I founded a heavy industry group in the late Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 151 They even managed to fool everyone, including the boat.

Chapter 150 It can't be said that the Donglin Party was completely unprepared. Although they didn't use the imperial navy for escort, they did use the Shen family's fleet from the Sand Ship Gang.

At this time, the strength of the Sand Ship Gang was truly the greatest in the Ming Dynasty. Even Zheng Zhilong of Fujian could only suppress the Sand Ship Gang by using the name of the court to label them as pirates and by using official power to attack them repeatedly, until around the seventh year of Chongzhen's reign. Although the Sand Ship Gang was nominally a folk gang, in fact, they were once the national team of the Ming Dynasty, with members mainly consisting of craftsmen and their children from the Nanjing Shipyard.

After the sea ban was imposed, the Nanjing Shipyard began to shrink. They had no food to eat and could only form associations to protect themselves, becoming downstream organizations controlled by the Jiangnan Capital Group.

The financial backers behind the Donglin Party began operating the Sand Ship Gang during the Zhengde period. At its peak, the Sand Ship Gang owned more than 800 ships with a capacity of over 1,000 liang (a unit of weight). Even after absorbing the power of Yan Siqi, the King of Taiwan, and having more than 700 ships and tens of thousands of men, Zheng Zhilong did not dare to confront the Sand Ship Gang. If a fight were to break out, the Sand Ship Gang could easily organize 700 or 800 seagoing vessels. If the smaller ships were included, the number would be over 1,000.

More importantly, their biggest advantage was their shipbuilding expertise, which allowed them to build ships much faster. They were on a professional, state-team-like path in fighting pirates, while Zheng Zhilong was still operating in the dark. Pirates would board the ship, which involved getting close together and using the lowerable sails of Chinese ships—which were rigid and acted like siege ladders—to board the enemy ship and then annihilate or force them to surrender through close combat.

Chen Ying's biggest advantage is that he now has resources. He promised Zhang Guodong that regardless of the outcome of this battle, he would provide the Dengzhou Navy with sixty new ships. Of course, these are not the four thousand four hundred giant ships, but patrol boats of four hundred liang each. When he learned that the Donglin Party had actually hired the Sand Ship Gang for escort and transportation, Chen Ying no longer cared much about these supplies. As long as he could capture these Sand Ship Gang members, he could even increase his shipbuilding capacity by more than ten times.

At that time, Chen Ying could have built warships like dumplings in the Ming Dynasty, such as the 4,400-ton second-class battleships we have now. In just a few years, he could have built an invincible Spanish Armada. In Chen Ying's eyes, the so-called invincible Armada was nothing more than two hundred warships of more than six hundred tons each, with six or seven thousand cannons.

Let alone more than two hundred ships, even if we could build more than twenty warships of 4,400 tons each, we could roam freely in Asia without fear of the Dutch East India Company causing trouble. After Chen Ying and Zhang Guoxun and other generals discussed the detailed plan of the operation and finalized every detail, they dispersed.

Hundreds of artisans worked through the night to paint various warships of the Dengzhou Navy, turning them black and replacing their flags with pirate flags. In order to sow discord between the Donglin Party and the Japanese, Chen Ying also had captured Japanese ronin and samurai brought out from Dalu Island as evidence.

The person who took action was definitely not Chen Boying, the commander of the Da Ning region, nor Zhang Guoxun, the naval adjutant of Dengzhou, but the Japanese pirate Fukuoka daimyo.

After a day and two nights of preparation, in the early hours of the second day, Chen Ying personally led the fleet to ambush in the waters east of the Miaodao Islands.

A morning mist hung heavy, obscuring the sea in a hazy gray. Chen Ying and Zhang Guoxun stood at the bow of the flagship "Zhenhai," a 4,400-ton warship making its maiden voyage. Chen Ying, holding binoculars, gazed southeast. Behind him, over seventy warships were arrayed in a fan shape, silently arrayed. At the forefront were a dozen small boats laden with flammable materials, their hulls coated with oil, their bows piled with dry grass and gunpowder, awaiting only the order to charge into the enemy ranks.

In the Ming Dynasty, real fire ships mainly used tung oil, but Chen Ying prepared fire oil instead. This was because shipbuilding required asphalt, which was also one of the goods that Westerners liked to bring to the Ming Dynasty to sell. Natural asphalt was of little use to Westerners at the time, but for the Ming Dynasty, it could not only be used to seal the gaps in the ship planks, but also to collect tobacco ash, which was a raw material for making ink and was needed in very large quantities.

Of course, Chen directly used rudimentary methods to purify these asphalts. The working principle was the same as that of distilling liquor. After being heated, the natural asphalt would soften and separate, forming a mixture of diesel and gasoline.

The wait at sea was incredibly boring. Just as Chen Ying was about to doze off, a speedboat approached the Zhenhai, and soon a centurion boarded it.

The naval commander of Dengzhou was reporting to Zhang Guoxun: "Commander, the merchant fleet is less than twenty li away from us, in at most an hour and a half—"

Zhang Guoxun looked at Chen Yingdao and said, "Commander Chen—"

"You're acting as if I don't exist! You're in charge of this battle!"

Chen Ying never allowed himself to be an outsider directing insiders. Naval warfare was an unfamiliar area for him and a blind spot in his knowledge. He believed that professional matters should be handled by professionals.

Zhang Guoxun rose through the ranks from a hereditary naval officer. With over a decade of experience, his ability to fight large-scale naval battles at the national level is unknown, but he has extensive experience in dealing with pirates.

"Pass down the order: all ships must extinguish their flames and remain silent. Fire ships, prepare to receive my command."

"Yes, sir!"

As the fast boat relayed Zhang Guoxun's orders to each ship, the fog gradually dissipated, and visibility improved. On the southeastern sea, countless ships appeared and disappeared in the mist. Leading the way were several large sand barges, their drafts extremely deep, their hulls hunched low, clearly loaded with cargo. Behind them followed dozens of ships of various sizes, stretching for miles as far as the eye could see.

Zhang Guoxun's heart pounded. He had fought for over two thousand years, but this was the first time he had ever engaged in such a "robbery" scheme. The two sides were several miles apart, and the escorting warships finally discovered the ambushing fleet. It was too late for them to escape. Even if they could escape, the merchant ships had a waterline, heavy loads, and slower speeds, only six or seven knots. Compared to the warships' speed of seven or eight knots, they simply couldn't escape.

Chaos erupted in the Donglin Party fleet, with someone shouting, "Pirates are coming! Run!"

More than a dozen fire ships were set ablaze at the same time. With a strong east wind blowing, the flames soared into the sky. The ships, propelled by the wind, shot straight at the merchant fleet like arrows released from a bow.

The guards of the merchant fleet were terrified when they saw the fire ship suddenly appear on the sea. What made them even more desperate was that the Zhenhai was a large ship of 4,400 liters.

In particular, as the warships moved sideways, dozens of cannons began to bombard them from a distance of several miles, with the cannonballs creating rolling waves.

Shen Huai'an, the leader of the Sand Ship Gang, stood at the bow of his largest sand ship, his face ashen. Behind him were nearly four or five hundred sand ships, their masts like a forest and their sails like a shadow, but at this moment these ships were like giant beasts with their throats choked, unable to move forward or backward.

Ahead, over seventy warships spread out in a fan shape, their dark cannons pointed directly at them. Further away, a dozen or so fire ships were poised to set sail, their burning oil tanks on their bows gleaming coldly in the morning light.

"Master, it's government troops!" an old helmsman exclaimed in a trembling voice. "Those banners—they're from the Dengzhou Navy!"

Shen Huai'an remained silent. Of course, he recognized the banner. The Dengzhou Navy's left, right, and front battalions had all set out, with over seventy ships, plus the unprecedented 4,000-ton behemoth, the "Zhenhai." He had been a maritime merchant his entire life; what storms hadn't he weathered? But today, for the first time, he felt despair.

It wasn't because they couldn't win, but because it wasn't worth it. The five hundred merchant ships all belonged to the Donglin Party officials, loaded with grain, silver, and weapons. Shen Huai'an knew who these goods were for. He didn't want to transport them, but he dared not refuse.

The Sand Boat Gang, comprising thousands of households and over 30,000 people, relied entirely on the rewards bestowed upon them by these lords. Without them, the Sand Boat Gang was nothing.

"Boss, they're about to fire!" another trusted confidant shouted urgently.

Shen Huai'an gritted his teeth and stomped his foot: "Raise the white flag! I'll go negotiate!"

A white flag was raised, and the opposing side indeed ceased firing. A fast boat sailed out from beside the "Zhenhai" and arrived in front of the sand barracks. An officer dressed as a centurion stood at the bow and announced loudly, "My commander invites Chief Shen to come aboard for a discussion!"

Shen Huai'an took a deep breath, straightened his robes, and jumped onto the speedboat.

On the deck of the Zhenhai, Chen Ying sat in a grand chair, leisurely sipping tea. Zhang Guoxun stood beside him, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his face stern. Dozens of fully armed guards surrounded them, their rifles cocked and gleaming like eagles.

"This humble subject, Shen Huai'an, pays his respects to Your Excellency." He knelt down and performed a deep bow.

Chen Ying put down his teacup and said calmly, "Chief Shen, please rise. Please take a seat."

Shen Huai'an paused, then stood up and sat down. He sized up Chen Ying, quickly trying to figure out his identity. Zhang Guoxun, the adjutant of the Dengzhou navy, was standing, while this man was sitting; Zhang Guoxun's expression was respectful, while this man's was indifferent. He must be a higher-ranking official than Zhang Guoxun.

"Chief Shen," Chen Ying began, getting straight to the point, "do you even know what those hundreds of ships you have are carrying?"

Shen Huai'an lowered his head: "This humble subject understands."

"For whom?"

Shen Huai'an was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "For the Jiannu."

Chen Ying laughed: "Knowing it's for the Jurchens, you still transported it?"

Shen Huai'an raised his head, his eyes filled with bitterness: "General, I don't want to transport them. But I have no choice. The Sand Ship Gang has more than 30,000 mouths to feed, all of which depend on these gentlemen. If I refuse, the Sand Ship Gang will be finished."

Chen Ying's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "Chief Shen," he said, "I ask you, what did the ancestors of the Sand Boat Gang do?"

Shen Huai'an was taken aback: "Our ancestors were craftsmen at the Nanjing Shipyard."

"During the Yongle reign, who built the ships Zheng He used for his voyages to the Western Ocean?"

Shen Huai'an's voice trembled slightly: "It was—it was made by my ancestors."

Chen Ying stood up, walked to the ship's side, and pointed to the sand barges in the distance: "Chief Shen, your ancestors built treasure ships that could sail the oceans, national treasures that would bring all nations to pay tribute. But now, you are transporting grain and supplies for a bunch of traitors, helping the Jurchens fight against the Ming Dynasty."

If your ancestors were alive, what would they think?

Shen Huai'an lowered his head, his eyes reddening.

Chen Ying turned to him and said, "I have built large shipyards on Dalu Island and in Yongning Port. Two warships with a capacity of 4,400 tons have already been launched, and ten more (bragging) are under construction. I want to restore the glory of the Ming Dynasty navy, to build giant ships even larger than Zheng He's treasure ships, and to let the flag of the Ming Dynasty fly high over the four seas. Chief Shen, are you willing to bring your brothers from the Sand Ship Gang to join me?"

Shen Huai'an suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief: "General—what did you say?"

"I say, those who wish to join me are welcome to do so." Chen Ying walked back to his seat and sat down again. "The Daning Shipbuilding Bureau is short of a director. It's a fifth-rank official position, in charge of shipbuilding. Brothers from the Sand Ship Gang, those who are willing to join will be ranked according to their skills, receive a salary, and be allocated land. Those who are unwilling will not be forced; they will be given travel expenses to go home."

Shen Huai'an's hands were trembling. A fifth-rank official! That's an official appointed by the imperial court! The brothers of the Sand Boat Gang have been craftsmen for generations, and they never even dared to dream of becoming officials.

"General," his voice was hoarse, "you—you're not joking?"

Chen Ying laughed: "I never joke."

He waved his hand, and a guard presented a document to Shen Huai'an. Shen Huai'an took it and saw that it read: "Director-General of the Daning Shipbuilding Bureau, Rank 5, Monthly salary of ten taels of silver, bonus of five hundred taels of silver, and grant of one hundred mu of land." Below it was the bright red seal of the Daning Military Command.

"The Great Ning Military Commandery—" Shen Huai'an murmured, then suddenly looked up at Chen Ying, "You—you are Commander Chen Boying?"

Chen Ying nodded.

Shen Huai'an knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face: "This humble subject—this humble subject is willing!"

Chen Ying helped him up and said with a smile, "Chief Shen, get up. However, I have a condition."

"Please speak, General."

"The brothers of the Sand Ship Gang, after joining me, can no longer serve the Donglin Party. Their ships, men, and technology will all be under the jurisdiction of the Daning Shipbuilding Bureau. Of course, I will not mistreat them."

Shen Huai'an nodded repeatedly: "Don't worry, General. I will go back and gather my brothers to explain this matter clearly."

Chen Ying added, "Furthermore, I want the cargo on these hundreds of ships. The grain, silver, and weapons will be used as military supplies."

As for the ships, I won't take them for free. Each ship will be valued at 70% of its market price, and the payment will come from the shipbuilding bureau's account.

Shen Huai'an said, "General, these goods don't belong to me—"

"I know. But can those Donglin Party members really come to me demanding repayment?"

Shen Huai'an smiled wryly and said no more.

Chen Ying patted him on the shoulder: "Go. Tell the brothers that following me will ensure they don't suffer losses."

Shen Huai'an bowed and took his leave, then jumped onto the speedboat and returned to his own fleet.

Zhang Guoxun walked up to Chen Ying and whispered, "Commander Chen, are you really going to take over all these hundreds of ships?"

Chen Ying nodded: "Take them in. The ships will be converted into warships; the men will be incorporated into the navy; the technology will be used to strengthen the shipbuilding bureau. The technology of the Sand Ship Gang is far superior to ours. With them, our shipbuilding speed can be increased several times over."

Zhang Guoxun exclaimed, "You've really got a clever plan."

Chen Ying laughed: "War isn't just about fighting and killing; it's also about settling accounts. I've made a fortune from this deal."

When the news spread, the brothers of the Sand Boat Gang were initially somewhat skeptical. But when Shen Huai'an recounted Chen Ying's promise and then produced the official letter of appointment stamped with the official seal, everyone erupted in excitement. A fifth-rank official position! A monthly salary of ten taels of silver! And land too! This was an incredibly auspicious event!