Da Ming started to ascend the throne

Chapter 524
Zhang Jiexu was taken aback by the words of the soldiers under his command.

For so many years, no large warship has ever visited the small island they occupy.

When more than 300 of them landed on the island, the island was still an uninhabited desert island.

After a period of operation, the situation quickly improved. Generally, merchant ships came to the island to buy their fish and local specialties.

How can there be warships here today? Could it be that someone wants to occupy the island they have painstakingly managed?

Thinking of this, Zhang Jiexu was startled. He grabbed the soldier's arm and asked:

"Are you sure that there are warships coming here, are you not mistaken or delusional? Have you seen clearly which country's warship it is?"

The soldier was almost dumbfounded by his repeated questions, and hurriedly said:

"Island owner, how dare we lie to you. If you don't believe me, go and have a look. We really don't know where the warship came from."

Zhang Jiexu let go of the soldier's arm, and immediately issued an order:
"Hurry up, tell all the young and middle-aged people to take a look at it immediately with firearms. If anyone dares to spy on our treasure island, we will fight them forever!"

"Yes"

There are not many people on the island, only more than 1000 people, but almost all of them are young and middle-aged, and all the people are soldiers when they encounter danger.

There are firearms on the island, more than 500 flintlock guns and Vulcan guns.

These firearms were bought by Zhang Jiexu at a high price from outside, with the purpose of defending the island where they lived.

The situation was not stable at that time, and pirates were often encountered at sea, and they had to prevent pirates from landing on the island to rob.

Soon five or six hundred people gathered, and they rushed to the port with firearms in hand.

Before reaching the port, they had already seen the Daming dragon flag fluttering in the wind on the battleship.

Zhang Jiexu rubbed his eyes in disbelief, and after taking a closer look, he exclaimed:
"Oh my god! No way! The dragon flag of Ming Dynasty is flying on this battleship. It is a battleship from our homeland!"

When Zhang Jiexu was in a daze, other people also talked in shock:

"What? Daming Dragon Banner, Daming is here! Does Daming have such a big warship? This is impossible, if it is really a Daming warship, it probably won't occupy our island..."

Zhang Jiexu pondered for a while:
"It's very likely that it's a warship of the Ming Dynasty. Some time ago, I heard that the Ming Dynasty had captured Batavia. Without my order, no one is allowed to fire. Let's take a look first."

The Chinese soldiers nodded repeatedly, finally seeing the warships from their homeland, how could they shoot casually.

"Okay, don't worry, the island owner. We will never attack the compatriots from Daming. It's just that the warships of Daming are too big to even use sails. Is Daming so powerful now? It is estimated that the Eastern captives have been destroyed. Long live Daming..."

When the Chinese on the island saw the Daming Dragon Flag fluttering high, they couldn't help feeling proud.

Of course, the warships that came were Ming warships. Apart from Ming Dynasty, which country in the world can have iron-clad warships?
Shi Lang was standing on the deck of the battleship with a telescope in his hand, looking at the island ahead.

Every time they arrived at an island, they would bombard the forts on the island.

Of course, on islands without forts, if they refuse to surrender, they will use naval guns to destroy everything on the coast and force the small island countries to surrender.

Shi Lang knew from the map given by the emperor that the small island in front of him was called Ambona Island (the Natuna Islands were called the Ambona Islands in Ming Dynasty.)
"The main cannon is ready to fire, warning the residents on the island to surrender and come out to accept the rule of Ming Dynasty."

"Yes, the main gun is loaded and ready to fire the warning."

The messenger immediately conveyed Shi Lang's order, and the artillery immediately prepared to fire.

But before they fired, Shi Lang waved his hand to stop them from firing as a warning.

"Stop firing. It seems that there are people from Ming Dynasty on the island. Don't accidentally injure them."

It turned out that Shi Lang found through the telescope that the people on the island were very similar to the people of Ming Dynasty in terms of clothing and skin appearance.

Worried about accidentally hurting his own people, Shi Lang hastily stopped the shelling of Ambona Island.

"Hand the whistle and send out the semaphore to tell the people on the island that we are the Ming Navy!"

"Yes"

"Woooooooo..."

The battleship Wanli began to whistle, and the melodious and loud whistle sounded immediately.

This is the first time people on Ambona Island have heard a warship whistle, and currently only the Ming warship has this function.

Then a semaphore was displayed on the battleship:

"We are a warship of the Ming Dynasty Navy. Who are the people on Ambona Island, please answer?"

The whistle of the Daming Ironclad Warship could be heard by everyone around the entire island.

At the beginning, Zhang Jiexu and the others were terrified, and they all lay down on the ground and prepared the battleship with their guns.

In fact, no matter how powerful their firearms are, it is impossible for them to hit the Ming battleship one kilometer away.

It wasn't until they saw the semaphore of the Ming warship that Zhang Jiexu and the others understood that it was really the Ming warship that was coming.

Although no other country has attacked Ambona Island these years, businessmen from nearby powerful countries often buy and sell by force.

Seeing the Da Ming battleship now, Zhang Jiexu knew that the rumor that Da Ming took Batavia should be true.

As if a long-lost child saw an adult at home, he hurriedly issued an order:

"Hurry up, go to the shore to meet the Ming warship, and no one will dare to bully us in the future!"

The Chinese on the shore immediately dropped their firearms and rushed to the beach to welcome the Ming warship with their hands waving.

Seeing the scene on the shore, Shi Lang showed a smile on his face, put down the binoculars and sent an order:
"The warship docks immediately. Just in case, don't let go of the gun after landing."

"Yes"

Shi Lang gave an order, and the team began to enter the port, and the battleship quickly docked at a distance of one kilometer.

Shi Lang's fleet consisted of five armored battleships and three sailing warships, and a navy of 500 men.

Leaving the deputy captain to guard the battleship, Shi Lang led [-] naval soldiers to land on Ambona Island.

As soon as they stepped into Ambona Island from the battleship, Zhang Jiexu and others ran over quickly.

After seeing General Daming, more than 500 Chinese compatriots who had fled here fell to their knees.

"Zhang Jiexu, a citizen of the Ming Dynasty living abroad, pay my respects to the general!"

The Ming army has now canceled kneeling and worshiping, and soldiers don't need to bow down even if they see the emperor.

Shi Lang is so old, but this time there are so many bowing down to him, Shi Lang is excited and sad at the same time.

He hurried forward to help Zhang Jiexu up:
"It's all from my own family, please get up quickly, don't make such a big gift, let your subordinates get up!"

Zhang Jiexu got up and clasped his fists again:
"Thank you, General!"

"Welcome the Ming Fleet to Ambona Island, please come to our residence for a drink."

Although Shi Lang was not an emperor, he was also a second-rank military general of the Ming Dynasty.

Although Zhang Jiexu is equivalent to the Tu Emperor, he is first and foremost a citizen of Ming Dynasty, and he is very clear about this.

He appeared very humble and polite in front of Shi Lang, and planned to host a banquet in honor of the Ming Navy.

Shi Lang also wandered at sea with Zheng Zhilong all year round, so he could understand the feelings of Zhang Jiexu and others.

Shi Lang would not refuse Zhang Jiexu's banquet, he laughed boldly:
"Hahaha...well, since I met my compatriots thousands of miles away, of course Shi Lang will not lose face and lead the way!"

Not only Zhang Jiexu felt very honored to see General Daming agreed to go to their residence to drink, but other Chinese also felt warm in their hearts.

(End of this chapter)