Of course, if we look at the highlights, the biggest event is naturally the war against Japan.
Although there is no plan to directly launch a large-scale war with the Japanese country in this war against Japan, even if it is just to attack the Satsuma Domain, we must be prepared for the possibility that the Japanese country will go all out.
For this reason, Daming must be more prepared.
First of all, attacking Japan is different from other wars. Naval battles are a crucial part. After all, Japan is an island country. If you want to attack the Japanese mainland, you must first fight at sea; then, you must be careful of being cut off by the Japanese navy.
Therefore, whether the naval battle can be won and whether the main force of the Japanese navy can be destroyed is the most critical issue.
For this reason, even if Zhang Mingwei is still in marriage mode, he is very concerned about preparations for naval battles.
As far as the current situation of the Ming Dynasty's navy is concerned, with several shipyards working at full strength, it will not be difficult to transform the original Fu Ship into a steam paddle steamer.
However, after testing more advanced propeller boats, it was found that sealing is a constraint issue, and maintenance is required after a period of time, otherwise water leakage problems will become serious.
As for the resonance problem of wooden boats, it can be barely solved by covering it with iron sheets. The best, of course, is to directly use the armored battleship. But time is tight, and it will take time to come up with an iron-clad battleship.
But all these problems, in the final analysis, are actually talent problems. Even if the model is busy during the day and teaches and sums up experience at night, it still takes time to accumulate a large number of available talents.
In addition, in order to be careful during the period, it is necessary to collect existing information about the Japanese country. However, because the Japanese country was closed to the outside world, it was impossible to spy on them by going to Japan to do business. However, there is still a way after all, and this way is implemented by Zheng Zhilong.
Because Zheng Zhilong married a daughter-in-law in the Japanese country and gave birth to sons. One of them was named Tagawa Nanaemon, also named Zheng Zongming. He stayed in the Japanese country and did not return to the Ming Dynasty. If in the original history, Zheng Zongming was called the representative of the Zheng family in the Japanese country.
Now, when Ming Dynasty needed information about Japan, he naturally thought of him.
Zheng Zhilong, as the governor of the Ming Dynasty Navy Commandery, wants to make the navy truly a service that pays equal attention to the army and improve the status of the navy, let alone letting his son inquire about the news of the Japanese country. No matter how difficult it is, he Will do it too.
Because the foundation of the Zheng family is the navy of the Ming Dynasty. When the navy of the Ming Dynasty flourishes, the Zheng Jiachang can be regarded as a community of interests.
………………
While the Ming Dynasty was intensively preparing for war with the Japanese, three large blessing ships appeared on the sea far away in Luzon.
These three lucky ships were not on the route from Dayuan to Luzon, but sailed from north to south. Anyone with a little experience can tell that these three lucky ships have probably been sailing on the sea for a long time.
On the deck of the leading lucky ship, several people were looking at Luzon Island in the distance and talking excitedly.
"Fifth Master, the one in front is undoubtedly Lu Song. We can finally take a break!"
"Why are we taking a break? Let the Spaniards give us supplies and return to Ming Dynasty as soon as possible."
"Yes, yes, if you can come back smoothly this time, the fifth master will be granted the title of earl. The fifth master is mighty!"
"..."
A group of people, surrounding the leader, were all smiling and talking. All the tired faces were filled with smiles.
However, there are also some who are more steady and are reminding the leader.
"Fifth Master, this Spaniard has been suppressed by us, does he have any bad intentions? We have worked so hard and we cannot fail!"
"Yes, Fifth Master, if the Spaniards want to cross our territory, they also bought our flag and behaved very well, but they will definitely not be convinced. Will they cause trouble?"
"..."
Regarding their worries, the others started talking about this topic without waiting for the leader to speak.
"If we don't resupply in Luzon, can we go back to Fujian directly? At least fresh water must be replenished!"
"That's right, at least the Spaniards know what's good and what's good and can communicate, unlike the natives on other islands. Let me tell you, in the future, I will ask you to send us to visit Nanyang more, show your name, and conquer all the natives. , it will be much easier in the future!”
"It's okay. If Spain dares to mess around, I will definitely get angry and send troops to destroy the Spaniards!"
"Do you think Spaniards are that easy to fight?"
"What are you afraid of? The most you can do is issue another Jianghu order! As long as the court allows it, there will definitely be no problem!"
"Luzon is far away from my Ming Dynasty, and the senior officials and Hongyi are here. Do you really think there are people that are so easy to fight?"
"..."
After hearing what his subordinates said, they started to quarrel, and the leader finally said: "Show the flag of our Zheng family and only go to one ship for supplies. If there is a problem, someone can report it."
After a pause, he said a little fiercely: "I went to America this time under the imperial decree. If you dare to attack me, the court will definitely agree to send troops. I think these Spaniards dare?"
This person is naturally Zheng Zhilong's fifth brother Zheng Zhibao. More than a year ago, he led five ships to South America under the imperial decree to search for legendary South American specialties, and now he is back.
His route to and from America was the same route that Spanish treasure ships took to and from the Pacific.
If the Spaniards in Luzon wanted to return to Mexico from Luzon, they had to go north along the coast, pass through the Japanese country, and then cross the Pacific Ocean. And this is the Zheng family's sphere of influence, so they naturally have to collect protection fees, basically once a year.
Therefore, others in the Ming Dynasty may not know about the route across the Pacific, but the Zheng family can get information about this route. Zheng Zhibao crossed the Pacific Ocean along the route of the Spanish treasure ship.
In this first voyage, fortunately, Zheng Zhibao finally came back. Unfortunately, two of the five ships were lost.
They don't know that in the more than a year since they left, the situation in the South China Sea has already changed dramatically.
As we got closer to Manila Bay, Zheng Zhibao began to designate a ship to go to Manila for replenishment. The other two ships would find a place to dock on the beach and also look to see if there was a place where they could resupply.
Because they know that there are many Ming people here in Luzon. If they can bump into Ming people's village, it will be much smoother.
However, before they could separate, someone on the lookout post shouted: "Fifth Master, a ship is coming, over there!"
When Zheng Zhibao heard this, he raised his head and looked in the direction pointed by the lookout post. He found that there were indeed shadows of several ships heading this way in the direction of Manila Bay.
Zheng Zhibao, who was in the martial arts world, was naturally vigilant. He immediately ordered his men to be on guard. If he found something was wrong, he would immediately run away.
There was no other way. After crossing the Pacific, supplies were running out. His men, including himself, were exhausted and couldn't jump ship to fight. When the wind is "tight", "hugging" is the most normal response.
But who would have thought that after a while, the lookout suddenly shouted in surprise: "Fifth Master, that seems to be our ship!"
"What?" Zheng Zhibao was a little surprised after hearing this.
The lookout post is naturally the person with the best eyesight, and being at a high place, he is the first person who can see the situation in the distance.
But where is this place? This is Nanyang, this side of Luzon! The Zheng family’s fleet will not come here!
The lookout post was quiet for a while, apparently concentrating on continuing to check the situation.
Everyone on the deck looked at the blurry shadow in the distance. After many people were reminded by the lookout post, they looked more and more like the Zheng family's fleet. At least they were not Xiyi sailboats. This was slowly becoming more and more certain.
"Even if it's our Ming Dynasty's ship that came out for sea trade, that's okay!"
"Yes, this way we can ask about the situation, and it will definitely be no problem to ask them to give out some supplies!"
“It feels good to finally see people from my hometown!”
"That can't be said. Aren't there people like us in the Americas? It's not like we haven't seen them before!"
"Then didn't you notice how surprised they were when they saw us passing by? Anyway, I realized it now!"
"..."
As they talked, it became clearer and clearer that there were two ships coming from Manila. They were lucky ships. That was absolutely correct!
But at this moment, the lookout suddenly shouted in surprise: "Fifth Master, the one with the flag is our warship! Fifth Master, it is our ship!"
After a while, everyone on the deck could see clearly. Everyone couldn't help being surprised, and immediately cheered and waved on the deck.
They didn't expect to see their own warships here in Luzon.
Even Zheng Zhibao was puzzled because when he left, he did not receive any news that he was sending warships to Nanyang!
Could it be that his nephew couldn't bear the loneliness and wanted to cause something to happen, so he sent a ship to Nanyang?
He knew that his nephew always kept saying that the flag of the Ming Dynasty must be flying on the other side of the ocean. In this regard, he has always just treated it as a sign of youth and did not take it seriously at all.
How can this be!
But at this time, he actually saw the Ming Dynasty warship here in Luzon, and he had to consider whether his nephew was causing trouble!
After getting closer and closer, it was finally confirmed that the two warships coming from Manila Bay were Ming warships. The people on the boat were all wearing Ming military uniforms!
For a moment, Zheng Zhibao and the others were all happy. They had met their brothers, so they were definitely safe.
So, as the ships of the two parties got closer and closer, they began to greet the brothers on the warship.
"Hey, did you know we were coming and came to greet us?"
"Haha, did you knock down Luzon just to welcome us?"
"..."
We were happy to meet each other, so we naturally started joking.
But who would have thought that the equally happy brothers on the opposite boat were all nodding and shouting that Luzon belonged to the Ming Dynasty.
