1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 622
Regardless of whether Shibazhi will make a comeback in the near future, for the Fujian government, the strategic point of Nanri Island must be defended as much as possible.This time, thanks to the help of the Haihan militia, Nanri Island was easily captured from Shibazhi. If he lost it easily, Xu Xinsu would probably be ashamed to continue working in the Fujian General Army.

Of course, if the island is to be defended, only the Fujian military's own strength is still a little short, and Haihan has to give some help.Fortunately, the basic structure of Nanri Village is very solid. Although it has withstood multiple rounds of shelling by the Haihan militia, only the crenels on the upper part of the wall were seriously damaged.Even after Shi Diwen and Morgan watched it on the spot, they had to be thankful that Shibazhi surrendered early, otherwise even if the shells brought by the Haihan militia would be difficult to blow down the solid wall, it is very likely There is still only a ladder to attack the wall.If the battle situation progressed to that state, it would be difficult for the Haihan militia to avoid casualties.

Judging from the damaged fortifications of Nanri Village, Shi Diwen believes that it is only necessary to make minor repairs, and then re-arrange the firepower points on the wall of the village, so that the defense strength of Nanri Village can be raised to a higher level, so that The Ming army defending the village can alone cope with the possible counterattacks launched by Shibazhi in the future.

However, the minor repairs that Shi Diwen thought were only based on the engineering level of Haihan as a measure. However, for the Ming army, Shi Diwen's proposal for the reconstruction of Nanri Village was not a small project.With the infrastructure level of the Ming army, it will take a month or two to complete the transformation plan proposed by Haihan.

Naturally, Xu Xinsu was also aware of the window period that his own lack of engineering capabilities would bring to the defense of Nanri Island, so he immediately asked Shi Diwen: "It will take time to complete the repair project of Nanri Village. The defense must be empty, how can we prevent Shibazhi's counterattack? I implore your army to stay on Nanri Island for a few more days, and all expenses will be borne by the Fujian government. Mr. Shi must agree."

Shi Diwen did not expect that Xu Xinsu would continue to retain the militia army after the war. He originally thought that the existence of the militia army would make Xu Xinsu somewhat scruples, and that an early withdrawal from Nanri Island would also make Xu Xinsu feel at ease, but he did not expect that the other party not only did not Instead, because they were worried about the defense of Nanri Island, they asked the Haihan militia to stay for a period of time.

Seeing that Xu Xinsu didn't look like he was testing himself, Shi Diwen thought about it and said, "Well, the military advisory group we sent to Fujian will come soon, and their local station will take time to build. Or after they arrive, they will first come to Nanri Island to help defend for a while, and after the fortifications on the island are repaired, they will be transferred to station near Zhangzhou? Before they come, my fleet will be temporarily stationed near Nanri Island All right."

Shi Diwen didn't intend to let his men live in the same camp as the Ming army here. The island is deserted and it's not convenient to get supplies. It's better to live on the coast of the nearby mainland.The voyage from Dongqiao Bay to Nanri Island is less than [-] nautical miles. If something happens, there is still time to come to rescue after receiving the warning.

"That's very good, then I'll have to help your army officers and soldiers. The old man will order someone to set aside a place in Dongqiao Bay for your army to station." Xu Xinsu heard Shi Diwen's words that he didn't plan to live on the island, so he already guessed Seeing his idea, he immediately said that he would make corresponding arrangements.

On the night of the battle, Shi Diwen sent a telegram to Ning Qi, who was still stationed in Zhangzhou, explaining the results of the battle and the current situation, and told him that because of the needs of the situation, the militia army probably had to station some more in Quanzhou time.

The militia can't leave for the time being, and Ning Qi can't just go back to Hainan Island alone.But it just so happened that he had more time to deal with some non-governmental exchanges. Recently, many literati from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou came here to visit him, the "Master of Haihan".And Ning Qi just needs such communication channels to promote Haihan culture and values ​​to the cultural circles in Fujian.

In Fujian, through Xu Xinsu's distribution channels in recent years, a large number of Haihan products have poured into the local market, which naturally includes one of Haihan's signature products, a rich variety and variety of glass stationery.Similar to the market feedback in Guangdong, the literati in Fujian have no resistance to these full-bodied things.With the price nearly [-]% higher than that of the Guangdong market, the number of Haihan glass stationery exported to Fujian is still showing a rising trend year by year. Of course, many of them are trafficked to Jiangxi, Zhejiang and other places through local transshipment. sell.Moreover, according to the information obtained by Ning Qi during his visit to Zhangzhou, a small amount of Haihan glass products have even been shipped by sea and sold to Ryukyu, Japan, North Korea and other places in the north.

Through specially formulated publicity strategies, Haihan's image of "emphasizing culture and education" has long been deeply rooted in the Fujian cultural circle.In the minds of Fujian literati, although these descendants of Han people from overseas were engaged in "vulgar" business, they paid more attention to cultural undertakings than even the government in many places in Ming Dynasty.For example, at the two largest cultural events in Zhangzhou every year, the Zhangzhou Poetry Fair and the Southern Fujian Cultural Fair, Haihan is the sponsor who spends the most money, and often distributes a large amount of valuable Haihan stationery to the public on these occasions. Souvenirs or prizes for the participants made literati in Zhangzhou, Quanzhou and other places generally have a certain favor for Haihan.

Through the official publicity, Zhangzhou cultural circles soon noticed that Ning Qi, the leader of the Haihan Mission, was the director of Haihan’s cultural and educational affairs, so various invitations and invitations were sent to the mission. The place.However, due to the assassination incident as soon as the mission arrived in Zhangzhou, Xu Xinsu had to follow the fleet to go to sea to fight, and had no time to take into account the safety of the mission, so the mission personnel were temporarily prohibited from going out to visit civilians on their own.Ning Qi was unwilling to waste the opportunity, but quickly came up with a compromise.

Since there is a certain risk in going out, then simply invite all the guests back.After Ning Qi asked the Gong family and his son who were resident in Zhangzhou, he decided to hold a temporary literary meeting in his residence.When Shi Diwen, Xu Xinsu and others led the allied forces to Nanri Island to fight, Ning Qi invited many Fujian literati in Zhangzhou to hold a seven-day literary meeting in his courtyard.

In this essay meeting, reciting poems and composing pairs, and appreciating calligraphy and painting are naturally the main topics.When literati gather together, it is inevitable to talk about the past and the present, and discuss major events in the world.Ning Qi was originally a history student, coupled with his hundreds of years of knowledge and long-term practice of speaking skills, he widely publicized Haihan's cultural values ​​during the literary conference, and achieved good results.Many curious literati even expressed their willingness to return to Sanya, Qiongzhou, on the ship of the Haihan Mission, to see what this legendary little paradise in the South China Sea really looks like.

When Shi Diwen sent back the telegram, Ning Qi's literary meeting was just halfway through, so instead of having any objection to the military's decision to stay temporarily, he breathed a sigh of relief.Otherwise, if the military chooses to go straight back to the base camp after the war, then he has to consider whether it is necessary for the military personnel to give him a few more days to complete the unfinished work at hand.The military came here not only to fight a beautiful victory, successfully publicized Haihan's force, but also made a considerable amount of extra money on Nanri Island, and the sense of presence was already full.If Ning Qi didn't make some achievements before leaving Fujian, he would inevitably feel a little embarrassed when he reported to the executive committee after returning.

While the civil and military officials of the Haihan Mission were busy dealing with the affairs at hand, Qian Tiandun, who had handed over Annan's defense, also returned to Victory Port with his guard platoon.The special warfare battalion under the Annan Militia, which will be transferred to Fujian, will set off a little later. The ship arranged by the Ministry of Shipping will go to the Annan station to pick them up and go directly to Fujian, with only a short stop in Hong Kong Island.The reason why he was not allowed to return to Qiongzhou Island to rest was because the executive committee was worried that the identity of this army would be discovered by someone with a heart. After all, during the "Operation Liaoyuan" last year, all members of this army dressed up as pirates and swept across Qiongbei. It's hard to say whether anyone in the local population still remembers what they looked like.

Regarding the matter of Qian Tiandun's return to the base camp, the Executive Committee and the top military officials attached great importance to it.Except for Yan Chujie who was sitting in Qiongbei and couldn't come back, almost all other high-level personnel arrived at the Shengli Port Wharf in advance to welcome Qian Tiandun's return.

Standing on the bow deck of the ship, Qian Tiandun looked at the prosperous Shengli Port wharf, feeling quite emotional.In the summer of 1627, he led the colonial fleet to Annan Black Soil Port, and has been stationed in Annan for nearly four years.Although there was an arrangement to return to Victory Harbor to report on his work almost every year during this period, he spent most of his time in Annan after crossing. It would be a lie to say that he had no nostalgia when he left.After all, Haihan and his colleagues built up all the colonial areas in Annan and the military forces to maintain local stability bit by bit.

According to his own plan, there are still many unfinished business in Annan.For example, training a full field regiment for the military, building a military port in the south that can support the expansion plan of Haihan, and assisting the Annan court to build a large army to fight against the Siamese dynasty west of Annan, etc.These tasks can only be left to the succeeding Mu Xiabo and Feng Annan, and Qian Tiandun knows very well that what he has done in the past four years in Annan is actually still for Haihan's mainland. Raiders make preliminary preparations.

After four years of development, Haihan's strength has been greatly improved.Four years ago, we could only choose Annan, which was in the middle of a civil war, and had no time to look outside. We had to find a sparsely populated place like Heitu Port, but now, four years later, the Haihan Militia has the strength to organize a fleet to go north to Fujian. , A head-to-head contest with Shibazhi who is entrenched in the local area.Although the transfer order of the executive committee did not make it particularly clear, Qian Tiandun could sense that the executive committee had already made plans for the next step in the mainland and Northeast Asian waters, regardless of the means to achieve expansion However, military support is a necessary measure, and the executive committee must also rely on generals like him who have experience in leading troops in combat to be responsible for opening up Haihan's situation on the coast of the mainland.

"Seeing the current Victory Port, how do you feel?" Qian Tiandun asked suddenly.

Behind Qian Tiandun, there was only a short but solid man standing, and it was his personal adjutant Gao Qiaonan.This time Qian Tiandun's position was transferred. He also asked Gao Qiaonan if he wanted to establish his own company. If Gao Qiaonan had this plan, then he could recommend and guarantee to the Military Commission that Gao Qiaonan be a soldier on Annan's side. No problem with the head.However, Gao Qiaonan rejected this suggestion, and said that he would continue to follow Qian Tiandun and stay by his side as an attendant.

Gao Qiaonan replied: "For Beizhi, the memories here are very painful, even better than when I was drifting at sea. If I can choose, Beizhi doesn't want to stay in this place permanently."

Gao Qiaonan was coerced into becoming a pirate at the beginning, and when he attacked Shengli Port, he was captured alive by the traversers who had just landed at that time, and served in a hard labor camp. He really suffered a lot during that time.However, he was not bad in nature and not stupid in mind. He was quickly appreciated by Ren Liang, who was in charge of the hard labor camp at the time, and was later recruited by Qian Tiandun to the military.For him personally, Qian Tiandun is indeed like a reborn parent, so he chose to repay his kindness by staying by Qian Tiandun's side.

Qian Tiandun said: "We won't live here for a long time, and we will leave for Fujian. But I hope you don't still hold any resentment for the suffering you suffered at that time. If you show such emotions in front of others, maybe you will It will be a bit detrimental to your future career in the army."

Gao Qiaonan understood what Qian Tiandun meant, and immediately nodded in response: "I understand!"

Qian Tiandun continued: "Don't forget, you are not a Japanese ronin or a prisoner, but a member of Haihan. You are an upright Haihan officer. The prosperity of Victory Port and the glory of Haihan also belong to you." A share! The military achievements you have made for Haihan will be recorded in the annals of history, and your family and future generations will be proud of them. As for the wrong things you have done and the suffering you have suffered before, These things will not be recorded in Haihan's military history."

Gao Qiaonan regained his spirits and responded with a raised voice: "Humble staff is willing to fight to the death for the executive committee!"

"There will be a chance for you to fight on the battlefield." Qian Tiandun came back to his senses, patted Gao Qiaonan on the shoulder and said: "In the days to come, we will have more opportunities to fight!"

Although Gao Qiaonan didn't know where the next battlefield would be, but the news that there was a battle to fight had already stimulated his nerves and made his eyes start to light up.

(End of this chapter)