Hearing Li Xing's words, Li Zhi smiled and said: "It is said that Zheng Zhilong has more than 40 trading ships and operates maritime trade in the East and Southeast Asia. Not only that, he also collects protection fees from maritime merchants passing through the waters off Fujian. As long as
If we capture Zheng Zhilong, we will have enough expenses for several years."
Li Xing thought for a moment and said, "Zheng Zhilong has become so powerful. How did he make a fortune?"
Li Zhi had heard some things about Zheng Zhilong, but not in detail. He looked at Gao Ligong and motioned for Gao Ligong to explain.
Gao Ligong raised his hand and said: "Second General, Zheng Zhilong's family history is very dirty. His real name is Zheng Yiguan. He went to sea at the age of seventeen and worked under various Chinese and foreign merchants. He even worked as a pirate under Hong Mao.
, but I have been very depressed and confused for ten years."
"It wasn't until he defected to the maritime merchant Li Dan that Zheng Zhilong became prominent and became one of Li Dan's leaders. Li Dan was the largest maritime merchant between China and Japan twenty years ago. In Fujian, Japan was very powerful, and in Taiwan
There is also a port. However, this Zheng Zhilong is an ungrateful person. As soon as Li Dan died, Zheng Zhilong encouraged his men to seize the Li family's ports and fleet in Taiwan, and no longer listened to the Li family's command."
"Now that Zheng Zhilong has become a high official, he hires people everywhere to beautify his history, saying that Li Dan handed over Taiwan's industry to Zheng Zhilong. However, this is purely a lie. Zheng Zhilong used all despicable tricks in order to swallow up Li Dan's industry."
"After betraying the Li family, Zheng Zhilong only had a port and a fleet, but no supply of goods and sales. He colluded with the Taiwanese pirate Yan Siqi and established himself as a pirate in Taiwan, picking off single merchant ships. Not only did he rob merchant ships, he also
Zheng Zhilong also rushed to the coast of Fujian to plunder the interior and attack cities."
"Later Yan Siqi also died inexplicably, and Zheng Zhilong annexed Yan Siqi's tribe."
"Zheng Zhilong robbed for several years, used the stolen money to bribe officials, and finally transformed into a court official. After becoming an official, he relied on scheming and tricks to navigate the officialdom, and the entire Fujian navy gradually became his private army.
He led the Fujian navy to wipe out all other maritime merchants, wiped out the influence of his original benefactor, the Li family, in Fujian, and finally became the actual ruler of Fujian."
Li Xing asked curiously: "Zheng Zhilong also has a port and stronghold in Taiwan?"
Gao Ligong nodded and said: "This port was originally established by Li Dan. At that time, Li Dan felt that Taiwan's land was fertile and kept transporting immigrants to Taiwan. There are more than 20,000 farmers in the port."
Li Zhi nodded and said: "I didn't expect that Zheng Zhilong's family history is so dirty. No wonder such a person would focus on our Hsinchu."
Gao Ligong said: "My lord, we must never let such a duplicitous and unloyal villain take over Hsinchu!"
Li Xing laughed loudly and said: "If you want to occupy Hsinchu, you have to ask our armored ships if they agree!"
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On December 20, Li Zhi's military academy opened.
Li Zhi vigorously promoted cultural learning in the army. After completing the arduous recruit training, the soldiers attended night classes to learn literacy in the evening. Now, the veterans who have been in the army for three years are basically all literate. These veterans can read and read newspapers, and gradually
He became more knowledgeable and decisive, and he also gained more understanding and loyalty to the vigorous force of Duke Jin.
These veterans are all good candidates for future military officers.
However, for an officer, just being literate is not enough. A good officer should be a military expert whose military knowledge is much higher than that of ordinary soldiers, and he should have rich knowledge of war. Some of this knowledge comes from the battles he actually participated in, but also
It can come from books and other people’s experience sharing.
To quickly improve the level of officers, the military academy is a good institution. In the military academy, instructors can introduce the basic knowledge of various wars, the characteristics of various formations and arms, the characteristics of various fortifications and facilities, etc.
Allow students to improve in a short period of time. Instructors can also introduce various Chinese and foreign war cases to students to enrich their war experience.
If a soldier who has experienced bloody battles is a good young officer, then after a soldier who has experienced bloody battles studies in a military academy for a period of time, he will basically become a qualified grassroots officer.
Li Zhi had been preparing for this military academy for more than a year. The academy not only had senior officers from the Huben Division as instructors, but also invited two Spanish army officers and three Portuguese naval officers.
Now that the name of the Duke of Tianjin has spread all over the world, even the Portuguese very much hope to develop some friendly relations with Li Zhi. After Li Zhi contacted the Macau Parliament, the Macau Parliament immediately invited experienced military officers from Europe. These
Officers are familiar with the detailed history of all European wars and can introduce war history knowledge to students at the military academy.
On the first day of the opening of the Military Academy, Li Zhi walked onto the podium wearing the military uniform of the Huben Division Commander.
Looking at the hundreds of low-level officers and meritorious soldiers sitting upright in the audience, Li Zhi nodded and said: "Soldiers, now Dong Nu has been beaten to the ground, and the bandits have been beaten to pieces by us.
I believe that the imperial court can cope with the current situation by relying on their own strength."
"Today, our eyes will be on the ocean!"
"The Ming court is still fighting among parties, and the people of the Ming Dynasty are still ignorant. They don't know that today's era is the era of the sea."
Li Zhi suddenly pulled the rope, and a huge world map appeared on the wall behind the podium. This large map was drawn by Li Zhi based on the memory of later generations. Europe, Asia, the New World and Australia were clearly drawn on it. The soldiers looked at it
When I saw this world map, everyone was a little overwhelmed.
Li Zhi pointed on the map with his coaching staff and said: "Da Ming is here, so small!"
Then Li Zhi drew a circle on the map and said loudly: "But the world is here, so big!"
"The wave of carving up the world has begun. In Europe, there are the old powers Spain and Portugal, that is, the French people, who are exploring South America, and there is the emerging overlord Netherlands, that is, the red-haired people, who are conquering Southeast Asia. Even the English and French are ready to make a move.
Colony after colony was established on the coasts of North America and Africa."
"This is a colonial era, and this is a golden age that our Ming Dynasty should not miss. We cannot surrender the vast world to these barbarians."
"From today on, we will use cannons and warships to compete with the barbarians on the four oceans. We will plant the flag of the Han people on all fertile lands around the world."
"This goal has a long way to go. However, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We will start from today at this military academy and turn this goal into reality little by little!"
"In the first class today, we asked Captain Enrique of Portugal to introduce to us the details of the Battle of Graveline, the tactical characteristics of both sides, and the mistakes made by both sides."
