"Sir, do you really want us to fight in Taiwan? Do you want us to fight now?"
Yuan Yao from Qianhu, who was guarding Qianhu Office in Dongguan, asked in disbelief at the administrative office of Sihaifangdao, the envoy of Guangdong's criminal prosecutor.
"If you have an order, you have to fight." Wang Hong sat at the top, "I have sent people to take note. Since the Franji people ignored them, they can only forcefully annihilate the enemy or expel them."
"But sir, their centipede boats come and go like the wind, and there are also three giant ships equipped with more than ten or twenty large guns!" Yuan Yao asked, "Sir, how many ships can you mobilize in a hurry?
Hundreds of ships? There are currently less than twenty sentry ships in the village used to patrol the coastal defense! Won’t Sir Tai give you and the humble officers more than a month to prepare for war?"
"The imperial edict was sent to Wuzhou, and then the Guangdong Zhensi Yamen took charge of it!" Wang Hong stared at him, "Your father was killed by the Franji people in the war in the past. Yuan Yao, this war also delayed the envoy.
No!"
Yuan Yao said sadly and angrily: "The hatred of killing my father is irreconcilable! There is not a day when I don't think about getting rid of the evil animals on Tuen Mun Island. But in our county, many women and children have been abducted without a trace, and more and more merchant ships are being robbed."
, haven’t I been suppressed after asking for battle many times? At this time, when I give the order, the warships are not equipped with soldiers and food, should I let my subordinates go down and die?”
Wang Hong stood up and said: "Seven days! I will try my best to mobilize warships! If they are not enough, recruit some civilian ships. If the elite soldiers are not enough, you should recruit some local braves first. Think about defeat before winning. Nantou Village and Dongguan will defend the defense."
We still need to leave defense forces at Qianhu Station."
"... I really don't want to be defeated like this!" Yuan Yao clenched his fist tightly, "Sir, you know that Franji and..."
"I know for sure!" Wang Hong interrupted him in a low voice, "Since the day when the Franji warships fired cannons on the Pearl River, I don't know how many roads I have traveled on! Your Majesty has made an imperial edict and ordered all the departments in Guangdong and Guangxi not to do so.
If you act rashly, I can no longer submit my memorial! Now that the imperial edict has been received, Jiang Bin has been executed, and the imperial edict has driven away the Franji people, how can you and I be afraid of fighting?"
"But with the current military preparations, we can't win in battle! No one in the Zhang family's fleet has escaped. No one is alive or dead, and no corpses are found. The wrecked ship is less than a hundred miles away from the shipping company. Where did the Franji people learn about it?
Accurate route? There are ministers returning to the capital with the tribute envoys from the city!" Yuan Yao gritted his teeth and said, "Have they ever thought about allowing us to win? If they want to annihilate them, why should they order you to be polite first and then attack? Go and capture Fu.
Langji's camp, let alone whether they can attack the shore, can the naval battle be won?"
"boom!"
For seven days, he traveled between Guangzhou Prefecture and coastal counties, recruiting local braves, recruiting civilian ships, and even raised more pension silver in advance.
The Franji people knew that the warships patrolling the sea route would definitely attack Tuen Mun Island, so they waited for their work.
It's a joke to be polite before fighting.
"Fire! Fire!"
The morning tide hasn't arrived yet, but it's coming soon.
On the sea outside Tuen Mun Island, the three giant ships parked here by the Franji people have indeed been ambushed here. But now the ships of the Guangdong Coast Defense Road are struggling to deal with only two warships called centipede ships.
The sea wind blew on his face, and he was determined to die.
Futons everywhere.
"Today's debate is to find out whether everyone's talents are quick in thinking. If my brother is able to argue sophistry, you might as well refute it."
Today, in front of the Wenhua Hall, Chang Chaohou is not only debating scriptures, but also the second pass of the chief of the imperial study room.
At this time, the atmosphere outside the Cultural Hall became even more lively. The finalists had turned into Wang Shouren, Yan Song, Yang Shen and a few others, while several old scholars looked defeated.
On the deck, there were still remains of bodies whose heads had been shaved off by cannonballs.
The fleet's sails spread like wings, and they rushed towards it.
With more than fifty enemies against four, can't even one of them be sunk?
Wang Hong's heart felt cold, and he felt that the sun was rising higher and higher like the setting sun before a winter night.
"Sir, you cannot die fighting here!"
In front of the Wenhua Hall, Yang Shen talked eloquently: "The sage's temperament is extremely pure, his mind is clear and self-evident, and he does not need to study things and reason. Ordinary people's temperament is dim and turbid, and their hearts are full of selfish desires. Is this reasonable?"
In front of you is the map of the Ming Dynasty.
"Two more centipede ships, a giant ship, and a cargo ship have arrived in Taiwan."
Outside the Wenhua Hall, the morning light has just risen and the sky is not yet hot.
Another cannonball hit the ramming corner of his ship and hit the sea next to him. The splashes of water exploded and spread under the rising sun. Wang Hong wiped his face, but felt that his eyes seemed to be a little red.
"Brother Wang behaves like this and makes me laugh!"
After Wang Hong kowtowed, he stood up and turned around, looking at the vaguely angry faces below, his eyes a little red.
Luo An's secret report came over, and the situation in Guangdong was even more outrageous than imagined.
"This is the topic of the debate. Brother Wang, this is sophistry!" The attackers came.
Yuan Yao's eyes widened, he stood there for a moment, then stamped his feet fiercely, and shouted angrily when he went out: "Calling troops on the school field! Calling on troops on the school field!"
On the Shuizhai school grounds of the Dongguan Shouyu Qianhu Station, only a few bonfires were lit on the sidelines, which was no different from usual.
Wang Hong turned his head and looked to the side. Sure enough, there were two centipede boats coming from the south ocean direction with their sails spread out.
The hundreds of local warriors who were recruited below all have blood debts to repay.
The sea ahead is an endless mouth between dusk and dawn.
Wang Hong had already walked out of the room, and the sea breeze blew in and blew the corners of his clothes, leaving behind his decisive voice: "Even if you lose first, you will win in the end, even if the one who wins and annihilates you is not me! Mr. Yuan Qian
, If we don’t fight this battle, how can my battle report be delivered to the capital directly to the imperial court? The imperial edict has been issued, do you want to resist it?"
…
"They don't want us to win, so we have to win!"
But on Neo-Confucianism, in addition to those who had been officials in the court before, there were also some unofficial Confucian scholars who had been recommended and arrived in Beijing at an "unbelievable speed."
On the sea outside Tuen Mun Island, Wang Hong's hair was scattered and his face was charred. He just drew his knife and moved forward: "Charge over! Rush over! Join the ship!"
Wang Hong looked desperately at the four ships reinforced by the Franji people. Tears welled up and he roared angrily: "Mingjin withdraws the troops, and the ships circle around the rear!"
He began to make the final mobilization, using very simple words.
But in fact, these people all know how powerful the French warships are, they just have to donate their blood and courage.
"This is a debate on the selection of the chief of the royal study. If Brother Yang doesn't do this, why don't you retreat?"
"Sir! Morale has been depleted, and there are heavy casualties! Please withdraw your troops!"
He knew he was lying, but he had no choice. If he stabbed him with this knife, he would definitely see blood.
The fish belly is still white on the horizon, and the morning tide is beginning to rise. A ship first rows out of the water village, and then gradually unfurls its sails.
"Many villagers said that their wives and children must have been eaten by red-haired ghosts! They wanted to come, but they have relatives at home and they are the breadwinners of the family, so I didn't let them come."
With a pointed bottom and a length of ten feet, this kind of ship has more than forty oars protruding from both sides of the cabin with a width of three feet, so it glides on the sea with great agility.
He had no choice but to fight.
Yuan Yao thought of his father and roared sadly: "Thirty years!"
"boom!"
"...Is that why I am doing this?"
Wang Hong was holding the knife, and he saw that even the "elite soldiers" on the boat who were holding muskets and preparing to board the ship were also cowering with fear on their faces.
In the Central Palace, Zhu Houcong turned his back to him with eyes that could not penetrate the numerous palace palaces.
If possible, Wang Hong would like to be fully prepared before going into battle.
In the distance, there is a larger warship floating around the periphery, and the huge cannon on it has a longer range.
What can I say if there are some words?
Are you saying that there are too many vacancies on the Haiphong Road and various garrison posts, so there is no reason for the Guangdong Third Division to request additional troops?
"How long has the red-haired ghost on Tuen Mun Island been causing trouble here? Yuan Yao, how many years has it been here?"
At this moment in the capital, many people were solemnly dressed and ready to go to the Wenhua Palace.
Most of those civilian ships and merchant ships have been destroyed, and among them, Shang Xiangyong...
The fact that the emperor did not attend the debate in person makes people think.
The other ship was only seriously damaged under the siege of so many Ming Navy ships, but it tried its best to row back to Tuen Mun Island Harbor.
Wang Hong stood on the high platform. Behind him were Yuan Yao, a member of the Haiphong Road Commander, the deputy Qianhu and Baihu of the Dongguan Guard Qianhu Station.
Zhu Houcong lowered his head and looked at the mouth of the Pearl River below.
Wang Qiong looked back at the honor guard that had already set off back to Qianqing Palace, slowed down and walked with Wang Shouren: "You can't hold back today!"
Some are warships, and some are just merchant ships and fishing boats.
Urgent shouts came from the top of the boat.
"boom!"
"Lean over and get straight to the red-haired ghost's car! Send a signal and let Yuan Yao and the others entangle the two centipede boats!"
"You guys, I can't refuse! You say you want revenge even if you die. You have saved your life, or you have brothers at home. You say you are not afraid, but you are only afraid that the red-haired ghost will harm more villagers and kidnap more brothers.
Sisters and children!”
It was the fifth hour of the day and it was not yet dawn.
But the school ground was full of people. Those who were dissatisfied kept standing on the pier, and on the bows of ships of all sizes.
Wang Hong watched with tearful eyes as a civilian ship was blasted through the side of the ship by a centipede ship's cannon, and two countrymen were blown away and fell into the sea.
All he can do is to take the lead and live and die with them.
It itself is the jurisdiction of Dongguan County. Now, the area called Tuen Mun Hai O has almost become the territory of the Flangji people.
The ship that was heading straight towards the flagship of the Francois suddenly turned its rudder and approached an approaching centipede ship.
Without the emperor as an important audience to debate scriptures, I am afraid that the debate will become more intense and thorough.
"Eradicate the traitors and avoid future troubles forever!"
"I obey the decree!"
"If I defeat my brother, I will be learning from my help. If I serve as the chief of the imperial study and assist the Mingjun in the prosperous age, I will also be learning from the help of the country. Those who laugh at me will only increase their laughter."
Wang Hong said no more, he just stepped down first, walked through the crowd and walked to the ship, suppressing his emotions and shouted: "Get on the warship! Set sail! Go to war!"
The day before yesterday, there was a new cabinet minister at the court meeting, and yesterday at the Jingyan banquet, two Neo-Confucian disciples discussed the principles of heaven again.
Wang Hong was originally a man of few words, but he knew he could say something more beautiful now, enumerate the sins of the Franji people, and try his best to boost morale.
"That's natural."
Zhu Houcong issued the imperial edict to Guangdong, Guangxi and the Three Halls, but now it seems that he may not attract the attention of the officials guarding one side.
It is said that the Flangji people have been camping in Tuen Mun for many years and it is easy to defend but difficult to attack?
It is said that Franji's men, ships, and artillery are strong, and the Ming Dynasty navy dare not win even if the enemy is ten times more powerful?
It is said that the Franji people have been entrenched to this day, but they are actually intricately involved with Guangdong and Guangxi?
Therefore, there is no need to cover up the hasty recruitment of troops and ships.
His eyes were cold and painful.
Among the academicians of the Hanlin Academy and those recommended, only a few are truly partial to the mind science or are purely followers of the mind science.
"Master Wang, we can't win with just our ships! Since we are going to fight, why not build more warships, recruit elite soldiers, and assemble Huanghuang's troops to annihilate them?"
After the Chang Dynasty, the courtiers walked happily to the front of Wenhua Hall.
Wang Shouren asked him seriously: "Brother Yang, do you want to be the chief of the imperial study?"
In front of the Wenhua Hall, Confucian scholars in wide robes and long sleeves argued hard, pretending to be polite even though their eyes looked fierce.
He has already written the report of this battle. As soon as his news comes back, the people he arranged will be rushed to the capital eight hundred miles away.
How far is it from Tuen Mun Island to Dongguan?
This is the customs clearance procedure and opportunity he exchanged for his life.
"According to His Majesty's oral instructions: The debate on psychology and Neo-Confucianism has been spread throughout the capital and abroad, so there is no need to keep it secret. In today's debate, everyone expresses his or her own opinion. Regardless of the merits of knowledge, and those with quick thinking, ministers who participate in national policy meetings must not refrain from taking actions due to academic bias.
Alternative."
When he wiped his face, the bloody sight on his eyelids revealed that out of more than fifty warships, only about thirty were left and could barely fight.
"If you don't drag this centipede boat, it won't be able to escape!" Wang Hong hissed, "Turn the rudder and block its path!"
Did he not want to see Wang Shouren be besieged and refuted, or did he want to show that this was just the second hurdle for the Chief of the Imperial Study?
The banquet went on as usual, but he did not come to the big debate on psychology and neo-Confucianism.
"boom!"
"Today, I will work with you to defeat the enemy!"
The Franji people's giant ship was not very fast, and Wang Hong's ship kept chasing it, and actually tied down a centipede ship that was escorting it.
To drive away the foreign invaders, we need to fight!
Wang Shouren also seemed to be fighting alone.
We can't chase him, there are huge cannons on the shore.
"I, Wang Hong, didn't let many people come!"
Yang Tinghe looked at Liu Long, Zhang Fujing and Huang Jin who were busy writing notes on the side, then raised his head and looked in the direction of Qianqing Palace in the distance.
Wu Yuan, a local squire in Dongguan County, looked unbearable. Wang Hong stood up and bowed down to salute: "Brother Wu is very generous and donated three ships. I am deeply grateful. I still need to go to Guangzhou, so I won't say more."
A total of more than thirty cannons mounted on both sides of the ship were constantly bombarding the warships on the Haiphong Road.
"These red-haired ghosts don't know etiquette and are cunning! Now, Your Majesty, the Holy Ming, has recognized their true face and issued an edict to order me to lead the people to annihilate them and drive them away!" Wang Hong turned around and knelt down to face the north. "The power of heaven is mighty. Now, now With great military strength and great speed, our great tomorrow's army has more than fifty warships, large and small, and more than one thousand and five hundred warriors. With ten against one, we will eradicate the traitors and eliminate future troubles forever!"
Among them are many knowledgeable people who Wang Shouren once consulted.
How will they arrange this battle?
Because of the inside information reported by Luo An, can they win like a lion fighting a rabbit?
Knowing that there was nothing going on in the Central Palace today, Zhu Qingping, who came to deliver the transcripts of the current debate for Gao Zhong, saw the emperor clenching his fists tightly and his chest heaving.
"Your Majesty?" she asked in a low voice.
"Go and pass on my oral message: Have you had enough arguments?"