More and more news about Xinhui spread to Xiangshan. In the senses of local gentry and common people, the feudal soldiers were increasingly equated with cannibal monsters.

The dish of Confucian bacon has spread like wildfire in Guangdong, and everywhere it goes there is rumbling news. Xinhui is just the starting point of the radiation, and the nearby Xiangshan is not the end of the rumor, not even a stop. From here, head north

It spread to Shunde and crossed the Lingding Ocean to the east. It was well known to the gentry and common people in Xin'an and Dongguan. It also inevitably spread to Macau in the south. It frightened the Portuguese Macau Council and quickly invested in the reinforcement of a round of St. Paul's Fort to suppress the panic.

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The Portuguese in Macau theoretically rented land for trading and docking merchant ships. Not only did they have to pay rent to Guangdong every year, the local administration and judiciary were also subordinate to the Xiangshan County Government.

The Ming and Qing Dynasties were fighting for each other in Guangdong. Although they were more inclined to the Ming court, which had long-term cooperation through the Jesuits, the Qing army was stronger, and neutrality was their usual posture. Even the four men of Chen Kai

They had bloodletted the Qing army several times over the years, and even gained control of the Pearl River. However, regardless of the strength comparison between the two sides, they remained the same, fearing that a slight deviation would become an excuse for the Qing court to launch an attack in the future.

However, now that Li Dingguo's army is sweeping across western Guangdong, Chen Kai not only played a decisive role in the Battle of Xinhui, but also took advantage of the situation to capture Xiangshan County. Macau and the Zheng Group have had relatively frequent conflicts in recent years.

For economic exchanges, if you don't send someone to Xinhui to make friends, you have to go to Xiangshan to meet Chen Kai.

"Dear Chen, I heard that you created another miracle this time."

The visitor was the Portuguese gentleman who had accompanied him back to Zhongzuo to meet Zheng Chenggong. He set off from Macau and arrived in Xiangshan County very quickly. When he met Chen Kai, the gentleman was very enthusiastic, especially because he was used to Europeans.

His kind words and words made all the guards present stunned.

"Jose, do you really believe the rumor that a city wall like Xinhui can be brought down with one shot?"

"If it were anyone else, maybe I wouldn't even be interested in listening. But dear Chen, you are a hero that even the great His Majesty John IV has praised highly. You are a hero of the civilized world. Heroes always have abilities and abilities that are different from ordinary people.

Performance, I always have to be a little skeptical."

Joao IV was called a restorer by the Portuguese, and the Jesuits, who had close ties with the Macau Council, were also staunch supporters of Joao IV in Portugal. The last time this Portuguese gentleman traveled with him, he had

Chen Kai talked about Portugal's struggle for independence in the past few years and compared China and Portugal to each other.

With the last rescue in Guangzhou, Chen Kai's name spread not only in China, but also in Nanyang and even Europe with the exchange of merchant ships. As for whether Joao IV was like this?

As I said, Chen Kai is unknown, but judging from the historical attitude of João IV towards Emperor Yongli borrowing troops from the European Vatican, at least he would not give Jose the possibility of confusing right and wrong.

In fact, Chen Kai has no interest in what the Portuguese king thinks. The small talk here is just to enhance the atmosphere for the following talks. The Portuguese representatives are like this, and Chen Kai is also happy to do so, and the two sides talk freely.

After talking about past events, we talked about the current war.

"These Tatars are probably even more cruel than the Moors. The Lord will never tolerate this disgusting cannibalism!"

Regarding the cannibalism incident in Xinhui, Jose was very angry. Chen Kai couldn't help but sneered at the subject of this sentence, but he didn't show it. He only said that it was not in line with the saint's teachings on benevolence.

, no different from animals, that’s the end of it.

"José, I don't tell anyone secretly. When you come here this time, it won't be as simple as reminiscing about old times."

There was no hesitation in Chen Kai's words. Jose probably had enough pleasantries and did not show any embarrassment about it. He directly followed the resolution of the Macau Council and started talking with Chen Kai in detail.

According to him, Portugal is still more inclined to Ming Ting. He came here this time to explain the exchanges between the two parties in the past few years and resolve misunderstandings between them. As for further cooperation or anything else, it is

Not even a little bit.

"Actually, there is no need to say more about this. The Tatars are powerful and the country is in danger. In recent years, even the vassals of Korea, Ryukyu, and Annan have changed their clans. If you can strictly maintain neutrality, both the country and I will understand. What will happen in the future?

The days are still long and there are plenty of opportunities for cooperation, so there is no need for this."

After the Zheng Group split and Zheng Chenggong reunified, it was Chen Kai who contacted Macau for cooperation. The two parties initially made an agreement to purchase artillery and expand trade volume, but as Shang Kexi put pressure on Macau, the artillery trading volume dropped sharply.

To the point where it can be ignored, the trade volume has also declined significantly with the establishment of the Guangdong Province. The relationship between the two parties has been lukewarm in the past two years, but this time, Chen Kai heard that

, I just want to show a smile before placing a bet, and I don’t intend to care about anything. It’s nothing more than a show of goodwill, hoping that Macau will continue to maintain a neutral attitude. As for things that are enemies of the Qing court, it doesn’t matter.

I don't need their help.

"Dear Chen, thank you for your understanding."

It has been fourteen years since Portugal theoretically regained its independence, but it has always been wary of not being recognized by the European countries and the Holy See. For this reason, adhering to the principle that the enemy of the enemy is a friend, through the Thirty Years' War, Portugal

He made great efforts to make friends with Spain's enemies, but achieved little results. Even the alliance with Britain came at a great price.

This situation inevitably affects the Portuguese overseas. The reality is that they are just rams surrounded by wolves, and they have to rely on their horns to protect themselves. In this way, one less wolf or one more wolf may be a problem for them.

There is a difference between life and death.

"At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the only people who decided China's future were the Chinese themselves. Others, such as the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Spanish, and the British, were all negligible. The future of this country lies in the sea, but now it is dominated by the sea.

The war on the mainland determines. Only by basing ourselves on the present can we embrace the future."

The conversation was very pleasant, and Jose left on the same day. When Chen Kai recalled the exchange between the two, he remembered that he had heard people hypothesize about the idea of ​​establishing a country overseas for the Zheng Group. But now that he thinks about it,

Without the manpower, material resources, and financial support of the mother country, just moving the border and banning the sea brought the Zheng Group back to its original shape. When they arrived in Nanyang, they faced the Western colonists, and there was also a group behind them who could wipe out the anti-Qing forces.

The Qing court, which would rather cede land, would end up with an enhanced version of the Lanfang Republic at best.

"First of all, we still have to deal with the Manchus, otherwise there will be no future."

After thinking about it, he returned to the starting point, and Chen Kai did not stop dispatching the fleet and the army. As Xiangshan descended, Chen Kai left Zhongquan Town to sit here and let all the rest of the troops board the ship.

After setting sail from Xiangshan County, the army did not return to Hong Kong Island, but crossed the Pearl River Estuary and arrived at Xin'an County on the southern east bank of the Pearl River, landing in Xixiang along the coast.

Here, as early as the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it was the seat of Dongguan County and Baoan County. In the Tang Dynasty, the center of the area west of Huizhou, east of the Pearl River, and south of the Dongjiang River was transferred to the later Dongguan County. Since the Tang Dynasty,

Bao'an County no longer exists, and it has been subordinate to Dongguan County for a long time. It was not until the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty that it was redivided into a county.

The head is where the Dongguan Guard Qianhusuo City was established in the early Ming Dynasty.

In theory, there were 112 warships and 2,000 soldiers stationed here during the Ming Dynasty. It was known as "the government office outside Humen and the screen of the provincial capital".

But now, things are different from the past. Chen Kai has been bleeding the Guangdong Navy over and over again. The limited boats are also docked at the south dock of Guangzhou and shivering. There is a town of 3,000 green camps here, also because of Chen Kai

It was specially set up because it occupied Hong Kong Island.

After the army landed, they went directly south towards Xin'an County. The Green Camp there had already set up a beacon tower in Xixiang. Once the Ming fleet was discovered, they would light up the beacon early.

Chen Kai knew this very well. He specifically blocked the road leading to Dongguan. At the same time, he also arranged for Houjin Town stationed on Hong Kong Island to land on the Kowloon River and advance from south to north. It was a double attack.

situation.

After the failure of the Qing army's last raid on Hong Kong Island, the south of Luoxi was already undefended. Houjin Town advanced very quickly, but the Luohu Bridge on Luoxi was demolished by the Qing army, forcing Chen Bin to build it

Pontoon. Chen Bin wasted time, but the troops heading south also had a force of 7,000 troops from five towns. They rushed straight to Xin'an County. They were not afraid of the green camp soldiers. Unfortunately, when they arrived, they discovered that they

It was still too late. As soon as Xin'an Town learned that Chen Kai's army had landed in Xixiang, they turned northeast without hesitation and had already disappeared without a trace.

"The Tatars do not want to be defeated by the king's army one by one, so they have to give up some cities that are easily besieged to preserve their vitality."

Xin'an County is not far from Luoxi. Turning northeast, it is likely to go to Chigang. For this reason, Chen Kai sent Wang Qifeng and his cavalry to explore, and they actually found it in Chigang.

Traces of the Qing army. However, the traces there can already be regarded as a thing of the past. Wang Qifeng's vanguard troops watched with their own eyes the rear troops in Xin'an Town continued to move further northeast in an orderly manner, without even looking back.

Look back.

"Fu Jun, if we continue to the northeast, the Tatars are going to Huizhou Fucheng."

Wang Qifeng was still on his way back, but the news was sent back as quickly as possible. Li Jianjie was most familiar with the situation in Guangdong, so he immediately spoke and expressed his speculation, which was echoed by the generals. However,

It is hard to say whether the Qing army first fled to Huizhou Fucheng and then entered Dongjiang to Dongguan or even Guangzhou.

"Then, Fujun, will our army continue to advance towards Dongguan?"

According to the original plan, after dividing the troops with Li Dingguo, the army would go down to Xiangshan first and then to Xin'an. With these two places, Chen Kai's road from the transit station in Hong Kong to the Xinhui front line would be smoother. The next step is naturally

The plan was to advance north, seize Dongguan, and further encroach on the Qing army's control area. However, the current situation is that Xin'an Town fled north, and the army's effective strength was preserved. In addition to Dongguan Town, the six thousand army, Chen Kai only relied on

The advantages of the six towns of Fubiao, Qianchong Town, Houchong Town, Houjin Town, Tieqi Town, and Huqi Town in hand are not obvious.

Zhou Quanbin expressed his concerns, and the generals naturally knew how to solve it - if they wanted speed, they would just attack Dongguan County immediately and capture Dongguan County before Xin'an Town, which was still on the detour, arrived; if they wanted stability, they would

It is necessary to wait until the follow-up troops led by Ke Chenshu follow up and have sufficient strength. If they go to Dongguan, the Qing troops in the two towns will definitely not be enough.

"It's already the sixth day of November. It stands to reason that Lord Zhou and Admiral Ke will be able to reach Hong Kong in a few days."

"There is no definite answer for things at sea."

In an era without radios, networks, and satellites, Chen Kai had no way of determining where the follow-up troops were marching. But no matter where they marched, at least the plan would continue to be implemented. Nothing more than that, for the next step

There is an inevitable hidden worry in the days.

"According to the original plan, the army will rest for three days before advancing towards Dongguan."

It was decided that three days later, the army steadily advanced along the east bank of the Pearl River towards Dongguan County. Along the way, there were nearly ten thousand troops after all, and not even a single Qing army was seen. At most, only Qing soldiers were seen.

The army's beacon towers along the river were constantly lit, heading towards Dongguan and the capital city of Guangzhou.

When they advanced to Dongguan County, it was already November 16th. The army moved steadily and the speed was not very fast, but one safety was enough. However, this time when they approached Dongguan County, the local defenders were not like those in Xin'an Town.

After escaping like that, they used these days to strengthen their defense. Looking from outside the city, one can clearly see the dense defenses on the city, as well as the exquisite wood on the plum blossom stakes below the city that were recently inserted into the soil.

Less visible moisture.

"This Dongguan seems to be the eastern defense line of the Tatars defending Guangzhou City."

Naturally, there is a limit to shrinking troops. It is unwise to shrink to the core blindly. I don’t talk about the problem of shrinking strategic depth. I only say that the peripheral defense lines cannot be used to effectively consume the enemy’s effective strength and win more for the core.

Time is already a huge problem.

The Qing army's strict defense in Xinhui lies in this point. Now Chen Kai encountered another Xinhui, but he was not in a hurry to attack the city. Instead, he set up camp step by step, cleared the plum blossom piles outside the city, and built an offensive

They equipped the city with equipment and even dug a tunnel in the south of the city, completely replicating the tactics used to capture Xinhui.
Chapter completed!