Crazy at the end of the Ming Dynasty

() Xue Yongli understood Wu Shigong's meaning very well, that is, to establish a buffer zone around the periphery of the Runing Army.And we must try our best to win over those fools, at least not to let them join the peasant rebel army.

At this stage, the status of the Runing Army is quite popular, so as long as these fools feel that the Runing Army will not abandon them, let them feel the powerful strength of the Runing Army, in the future In the battle against the Peasant Rebel Army, these people will also be inclined to the Runing Army, and even after the interests are tied, it is possible to turn these people into the hardcore of the Runing Army.

Then, Xue Yongli asked another question of concern: "Grandpa, Governor Hong has returned to Shaanxi directly, and the bandit suppression army is no longer going to Huguang. Do we still need to set up supply points along the way in Xinyang and Wuchang?".

During the Xinyang military meeting, Hong Chengchou learned that the peasant rebel army had entered Shaanxi on a large scale, so his original plan to suppress bandits in Huguang would not work, so after the meeting, Hong Chengchou hurried back to Shaanxi with the main force.Under such circumstances, it seems unnecessary for the Runing Army to spend manpower and material resources to build food supply points.

"That's not the case!" Wu Shigong waved his hands and explained, "I'm looking at the road to Wuchang, and I'm looking at the Yangtze River waterway. If we have a navy in Wuchang, then our soft bellies in Huguang will be completely lost." It's hardened. And it can completely guarantee the retreat of the Runing Army. As for Governor Hong! If you can help, please help. Besides, his warrant is in my hands now. If I don't use it to the full, I'm sorry Hong. The governor's trust!"

After speaking, the two looked at each other and laughed.

"It's no wonder my uncle wanted to return Fujian Zheng Guerrilla's dividends." Of course Xue Yongli knew Wu Shigong's purpose of building a navy, "But after learning that my uncle made his own decisions, Mr. Deng didn't say anything in front of you, but his face behind his back It's green!"

After this festival, Zheng Jiao and shopkeeper Zheng came to Runing Mansion together again.They brought Wu Shigong the dividends of his four sea-going ships for more than half a year—7000 taels of silver.

Of course, Zheng Zhilong, who was a sea hero in the late Ming Dynasty, was definitely not stupid, and he would not give Wu Shigong money for nothing. He had his own intentions in sending dividends.

When Zhang Rubao led a hundred people to Fujian last year, he happened to meet Zheng Zhilong and set off to fight against his last powerful enemy at sea—Liu Xiang.And Zhang Rubao also joined the expedition.

At the end of May in the eighth year of Chongzhen, Zheng Zhilong encountered Liu Xianghai's armed group in Tianweiyang, Guangdong. The two sides immediately fought fiercely, and they fought evenly.As the battle progressed, ships from both sides strangled together.It depends on who can gain the upper hand in the battle of jumping gangs.

In the fierce battle, Zheng Zhilong's most powerful and beloved assistant, his younger brother Zheng Zhihu, unfortunately died in battle.But at this moment, the hundred people led by Zhang Rubao turned out.They changed the chaotic situation of the previous pirate gang battles, and formed combat teams with left and right cover and equipped with far and near weapons according to the tactics of the Runing Army.

Each of these teams is proficient in combat skills and skilled in coordination.The equipment of weapons is quite reasonable, so the battle with them has become one-sided.

This also became the last straw that broke the camel's back.Liu Xiang's warships were successively seized by Zheng Zhilong.And Liu Xiang's flagship, which was being strangled, was finally surrounded by Zheng Zhilong's warships.See cornered.Liu Xiang committed suicide by burning himself, and Zheng Zhilong's last enemy at sea was wiped out.

After the war, Zheng Zhilong gave Zhang Rubao and the others generous rewards, and used beauty and high profits to win over Zhang Rubao and others.But these people were carefully selected by the Runing Army, and their families were all under Wu Shigong's control, so in the end no one changed their families to join Zheng Zhilong.And Zheng Zhilong also has a cooperative relationship with Wu Shigong.I can't do something too ugly to be popular, so I just let it go.

After Liu Xiang's death, Zheng Zhilong incorporated all sea power into the local government system and gained control of the sea.Legally control the operation of the East-West trade system.Because the government of the Ming Dynasty only had an official with maritime power like Zheng Zhilong, in fact it was Zheng Zhilong who monopolized the foreign maritime trade of the Ming Dynasty.

At this time, there were three golden sea lanes in the Far East: one was to enter Macau through Malacca, which was the common waterway for all Western countries; the other was to go through Manila to the coast of the Ming Dynasty, which was exclusively used by Spain, and Zheng Zhilong also had a large part of his sea trade. This is the route; the other is from the Ming Dynasty to Japan.This is currently the most profitable sea route, and it is basically monopolized by Zheng Zhilong.

But why add "basically"?Because the Dutch colonists who established a colony in Taiwan also used Taiwan as a base to conduct some ocean-going trade with Japan.

At this time, Zheng Zhilong was about to control and develop Taiwan and suppress the Dutch colonists.Zheng Zhilong's purpose of controlling and developing Taiwan is similar to Wu Shigong's purpose of setting up Tuntian Villa in Henan, which is to set up a base for the Zheng family at sea.But we must also pay attention, he only suppressed in Taiwan, not drove or eliminated the Dutch colonists.

Because Zheng Zhilong still needs to do business with the Dutch colonists.In his opinion, national righteousness is not as important as white money. As long as the Dutch colonists abide by the maritime rules established by Zheng Zhilong in the Far East, it is irrelevant to cede some places in Taiwan to the Dutch.

But since the Dutch at this time can be called "sea coachmen", of course they will not submit obediently.Therefore, Zheng Zhilong will use force to subdue the Dutch in Taiwan, and then let them accept the maritime rules he made.

But the Dutch firearms are also quite powerful, and they have already built several strong fortresses in Taiwan, allowing Zheng Zhilong to attack directly with his direct descendants?Then he would definitely feel distressed, so Zheng Zhilong set his sights on the mercenaries.

Zheng Zhilong himself recruited some pirates in Fujian, and hired some ronin in Japan. Now that he saw Zhang Rubao's powerful fighting power, he also thought of hiring some soldiers from the Runing Army.To be honest, in the military cooperation between Wu Shigong and Zheng Zhilong now, Zheng Zhilong occupies an absolutely active position because of his wealth and strength.

So after Zheng Jiao met Wu Shigong this time, he proposed to Wu Shigong to send another [-] soldiers with the same fighting power as Zhang Rubao and the others to help Zheng Zhilong control Taiwan.

As a reward, Zheng Zhilong promised to give Wu Shigong two seagoing ships in addition to the dividends he brought, and would distribute some benefits to Wu Shigong in the development of Taiwan. Of course, Wu Shigong had to raise his own manpower to develop Taiwan.

But Wu Shigong completely rejected this proposal.He returned the dividend and asked Zheng Zhilong to help build a batch of small and medium-sized inland river commercial and war vessels that can be used on the Yangtze River and Huaihe River.

Zheng Jiao had no objection to this.For Zheng Zhilong, who can build sea-going ships, building some small and medium-sized ships is just a piece of cake.

But Wu Shigong then proposed: to send [-] soldiers to completely occupy Taiwan.In this regard, Wu Shigong only needs to share more of the territory originally occupied by the Dutch, and the main control of Taiwan will still be fully controlled by Zheng Zhilong.

But Zheng Zhilong did not have the authority to agree to such a condition.He can only send a fast horse to send the news back to Fujian, and let Zheng Zhilong decide everything.

But not only Zheng Jiao's request to Wu Shigong was a bit strange, even no one in the Runing Army could understand Wu Shigong.So Xue Yongli asked again: "Grandpa! Then Zheng Guerrilla used money to buy our Runing Army to fight, let alone whether this approach is appropriate or not, but Yizhou (Taiwan) is a barbaric land with poor mountains and bad waters, and those who want to fight They are all Francophones like Deputy Director Gang, isn’t this income too little?”

Wu Shigong shook his head with a smile. People in the Ming Dynasty don’t even know that Taiwan is the treasure island of the motherland: “So I want to send three thousand soldiers. Yizhou’s sea trade can be given to Zheng Guerrilla first, but the territory of Yizhou I want It accounts for [-]%. In fact, you don’t know that Yizhou is a good place. It’s nothing more than being isolated overseas, and I have a sea ban in Ming Dynasty, so I’m afraid that the overseas separatists will give up this place. Yizhou is rich in products, and the fields are three crops a year. Rich in seafood. This island alone is enough to feed a million people and support [-] troops."

Thanks to the news media for introducing Taiwan over the years, Wu Shigong at this time also spoke in a decent way, which made Xue Yongli also accept Wu Shigong's point of view with suspicion.

However, Xue Yongli reminded again: "Young master! Our Runing Army's current strength is also stretched, and we will divide the troops again. I'm afraid that if we don't rely on the two ends, we will get nothing!"

"The old land of Shenzhou is not allowed to be trampled by barbarians!" Wu Shigong replied firmly. "Fighting the Shaanxi bandits is like fighting against the wall between brothers. Sometimes you can't kill them all. But fighting the red-haired ghosts and Tartars is a national war, and you can sacrifice everything. Instead of working hard. Our Runing Army is already the most elite sons and daughters of China, so who else should I be responsible for? This is also a great responsibility from the heavens, and this is the destiny!"

Wu Shigong's agitation made Xue Yongli's blood boil.Coupled with those words of "destiny", Xue Yongli also became a little superstitious that his son-in-law was sent by heaven to save this troubled world.Don't tell me, sometimes the ancients did this too.

Xue Yongli didn't know at all, when he heard that Zheng Jiao invited the Runing army to attack Taiwan, Wu Shigong immediately thought of the deeds of the national hero Zheng Chenggong.Back then, Zheng Chenggong could rely on Taiwan to deal with the Qing Dynasty for such a long time. If the Runing Army occupied Taiwan, even if it was only a small part, then the Runing Army would really have the last retreat.Now Wu Shigong is still worried that the original history will repeat itself. In the future, the Qing soldiers will enter the pass and occupy the entire Central Plains.

But it's ridiculous that until now, Wu Shigong still doesn't know that Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Chenggong are father and son.

After some excitement, Xue Yongli changed the topic, and said to Wu Shigong with a smile: "Our Runing Army has made so many moves, and Mr. Deng will have to worry about food and silver again." (To be continued...)