At the beginning of the civil castle, the Ming God of War was a little panicked

Chapter 525 Trapped
Ceylon, cloudy.

In the council hall, Liang Guogong Fan Zhong, Tang Xinggu and other officials were discussing the military situation, but their gloomy faces were like the sky outside, which showed that the current situation was already very serious.

Ever since Peng Qing's fleet was seized by the Ottomans, Fan Zhong immediately organized soldiers and ships to go to the Ottomans to reason.

The Ottomans were also very happy, and the two sides immediately opened up their battles and used cannons to explain the truth.

Peng Qing was not easy to provoke, and immediately led the crew to launch a counterattack, took advantage of the chaos to snatch a few ships, and retreated to Ceylon Island with Fan Zhong.

This confrontation thoroughly angered the Ottomans, and immediately dispatched all naval forces to attack the Ming army stationed on Ceylon Island.

The two sides came and went, and the stalemate lasted for three months, but they didn't get any advantage from each other.

However, the Ottomans took the opportunity to occupy the kingdom of Tik in the north of Ceylon.

This country is located at the southernmost tip of the Indian continent, and still lives a relatively primitive farming life. One day, King Tik and his wives were eating hot pot and singing songs, and suddenly a group of ships rushed over, and then there was no more.

After the Ottomans landed, they found a large amount of food, and the logistical supplies were resolved.

Then relying on this, a steady stream of warships and troops were sent over to continue to besiege Ceylon Island.

The resources on the island of Ceylon are limited, and more than half of the battleship was damaged when Peng Qing was rescued, so it was impossible to break through with the existing firepower.

The sea route is blocked, supply ships cannot pass, and the problem is urgent.

"Tang Tongzhi, have you found a solution to the food problem?"

Tang Xinggu shook his head slowly, and said: "The Ottoman troops are still increasing, and our ships can't get out. Now we can only hope that the Nanhaiwei will suddenly come to a ship to bring back the information here. His Royal Highness King Tan will send troops to rescue them." .”

"Liang Guogong, Tang Tongzhi..."

Fan Zhong looked up and saw that Peng Qing was being helped into the hall.

Regardless of whether this person is a civil servant, he fights cleanly and neatly, without any bookishness.

It was also because he was too brave that when he took the lead in the charge, he was hit by a stray bullet and almost died.

"Peng Shi, why are you here?"

Fan Zhong didn't dare to neglect, stepped forward to support him, and sat on the chair.

"Skin trauma, it's fine."

Peng Qing waved his hand and said: "This time, the old man was careless. He caused too much trouble for the two of you. I feel very sorry."

Tang Xinggu stepped forward and said, "I'm an official in the same dynasty. Don't you think you're out of touch when you say this?"

After hearing this, Peng Qing tried to stand up, and said, "Tang Tongzhi, the old man was quite critical of you before, so I will apologize to you..."

"Don't dare, don't dare!"

Tang Xinggu hurriedly held him down, and said: "The most urgent thing is to discuss how to defeat the enemy. Before leaving, the emperor handed over Ceylon Island to us to guard. If it is really lost, then we will be sinners through the ages!"

Fan Zhong nodded, and said: "If there is such a day, a certain death will die in the country, cover the two evacuation, bring the news back to Daming, wait for the emperor to regroup the army, and avenge the soldiers who died in battle!"

Tang Xinggu was anxious, and retorted: "Liang Guogong, it's wrong for you to say that. I, Tang, was born as a supervisory censor. You are a meritorious person. You look down on me, and I often trouble you, but that's all you need to do." It's a thing of the past. Now you and I are stationed here according to the order, why do you have to die for the country, I, Tang, don't deserve it?"

These words made Fan Zhong silent for a while, unable to speak for a while.

Seeing this, Peng Qing said: "The two of you should stop arguing, the source of this matter lies in the old man."

"Master Peng, this matter has nothing to do with you!"

Tang Xinggu waved his hand to stop him, and then continued: "I, Tang, used to be a bit noble, and I did some disgraceful things in order to gain profits, but the sages have said that if you know your mistakes, you can correct them, and there is nothing good about it..."

Fan Zhong's face turned pale, and his heart became more and more irritable, but he could only bear it with his best.

"...In the main hall, the emperor slapped me on the face. Who can embarrass me? If I care too much about other people's opinions, I won't be able to survive..."

"that……"

"Liang Guogong, don't talk, listen to me first."

Fan Zhong's forehead was sweating, taking advantage of Tang Xinggu's panting time, he just wanted to interject, but was ruthlessly interrupted.

"You are in charge of the military and government, I am in charge of civil affairs, logistical support cannot be solved, this is my problem..."

"No, I meant to say..."

"You needn't say it, I know what you think, you guys are fighting on the front line, and I can't even guarantee the supplies in the rear. In the future, when I get in front of the emperor, I will apologize..."

"Tang Xinggu!"

Fan Zhong couldn't bear it any longer, and shouted loudly, Tang Xinggu was taken aback, so he shut his mouth.

The hall suddenly fell silent, and now it was Fan Zhong's turn to be embarrassed, and hurriedly apologized: "I didn't mean that, Tang Tongzhi, don't blame me, don't blame me..."

Seeing that the atmosphere became a little awkward, Peng Qing said, "Both of you, don't blame yourself anymore!"

Fan Zhong nodded and said: "Emissary Peng is right, let's stop talking nonsense and think of a way to defeat the enemy!"

Tang Xinggu also frowned tightly, lost in thought.

After a long time, someone came in a hurry outside.

"Report to Liang Guogong, Zhang Baihu asks to see you!"

Fan Zhong hurriedly said: "Zhang Jin is back? Come on, let him in!"

This Zhang Baihu is none other than Zhang Jin.

This person used to wear the body of sin, but he has repented, and the emperor personally pardoned his sin.

More importantly, this person has a flexible mind, is good at observing the situation, and has mastered several foreign languages. He is a rare talent.

When Ceylon Island was trapped, Fan Zhong tried his best to send him out.

However, as soon as the person left, the news was cut off, and his life and death were unknown.

Now that I heard that the man is still alive, and has broken through the blockade of the Ottomans and returned to the island, he is naturally overjoyed.

Zhang Jin hurried in and knelt down: "I have seen Liang Guogong, I have seen Tang Tongzhi, I have seen Peng..."

"Okay, all these etiquettes will be waived!"

Peng Qing was impatient, so before he finished speaking, he waved his hand to stop him.

Fan Zhong then asked: "Have you ever seen His Highness King Tan? What did His Highness say? How did you break through the Ottoman blockade?"

Faced with a series of questions, Zhang Jin was not in a hurry: "Mr. Liang Guo is slow, answer one by one."

"Okay, say it!"

"The humble job has indeed arrived at Nanhaiwei, but..."

Fan Zhong immediately frowned and said, "But what?"

Peng Qing patted his arm and said, "Let someone finish the sentence!"

Fan Zhong also realized that he had lost his composure, so he nodded embarrassingly.

"His Royal Highness is not in Nanhaiwei..."

"not here?"

Fan Zhong stood up suddenly, as if realizing that he was too impatient, and sat down again.

"Nothing, you continue!"

Zhang Jin's sentence was interrupted twice, so she speeded up her speech and said, "His Royal Highness King Tan was summoned to Beijing, and the troops of the South China Sea Guard were also taken away. .”

At this moment, Peng Qing and Tang Xinggu also frowned. Did King Tan lead troops into Beijing?
I'll be good, can something happen?

Old Zhu's family has rebellious bloodlines, and the vassal king led troops into the capital. This situation... I dare not think about it!
Tang Xinggu asked cautiously: "Is the capital serious?"

Zhang Jinyong nodded and said, "I heard it's very serious!"

Tang Xinggu looked at Fan Zhong and then at Peng Qing, not knowing what to do.

Peng Qing continued to ask: "Where is the emperor? Isn't he in the capital?"

"Of course not, otherwise King Tan wouldn't have led troops into Beijing."

Peng Qing turned his head to look at Fan Zhong, and said, "Your Majesty is too busy to take care of himself, let's find a way by ourselves!"

Fan Zhong was very anxious, wishing he could fly to the emperor right away, he slammed his fist on the desk and said angrily, "Even King Tan has rebelled..."

"Hey, no, no!"

Only then did Zhang Jin realize that the three seemed to have misunderstood, so she hurriedly explained: "There are indeed people who rebel, but it's not King Tan."

"His Royal Highness is here to help, and it is the emperor who issued an imperial decree, asking King Tan to lead troops into Beijing to kill the rebels!"

"I also heard people say that almost all the overseas smuggling fleets have been cleaned up. From this, it can be seen that these man-made rebellions must have failed, and the emperor should be fine."

Fan Zhong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You didn't say it earlier!"

"I……"

Zhang Jin is also helpless, if I speak slowly, you interrupt, if I speak too fast, you misunderstand again, it is difficult for me too!
Fan Zhong asked again: "So, the South China Sea guards are weak and unable to support?"

"Exactly!"

Zhang Jin nodded and said, "His Royal Highness King Tan took away the main force of Nanhaiwei, and even dispatched some soldiers from Jiaozhi, Luzon and other places. I have a hunch that the emperor is going to kill."

Fan Zhong thought for a while, then continued: "Ottoman's ships have cut off all routes, how did you come back?"

"Lucky for the southern route that the humble job took!"

When this statement came out, everyone was shocked.

The southern line is not an air route, but a wide ocean.

Since ancient times, no matter how big a ship is, it has to take a specific route.

The so-called ocean voyage is not to rush straight into the sea, but to go forward along the coastline, stop at the shore to rest when it gets dark, and continue walking when it is dawn.

This line is the waterway, and every ship must bring a chart when they set off. They need to know where there are reefs, which islands have fresh water, and where there are ports.

When the Ming Dynasty restarted its voyages to the West, Peng Qing had a fight with the Imperial Academy because of the waterway.

The Hanlin Academy also suffered a great loss because of this, and almost all the people in the boat died on the desert island.

Although Ceylon Island is just an island, it covers a very large area. It is almost impossible to make the surrounding area of ​​the island airtight.

The Ottomans guarded the shipping lanes to besiege the Ming army on the island.

Zhang Jin couldn't break through head-on, so he took the risk, deviated from the channel, and crossed from the unknown sea.

When this method was dangerous, it was simply to die and survive. Fortunately, he succeeded.

Fan Zhong patted Zhang Jin on the shoulder and said, "Actually, you don't have to come back."

Zhang Jin's face changed: "Mr. Liang, are you scolding me?"

Fan Zhongyu said earnestly: "Nanhaiwei can't provide reinforcements, and if you come back by yourself, it's just an extra life, why bother?"

"Liang Guogong, you can't say that, we haven't lost yet!"

Zhang Jin said seriously: "Didn't the Ottomans hit the island yet? Even if they came, so what? The size of Ceylon Island means that our strategy is very deep. Let's fight with them and wait until the reinforcements arrive." , these people are turtles in the urn, and none of them can escape!"

After hearing this, Fan Zhong smiled wryly in his heart, although this idea is good, but the South China Sea Guards were all transferred away, which shows that the matter in the capital is very serious, how could the emperor have the energy to take care of overseas affairs?
So far, we can only take one step at a time.

As the coach, I have to set an example and boost morale.

"You're right, fuck it!"

Tang Xinggu glanced at him resentfully, and said: "The most urgent task is to solve the food problem, and there may be mutiny if it is too late!"

"This is all my fault!"

Peng Qing looked annoyed, and said: "The fleet was trapped, lost supplies, and gave Ceylon Island a few thousand more mouths for nothing. It's my incompetence..."

"Master Peng, what you said is out of line again!"

When the two declined each other, another person came to report.

"Report to Duke Liang that Peng San and Han Liang are back."

Fan Zhong asked: "Did the two of them come together?"

"Yes, there are some people with them, they should be local natives."

Fan Zhong looked overjoyed, and said: "Let him in quickly... Forget it, I'll go out to meet him!"

After speaking, he got up and went out. Sure enough, he saw Peng San and Han Liang waiting outside the door, followed by a few local natives.

Before the Eastern Romans landed on Ceylon, there were aborigines here.

The situation at that time was that the two major forces of the Sinhalese Kingdom and the Tamil Kingdom controlled the south and the north respectively. When the Eastern Romans joined in, the three parties fought together. The Sinhalese Kingdom retreated to the north, the Eastern Romans occupied the south, and the Tamil Kingdom Forced to migrate to the central mountains.

After the Ming army landed, the Eastern Romans were defeated, and their sphere of influence was replaced by the Ming Dynasty.

The Sinhala Kingdom and the Tamil Kingdom have been fighting for hundreds of years. If Fan Zhong takes advantage of the situation to attack, he can easily control the entire Ceylon Island.

However, he did not do this. Instead, after establishing a firm foothold, he established relations with the two countries respectively, and accepted the tribute from the two countries in the name of the suzerain.

He even personally came forward to mediate the centuries-old disputes between the two countries.

This move undoubtedly demonstrates the demeanor of a big country, and the Sinhala Kingdom and the Tamil Kingdom are also sincerely attached.

As the saying goes, a friend in adversity sees the truth. Now that the enemy is in front of him, no one knows whether the two younger brothers will change their minds...

Peng San and Han Liang went to the two countries for help, which can be said to be risking their lives.

Because the two countries may rebel at any time, they captured the envoys of Ming Dynasty and dedicated them to the Ottomans to show their loyalty.

When seeing the envoys from the two countries coming one after another, the stone in Fan Zhong's heart finally fell to the ground.

"Kowtow to Duke Liang!"

"Kowtow to Duke Liang!"

When they saw Fan Zhong, they hurriedly saluted.

"Get up!"

Fan Zhongxi smiled and asked, "Is everything going well?"

Peng San replied: "The King of Sinhala is willing to send troops and supplies to fight against foreign enemies together!"

Han Liang said: "The King of Tamil also agreed to send troops and supplies, and sent His Royal Highness to return."

Behind him, a young native said in broken Chinese: "Our soldiers and horses are gathering, and food is being delivered, soon."

(End of this chapter)