Chapter one hundred and sixty-five ten thousand catties of big fish
In addition to the garrison on the islands, Guo Dajing also did not forget to transport three thousand shi of grain to the Dongjiang headquarters.
Although smuggling trade with Jianlu could help Dongjiang Town survive the difficulties, he was heartily opposed to any act of capitalizing on the enemy, even if it was very profitable.
As for where he got the money to buy food, let's make it up! Lin Tiansheng was already sworn brothers and business partners with him, so it was not his duty to cover up his lies.
Yishang, whether it's on credit or loan, the Lin family has given selfless help to Dongjiang Town. There should be rewards, and I guess Lin Tiansheng won't care how much benefit Mao Wenlong can give.
In the early morning, on the pier, the first batch of hunting and picking troops and people were ready to board ships one after another, with the target being the area around Hongzui Fort.
"Pay attention to safety and don't take risks." Guo Dajing told Han Zhong, "We must also protect the people who pick."
As the leader of the team, Han Zhong selected three hundred soldiers who were good at operating in the mountains and forests, and even some were hunters, and brought enough food supplies and hunting equipment.
Zhao Qingshan took the foundry workshop to rush out a batch of animal traps. The big ones can trap wild boars and wolves, and the small ones can trap pheasants and hares. The effect is hard to estimate, but it is a labor-saving method.
"Don't worry, sir." Han Zhong bowed and saluted, "I will board the ship and set off."
Guo Dajing nodded and watched Han Zhong step on the gangplank and board the ship.
Looking once, Guo Dajing found an acquaintance standing on the boat, waving to the crowd below to see him off.
Old Yaotou, whether it is ginseng or herbs, they are all needed on the island.
Yao Xin crossed his legs and waved vigorously in the crowd until the ship left the dock and his grandfather could no longer be seen.
She also wanted to go, but her grandfather would never agree. And the first batch of people to land were carefully selected. They were the front line and had to build houses and camps, which was the most difficult. Therefore, none of them were women.
"I signed up for the second batch, should it be approved?" Yao Xin was not sure, but he was looking forward to it, "I hope I can see grandpa in a month."
Even without hunting or picking, Guo Dajing can guarantee the food supply for the soldiers and civilians of Guanglu Island for more than half a year. What's more, he still has money and can go to nearby Shandong to buy food.
But it is necessary not only to have food in the warehouse, but also to let the military and civilians feel the tense atmosphere, cooperate fully, and work together to tide over the difficulties.
Guo Dajing believes that after this food and salary cutoff, the cohesion and centripetal force of the island's military and civilians will be greatly enhanced. And his prestige will also be greatly improved.
Returning to the military camp, Guo Dajing checked the report submitted by the fishery manager on the island. Two medium-sized fishing boats had been equipped with winches, weaved trawl nets, and started fishing at sea.
After three days, the effect is not obvious, but the output is increasing every day. Moreover, it is better than before using the trawl net.
This is also in line with Guo Dajing's pre-estimate. No matter how advanced the netting equipment is and if you accumulate insufficient experience, it will never be worse than before.
In fact, Mao Wenlong should be asked to send more navy ships to participate in fishing operations. Again, idleness is idleness, it can create some benefits, and it can also have some effect on alleviating the shortage of food and salary.
Guo Dajing somewhat understood why the Dongjiang Army in history had few military operations since the seventh year of the Apocalypse. They were just busy working to fill their bellies, so how could they still have food, supplies and thoughts to fight?
If I didn't have the powerful weapon of space, I would probably have no choice but to look at the sky and sigh, saying that there is nothing I can do! As for next year's Jinzhou operation, it will also be in vain.
Mobilizing and gathering tens of thousands of troops and planning to fight for a month or two without thousands of dan of food is simply wishful thinking.
"Sir," the soldiers went inside to report, "Qin Dahai will meet you outside."
Coming so fast?! Guo Dajing was a little surprised and let him in immediately.
However, Qin Dahai did not set out after receiving the letter. Instead, after catching the whale and processing it, he personally sent it to Guanglu Island to report the good news to Guo Dajing.
"Sir." Qin Dahai entered the house, saluted and then said with a big smile: "I finally caught that big fish weighing tens of thousands of kilograms in my humble job! A big fish weighing more than 20,000 kilograms.
There are nearly ten thousand kilograms of fat, bones, and meat."
Guo Dajing's spirit was lifted, and he quickly laid his hands down and said, "Quick, sit down and talk."
When Qin Dahai talked about hunting whales, his excitement was palpable. He made gestures with his hands and spoke in vernacular, describing the whole process in a thrilling way.
This isn't whale hunting, it's a life-and-death struggle with monsters!
Guo Dajing knew about whaling, but he had never seen it. He was just talking about it theoretically. Therefore, he listened with great interest, and from time to time he added a few words or laughed heartily.
"More than two thousand kilograms of oil have been boiled, and the meat has been marinated and delivered to you." Qin Dahai rubbed his hands and chuckled: "Everyone's experience has increased a lot, and we will be able to catch more often in the future. Well, the humble position is very useful.
confidence."
"I also have confidence in you." Guo Dajing leaned into his chair with a smile, slowly exhaled a long breath, and said seriously: "You must also know that your salary has been cut off, right?"
Qin Dahai put away his smile, nodded vigorously, his face became heavy, and said: "It has been almost three months, is there going to be a famine?"
Guo Dajing shook his head and said: "I am doing everything possible to raise food so that no one will starve to death. Fishing, hunting, picking, etc. Now the entire island's military and civilians are taking action, working together to tide over the difficulties."
Qin Dahai thought for a while and said: "Sir, don't worry about the fishing fleet. We will go to sea more and catch more to share your worries."
Guo Dajing smiled and nodded, and said: "I sent a letter asking you to come, but I may have missed it. It just so happens that I can make it clear now and save time."
Taking the drawings of the trawl net, Guo Dajing described the improved fishing method in detail, and finally added: "Several boats have been renovated on the island. You can take people out with the boat to master trawl fishing. The boat you are on is parked at the dock.
, the winch will be installed by the workshop.”
After a pause, he continued: "After you go back, all fishing boats will be renovated. I will ask Marshal Mao to send more boats. The fishing industry will grow bigger and bigger and become the backbone of Dongjiang Town."
Qin Dahai nodded repeatedly and said: "I understand my humble position, please rest assured."
"Of course I'm relieved to leave the fishing fleet to you." Guo Dajing stood up and said with a smile: "You were thoughtful enough to bring the whale bones. Come on, let's go to the pier and see something new and learn something new."
Qin Dahai grinned and felt very beautiful when he was praised.
On the pier, more and more people came after hearing the news. They looked at the huge fish bones hanging on the boat, pointed, talked, and occasionally exclaimed.
Rong'er took Sister Li Xiu to catch the sea. When she heard the news, she rushed to see the novelty.
"This, this is a fish?" Ronger's eyes widened, staring at the fish bones in disbelief, "Isn't it a man-eating monster in the sea?"
Sister Li Xiu was also dumbfounded. She heard about the big fish, but it was so big that it could swallow a person in one bite.
"I saw it once when I was out at sea. Although it was quite far away, I knew it was bigger than a boat, so I quickly avoided it."
A fisherman talked about his experience with emotion, and there was something showy about it in his tone. No one else had even seen it, so this was his experience.
"Look at this skeleton, it weighs tens of thousands of pounds, right?" Someone clicked his tongue.
"More than 20,000 kilograms." The sailor who came with the boat said loudly, his face full of pride. "I took the boat for hundreds of miles and was hit by three giant arrows before I succeeded in hunting."
Coaxing, there was another noise in the crowd, and the eyes looking at the sailors were immediately full of admiration and respect.
"Master Guo is here." Someone with sharp eyes shouted. People immediately paid attention and consciously moved out of the way.
Sister Li Xiu pulled Ronger down, quietly retreated behind the crowd, and then sneaked away.
In front of everyone, Sister Li Xiu didn't want Guo Dajing to see her and said hello to her. She still had a grudge against her mutilated hand and had not completely gotten rid of the shadow.
When Guo Dajing saw his wife and Rong'er slipping away, he just smiled faintly and rode through the path that the crowd had taken.
On the big boat leaning against the pier, there is a whale skeleton hanging. It must have been broken when the meat was cut and the oil was scraped, and it was reconnected with a rope.
But this small flaw does not affect the shock and impact that the huge skeleton brings to people.
Guo Dajing looked up and pursed his lips.
Whale bones are also a good thing. It is easiest to grind them into powder and it is very effective in fertilizing the fields. In addition——
Guo Dajing suddenly thought of a way to hunt. He used whale bones to make a small trap, which was very simple and easy to use.
"Very good." Glancing at Qin Dahai beside him, Guo Dajing praised: "Please keep this skeleton, I want more people to see it."
"Yes, sir."
Not only the soldiers and civilians on the island, Guo Dajing also wanted to take advantage of the opportunity of sending whale meat to surprise and shock the people on other islands. Especially the shareholders who were on board ships and people were more motivated after seeing the big harvest.
Close to the sea, the islands occupied by Dongjiang Town form a long chain, covering a vast sea area. Developing fishing into one of the pillar industries is not just nonsense by Guo Dajing, but there are sufficient conditions.
Guo Dajing has already calculated nearly 10,000 kilograms of pickled whale meat and other fish. Each island will receive a thousand kilograms of whale meat for a taste, and Pi Island will receive two thousand kilograms of marinated whale meat, and the rest will come from Guanglu Island.
If you break it down further, each family can get at least one or two kilograms, and the soldiers can also make tooth sacrifices.
It doesn’t matter how much, it reflects that the military and civilians share weal and woe and enhances centripetal force and cohesion. Of course, Guo Dajing also wants to gain a good reputation and improve his prestige.
Striking while the iron was hot, Guo Dajing announced to everyone on the pier that the whale meat would be divided. Each family would get a pound first to taste the freshness.
There were many people on the pier, cheers rang out loudly, and the people saluted and thanked Guo Dajing. The simple and sincere joy and gratitude from the heart made Guo Dajing excited, and he smiled and waved frequently.
What is the purpose of fighting against the Jianqi and pacifying Liao and exterminating the slaves? Isn’t it just to allow the people, including their own relatives, to return to their homes, live and work in peace and contentment, and no longer suffer from the pain of war and displacement, and no longer have to worry about cold and hunger?
One pound, I will save it for waiting for my grandpa to come back. Yao Xin was also among the crowd, and he was also jumping up and down with joy.
Eating is the most basic human need; hunger can make people crazy.
Guo Dajing can fully understand the feelings of the people because he has also experienced that suffering.
Unfortunately, my ability is limited and I cannot save more people from suffering.
……………..
The Pidao headquarters responded very quickly. After receiving Guo Dajing's food and fish, Mao Wenlong immediately wrote a reply and sent ten navy ships to join the fishing fleet.
It is already November, and the situation in the court has become completely obvious. It is a foregone conclusion that Wei Zhongxian will be overthrown and liquidated.
First, the eunuch party fell into internal strife. Yang Suoxiu and Yang Weiyuan first attacked Cui Chengxiu to test the emperor's mind. The chief ministers Lu Chengyuan, Qian Yuanchou, and Yuanwai Lang Shi Gongsheng all discussed Wei Zhongxian.
Next, Jiaxing Gongsheng Qian Jiazheng impeached Wei Zhongxian for his ten crimes. The emperor summoned Wei Zhongxian and asked the internal officials to read it to him.
The signal was so obvious that officials immediately understood, and memorials to impeach Wei Zhongxian immediately became as dense as snow flakes.
Wei Zhongxian knew that he could not escape his guilt, so he wanted to make progress by retreating, so he resigned from the Supreme Court, and even donated all his assets and returned to his hometown.
Chongzhen borrowed Po Xia's donkey, agreed to all his requests, and first ordered him to guard the funeral of Emperor Tianqi, and then sent Wei Zhongxian to Fengyang for resettlement.
At this point, Wei Zhongxian's life has entered a countdown, and he has become a lost dog. Life and death can only depend on the emperor's thoughts.
With the fall of Wei Zhongxian, a major reshuffle began in the court. Although Chongzhen had not yet completely rectified the eunuch party, he had successively activated officials from the Donglin Party who had been suppressed for a long time in preparation for the investigation of the Wei party.
To reciprocate the favor, Donglin Party officials were full of joy and praised Chongzhen as "a saint".
Holy man, how ridiculous!
A saint who cut off food and pay, and didn't care about the lives of soldiers and civilians on the front line? A saint who increased donations and taxes, starved to death by thousands of people in a disaster year, and forced countless people to rise up?
Guo Dajing put down the newspaper, sneered, took Mao Wenlong's letter, read it carefully again, and fell into deep thought.
Mao Wenlong had gone to the imperial court many times to report the difficulties in Dongjiang Town and to request for food and salary support. However, the memorials were like a sea of mud and there was no response at all.
Resentment was building up in Mao Wenlong's chest, and Guo Dajing could see it from the words in the letter.
In history, Mao Wenlong did two major things because of this. One was to conduct smuggling trade with Hou Jin, and the other was to convict Denglai.
Guo Dajing did not approve of these two major events, although his hatred for the imperial court and Chongzhen was growing day by day.
However, the smuggling trade with Hou Jin not only supported the enemy, but also gave others leverage; and the soldier Denglai demonstrated to the court was a taboo against the feudal emperor.
Before Dongjiang Town had the strength to develop independently, Guo Dajing did not want to get too stalemate with the court.
Just like the Denglai sea ban, it has strangled the lifeblood of Dongjiang Town. If the imperial court also blocks ships heading to Dongjiang Town in other coastal areas, the results will be devastating.
Adhere to the path of self-reliance, but try not to break with the court. Guo Dajing knew that this was not easy, but he still had to fight for it with all his strength.
Therefore, he also told some truths in his letters to Mao Wenlong. For example, he exaggerated the silver he received from Zhao Guang to ten thousand taels, and he also bought all the grain.