The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

"Reporting to the Duke of Penghu."

Tagawa Kanbei bowed deeply and said respectfully.

"My subordinate and his soldiers, a month ago, under the secret orders of General Zheng, infiltrated Taiwan and have gained a general understanding of the deployment of the red-haired barbarians."

Tagawa Kanbei kept his eyes lowered, not looking up, still respectfully gazing at the ground.

"The Red-haired barbarians who occupy the island of Taiwan mainly concentrate their military forces in two major fortresses."

"The first is the town of Fort Zeelandia and its core, located on the southwestern coast of the island."

"This city is where the Red-haired Governor-General Kui Yi is stationed, and its defenses are extremely strong!"

"Based on my own observations and verification from multiple sources, Fort Zeelandia is divided into an inner city and an outer city."

Tagawa Kanbei's choice of words and phrases is completely indistinguishable from that of Chinese scholars, and even more so from those of learned men.

Tagawa Kanbei was originally an ordinary samurai under Tagawa Hirohito, a retainer of the Hirado Domain. He had a difficult life due to his father's illness.

After Zheng Zhilong married Tagawa Matsu, the daughter of Tagawa Yukō, in Japan, he witnessed the strength of the Zheng family's fleet and Zheng Zhilong's extravagant spending.

Kanbei Tagawa had always admired Chinese culture.

In this era, China's influence on the whole of Asia is profound and immeasurable.

Especially considering that only a few decades had passed since the Wanli Emperor's aid to Korea.

Japan has come to a profound understanding of the Ming Dynasty's strength.

Therefore, Tagawa Kanbei resolutely joined Zheng Zhilong's ranks and followed Zheng Zhilong into the ocean.

Over the past decade or so, he has participated in almost all of Zheng's large-scale battles and has also become the captain of a warship.

After the Zheng family's fleet was reorganized, he was incorporated into the East China Sea Fleet's land division and promoted to the rank of Qianzong (a military officer).

It is precisely because of his background and experience that Tagawa Kanbei is so fluent in Chinese.

"The outer city wall was high and thick, and was made of bricks with mortar mixed with sugar water and glutinous rice juice. It was exceptionally tough and equipped with dozens of heavy cannons, including no fewer than twenty large cannons weighing over a thousand catties each. They had a very long range and blocked the sea and the beach."

"The inner city is even more strategically important, with high and thick walls and ample reserves, making it difficult to take down quickly."

"Secondly, it is the city of Pulomincha in the Chikan region."

"This city is located on the east bank of the inland area of ​​Taijiang, facing Fort Zeelandia across the sea, and they are mutually strategic."

"However, its size and fortification were far inferior to those of Zeelandia, and the garrison was less than a thousand men, mostly indigenous mercenaries and some Dutch soldiers, whose morale was low."

"If we can quickly capture this city, we can sever one of Zeelandia's arms and seize its grain reserves to supply our army."

Tagawa Kanbei paused briefly before continuing.

"It is estimated that the total strength of the Red-haired Barbarians is between 1,500 and 2,000 people in various locations on the island. The elite are mostly concentrated in Fort Zeelandia, while the rest are stationed in strongholds such as Fort Provintia and Utrecht."

"Their ships, including the main force of the 'Hector' and 'Grafran', are currently anchored in the waters near Fort Zeelandia, and their firepower is fierce."

Tagawa Kanbei paused for a moment, then turned his head to look at the countless sails fluttering on the river not far away before continuing.

"However, compared to the Celestial Empire's fleet, these red-haired barbarians' warships are like ants..."

Tagawa Kanbei had already witnessed the magnificent giant ships of the East Sea Fleet, as well as the massive cannons that could carry more than fifty guns.

Although the Dutch warships were also quite powerful, they were far inferior to the Dutch in comparison.

The Hector, the flagship of the Dutch fleet, carried only about thirty guns, while the Grafran could only carry about twenty.

The two sides are not even in the same league in terms of warships.

Cao Dingjiao's gaze was calm as he looked down at Tagawa Kanbei, who was kneeling on the ground.

Tagawa Kanbei was extremely fluent in Chinese; if he hadn't stated his name beforehand, Cao Dingjiao would have even assumed he was a native of the country.

"very good."

Cao Dingjiao gave a word of approval, then looked to the side.

The military staff officers accompanying the army were rapidly recording the news reported by Tagawa Kanbei with charcoal pencils.

The chief of staff, seeing Cao Dingjiao throw the wooden pipe at him, lowered his head slightly and reported.

“Penghu Lord, wait a moment, and we will be able to draw out all the details on the sand table map.”

Today's staff is becoming increasingly sophisticated and professional.

From towns to battalions, each unit was equipped with staff officers and military officers to assist with military affairs.

The responsibilities of the General Staff range from war scenario simulation and planning to mapmaking, sand table creation, and information gathering.

The military academy, which was established previously, now has an official name.

Its name is the Royal Military Academy of the Great Chen Empire, which was officially established in Nanjing.

It is divided into two major colleges: the Army College and the Naval College, each with various specialties.

The training includes army and navy officers, as well as officers with specialized skills such as reconnaissance and staff.

Graduates of specializing in reconnaissance or similar fields would directly transfer to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Those with specialties such as staff officers would directly enter the General Staff Department as staff officers or military officers.

"Order all units to set up defensive lines and prepare for the enemy according to the original plan!"

Cao Dingjiao nodded slightly and, after receiving a response from the General Staff, immediately issued the military order.

As the military order was relayed, the soldiers of the Great Chen Empire who had been the first to reach Luermen quickly moved to their designated positions under the guidance of horns and banners.

The troops that landed at Luermen this time consisted of 5,000 soldiers, from the 1st Battalion of the 1st Marine Division of the East China Sea Fleet.

Of the five thousand men, nearly four thousand were soldiers transferred from the original Pingnan Town, while the remaining one thousand were troops originally under Zheng Zhilong.

The original Pingnan Town has been renamed Nanjing Town and divided into three towns: Left, Central and Right. New soldiers have been recruited and trained, totaling 180,000 troops.

With Chen Wang finally ascending the throne, sweeping reforms are being implemented across the country.

With tens of millions of taels of silver being poured in, a large-scale conscription campaign has begun across the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Great Chen Dynasty.

It is expected that by May, a total of 1.22 million troops from 30 garrisons will be recruited, and the military reform will be fully completed.

And all of this is just the beginning.

The recapture of Taiwan was not merely the end of external expansion.

The thunderous sound of war drums echoed over Luermen.

The troops that had already arrived at the front line were undergoing pre-battle training.

Propagandists holding tin megaphones were loudly announcing the emperor's personally signed proclamation to a group of soldiers.

Meanwhile, on the vast ocean outside Luermen, among the ships of the Great Chen Empire's East China Sea Fleet, a group of preachers were also loudly conveying the new emperor's orders!
Proclamation for the Recovery of Taiwan

The emperor was sent to heaven to carry the order, and the edict said:
I have heard that the Spring and Autumn Annals speak highly of the feuds that span nine generations, and the Book of Rites emphasizes the importance of continuing an interrupted line.

Taiwan has been a land of royalty and prosperity since ancient times, a land pioneered and developed by our ancestors through hardship and struggle.

The cunning barbarians, taking advantage of the turmoil in the Central Plains, seized control of the island for forty years, oppressing our people and blaspheming our gods.

In the past, the Yuan emperor established a patrol office in Penghu, and the Ming emperor set up a defense commissioner in the Taiwan Strait. The regulations are still in place and the records can be verified, all of which clearly prove that this land is the old territory of our China.

The enemy, now in a corner, relies on its natural defenses to hold itself in place.

Firearms may be powerful, but how can they withstand the might of the royal army?

Though the ships are strong and powerful, how can they stop the will to restore the nation?

I have received the mandate of Heaven and will rule over all lands.

However, the people remaining on the island are still suffering from fire and water.

The elderly cannot be cared for in their old age, the young cannot marry, fathers and sons are separated, and husbands and wives are separated. Every time I think of this, my heart aches.

The emperor specially ordered Huang Fei, the admiral of the East China Sea, to lead the navy to meet with the troops in Fujian and Guangdong and directly attack Chihkan.

You soldiers are all seasoned veterans; remember the people on the island who have been eagerly awaiting your return, as thirsty as they are thirsting for water. On the day you defeat the enemy, do not harm the people who have surrendered, nor destroy the shrines of our ancestors.

The restoration of Taiwan's glory hinges on this moment.

Soldiers, let us unite as one, wipe away the humiliation of forty years, and recover the 30,000 hectares of land.

On the day of success, rewards will be generously distributed, and merits will be commemorated in the annals of history.

I consult you from many angles, and your understanding reflects my intentions.

The proclamation was issued both domestically and internationally, so that everyone may know of it!
"Long live!!!"

Thunderous cheers echoed between the sea and the sky, lingering for a long time, like an endless tide.

In stark contrast to the high morale of the Great Chen Empire's army, the Dutch garrison inside Fort Zeelandia was gripped by unprecedented panic.

At this time, the Dutch people living in Fort Zeelandia were filled with fear.

Inside the council chamber of Fort Zeelandia.

A group of officers sat around the round table.

The Governor-General of Taiwan rested his hands on the table.

His usually well-maintained face was now devoid of color.

His voice carried a forced, suppressed tremor.

"Gentlemen, we must face a terrible fact—what appears before us is neither pirates nor a small harassing force."

"Our brave soldiers have confirmed that the enemy is a well-trained regular army."

"This is definitely not the lax fleet of those Chinese pirates; this is a real navy, so disciplined it's as if it were measured with a ruler!"

"Their size, their elite weaponry, their incredibly powerful fleet!"

"They are not the Zheng family's fleet; they come from the north, from that ancient Eastern empire..."

Kui Yi's words stirred up a restless commotion in the hall.

"Your Excellency, this means we are likely facing a completely new and unknown military force. The rumors about the North... are probably not unfounded."

"Their fleet..."

Major Van der Sar, the coastal defense commander, replied, his voice hoarse.

"Our sailors spotted their flagship and observed a large number of large warships equipped with broadside guns..."

"I must admit that this situation is deeply worrying."

He paused for a moment, looked around at everyone present, and continued in a heavy tone.

"According to the lookout report, the enemy fleet is unlike anything we've ever seen in the Far East waters. This completely overturns our understanding of the strength of the Eastern navy."

Another officer couldn't help but interject, "My God, this is simply unbelievable."

"Could it be that that ancient empire has built such a powerful navy in such a short period of time?"

The East is vast, powerful, and rich.

However, their focus has never been on the ocean, but on the land.

They were constantly threatened by the Tatars in the north.

They had no time to consider the vast seas surrounding them.

Therefore, Zheng Zhilong, the pirate who roamed the Far East seas, actually became the naval commander of that ancient empire.

They had dealt with Zheng Zhilong many times and knew his background well.

Although Zheng's navy was formidable, their warships did not have many cannons and relied more on their numerical advantage.

But now, everything has changed.

Van der Sar paused briefly, looked around at everyone present, and continued in a solemn tone.

"According to the lookout's report, the discipline and size of this fleet are unlike anything we've ever seen in the Far East waters, completely overturning our understanding of the strength of the Eastern navy."

Governor-General Kui Yi slowly straightened up, his face solemn.

"Gentlemen, now is not the time to express surprise; we must take immediate action."

"Major Van der Sar, please continue with the specific details of the enemy ship."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Van der Sar nodded slightly, suppressing his trembling hand, and said solemnly.

"Observations reveal an astonishing number of gun ports on the sides of the enemy warships; each of their capital ships appears to be equipped with at least forty heavy guns. Even more disturbing is the fact that their fleet maintains a perfect battle formation, a level of discipline rarely seen even among European navies."

"I must point out that if these observations are true, then our maritime advantage in the Taiwan Strait will no longer exist."

"Considering the size of the enemy, our fleet is like a baby that has just learned to walk compared to theirs."

Van der Sar took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and said sincerely.

“Your Excellency, I must strongly recommend taking a defensive stance.”

"To launch an attack rashly when the enemy situation is unclear is tantamount to risking the lives of our soldiers."

"We should rely on the strong fortifications of Fort Zeelandia and wait for Batavia's reinforcements."

Van der Sar paused for a moment.

"We still don't know what happened, and we don't know what mission this landing force was carrying."

"Perhaps we can send an envoy to find out everything."

With the situation in China becoming increasingly volatile, the Dutch East India Company has been closely monitoring developments to see if they will affect its trade and even its position in Taiwan.

However, their information was always a step behind.

At this time, they were unaware that China had already completed a dynastic change.

Kui Yi's expression was solemn; he tried to remain calm.

But he found it difficult to do so; he didn't know what was happening in the north.

He didn't know why a fully armed force had suddenly landed in Taiwan.

He didn't know why the emperor of the Eastern Empire would have any interest in this island that they had never valued.

perhaps……

Zheng Zhilong's earlier expulsion of the Portuguese from Macau was not because Portugal had actually angered the powerful figures of the Eastern Empire.

That was just an excuse...

Kui looked around at his silent subordinates and felt a sense of powerlessness.

Whether it's the landing troops or the massive fleet on the sea outside the city, they are undoubtedly difficult to resist.

"Major Van der Sar's analysis is correct."

"Pass on my order: all troops shall immediately enter a state of highest combat readiness, abandon the outer outposts, and concentrate forces to defend Fort Zeelandia and Fort Provintia."

"Immediately send someone to Batavia to explain our situation in Taiwan and request the company's fleet to come and provide support."

"at the same time……"

Kui Yi's voice was low and filled with extreme helplessness.

"Send an envoy to Luermen..."

"Now……"

Kui Yi slumped into his chair, his face pale and filled with despair, muttering to himself.

"Only God can protect us now." (End of Chapter)