An hour later, Zhang Yanling and others boarded the ship and left Tuen Mun Island.
In addition to leaving two hundred Nan Hai Guard soldiers and two hundred household commanders stationed at the Tuen Mun Island Castle, many people also stayed on the island. They also had things they thought were important to do.
Soon after the tall Centipede warship slowly left the Tuen Mun Island pier, violent black smoke and flames rose from the castle. The steeple church had been set on fire and was soon engulfed in flames.
The people couldn't wait to light it. Zhang Yanling was very emotional when he saw the fire. Faith and religion have always been in conflict, which is often the source of war.
Although the scene before us cannot be regarded as a religious war, Mazu Temple is just a goddess believed by coastal fishermen, and it is just a kind of emotional sustenance. But we can also see that when one belief arrogantly overrides another belief and destroys it wantonly
And trampling on each other often leads to self-destruction. The simple sustenance in people's hearts will not die just because a temple is destroyed. Those who trample will suffer great backlash. This backlash is psychological and willful, so it cannot be conquered.
, so it is indestructible.
Also leaving with the ship were dozens of young and strong people and three or four women who were rescued. There were actually more than 20 women rescued. But most of them chose not to leave Tuen Mun Island and not return to Guangzhou.
Reunion with family.
The reason is actually very simple. These women suffered inhuman humiliation and treatment here. Some of them were young girls who were kidnapped by the French soldiers and brought to the island. They were used as tools to vent their sexual desires and suffered extreme torture.
Huge damage. They are on the verge of collapse, both physically and psychologically.
They also want to go back and be reunited with their relatives, but when they think about facing the eyes of their relatives, the eyes of the people around them, and some bad gossip after going back, they simply cannot face it. Some women even do not realize that they are victims.
Instead, they felt guilty and felt that everything was their fault. Under such circumstances, it was unimaginable to return to Guangzhou and return to their family.
Although Zhang Yanling feels sorry for them, she can do nothing about it. In this era, some things are just like this. The bad things in ethics are prevalent. It is indeed difficult for these women to get understanding and comfort after suffering persecution. On the contrary, they may suffer even more.
Big humiliation.
Perhaps, staying on Tuen Mun Island was the right decision. Several women who decided to go back together did so because they had young children at home and could not let go. But Zhang Yanling did not know what their fate would be.
What Zhang Yanling can do is to ask people to build a house for them on the beach in the south of the island, give them a few boats and fishing gear, and provide them with some living supplies. Perhaps letting them stay quietly on the island without anyone is a good idea for them.
The best comfort. Time may forget everything and heal everything, and everything will get better in the future.
In fact, Zhang Yanling's mood has changed a lot in the past five years since he came to the Ming Dynasty. Perhaps because he has seen too many tragedies in the world, Zhang Yanling has gradually become hard-hearted and emotionally numb.
It’s not that Zhang Yanling is indifferent to the suffering of these people, but Zhang Yanling has realized that some things are the tragedy of the times, and it is harder to change than to go to heaven. The joys and sorrows of people in the world are different, and she is unable to save everyone. Even if it is
Sympathy is feeble and cheap.
What I have to do is actually to make the Ming Dynasty better within the scope of my ability. Try my best to create a Ming Dynasty where the sea is clear and the people are prosperous and healthy. Perhaps this is the right way to solve the suffering of the people.
For example, the tragedy of these women, if the Ming Dynasty had a powerful naval force and powerful gunboats, which could forcefully expel the Francois when they attempted to occupy Tuen Mun Island, then perhaps such a thing would not have happened. If the Ming Dynasty had
If the politics are clear and clear, there will be no officials who collude with the French people for profit and ignore the life and death of the people. Then this incident will not happen.
Therefore, what you should do is not to cry tears of sympathy, but to actively change the status quo and change the Ming Dynasty. Maybe many tragedies will not happen.
…
At midnight, the fleet returned to the pier in the south of Guangzhou City. What Zhang Yanling did not expect was that it was already midnight, and the pier was actually crowded with people and brightly lit. The people of Guangzhou City had already learned the news that the officers and soldiers defeated the Folangji people.
Everyone gathered on the dock to wait for the officers and soldiers to return home in triumph.
When the officers and soldiers of the Nanhai Guard escorted a long line of dejected French soldiers ashore to the city, the people on the dock heard the sound of roaring mountains and tsunami. The people loudly cursed these demons and spat at their evil deeds.
, and at the same time feel proud.
The scene where the kidnapped people were reunited with their families was even more touching. There was a lot of crying.
Zhang Yanling and others got off the boat and walked to the pier. Huo Shijian led Tian Dongxin and the Tian family couple up. The old couple led Tian Dongxin to kneel down and kowtow to Zhang Yanling.
"Thank you Lord Marquis for rescuing my son. With your good deeds, Lord Marquis will surely live a long life and be rich and prosperous for thousands of years in the future. You are our great savior. From now on, we will go to the temple to burn incense on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month to bless Lord Marquis in peace."
." The couple cried and kowtowed.
Zhang Yanling hurriedly ordered people to help them up, and said with a smile: "It is our responsibility to relieve the people's difficulties. It should be so, no need to say thank you. But what the government here has done has hurt the people's hearts. Get up, go home and live a good life.
."
The old couple thanked Tian Dongxin profusely and led Tian Dongxin there.
Huo Shijian stayed, knelt down and kowtowed to Zhang Yanling.
"Huo Shijian, what are you doing?" Zhang Yanling asked hurriedly.
Huo Shijian said: "Shijian had lost confidence in the court and officials before, feeling that they did not consider the people and ignored their life and death. But now, from the Marquis, Shijian understood that there was still such a Marquis in the court.
There are people here, thinking about our people and working hard for our people. In this battle, Shijian has seen the bravery of the Marquis and all your men.
On the way home, Shijian thought for a long time and felt that when a man is born in the world, he should do something vigorously. Just like what the Marquis and the other soldiers did, risking their lives to fight on the battlefield, and not fearing life and death for the people and the court.
Shijian envies what you are doing, and wants to be like the Marquis and the generals. Shijian boldly asks the Marquis to take you in, and he is willing to be a pawn in front of the battle."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "You want to join the army? You can find Master Wang and Master Qin to join the sea patrol or Nanhai Guard as soldiers."
Huo Shijian said: "No, I want to follow the Marquis to the capital and serve as a soldier in the capital camp. It's not that I look down on the Nanhai Guards and Coast Guards, but... what I admire is the Marquis and the people around him."
Zhang Yanling looked back at Chen Shiyi and said with a smile, "What do you think?"
Chen Shiyi smiled and said: "The young man is quite energetic and flexible. He also helped a lot in this battle. However, my brothers in Zhenwei Camp are all capable. Huo Shijian, what are your abilities?"
Huo Shijian was stunned, scratched his head and said: "Ability? What is ability? I am good at boxing and kicking, and my body is also very strong. I have been a government servant..."
Chen Shi shook his head and said, "These are nothing. What are your specialties?"
Huo Shijian shook his head blankly, he didn't know what his specialties were.
Zhang Yanling also had a good impression of Huo Shijian. Thinking of Huo Shijian jumping into the sea to find a way out last night, she felt that his courage was commendable.
"How is your water quality?" Zhang Yanling asked.
Huo Shijian said: "My water ability? I grew up by the sea, and it was common for me to paddle a boat and swim in the water. I don't know if my water ability is good or not. In short, I can catch fish underwater and I can dive in one breath."
Swim two hundred steps. I also swam from one side of the Hutou Gate to the other."
Zhang Yanling was surprised. He could swim two hundred steps. He passed by the Hutoumen Strait yesterday, and they were several miles away. How could Huo Shijian swim so far? His water skills were truly remarkable.
"Can it really be done?" Zhang Yanling asked.
Huo Shijian said: "What's so strange about this? Many people can do it. Even my cousin Dongxin can do it."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Very good. If you can really do this, you are really good at it, and you are the person I need."
Chen Shi asked: "Master Hou, what are you doing?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Have you forgotten what I told you, Zhenwei Camp is going to train water combat capabilities? Huo Shijian can recruit more than ten people with good water skills to join the army. With their teaching, it will be twice the result with half the effort. This battle
You have also seen how important water warfare is. You almost got seasick and vomited on the boat, and several of the brothers we brought are still dizzy. This is not possible."
Chen Shiyi nodded slowly and said: "That's right, we do need training. If we hadn't come to Guangdong this time, I wouldn't have known that we were sick cats when we got to the water."
Zhang Yanling laughed and said to Huo Shijian: "Huo Shijian, did you hear that? You go and recruit a dozen people who are as good as you and are willing to join the Beijing camp. Just come back and follow us. But there is one thing.
Don’t be a sneaky person, be an honest person.”
Huo Shijian said blankly: "Does Mr. Hou mean this..."
Chen Shiyi smiled and said: "Silly boy, the Marquis has promised to take you to the capital. I'm giving you a mission. Why don't you kowtow to say thank you?"
Huo Shijian was overjoyed. He knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, thanking him profusely.