"The Hongyi people have been coveting the southeast of Ming Dynasty! Not to mention Guangdong and Guangxi, they have tried to occupy Xiaoliuqiu overseas several times!"
"Now that I see that my Ming Dynasty's overseas business is improving, I want to hinder my Ming Dynasty's development."
"They are just barbarians who have no respect for our country. If we don't use thunderous means, how can we show our great power?"
Above the court, Qian Qianyikang's enthusiasm felt like he had returned to the spirit of a hot-blooded teenager who was blaming Fang Qiu.
After several days of fermentation of public opinion, the issue of the Hongyi people blocking the southeastern waters and hindering Ming merchant ships from going out to sea finally broke out in Zhengchao Shang.
Compared with Qian Qianyi, Zhang Haogu, who is now in his youth, looks like an old man. His eyes are slightly closed, he shakes the jade tablet in his hand, and he seems to be asleep.
The Great Emperor of Tianqi and the only Naren Great Khan of the grassland people, Zhu Youxiao, is sitting on the dragon throne with a serious look on his face, but if you look carefully, his eyes seem to have been staring at a book on the imperial table.
This is a rare sight. The emperor who has been committed to conquering the south and the north and expanding the territory has said nothing. Zhang Haogu, as a young and hard-line member of the court, is sleepy; on the contrary, he is engaged in a project that values peace.
The Donglin Party and the old party who had previously cried out that they could not violate the imperial court's ancestral rules by opening the sea and strictly prohibiting merchants and fishermen from going to sea, here Kang expressed their intention to fight to the death with the Dongyi people.
But considering the actual situation, this is not surprising at all. After all, the most severely affected people right now are the wealthy businessmen and gentry in Jiangnan and Guangdong and Fujian. These are the territories of the Donglin Party and the old party. Now they are planning to defect to the new party.
, if the Donglin Party doesn't show its support, it is estimated that not many people will support them.
"Your Majesty, I request an order to use thunderous tactics against the Southeast Hainan bandits, and at the same time expel all the Hongyi people in the territory, so that they will know how serious it is to offend our great power!" Qian Qianyi finally stated his purpose.
Well, let the imperial navy first destroy the Red Yi people entrenched in the southeast, and then drive out the Hong Yi people in the territory. By then, all the business will be done by their own people. As for whether they are driven out by the Red Yi people or the Huang Yi people,
Is it important?
With such little thoughts, Zhang Haogu knew what those people were thinking even with his eyes closed.
"Your Majesty, I believe that it is feasible to clear out the pirates in the southeast sea, but it is not possible to expel all the red barbarians in the territory. Now that our sea ban has been opened for the first time, and all the countries are coming to the court, it is the time to show our dynasty's magnanimity. If the red barbarians in the territory are expelled,
If everyone is expelled, where is the court's magnanimity?" A censor stood up and refuted.
Someone else stood up to refute: "This is wrong! Your Majesty, the Hongyi people have openly fought against our court. I think if we don't strictly clean up at this time, how will the various countries respect our Ming Dynasty, and how will they show the power of the court? No.
If you kill one person as a warning to others, will those benevolent people still be respected by the barbarians?"
However, another official stood up and said: "If the imperial court's dignity is demonstrated by expelling some innocent people, how can it gain the respect of other countries? Those pirates broke the law, just punish the pirates, how can other innocent people be involved? What if?
If all Hongyi people are forcibly convicted, what do the merchants from other countries think? Where does the imperial court put its tolerance and laws? "
Zhu Youxiao's eyes twitched. Didn't he talk about whether to punish those pirates? Why did he involve other businessmen again?
But this is normal. After all, what these officials are best at is linking one thing to another, going here and there, and going around in circles, so that nothing useful can be discussed at all.
.
"Ahem, everyone, let's get back to the topic. We are not talking about whether we should punish the other Hongyi merchants. What we are talking about right now is whether we should capture those Hongyi pirates." Lu Xiangsheng couldn't help but speak out.
Qian Qianyi said: "Of course they must be collected, and they must be wiped out as quickly as possible. This is to declare to thousands of miles away and teach the world that anyone who offends our great power will be punished no matter how far away!"
At this time, a group of officials and censors echoed: "Yes, anyone who openly violates my great power will be punished no matter how far away!"
"The majesty of the imperial court cannot be violated, and these barbarians must be exterminated!"
Zhu Youxiao finally spoke: "Yes."
Qian Qianyi leaned over and knelt down excitedly: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"
The emperor confirmed the dispatch of troops, and the rest was naturally left to the cabinet to mobilize troops and generals to dispatch troops to quell the invaders.
Faced with the remarks of the Yushi Yanguan, who all clamored to send troops immediately to quell the invaders and teach the Hongyi people a lesson, Lu Xiangsheng sneered: "These Yanguan, all of them don't know the military affairs and are talking so brazenly here, but they still send troops immediately. The imperial court mobilized
It doesn’t take time to dispatch generals or it doesn’t take time to assemble logistics, food and pay. If these people were running the country, the court would have been in chaos long ago."
Qian Qianyi listened to Lu Xiangsheng's words with his eyes and nose, and his nose and mouth, as if he didn't know that these words were secretly talking about the gentry and wealthy families in the south of the Yangtze River and himself behind them.
Sending troops is not as simple as issuing an order today and sending troops tomorrow.
All aspects of the deployment of warships and soldiers there, supplies along the way, firearms ordnance, etc. need to be followed up, otherwise the Ministry of War would not need so many divisions.
Zhang Haogu took a sip of tea and said slowly: "We must fight, but I don't know the enemy's situation. I think you all know the consequences of sending troops rashly. Over the years, the imperial court has won many battles. This sea level is
Kou, if we can't decide in one battle, the dignity of the imperial court will be damaged."
"Does any party have any information about the Red Yi pirates entrenched in Southeast Asia?"
Although he said this to everyone, Qian Qianyi knew that the ones who were in contact with the Hongyi pirates these days were the maritime merchants from Jiangnan and Guangdong and Guangxi, so he was asked to provide information.
Naturally, Qian Qianyi would not refuse this request: "When the imperial navy sets out for an expedition, the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River and Guangdong and Guangdong will definitely eat pots of wine to welcome the king's navy."
Nodding slightly, Zhang Haogu continued: "The Imperial Navy's navy in the south is naturally not weak. But this battle must not only be decided in one battle, but also to deter other countries. Therefore, this battle must be won beautifully.
As for the generals, what do you think?"
As for the generals, Qian Qianyi looked at Huang Liji. After seeing that Huang Liji didn't speak, he also knew that the new army of the imperial court was currently in the hands of the New Party. As for the new navy, it was naturally the generals of the New Army who were responsible for it.
Lord, I don’t have anyone to recommend at all.
"General, naturally it depends on Yuan Fu's opinion." Qiao Yunsheng said.
Qian Qianyi nodded: "That's right, I'm not good at fighting, but I have no one to recommend this good general in battle."
Zhang Haogu sighed slightly, he really hoped that Qian Qianyi or someone could recommend a good general for naval warfare.
After all, it is common sense that the north is good at cavalry warfare and the south is good at water warfare. There are many good water warfare generals along the southeast coast.
But now it is 1632, the twelfth year of the Great Ming Dynasty. Where can I find a good water station general in this year?
Without talents from the south who were proficient in naval warfare, Zhang Haogu had no choice but to select people from the northern navy.
After pondering for a moment, Zhang Haogu said: "In this way, the Ministry of War ordered Qi Mingguang, the commander-in-chief of Laizhou, to appoint him as the admiral of the navy, grant him the title of general Zhaoyi, and let him lead the fleet south."
With the reform of the New Deal and the establishment of the new army, there have been many changes in the military. Although the general is a third-rank officer, he is not the same as the admiral of the navy. The admiral of the navy is independently responsible for a navy and is the chief commander of the navy.
Qi Mingguang was mentioned in this position because Zhang Haogu had very few naval talents.
After confirming the naval commander, the rest of the arrangements were simple. They dispatched the fleet, arranged supplies along the southeastern route, and issued orders one after another from the cabinet. Once these orders were stamped with the seal of the cabinet, the machine of Ming Dynasty began to operate slowly again.
.
When he came to Laizhou, Qi Mingguang knelt down on one knee wearing iron armor and was welcoming the edict.
As a new official robe with a ribbon was presented to Qi Mingguang, the Minister of War said with a smile: "General Qi, now you are the first naval admiral in the Ming Dynasty."
Qi Mingguang took a deep breath and solemnly took over the official robe and ribbon: "This humble position will definitely live up to Yuan Fu's high expectations!"
Putting on a brand new official robe and hanging his ribbon, Qi Mingguang, the admiral of the Northern Navy of the Ming Dynasty, boarded his flagship, the Weiyuan, the first steam warship of the Ming Dynasty. He looked at the warships loading baggage around him.
There was undisguised joy on his face.
He is already forty years old this year. In his forties, becoming the admiral of the navy of the imperial court's new army is much better than being the general who came to the state.
Even though they are all third-grade officers, who doesn't know that the original military system of the imperial court is being replaced by the new army military system. These positions such as generals and generals will soon be completely abolished. Who can become a regular officer at this time?
As a third-grade naval admiral leads a royal navy, the future of himself and his family is guaranteed. If he can win this battle, his status will be secure.
"Report, report to the admiral, the supplies on all ships have been loaded and are on standby."
Listening to the report from the attendant, Qi Mingguang waved his hand: "Send the flag, all the ships will pull up their anchors and set sail!"
The Ming Dynasty Navy fleet in Laizhou Bay began to set sail. Fighting ships spread out and cruised around the periphery like cavalry. The ships and Fuchuan were in the middle, guarding the largest ironclad Weiyuan, and there were some small boats around as sentries.
Riding on parade, used as a messenger.
The entire fleet of dozens of ships headed south, and there were naval forces in Jiangnan and Guangdong and Guangxi waiting for them to meet up.
Although today's Daming Navy no longer has the huge scale of more than 3,000 warships of various types during the Yongle period, it is still not something that the Hongyi people can provoke. If it were not for the cabinet's hope that the new navy of the imperial court would take ironclad ships as its main research target, ordinary wooden
The warships of the imperial court have already been launched in batches.
At present, this fleet is heading south from Laizhou to Songjiang, anchoring at the entrance of Songjiang Prefecture to join the fleet here, forming a scale of hundreds of warships of various types.
Looking at the past on the coast of Songjiang Prefecture, hundreds of warships of various sizes are surrounding the behemoth like a hill on the sea. The huge warship is covered with iron armor, has two huge chimneys and four masts, and represents
Compared with the current naval strength of the imperial court, those large and small sterns, battleships, and lucky ships look so small, like a school of fish next to a giant whale, which makes people sigh with emotion.
"That's the imperial court's new warship? It's so strange and magnificent!" Shen Chao couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the giant ship on the sea.
"Yes, no one thought that the imperial court could build such a large warship. Isn't it possible that such a large warship would have hundreds of cannons?" The young master of the Hu family marveled.
But in fact, the Weiyuan ironclad only has forty-four guns, because it has other arrangements that have not been installed, and the many open spaces on the deck are reserved for subsequent modifications.
After all, according to the original plan, this ironclad ship was to have four giant cannons on the deck. The current craftsmanship is not up to par, so for the time being, it will be replaced with forty-four three-thousand-jin and five-thousand-jin cannons until the giant cannons are manufactured.
Once out, that's when the armored ship has all its firepower.
"The imperial court's new warship is really beautiful." Shen Yi, a naval general in the south of the Yangtze River, looked at and touched the ironclad Weiyuan with an envious look.
They are all generals of the new army of the imperial court. Their shipyards in Jiangnan are stronger than those in Shandong. It can be said that apart from the shipyards in Fuzhou, the shipyards in Jiangnan are the largest. However, the research and manufacturing of this new warship was initially
in Shandong.
However, Shen Yi also knew that no matter how big the shipyards in Jiangnan and Fuzhou were, the imperial court would not be able to hand over the new ironclad ships to Jiangnan and Fuzhou for manufacturing, because at that time, these places were still under the control of the Donglin Party.
Qi Mingguang said with a smile: "Brother Shen, why should you be envious? Didn't the imperial court issue a decree to allow you in Jiangnan to start building this giant iron-clad ship?"
Shen Yi nodded: "That's right, commanding this giant iron-clad ship gives me the feeling of galloping across the ocean."
Qi Mingguang laughed loudly: "Brother, you have no hope now, let's wait until later."
After the two fleets merged, they continued southward. The fleet composed of hundreds of warships of various types sailed majestically on the sea, cutting through the waves and galloping across the ocean. Whether it was merchant ships from various countries encountered on the sea, they were all from the Ming Dynasty.
Whether it's a fishing boat or a fishing boat, one can't help but be amazed when seeing this huge fleet.
Especially when looking at the largest ironclad Weiyuan, the Weiyuan, covered in pitch black iron armor, is like an island on the sea, like a giant whale in the water. Those merchant ships look too small under such a giant ship, and the black Weiyuan is like a sea island.
The shadow cast by the armored ship was enough to obscure the sky above them.
For a time, the news of the Ming Dynasty's navy being dispatched spread among businessmen from various countries. Everyone knew that the Ming Dynasty was going to take action against the Dutch.
Li Mizai of Korea couldn't help but sigh: "Such a huge warship and a navy of this size are indeed the fleet of the Shangguo! The Shangguo sent out troops to attack the foreign barbarians and stabilize the sea territory. The king's army will definitely win the battle.
Come back."
People around them all agreed. These people are all businessmen from the traditional vassal states of the Ming Dynasty. They are naturally on the side of the Ming Dynasty. The Korean state calls itself Little China and is a loyal vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. Its status is comparable to other vassals.
The country is much taller.
And North Korea also took the initiative to learn from the Ming Dynasty and started to form a new army and trade. Now the noble merchants in North Korea have made money with the Ming Dynasty. They all want to call the Ming Dynasty daddy, waiting for the Ming Dynasty to open the sea route, and they will follow to make money.
Woolen cloth.
The New Army Navy arrived at Guangzhou Bay and joined the Southern Navy here, forming nearly two hundred large and small warships. This warship was enough to sweep away all enemies in the Eastern Sea.
As the naval admiral appointed by the imperial court, Qi Mingguang met with the southern naval generals Yu Huaiming and Han Yunzhi, and the Jiangnan naval general Shen Yi, and the four of them discussed how to wipe out the pirates.
In the spacious captain's room of the Weiyuan iron-clad ship, a chart was placed in front of four people. Qi Mingguang, who was forty years old and in his prime, was tall and strong, wearing an official robe, an iron armor coat, and a dark mountain-pattern iron armor suit.
On his body, he looked even more majestic, looking more like a land warrior holding a spear and riding a horse than a naval admiral.
Han Yunzhi pointed on the map: "Admiral, the pirates of the Hongyi people are now divided into two groups. One group is in Sanfa and Ma Dalan, and the other group is entrenched in India. One controls the strait, and the other controls the ocean. Their power
Not weak."
Qi Mingguang nodded: "How many ships do the Hongyi people have in Sanfa and Ma Dalan, and how strong are they?"
Shen Yi said: "According to the merchants, the Hongyi people have more than a hundred warships in Sanfa and Matalan. Most of them are large ships with double decks and more than 30 guns. There are also several ships with nearly 50 pieces of equipment.
It’s a huge ship with 12,000 cannons and a total of more than 12,000 pirates.”
With more than 12,000 pirates and hundreds of warships, this force is very powerful. It can be said that in East Asia and Southeast Asia, except for the Ming Navy, these Hongyi people really have no opponent.
Yu Huaiming looked at Qi Guangming and frowned slightly and asked, "What are you worried about, Admiral?"
Qi Mingguang nodded: "The imperial court has entrusted us with an important task, asking us to subdue this pirate so as to show the imperial dignity."
"But now that our army is traveling, it is difficult to cover up its whereabouts. The Hongyi people must know that the imperial court wants to destroy them. If they hide, it will take us a lot of time."
Shen Yi sighed: "The court can afford to wait, but the people cannot afford to wait. If we wait for a long time, those merchants and gentry will be anxious."
Qi Mingguang said: "When we came here, the imperial court gave instructions that our first priority should be to subdue the pirates. We don't need to pay attention to the public opinion. The imperial court's intention is already obvious. We have enough time."
Yu Huaiming said: "But if we delay for too long, the court may still have objections."
Hearing this, several people sighed again. This naval battle is different from a land battle. On the vast sea, both sides may not see the enemy for three or four days. It is not easy to fight. Even if a fight breaks out, everyone is focused on it.
If you want to run away, it is almost impossible to annihilate them all. Everyone is a wooden warship, and the speed is there. Moreover, the monsoon and water flow at sea change. Often, naval battles can last for several days. In case of a storm,
Or something, the whole fleet will be in trouble.
Han Yunzhi thought for a while and made a suggestion: "Admiral, if the court does not urge us, we might as well send a small team disguised as merchant ships from other countries to find out the information about the Hongyi people first. Although there are merchants who provide us with information, but
We still don’t have enough understanding of Hongyi’s intelligence. It would be safer to attack after fully understanding the enemy’s situation.”
Shen Yi expressed opposition to this: "Now that our navy is moving south in a large scale, the Hongyi people will get the news in just a few days. If we don't take advantage of the fact that the Hongyi people don't know about our arrival, we can pre-emptively wait until the Hongyi people know.
If you get the news, it won’t be so easy to call again.”
