After several negotiations between local priests Xie Anhua and Ding Guofeng, the prisoner exchange agreement between the Thor and the Okhotsk authorities was finally reached two days later. The Tsarist Russians' condition was to release the captured crew members at the cost of two sea otter skins per person. After Ding Guofeng contacted Zhao Xin, he asked for an additional 100 barrels of whale oil.
It is said that a blue whale with more than 100 tons can refine 40 tons of whale oil. One hundred barrels is only 20 tons, not even half a whale. This thing is really not worth it to the Okhotsk authorities. What.
Before the invention of the automobile, animal fat was the main source of machinery lubricants. Because its viscosity remains unchanged at high temperatures, whale oil was used as a lubricant for precision instruments in the early 19th century. In addition, it can also be refined to synthesize nitroglycerin.
Commercial whaling in Europe and the United States is now in its ascendant and will gradually disappear until the large-scale application of oil. However, the Red Empire once hunted 13,000 humpback whales in one fishing season in 1959.
Beihai Town has not carried out whaling activities in recent years, mainly because of the inability to build ships. There is no wood suitable for shipbuilding in the outer northeast. It was not until last year that Liu Sheng bought a batch of wood from Macau for the repair of two previous sailboats.
Secondly, Beihai Town’s demand for whale meat and whale oil is not that urgent. Compared with the high-risk whaling activities at sea, buying beef or candles is cheaper and easier for future generations. Moreover, under the guidance of Chen Qingsong, Beihai Town has already started livestock breeding.
When the captured sailors returned to shore, the Okhotsk authorities knew that three sailboats had become the spoils of Beihai Town, so they demanded them.
The loss of eight sailing ships in two years has had an extremely serious impact on the local area of Okhotsk, both from a military and commercial perspective. Currently, except for Petropavlovsk in Kamchatka, Tsarist Russia has no large sailing ships available in the Far East.
After receiving a telegram from Ding Guofeng, Zhao Xinxin said that Tsarist Russia had such a beautiful idea, it would be better if they didn't have a ship! Even if I pay for it with money, I can't agree. He immediately ordered Deng Fei to drive the Thunderbolt to take the students from the navigation school to Bitter Leaf Island, bring back the three sailboats, and at the same time salvage the bronze cannon from another sunken ship.
So after the Okhotsk authorities tried to get the goods to no avail, the Thor blew its whistle three times and drove away while the customs director was furious. However, Chief Executive Ogren later sent a long letter to the Irkutsk Governor's Palace, detailing the entire incident and his speculations. He had no choice but to ask for help from Ivan Jacobi.
It's time to clean up the remnants of the Matsumae clan in the southern part of Kuye Island. Their stronghold in the southern part of Kuye Island is at Kusunkotan. The name comes from the Ainu language and means "the other side". The shortest distance from Kuharu Kotan to Ezochi is only 42 kilometers. On a clear day, you can see the other side at a glance, so the Ainu people gave it this name.
In order to easily communicate with the Ainu people in the southern part of Kuye Island, Ding Guofeng first went to the coal mining port and rested for a day before continuing southward with Mergua and others.
When boarding the ship, Mergua and several of his men were all wearing Beihai Town's labor protection coats, black suede boots, a big otter-skin hat on their head, and a musket on their backs. Going up there is really nondescript.
A group of scumbags were overjoyed to finally board Poseidon's ship. Everything on it was new to them. No matter what they saw, they reached out to touch it, and even licked it with their tongues. The sailors on the boat thought it was funny and didn't stop him. It wasn't until a scumbag tried to stick his finger into the socket that he was yelled at loudly.
In the past year, under the guidance of the security team, they have become proficient in using Tsarist Russian flintlock muskets. They can hunt deer and bears with ease. It is much easier than before. Sometimes they would take some prey to the coal mining camp or the Oha River to exchange for some food, clothing and other daily necessities, and they lived a very comfortable life.
Curious, Ding Guofeng asked a soldier from the security team to help translate and asked Mergua if he would go to the Wulin Appreciation Party this year. Mergua shook his head and said that since he was loyal to the Poseidon and the Bear God, he would have no worries about food and clothing. , then there is no need to go and admire Wulin.
"Who are the Poseidon and Bear God you are talking about?"
Mergu said wow wow wow for a long time, and then Ding Guofeng understood that he was talking about Zhao Xin and Liu Sheng. It’s really funny to think that Liu Sheng’s big guy is either called a bear spirit or a bear god, whether in Shanghai County or here.
Two days later, when the Thor turned left from the south of Kuye Island and passed through the strait between Ezo and Kuye Island, Ding Guofeng had not yet realized that he was the first to sail across this place in this time and space. people; and the Frenchman Laperouse who first discovered this place in another time and space, his fleet had just arrived at the Korean Peninsula.
From the map, the bay shaped like a crab's pincers in the southern part of Kuye Island is the local fishing ground of the Matsumae family. It has been a hundred years since its establishment. The local town is called Otomari Town, and the town official is Murayama Denbei, the third generation head of the Murayama family.
Ever since he learned that the Matsumae family had been driven out of Toshima Peninsula, Murayama Denbei's life had become like a year. Unlike other retainers of the Matsumae Domain, the Murayama family's fiefdom was in Otomari Town, and they relied on shipping and fishing to make their fortune. If he leaves, there will be nothing left, and he will be an idiot when he returns to Honshu Island.
Shortly after the fall of Matsumae Castle, Denbei, who got the news, took a boat to Matsumae Castle to look for his family. Like the daimyo of Edo, Matsumae Clan also adopted the method of controlling Denbei on Kuye Island by leaving his wife and children in Matsumae Castle as hostages. However, there was a commotion outside Matsumae Castle at that time, and they finally managed to disguise themselves and get ashore, only to find out the whereabouts of their family members and take them all back.
Not long ago, he went to Omi again and heard about the bombardment of Edo Bay by the large white ships. He also learned that the shogunate and Tang Yi had reached an agreement to abandon Kuye Island and Ezo land.
Murayama Denbei's heart went cold, the shogunate had completely abandoned him! Will the family business that I have worked so hard to create be cut off from now on?
Oh shit! This is absolutely impossible!
So when the fishermen who went fishing hurriedly came to report that a huge white ship had arrived from the southern sea, Murayama Denbei knew that the time had come, and success or failure depended on it. He immediately summoned his retainers and held a meeting in the official hall of the town office.
"I decided to surrender the city."
"Oh no! Your lord is so wise!" After hearing this, several men with serious faces let out a sigh of relief and relaxed a lot. There are a total of more than 200 islanders in Otomari Town, and there are also 100 Ainu people. That's it, beat the chicken feathers and beat them!
When Murayama Denbei saw this, he became very angry. He said to himself that you bastards have been looking forward to this day for a long time. Look at how they are all ready to go. People who don't know better think they are leaving the city, oh no, they are leaving the town to fight to the death.
When the Thor was still two or three kilometers away from the port of Omari Town, a fishing boat carried the Murayama family's envoy out of the port.
"Captain, they are flying a white flag." In the cockpit, the trainee crew member held up a telescope and looked at it for a while, then turned to report to Ding Guofeng.
Ding Guofeng picked his ears with his fingers and said disdainfully: "You are so spineless!"
Zhao Xin's order to him was to completely expel the islanders here, kill all those who resisted, and rush the others back to the island country in order to legally cut off the history of the islanders in the southern part of Kuye Island.
No matter what, just go ashore!
As a result, the Murayama family's envoy's request to board the ship was not responded to at all. In spite of the envoy's loud request, the Thor sailed until it was one kilometer away from the fishing port before finding a place to stop and anchor. Immediately afterwards, two assault speedboats were lowered from the ship, carrying a class of Sendai Domain soldiers to land first.
Chai Zhong volunteered to request the first batch to land, and Ding Guofeng and Pan Xiucheng agreed. When this guy jumped out of the assault boat and rushed to the beach, all the fishermen on the shore had already disappeared.
"Deploy a guard post! Quick!" In accordance with the requirements of the Beihai Town Infantry Drill Code, ten Qingye Battalion warriors holding a knife in one hand and a revolver in the other quickly distanced themselves on the beach to form a fan. The assault boat returned to the Thor and continued to pick up people.
After confirming that it was safe near the landing point, Chai Zhong pulled the signal stick he was carrying, and a red signal flare shot into the sky.
In Otomari Town, Murayama Denbei, who received the news, suddenly felt bad when he heard that the Oshiro ship did not negotiate with the envoy he sent and sent people ashore directly. While he ordered his men to be on guard in the town, he also sent people to the beach.
When the envoy hurried to the beach, he was stunned when he saw Chai Zhong and others holding samurai swords. However, he still stepped forward and bowed to express his greetings.
Chai Zhong walked up to the envoy and said arrogantly: "I am the company commander of the Qingye Battalion of the Beihai Navy. Since I want to surrender, I will ask your town to come over."
The messenger blinked and thought to himself, what kind of official is "Company Commander"? He heard Chai Zhong's standard Mutsu accent, so he asked tentatively: "Sir, are you from Mutsu?"
"How presumptuous! I am a Han Chinese!"
The envoy flattered and complimented me: "Oh, sir, your Japanese language is so good! If it weren't for your clothes, I would have thought you were from Mutsu."
Chai Zhong glared and said, "I told you to ask your town minister to come over, are you deaf?!"
"Yes, I'll go back and report it right now." Seeing that Chai Zhong was hard to talk, the envoy quickly lifted up his trousers, turned around and ran towards Dabo Town.
More than an hour later, when Ding Guofeng and Pan Xiucheng landed, they saw Murayama Denbei sitting on the beach with a dozen of his men and a group of townspeople. Surrounding them were Beihai Town soldiers with guns on alert.
"The Shimomurayama Chuanbei is the local town's chief executive and the chief director of Nagasaki Tatsuma Buy and Pay. I sincerely welcome you!"
Ding Guofeng sat carelessly on the horse, with no intention of introducing himself. He reached out and hooked his fingers at Chai Zhong, who hurriedly ran over.
"You translate for me and tell them that the Matsumae family has been destroyed, and the shogunate has been defeated by us and has bowed its head and admitted defeat. From now on, this place will be the territory of the Han people."
"Yes!" Chai Zhong stood at attention and saluted. This guy added insult to injury and said to Murayama Denbei: "This is Lord Ding, the Northern Navy's envoy for the expedition against Bitterleaf Island. Lord Ding said..."
After listening to Shibachu Brabla's words, Murayama Denbei leaned over and begged: "Sir, the local people have always been law-abiding, and we have never done anything to oppress or harm anyone." He looked back and pointed at the kneeling figure behind him. The local townspeople continued: "Most of these people have lived here for many years, and some have lived here for two or three generations. If they leave, there is really no way out. So they all hope to submit, and I beg you to accept them."
Ding Guofeng waved his hand and said: "Those who want to stay, change their Chinese names and become Beihai citizens, and then break away from the island nation status. Those who don't want to stay, take a boat and leave immediately!"
Murayama Denbei broke into a cold sweat upon hearing this. His family had worked hard for three generations, and his generation finally managed to become a Miao with a sword. If he changed his name and became a naturalized citizen, he would no longer be a samurai master.
He looked up at Ding Guofeng on the horse and saw an impatient expression. When he turned his eyes, he saw Pan Xiucheng who was staring at him fiercely. He looked at the translator again and saw that the man's hand was on his waist. On the handle of the knife, he looked like he was ready to kill someone.
Murayama Denbei was so frightened that he was sweating profusely and said hurriedly: "I am also willing to change my name and become a naturalized citizen." No matter what, let's save our lives first.
Ding Guofeng nodded after hearing this, and shouted to Murayama Denbei: "Hand over your weapons!" He thought that these guys would definitely not agree to hand over the samurai sword, so that he could legitimately take action.
Who knew that when these people heard Chai Zhong's loud order, they all respectfully took out their samurai swords from their waists and held them above their heads with both hands. This scene shocked Ding Guofeng.
Little did he know that people like Matsumae Clan were businessmen by nature and full of playboys. Desperately? Our whole family is gone, no matter what we fight for, it’s so sweet to live well.
Besides, no matter who rules, sea goods are always a good thing, right? Otomari Town is rich in salmon, cod, abalone and various shellfish, which are big and fat. The Matsumae family has made a lot of money from Kuye Island in recent years.
Ding Guofeng was at his wits end. He wanted to lie down and let others ravage him. He really couldn't do anything. So he said to Chai Zhong indifferently: "You take people into the town to go through the reception procedures and register them. In addition, you can also change your name and naturalize. What kind of soldier is this? Let him temporarily act as the mayor."
Chai Zhong was very excited after hearing this, and immediately took dozens of his subordinates and let Chuanbingwei and others lead them to the execution office.
The inventory of supplies is all ready-made, and the samurai in Qingye Camp are all literate. In addition to some rice, the supplies in the warehouse are all kinds of seafood, animal skins, and wood.
The account balance of the execution office was only a few hundred taels, and Murayama Denbei explained that all the money was spent on purchasing grain from Omi merchants. In the past, they would wait until the salmon season was harvested in August, and then they would transport the catch and sacrifices to Matsumae Castle. Except for those given to the feudal clan, they would sell the rest to merchants from Omi.
The fishing environment in Otomari Town is very good. There is a freezing period from November to March every year, and the fishing season lasts for eight months. However, agricultural production is very backward. Because the climate is too cold, rice cannot be cultivated, so only some cold-resistant buckwheat is planted outside the town.
The most famous thing here in later generations is "Korsakov syndrome", which is the sequela of acute alcoholic psychosis caused by heavy drinking.
Ding Guofeng took Pan Xiucheng and others into the town for a tour. When local residents saw a group of aggressive people entering the town, they were so frightened that they did not dare to show their faces at home. Mergua and others shouted loudly at the Ainu people to come out and understand the situation.
The wooden houses here are the same as the Hezhefiyaka people's residences in the north. They are raised one foot above the ground to protect them from the cold. Because the surrounding forest resources are extremely rich, wood is usually burned for heating.
Ding Guofeng sat in the official hall of the execution office and renamed Dabo Town Dabo Town with a stroke of his pen. So early the next morning, the sign "Dabo Town, Kuye District, Beihai Navy" was hung outside the official hall.
At the same time, Chai Zhong and Mergu'a led their men from house to house to inform the townspeople that the local area had been occupied by the Northern Navy, and everyone had to go to the execution office to register and change their Chinese surnames to be naturalized. Faced with the bright steel knives and the dark muzzles of guns, how dare everyone in Otomari Town not listen and take their children to queue up to register.
"It's really boring!" Ding Guofeng imitated the look in the movie, without taking off his shoes, sitting cross-legged on the main seat of the official hall, looking at the frightened Murayama Denbei below, thinking to himself, why don't you resist?
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