"Sir, do you really want us to fight in Taiwan? Do you want us to fight now?"
Yuan Yao of Qianhu, who was guarding the Qianhu Office in Dongguan, asked in disbelief at the administrative office of Sihaifangdao, the envoy of Guangdong's criminal prosecutor.
"If you have an order, you have to fight." Wang Hong sat at the top, "I have sent people to take note. Since the Franji people ignored them, they can only forcefully annihilate the enemy or expel them."
"But sir, their centipede boats come and go like the wind, and there are also three giant ships equipped with more than ten or twenty large guns!" Yuan Yao asked, "Sir, how many ships can you mobilize in a hurry? Hundreds of ships? There are currently less than twenty sentinel ships in the village used to patrol coastal defenses! Won’t Master Tai give you and the humble officers more than a month to prepare for war? "
"The imperial edict was sent to Wuzhou, and then the Guangdong Zhensi Yamen took charge of it!" Wang Hong stared at him, "Your father was killed by the Franji people in the battle in the past. Yuan Yao, this battle also delayed the envoy. No!"
Yuan Yao said sadly and angrily: "The hatred for killing my father is irreconcilable! I don't think about getting rid of the evil animals on Tuen Mun Island even in my humble duty. But in our county, many women and children have been abducted without a trace, and more and more merchant ships are being robbed." , haven’t I been suppressed after asking for battle many times? At this time, I gave the order and the warships are not equipped with soldiers and food. Should I let my subordinates go down and die?"
Wang Hong stood up: "Seven days! I will try my best to mobilize warships! If it is not enough, recruit some civilian ships. If the elite soldiers are not enough, you should recruit some local braves first. Think about defeat before winning, and guard Nantou Village and Dongguan We still need to leave defense forces at Qianhu Station."
"... I really don't want to be defeated like this!" Yuan Yao clenched his fists tightly, "Sir, you know full well that Franji and..."
"I know for sure!" Wang Hong interrupted him in a low voice, "Since the day when the Franji warships fired their cannons on the Pearl River, I don't know how many roads I have traveled on! His Majesty has ordered the governors of Guangdong and Guangxi not to do so. If you act rashly, I can no longer submit my memorial! Now that the imperial edict has been received, Jiang Bin has been executed, and the imperial decree has driven out the Franji people, how can you and I be afraid of fighting? "
"But with the current military preparations, we can't win in battle! No one in the Zhang family's fleet has escaped. No one is alive or dead, and no corpses are seen. The wrecked ship is less than a hundred miles away from the shipping company. Where did the Franji people learn about it? Accurate route? There are ministers returning to the capital with the tribute envoys from the city!" Yuan Yao gritted his teeth and said, "Have they ever thought about allowing us to win? If they want to annihilate them, why should they order you to be polite first and then attack? Go and capture Fu. Langji's camp, not to mention whether they can attack the shore, can the naval battle be won?"
"They don't want us to win, so we have to win!"
Wang Hong had already stepped out of the room, and the sea breeze blew in and blew the corners of his clothes, leaving behind his decisive voice: "Even if you lose first, you will win in the end, even if the one who wins and annihilates you is not me! Mr. Yuan Qian , If we don’t fight this battle, how can my battle report be delivered to the capital directly to the imperial court? The imperial edict has been issued, do you want to resist it? "
Yuan Yao's eyes widened, he stood there for a moment, then stamped his feet fiercely, and shouted angrily when he went out: "Calling troops on the school field! Calling on troops on the school field!"
…
How far is Tuen Mun Island from Dongguan?
It itself is under the jurisdiction of Dongguan County. Now, the area called Tuen Mun Hai O has almost become the territory of the Franji people.
It's a joke to be polite first and then fight.
The Franji people knew that the warships patrolling the sea route would definitely attack Tuen Mun Island, so they waited for their work.
Therefore, there is no need to cover up the hasty recruitment of troops and ships.
"Master Wang, we can't win with just our ships! Since we're going to fight, why not build more warships, recruit elite troops, and assemble Huanghuang's troops to annihilate them?"
Wu Yuan, a local squire in Dongguan County, looked unbearable. Wang Hong stood up and bowed down to salute: "Brother Wu is very righteous and donated three ships. I am deeply grateful. I still need to go to Guangzhou, so I won't say more."
What can I say if there are some words?
Are you saying that there are too many vacancies on the Haiphong Road and various garrison posts, so there is no reason for the Guangdong Third Division to request additional troops?
It is said that the Flangji people have been camping in Tuen Mun for many years and it is easy to defend but difficult to attack?
It’s said that Franji’s men, ships, and artillery are strong, but the Ming Navy cannot easily win against ten times the enemy?
To say that the Franji people have been entrenched to this day, are they actually intricately involved with Guangdong and Guangxi?
He had no choice but to fight.
For seven days, he traveled between Guangzhou Prefecture and coastal counties, recruiting local braves, recruiting civilian ships, and even raised more pension silver in advance.
At five o'clock in the day, it was not yet dawn.
There were only a few bonfires lit on the sidelines of the Shuizhai school grounds of Dongguan Guards Qianhu Station, which was no different from usual.
But the school grounds were full of people. Those who were dissatisfied stood all the way to the pier, and stood on the bows of ships of all sizes beside the pier.
Some are warships, and some are just merchant ships and fishing boats.
Wang Hong stood on the high platform. Behind him were Yuan Yao, a member of the Haiphong Road Commander, and deputy Qianhu and Baihu from the Dongguan Guard Qianhu Station.
The morning tide hasn't arrived yet, but it's coming soon.
"I, Wang Hong, didn't let many people come!"
He began his final mobilization with simple words.
"Many villagers said that their wives and children must have been eaten by red-haired ghosts! They wanted to come, but they have relatives at home and they are the breadwinners of the family, so I didn't let them come."
"You guys, I can't refuse! You say you want revenge even if you die. You have saved your life, or you have brothers at home. You say you are not afraid, but you are only afraid that the red-haired ghost will harm more villagers and kidnap more brothers. Sisters and children!”
"How long has the red-haired ghost on Tuen Mun Island been causing trouble here? Yuan Yao, how many years has it been?"
Yuan Yao thought of his father and roared sadly: "Thirty years!"
"These red-haired ghosts don't know etiquette and are cunning! Now, your majesty has recognized their true identity and issued an edict to order me to lead the people to annihilate them and drive them away!" Wang Hong turned around and knelt down facing the north. "The power of heaven is so great. Now, The soldiers are valuable and quick. Our Great Tomorrow Army has more than fifty warships, large and small, and more than one thousand and five hundred warriors. With ten against one, we will eradicate the traitors and eliminate future troubles forever!"
"Eradicate the thieves and avoid future troubles forever!"
After Wang Hong kowtowed, he stood up and turned around, looking at the vaguely angry faces below, his eyes a little red.
The hundreds of local warriors who were recruited below all have blood debts to repay.
If possible, Wang Hong would like to be fully prepared before going into battle.
He knew he was lying, but there was nothing he could do. If he stabbed him with this knife, he would definitely see blood.
All he can do is to take the lead and live and die with them.
"Today, I will work with you to defeat the enemy!"
Wang Hong was originally a man of few words, but he knew he could say something more beautiful now, enumerate the sins of the Franji people, and try his best to boost morale.
But in fact, these people all know the power of the French warships, they just have to donate their blood and courage.
Wang Hong said no more, he just stepped down first, walked through the crowd to the ship and shouted with suppressed emotions: "Get on the warship! Set sail! Go to war!"
The sea breeze blew on his face, and he was determined to die.
He has already written the battle report. As soon as his news comes back, the person he arranged will be rushed to Beijing directly eight hundred miles away.
This is the customs clearance procedure and opportunity he exchanged for his life.
The fish belly is still white on the horizon, and the morning tide is beginning to rise. A boat first rows out of the water village, and then gradually unfurls its sails.
The sea ahead is an endless mouth between dusk and dawn.
The fleet's sails spread like wings, and they rushed towards it.
At this moment in the capital, many people were solemnly dressed and ready to go to the Wenhua Palace.
The day before yesterday, the court held a new cabinet minister, and yesterday, at the Jingyan banquet, two Neo-Confucian disciples discussed the principles of heaven.
Today, in front of the Wenhua Hall, Chang Chaohou is not only debating scriptures, but also the second pass of the chief of the imperial study.
The fact that the emperor did not attend the debate in person makes people think.
Did he not want to see Wang Shouren be besieged and refuted, or did he want to show that this was only the second level of the Chief of the Imperial Study?
The banquet went on as usual, but he did not come to the big debate on psychology and neo-Confucianism.
After the Chang Dynasty, the courtiers walked happily to the Wenhua Hall.
Wang Qiong looked back at the honor guard that had already set off back to Qianqing Palace, slowed down and walked with Wang Shouren: "You can't hold back today!"
"That's natural."
Wang Shouren also seemed to be fighting alone.
Among the academicians of the Hanlin Academy and those recommended, there are only a few who are really partial to the study of mind or are purely disciples of the study of mind.
But on Neo-Confucianism, in addition to those who had been officials in the court before, there were also some unofficial Confucian scholars who had been recommended and arrived in Beijing at an "unbelievable speed."
Among them are many knowledgeable people who Wang Shouren once consulted.
Outside the Wenhua Hall, the morning light had just risen and it was not yet hot.
Futons everywhere.
"According to His Majesty's oral instructions: The debate over psychology and Neo-Confucianism has been spread throughout the capital and outside the capital, so there is no need to conceal it. In today's debate, everyone will express his or her own opinion. Regardless of the merits of knowledge, those who are quick-thinking, ministers who participate in national policy meetings must not refuse to act due to intellectual bias. Alternative.”
"I obey the decree!"
Without the emperor, an important audience, to debate scriptures, the debate would become more intense and thorough.
"boom!"
"boom!"
"boom!"
On the sea outside Tuen Mun Island, the three giant ships parked here by the Franji people have indeed been ambushed here. But now the ships on the Guangdong Coastal Defense Road are struggling to deal with only two warships called centipede ships.
This kind of ship has a pointed bottom and is ten feet long. More than forty oars protrude from each side of the three-foot-wide cabin, and it glides on the sea with great agility.
A total of more than thirty cannons mounted on both sides of the ship were constantly bombarding the warships on the Haiphong Road.
In the distance, there is a larger warship floating around, and the huge cannon on it has a longer range.
"Lean over and get straight to the red-haired ghost's car! Send a signal and let Yuan Yao and the others entangle the two centipede boats!"
Wang Hong watched with tearful eyes as a civilian ship was blasted through the side of the ship by a centipede ship's cannon. Two countrymen were smashed and fell into the sea.
In front of the Wenhua Hall, Yang Shen talked eloquently: "The sage's temperament is extremely pure, his mind is clear and self-evident, and he does not need to study things and reason. Ordinary people's temperament is dim and turbid, and their hearts are full of selfish desires. Is this reasonable?"
Wang Shouren asked him seriously: "Brother Yang, do you want to be the chief of the imperial study?"
"...Am I doing this?"
"This is a debate on the selection of the chief of the royal study. If Brother Yang doesn't do this, why don't you retreat?"
"This is the topic of the debate. Brother Wang, this is sophistry!" The besiegers came.
"Today's debate is to find out whether everyone's talents are quick in thinking. If my brother can argue sophistry, you might as well refute it."
"Brother Wang behaves like this and makes me laugh!"
"If I defeat my brother, I will be learning from my help. If I am the chief of the royal study and assist the Mingjun in the prosperous age, I will also be learning from the help of the country. Those who laugh at me will only increase their laughter."
In front of the Wenhua Hall, the Confucian scholars in wide robes and long sleeves argued hard, pretending to be polite despite their fierce looks.
On the sea outside Tuen Mun Island, Wang Hong's hair was disheveled and his face was charred. He just drew his knife and moved forward: "Charge over! Charge over! Join the ship!"
"boom!"
Another cannonball hit the collision angle of his ship and hit the sea next to him. The splashes exploded and sprinkled under the rising sun. Wang Hong wiped his face, but felt that his eyes seemed to be a little red.
"To Taiwan, two more centipede ships, a giant ship, and a cargo ship have arrived."
Urgent shouts came from the top of the boat.
Wang Hong turned his head and looked to the side. Sure enough, there were two centipede boats coming from the south ocean direction with their sails spread out.
"Sir! Morale has been depleted and the casualties are heavy! Ming Jin withdraws his troops!"
Wang Hong held up the knife, and saw even the "elite soldiers" on the ship holding muskets and preparing to board the ship, all cowering with fear on their faces.
On the deck, there were still remains of bodies whose heads had been scraped off by cannonballs.
When he wiped his face, the blood on his eyelids blurred his vision. Out of more than fifty warships, only about thirty were left and could barely fight.
Most of those civilian ships and merchant ships have been destroyed, including Shang Xiangyong...
Wang Hong looked at the four ships reinforced by Franji men in despair, tears welled up in his eyes and he roared angrily: "Ming Jin withdraws the troops, and the ships circle around the rear!"
"Sir, you cannot die fighting here!"
"If you don't drag this centipede boat, it won't be able to escape!" Wang Hong hissed, "Turn the rudder and block its path!"
The speed of Franji's giant ship was not very fast, and Wang Hong's ship kept chasing it, and actually tied down a centipede ship that was escorting it.
The other ship was only seriously damaged under the siege of so many Daming Navy ships, but it tried its best to row back to Tuen Mun Island Harbor.
You can't chase them, there are huge cannons on the shore.
The ship that was heading straight for the flagship of the Franji suddenly turned its rudder and approached an approaching centipede ship.
"Fire! Fire!"
With more than fifty enemies against four, can't even one of them be sunk?
Wang Hong felt cold inside, feeling that the sun was rising higher and higher like the setting sun before a winter night.
At this time, the atmosphere outside the Cultural Hall became even more lively. The finalists had become only Wang Shouren, Yan Song, Yang Shen and others, while several old scholars looked defeated.
Yang Tinghe looked at Liu Long, Zhang Fujing and Huang Jin who were busy writing notes on the side, then raised his head and looked in the direction of Qianqing Palace in the distance.
In the Central Palace, Zhu Houcong turned his back to him with eyes that could not penetrate the numerous palace palaces.
In front of him is the map of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Houcong lowered his head and looked at the mouth of the Pearl River below.
His eyes were cold and painful.
Luo An's secret report came over, and the situation in Guangdong was even more outrageous than imagined.
To drive away the foreign invaders, we need to fight!
Zhu Houcong issued the imperial edict to Guangdong, Guangxi, and the Three Halls, but now it seems that he may not attract the attention of the officials guarding one side.
How will they arrange this battle?
Because of the inside information reported by Luo An, can they win like a lion fighting a rabbit?
Knowing that there was nothing going on in the Central Palace today, Zhu Qingping, who came to deliver the transcript of the current debate for Gao Zhong, saw the emperor clenching his fists tightly and his chest heaving.
"Your Majesty?" she asked softly.
"Go and pass on my oral message: Have you had enough arguments?"
(End of chapter)
