unclear

Chapter 344

At present, eight guard stations have established reserves. However, because the quality of the guards' soldiers is too low and the people are very afraid of serving as soldiers, the results are not very significant. Yuan Yingtai has also been actively looking for solutions and has some ideas.

During the few years he was in power in Guangzhou, he gradually made some in-depth investigations into the local culture, customs and ethnic groups, and found that it was difficult for some special groups to integrate into the New Deal system, but one of them could have a relationship with the navy, Danmin!

The so-called Dan people are a group of fishermen who do not cultivate land, do not live in a fixed place, and use boats as their home. Since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, when the sea was banned, this group of people was organized into a household with a head, belonging to the river bank, and providing fish lessons. Gradually they left the boat and lived near the sea.

But they know nothing except fishing and shrimp, and the fish lessons are very heavy, so life is indeed very difficult. As a result, they became a factor of instability. Some secretly went to sea to become pirates, and some participated in Japanese pirate attacks on villages and towns, and were even more marginalized by the locals.

There are many Dan people gathered at the Pearl River Estuary. Every time he sees their precarious and scantily clad living conditions, Yuan Yingtai, as a parent officer, feels heartbroken. But there is no way to catch up, and I can’t use it anymore, which is almost becoming a heartache.

When the call came to train sailors for the navy, he suddenly had an idea. The Dan people are best at sailing, building ships, and being aquatic. In other words, they are much more comfortable on the sea than on land. Isn't that why they are born sailors?

As long as you are willing to work hard to organize the Dan people to teach Chinese and let them read and write, there is no need to select them carefully. From the age of fifteen to fifty, they will all be good sailors. In Guangzhou alone, one or two thousand people can be selected, and if you add the Dan people in Fujian, especially Hainan Island, the number is estimated to be tens of thousands.

"Oops...Looking at my memory, I almost missed something important. Governor Yuan was full of praise for Brother Dalai's suggestion, but the younger brother is a war general and can't take care of these things. The specific arrangements are left to the staff. I guess they have to ask for instructions. Your Majesty will have an answer later, I think it won’t be too long.”

Facing a big war or a long-distance battle, Huang Nanping said it was quite easy. In fact, there were many things that needed to be dealt with. If Yuan Yingtai had not mentioned it, he would have forgotten about it. But it doesn't matter. The prospects for absorbing Dan people into the navy are still very optimistic. After all, the emperor even dares to use pirates.

"That's very good. I'll go and have a few words with Commander Li for my brother's sake. I won't say goodbye for now!" Yuan Yingtai was not in a hurry, so he clasped his fists and said goodbye and walked to the dock. Now that I'm here and I've seen him, I have to say hello to the Li brothers.

Regardless of the fact that the current naval generals are only third-grade guards commanders, judging from the emperor's behavior, their future achievements must be very promising. It is necessary to make superficial appearances early and form a good relationship.

"Wow... ding ding ding... Dear Governor, my family and I are extremely grateful for your generosity."

Watching the shining silver coins falling and listening to the sweet sound, Takeda Masao showed a sincere smile on his face. At this time, the governor's fat face covered with yellow beard also looked a little cute.

"If possible, there are still a few cargo ships in the port that have not been completely burned. Can you let me choose one as a prize?"

But bloodthirsty wolves never have too much meat. This time, the Japanese ronin in Manila took the lead in attacking the Ming Dynasty merchant ships. They encountered fierce resistance and lost more than a dozen of their men. These silver coins alone were not enough to make up for the losses.

"Takeda, don't be greedy!"

Major Juan, the commander of the Manila garrison fleet, disliked these Japanese rogues very much. They could neither transport many goods from Japan nor go to Daming Port for trade. They wandered around the city in groups all day long, often interacting with the indigenous people. The friction between people and the Chinese is a very annoying group of unstable factors.

"Dear Major Juan, this time we lost a lot of people and lost 3 ships. Trading 3 for 1, plus the repair cost, is not excessive." Takeda is not afraid of these Spaniards. The commanders and majors, including the bishops and monks, are all rootless duckweeds. Without the help of the Japanese ethnic groups and indigenous people, they would not be able to suppress the large number of Chinese. Since we are a group, we have to bargain when dividing the spoils, and we cannot work in vain.

"Take it, you can choose one, but you are not allowed to anchor it in the port. All traces must be swept away before the end of the month. If I find even a trace, you and your people will go to prison to spend the rest of your life!"

Governor Aguna, who was sitting in a high-backed chair like a Buddha statue, waved his hand, signaling Takeda to leave quickly with the box in his arms. The ship was given, but there were conditions. The aftermath work at the dock must be done well.

Without the help of the Chinese, work efficiency has obviously dropped a lot, and we can only rely on the Japanese and indigenous people to temporarily maintain it. According to past experience, smuggling merchant ships from the Ming Dynasty will continue to arrive in more than half a year, and within a year or two there will still be a forest of masts in the port.

"Mr. Governor, are you too kind to the Japanese? These guys will buy wine as soon as they get the silver coins. They will say anything when they are drunk. They are not trustworthy!" Major Juan was very dissatisfied with the Governor's magnanimity. If he were allowed to rule this port, the first people to be shot would be these Japanese ronin.

"No, no, no, dear Juan, we won't see Takeda and the guys around him tomorrow. Captain Steer has been ambushing the city, and when they get drunk, they will become criminals who steal the bank. Hanged in the castle dungeon.

What you need to worry about is not Takeda, but finding another Japanese with leadership, who will succeed Takeda and lead the Japanese here to continue to cooperate with us. Be fast, must be fast! "

Governor Aguna did not think much of this civilian-born fleet commander. As for the lives of Takeda and those Japanese ronin, he didn't take them seriously. Ever since they participated in the massacre of Chinese people eight years ago, they were destined to have this ending.

This year is my last year as the Governor of the Philippines. Before I leave, I must minimize the number of insiders who participated in the two man-made massacres, eliminate as many as possible, and resolutely not leave any future troubles.

However, there are still several months before returning to the Spanish mainland. The most important thing during this period is not to wipe the butt, but to stand on the last guard to ensure the safety of the silver ship.

This silver ship set out from Acapulco, Mexico, and followed the ocean currents for more than three months before arriving in the Philippines. It was loaded with gold coins, silver coins, silver ingots, wool, and cocoa powder from the New World.

It will stop in Manila for a month or two to buy as much raw silk, porcelain and spices from various Southeast Asian countries as possible, and then set off again in June, traveling for almost six months back to Mexico.

As for whether the Ming Dynasty merchant ship in Manila Port has been prevented from doing business for a long time by itself, whether it will affect the purchase of goods by the silver ship, that is the responsibility of the next governor. Compared with the governor of New Spain far away in Mexico, meeting the needs of Duke Lemar at home is obviously more important.

(End of this chapter)