Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 594 The Attack (Part 5)

"what is that?"

On January 26, 1644, the midday sun pierced through the thin clouds, scorching the white sand beaches of Misaki Island (now Ishigaki Island in the Ryukyu Islands).

The waves relentlessly pounded the shore, repeatedly pushing the debris and rubble left over from the previous night's storm ashore.

On the watchtower, the young sailor Ah Qi licked his chapped lips and squinted at the dazzling blue sky to the southwest.

Suddenly, he rubbed his sore eyes, leaned forward abruptly, and stared intently at the horizon where the sea met the sky.

Several black dots are slowly growing larger, and their outlines are gradually becoming clearer.

"Ship!...It's a ship!"

"So many boats!"

"A ship is coming!"

He shouted loudly into the village while vigorously banging the gong in his hand.

His shout was like a thunderclap, instantly waking up the entire camp.

The immigrants who were working put down their work and looked out towards the sea.

Li Dehai and Zhao Dajun almost staggered as they rushed up the watchtower.

Li Dehai picked up the monocular telescope and adjusted the focus with slightly trembling hands.

Four ships were seen cutting through the waves, slowly sailing towards the bay with the help of a weak southeasterly wind.

The two ships in the lead were tall, with clearly visible gun ports on their sides, and a bright red five-star flag flying on their masts. They were the armed merchant ships from Luzon that they had been eagerly awaiting!
Two somewhat bulky transport ships followed behind, with deep drafts, clearly loaded with supplies.

"Reinforcements! The reinforcements from Luzon have arrived!" Zhao Dajun's voice trembled with excitement as he slammed his fist into the wooden railing, causing the watchtower to shake slightly.

Li Dehai let out a long sigh of relief, his nerves, which had been tense for the past month, finally relaxed a little. But a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes again: "Why are there four ships? This is quite a show of force, isn't it?"

The ship slowly approached and anchored in deep water more than a mile from the shore.

Several small boats were launched, fully loaded with fully armed soldiers, and rowed toward the beach.

These soldiers were dressed in uniform dark blue uniforms, with simple half-body plate armor over them, peaked caps on their heads, and carrying muskets with bayonets that gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Upon landing, the soldiers quickly deployed, took up advantageous positions on the beachhead, and established a makeshift perimeter. The entire process was silent and efficient, a stark contrast to the panicked and disorganized state of the immigrants on the island.

An official, around thirty years old and with a sharp face, also stepped onto the beach, surrounded by more than ten attendants.

"Lin Song, Deputy Commissioner of Civil Affairs, Luzon Colonization Area." The official cupped his hands in greeting, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. "I have come here on the orders of Commissioner Han to handle matters concerning Misaki Island and to receive our compatriots."

"We are deeply grateful to Ambassador Lin for his long journey across the ocean to rescue us. We will never forget your kindness." Li Dehai quickly bowed in return, feeling a huge weight lifted from his heart.

He and Zhao Dajun briefly recounted how they encountered the storm, how they clashed with Ryukyu officials, and how they were forced to occupy the official residence.

Lin Song listened quietly, his face showing little expression, occasionally interjecting with a question or two about key details.

After the two men finished speaking, he nodded slightly: "I have a general understanding of the situation. The two captains have worked hard, making a decisive decision on the spot and taking control of the island, thus preventing our Xinhua immigrants from being bullied by Ryukyu officials. They deserve the greatest credit."

"Lord Lin, you flatter me. It was a desperate measure, a matter of survival," Li Dehai said with a wry smile. "I just didn't expect Luzon to send so many reinforcements..."

Lin Song raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a meaningful smile: "We have come here for more than just to get out of trouble. Commissioner Han has ordered that we come here for two reasons: first, to rescue people, and second, to expand our territory."

He said no more, and waved his hand to signal, "Gather everyone, I have something important to announce."

Soon, nearly four hundred immigrants, along with all the crew members and some Ryukyu officials and civilians, were gathered on the cleared open space in front of the official residence.

People whispered among themselves, their eyes all focused on Lin Song and the rows of fully armed soldiers behind him.

Lin Song ascended a makeshift platform made of wooden crates, surveyed the dense crowd below, and announced in a loud voice: "Gentlemen, I, Lin Song, have come here on the orders of Commissioner Han of the Luzon Colonization Zone to announce several decrees."

The crowd fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on him.

"Firstly, you were stranded on this island due to the storm. You acted swiftly and decisively, seizing the Ryukyu official residence and taking control of the entire island, which is a meritorious act for the colony. From this day forward, you no longer need to worry about being adrift and homeless. The Luzon colony will accept you and settle you on this island!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in a buzz of whispers, a mixture of surprise, joy, and disbelief.

Resettlement on the spot?

This means they no longer need to risk sailing to the north, nor do they need to cross thousands of miles of ocean to reach the distant and unknown continent of New Zealand. They can settle down on this island with its mild climate.

Lin Song raised his hand to quell the commotion and continued to announce: "You will become the first settlers of the newly established 'Ryukyu Colonization Zone' in my Luzon Special District. All of you will be registered and provided with rations, seeds, and farming tools by the colonization zone. You will serve the colonization zone for three years, clearing land and building cities. Upon completion of your term, you may either remain on the island or relocate to Luzon, with each adult receiving forty mu of land!"

"Forty acres!" This announcement completely ignited the previously worried immigrants.

The men waved their fists excitedly, and the women hugged their children and wept with joy. The gloom of the past few days was dispelled by this sudden hope.

Forty acres of land!

In the heart of the Ming Dynasty, this was a fortune that many peasant families would never dare to dream of in their entire lives.

Although it required working for the government for three years first, having a clear prospect was much better than signing a contract and going to pioneer in Beiying and Xinzhou with an uncertain future.

"Silence!" Lin Song raised his voice again. "Secondly, as for the Ryukyu people on the island..."

His gaze swept over the huddled Ryukyu natives and the Ryukyu officials under guard, their faces filled with terror, including the ashen-faced chief clerk, Ma Shunze.

"From this day forward, all those who are willing to submit to the Republic of New China and acknowledge the jurisdiction of our Ryukyu Colonial District shall be citizens of New China and shall no longer be required to pay exorbitant taxes to the Ryukyu Kingdom or to undertake numerous unpaid labor services."

"The colonization areas will be treated equally, land will be allocated, and reclamation will be encouraged. All that is required is to pay land tax in accordance with the laws of Xinhua."

These words were repeated by the Ryukyu officials, which immediately astonished the many indigenous residents. They then looked at each other with suspicion in their eyes.

What do you mean?
From now on, we'll have a new owner above us?

No longer need to pay heavy annual tributes and deal with various apportionments to the Ryukyu Royal Palace and the "Zaiban Fengxing" of the Satsuma Domain.
Is this...is this real?

Ma Shun suddenly raised his head, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but seeing the menacing soldiers around him, he lowered his head dejectedly.

This is a disaster!
Ryukyu was first ravaged by Satsuma, and now it is being forcibly occupied by Xinhua. The country is on the verge of collapse!
Lin Song's announcement was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. Before the ripples had subsided, his next actions left Li Dehai, Zhao Dajun, and the others speechless.

The four ships began unloading supplies and personnel.

Bags of grain, bundled weapons, and heavy boxes of gunpowder were transported ashore.

Four hundred Luzon Self-Defense Force soldiers began setting up camp near the village. They were disciplined and in high spirits, far superior to the Ryukyu men on the island.

Most notably, the soldiers also carefully unloaded two light land guns that gleamed with a dark metallic sheen from the ship.

"Lord Lin, what is this...?" Li Dehai looked at the two cannons and couldn't help but ask.

To get out of this predicament, we need to bring so many soldiers, and even artillery?

Looking at the busy landing scene, Lin Song said calmly, "Of course, bringing so many troops here is not just to protect this small island from retaliation by the Ryukyu and Japanese. Our target is the entire Yaeyama (Archipelago)."

He beckoned, and an attendant immediately unfurled a somewhat crude map of the sea.

Lin Song pointed his finger at the location representing Misaki Island, then moved northeast to a small dot: "About 100 kilometers northeast of here is Taiping Mountain (now Miyako Island), a small island with even better conditions than Misaki Island. The island has a larger population and more fertile land."

"More importantly, there was no decent defense there either; neither the Ryukyu royal court nor the Japanese invested any effort in it."

He raised his head and smiled: "Before coming here, the Commissioner instructed that not only should we rescue you, but we should also occupy all the islands of Yaeyama, build cities and fortresses, and bring this place under the control of Xinhua, making it a key supply point and outpost base for our immigrant fleet traveling across the ocean."

Li Dehai and Zhao Dajun exchanged a glance, both deeply shocked.

They were originally only thinking about seeking help to save their lives, and at most temporarily occupying the island to defend themselves, waiting for Luzon ships to come to their aid, at which point they would evacuate the area.

I never expected that the Luzon colonization area would have such a huge appetite and ambition.

They intend to annex this entire string of islands!
"Lord Lin, will this move... provoke a major retaliation from Ryukyu, or even the Japanese?" Zhao Dajun asked with concern.

"Retaliation?" Han Song sneered. "The Ryukyu Kingdom is small and poor, barely able to take care of itself. Its capital, Shuri Castle, is under the control of the Satsuma Domain. How many troops can it send across the sea to attack?"

"Although the Satsuma Domain is powerful, its focus is on the Japanese mainland, and it also has trade relations with our Hokyo Trading Company. It is still unknown whether it will go to war over these few remote islands."

"Even if they come, do they have the gunboats and large ships to wage war at sea? At present, our Luzon colony has several thousand soldiers and more than a dozen ships. We are defending the island and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out. What is there to fear?"

He paused, then spoke with fervor: "Gentlemen, our new China has established itself in New Asia, expanded into Luzon, and traveled to and from the Ming Dynasty. It may seem glorious, but in reality, it is like rowing against the current; if we don't advance, we will fall behind."

"This vast ocean is surrounded by powerful neighbors. To the west are the Zheng family and the Dutch, to the north are the various domains of Japan, and to the south are numerous local chieftains, all of whom are eyeing us covetously. If we do not seize the opportunity to advance, occupy key sea points, and guard the shipping lanes, we will surely be controlled by others in the future."

“Commissioner Han once said…” Lin Song spoke with obvious respect when mentioning Han Jian, “Our Xinhua has been operating in Luzon and the coastal areas of Daming for many years, and our foundation has been initially solidified. At this time of turmoil, we should take an aggressive stance, make early arrangements, seize key positions, and accelerate our expansion.”

"These Yaeyama Islands control the shipping lanes between the Ming Dynasty's coast and Luzon, and even the northern islands. Their location is of paramount importance. If we can take them over, future immigrant fleets departing from Guangdong will have a reliable resupply point after circumnavigating the islands of Japan, without having to risk sailing directly to the open sea. This will be of immense benefit to the entire immigration project."

After resting for only three days and replenishing fresh water and some supplies, the two armed merchant ships weighed anchor and set sail northeast towards Taiping Mountain (Miyako Island).

Li Dehai and Zhao Dajun stood on the beach of Meiqi Island, watching the fleet disappear into the distant horizon, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

"Old Li, would you say we've... expanded our territory?" Zhao Dajun's lips twitched, his tone uncertain.

"Perhaps," he said softly, a complex smile finally appearing on his lips. "According to the higher-ups, this is a proactive way to expand the future living space for us Chinese people."
-
(End of this chapter)