There is no doubt about the naturalization of E Honglue and others.
Just as people in later generations cannot reject America, the Ming Dynasty of this era also attracted people all over the world.
Being able to become people of the Ming Dynasty and having a bright future, these Portuguese vagabonds naturally know how to choose.
Zuo Menggeng knew very well the principle of buying horse bones with a thousand pieces of gold, and took great care in this matter. Not only did he make an announcement to the entire army, he also personally held a grand welcome ceremony and personally issued household registrations to E Honglue and others.
From now on, except for their slightly different appearance, they are pure Chinese.
Holding household registration documents in their hands, E Honglue and others were so happy that they almost fainted.
Especially when Zuo Menggeng announced their duties, their hearts were completely attached to this land.
E Honglue served as the vice president of the Naval Academy, with the rank of colonel. He was responsible for the daily operation and management of the military academy, and was also responsible for the training of the first batch of naval officers.
Ami Er serves as the dean of the Naval Academy, with the same military rank of colonel. His current job is to lead the team to turn the fourth-level battleship into reality.
Wu Ruowang was appointed as the director of the shipyard. Although he did not hold a military position, he was still a high-ranking official in the administrative department.
The other Portuguese people have also made appropriate arrangements according to their abilities and talents.
With generous salaries, full respect, and most importantly, honor and power, these Portuguese people soon forgot their past identities, and their enthusiasm for work put many people to shame.
After all, this was a period when the concept of country had just been formed, and Europeans' national concept was already relatively casual, so naturalization went very smoothly.
Zuo Mengeng believes that with this good start, it will no longer be difficult to attract talents from all over the world in the future.
The generals who were far away in Liaodong finally waited for the return of Huang Long and the others.
"Headquarters, have you ever found out the truth?"
Huang Long didn't speak, and there was no need for him to speak.
There was still shock in Shang Kexi's expression, and he sighed: "Everyone, don't risk your troops. Zuo Menggeng is really no match for us. All the firearms in his army have the ability to destroy the heaven and the earth."
After listening to Shang Kexi's eloquent description, the generals in Liaodong were as if they were listening to a book from heaven and were doubtful.
There is no way, the new army's weapons are really beyond their knowledge.
Seeing that everyone didn't believe him, Shen Shikui sighed: "We are all like grasshoppers on a rope, so what's the point of deceiving you? Zuo Menggeng has become a thing. From what I see, the court can do nothing about him."
"
When he said this, Wei Luan and others somewhat believed it.
Today's Liaodong has long become a land of alienation. People like them have no way out other than to stay together for warmth.
Xiang Zuolin asked on behalf of everyone: "Did Zuo Menggeng have any words about how to arrange for us?"
Huang Long then smiled bitterly and spoke.
"It's still what I said before, let me come and go as I please."
Zhang Dalu was surprised: "The main town has not made it clear. If we are willing to join him, then where is Zuo Menggeng's sincerity?"
Huang Long was troubled and sighed: "I'm afraid that Zuo Menggeng doesn't look down on us at all, so he didn't say anything else."
At this time, the Liaodong generals were unhappy, and Shang Keyi snorted: "In that case, we will continue to be ministers of the imperial court. In time, if we find the opportunity, Zuo Menggeng will definitely regret his arrogance today."
But Shen Shikui asked an urgent question.
"If I have my heart set on the imperial court, where will the food and grass come from?"
Aid from Denglai was cut off, and Tianjin's navy was gone. Not to mention whether the imperial court had the intention to support them, even if it did, food and grass could not be transported.
And without food and grass, people like them can only die.
Shang Kexi hesitated and said: "Then Zuo Menggeng understands our predicament, that's why he is so mean. But we are in a desperate situation, and we must come up with countermeasures as soon as possible."
Seeing everyone's demoralization, Huang Long lost the last bit of persistence in his heart.
It's not that he doesn't want to be a loyal minister. For the sake of loyalty, he would die without blinking an eye.
But now the life and death of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians are imminent, and personal life and death, honor and disgrace are no longer important.
What's more, although Zuo Mengeng wanted to rebel, he was a Han after all. Unlike the Tatars in Liaodong, Huang Long was not so resistant to it.
"Everyone can tell me where our Liaodong Army Town will go."
The scene was quiet for a while, and no one wanted to speak. In fact, when faced with a choice, many people didn't know how to solve it.
In the end, it was Fan Hualong who revealed what everyone was thinking.
"In the current situation, we can only survive if we surrender to Zuo Mengeng. But Zuo Mengeng has no sincerity and is so mean. Will we have nothing?"
To put it bluntly, these people just don't want to give up the power they have.
Shen Shikui pondered and said, "I think this matter can be discussed."
Seeing everyone looking over, Shen Shikui cheered up and said: "Although Zuo Menggeng didn't put forward any conditions, he didn't block the opening. This is the leeway. If he doesn't mention it, we can take the initiative to raise it."
Shang Keyi sneered: "If we take the initiative to speak, we will just let the mermaid act."
Shen Shikui said earnestly and sincerely: "If we take the initiative to speak, there is still hope. Otherwise, all of us are just dead fish. What can I say?"
These words are harsh, but very true.
Although everyone was discouraged, they also knew that this was the only way.
After discussion, Huang Long and others set off again to Dengzhou to meet Zuo Mengeng.
This time, Wei Luan, Fan Hualong and Zhang Dalu were among the people accompanying him.
In fact, these people are skeptical about the strength of the new army described by Shang Kexi, and they all want to see it to believe it.
If Liaodong didn't need someone to take charge, I'm afraid all the generals and colonels would have followed.
They got off the boat in Dengzhou. Instead of going to the governor's office, they were led to the west of the city.
Here, Zuo Mengeng was riding on a horse and said with a smile: "You are here just in time. Our army has already set off and is preparing to recapture Laizhou. Why don't you come with me to watch the battle and give me some advice?"
Hearing that the new army was going to attack Laizhou, Huang Long and others suppressed their thoughts of discussion and prepared to see what the new army's combat strength was before making any plans.
Everyone mounted their horses one after another and followed Zuo Menggeng to the west, intending to carefully observe the strength of the new army.
However, what surprised them was that there were only a hundred guards around Zuo Menggeng and no large army was seen.
Seeing their doubts, Zuo Mengeng smiled and said: "My army has set off from Huang County and is right in front. Please be patient, we will see you soon."
Huang Long felt incredible.
"The army is going on a campaign. As the leader, General Zuo, doesn't he follow the army in planning?"
Zuo Mengeng slowly shook his head, his demeanor calm.
"I have handed over this battle to the generals below, leaving them to their own devices."
The Liaodong generals were shocked. They didn't expect Zuo Menggeng to be so courageous. He went to attack the rebels' lair without personally commanding the battle.
Of course Zuo Mengeng would not take command personally, otherwise, how could he train generals?
During this expedition, Bai Xiaoqi, who was in charge of commanding the 1st Division, served as the commander-in-chief as the commander of the 1st Brigade and the deputy commander of the 1st Division.
Zuo Mengeng just read their battle plan without even saying a word.
When Zuo Menggeng set off from Dengzhou, the First Division had already entered a state of combat readiness.
Wang Siyi led the cavalry brigade to go ahead and sweep the area east of Laizhou, blocking the vision of the rebel scouts.
Then the first brigade set off first, established an advance base in Zhaoyuan, and stocked up on food and grass.
The Second Brigade and the engineering troops crossed Zhaoyuan and entered Laizhou. They encountered no resistance along the way and reached the city of Laizhou.
The First Brigade waited in Zhaoyuan until the local troops from Dengzhou came over and handed over the city defense, then set off and rushed to the foot of Laizhou City to prepare for the attack.
During the entire process, apart from sporadic harassment, the rebels in Laizhou City did not mobilize on a large scale.
In fact, during the Battle of Huang County, the new army's field combat ability scared the rebels to the point where they no longer dared to leave the city.
This made it easier for the new army to build fortifications outside the city, and preparations for the siege went very smoothly.
Under such circumstances, Zuo Mengeng led Huang Long and others to the front line.
"This...is this an alliance of soldiers?"
Looking at the endless army in front of them, Huang Long and others were all dumbfounded.
They only knew that Zuo Menggeng was the general of the Dongchang Association, and his troops should be as many as the Dongchang Association. Even though they defeated the rebels, they felt that the Dongchang Association was very powerful.
But now, as far as the eye can see, the strength of the new army is at least over 10,000.
After the shock, Huang Long and others finally understood why Zuo Mengeng dared to rebel.
This guy actually hid so deeply and quietly amassed such a huge army of troops.
Huang Long and others stood next to Zuo Mengeng, watching the artillery being pushed into the pit. All the soldiers entered the tunnel holding the percussion guns they had personally tried, and set off towards Laizhou City.
For some reason, in their eyes, Laizhou City in the distance, which was famous for its solidity, seemed worse than the yellow leaves blowing in the wind.
No one said anything, but the look in each other's eyes made them understand that they knew how to choose.