The early morning sunshine fell on the city of Guangzhou, and the city of Guangzhou finally became quiet after a noisy night.
The panicked people didn't know what happened last night. They only heard the shouts and noises from the east city direction that continued until they spread throughout the city.
After dawn, they soon discovered that the weather in the city had changed.
Notices were quickly posted on the bulletin boards at various major intersections. It clearly stated that Zhang Yanling, the Marquis of Jianchang in the Ming Dynasty, came to Guangzhou on orders to investigate the collusion between the Guangdong Third Division and Guangzhou officials in colluding with the Folangji people, smuggling goods, and connivance.
News that the Fo Langji people invaded the Ming Dynasty land on Tuen Mun Island.
In addition to announcing the charges against the chief officers of the Third Division of Guangdong and officials of the Guangzhou Prefecture, the announcement also clearly stated the fact that people from the Franco Kingdom were acting recklessly in Guangzhou Prefecture, bullying the people, kidnapping and trafficking in human beings.
At this time, the whole city of Guangzhou exploded.
At first, people were too frightened to believe it, until they saw a large group of soldiers escorting the Chief Secretary, the Chief Secretary, the Chief Secretary, the Governor of Guangzhou, Tong Zhi, and others walking through the long street. They also saw seven or eight red-haired ghosts being tied up with five-flowered flowers.
Escorted through the streets, these believe this fact.
As the news spread, almost all the people in the city gathered and followed the escort along the long street to the Chief Secretary's Office Square. At first, the people were very sensible, but soon some people began to pick up mud, soil, and stones.
, the garbage leaves on the ground began to attack a group of prisoners.
Once someone took action, the people's emotions were quickly ignited. The anger that had been suppressed for a long time surged out. Countless people began to smash and throw the prisoners indiscriminately. At the same time, they made loud roars.
"The dog official who killed a thousand swords colluded with the red-haired ghost to harm our people."
"A group of dog officials allowed the red-haired ghosts to do evil and run rampant in the city. When they saw us people acting ferocious, they nodded and bowed when they saw the red-haired ghosts. They looked like slaves. They ruined the majesty of our Ming Dynasty."
"Tuen Mun Island is my Ming Dynasty's place. You allowed the red-haired ghosts to be stationed there. They burned down the temple of Mazu Empress on the island. You bunch of dog officials who betrayed Mazu. You even let people trample on the temple of Mazu for the sake of money.
.”
"Gou Guan, give me back my son."
"Give me my daughter back."
"Kill these dog officials and kill these red-haired ghosts."
"..."
The people were excited and gradually became uncontrollable. Stones, soil, vegetables, leaves, and garbage rained down on Li Siming and other officials and several Folangji people. Of course, Li Siming and others were hit with blood on their heads and faces, and even the escorts
The soldiers were also hit by rocks and stones. The roads were also blocked with water.
Zhang Yanling had already rode back to the Chief Secretary's Yamen. Hearing the news, he rushed over. Seeing the chaos, the people were almost crazy, so they had no choice but to raise a firecracker and shoot into the sky.
The people were frightened, and Zhang Yanling rode on his horse and shouted loudly: "Fellow folks, don't be impulsive. I know you hate these officials and the red-haired ghosts. But you can't lynching people in the street. They all have to be escorted there."
Those who are on trial in the capital, please give me a pity and spare their lives. Let me take them away and imprison them. The court will punish them severely. If you beat them to death, you will have to pay with your life."
After hearing this, all the people calmed down.
"Hey, isn't this the young master who came to our Haiyun Tower that day?" A woman led a group of women and shouted towards Zhang Yanling, holding rotten vegetable leaves in their hands.
"It's true. Isn't that young master that day, and the firearm just now, the same as that day? Hey, young master, who are you?" A group of orioles nearby screamed delicately.
Zhang Yanling also saw this group of women, and for a moment he didn't know whether he should pay attention to them. Qin Yong, who was leading the escort next to him, shouted loudly: "Don't be rude, this is the Marquis Zhang of Jianchang who came from the capital."
"
"Ah? He is Mr. Zhang from the capital."
"He was the one who came under the order and took away these dog officials."
All the people discussed it one after another.
"Oh, is he Mr. Zhang Hou? That's great. I, Haiyun Tower, picked up a distinguished guest, but we didn't know it yet. We have to write a sign to explain this when we get back. Dear fellow villagers, Mr. Zhang
I visited our Haiyun Tower a few days ago. Oh my, my Haiyun Tower is now famous." Haiyun Tower's mother shouted.
All the people looked at Zhang Yanling and thought: It turns out that Zhang Houye was a brothel guest. When he came to Guangzhou to do business, he didn't forget to visit the brothel.
Zhang Yanling wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl in. If this news spread, it would damage his reputation. So he hurriedly said: "Everyone give way, don't block the road. Folks, give way. Once they are escorted and taken into custody, a big event will happen here."
If you are angry, you will be escorted to the capital for trial. You are not allowed to mess around anymore. If you are angry in your heart, you can spit a few times at most and don't do anything again."
After that, on the way back to the Chief Secretary's Yamen, no one was throwing rocks and throwing vegetables, but there were strange sounds of ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, bah, ah, ah, ah, ah, bah, wasted. The spit flew all the way, covering Li Siming and his party all over their bodies.
After finally returning to the Yamen, he took a group of officials into custody. The people outside gradually dispersed, and Zhang Yanling immediately summoned everyone to discuss sending troops to retake Tuen Mun Island.
This matter cannot be delayed, because with such a commotion in Guangzhou, the news is likely to leak out. Although several city gates have been sealed, it cannot be guaranteed to be foolproof.
Originally, this would have been an ordinary battle. However, this was a battle to board a ship to seize an island and fight against the Fo Langji Kingdom. For Zhang Yanling, this was a brand new challenge. There was no room for failure.
Especially not long ago, after Zhang Yanling learned from Figo about the military strength and defense strength of the Franco Kingdom on Tuen Mun Island, Zhang Yanling did not dare to take it lightly.
Figo explained that there were about 600 Francois people on Tuen Mun Island. More than 300 of them were soldiers. Some were merchants and their families. Although the number of soldiers was not large, there were three centipede boats.
Each ship is equipped with nearly fifteen large, medium and small Fran cannons. In other words, there are forty or fifty Fran cannons on the three Centipede ships alone. This is such a powerful firepower.
When Zhang Yanling heard the news, he was stunned. Is this the Folangji merchant ship that others said? In this day and age, with so many artillery on the ship, it was equivalent to a battleship in the world.
No wonder Wang Hong brought several ships and some naval forces of Nanhaiwei to drive away the Francois. Before they even approached Tuen Mun Island, they were turned around and evacuated by the opponent's artillery. It's not that Wang Hong was bloodless, but that he was completely
He understood the ferocity of the opponent's artillery. If the French ships had not only fired intimidation and did not think about a real battle with the Ming navy, a tragedy would have happened that day.
When Wang Hong talked about the naval battle with Zhang Yanling in Ciyun Temple that night, Zhang Yanling thought that Wang Hong might have exaggerated the opponent's firepower for his own sake. But when he learned all this from Figo, Zhang Yanling
I completely understand why Wang Hong ordered to turn around and leave immediately.
It is unwise to die in vain. According to Figo, if the opponent's three centipede ships fire dozens of Franco cannons, one word will be said when they rush forward: die!
Not only that, Figo explained that after two years of occupation, Tuen Mun Island now has not only the houses, churches, stadiums and other living facilities used by the French people, but also a high-walled castle near the port on the edge of the island.
More than a dozen Fran cannons were erected.
Not only does the range cover the vicinity of the pier, but it can also conduct defensive bombardment of areas on the island's land.
Figo also said that they actually also had firearms. Among the French soldiers on Tuen Mun Island, there was a musketry team. They used short-handled firecrackers. Although they were not as advanced as the firecrackers and bird cannons of Zhang Yanling and others, they were still
The 50-member Fire Gun Team was invincible along the way and was truly fierce.
After learning this kind of news from Figo, Zhang Yanling no longer had any contempt in his heart. The other party was able to cross the ocean with a small number of troops and conquered many places along the way. Naturally, they had the strength they relied on.
Fireguns, Fran cannons, large ships, and castle fortifications. All of these have turned Tuen Mun Island into an impregnable place. If Zhang Yanling had a heavy siege artillery with sufficient power and range, he would not care about all this.
But the reality is that Wang Hong told him that the entire Nanhai Guard Navy and the Imperial Navy only have six warships. And they are all old warships.
Those warships were built in the early years of Hongzhi to eliminate Japanese pirates, more than 20 years ago. Although the ships were equipped with artillery, there were only two general cannons at the bow and stern. No matter the range or the rate of fire, the power was not the same.
Compared with each other.
Wang Hong said that the height and length of our warships are not even half as high and long as the opponent's centipede ship. They are also not as strong and flexible as the opponent's ships. In terms of combat readiness alone, the difference is too big.
It was precisely because of knowing so much information that Zhang Yanling was cautious but hoped to act quickly and not to alert others.
With Nanhaiwei's current ships and manpower, if six warships are dispatched together, they can only lead 500 naval forces there. In a frontal battle, there is no chance of winning. If they want to attack Tuen Mun Island, I am afraid they can only rely on sneak attacks.
Zhang Yanling was inspired by the words of a diligent soldier from the Franco Kingdom who was afraid of death. That was to use the identities of the captured soldiers from the Franco Kingdom, let them lead the way, and pretend to be their identities to get in. Come on.
Flowering inside.
If you can get into the opponent's castle and take advantage of the unpreparedness of the Franco soldiers, killing them all in the castle is probably the only feasible way.
To do this, we need to act quickly. We must not let the people of the Franco Kingdom know what happened in Guangzhou. We must also not let them know that their captain and lieutenant have been killed. Otherwise, not only will there be no hope of saving people, but they will also be expelled.
It is even more impossible for the other party. If the other party's three centipede ships sail to Guangzhou City to retaliate, the people in the city will suffer.
Because of this, Zhang Yanling needed to immediately convene everyone to discuss the plan, and must treat this battle with caution.