Chapter 7: Siege of Nanjing (IV)

In Yu Guangjie's eyes, the court had no chance of winning. Yuan Chonghuan was a famous general who was good at defending. It was obvious that the Northern Dynasties ordered him to be the commander of the Southern Expedition. It was just to use his calmness and step by step to gradually form an encirclement of Nanjing. It was not easy to defeat such a famous general in the world. After receiving the imperial edict, he felt that this time leading the army was the most bleak future in his life, but he had to abide by the will, otherwise his family would follow the footsteps of Zhou Shi Pu Zhou. Even if he died in the battlefield, he would at least save his family and leave a bloodline for the Yu family. Thinking of this, Yu Guangjie turned over and stepped on the war horse and led the 50,000 troops assigned by Wei Zhongxian to him out of the east gate and came to Zhenjiang Prefecture.

To meet a wise master, to show your ambitions and to shine your ancestors, this is what every scholar yearns for the most, and Hong Chengchou is not the case.

Standing on the Chinese treasure ship with two thousand pieces of materials, the wet sea breeze blew towards him. Hong Chengchou felt unstable, his heart was surging, and full of confidence.

Both Zheng Nansheng and Song Xiance boarded the Chinese treasure ship for the first time. Facing such a giant, their eyes were full of curiosity. The towering sails and advanced navigation compass, especially the two sides of the cabin, which were cast with fine steel on both sides. They lifted off the cannon suits and exposed the dark cannon barrels. The cold light shone, which was daunting. If the court could create such a powerful weapon for war, why worry about the unfairness of the world?

"Master General, Captain Chen, please go over and discuss the login matters." Zheng Nansheng stood quietly behind Hong Chengchou and passed the message.

The sea, I, Hong Chengchou, finally saw you. I will live with you and fight with you in the future. Hong Chengchou feels deeply moved. He has a premonition that he will be closely connected with this vast and dangerous sea in the second half of his life. From the Minister of Jiangfang to the Minister of Sea Defense, he has such an enlightenment. The emperor is an ambitious person who is unwilling to be lonely and ambitious. He has opened the sea ban and built ships, which all show his strong ambition for the ocean. Why is the red-haired foreigners desperately trying to do business with the Celestial Empire and conduct trade for the word "profit". In the face of huge profits, any risk or even life will become extremely fragile.

The emperor does not love money, otherwise he would not hand over the inner government to the Ministry of Revenue. What does he want? Where did he want to take the Ming Dynasty? He has been thinking about this question. For now, every decision of the emperor is extremely correct. Does the emperor want to conquer all over the world and incorporate those uncivilized wild lands into the Ming Dynasty? Thinking of this, Hong Chengchou was panicked and excited. He thought that he could expand territory for the court and establish unparalleled merits. But on the other hand, he felt fear. If the emperor was really migrant, constantly conquered the outside world, and even the people were in trouble, what would he do?

"Oh!" Hong Chengchou sighed and thought to himself, have he thought too much? Before his country was settled, he thought about what happened decades later. The emperor is young and has many loyal ministers and generals around him. With their assistance, how could he easily embark on that path? Are he a little worried?

"Why did the Grand Marshal sigh?" Zheng Nansheng asked in surprise.

Hong Chengchou turned around and replied with a smile: "It's nothing, it's just a little touch. I have been the Minister of Coast Defense for a while, and today I am considered famous and authentic."

Zheng Nansheng teased and said, "I'm afraid the commander will have to be famous for a while, and we will log in again next."

"Yes, I'll have to climb for a while, but it's too soon." Hong Chengchou asked with a smile, "Where is the military advisor, why are you the only one?"

"The military advisor studied the landing location with Captain Chen in the combat hall. He chose a few, and finally, the commander, you will decide." Zheng Nansheng said.

"Oh, be careful when logging in, go back together." Hong Chengchou's face suddenly became solemn, and his relaxed and freehand expression just now disappeared immediately.

In the huge combat room, Song Xiance and Chen Guang, the fleet captain of the First Fleet of the East China Sea Fleet, put their heads together, pointed at a map of the eastern Zhejiang coastal area, and discussed something in a low voice, with a very devoted expression, not realizing that Hong Chengchou and Zheng Nansheng were approaching them.

Song Xiance suddenly looked up and saw Hong Chengchou smiling, and hurriedly stood upright and said, "Report to the Lord, I have carefully studied with General Chen. There are four suitable places for landing in the army. One is directly landing in Qiantang, the other is Haining a little north, and the other is Zhapu to the north. These three landing sites are all north of the Qiantang River estuary, and the other is Xiaoshan in Shaoxing Prefecture. However, if our army aims to occupy Hangzhou Prefecture, this landing site can be completely abandoned. After landing, you have to cross the Qiantang River and log in directly in Hangzhou Prefecture. There is no need to do this!"

Hong Chengchou nodded and asked, "Where are the other three?"

"It is difficult to land directly in Qiantang. Qiantang County has an army of about 2,000 people, commanded by Qiantang Commander Qin Ruhai. This man had served as the chief officer under Yu Dazhong in his early years. He had a good defensive counterattack landing operation. For the sake of safety, his subordinates advised not to log in directly from Qiantang County."

"Well, I have heard of this man. I have made a military order in front of the emperor. I will not be able to make mistakes when landing in the battle, and I will be safe." Hong Chengchou agreed.

Hong Chengchou and Song Xiance unanimously gave up the huge temptation of landing directly in Qiantang and turned their attention to the other two places. First, let’s talk about Haining. To the north of him is a salt field, with Haining Guards stationed at the same time. The troops are about a thousand people. Usually, they look at the stove and attack local evil forces. They rarely have combat tasks. Moreover, they are only two days away from Lin'an City. If they move quickly, before the news reaches the news, they may be coming to Lin'an City. Zhapu is too far away. Although he has a natural port and dock, it is more suitable for landing operations, but it is too far from Lin'an. Once the news is received in Lin'an City, it will be difficult to quickly take down Lin'an, and time is not allowed. Therefore, Hong Chengchou and Song Xiance almost unanimously determined that the best landing location is Haining.

After confirming the landing location, Hong Chengchou and Song Xiance both turned their attention to Chen Guang, the head general of the landing fleet.

"The last general is not a big problem, so please don't worry, General Hong said politely. He is the grandson of Chen Zi, a famous navy general. He inherited the archery guards and was only a thousand households. After Zhu Yinglong cut off the archery guards, he discovered this naval warfare talent and handed it over to Sun Yunhua. After the construction of the China Treasure Ship was completed, he became the first captain and fleet captain. Hong Chengchou was the minister of the coastal defense. Although this position does not have real power now, he now restrains himself and is his nominal boss. Maybe one day it will be confirmed. Therefore, he dare not be disrespectful to Hong Chengchou, let alone Hong Chengchou has already become famous!

The first batch of landing troops had only 4,000 people. Hong Chengchou pulled all the large ships of the navy, including his flagship "Lieyun" and captured spoils, Zheng Zhibao's flagship "Sea Shark", plus the Chinese Treasure Ship, a total of more than 50 ships, loaded with 4,000 elite soldiers, sailed out of the Yangtze River and headed south along the coastline.

"Report!"

"Come in!"

"Captain, a fleet was found about ten miles to the right of our fleet!"

"What flag?" Chen Guang frowned and asked.

“The distance is too far and can’t be seen clearly.”

"How many ships are there?"

"At least fifty, all of them are brigged sea ships."

"So much?" The four people in the combat room all looked solemn.

"We have entered the waters of Hangzhou Bay. How could such a large fleet appear here?" Chen Guang said nervously. Although he had been on the sea trial for a while, he had fired several times with several pirates. Every time, his firepower was dominant. The pirate ship was sunk by him before it got close, but he was not proud of it. You must know that the sea is not as dangerous as land, and it is not uncommon for small boats to eat big ships. It is definitely not accidental that such a huge fleet suddenly appears.

"General Chen, could it be a pirate?" Zheng Nansheng asked without being familiar with the situation in the East China Sea.

"No, if you can have such a large fleet or fleet on the East China Sea, you will definitely not be a pirate." Chen Guang explained.

"Can it be the pirate who got on the shore?" Hong Chengchou felt a stir in his heart, and an unknown premonition surged into his heart.

"Zheng Zhilong!" Zheng Nansheng exclaimed in dismay.

"It's very likely!" A layer of fine beads of sweat appeared on Chen Guang's forehead. At this time, he suddenly felt the heat waves in the war room, and his whole body was like a brazier roast. He analyzed: "In the East China Sea, there are only three forces that can gather fifty sea boats with brigs of more than 400 materials, one is Zheng Zhilong from Fujian, the other is Portuguese from Macau, and the other is the Dutch from Honghai."

"The Portuguese fleet is usually in Nanyang and Japan. The Dutch and Fujian Zheng Zhilong have had several fierce battles. The Dutch fleet cannot appear here. They cannot pass through the Fujian waters. The only one left is Zheng Zhilong. He is the only one with this strength and has so many big sea ships." Hong Chengchou's heart sinks more and more. If he really makes the case, what does Zheng Zhilong's fleet want to do when he comes to Hangzhou Bay?

"Report, the captain of the fleet, the other party seemed to have noticed us, and was leaning towards our fleet at full speed!"

"Order, take the form of a defensive formation and prepare for battle!" Chen Guang issued a loud order.

The entire fleet changed its formation immediately. The artillery removed the cannons and opened the cannon windows on both sides. The black muzzles were aimed at the magnificent sea. With just a command, the angry cannonballs would tear the enemy's ships into pieces and all of them were buried in the belly of fish.

On the deck, Hong Chengchou and his other two stood in the wind without having to pass through the telescope. They had seen each other's huge fleet of ships. Through the telescope, they could see clearly the black battle flag hanging high on the other's masts at first glance. The word "Zheng" flying in the wind told everyone that their master was Zheng Zhilong, the Marquis of Minnan.

"It seems that we are in trouble!" Hong Chengchou said calmly.

"We also have ten cannons in our hands, so it's better..." Song Xiance suggested.
Chapter completed!