Modern people probably cannot imagine how much ancient people respected knowledge. Since compulsory education has not been popularized, there are a large number of illiterates in society, and the elite of society obviously needs more educated talents.
Putting aside the status of second-generation officials such as Xiang Ying and Cai Bixia, even though they are ordinary college students, their parents do not have any prominent status. As long as they have knowledge, they will have a bright future that these soldiers can't even imagine.
How old are Xiang Ying and the others? The average age is only seventeen or eighteen years old, but just because they are able to analyze problems with a strategic perspective is already a miracle that ordinary people do not have.
For modern people, it seems to be a very simple thing to let their minds fly to the sky and overlook the earth, and then deduce the possible direction of movement of the forces of all parties.
But we must not forget that modern people can have this sense of God's perspective because we have received good basic education since childhood.
We have seen scenes overlooking the earth in movies and TV, and we have even learned how to distinguish maps in school. We have received systematic training since childhood, and we have become accustomed to observing people and things from God's perspective.
But this was not the case in the 19th century. Only those intellectuals who had received education and had higher education had the opportunity to come into contact with maps and were qualified to learn how to read them.
The soldiers like Xiang Ying and others in front of them had barely learned 1,800 Chinese characters in the army's literacy class, and could barely write a letter to their families. At this level, they were already regarded as scholars by their neighbors and relatives.
With such a level of education, how can you expect him to look at a map? Do you want him to learn contour lines? Are you asking him to identify foreign characters? Isn't that a joke?
Miyako Strait, Tokunoshima, Oshima, North and South Daito Islands... They are all familiar with these places and have been to them all. But even if they are killed, they will not be able to present a map of the Ryukyu sea area in their minds, and they can even complete a simple war game in the blink of an eye.
The soldiers could not guess what the French were up to, and they could only vaguely understand what Xiang Ying and the others said, but this did not prevent them from admiring these college students.
"Young masters, college students... We don't quite understand what you are saying. To be honest, we also want to help you, but we think what the general said is very reasonable. All of you are treasures, and you will be big boys in the future. Officers, you better not get involved in something as dangerous as war..."
Jin Sanshun blinked before anyone else could say anything and said, "Okay, we won't cause trouble for you. Isn't the general just afraid that something might happen to us? Then we won't go to the university. You can send us to Shuri Castle. It's safer anyway, isn't it?" ?”
The soldier heard it right. If these second-generation officials went to Shuri Castle, it would definitely be safer than staying in the university, and it would not be considered a violation of the general's order.
Let's just leave. It's very close to Shuri Castle anyway. But these soldiers forgot one thing. These second-generation officials really didn't dare to cause trouble in the university, because many of the lecturers in the university were foreigners hired by Xiao Letian with high salaries, and there were also progressive scholars from the Qing Dynasty. This group of people I will never give face to the second generation officials.
On the contrary, Shuri Castle, as long as these children arrive at Shuri Castle, no one can control them. All the imperial guards and palace servants will give them more or less face. As long as the children do not rebel, They really don't dare to care.
"Here we are, the Shuri City Gate is ahead... You see Uncle Hu is leading the troops on patrol! Okay, you go back and resume your duties. We will go directly to the commander of the Royal Forest Army, General Hu..."
Not knowing the trick, several soldiers stood there and watched as the children went to join Commander Hu. Once they saw that Xiang Ying and the others were safe, they did not dare to neglect and turned around and ran towards the headquarters.
"Uncle Hu... We were ordered by General Liang Kun to bring the latest information to General Cai... The French fleet has mysteriously lost two warships. We estimate that these two warships have already passed through the Miyako Strait. From our Detour east and go north, I'm afraid they will land from Kunigami Village..."
Jin Sanshun is really good at deceiving them. He clearly wanted to ban them, but in the end, it turned out to be an order from him. Commander Hu was very familiar with these second-generation officials, and he had just seen Liang Kun's personal guards coming to escort him, so he believed the children's lies without any doubt.
"Really! Just wait, I'll notify General Cai right away..." After saying that, he turned around and ran towards the Shuri Castle Fort.
Jin Sanshun raised his neck at the little brother in a very disgusting way. Does that mean he is smart? But 90% of the showy eyes were directed at Cai Bixia.
Children who are in love are like young bulls in spring. They have no reason to speak at this time. Jin Sanshun's show of love made Lin Zhen and Xiang Ying jealous.
Lin Zhen has always had a hot temper and can only speak with his wits. "Why are you awesome? If we have the ability, let's go north to Guotou... If the French dare to land, we will repel them..."
At this time, Xiang Ying also stared at Jin Shanshun and said, "Yes, that's right! I know that your Jin family bought dozens of Spencers from an American businessman last month. What's wrong? Take them out for everyone to use!"
Jin Sanshun's face turned red at that time, "You... don't talk nonsense... Our family bought foreign guns without permission. Your Majesty and the two generals know that we are planning to use them for our own caravan guards. But...it’s not a rebellion!”
"Tch..." A group of friends booed, "Look at how timid you are. You're so scared before we even said anything. It seems like you don't have the guts to go north!"
"Nonsense!" Jin San angrily spun around three times like a fat top. "Just go, I'm afraid of you! Come on, go to my house, I'll get you a gun..."
It has to be said that children aged seventeen or eighteen are all crazy-minded. Now the French fleet is getting closer and closer to the Naha port, and the wild goose wing formation has begun to change into a horizontal formation. The artillery battle between the enemy and us has already begun. The fighting became more and more intense.
The sky was filled with the rumble of cannonballs, white smoke billowing from time to time on the sea, hundreds of artillery bombardments, and the port was filled with soaring flames.
The coastal defense fort commanded by General Cai Mao was now in full fire. Although the number of ten cannons was indeed very small, the large caliber and fierce firepower of the coastal defense artillery forced the French fleet to not dare to get too close to the dock after bombardment.
It is very dangerous to walk on the street during such an artillery battle. Xiang Ying and the other kids were scurrying around on the street like a group of mice, carefully dodging them. Even though they were all very tough-mouthed, they were... After the shell exploded in the neighborhood next to them, they all turned pale with fright and kept screaming.
"Don't panic... Don't panic, everyone... Our Naha is mountainous and the terrain is complex, so it's not easy for the enemy to hit us!"
"What are you calling? Think about that night when the Prime Minister led our fathers in the bloody battle in Ryukyu, and then think about our expeditionary force that has gone to the hinterland of Europe. The war they encountered was ten times and a hundred times stronger than ours... ...Thinking about them, we are so scared..."
"Yes! If anyone is scared, get out of here, we won't let you here... you're at the back door of my house!"
Jin Sanshun screamed and started banging on the door. It took a long time before a servant opened the door tremblingly. "Oh, young master, why are you still running around on the street at this time? Come into the house and hide..."
Ignoring the dissuasion of their old servant, the group rushed to the warehouse in the backyard and started rummaging around. After a while, they found forty brand-new Spencers that the Jin family had bought with their own money.
The children pried open the wooden box and pulled out a pair of brand-new rifles baked blue from the thick straw. They were heavy and murderous in their hands.
"Where are the bullets? Where are the bullets... Here, bring more, oh? Your family bought so many cowhide bullet magazines? What a luxury. No wonder people say that your Jin family is rich..."
Xiang Ying carried three rifles on his back, and the cowhide magazines were filled with ammunition. "Hurry up, hurry up...he carried three rifles on his back, and then set off north quickly. When we passed the Second University, we passed by the west wall. Wherever we go, we can pull out at least twenty or thirty people..."
"Master! Young masters... what are you doing? Don't scare me, please don't scare me!" The old servants were crying anxiously. If I can't stop the young masters today, if I do something good, I'll turn back. The master still has to put him in the oil pan and fry him.
Jin Sanshun was determined today. He pushed away his servant and shouted, "Stop crying! I'm an adult... Now this is a national war! Do you understand a national war? Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of a country..."
"Oh, young master! They are the soldiers fighting the war. Why are you going up there? Don't let the master worry. I beg you, you are a noble person, so you can't make any mistakes..."
"Let's go, let's go! There are too many people like you who don't care about this matter. Our Ryukyus were so weak before, and there are no eggs left after the nest is overturned... Forget it, I told you that you I don’t understand either. Also, from now on, don’t say anything about noble people or not…"
Speaking of this, Jin Sanshun and several friends suddenly thought of Ryukyu's savior, Prime Minister Xiao. They didn't know that they had moved the intestines, and tears fell down.
"Noble? What kind of bullshit nobles are we? No matter how expensive it is, the Prime Minister can't go... Now that the Prime Minister is alive and dead in Europe, Prime Minister Xiao is willing to give up his life. What should we be reluctant to give up! Let's go, let's find reinforcements, and we'll take the place of the general. Let's go to Guotou Village..."
The old servant could no longer stop these children. He saw a group of children carrying foreign guns and hanging bullets on their bodies, rushing into the street. The old servant leaned against the door frame, rubbing his eyes and crying in pain.
Xiang Ying finally disappeared to the north of Naha City. With his friends from the Second University, more than 30 people ran in the direction of Shanbei Kunigashi.
These children don't know that thanks to their nonsense, if it hadn't been for this nonsense, something terrible would have happened today.
On the road from Liang Kun's headquarters to the Shuri Castle Fort, a large crater was still emitting white smoke. A guard in the corner was vomiting blood after his internal organs were shattered by the shock.
These were the guards Liang Kun sent out to deliver a message to Cai Hao just now. If these children hadn't gone crazy and personally sent the information about the missing battleship to Shuri City, I'm afraid Cai Hao would never have gotten this important information.
It seems that the luck of the Ryukyu Kingdom is still there, and there is a hidden dragon to protect it.
...
