As night falls, the roar of Colombo Port finally falls silent.
The hurricane at sea has gradually weakened, and the rain has turned into drizzle. This hurricane is actually just a small hurricane that suddenly formed and lasted for two days before gradually weakening. It seems that it will pass tomorrow.
The Colombo Port was completely silent. On the north side of the port pier, the sky-high fire was burning fiercely. Countless houses were on fire. After the shelling stopped, the fire was still burning fiercely.
Within two miles of the entire pier, flames soared into the sky, and the red light illuminated the sky, like a burning hell. After the dense residential area caught fire, the wind helped the fire spread, and the fire was moving towards the entire area at a very fast speed.
Urban sprawl.
In the market place where the fire was rising, the bodies of Ceylonese people scattered everywhere were roasted, twisted, and burned in the flames. Although they thought that they would be blessed by the Buddha and would be invulnerable, it was obviously impossible. Violent
The shelling caused heavy casualties to them. In the face of death, they came to their senses and fled one after another. However, the ferocious shelling had claimed the lives of hundreds of Ceylonese people.
Seeking benevolence will lead to benevolence. These fanatics wanted to reach the paradise. The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty fulfilled their wishes and allowed them to go to the paradise.
Continuous bombardment for an hour and a half is also a huge drain on the Armada. No matter how strong the psychology is, people cannot be indifferent to such bombardment. Being ruthless does not mean that there are no emotions and emotional fluctuations, nor does it mean that there are no thoughts in the heart.
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Therefore, in addition to the huge consumption of ammunition, the Ming soldiers also experienced a huge psychological consumption.
The scene was too tragic. This kind of shelling was a one-sided massacre. When a large number of shells fell into the crowd and exploded, the blood raining in the sky and the broken limbs had an extremely shocking impact on people.
The key problem is that the Ming Dynasty soldiers cannot get rid of the idea that the opponent is an ordinary person. This kind of idea is the source of torture. If the opponent is a heavily armed and powerful enemy, there will be no psychological burden.
This is actually understandable, because after all, people in the Ming Dynasty were educated by Confucianism and constrained by morality, so it was inevitable that they would have some emotions.
However, they are all qualified soldiers. They have emotions and ideas, but they have carried out their missions and fulfilled their responsibilities in the military. But psychologically, the only thing they can comfort themselves is: this is
The Duke's order should be correct. If the Duke thinks they deserve to die, they will die.
Zhang Yanling seemed to understand the thoughts of his soldiers. From the beginning to the end, he stood on the deck and watched everything happening on the shore with an indifferent expression, without wavering at all. There were some things that he had to take responsibility for. To conquer the enemy ruthlessly, it was necessary
When the time comes, he launches a massacre and uses iron and blood means to achieve his goal. This is what Zhang Yanling has decided in his heart since he went to sea.
Although he kept talking about benevolence, justice and benevolence, saying that the Ming Dynasty would be different from other conquerors. But in his heart, Zhang Yanling had already made up his mind. He must seize the historical window of the Age of Discovery and make his grand rejuvenation plan be realized.
If we want to reverse that dark future, we can no longer do things with the inherent mindset of the Chinese nation.
The Chinese nation is a great nation, but its limitation lies in its excessive pursuit of morality and justice. It often imposes many moral shackles on its actions to constrain its own hands and feet. However, the logic of the Western powers is different. The law of the jungle and the strong will prevail.
The law of the forest of death is their simplest logic. Things like morality are completely placed behind interests.
Therefore, they no longer have moral shackles and act more freely.
Of course Zhang Yanling does not advocate the logic of gangsters with no morals and no bottom line, but if we want to seize the opportunities of the times, we can no longer be entangled in the moral whirlpool. If we do not seize the opportunity to reverse the situation at this moment, in this era of large-scale colonization and plunder,
If more resources are divided up and the rise of bandit nations is suppressed, then history will not be able to be reversed in the future.
Even for the current Ming Dynasty itself, problems such as land annexation, financial and tax deficits, class conflicts, external pressure, etc. all need to be solved. Looting overseas resources and land, establishing prosperous and long-lasting trade channels, and even colonizing other countries are all
effective ways to resolve these contradictions.
Of course, Zhang Yanling also knew in his heart that some of his actions would inevitably be criticized by others, and would even be recorded in the annals of history in the future, criticized verbally and written down, and cast aside. Because his actions had gradually deviated from the majority of people in the Chinese Empire.
acceptable moral bottom line.
Those hypocritical or sincere scholar-bureaucrats, those who adhere to Chinese traditions and moral ideals, or those who are sanctimonious will despise and cast aside their actions.
However, Zhang Yanling has already thought about this problem. If someone really needs to bear these infamy and become a cruel, despicable and bottomless moral villain in the Ming Dynasty, he will admit it. As long as what he wants to do can be accomplished.
, as long as the Ming Dynasty can become stronger, get rid of the established history, and move towards a new path of prosperity without humiliation and misery, and without being bullied for hundreds of years. Zhang Yanling doesn't care what they say.
After nightfall, the bombardment stopped. Each ship counted its consumption, and it turned out that a lot of ammunition was consumed. Intense and continuous bombardment, each gun fired more than 20 shells, and the entire fleet consumed nearly 3,000 shells. Including this early morning
The artillery bombardment started immediately, and over the course of the day, more than 4,000 artillery shells were consumed. This was already 30% of the total number of artillery shells stored by the fleet.
However, all the houses, streets and trees within a two-mile radius were plowed by artillery fire. The fire was burning, and these market houses were inevitably turned into white ground. There was no living Ceylonese in the entire area covered by artillery fire.
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Zhang Yanling hoped to achieve his goal. With this kind of punishment that was almost natural punishment, he could shock the Ceylonese people and make them completely give up the idea of resisting. Let them understand that there is no other way out, either to escape or to surrender.
Of course, the purpose of the bombardment is not just to attack the Ceylonese. The soldiers and horses will eventually go ashore, and a stronghold needs to be opened up. After the two miles away from the shore is cleared, the soldiers and horses can board the ships and go ashore without fear of being attacked. Otherwise, they will not be afraid of being attacked.
, while the ship was docking and the troops were boarding the ship, it would be really troublesome if the Flemish and Ceylonese people rushed down all at once. After clearing all the obstacles and turning the shore area into a dead land,
, then you don’t have to worry about this problem.
Zhang Yanling and all the officers of the Armada thought that tonight they should have a quiet night without wind, rain or fighting. The violent storm had turned into gentle breeze and drizzle, and after the crazy bombing in the evening, the opponent was afraid that
They didn't dare to get close. Therefore, the soldiers of the Armada, who had endured both physical and psychological torture and exhaustion, immediately returned to their cabins to rest after eating dry food. Except for a small number of warning troops, the entire fleet soon fell into silence.
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Zhang Yanling had already rested during the day, so he took the initiative to take on the duty of the Star at night so that Chen Shiyi could have a good rest.
The iron-clad treasure ship with lights out was floating quietly in the harbor, rising and falling slowly with the waves. A dozen guards walked slowly at the door of the cabin and on the deck, alert to the surrounding movements. In the cabin, on the deck
Above, the snores of tired sleeping soldiers could be heard. Thin raindrops floated in the sky, and the sound of rising tides on the sea outside the port could be heard in the distance.
If it weren't for the flames burning on the shore illuminating the bay, and if it weren't for the smell of gunpowder smoke lingering in the air, it would seem to be an extremely peaceful and peaceful night at the military port. But in fact, up and down this small harbor, there are many things that can happen in one day today.
Thousands of deafening roars, thousands of people were killed and injured. Even now, there are still corpses burning in the fire.
Zhang Yanling sat quietly in the dark ship hall. The fire on the shore cast the shadow of the ship hall window pane on his face. The shadow jumped on his face, making the outline of his face look particularly strange.
Light footsteps sounded, and Catherine appeared at the door carrying a tea box and snacks. Zhang Yanling stood up, but Catherine did not speak. She walked directly to the table, placed the teapot, teacup, and snacks on the table, and then bowed her head to Zhang Yanling.
After bowing, he turned around and walked out.
Zhang Yanling said softly: "Catherine."
Catherine stood still but did not look back.
"Are you angry? Do you think I am too cruel?" Zhang Yanling asked softly.
Catherine whispered: "Your Majesty, Duke, Catherine dare not say that. You are a talented Duke, and your decisions are all reasonable. Catherine is beyond reproach."
Zhang Yanling sighed softly and said: "By saying this, you admit that I shouldn't do this. Hey, you have also seen that the Ceylon people are armed. They are no longer ordinary people. If I don't do this
, the Port of Colombo cannot be captured, and everything will be in vain."
Catherine was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Zhang Yanling and said: "Your Majesty, I know that you have tried your best to avoid killing them. I am not qualified to criticize your behavior. In fact, you planned to do this from the beginning, but for me
, you gave the people of Ceylon leeway. I thank you for your respect for me. I feel it. I just don’t want you to leave a bad name. That is
Even we Franji people are extremely taboo about killing civilians. They will not treat them with such blatant bombardment and destruction of everything. Although, the ordinary people who died in their hands were not actually
Quite a few. But at least for the sake of reputation and public opinion, I won’t do this. I love you, and I don’t want you to be said to be a murderous demon.”
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "I understand, you are doing it for my own good. Catherine, thank you."
Catherine sighed and said: "What's the use of talking about this now? I can't write your biography. If these processes can't be recorded, it will be false, but if it is written, wouldn't it mean that
What you did is known to the world, and it will ruin your reputation. I decided to burn all the manuscripts and stop writing."
Zhang Yanling shook his head and said: "Why burn it? You have spent so much effort, why don't you continue? You only need to record it truthfully, and there is no need to hide it. I have no intention of covering up what I did."
Catherine frowned and said: "But in that case, wouldn't you have to be known to many people about what happened today? Will you be regarded as a murderous devil? You will suffer moral condemnation, and you will bear a lot of accusations and abuse, and even...
Scorned. Are you willing to bear all this?"
Zhang Yanling pondered for a moment, then turned to look at the blazing fire on the pier outside the ship hall, and said softly: "I don't care. What I care about is whether what I want to do can succeed. Catherine, record all this, don't worry. This is history
Part of history cannot be concealed or tampered with."
Catherine looked at Zhang Yanling blankly, speechless for a moment.
"It's only in the Spring and Autumn Period that you know that I have sinned against you!" Zhang Yanling said softly.