the island at night, it is quite possible that the Goto clan would send messengers for help to other parts of the Wonu Kingdom before and after we captured Fukue Island.

But the Governor—"

After Qiu Guangyi answered Yan Shengsan's question, he saw Yan Shengsan suddenly looking at him with bright eyes, as if he still had questions to ask. At that moment, he did not give Yan Shengsan a chance to ask more questions, but turned directly to

Yang Zhen looked puzzled.

"you say!"

"Yes, Governor. What I mean by my humble position is that even if the Goto clan sends a messenger for help to the Kyushu vassals of the Japanese slave country, so what? The Goto clan has been destroyed by us!"

"Yes, the era when the Goto clan ruled the Five Islands has passed. From now on, the Five Islands are our Jinhai Town's territory. This is the credit of you and Lin Tongyu. I will remember this credit for you.

Down!"

Faced with Yan Shengsan's repeated questioning, Qiu Guangyi was obviously very unhappy, and Yang Zhen could also see this.

So in order to avoid Qiu Guangyi's misunderstanding, Yang Zhen immediately comforted him and told him that he had no intention of pursuing any omissions on their part.

However, Yang Zhen brought up this topic not to reaffirm Qiu Guangyi and the others' contributions, but to explain his next strategy and tactics to them, so he had to use this topic to continue talking.

"But the Goto clan was destroyed, but the Hirado clan is still there. For the feudal clans of the Japanese slave country Kyushu, the Goto clan is remote and weak, and they may not have time to send troops to rescue them, but the Hirado clan is different."

"But, Governor, if the Governor is worried that the Kyushu feudal lords of the Japanese slave country will hear the news and rescue Hirado Island, then we should send troops quickly!"

When Qiu Guangyi heard Yang Zhen's words, he thought he had understood Yang Zhen's meaning. He guessed that Yang Zhen was worried that the Kyushu vassals of the Wonu Kingdom would rescue Hirado Island after hearing the news, so he immediately expressed his opinion.

At this time, Li Lu and Zhang Guogan saw the turn of events and immediately agreed with Qiu Guangyi's opinion. They almost unanimously said together:

"Yes, Governor, since other parts of the Wonu Kingdom may hear the news and send troops to aid Hirado Island, then we should send troops as soon as possible!

"That's right, Commander, shouldn't we take advantage of the fact that reinforcements from the Wonu Kingdom haven't arrived yet, and take the first step to occupy Hirado Island?"

However, just before they finished speaking, Yang Zhen suddenly looked up and burst into laughter: "Haha, haha, hahahaha——"

Li Lu, Zhang Guogan, Qiu Guangyi and others looked at each other in confusion when they saw Yang Zhen raising his head and laughing.

At this time, only Yan Shengsan looked at Yang Zhen quietly, smiling without saying a word, as if he already knew everything.

When Yang Zhen saw this, he stopped laughing, pointed at him, and said, "What, what did General Yan Shen think of? Tell me, let's see if you and I thought of going together!"

Yang Zhen pointed out this, which was equivalent to naming Yan Shengsan.

Yan Shengsan did not dare to act casually in front of Yang Zhen because of his seniority, like Li Lu and Zhang Guogan.

Although Yang Zhen ordered him to command the newly-organized South Road Naval Battalion, which showed his extraordinary trust in him, he still followed the order with caution. He quickly stepped forward, cupped his fists and bowed, saying:

"I was inspired by the Governor. I secretly thought that the Governor led us here not just for the sake of the Goto clan or the Hirado clan. The Governor ordered Hayashi to lead his team to attack Hirado Island. I am afraid that he was deliberately trying to arouse the enemy. The purpose was precisely to

Lure reinforcements from the Japanese slave country.

"I don't know much about the Japanese slave country, but I also know that the Japanese slave country is a country of islands. I think the naval force should not be weak. Even if the new Tokugawa shogunate in recent years issued some orders to lock down the country, like Kyushu,

A coastal vassal like a vassal state will always have some accumulation.

"Therefore, in view of my humble duty, instead of working hard and searching everywhere for the enemy's main force to fight decisively, it is better to surround the enemy with reinforcements and capture all their potential in one fell swoop."

Having said this, Yan Shengsan raised his head and glanced at Yang Zhen, and saw Yang Zhen smiling and nodding at him, so he continued:

"The Commander-in-Chief Lin ordered Commander Lin to attack Hirado Island as a encirclement point. The Commander-in-Chief led us to recharge our batteries on Yingzhou Island and prepare for the attack. What we are waiting for is the time for reinforcements!

"I think that when the naval forces of the Kyushu vassals gather on Hirado Island, it is time for us to send troops to encircle and annihilate them! This is a conjecture based on my humble opinion. I don't know if it is right or not. Please give me some advice, Commander-in-Chief!"

"Hahahaha, yes, yes, I ordered you to serve as the commander-in-chief of the new South Road Naval Battalion. I was right! You have such knowledge, you are enough to take charge of your own affairs!"

"You can't take a humble position!"

Seeing Yan Shengsan's cautious look, Yang Zhen smiled at him and waved his hand, asking him to step back and join the queue. Then he glanced around the crowd who had turned a corner and suddenly realized something, and said:

"Although Kyushu Island is not too big, its coast is complex, there are many harbors, and the island is mountainous. Our main force will be exposed prematurely. Once the Japanese slaves fail to avoid it and refuse to fight decisively, the war will inevitably continue to be protracted.

"Instead of doing this, it would be better to let Commander Lin send troops to Hirado Island to lure the snake out of its cave, so that we can complete the victory in one battle. Haha, isn't the Matsuura clan powerful? With the help of his power, we can defeat the feudal lords of Tsuima, Iki, Hizen and other places.

Soldiers, horses, warships, all gathered together!

"As the saying goes, the mantis stalks the cicada, and the oriole is behind. We don't want to be a mantis, we want to be a oriole, and the soldiers and horses of Lin's command department lie on the tree on Hirado Island and call out Zen to attract the praying mantis!"

"I see!"

"Captain Gaoming!"

"I have learned a lesson from my humble position!"

With Yan Shengsan's words just now, Li Lu, Zhang Guangan, and Qiu Guangyi already roughly understood what Yang Zhen meant. Now that they listened to Yang Zhen's strategies, they immediately beamed with joy and took advantage of the situation to pat Yang Zhen's horse.

fart.

At the same time, no one urged Yang Zhen to advance the army.

Correspondingly, the right wing of the Eastern Expeditionary Army and the various units of the Southern Naval Battalion, who were already tired from the journey, began to seize the last moment before the war after having a clear goal. Cats were in the port barracks near Seogwipo.

Renovate and recharge in preparation for war.

Of course, Yang Zhen himself didn't have much time to rest, because he had a lot to do when he arrived on Yingzhou Island for the first time.

In the next three days, accompanied by Qiu Guangyi and Chen Shunong, he ran around the island almost non-stop.
Chapter completed!