The war on the Western Front slowed down, and throughout May, Chen Kai was busy with civil affairs in Chaozhou. On the contrary, as the offensive party in the strategic layout, Zheng Chenggong also quickly moved his army eastward after learning the news of Chen Jin's assassination.

Straight to Tong'an County.

Tong'an County is located between Zhang and Quan Prefectures, with Changtai in the west, Nan'an in the east, and across the sea to the south is Zhongzuo Suo. The city wall has a circumference of 2,710 meters, a height of 7.4 meters, and more than ten towers.

With the watch towers and ten forts, the city is strong, especially those ten forts, which further push the level of city defense into the era of hot weapon warfare.

This place was once acquired by Zheng Chenggong in history, and then fell again under the siege of the Qing army. Even the city walls and defensive buildings were demolished. Chen Kai's Chaozhou conspiracy prevented the tragedy of Tong'an Xueliugou.

, but the city was not attacked, and it was still the strong city here.

However, no matter how strong a fortress is, it must be guarded by staunch defenders in order to be effective. The biggest key point in war lies in people, and with the two shocking news of the fall of Fucheng in Zhangzhou and the assassination of Chen Jin, the Qing Dynasty

The soldiers were panic-stricken, and had reached the point where everything was in danger. When the Ming army's exploration horses just appeared on the border of Tong'an County, the defenders in the city, along with the Fujian Tibiao and Youlu Zhenbiao outside the city, quickly abandoned the city and retreated directly.

Towards Quanzhou Fucheng.

Taking Tong'an County without a fight, Zheng Chenggong was very fortunate that the five cannons were not brought with the army, but were carried by the navy to wait for their orders. After assigning defense, the army continued eastward and quickly returned to Anping Town.

Anping Town is a land and sea trade hub that Zheng Zhilong vigorously built. From here to Zhongzuo, goods can be exchanged between the sea and the land. Many close relatives of the Ishii Zheng family lived here. Later, with Chen Kaijie

The success of killing the horse was unavoidable, so most of the Zheng clan moved to Xiamen Island, leaving only Cheng Jibo and Zheng Zhibao to stay.

Since the interests of maritime trade were also involved in the Fujian officialdom of the Qing court, although Zhang Xuesheng was furious, he had no intention of causing public outrage for the two dead ghosts Ma Degong and Huang Shu. Anping Town was preserved until Zheng Chenggong's army arrived.

, the uncle Zheng Zhibao hurriedly came out to greet her, not daring to pretend to be an uncle.

"Fourth brother is better at understanding people and things. Damu is truly worthy of being a thousand-mile horse of my Zheng family."

"Uncle Wu is overly praised."

Zheng Zhibao is very enthusiastic towards Zheng Chenggong, but Zheng Chenggong is very cold towards this fifth uncle. The old incident of being cheated by three uncles last year is indeed over, but the knot is not so easy to heal. The harsh treatment of Zheng Zhiwan, the harsh treatment of Zheng Hongkui

He was suspected of being ostracized, but now that he met Zheng Zhibao, his indifference to him was considered very polite.

Zheng Chenggong kept chattering compliments, but Zheng Chenggong often replied with just a few words. Later, even though Zheng Zhibao was not thin-skinned, he was also extremely embarrassed. After his request to invite Zheng Chenggong into the town to rest was rejected, he

Knowing that Zheng Chenggong could not trust him, he did not say anything more.

One side was willing to compromise, while the other side had no intention of giving this face. Zheng Chenggong stationed here for two days, and the army continued eastward, and soon reached the bank of the Jinjiang River.

The capital of Quanzhou is located on the east bank of the Jinjiang River. Zheng Chenggong came from the west, so his army was naturally stationed on the west bank of the Jinjiang River. It is a gathering place for maritime trade and the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. It has been an important coastal defense town in the southeast since ancient times.

The Qing army could abandon Tong'an without a fight, but Quanzhou was both a capital and an important town, so it could never be abandoned easily. For this reason, the Qing army assembled heavy troops here, including Fu Biao, Tiao Biao, the Right Guards, and Tong'an garrison.

and Chen Jin's remaining troops are all concentrated here. At this stage, they are defending by the Jinjiang River. The Fujian navy, including Cai Xing and Zhang Yunfei, has gathered together, which can be said to be a strong formation.

In contrast, after Zheng Chenggong arrived at the Jinjiang River, he did not rush to cross the river. Instead, he dispatched troops to sweep Yongning Acropolis, Fuquan Qianhusuo City, Shihu City and other places, and capture all key points in southern Quanzhou west of the Jinjiang River, thus

This will ensure that the central and left areas become the hinterland.

This is a major strategic goal of the Southern Fujian strategy, and Zheng Chenggong is not very eager to capture Quanzhou. By the time all of this was completed, ensuring that the Center and the Left had nothing to worry about, it was already June. At this time, with the order

After the order was issued, the fleet assembled at Zhongzuo Station set sail and headed straight for Quanzhou in a mighty manner.

………………

Thousands of sails sailed out, and the Army Division had already set off for the expedition. The military camp on Xiamen Island began to become empty, but the ports used by merchant ships were still bustling with traffic, and the flow seemed to be getting more and more prosperous.

trend.

This is due to the continuous battles and victories of the Ming army. The improvement of trust has made more people engaged in maritime trade begin to believe in the safety of Xiamen Island. And it is safety that can bring more business opportunities.

After watching the weapons leave with the fleet, Feng Chengshi returned to the Ordnance Bureau workshop. These were the weapons, gunpowder and war defense materials prepared for the Quanzhou War. They were the most important batch and the largest batch.

, almost all the warehouses were emptied before preparing to come out, otherwise there would be no need for one of his supervisory officials to rush over.

After leaving the port, he was half relieved. Feng Chengshi nodded to the port officials and walked to the carriage not far away. During the process, some people he knew or didn't know came over to say hello. He also smiled and said

Yes, I didn't wipe the sweat off my forehead until I got on the carriage.

"To the Mint."

The Mint Institute is a newly built department under the Ordnance Bureau, responsible for minting coins. It can be regarded as the most important expansion since Feng Chengshi took charge of the Ordnance Bureau.

The finished product has already been produced, such as the one in Feng Chengshi's hand, which weighs seven cents and four cents, with "footprint" engraved on the upper end and "passing" engraved on the lower end of the back; "Zhangzhou Military Pay" is written horizontally on the front, and what appears to be a pattern below,

In fact, it is a cursive signature with the words "Zhu Chenggong" in one. Different from the old copper coins and silver ingots, this is a silver coin without a square hole in the middle, just a circle. It looks more like the ones used in some European countries.

of silver coins.

This design, according to Feng Chengshi, was to distinguish it from military pay and money making, so as to avoid criticism. Zheng Chenggong also expressed approval for this, because he really did not need to rashly change the old Kong Fangyuan coin system that had been followed for more than two thousand years.

.

With the development of minting, Feng Chengshi's position in the Ordnance Bureau became increasingly stable, and he began to be regarded by others as the most trusted aide by Zheng Chenggong after Chen Kai. Of course, Chen Kai's status as an aide continued to increase.

The continuous improvement of his status has become increasingly diluted, especially after he took office as the commander-in-chief of eastern Guangdong and won the victory in the annihilation of Su Li and the defensive battle against Geng Jimao. Even those children of the Zheng family who advocated breaking off the engagement have mostly kept silent.

The difference is still a qualitative level.

However, this does not affect Feng Chengshi's popularity in the Zhongzuo Institute. Just like at the port, whenever Feng Chengshi appears in a place, there will always be people who come forward to flatter him. Because he is a judge, he belongs to the traditional

Many scholars in the scholar-bureaucrat class also have a favorable impression of him, which makes him feel like a fish in water in his current position.

Arriving at the Mint, it was not too far from the Ordnance Bureau's workshop, but it was a place with three floors inside and three floors outside. It was surrounded by the Ming Army and was strictly protected. Feng Chengshi walked into it and saw several posts in front and behind.

He is also being investigated at all levels. This is the system he set up for the purpose of ensuring everything is in place.

After the inspection, Feng Chengshi took his servants into the workshop. After the salute, the craftsmen continued to work. The temperature here was very high because the metal had to be melted and then molded. After everything was completed, he appeared in front of him.

There is no big difference between the one in his hand and the one he was playing with while sitting in the carriage.

"You did a great job."

After expressing his approval and accepting the compliment, Feng Chengshi returned to the Ordnance Bureau to continue his duties after his inspection. His son Feng Xifan had been studying behind closed doors at home recently and did not follow him out to do business. Feng Chengshi returned to the office and reviewed some documents.

, before the next shift, a new official document arrived. After Feng Chengshi read it, he simply called Chen Qi over.

"Chen Duzao, how much inventory is there in Nan'ao?"

The inventory in South Australia that Feng Chengshi refers to is not the inventory of the general town government, but the inventory of the Ordnance Bureau in South Australia. The Ordnance Bureau's workshops in South Australia are still producing various weapons, and the output is naturally not comparable to that of the Center and the Left.

Comparison, but the supporting facilities there are relatively complete, and it is not under Feng Chengshi's nose, so it is relatively more relaxed.

At this moment, Feng Chengshi asked, Chen Qi recalled it and gave a number that was really not very good. In response, Feng Chengshi carefully looked through the local inventory, and then said to Chen Qiyan: "As for the center left

The output of the institute has recently been striding forward to launch an attack on the Fujian Imperial Army. We must not move lightly. Send all the inventory in South Australia to Mr. Chen. The Chaozhou side is on the defensive, so let them save some money."
Chapter completed!