The Ming Dynasty chose Dengzhou as the logistics base of Liaodong. In addition to the fact that it was the closest to Liaodong straight line, there was another consideration.
Along the way from Dengzhou across the strait to the Liaodong Peninsula, there happen to be many islands scattered like a necklace.
Changdao, Big and Small Zhudao, Tuoji Island, Daqin Island, Nanbeihuang Island, Tieshan Island, etc. connect Dengzhou and Lushun.
When a ship is traveling on the sea, if it encounters a storm, it can dock at the nearby island to avoid capsizing and killing people.
Fortunately, when the Dengzhou Navy was disbanded, half of the ships were placed in Fushan, which is not far away. Otherwise, it would be another hassle to dispatch ships from Jiaozhou Bay at this time.
On the ninth day of December, the advance team to receive Liaodong set off.
To be sure, Huang Sanhu personally led the team and led a battalion to take the lead. In addition, the advance team also included a staff office, a reconnaissance company and civilian officials.
Zhu Qinglan, director of the Dengzhou Civil Affairs Bureau, was appointed by Zuo Mengeng as the administrative director of Lushun, responsible for the reception.
Huang Long and Shen Shikui followed the advance team. They felt very strange when they saw the advance team taking their time along the way.
Especially when they saw people from the staff office running around the ship with various things, they didn't know what was going on.
Huang Sanhu reassured: "This is the first time our army has gone to sea. The sea conditions and road conditions are all in doubt. Therefore, the staff need to conduct surveying and mapping for future use."
Huang Long became even more confused.
"General, I have been running on this sea road for a long time, and I am already familiar with all the situations. Why don't you ask us, general?"
Huang Sanhu said nothing. A staff officer who happened to be passing by smiled and said, "Does Mr. Huang know the depth of the water here? The precise location of the islands and reefs?"
Huang Long and Shen Shikui were both questioned.
When they travel by boat, they all rely on rough charts and experience. When nothing happens, who would pay attention to how deep the sea is?
Shen Shikui reluctantly said: "The sea should be unfathomable."
The staff officer laughed and said: "Mr. Shen doesn't know, but the water depth in this sea area is actually very shallow. The place we are now is already very deep, only four to fifty meters."
He also explained the definition of distance of a meter.
Huang Long and Shen Shikui were stunned when they heard this. This was the first time they knew that the magnificent sea in front of them could be so simple.
But they still had questions.
"Brother, what's the use of knowing the depth of the sea?"
The staff officer became serious.
"It's very useful. You must know that if the water is too shallow, large ships will not be able to pass. This is a major matter related to safety."
Huang Long and Shen Shikui looked at each other, seeing such a rigorous army for the first time.
On the morning of the tenth day of the lunar month, the fleet docked near Nanmiaozi, east of Lushun.
Although the best port in Lushun is on the west side of the peninsula, it was already frozen over there and the ship could not pass, so it had to stop on the east side.
Lushun and Dengzhou are only about 200 miles apart, but they are worlds apart.
Dengzhou has just been covered with snow, but the mountains in Lushun are already covered by heavy snow, and the temperature is much colder than in Dengzhou.
Fortunately, Zuo Mengeng made complete preparations before setting off, otherwise many people in the advance team would have suffered frostbite.
Even so, Huang Sanhu, Zhu Qinglan and others also have a certain understanding of the hardships here.
The terrain on the side of Lushun facing the sea is very dangerous. Jiguan Mountain penetrates deep into the sea from south to north, forming a natural barrier to Lushun Bay.
Opposite is the Golden Mountain.
There is a narrow waterway between the two mountains. The waterway between Huwei at the end of Jiguan Mountain and Huangjin Mountain on the opposite side is only 300 meters wide.
In other words, after the fortresses are built on both sides, the fleets from outside will not be able to break in.
However, the place was still under the control of the Ming Dynasty at this time, so Huang Sanhu and others entered smoothly.
The sentry on Jinshan Mountain has already conveyed the news to Lushun City.
Lushun City is located on the east side of the bay not far from the sea. It belongs to the south city of Lushun and faces the north city across a small river.
However, the North City was demolished in the 44th year of Jiajing Period when the Jurchens went south, so only the South City was left isolated.
When the fleet docked, Huang Sanhu and Zhu Qinglan looked carefully and found that the city of Lushun was very small, no more than a mile in diameter. The city walls were made of bricks and earth, and they were not very strong.
The reason why it has been able to hold on until now and has not been captured by Houjin is probably because Houjin lacks the skills to divide its troops and cannot take care of it for the time being.
However, the terrain around Lushun is very dangerous.
Huang Sanhu, who was experienced in battle formations, just looked at it and immediately had an idea.
He pointed to the surrounding terrain and said to Zhu Qinglan: "Look, there are two mountains to the north to defend this place. We only need to deploy a small number of troops and block the official road in front. No matter how many troops the Tatars have, they will not be able to get in."
Zhu Qinglan's ambitions are much greater.
"This place is barren. If we want to develop, we must have enough space. Brigadier Huang, if possible, I hope you can expand as much as possible to gain territory for Lushun."
The two mountains mentioned by Huang Sanhu refer to Baiyu Mountain and Dongjiguan Mountain in later generations.
Although these two mountains are not very majestic, they are just like the two barriers of Lushun City, leaving only a passage in the middle.
If you want to defend Lushun City, you only need to hold these two mountains in your hands and deploy a certain amount of troops on the official road in the middle. This will create a situation where one man is in charge and no one can get in.
But Zhu Qinglan was not very satisfied with the surroundings of Lushun City.
The plains around Lushun are small and tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians gather here. It is impossible to support oneself by farming alone. Even if one wants to seek other livelihoods, there is not enough space.
Huang Sanhu did not immediately reply to Zhu Qinglan's request.
"The specific details can only be discussed after our army has established a firm foothold."
Nowadays, the new army has a dark eye on the Liaodong Peninsula, and the information it has is extremely limited. The steady Huang Sanhu does not dare to issue military orders indiscriminately.
When the fleet docked at the dock, Xiang Zuolin, who was left behind, had already led people from the city.
"Headquarters, let's..."
Huang Long led them to Huang Sanhu and said happily: "From now on, our brothers will all be under the command of General Zuo. This is Brigadier Huang Sanhu. Brother Xiang, come and see him soon."
Xiang Zuolin didn't know what level of general the brigade commander was, but he had to be careful when he was under the roof.
"The last general, Xiang Zuo, comes to see the general."
This "general" is very useful to Huang Sanhu, because his current military rank is still a colonel, and he is not in the ranks of generals.
"General Xiang, there is no need to be more polite. Everyone in our new army is equal. When we meet in the future, you can just salute like this. There is no need to be condescending."
Huang Sanhu demonstrated the military salute of the new army, which made Xiang Zuolin very happy.
I originally thought that after joining the New Army, I would stay low and live a low life, but I didn't expect that I would receive great respect in terms of etiquette alone.
"There is already a shortage of food in the city. Yesterday, more than 100 people died of starvation and freezing. If this continues, the population will be reduced by at least half this winter."
After winter, people starve to death and freeze to death every day in Lushun City.
Although it is miserable, it has been like this every year, and the common people have long been accustomed to it.
Only the generals frowned, knowing that this wasted manpower would eventually affect the safety of Lushun.
But the crisis in Lushun is a good opportunity for the New Army to gain a foothold here.
Huang Sanhu immediately said: "General Xiang, please be patient. When we set off, we had already brought relief grain and grass. The first batch of five thousand kilograms of grain is on the ship. Tomorrow at the latest, the second batch of ten thousand kilograms of grain will be delivered."
.”
Xiang Zuolin and others all burst into tears when they heard that the new army had not only arrived, but also brought life-saving food.
"General, you are truly our life-saving Bodhisattva! We kowtow to you. From now on, we will build a shrine for you and burn incense to worship you from generation to generation."
Faced with the excitement of the Liaodong soldiers and civilians, Huang Sanhu was frightened and quickly stopped him.
"But you can't help it. These are the blessings of our presence. You have to thank us. Remember, you have to thank us for our presence."
Huang Sanhu didn't dare to take credit, and he knew that this was the way to bring about disaster.
Zhu Qinglan watched from the side and also praised him as a warrior.
He is fierce and knows how to advance and retreat. If all the warriors in the world are like this, why worry about the country being unstable?
He stood up and said to Xiang Zuolin and others: "I am the newly appointed magistrate of Lushun County. From now on, I will be responsible for the local people's livelihood. General Xiang, go and greet the people, and get the food into the city first and distribute it to everyone."
.”
Xiang Zuolin woke up and left quickly.
After a while, the originally lifeless city of Lushun seemed to be in a boiling pot. Countless men, women and children swarmed in, and everyone was crying and running.
Laughing while crying is the hope of new life.
Huang Sanhu didn't care how Zhu Qinglan tried to appease the people, but said to Huang Long and Shen Shikui: "Let's go, let's take over the customs defense."
Huang Long looked at Lushun, which was completely different from the past, and knew that the past days would never come back.
Zuo Mengeng did his work by picking flowers and leaves, and antelopes hung their horns. He only used a mere five thousand kilograms of grain to buy off the people's morale in Lushun.
They are destined to be unable to continue to be emperors here.
After recognizing the reality, Huang Long and Shen Shikui also became active, leading detachments to various passes to replace the original troops and horses, and turned Lushun into an overseas base for the New Army.