Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 344 Touring the Pearl River
"How many available soldiers are there near our Guangzhou mansion?" Xiong Wencan was shocked by the request of the Liao army to open the port, and subconsciously wanted to count the soldiers on hand.

"There are [-] registered soldiers near Guangzhou, but the actual shortage is seven to eight. It is not bad to be able to mobilize [-] soldiers. If you want to recruit Hakka and Chaoshan soldiers, it is estimated that you can also recruit [-] soldiers." Said.

"There are only two thousand soldiers, how can we fight against the Liao army. I'd better go to the pier to see." Xiong Wencan thought for a while, it seemed unrealistic to fight the Liao army by force, so he could only negotiate in person.

At the wharf of Guangzhou Mansion, six gunboats and two troop carriers were moored. Among them, the Daqin, the largest, had more than 50 cannons, which made the Ming army daunting when the fort surrendered.Three or four hundred soldiers of the Liao Army had already landed and captured the fort without bloodshed.The ease of this is also the result of the Liao army's dealings with the Guangdong business gang this year.

After Deng Qianlong, deputy commander of the navy, took these soldiers ashore, a group of businessmen from the Guangdong business gang came to greet them.

"Our people are already negotiating with Lord Xiong, the governor of Guangdong. This matter has been reported to the Holy Majesty. I believe there will be a result soon. We Cantonese businessmen can finally go to sea openly."

"Guangdong's shipping department and overseas trade have always been legal and reasonable. Only in the last years of Zhengde when the Flangji pirates plundered Guangdong was banned for a period of time, and then reopened. You Liao army are not those Westerners, everyone We belong to the same Huaxia family, so I really don’t understand why the imperial court re-imposed the sea ban. Under the sea ban in the past few years, our Guangdong merchants have suffered heavy losses, and Fujian merchants and Jiangsu and Zhejiang merchants have taken advantage of it.”

A group of Guangdong businessmen followed Deng Qianlong to inspect the nearby terrain and terrain by the Pearl River to see if there was any potential nearby.

"Isn't that right? I look at the banks of the Pearl River. The river is wide and level, and big ships can come and go freely. It's only a little worse than the Yangtze River. If it can develop in the future, it can become a commercial port in the southern country and a wealthy party." Deng Qianlong gave a little praise businessman here.

The Guangdong businessman who invited the Fu-Liao Army was overjoyed after hearing this, wondering whether Deng Qianlong's words were a signal sent by the Fu-Liao Army.Is it possible that the Liao army is going to assist in the development of Guangdong?
"Your Excellency is right. Our Guangdong was developed too late. The center of the southern country has always been in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, so we are not as good as the Zhejiang and Hai merchants. But as far as I am concerned, our Guangdong merchants dare to be the first and dare to go to Nanyang Among the merchant ships, [-]% to [-]% are our Guangdong merchant ships, and there are many local people who go to Nanyang, and there are many of our people in Annan and Jakarta." A Guangdong businessman said.

"This is why our military leader wants to cooperate with Guangdong merchants. We not only hope to trade with Guangdong, but also hope to use the power of Guangdong merchants and overseas Chinese in Guangdong to colonize Nanyang in the future and let Nanyang fill our population." Deng Qianlong said.

Many Guangdong businessmen changed their expressions slightly. They originally thought that the situation of the Liao Army was very big, but they didn't expect it to be so big!Listening to what Deng Qianlong said, the goal of the Liao army is even more long-term. They even want to use the merchants and population of Guangdong to include the Nanyang region in their pockets!
"There are many islands in the Nanyang region, with a population of tens of millions, which is only a lot more than your population in Liaodong. It may be difficult to manage." A Guangdong businessman said.

"No hurry, no rush, this is just our initial intention. The most urgent task is to reopen the Guangdong Shipping Department to make your trade easier." Deng Qianlong said.

Deng Qianlong led a group of businessmen to inspect the pier, and Xiong Wencan came to the pier cautiously under the escort of local soldiers.From a distance, he saw the flag of the Liao Army flying on the coastal defense fort, and the soldiers of the Ming army who were supposed to be stationed near the fort came to Xiong Wencan with grievances and complained with snot and tears.

"My lord, the Liao army is deceiving us too much. They threatened us with warships and asked us to hand over the forts. Huh... Let's see that one of their ships has several times more cannons than our forts. How dare we provoke them? They had no choice but to hand over the fort... Huh... If we go to war with them, we are afraid that they will bombard the innocent civilians on the shore..." the fort guard said sadly.

"I don't blame you for this matter. It's all because the Fu Liao army is extremely overbearing and suddenly attacked our fort without any signs. Even if you resist...with the support of those merchants on the shore, you can't defend..." Xiong Wencan said , "You follow me to meet the people from the Liao Army."

The arrival of Xiong Wencan and the others made dozens of guards around Deng Qianlong raise their muskets vigilantly.The soldiers of the Ming army beside Xiong Wencan also drew their swords out of their sheaths at the same time, and the two sides were at war.

The sudden attack by the Fu Liao army happened too quickly, and Xiong Wencan had no time to mobilize the army of the Guangfu. He only brought hundreds of yamen servants, personal soldiers, and soldiers who had withdrawn from the fort.

It's just that the sudden confrontation between the two sides shocked the Guangdong businessman who was following Deng Qianlong.

"You don't have to be nervous, put down your guns. Our ships are moored at the mouth of the Pearl River. If they dare to touch us, our fleet will drive straight in and destroy all the bureaus and ships of the government." Deng Qianlong said.

Dozens of infantrymen of the Liao Army put down their muskets, but they still looked confident.On the southeast coast, only the Fu Liao Army was the dominant force, and it was unimpeded. It was no wonder that although they were small in number, they still looked down upon the local Daming Guards.

Xiong Wencan's tongue is bitter, the pressure brought by the Liao army is too great, only such a few people dare to take the initiative to seize the fort of Guangzhou Mansion, and dozens of people dare to patrol the shore unscrupulously, as if Guangzhou Mansion belongs to their Liao army Like the back garden.Who is the governor here?

"Who are you from the Liao Army? Why do you dare to attack our Guangzhou Fort on your own initiative? This is an offense to the imperial court. When the imperial court dispatches [-] troops to march south, you will be smashed to pieces!" Xiong Wencan asked when he saw Deng Qianlong.

"This must be Mr. Xiong Wencan, the Prime Minister of Guangdong and Guangxi Affairs and the Governor of Guangdong, right? I am Deng Qianlong, commander of the Liao Army Fleet stationed in Guangdong. It has been a long time since the Guangdong Shipping Department has been in the dust. We see that there are too many people in Guangdong, and the people are struggling to survive. , That's why I can't stand it anymore, and come to save the people of Guangdong from the fire and water." Deng Qianlong said.

Following the military leader, using human rights as a reason to send troops can be regarded as a master of proficiency and a glib tongue.Deng Qianlong was quite narcissistic in his heart.

"You... I, the people of Guangdong, live and work in peace and contentment, where the people are in dire straits, you don't want to tarnish the achievements of this official!" Xiong Wencan said pointedly.

(End of this chapter)