1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 782 New pattern in Northeast Asia
On October 1661, 10, Beiling Island (now Ituru Island of the Thousand Islands), Xin'an Fort (now Kurilsk Town, Ituru Island).

Niu Fuliang was wrapped in a fur coat and huddled in the corner of the watchtower, trying to avoid the strong sea wind blowing from the sea.While he was cooking by the fire, he occasionally looked up at the distant sea.However, in his opinion, no ships would come to this remote island under such strong stormy weather.Being on duty on this watchtower to prevent enemies from attacking from the sea is purely a psychological comfort.

Because, since they landed on this island four years ago, apart from the ships of Qi, no ships from any other forces have come here at all.Even in the nearest territory of King Yong of Yunzhou, even those fishing boats would never think of visiting this island.

This place is too remote, there is nothing but the mountains and forests all over the mountains and black bears, foxes, and roe deer wandering around.Moreover, the winter here is too long. It has already entered winter at the beginning of October, and there was even a light snowfall yesterday.The monsoon climate here is also very significant. The winter monsoon blows from the land to the sea, and the wind is stronger and lasts longer.It is said that the ocean near the north freezes every winter with a thickness of one meter.

Hey, if any ship is frozen on the ice, it can only wait to die in place, and it will not be able to escape even if it wants to.

Niu Fuliang is from Hebei, because he couldn't survive in the land of Qinglu.Endless donations, endless corvée, and hard work in the fields every year, the result is that in autumn, there are not many grains left in the hands.Even if we dug wild vegetables and grass roots from everywhere and mixed them with batter to eat, we still couldn't fill our stomachs at all.

First, a younger sister in the family starved to death, and then the sick old woman also starved to death.In the end, I saw a plague of locusts eating up the crops in the field.The desperate old man made up his mind, kicked him and his younger brother out, and told them to run south to the border of Daming, where they could have something to eat.As long as the two brothers are alive, Lao Niu's family will not be cut off from the incense, and there will be no descendants.

Hebei is more than a thousand miles away from the Huaihe region under the control of Ming Dynasty.Niu Fuliang took his younger brother to beg all the way, digging for wild vegetables, tree roots and turf all the way. As soon as they ran to the border of Shandong, they couldn't bear it anymore, and they were exhausted and unable to move on.

After evading countless times of interception and hunting by the Qing army, the two brothers unknowingly ran to the vicinity of Juzhou, which is only seven hundred miles away from their hometown Cangzhou.Here, they heard a legend that as long as they ran to the seaside and Denglai, they would encounter ships from Qi and Yunzhou.Once they boarded their boat, they could leave the territory of my Qing Dynasty and live a life full of food.

This legend, like a life-saving straw, supported Niu Fuliang and his brothers to rush to the seaside with countless refugees (vagrants).However, before arriving at the seaside, these refugees who fled encountered the Qing army patrolling the border. After being chased by those fierce Qing soldiers, they fled in all directions, and Niu Fuliang lost contact with his brother.

However, just when everyone was in despair, their group of more than a thousand refugees encountered the "winter hunting" Ming Qi coalition forces near Haizhou, and then followed them to Yunzhou by boat.In April of the following year, the people of Qi State said that they would establish supply points on several islands in the northeast of Yunzhou, so they transported hundreds of people, including Niu Fuliang, to several remote islands nearby to colonize and reclaim wasteland and establish supply points. Bears, deer, and seals are also hunted on the island for valuable furs.

Because of the cold climate and insufficient sunlight, the land on Beiling Island and several nearby islands is not suitable for growing food, and only potatoes and some vegetables can be grown.Therefore, almost all the food they needed for the immigrants who colonized here came from Yunzhou.However, the fishery resources here are very rich. Even if you don't go out to sea with a fishing boat, you can just cast a net on the shore and catch a net of fat fish.

To be honest, when they first settled on this island, every immigrant was very satisfied. They could eat fish, braised in soy sauce, steamed, grilled..., making everyone feel happy.It doesn't matter if you don't eat food or something.

But eating fish for more than half a year is a person who can't stand it!Even though the fish from the net are fat and delicious, the food that all immigrants once dreamed of, the immigrants are still getting tired of eating it.

Niu Fuliang never thought that one day he would vomit because of the abundance of fish.Every time he thinks of his mother and sister who died of starvation, his lost brother, and his father who stayed in his hometown waiting to die, he will feel extremely sad and heartbroken.God, you are so unfair.I was exhausted all year round in my hometown, but I couldn't get a bite to eat at the end of the day.But here, a few nets of fish are scattered every day, and then they are processed into strips of dried salted fish, and then the potatoes and vegetables in the field are taken care of. Everyone can easily eat enough, and there are still three meals a day.

Well, there seems to be a ship in the harbor!

Niu Fuliang stuffed the baked potatoes into his mouth in two mouthfuls, and then picked up the binoculars to take a closer look.

"Dang! Dang! Dang!..."

After confirming that it was a large sailing ship, Niu Fuliang immediately rang the warning bell on the watchtower, and then picked up the musket by the wall.

The armed merchant ship "Yunfeng" under the Yunzhou Squadron of the Ryukyu Fleet of the State of Qi stumbled into the pier of Beiling Island. Sincerely.

"Damn, I can finally find a place to rest my feet." Luo Yunkai, the captain of the Yunfeng and Lieutenant (Lieutenant) Renyong, looked at the group of people on the pier who greeted them, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

"It's a pity that the Yunyu sank." Hou Yonglu, the chief mate and captain (second lieutenant) who accompanied Rong, said regretfully.

"Alas..." Luo Yunkai sighed after hearing this, "Who would have imagined that the wind and waves on the northern route would be so violent. Returning to the mainland of Hanzhou, how will we explain to the families of more than 60 brothers! "

Five months ago, the "Yunfeng" and "Yunyu" under the Yunzhou Squadron of the Ryukyu Fleet were ordered to explore the northern route, preparing to find a direct route to the American continent.More than two months ago, they arrived near the Aleutian Islands and the Pacific Northwest coast of the Americas. After hastily inspecting and recording the geographical and hydrological conditions along the coast, they immediately returned to Yunzhou with the northeast trade wind.

But who would have thought that not long after leaving the Aleutian Islands, they would encounter a strong storm and watched the "Yunyu" crash into a reef near a small island. Together with the fleet commander, Captain Xuanjie (Major) Hu Rongfeng Waiting for more than [-] officers and soldiers, they sank to the bottom of the sea with the ship.In this kind of stormy weather, there is no rescue and support at all. The officers and soldiers on the "Yunfeng" can only pray to the gods and Buddhas in the sky constantly to bless their ships through the storm area safely.

As a low-ranking officer, Luo Yunkai didn't know why Shangfeng wanted to explore such a northern route to the American continent.I still remember that six years ago (1655), the Eastern Squadron under the Navy Exploration Fleet had already discovered a southern route, that is, from the high latitudes of the Pacific Ocean to the southern tip of the American continent.

If you want to colonize the Pacific coast of the Americas, you might as well take the southern route. There have been several round trips there, and various sea and hydrological conditions have been mastered. Moreover, two secret strongholds have been established at the southern tip of the American continent. The northern route of exploration is much more reliable and mature.

Perhaps, this northern route leading to the American continent is part of our country's future grand maritime strategy, and its specific planning and guidance strategy are beyond what a low-ranking officer can think of.

However, judging from their inspection of some parts of the Pacific coast of the Americas, it seems that there is not much value. The broken coastline, the barren land, and even on the land near the sea, there is not even a single native. isolated desolate continent.In the depths of the continent, of course, there may be many tribes of Indians as the Spaniards call them.

But what does this mean for us in Hanzhou?It is too far away from Hanzhou. If you want to emigrate and control it, it is too unrealistic. It is far beyond the strength of our country Qi.

Unless, Ming is willing to pay some price, along this northern route, go to the Pacific coast of America, and then colonize this vast continent.

Ha ha, the question is, does Daming have this vision?
Even if they are willing to colonize the Americas, do they have the strength?
-
On November 11th, Yunzhou, Qingyuan Fort (today's Hakodate City, Hokkaido, Japan).

The "Yunfeng" rested for ten days in Beiling Island, replaced the broken mast, repaired and replaced the damaged sails, replenished some supplies, and continued to sail after recovering a little bit of physical strength and spirit. Go to sea and go to Yunzhou.

When they sailed into Qingyuan Port Wharf, it was already early winter, the harbor and the fort on the shore had already been covered with a thin layer of snow, and the whole land turned into a silver-white world.

However, affected by the warm current, the sea water is not frozen all year round, and it is the only ice-free port in the entire Yunzhou area throughout the year.As early as 1454, Masamichi Kono, a wealthy Japanese family from Tsugaru, built a mansion in a fishing village called "Uskes" (meaning "the end of the bay" in Ainu language) at that time. Because the building looks like a box, it is named "Hakodate" (sounds the same as Hakodate) as a place name.

However, a few years ago, after King Yong of Yunzhou sent troops to capture all the territory of the former Matsumae Domain in Japan, the Yunzhou Squadron of Qi State took a fancy to the superior geographical location and port conditions here, so they leased this port and became the anchorage of the fleet. Rename this place to Qingyuan.Near the port, there is a ship repair yard, which can provide ship maintenance services for all ships of Qi State stranded in Daming, Japan, and Yunzhou area.

Although this is a port leased by the Qi State, as the most important partner and political and military ally in the region, the ships belonging to Yunzhou Town will also use this place as an anchorage in the winter season, mooring in the harbor.

In more than ten years, Yunzhou Town has successively purchased more than ten armed merchant ships and decommissioned warships from Qi State, and together with dozens of large bird ships and blessing ships obtained from the mainland, formed a team in Northeast Asia. The most powerful naval fleet.

With the cooperation of some warships of the Qi State Navy, not only were they able to firmly control the sea trade routes in northern Japan, North Korea, and the Liaodong region, but they also frequently carried land troops to carry out battles in the Liaodong, Hebei, Shandong, and Jianghuai coastal areas. Landing operations, the so-called "summer hunting" and "winter hunting" operations, to obtain population and supplies to supplement and enhance the strength of Yunzhou Town.

The Marquis of Jing'an of the Ming Dynasty and Pan Xuezhong, the chief soldier of the Yunzhou Navy, were in Qingyuan City at this time, discussing with Zhou Shuyuan, commander of the Yunzhou Squadron of the Qi State Navy, and Lieutenant Colonel Linghui (Lieutenant Colonel) how to launch military operations against North Korea.

"Wouldn't you be afraid of the Nanjing court's censure if you launch military operations against North Korea?"

"The imperial court in Nanjing is now controlled by Sun Kewang. How could His Majesty Guangde be taken seriously?" Pan Xuezhong smiled wryly and said, "Although North Korea has returned to my vassal status, it has never fulfilled its responsibilities as a vassal. A few years ago, the Nanjing imperial court asked him to send troops to attack Liaodong and harass the rear of the Qing captives several times. However, the Korean monarchs repeatedly refused and refused, and never dared to cross the Yalu River. My Yunzhou town sent troops to attack Hebei, Shandong and Hebei. The Denglai area also asked North Korea to provide the necessary food and supplies, but they refused to promise at all. As long as the people who sit on the wall repeatedly, as long as the Qing captives become powerful, they will definitely submit to them again, threatening our Zhenzhou and Tamna island."

Zhou Shuyuan listened and smiled slightly.Although North Korea is sitting on the wall and watching, it will not surrender to the Qing captives again, because they have been frightened by the Qing captives. Once forced, the North Korean monarchs and ministers worshiped the slave chieftain Huang Taiji three times and kowtowed nine times, which was almost humiliating.

In addition, the original Eight Banners troops, including Sharhuda, who rebelled against the Qing captives, went south several times in the years before and after the establishment of the Bohai Kingdom, and attacked more than ten prefectures and counties such as Ping'an Road and Hamgyong Road in North Korea, and plundered people and property , Almost turning North Korea into a white field.Just ask, how dare North Korea dare to take the risk of attacking Liaodong when the domestic military strength is weak, the north is broken, and the whole country is still jealous of the Qing captives.

What's more, Yunzhou Township still occupies North Korea's Tamna Island. People have come to ask for it several times, and even petitioned the Nanjing court to ask Yunzhou Township to withdraw from the island and restore the unity and integrity of North Korea's territory.

But how could King Yong abandon this most important transfer point and supply point for sea immigrants in Yunzhou Town? Needless to say, the island has also opened up a vast pasture, where tens of thousands of cattle, horses and sheep are grazing. The town is a very important meat and wool supplier.

Therefore, North Korea has been in dispute with Yunzhou Town because of the issue of Tamna Island. It has shown strong hostility to all immigrant ships and warships traveling to and from the coast of North Korea to stop for supplies.

Today, the population of several territories in Yunzhou Town has reached 30, with more than 120 ships of various types, and a standing force of more than [-] available for combat. If some rural soldiers who are not farming are recruited in winter, the force can be expanded to more than [-]. Moreover, these troops are all semi-firearms troops formed according to the organizational model of the Qi State and trained by the officers of the Qi State.

Therefore, with the scale of Yunzhou's military force, it is estimated that they will not be able to wait for the strength to attack the Qing Dynasty, but they are still very confident in fighting North Korea, which is weak in arms.As King Yong, who is in charge of Yunzhou, he is preparing for Sun Kewang's possible usurpation of Ming Dynasty and self-reliance in the future.This North Korea is said to be a vassal of my Ming Dynasty, but when Sun Kewang establishes a new dynasty and unifies the whole country, he will inevitably surrender to him.

You must know that North Korea at this time has a population of nearly 800 million. If it is controlled by a mainland regime that is hostile to Unju, it will inevitably threaten the neighboring Jinju and Tamna Island.

Therefore, in order to avoid possible threats in the future, and in order to take this vassal state of Ming Dynasty into his own use and completely include it as the sphere of influence of Yunzhou in the future, King Yong came up with the idea of ​​attacking North Korea.When the mainland changes and the Ming Dynasty collapses, at least we can get a few more good cards in our hands, right?

"In what name are you planning to attack North Korea? What is the scale of your military operations?" Zhou Shuyuan asked.

"In name?" Pan Xuezhong smiled, "Naturally, North Korea secretly cleared the captives and planned to attack our Ming Dynasty. The purpose of this military operation is not to destroy the Korean Kingdom, but to force them to correct their attitudes. Since they are permanent vassals of Daming, they will Don't be half-hearted and capricious. At the very least, you should do the routine tribute to Nanjing every year. If there is no land route, you can send the tribute mission to Tamna Island first, and then be escorted by Yunzhou Town, or transfer the tribute on your behalf .”

Damn, this is not to let North Korea routinely pay tribute to the Nanjing court, it is clear that North Korea must be conquered first, so that they can understand the situation. Even if Sun Ke hopes to destroy Ming Dynasty and establish a new dynasty in the future, he must recognize Yunzhou Town as his elder brother. Because their King Yong is the legal successor of Ming Dynasty.

"What did the representative of Qi State stationed in your Yunzhou say?"

"Lord Deng did not express any objection to the attack on the DPRK."

Zhou Shuyuan immediately understood that since Deng Ziyi, the representative of Qi State in Yunzhou, had no objection, he was acquiescing.It is no wonder that Qiguo Ryukyu Trading Company and Yunzhou Trading Company have tried to enter the North Korean domestic market, but they have not been allowed by North Korean officials and have been excluded from the North Korean market.They have always been worried about the Qi and Ming armies who looted the coastal areas of North Korea several times ago.

In fact, what makes the Koreans even more resentful is that the problems on Tamna Island were caused by the people of Qi.Back then, they led troops to capture this island, and then used it as a base to lead the Ming army to frequently raid the coastal prefectures and counties of North Korea, robbing people, food, and other kinds of living materials.After North Korea turned away from the Qing captives and returned to the Daming vassal, they changed hands and handed over Tamna Island to Yunzhou Town.

Seeing that the Dutch East India Company and Japan's Tsushima Domain are flourishing in the Korean market, and even unrefined British businessmen can enter North Korea to conduct trade, how can this not make the people of Qi feel dissatisfied.

This North Korean is a little ignorant of flattery, and he really looks down on people!

"What do you Yunzhou Town need us to do?"

"North Korea's navy is weak and vulnerable, so we don't need to bother Qi's naval ships to help in this battle." Pan Xuezhong said with a smile: "But when our officers and soldiers from Yunzhou Town landed in North Korea and attacked its coastal towns, we needed you The State of Qi provides heavy siege artillery and guns. I, Yunzhou Town, can do the rest of the work!"

(End of this chapter)