The space on Pi Island is limited. Although it is safe, it cannot house too many people. Therefore, under the rule of Dongjiang Town, Shicheng Island, Big and Small Changshan Islands, Zhangzi Island, and Guanglu Island all sent many Liaodong people who had escaped from the slave and bandit territory. common people.
These islands are also under the rule of Dongjiang Town, and the guards on the islands are also from Dongjiang Town.
"Actually, we can divide our forces to deal with Shicheng Island and Wangjiashan Island at the same time." Zheng Chao used two fingers to lift up the chart, pointing to the two islands with his fingertips.
After hearing this, Zhao Wu shook his head and said: "There is no need to take this risk. We can capture one island one by one and it won't waste much time."
"Shicheng Island is very close to Wangjiashan Island and Changshan Island. Once troops are used against Shicheng Island, they may be discovered by the Ming army on other islands." Zheng Chao said.
Zhao Wu looked at Zheng Chao and said with a smile: "My soldiers only attack the Ming army on each island. As for how to block the reinforcements of the Ming army on other islands, that is your business, Zheng Yingzheng."
Communication between islands can only be done by boat.
"What I'm worried about is not the reinforcements from the surrounding islands, but the news that we are attacking Shicheng Island will spread, and the Dengzhou Navy will be dispatched. By then, I am afraid that a lot of energy will be spent on dealing with the Dengzhou Navy. It will be very difficult. Support you."
Zhao Wu said: "Your fleet only needs to stop other reinforcements. Leave the island's defenders to me. And it's not that another fleet will come. Your pressure will be relieved when another fleet comes."
"It shouldn't take long for another fleet to arrive. Otherwise, with just the few troops you brought, I'm afraid we won't be able to spare any manpower after occupying these islands."
As he spoke, he drew a circle with his finger on an island on the chart.
There are many islands, and these islands are large and small. We can't just leave a squadron to garrison like we did with Deer Island.
Like Shicheng Island, Guanglu Island, and Big and Small Changshan Islands, these islands are larger and suitable for survival, and at least two to three thousand-man teams must be left on them.
This is just this island. The main target, Lushun, has not been included. Moreover, because Lushun is on land, it has a larger area and a larger population, so it will naturally require more troops.
"I have thought about what you said. I am afraid that the few soldiers and horses I have are not enough." Zhao Wu pursed his lips and looked at the chart and said, "I plan to keep all the captured Ming troops. As long as they are willing to join us, You can join directly and continue to do the job of defending the island. I will leave a small number of troops to manage them. When I take over Lushun, I will train and select these people. The suitable ones will be kept and the unsuitable ones will be sent to farm. , This will not only expand the military strength, but also free up manpower."
After hearing this, Zheng Chao looked back and forth on Zhao Wu's face, as if he wanted to see through the person.
"What? Do you think this method won't work?" Zhao Wu asked.
Zheng Chao shook his head and said: "That's great. You have been following my lord for many years. Your move has even made arrangements for the future expansion of the army in advance."
"Damn, I also thought that after we take Port Arthur, we will definitely expand our troops. Since we will expand our troops sooner or later, these Ming troops stationed on the island are the most suitable." Zhao Wu said a little embarrassed.
When Dongjiang Town was first established, it relied on the people of Liaodong who had escaped from the areas ruled by slaves and bandits.
Most of those who managed to escape to Dongjiang Town alive were strong men. Even if there were older and younger members of the family, most of them were young men, otherwise they would not have been able to escape alive all the way.
Dongjiang Town also selected some of these young men who were in better shape to join Dongjiang Town's army, so these garrison troops stationed on the island were the most suitable sources of troops.
"No wonder you asked your men to take away some of the Ming army prisoners when you were on Ludao Island, and left some Ming army prisoners on the island. It turns out that you had this plan from the beginning." Zheng Chao reacted and looked at Zhao Wu said.
Zhao Wu did not defend himself and said directly: "There were too many prisoners left. I was afraid that our defenders on the island would not be able to suppress them, so I took away some of the prisoners. I plan to do this every time I capture an island." , and move the captured Ming troops to other islands, which will make it easier for our people to control them."
"You have captured Changshan Island and several surrounding islands. I am afraid that one of your combat barracks can be doubled directly into two combat barracks. If you capture Lushun, your battalion will be able to He immediately became a master." Zheng Chao said jokingly.
Dongjiang Town always has 5,000 or 6,000 troops stationed on these islands. There are hundreds of garrison troops on a single Deer Island, not to mention those large islands.
On the big islands such as Changshan Island and Guanglu Island, people all live on them. There will only be more Ming troops stationed there, and it is not uncommon to even build forts.
The Tiger Flag fleet appeared in the waters near Shicheng Island.
Shicheng Island is a large island with people living on it. In addition to farming, people usually make a living by fishing near the coast.
The tall hull of Galen's ship appeared in the distance and was immediately spotted by the people who were fishing near the shore.
At first, the people thought it was a ship sent by Dengzhou, but as the fleet at sea got closer and closer to Shicheng Island, some people noticed something was wrong.
"The slave thief is coming! The slave thief is coming!"
The first thought of the people was that the slave thieves on land were coming to attack Shicheng Island.
Because this is not the first time slave thieves have attacked Shicheng Island.
As for the tiger-character flag on Pi Island, the people didn't think too much about it. In the hearts of the people, slaves and thieves were their biggest enemies, because slaves and thieves robbed their belongings and killed all their sisters. What the people hated the most was Slave thief.
Some people took the lead and ran to the island. Other people did not care about continuing to catch fish and shrimps, and fled to the island one after another. Some of the people on the small boats on the coast also rowed hard to the shore.
The chaotic people quickly attracted the attention of the island's defenders.
Among the defenders, there were hundreds of families who stopped a commoner who was escaping to the island. When he learned that the slave thieves were invading and saw the large ship appearing on the sea, he immediately ran back to report it.
A pier was built on Shicheng Island.
The Dunbao is not big, and the people who live in it are the island's defenders, and the common people are not qualified to live there.
Hundreds of households ran into Dunbao and found Sun Youming in the guard general's mansion.
"Something happened to the general. The slaves and thieves have invaded, and they have also sent a giant ship." When Baihu saw Sun Youming, they hurriedly informed him of the news they had learned.
Like the people who fled to the island, he also believed that the intruders were slave thieves.
"Impossible, how could a slave thief have a huge ship? I have never received the news." Sun Youming's first reaction was that he didn't believe it.
He knew very well what slave thieves were like at sea. It was still possible for slave thieves to get a few small boats and deck boats, but he didn't believe it at all when it came to slave thieves owning huge ships.
Even if he doesn't understand shipbuilding, he knows that building a giant ship cannot be completed overnight.
