prosperous age

Chapter 1087 1178 Pegu Port

With the handle in Hanba's hands, Xiangui had no choice but to surrender to the Burmese army.

In Lujiang City, not all the defenders are his people. Naturally, there are also people planted by other forces.

After all, Lujiang River is an important transportation route. Anyone with some power in Yunnan will place their trusted confidants here to protect their business.

There is nothing hidden about these things.

After all, they are all seeking wealth and will not block each other's path to wealth.

Placing people there is just to make it easier to cross the river.

"You should arrange for someone you trust to go to Baoshan and quietly bring the family back. Do not let the news leak out."

However, Xian Gui did not think that contacting Hanba was the most important thing at the moment, but to send his family back from the rear.

After the war broke out, almost all officials and dignitaries who knew the inside story sent their families to Kunming, and Xian Gui was no exception.

However, he knew that General Mu Changzuo was in charge of Baoshan City, so he first arranged for his family to stay there temporarily, and then planned to let his third brother take them to Kunming.

Fortunately, it was arranged this way, so people were not far from Lujiang City.

"it is good."

When he heard his eldest brother's order, Xian Lao San agreed immediately.

“Tell the person who is picking you up to leave from the east gate of Baoshan City. If anyone asks, just say you’re going to Kunming.

"After we leave Baoshan City, we will turn back. We must move quickly so that no one can see what we are doing."

Xian Gui spoke up and gave another reminder.

He is in a special position now. If people knew that he secretly brought his family back to Lujiang City from the rear, they would probably guess his plan.

Therefore, Xian Gui had to consider one more thing, which was to create the illusion that he was sending his family to Kunming to deceive others.

Anyway, at this time, many officials in western Yunnan chose to send their families to Kunming to avoid the war there.

"I understand, big brother. I will arrange for someone to walk a few dozen miles out of the city and then turn back.

Don't worry, I know the seriousness of this matter and I won't make any mistakes."

Xian Lao San is not a fool, he just uses his intelligence to steal things.

He understood his elder brother's reminder immediately and promised with a pat on his chest.

The postman sent by the Ministry of War to deliver urgent military information also arrived at the ferry. This is the border between Sichuan and Yunnan. After passing here, you will enter the territory of Chuxiong, Yunnan.

Continue running forward for about a day and you will reach Yao'an. From here, go east through Dali and you will reach Baoshan City in just two or three days.

Although the postman was exhausted, he had no choice. The official documents he was carrying were of great importance and had to be delivered to the Left Commander Li Chengliang personally without passing them to anyone else.

Of course, the money he could earn from this mission would be enough to cover his expenses for half a year.

I can only say that it is a bit tiring, but it is worth it.

At this time, in the waters near Pegu in the northern part of what was later called the Andaman Sea, a huge fleet was coming against the wind and waves.

"Marshal, Pegu is ahead.

Our fleet should have been discovered by the Burmese in Mawlamyine, but they should not know our purpose. "

The fleet passed through the waters of Mawlamyine on the 6th and encountered two fishing boats operated by Burmese.

Originally, according to Yu Dayou's idea, the entire army would advance in secret and destroy all ships that might leak secrets along the way.

However, when the two Burmese ships saw the South China Sea navy's formation, they wisely stayed away and did not dare to get close for a moment.

After all, in the Indian Ocean, there is no order at sea and plundering between ships is commonplace.

This was before the British pirates arrived here. Their main area of ​​activity was still in the Atlantic Ocean, on the routes close to the American continent.

When these official pirates holding letters of marque appear in this sea area, they completely disrupt the order of maritime trade.

“Can our boats, only small boats, enter the Pegu River?”

Yu Dayou asked the Lin family member who led the way about his thoughts.

The Lin family was a big merchant in Jiugang. They had already sailed to Myanmar and were familiar with the surrounding waters, so they were captured and used as guides.

“The Pegu River is quite large, and a medium-sized boat might be able to enter, but I’m not sure.

In comparison, we only docked in Bago to trade goods on the ship and did not attempt to cross the river.

But I know that there are Burmese ships traveling on that river, and that by following the river one can reach the Burmese royal city of Toungoo.

Small-sized ships can definitely enter, but I can’t guarantee the entry of large and medium-sized ships.”

The Lin family was still relatively cautious. At least from what he saw, large Fu ships could actually enter the Pegu River. But that was only the section close to the sea, and he didn't know what it was like further in.

Out of caution, he only suggested that the navy could send small-sized Fuzhou ships into the Pegu River.

"Where is Shalian?"

Yu Dayou remembered that he had heard before that the Portuguese had also built a seaport here called Shalian, so he asked out of curiosity.

The Lin family pointed to the east and said, "If the Marshal wants to go to Shalian, there is a river mouth a few dozen miles east of here. There is a dock on the right side of the river mouth, and that is Shalian.

The Burmese port is at the mouth of the river, Dagon Port.”

“How does it compare to Bago?”

Yu Dayou continued to ask.

"Dagon is not good. It is not as prosperous as Pegu. After all, there is a waterway leading to Toungoo City. Now Pegu is the largest port in Myanmar."

The Lin family hurriedly said, "The ships that our Lin family brought here were all going to Pegu for trade. I heard that a lot of supplies were directly shipped to Toungoo City."

"Ah."

Yu Dayou nodded. Toungoo City is the capital of Myanmar. There must be many dignitaries there, and its spending power is naturally the strongest in Myanmar.

The goods that flow in from overseas must have been selected first by these powerful people.

Due to the convenience of transportation, the Port of Yangon, Myanmar’s largest port, had not yet developed during this period. Although it had taken shape and was an important seaport city in Myanmar, it was still not as prosperous as Bago.

However, it was precisely because there was a river connecting Pegu to Toungoo City that Yu Dayou turned his attention to Pegu.

Land here and go upstream to find Toungoo City.

As long as the Toungoo City was successfully captured, it would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to the Toungoo Dynasty, which was at its peak at that time.

Now that the capital has been lost, the other local forces that were vassals of the Toungoo Dynasty will naturally change their attitudes to some extent.

Myanmar's political system determines that such a country cannot withstand a severe blow, because it can easily become internally divided and even alienated by its friends and relatives.

"Marshal, the ship ahead should be the Burmese ship."

Right here, a slightly larger ship appeared in the distance.

Although it is called big, it is actually only the size of a small Fu ship in the navy. In the eyes of everyone on the ship, it is just a small black dot.

However, people who are used to seeing ships can still guess the size of the ship based on the distance between the black spot and the horizon.

"Marshal, that should be a Burmese patrol boat."

When the Lin family saw the style of the ship, they quickly made a judgment.

After all, it is very close to the city of Bago, so the appearance of Burmese patrol ships is normal.

"Send two gunboats, one on the left and one on the right, to flanke him. If he resists, sink him directly. I want him alive." Yu Dayou ordered.

"Yes."

The guard agreed, and then someone waved two small flags and began to use flag signals to contact the two naval gunboats nearby.

Only six gunboats arrived in Burma with the main force of the navy this time, and the remaining four remained in Luzon and Old Port respectively.

After all, the Ming Dynasty now lacks gunboats, and these two important strongholds also need gunboats to support them.

But it doesn’t matter. This time when we return to the Ming Dynasty, the navy should be able to build a few more gunboats and incorporate them into the navy’s organization.

By then, the strength of the main force of the South China Sea Navy will not only not decline, but will be greatly improved.

Soon, the gunboat that received the order increased its speed and surpassed the other naval warships, heading towards the Burmese patrol boat.

The Burmese had not reacted at this time, and the two ships that were approaching them quickly would become their death warrant.

However, at this time the Burmese had also noticed the Ming navy. Although they could not see the entire picture, there were already dozens of ships in sight.

Such a huge fleet is rare.

Perhaps with a somewhat ominous premonition, the Burmese ship slowed down, but did not turn around to avoid the attack.

Soon, two Ming gunboats surrounded him on the left and right.

The distance was too far, so Yu Dayou naturally didn't know what was happening in front of him, but soon a cloud of smoke peculiar to the burning of black gunpowder rose from the two Ming gunboats, and then the rumbling sound of cannons reached Yu Dayou's ears.

The Burmese boat was soon hit by bullets continuously. As a shell penetrated the hull near the waterline on the port side of the boat, sea water rushed into it. In just a dozen breaths, the Burmese boat in front capsized to the left, and then more than a dozen Burmese sailors jumped off the boat and fled.

The two gunboats destroyed the small Burmese boat with one round of shelling, and the result satisfied Yu Dayou.

As the four wooden boats were lowered from the gunboat, Ming army sailors boarded the boats and rowed to chase the Burmese who had fallen into the water.

Perhaps because this place was not far from the coastline, these sailors believed they still had the strength to swim to the shore, so after jumping into the water, the sailors did not go to the right of the Ming army ships to seek a chance to survive, but swam away.

But their speed is no match for wooden boats.

Soon, several Burmese were captured by the Ming army. After a while of teasing, they were dragged onto the wooden boat, tied up and thrown aside.

The four wooden boats quickly captured more than a dozen Burmese sailors who had jumped into the water, and then returned to the big ship.

"Send someone over and have them question these people separately. I want to know how many Burmese troops are guarding Pegu."

Yu Dayou ordered his personal soldiers to interrogate the prisoners of war.

Given Yu Dayou's status, he naturally wouldn't go and face these people in person.

The fleet continued to move forward for less than an hour, and the coastline had already appeared vaguely in everyone's eyes.

"finally reached."

Yu Dayou couldn't help but sigh.

To be honest, although we knew the destination was Bago, Myanmar when we set out from Jiugang, no one had ever taken this route, so we all felt more or less confused.

It was not until they saw land that the feeling of confusion in their hearts disappeared without a trace.

"Pass the order."

Yu Dayou suddenly shouted loudly.

"exist."

The general and the soldiers beside him answered involuntarily.

"The main force of the navy stops advancing, the ship continues to move forward, we will go to Pegu Port to take a look."

"Yes."

On this side, other warships of the navy began to retract their sails and no longer moved forward. Only Yu Dayou's ship continued to move forward with the wind.

At this time, two wooden boats also came up, handed over the bamboo tubes, and then quickly moved away.

"Marshal, the interrogation has yielded results."

The personal soldier came up with a bamboo tube and presented it to Yu Dayou with both hands.

"Open it and take a look."

In fact, Yu Dayou didn’t care how many defenders there were in Pegu City. In his eyes, they were just a bunch of useless people.

It was just out of habit that he decided to get the truth from the prisoners.

Soon, the two bamboo tubes were opened, and the guards read the news and reported: "General, according to what the prisoners said, there were originally 8,000 defenders in Pegu City, but 6,000 were transferred away half a year ago. Now there are probably about 2,000 to 3,000 people in the city, but I don't know the exact number.

But there are 400 garrisons stationed at the dock."

"Ah."

When Yu Dayou heard that there were only a few hundred defenders at the dock, he naturally didn't need to choose other mudflats to land. He could directly lead the fleet into Pegu Port and use the firepower of the gunboats to defeat the defenders.

The army can dock directly at the port of Pegu, which makes it convenient for the soldiers to disembark and embark.

“How big is the port of Pegu? How many ships can dock at the same time?”

Yu Dayou asked the Lin family again, and the man thought for a moment before saying, "Fifty or sixty should be possible, but there should be quite a few ships docked at the pier at this time, so there may not be many empty spaces."

"It doesn't matter. Just tow those boats aside and the berth will be free."

They came to attack Myanmar, so naturally they would not notify the merchant ships to leave on their own like they did in the Ming Dynasty.

Since they are blocked in the port, the ships and the things on board will become the spoils of the South China Sea Navy.

Under the guidance of the Lin family, after two hours of sailing, a huge estuary appeared in front of Yu Dayou.

"Marshal, ahead, on the left side of the river mouth is the Port of Pegu, a few miles away from the river mouth."

The Lin family whispered beside Yu Dayou

"Ah."

Looking along his arm, Pegu Port finally appeared in front of Yu Dayou, and more than a dozen ships could be vaguely seen parked at the dock.

However, because of the distance, Yu Dayou could not see the situation at the dock.

He turned sideways to take the telescope from the guard, pulled out the tube and put it to his right eye.

The Westerner's telescope was indeed easy to use. He slightly adjusted the distance of the tube and the lively scene on the dock came into his eyes.

At the docks of this era, loading and unloading of goods on ships was entirely done manually. Countless workers who sold their labor were busy working, unloading boxes of goods from the ships or loading them onto the ships.

"This dock is very busy, and there are so many porters."

Yu Dayou sighed.

The Lin family had naturally seen a telescope, so they knew what Yu Dayou was talking about, and hurriedly smiled and said, "Marshal, you don't know that Pegu Port is the largest port in Myanmar, and there are thousands of porters here.

They thought our merchant ships were docking, and they were going to fight among themselves to compete for business, haha."

Yu Dayou did not laugh. He had traveled far and wide and had seen a lot. Such things actually happened in the Ming Dynasty.

This is also the reason why gangs appear. Gangs arrange the transportation in order and take a commission from it.

As for whether the porters recognize them or not, the gangs will naturally use force to suppress them.

Ironically, such things were actually tacitly approved by the government.

Almost all the docks on the entire Grand Canal are firmly controlled by the Cao Gang, who are like leeches sucking blood from the porters.