Upon hearing Lu Boring's question, Qin Zhongtang responded: "That's why I rushed to Shuangyu Island. The water here is too muddy and I'm afraid you won't be able to grasp it."
The maritime forces in the East China Sea are complicated and complex. It is no problem for Lu Bo to charge into battle, but other aspects such as dealing with the aftermath are almost uninteresting.
In other words, in this era, no one has a clearer understanding of maritime issues than Qin Zhongtang, so Qin Zhongtang can only deal with it himself.
"How many soldiers can be spared now to attack Lieyu?" Qin Dewei asked.
Lu Bor made some calculations and replied: "Excluding the troops who must stay at Shuangyu Island, we can only mobilize another 1,500 troops to go on the expedition."
Then he added: "Fortunately, Zhongtang brought another thousand people over, otherwise we wouldn't be able to draw out even fifteen hundred people."
Qin Dewei frowned and said, "This is not enough."
According to the intelligence, Xu Dong and Baldy Li went to Lieyu with six to seven hundred people, and according to the principle of reciprocity, Wang Zhi's number should be about the same.
In this way, the total number of bandits on Lieyu on both sides is about 1,500, and they are all the most capable pirates, and their combat effectiveness is probably better than that of the officers and soldiers.
Therefore, it is very difficult to attack Lieyu with 1,500 officers and soldiers.
Lu Ti comforted him and said: "The capture of Shuangyu Island is already a great achievement, and those bereaved dogs wandering around are no longer a concern."
Qin Zhongtang snorted coldly: "The two bandit leaders are at large, but they have not done their full work! They must have their heads sent to thousands of miles of sea to declare the power of the imperial court!"
After "pacifying" Fo Lang, Qin Zhongtang came to the mountain and inspected more than a thousand Han prisoners.
During the attack, the officers and soldiers killed hundreds of bandits in total, and the remaining survivors were these prisoners.
How to deal with these prisoners is also a big problem.
After Qin Dewei thought for a while, he told Lu Bor: "First, identify the bandits in the clerical, accounting, treasury and other positions and give priority to interrogation!
Second, identify the people who have been on the island in recent days, especially if there are any wealthy people from Ningbo Prefecture.
Third, let the bandits report on each other, report those who usually oppress good people and do evil, and kill them on the spot."
Then Qin Dewei asked: "Who is the spy who opened the gate of the bandit camp?"
Lu Boring quickly sent someone to find Xu Hai and brought him to Qin Zhongtang.
"Your name is Xu Hai, and you are Xu Weixue's nephew? You have done well. Do you want to recommend you to one of the 100 households?" Qin Dewei's attitude suddenly changed, like spring breeze turning into rain.
Xu Shi'an and Mr. Xu who were accompanying him suddenly had a premonition that someone else was about to be tricked to death.
In the original history, Xu Hai was also the most famous Japanese pirate leader, and even the largest pirate after Wang Zhi's death.
But at the moment, Xu Hai is just a young man who followed his uncle Xu Wei and learned to fight in the sea, and he has not yet shown his prowess.
Of course, if it weren't for the relationship between uncle and nephew, Xu Weixue would not be able to trust Xu Hai to stay on Shuangyu Island.
After Qin Dewei asked Xu Hai a few questions, he gave instructions: "I promised before that I would support your uncle as the leader of Shuangyu Island after the matter is completed.
Now that your uncle is not here, you should quickly take the ferry and go to Lieyu to report to your uncle!"
Xu Hai replied loudly and excitedly: "Yes!"
"Wait a minute!" Qin Zhongtang stopped Xu Hai and then ordered: "When you arrive at Lieyu, don't make any announcements and quietly tell your uncle the news!"
After watching Xu Hai leave after being ordered, Xu Shi'an said with some anticipation: "I can also be the owner of this island, why should I pretend to be an outsider?"
Qin Dewei scolded: "You are so stupid! After I give you some credit, go back to Nanjing!"
The biggest risk as a speaker on Shuangyu Island is policy risk. If the sea cannot be opened in the future, then the identity of the speaker on Shuangyu Island is an illegal "bandit leader". How can you let Brother Nai do this?
At this time, the Shuangyu Island Pier was tightly guarded by the government and the army, and no ship was allowed to go to sea without permission, in order to prevent the leakage of information.
Xu Hai acted as ordered, so he could naturally take the ferry
Go to sea and go to Lieyu to "report the news." In the past two days, Lieyu has been basically surrounded by the three leaders Xu Dong, Baldy Li and Wang Zhi, and no outsiders are allowed in.
After Xu Hai arrived, he reported his name as Xu Weixue and was able to land.
At this time, the big bosses had finished talking about important matters, finalized the blueprint for the East China Sea for the next ten years, and were holding a banquet on the pier to drink and talk.
Xu Hai's arrival did not attract much attention. It was a normal thing for a nephew to come to see his uncle.
Xu Weixue got up from the banquet, took Xu Hai to find a secluded place nearby, and asked nervously: "Is it done?"
Xu Hai nodded heavily and whispered: "According to the order of Zhongtang, I came to report to my uncle."
Xu Weixue was very excited, but he did not dare to celebrate too obviously and could only clenched his fists tightly.
After his uncle recovered, Xu Hai continued: "Qin Zhongtang also said that if he wants to support his uncle in taking over Shuangyu Island, there may still be two obstacles.
First, the two thieves Xu Qiye and Baldy Li have not been eliminated, and they may become hidden dangers in the future.
Secondly, with Chief Wang Da here, I still have some doubts about whether I will allow you to be independent and whether you will allow your uncle to become the owner of the island."
Xu Weixue raised his eyebrows. These two seemingly invisible obstacles do exist. Why is it so troublesome to be an "island owner"?
Subconsciously, he asked Xu Hai: "Does Qin Zhongtang have any ideas?" Xu Hai shook his head, "Qin Zhongtang didn't say what should be done."
Xu Weixue slapped his forehead in confusion. Without Qin Zhongtang's specific instructions, what should he do? Even if he thought about it in the most extreme way, he would not be able to "rebel" with this little strength.
Before Xu Weixue could come up with something, the banquet seemed to be almost over, so Xu Weixue could only go over to socialize first.
These forces are both cooperative and wary. The two big leaders, Xu Dong and Baldy Li, only rested on their own boats, and the banquet was only held at the pier, and did not go even half a step into the island. In order to avoid being set up by Wang Zhi, who arrived first.
He laid an ambush and made dumplings for them.
Xu Weixue accompanied Wang Zhi and sent Xu and Li to the embarkation point. Then he heard Wang Zhi's instructions: "Tomorrow, Mr. Qi and Mr. Li will return to Shuangyu Island. You can send them back for me and stay here temporarily."
Shuangyu Island."
Xu Dong laughed, pointed at Xu Weixue and said: "He is very good, why don't you come over and help me!"
When Xu Weixue heard this, he broke out in cold sweat.
If he really sends Xu Dong and Baldy Li back to Shuangyu Island tomorrow, when they get there, if they see that their old home has been occupied, will they "turn their anger" on him?
After all, it was their own arrangements for these two people to leave Shuangyu Island. If you think about it carefully, it is easy to think of yourself.
After watching Xu Dong and Xu Guangtou return to the cabin, Xu Weixue turned around and said to Wang Zhi: "Something big has happened. Shuangyu Island has been occupied by soldiers. My nephew Xu Hai just came to deliver a message!"
Wang Zhi, who was somewhat drunk, was stunned and couldn't digest the news for a while.
It took him a long time to come back to his senses and asked: "Really or not? How dare the officers and soldiers go out to sea to attack the island?"
"It's absolutely true." Xu Weixue replied with certainty.
Then Wang Zhi asked suspiciously: "Since Shuangyu Island has been occupied by officers and soldiers, how did your nephew escape?"
Xu Weixue half-truthfully said: "The leader also knows that I set up an inside line in the shogunate, that is, Qin Dewei's nanny brother, so Xu Hai can be safe and sound.
Now Qin Dewei has released Xu Hai to send a message to us, hoping that we will take the heads of Xu and Li and surrender."
After Wang Zhi thought for a moment, he said, "Don't you understand the principle of lips dying and teeth falling cold? If we get rid of Xu and Li, we can be alone."
Secondly, even if you want to submit to the government, you must receive corresponding treatment. Now that the government has said nothing and wants us to draw chestnuts from the fire, it would be too contemptuous of us.
Third, there are hundreds of close followers around Xu and Li. If the trapped beasts fight to the death, we may not be able to kill them. Even if we are lucky enough to succeed, we will suffer heavy losses, which is totally not worth it."
Xu Weixue was a little anxious, but his face remained unchanged.
He asked seductively: "Shuangyu Island is gone, what should we do?"
Wang Zhi suddenly smiled, and his expression suddenly became excited, "There are tens of thousands of islands in the East China Sea. Shuangyu Island is gone. We can find another suitable place to rebuild Shuangyu Island!"
As long as there are still people seeking the sea, Shuangyu Island will be rebuilt successfully, but that is Shuangyu Island that belongs to me, Wang Zhi!
At that time, I will have more confidence to negotiate with the government and get more benefits from the government! Maybe I can become a sea prince!"
Xu Weixue sighed secretly, can your leader Wang's talents and strategies escape the Wuzhishan of Qin Zhongtang?
What should I do now? Have I become an outcast?
Can't? Could it be that a person like Qin Zhongtang, the prime minister and assistant minister, would also deceive himself?
With Qin Zhongtang's character, could it really be that he just started and ended in such a passive way?
At this moment, the man on guard suddenly shouted: "There's something going on! Big ship!"
Wang Zhi and Xu Weixue climbed up to look out together, and sure enough they saw a dozen ships vaguely appearing on the sea.
If there were only ships on the sea, it would not be cause for alarm, but if more than ten ships appeared at the same time, it means that these ships are from the same group, so we must be vigilant.
At this time, the people on the ship at Lieyu Pier also discovered the situation and started to make a commotion.
After that, Xu Dong and Baldy Li immediately sent people from the ship to ask, "What is the condition of these ships?"
Wang Zhi could only reply: "I don't know!"
When the dozen or so ships came closer, those with the best eyesight could see clearly that Wang Zhi's flag was flying on each ship, fluttering on the ship's mast in the sea breeze.
Xu Weixue turned to Wang Zhi and asked, "Has the leader transferred all the people staying on other islands?"
Wang Zhi returned from Japan this time and came to the East China Sea to plant flags and seize territory. Of course, he could not bring only the few hundred people on Lieyu with him.
In order to show sincerity and reassure Xu Dong and Baldy Li, only a few hundred people were left on Lieyu Island, while the other more than a thousand subordinates were scattered on various islands.
So when Xu Weixue saw the ship under the Wang Zhi flag, his first reaction was to transfer manpower from other places?
Not only Xu Weixue, but others probably had similar reactions. Just when everyone was confused, these ships under the banner of Wang Zhi suddenly opened fire.
The muzzles of the cannon were pointed at the ships docked at Lieyu Pier, including the ships of big leaders like Xu Dong and Baldy Li. By chance, one of the cannons even broke the ship's mast.
"Wang Zhi is such a bastard!" Xu Dong and Xu Qiye, who were standing on the deck, lost their leader's demeanor and cursed directly. "Wang Zhi must have deceived us, and then he secretly deployed his troops in the past two days to destroy us.
us!"
Baldy Li shouted: "There are too many ships at sea and they can't get out. Why don't they get off the ship and return to the ground, and directly fight Wang Zhi to the death! If they can capture Wang Zhi, they may still have a chance to survive!"
Xu Dong thought for a while, and realized that this might be his only chance of survival. At present, the opponent's force was obviously more numerous at sea, but on the land of Lieyu, Wang Zhi's manpower was not more than his own, and he could still fight a dozen.
Immediately, the two leaders called on their men to avoid the bombardment, disembarked and landed again, and hundreds of people gathered on the shore.
Then he saw Wang Zhi running over with someone, and shouted loudly not far away: "Master Qi, Master Li, don't get me wrong!"
Misunderstanding***! Baldy Li has always been very fierce, so he immediately drew his sword and walked towards Wang Zhi at once.
There were hundreds of people on both sides, and a melee of thousands of people broke out in an instant.
This is not a fight for face, nor a fight for profit, but a fight of life and death! Crowded on the pier, you and I fight to the death, and the scene was once very bloody.
Wang Zhi shouted to Xu Weixue: "Why don't you come?"
In the usual fights, Xu Weixue and Xu Hai's uncle and nephew were all very brave figures, but today they hid beside him.
Xu Weixue quickly explained: "The scene is too chaotic, and I am afraid that the leader will be injured, so I am here to protect the leader."
Instead, the dozen or so ships under the Wang Zhi flag were left unattended and gradually approached the dock, but they were attacking indiscriminately.
He opened fire on the fighting crowd on the pier, and dozens of people fell to the ground in an instant.
After arriving at the pier, these ships were silent, as if they were passing by to watch the excitement, watching the two sides fighting to the death on the shore.
In the bloody storm, in just a quarter of an hour, only three or four hundred people could still stand.
Groups of officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty wearing red fat jackets suddenly began to pour out from the newly arrived ships. They seemed to be late and came to the fighting scene to clean up the mess.
The officers and soldiers don't know how to fight a tough battle, but they will definitely have no problem beating down a drowned dog.
A huge Qingluo umbrella suddenly opened on the largest bow deck. Qin Zhongtang, who was on his second expedition in his life, sat under the umbrella and looked down at the living and dead people on the shore.
Xu Laosan next to him said with great joy: "Oh my, another great achievement of beheading hundreds of people!"
Qin Dewei responded: "Maybe it can even exceed a thousand!"
Seeing the stalwart figure on the bow, Xu Weixue was like a tired bird returning to its nest. He immediately dropped Wang Zhi, waved his hands enthusiastically and ran over.
They were almost beaten to death by the soldiers guarding the bottom of the ship. After getting Qin Zhongtang's signal, Xu Weixue and Xu Hai were brought to the deck.
Looking at Xu Weixue, Qin Zhongtang said in surprise: "Oh, you are still alive? Then you have passed the test."
Xu Laosan suddenly shuddered. If he hadn't been Qin's brother-in-law, he would have died on the road to the test, right? Reincarnation is indeed the greatest technical job.
