Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 708

Under the guidance of Haitian, the fleet quickly passed Furongsha and went up all the way.Most of the veterans of the fleet entered the Pearl River Estuary for the first time and sailed in the waters of the Pearl River.Chen Haiyang has sailed on the Pearl River many times in the past - when he served in the South China Sea Fleet, he commanded warships to enter Huangpu Port many times.But the Pearl River in this time and space is very different from the old time and space.The river is wider, the water and the sky are the same color, as vast as the sea.Here and there, there are estuaries, river branches, and small sandbars and islets, and the confluence of the waters on both sides of the plain gives the illusion of an inland sea dotted with islands.The fragmentary rivers that cut the land often make it difficult to separate them from the water surrounding the island.There are small pieces of arable land everywhere, and the late rice has grown flowers, and the aroma of rice flowers permeates the air. Villages and market towns are scattered on the river banks. There are almost no roads, and only boats come and go. town and country.From time to time, several ship masts and sails can be seen looming in the depths of the rice fields.

This beautiful subtropical rural scenery has almost disappeared in the Pearl River Delta in the old time and space.The elders of the fleet watched the sight greedily.Isn't this the artistic conception of "a big river with wide waves, and the wind blows rice and flowers on both banks"?China's land has been so beautiful and fertile since ancient times, and this beauty has aroused their strong desire--we must take it!
There are some inland river transport ships sailing on the river, as well as fishing boats.Seeing such a menacing and well-equipped fleet sailing, one after another dodged to the harbor and river branches on both sides, Chen Haiyang ordered people to capture several ships to inquire about the situation on the river.

According to the information provided by the captured boatmen and sailors, there are no official division ships patrolling the Pearl River. If there are any official armed ships, there are only a few small boats on the river at the Zini customs office.

Most of the warships of the officers and soldiers are scattered in the large and small harbors between Xiangshan and Huangpu. There are more than a dozen official warships in Humen.In addition to the ships of the Navy, there are many large ships berthed in Greater Whampoa, with a total of more than 2000 ships.Since the war with the "Kun Thieves", many merchant ships who have traveled long distances have dared not set sail, especially merchant ships bound for Vietnam and Siam, because they have to pass through the Qiongzhou Strait-at this time they are in the "war zone". No one but a well-informed shipowner dares to venture there
As for the defense of Guangzhou, it is said that the officers and soldiers have stepped up their vigilance, and many forts with sandbags have been built on the river bank.The Ya Niangxie Fort in Humen also increased its artillery positions and added troops.

Chen Haiyang grasped the general situation of Jiang's defense, and believed that Guangzhou did not make too complicated defenses-of course, no matter how complicated the defense was, it would not be of much value according to the level of the 17th century.The navy he commanded was at least at the level of the early 19th century.If it weren't for the fact that the spy boat was too old and the tonnage was too small, he wouldn't even need to launch so many ships into the Pearl River.

Chen Haiyang ordered: "Release all the captured boat people, and give each of them some souvenirs."

The arrested boat people and merchants originally thought that even if they were not captured as meat tickets, they would lose both ships and cargo.Unexpectedly, the thief was very polite. After the questioning, they were allowed to leave by boat. Everyone on the boat also sent an Australian face cloth—towel as a gift.Towels are the most popular and popular commodity among Lingao industrial products.

The people on the boat looked blankly at the towels in their hands—the words "Australian and Song Navy entered the Pearl River for the first time" were sewn on it with blood-red threads—and looked at the fleet sailing away, feeling that they were simply Had a strange dream.

The fleet drove directly to Humen.Chen Haiyang decided to take this Pearl River pass, the gateway to Guangzhou, in the first battle.Humen belonged to Dongguan County in the second generation of Ming and Qing Dynasties and modern times. It is adjacent to Lingding Ocean on the outside and Shizi Ocean on the inside. It is a section of the Pearl River and its two sides with a length of about 8 kilometers.This place is the Pearl River pass, the gateway to Guangzhou.In history, the safety of Humen has important psychological significance to the safety of Guangzhou. Once foreign enemies capture Humen, it will shake the whole of Guangzhou.Therefore, the fortification of the past dynasties here is very strict.Although the Humen pass has never been able to withstand even a frontal attack by foreign enemies, not only the ships are strong, but the British and Japanese with equipment and tactical advantages have broken through this pass. Even the Chinese pirates in the Jiaqing era have easily Breakthrough Humen Fortress.He knew that in 1637, the British Weddell had destroyed and occupied the Yaniangxie Fort in Humen with a few ships.Given his strength, it would not take much effort to occupy this place.

While the Pearl River Task Force was advancing, the defense of the Humen area had been greatly strengthened.Although He Rubin, the general soldier of Guangdong, was besieged in Qiongshan, Wang Zunde couldn't see things because of illness.But thanks to the efforts of Li Fengjie, Guangdong local officials and Ming army generals, the defense of the entire Humen area has been greatly strengthened.

Presiding over the defense of Humen were Xu Tingfa, the supervisor of Guangzhou Coastal Defense, Chen Qian, a guerrilla in Humenzhai Coastal Defense, and Fan Wencai, the county magistrate of Dongguan.Humen is in Dongguan County, and Fan Wencai was obliged to do so, so he took his staff and moved to Taiping Town in front of Humen Village to work.Thousands of migrant workers were recruited to build fortifications in Humen.

Xu Tingfa is a veteran of coastal defense and knows that Humen's defense is very weak. There used to be an earth-stone fort on Yaniangxie Island, which was gradually built since the Wanli period, and many places collapsed and damaged.Most of the artillery installed on the turret are old Dafolang machine guns and cannons.Not only is it not powerful enough, but it is also rusted when placed in the open air on weekdays.In addition to the Yaniang shoe fort, there is only an earth and stone fort on Shanghengdang island opposite to Yaniang shoe island, with 4 Dafolang machine guns installed on it.The crossfire formed with the Yaniangxie Fort was very weak.However, these two forts can only barely control the Humen East Waterway, and the West Waterway has no fortification measures. Only after passing through Shanghengban Island, there is a simple Dahu Fort on the south side of Dahushan Island that can barely block the passage of the West Waterway. ship.

In these three forts, there are only 36 cannons in total, all of which are Franco cannons and older cannons cast in the Wanli period or even earlier.The total number of defenders in the three forts is no more than 120, and they are simply guarding the cannons and forts.

Except for these three forts, what the Ming army can use to defend Humen is the Humenzhai garrison led by Chen Qian.There are 640 defenders and 10 warships in Humen Village on weekdays.120 cannons.

This little force intercepts merchants and frightens the common people.So if the Ming army really wanted to start a war, it would have to send reinforcements here.The total force in wartime will be expanded to 2000 people.Xu Tingfa knew that the Kun bandits were known for their strong ships and powerful guns, which were far beyond the comparison of ordinary pirates.So while discussing with Fan Wencai about steaming and cleaning the old cannons and repairing the fort, they transported the newly cast Hongyi cannons from Foshan and other places.Expand the gun positions.

The number of artillery positions on the Yaniang Shoes Fort has increased by 60, reaching an unprecedented 72 positions.Shanghengdang Island not only renovated the original fort, but also plans to add a fort facing the west waterway.Place 12 cannons.Dahushan Fort also expanded its artillery.The Humen Village itself has added an earthen city, and plans to install 18 more artillery pieces.

Xu Tingfa, Fan Wencai and others started to reinforce and build the forts, and also built Western forts according to the shape and system of Sun Yuanhua's "Western Pier".In addition, a sandbag earth fort was temporarily built in Dajiao and Shajiao, and each fort was equipped with 2 Hongyi cannons and 10 Dafolangji.

According to the plan of Xu Tingfa and others, a fort will be built along the coast of Luwan on the west side of Shanghengang Island in the end, and it will form a tendency of artillery fire with the west fort on Shanghengang Island, so that the west waterway can be tightly blocked.

So many forts require a lot of money and manpower, and they can't be built in more than a year, and the invasion of the thieves may happen anytime and anywhere.Xu Tingfa and others discussed to build a temporary fort with sandbags first, and then set up the artillery.At least it can act as a deterrent.

Neither Xu Tingfa nor Lin Qian thinks that this defensive measure can stop the big iron boats or iron-clad fast boats of the Kun bandits. However, there seem to be not many of these two types of boats, and most of them are sailing boats. To fight against sailing ships, the Ming Navy I'm still a little confident-the Guangdong navy has had a lot of experience in frequent battles with pirates from all walks of life over the years.

As soon as Chen Haiyang's task force passed Dajiao, the forts at Dajiao and Shajiao spotted this well-formed fleet.Coupled with the red flag on the mast and the big hairboat emitting black smoke, it is easy to know who is coming.

On September 1123, [-], the Hongyi Cannon of Dajiao Fort fired for the first time.Afterwards, other cannons from the Dajiao and Shajiao forts also rang out one after another.

Chen Haiyang ordered to shrink the formation.The intelligence of these two forts, "Haitian" has long reported: the best cannon on the two forts in Dajiaoshajiao is just a 12-pound cannon imitating the British naval gun, and its range is only 1000 meters at best, and it cannot hit the fleet at all.This is nothing but grand momentum.

He could completely turn a deaf ear to the bombardment and pass through without seeing it.However, Chen Haiyang's mission this time is to teach the local government in Guangdong a lesson, so that they can fully understand the strength of the Traversing Group. Naturally, this kind of provocative behavior requires severe revenge.

He raised his binoculars to observe the two forts: very simple temporary forts built with sandbags.And there are not many artillery pieces.An order was issued to destroy the Dajiao and Shajiao forts.

"Attack the Big Horn Fort first! The cannon squadrons are free to fire. Fire alternately in single and double sequences! The Caron cannon squadron follows my command and enters the battle!"

The spy boats incorporated into the task force this time have squadrons equipped with cannons and caron guns.Although the cost of the Caron cannon is low and the effect is good at close range in naval battles, the effective range is too short. Generally, the maximum effect can only be exerted when the approach is about 130 meters.

　1. The defense system of Humen was formally completed in the Wanli period.The fortification system of the Ming Dynasty described in this book roughly followed the Humen coastal defense system of the Qing Dynasty.

　　2. The names of several officials in Humen are of course fictitious.However, Chen Qian did have such a person. According to the "History of Sino-British Relations", the Guangdong general in 1637 was Chen Qian.Of course, there is no research on whether he ever worked as a guerrilla writer in Humenzhai—including doubts about whether this official title exists.

　　3. The Caron cannon is a large-caliber naval cannon invented by the British.Short range and great power.

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(End of this chapter)