"He Yishi, please quickly lead our troops to Taiwan," Gao Minggui said anxiously to He Bin.
He Bin said, "Commander, don't be anxious. We have to wait a few more days to send out troops. April 1st is the perfect time to enter Lu'ermen."
"Oh, why is this?"
"Commander, the Dutch have scuttled several merchant ships in the southern port of Damuan Bay, blocking the channel and making it impassable. You can only enter through the Lu'er Gate in the north of Damuan Bay. The channel is only open on the first and sixteenth day of every month.
It is accessible to large boats, because there have been strong tides in the past two days, and the water level is five or six feet higher than usual. All boats, large and small, can enter. It is useless to go early, you have to wait until the first day of April."
"That's it".
The Ming army waited for the first day of April to land, but on the night of March 30th, there was a big storm on the sea, and the waves crashed on the shore.
Gao Minggui and Zheng Cai were unmoved and ordered the sails to be raised to sea overnight.
Generals Yang Quan, Cai Xin, Yang Chaodong, Wang Daxiong, Chen Mang, and Chen Ze all reported: "The wind is strong and the waves are dangerous, please postpone sailing."
Navy Commander Chen Qice also advised: "Commander, Deputy Commander, and the generals are right. Why not wait half a month for the wind and waves to subside before setting off?"
Zheng Cai shouted: "No, soldiers need to be quick. If we wait another half month, our army's whereabouts will inevitably be detected by red-haired ghosts. Moreover, sea transportation is inconvenient. If it continues, our army will be short of food."
Gao Minggui said impassionedly: "Although the wind and waves are strong, God's will is there. If God's will is with me, after we set sail, the wind and waves will naturally be calm. Let's go!"
Order to set sail immediately.
All the generals were impressed by the noble spirit and returned to their own units one after another and set sail. The Ming army braved the wind and waves to advance from Citrus Island in the Penghu Islands.
Strangely enough, it seems that God's will is really clear. As soon as the sail was set, the wind and waves immediately became much lighter.
After fighting the wind and waves for half a night, 25,000 Ming troops and more than 300 ships sailed outside Luermen Harbor at dawn on April 1. The strong wind and waves also had its advantages. They did not encounter a single Dutch sentry ship along the way.
The Dutch at that time knew nothing about the arrival of the Ming army.
Gao Minggui secretly shouted: Mazu bless you!
Chen Ze was ordered to conduct a guerrilla attack. He led 500 soldiers, transferred to a small boat, and boarded the northern end of the island from Luermen. He inspected the terrain and sent excellent divers into the inland sea of Taijiang River to reconnoiter the situation of the Dutch army.
As a result, Chen Ze discovered a castle built by the Dutch on the last island of the northern route. He did not dare to alert the enemy and sent someone to report it to Gao Minggui.
Gao Minggui asked He Bin in surprise: "He Yishi, didn't you say that because the area around Lu'ermen is a natural hazard, the red-haired Yi people did not send troops to guard it?"
He Bin was happy: "Don't worry, Commander, this castle is called Hot Castle. It was built by the red-haired ghost when he first arrived in Taiwan. After it was completed, it was repeatedly hit by typhoons, so it was only temporarily stationed. When the storm got big, it withdrew."
The wind and waves are very strong today, and I expect this fort to be empty."
Gao Minggui ordered Chen Ze to send someone to check, and it turned out to be an empty fortress. He was overjoyed and ordered Yang Chaodong to lead three thousand naval divisions to station at Luermen to contain the red-haired barbarian warships and defend the last island on the northern line; Chen Ze was ordered to lead two land divisions Qian, stationed at the northern end of the island; he led an army of 20,000 to sail into the Taijiang River along the Luermen Channel.
??
On the wall of the Chican City on the east side of the Taijiang River, Captain Banan Shiding, the commander of the Dutch Chican City, was observing the distance with a telescope. The Chican City under his feet was built temporarily because he heard that the Ming Army was coming. , the position of commander is also temporarily appointed by the Council of Senior Members.
Lieutenant Aldorp saw that Banan Shiding was holding a telescope and was still silent. He asked curiously: "Your Excellency, Commander, what are you looking at?"
"I'm looking at the city of Relanja in the east. What a strong castle! Its artillery fire can block the southern channel without blind spots, and it defends the Taijiang River from the west and the east of Chican City. I'm very curious about how the people of the Ming Dynasty did. Log in?"
"Your Excellency, will the people of the Ming Dynasty land from the Northern Channel?"
"That creek? Unless the Ming people are willing to let their warships run aground and let the soldiers swim ashore," Banan Shiding laughed.
Lieutenant Aldorp scratched his head in embarrassment, feeling that he had asked a very ridiculous question.
??
"Commander, the front is Heliao Port (today's Heliao Port Street, Tainan City). This is the most suitable place for the army to land," He Bin said to Gao Minggui.
"Landing", Gao Minggui issued a military order, and then said: "Our army's rations are only enough to last more than a month, so we must take Chichan City immediately."
"Putchi", He Bin laughed, "Don't worry, Commander, we will have food when we arrive at Heliao Port."
"Oh, why?"
"You will know after the commander logs in."
Gao Minggui, Zheng Cai, Chen Qice, Yang Quan, Cai Xin, Wang Daxiong, and Chen Mang all landed one after another.
"Enemy attack!"
Yang Quan, who was on guard, suddenly roared.
Gao Minggui took a look through his telescope and saw that there were at least tens of thousands of enemies scattered all over the mountains and plains. He was shocked and ordered his men to line up in formation.
He Bin laughed: "Commander, don't be surprised. I have secretly sent people to contact the chiefs and elders of various local communities. This must be the Gaoshan people. The Han people have sent you military rations."
Gao Minggui took a look, and sure enough, all the people who came were unkempt, wearing short clothes and barefoot. Some were pushing carts, and some were carrying grain bags. They were both Han and Alpine people. As for the number of people, according to books written by the Dutch later. It is recorded that "the Ming army's landing operation was assisted by 25,000 strong men among the Chinese residents" and "the residents of Formosa rushed out to greet them and used trucks and other tools to help them land."
The taxes levied by the Dutch in Taiwan were so high that neither the Han nor the Gaoshan people could survive. When they heard that the Ming Dynasty was coming, they naturally supported it wholeheartedly and provided food and drink.
When the army set out, Zhu Hengjia had already ordered the establishment of the Chief Envoy Department and the Inspector General Department in Taiwan.
Gao Minggui hurriedly took Yu Tunan, the governor of Taiwan appointed by Zhu Hengjia, Qiu Zizhang, the chief envoy, and Zhang Chongfu, the inspector general, to meet with the chiefs of Xingang Society, Mujialiuwan Society, Madou Society, Jialilin Society and other chiefs, most of whom were Han elders.
He was under house arrest in the Governor's Mansion by Fort Fehr. Not many people came, but there was still an endless stream of Han people who supported the army.
Looking at the hopeful eyes, Gao Minggui's blood surged, and he announced to the chiefs and elders of the Gaoshan and Han people: "From now on, the exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes imposed by the red-haired ghosts will be abolished. Taiwanese people only need to pay land taxes.
Just adjust the business tax appropriately."
"Long live! Long live! Long live!"
There was great joy everywhere.
After appeasing the people of all ethnic groups in Taiwan, Gao Minggui began to issue military orders.
"Wang Daxiong, Chen Mang, and you led five thousand soldiers and horses and immediately established a beachhead along the Taijiang River, preparing to attack Chichan City from the side.
"The last general takes orders."
"Zheng Cai, Yang Quan, and you will lead five thousand troops to ambush near Qikunyu to cut off the connection between Chican City and Renanzhe City. If the red-haired ghost reinforcements are found in Renanzhe City, they will ambush them."
.
"The last general takes orders."
"Chen Qice, Cai Xin, and you led 7,000 naval troops to patrol the Taijiang River. When they found the red-haired ghost's warships, they all sank them."
"The last general takes command!"
Gao Minggui smiled again and said: "I have led three thousand soldiers and horses to support you."