Chapter 1148: With the Hongyi cannon in hand, why fear the army?
Shenjing City, Daming Palace, Wuying Palace
It was mid-afternoon, and the warm winter sunlight shone in the courtyard.
Emperor Chongping, accompanied by all the palace officials, walked grandly into the palace.
"We have seen your Majesty." Shi Jie, the Minister of War, quickly led a group of officers from the Military Aircraft Department to greet the general, with a smile on his face.
King Chen Ran of Wei, dressed in a green and red python suit, was also present. Seeing Emperor Chongping's arrival, he also stood up from behind the desk and saluted Emperor Chongping.
Emperor Chongping glanced at King Wei, ignored him, raised his eyes to look at Minister of Military and Aircraft Shi Jie, and asked: "Shi Qing, is there an urgent military message from Duke Wei?"
Shi Jie said: "Back to your Majesty, Duke Wei has led boats to Fuzhou in the past two days, but the latest military report has not been received yet."
Emperor Chongping nodded and asked: "How many pirates and red barbarians are there on Dayuan Island?"
Among the official names of the Han court, one followed the Ming Dynasty in calling Taiwan Jilong Mountain, and the other was that people in southern Fujian called the island Dayuan in the Ming Dynasty.
It was not until Kangxi established the Taiwan Prefecture that it was known as the "Taiwan Prefecture" in later generations.
Shi Jie cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, according to the report from Jinyi Mansion, there are more than 100,000 soldiers on the island including Hongyi, pirates and Donglu. Now Duke Wei is leading troops to pursue them all the way and intends to regain this place.
islands."
Emperor Chongping said: "Jia Ziyu is a mature minister who plans for the country. The day before yesterday, he mentioned to my superior that the big island is of great importance to the country and the country. Using it as a sea trade base can add nearly ten million taels of silver to the imperial court every year."
This is a memorial written by Jia Heng to Emperor Chongping not long ago, stating the importance of maritime trade to the imperial treasury.
Given Jia Heng's political influence, this memorial still caused an uproar in the court.
Some officials who have criticized the sea trade are dissatisfied, but because the customs tax this year, the white snowflakes are in front of everyone, so they can't say much else.
Shi Jie said: "Your Majesty, what Duke Wei said is true. The big island should be an important sea trade route. If our country recovers it and uses it to control the main thoroughfare of Nanyang, it won't be long before all the sea is sailed by our Chinese merchant ships."
Like weaving."
Emperor Chongping said: "If we attack Da Dao, Fujian and other places have enough troops and food."
Shi Jie replied: "Replying to Your Majesty, Fujian has reported that the local government has raised food and fodder, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Customs have allocated a batch of silver to His Highness the King of Chu to purchase various military supplies. All necessary supplies for the war are sufficient.
.”
Emperor Chongping nodded and said: "Although the war is going on this year, there is a lot of customs tax revenue, which can barely make up for it."
If there was no customs revenue to allow the Han courtiers to taste the sweetness, perhaps this battle of recovery would cause an uproar in the court.
Shi Jie turned to mention another matter and said: "Your Majesty, I have drafted the maritime division regulations, and I would like to ask Your Majesty to take a look at it."
A scribe took a memorial and handed it over.
Emperor Chongping took it from Dai Quan at this moment. He lowered his eyes and saw the detailed rules listed on it. He nodded and said: "The naval division is responsible for the system of defense. It is the town of the four seas, named East China Sea, South China Sea, and Beihai.
The three great sea masters, Shi Qing obviously put his heart into it."
Shi Jie hurriedly said: "I don't dare to praise the emperor. I went first and got a lot of inspiration from the memorials written by the Duke of Wei. This order was originally modified from the military system proposed by the Duke of Wei. There are still many omissions."
"
Emperor Chongping said: "It's a pity that Ziyu is not here, otherwise... that's all. Let the scribe make a copy first and go south to give it to Ziyu. You two will discuss it and try to come up with a plan for building a naval army."
Shi Jie raised his hand and said yes.
In fact, the civil servants of the imperial court also criticized the establishment of a naval division because it meant the expansion of military commanders' power. However, Shi Jie explained that it was just a consolidation of the troops of the original coastal navy to better deal with the intrusion and expulsion of the North Korean navy.
Hong Yi, escorting Nanyang sea trade, this objection gradually disappeared.
Afterwards, Emperor Chongping sat in the Wuying Hall for a while, and then returned to the inner study to resume his duties.
In the winter month of the sixteenth year of Chongping, as the New Year was approaching, the civil and military ministers of Shenjing City once again set their sights on the island of Taiwan, thousands of miles away.
…
…
Fujian, Quanzhou Prefecture
Accompanied by local officials, Jia Heng inspected the ships and various defense facilities guarding the port. Many forts and military facilities were built quite steeply and steeply.
Warships were coming in and out of the port one after another, and there were many sergeants wearing mandarin duck war jackets and armor outside, walking back and forth with swords and guns.
On this day, Jia Heng received a military officer wearing a fourth-grade military attaché robe led by the guards of the Jinyi Mansion, and whispered: "General Guangdong Hai has sent someone here to report what important matter?"
The general of the Guangdong Navy said: "Commander, Liu Xiang sent people out to the southern sea area to fight the enemy. Our Yue Navy fought fiercely with them and suffered considerable losses. However, because the enemy's artillery and muskets were sharp, General Yue
I sincerely request Duke Wei to send the Jiangnan navy to assist."
Shui Rong frowned, stared at the person who reported the news, and asked in surprise: "Is Liu Xiang taking the initiative?"
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "The island couldn't bear the blockade, so Liu Xiang took the initiative to attack."
Shui Rong said in a clear voice: "Ziyu, what are your plans next?"
Jia Heng said: "Right now, we will allocate a group of Jiangnan Navy armed with Hongyi cannons to assist the Guangdong Navy. The rest, let me think about how to capture Penghu."
Liu Xiang's navy also had Hongyi cannons, which immediately offset the firearms advantage of the official army. If they wanted to defeat the pirates and capture the Penghu Islands, they had to take a long-term approach.
Shui Rong nodded and said: "Then I will personally lead the troops to the waters of Penghu Island."
Jia Heng said no more, raised his eyes to look at Shui Rong, and said warmly: "Then there is Prince Lao."
After Shui Rong finished speaking, he said no more and turned around to leave.
Jia Heng did not stay long in Wei Gang. He came to the shore to temporarily occupy the official residence and strode into the study.
Chen Xiao's face was as clear as frost, and he held a letter in his hand. His voice was as cold as ever, and he said: "The three brothers of the Yang family have replied."
Jia Heng said: "Bring it to me and take a look."
Chen Xiao handed over the envelope in his hand, and saw the words "Prince of the Duke of Wei" written on the surface of the envelope.
Jia Heng opened it and read it. After a while, he couldn't help but put down the letter in his hand and said in a clear voice: "Brothers of the Yang family still have doubts."
In the letter, he regretted his brother's plundering of traveling merchants over the years, begged the court for forgiveness, and hoped to obtain Duke Wei's assurance that he would not be held responsible for the past.
Chen Xiao's clear eyes under his eyebrows stared at the young man, his eyes flashed, and he asked: "What are your plans next?"
Jia Heng said: "Reply the letter first to appease me. I really can't use countermeasures."
Cao Cao sent the obliterated letter to Han Sui, which caused Han Sui and Ma Chao to turn against each other. He could also use this trick, but not in this way, because he would not burn it after receiving the secret letter.
Just waiting for "Ma Chao" to check?
Chen Xiao said softly: "It has entered the winter months now, and the northwest wind is blowing. Our army is in the north, and it is actually a good time to advance."
Jia Heng nodded and said: "In the past few days, I have ordered all the ministries to inspect the ships and prepare for cross-sea operations. Once we find out the ocean currents heading to the island, we can directly attack."
This time, we will not only win with surprise troops, but also with regular troops, and recapture the entire island with great force. The entire army will be gathered in Quanzhou, and the troops can be divided into three groups to cut off the connection between Penghu and Tainan.
But such casualties would be too great, so we were still waiting for news from the three Yang brothers.
Fortunately, during this time, the relatives who went to persuade them to surrender had already met the three Yang brothers and tried to persuade them.
Jia Heng said, after coming to the study, he picked up a brush and began to write a reply to the three Yang brothers.
Then, he handed the letter to Chen Xiao and said, "Give this letter to them."
Chen Xiao nodded, took the letter, and turned to leave.
Jia Hengzhong left the study again and went to find Feng Zheng, the Fujian chief envoy who had come to Quanzhou Prefecture with him, to discuss the follow-up matters of military supplies for sending troops.
The King of Chu was not in Quanzhou at the moment, but in Fuzhou to purchase military supplies to supply the navy army.
At this moment, Feng Zheng and the magistrate of Quanzhou Prefecture were discussing how to store the transshipped grain, wine and meat in the treasury. When he saw the young prince in royal robes surrounded by guards, he did not dare to neglect, with a smile on his face.
He said, "Duke Wei is here, what are your orders?"
Jia Heng said: "Master Feng, I have something to do with you here."
Feng Zheng nodded, and then followed Jia Heng to the official office where the meeting was held.
Jia Heng said: "The imperial court will send troops to Jilong Mountain recently. Are the frontline grain and military supplies ready?"
Feng Zhengdao: "Don't worry, Lord Wei, grain and military supplies have been stocked in several granaries, which is enough for the army to last for more than a month. The vassal Yamen is negotiating with other prefectures and counties to raise the remaining supplies as soon as possible."
Jia Heng nodded and said: "Master Feng has done everything right. I don't know how the farmland and the gentry's land purchase in Fujian have been in recent years?"
This time he not only wants to wipe out the pirates, but also lay a solid foundation for future governance in Fujian and Taiwan.
The first step is to understand the local situation in Fujian.
Feng Zhengdao: "In Fujian and other places, there is not much land, and there are not many officials and gentry buying grain fields. Many people make a living by fishing on the sea. Later, the imperial court implemented a sea ban, and many people's livelihoods were even worse. Therefore, they often took risks and fell into poverty.
As bandits, they go out to sea to plunder, but they attack them without being able to destroy them, and when the officers and soldiers attack them, they are extremely troublesome."
Unlike Jiangsu and other places where people buy land and study for imperial examinations, Fujian mostly goes overseas to engage in maritime trade, so land annexation is not so serious.
Jia Heng said: "The imperial court no longer imposes maritime bans. Shouldn't the people welcome it with joy and join in the prosperity of maritime trade?"
"The people welcome it, but it cannot be said that the pirates who were originally captured by the bandits are welcome. In addition, there are also officials and gentry of the imperial court who previously colluded with the pirates through smuggling, and many of them made huge profits. Now the imperial court has relaxed the maritime ban, and the people, regardless of officials or civilians, can travel
The goods are so far away that it ruins the jobs of many people." Feng Zhengdao.
When Jia Heng heard this, a solemn look appeared on his face, and he said with emotion: "Previously, the government and businessmen colluded to monopolize maritime trade, and the huge profits they made were indeed incomparable to what they are now."
Feng Zheng nodded and said: "In today's Fujian, as far as I know, there are many officials of the Third Division engaged in maritime trade. When Duke Wei leads the troops to fight, we need to be careful not to let the news leak."
"That's natural. If things aren't kept secret, there will be consequences." Jia Heng nodded.
The local situation in Fujian was more complicated than he thought. Feng Zheng was hinting to him that there were internal ghosts in the three yamen, such as the vassal and gansi yamen.
Jia Heng thought for a moment and asked, "Master Yan, is he a native of Fujian?"
Feng Zheng shook his head and said: "In our dynasty, we implement the practice of serving prison officials in other places. Mr. Yan is not from Fujian, but his son married the daughter-in-law of Yu Fengxian's family, the prefect of Quanzhou. The two families are considered in-laws."
When Jia Heng heard this, his eyes flickered, his heart moved slightly, and he vaguely felt that Feng in front of him was hinting at something.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment and asked: "How is the official reputation of Yu Fengxian, the prefect of Quanzhou? Are any of the children in the clan involved in boat smuggling?"
Feng Zheng smiled and said, "I don't know about this."
Jia Heng knew what was going on and said softly: "It's getting late and it's freezing cold. Lord Feng, why don't you have two glasses of wine to warm yourself up."
This is Empress Dowager Feng's natal family, but she is also a relative. They belong to the same class.
Of course, it is also possible to state selectively, to use him to use Quanzhou Prefect Yu Fengxian to overthrow Fujian Governor Yan Ming, or for other purposes.
Because before the sea ban, Fujian must have engaged in large-scale maritime trade smuggling. Otherwise, how would the Dutch Red Barbarians, who were based in Taiwan and engaged in smuggling trade between Manila and China, sell their goods to China?
There must be the tacit approval of official figures here.
This matter needs to be investigated by Jinyi Mansion Guards.
Jia Heng made up his mind and called Feng Zheng to have lunch with him.
After the two had finished lunch, Jia Heng returned to the service area where he was stationed in Wei Gang.
…
…
The next day, in the afternoon.
Jia Heng was reading the Jinyi Mansion's summary of resumes and family relationships of relevant officials in the Fujian Mansion in the study, when someone suddenly reported that Guangdong General Wu Tao and a group of retinues had come to see Duke Wei.
Jia Heng came to the hall and met Wu Tao and other generals from the Guangdong Navy.
"General Wu, the previous report mentioned that the army suffered two to three thousand casualties and six or seven warships were lost. How was this war fought?" Jia Heng asked unceremoniously.
If both the government and the army had this kind of fighting power, then there would be no need to even think about regaining Taiwan.
Wu Tao's expression suddenly changed and he said urgently: "Duke Wei, many of Liu Xiang's troops are equipped with Hongyi cannons. During the previous battle, our army was no match for Liu Xiang's troops in terms of firepower, but there was a big difference in casualties between the two sides."
Not bad, Liu Xiang’s subordinates didn’t get much advantage either.”
Jia Heng frowned and said in a deep voice: "Are the drills and rectifications of the Guangdong Navy over the past year useless? How could so many sailors be damaged without the Hongyi cannon?"
Wu Shou held up his hands to plead guilty and said: "I will be ashamed at last."
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and asked: "In the previous battle with the enemy, have you tried the traditional method of water warfare? How much damage can it do to Liu Xiang's ships? Can it be blocked?"
Wu Tao said: "Reporting to Duke Wei, we sent fire boats to break through the fleet and burned many ships. The pirates also suffered almost the same casualties. Now our army has anchored to Kinmen, and Liu Xiang has also retreated to Penghu."
Jia Heng thought for a moment and said: "Liu Xiang has just defeated the army, and his morale is rising. It will not be easy for our army to take Penghu in one fell swoop."
Although the start was winless, Liu Xiang actually lost the upper hand, allowing Liu Xiang to gain a firm foothold in Penghu.
This is different from Zheng Chenggong's recovery of Taiwan. After all, the Dutch Red Barbarians had few people. It is also different from Shi Lang's recovery of Taiwan. The Zheng Group was in a state of decay.
The only advantage is that the enemies are scattered, each has their own agenda, and cannot unite their strength.
This is the opportunity.
Wu Tao's heart trembled, and he quickly raised his hands and said, "I will be ashamed in the end."
Jia Heng said: "Previously Prince Shuijun has led the Jiangnan navy to rush to the rescue. Tomorrow, I will personally lead the navy to Kinmen to attack Penghu together."
It is still necessary to capture Penghu first, otherwise, the enemy invaders from Penghu Island will attack later and they will not be able to land on the main island.
…
…
Time flew by and three days passed before I knew it.
On the vast sea area northeast of Penghu Island, under the blue sky, a ship was riding the wind and waves. The surrounding soldiers were holding long guns and patrolling back and forth, with solemn expressions on their faces.
In a ship flying a pirate flag, Yang Lu, the eldest of the three Yang brothers, was reading a letter, his thick eyebrows gradually frowning into the character "Chuan", as if he was a little undecided.
"What did Duke Wei say?" Yang Kuo, the third brother of the Yang family, asked.
Yang Lu handed the letter in his hand to Yang Ce and said: "I hope that we will attack Liu Xiang's infantry during the war. In addition, we will assist the Han army on the island. We will not hesitate to command the three brothers and the five nobles.
Reward."
Yang Kuo snorted coldly and said: "The Jurchens often give gifts to princes and counts. Compared with the Jurchens, the Han court is a bit too petty."
"The title of the Jurchens is not valuable, not as good as the title of the Han Dynasty." Yang Ce also read the letter and said in a low voice.
Yang Lu frowned and said: "I'm worried that if the Han people go back on their word or resort to tricks to induce them to surrender, it won't work. When it comes to a big defeat, our brothers will go to the islands in Southeast Asia to roam around casually. Although it will be a little more desolate, it will always be better.
It’s better than being unfettered.”
Yang Ce sighed: "It's hard to leave our homeland. Even if we are willing, our brothers may not be willing."
The Fujian people have a strong sense of ruralism, and many have become pirates at sea. They also buy properties in the countryside and renovate houses. They will never return to their hometown unless they are desperate.
Yang Kuo said angrily: "Brother, if the Han people dare to be dishonest, we will fight with the imperial court!"
"At that time, people were under the eaves and had to bow their heads. If they wanted to fight with the court, they would not have the chance." Yang Lu frowned and sounded worried.
Yang Ce said: "What my brother said is not unreasonable, and the court cannot believe it easily."
Yang Lu thought for a while and said: "It's better to wait and see. If the army can't defeat us, we don't need to rely on others."
Yang Ce looked thoughtful and said in a low voice: "Then follow the wishes of the eldest brother and wait for the next move of the army."
Yang Lu put the letter in his hand on the flame, and as the smoke rose, the letter turned into ashes.
On Penghu Island, the stone and wood halls were crowded with people and bustling.
Liu Xiang was rewarding the sailors and leaders under his command. In the hall, cups were exchanged and people were drinking wine. It was a joyous scene.
The previous battle with the Guangdong Navy was successful, which undoubtedly encouraged Liu Xiang and the leaders.
Liu Xiang put down the wine cup in his hand, a look of joy appeared on his face that had been roughened and darkened by the sea breeze all year round, and said: "Everyone, after two battles, we can see that Duke Wei of the Han Dynasty is nothing more than this. Really?
At sea, we have cannons with a longer range, and they are no match."
When the leaders sitting below heard this, smiles appeared on their faces and they said: "What the boss said is that there are two shoulders supporting one head."
However, at this time, a leader came to Liu Xiang and whispered a few words in his ear.
Liu Xiang frowned, his ferocious face changed, and there was a hint of surprise in his eyes. He put down the tea cup and said, amidst the doubtful looks of the leaders, "Everyone, let's drink for now."
After saying that, he left the hall and came to the back room. He had a gloomy face and said in a deep voice: "What on earth is going on?"
"Master, the three brothers of the Yang family have many people in Zhuangzi, and they have been flirting with the officers and soldiers for a long time." The middle-aged man said coldly.
Liu Xiang's face was gloomy and he said: "Their brothers are on Wang'an Island in the rear. Once they join forces with the government and the army, the consequences will be disastrous."
After pacing back and forth for a while, he asked, "Is there any solid information about this matter?"
The middle-aged man shook his head and said, "I don't know yet whether they have made an appointment with the army."
"Invite them out, I want to ask them what they want!" Liu Xiang's eyes flickered, and she had an idea in her mind.
Invite the three Yang brothers to come out, then kill them, seize their tribesmen, and fight against the army alone!
The previous battle with the army gave Liu Xiang plenty of confidence. With the Hongyi cannon in hand, why should he be afraid of the army?
