In the general Xingyuan of Zhenhailou located on Yuexiu Mountain, looking south, the whole of Guangzhou can be seen.

As the saying goes, the mountain is not high, and there is a fairy name.

This Yuexiu Mountain is the best proof of this.

The altitude is only more than 70 meters, the top of the mountain builds the Guanyin Pavilion, and the Taoist temple is built on the mountainside, and the Zhenhai Tower is built on the top of the Yuexiu Mountain, commonly known as the "five-story building". Built in the early years of the Ming Dynasty, in order to strengthen the garrison and defend against the Japanese invaders, the local officials took the meaning of "Xiongzhen Haijiang" and built the Zhenhai Tower on the top of the mountain. Zhenhai Tower is 28 meters high, about 30 meters wide, and is divided into 5 floors. The roof and the eaves of each floor are glazed tile covers, the walls of the two floors below are built with red stone, and there are brick city walls about hundreds of meters long on both sides of Zhenhai Building, which is an important strategic support point for holding Guangzhou......

In its current history, it is the site of the Guangzhou Museum.

However, at present, this is the location of Li Shouhan, the general of the Dragon and Tiger, who was ordered to supervise the suppression of the two Guangzhous.

A group of guards armed with spears and swords hanging from their waists lined up from the Zhenhai Tower to the foot of Yuexiu Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, the sedan cars and carriages of Guangzhou officials were crowded in a mess, more than 100 civil and military officials at all levels held their own handbooks in their hands, and their military generals were waiting to be summoned with swords, bows, and bright armor.

Everyone was apprehensive in their hearts, and they kept weighing the weight of the gift list in the handbook, not knowing whether this gift could save their official position and net worth.

Shouhan led more than 10,000 troops into Guangzhou in October of the tenth year of Chongzhen, and then Chen Tianhua, the commander of the second town of the Left Army, ordered Liao Dongzhi and others to immediately take over the water and land defense of Guangzhou.

It's no wonder that the officials are nervous. Guangzhou has been in peace for a long time, its armaments have been slackened, and for many years it has become a port for foreign trade, and the enthusiasm of officials for making money is far greater than that of reorganizing armaments and training non-commissioned soldiers. If it weren't for the slackening of armaments, it would not have allowed the bandits to sweep through the two Guangzhous, allowing several of Weddell's armed merchant ships to hit Guangzhou Bay and shell Humen.

Since entering the waters of Guangdong, the armed merchant fleet of the Yingyi East India Company Weddell immediately found that it was almost two worlds away from the Ming Dynasty officials and troops in Nanzhong.

The ships of the naval division were narrow and dilapidated, with thin planks and guns of various calibers and sizes. The ship's broken guns are close to the poor efficacy, and the equipment is so rudimentary and inferior. The level of training is worse. Compared with the naval divisions of the Nanzhong Army encountered when they came to the west, the gap between the navy and small fishing boats was the difference. This is the evaluation of Weddell and others on the Guangdong water division.

Seeing that the strength of the officials and troops here is too poor, there are surging thieves everywhere, and small groups of people are robbing houses and houses. Plundered states and counties in large numbers. Or even a secession party. The gentlemanly demeanor of the English people, who had been ostensibly preached by them, was blown back to their home in Albion with the sea breeze. That little bit of pirate blood in his bones is starting to stir again.

Weddell's fleet arrived at anchor outside the Cross Gate south of Macao on 27 June 1637. The arrival of British merchant ships embarrassed the Portuguese, because at this time Macao had already belonged to the Portuguese Restoration Army, and in fact belonged to the role of a vassal of the Southern Central Army. The Goa and Lisbon trade routes, which had previously been engaged, were shared by the Dutch and Portuguese fleets. and trade routes to Nagasaki and Luzon. It was also shared by the Zheng family and the Southern Chinese Army. Moreover, trade with Nagasaki became very unstable because of the Zheng family. As a result, only one of Luzon is left that still maintains close trade relations, but the trade volume still reaches more than 1.5 million yuan per year. If the British were allowed to open up the Chinese market and break their monopoly on foreign trade with China, the little remaining trade benefit of the Portuguese would also be lost. For the sake of their own jobs, the Portuguese in Macao took a disobedient attitude to the instructions of General González, the governor of the Portuguese Restoration Army, and did not allow the British to share in Macao's trading privileges.

However, the Portuguese thought that they were not able to drive away the English who came from afar, so they sacrificed a magic weapon, "In order to fight ghosts, with the help of Zhong Kui." ”

The Portuguese played right and wrong in front of the officials of Xiangshan County in the Ming Dynasty, and described the British anchored in the ocean as Dutch, and came to harass them in order to avenge the defeat of Luowan, and should be expelled. The Portuguese also sent patrol boats from Macao to patrol near the British ships to prevent the British from trading.

Weddell saw that there was no hope for trade with Macao, so he set off for Guangzhou at the end of July. On August 8, the British ship arrived at Anunghai and anchored, and the defenders of the Humen Fort fired a warning shot. Weddell deliberately provoked the incident, ordered the trade flag of St. George to be torn down, the military flag of the King of England was raised, and he put on a posture ready for battle, and then commanded the fleet to bombard the Humen Battery. After capturing the fort, the British tore down the Chinese flag, hung the British flag, and dismantled 35 cannons and carried them to the ship as trophies.

In this way, the situation is out of control.

No matter how good Governor Xiong's temper is, no matter how much he advocates appeasement, others have hit your doorstep, how can you not fight back?

However, considering that he is about to leave office, this mess should be left to others to clean up!

As a result, the governor of Guangzhou, Yamen, sent the Portuguese Pallo Noretti as a representative to intervene, and Weddell returned the cannon, and at the same time sent two merchants to accompany Noretti to the city of Guangzhou. When they disembarked, they hired a man to unload the South China goods carried by the convoy and transport them to Canton, and the merchants who entered the city with the convoy carried 22,000 Spanish silver coins, 10,000 Nanzhong silver dollars, and 2 small boxes of Japanese silver coins for purchase.

Originally, things seemed to be developing on the good side, but I don't know if Weddell's gang had spied on some fiction and reality, or if someone informed him of the empty military situation of the Ming army near Guangzhou City, and led the fleet to drive up the Pearl River to Guangzhou.

Guangzhou, as a provincial capital, naturally cannot tolerate rampant rebellion. Although the Guangdong Navy Division was not as strong as the Fujian Navy Division, because the Nanzhong Army was suppressing thieves near the provincial capital, it was also quite strong, and sent large and small ships to drive away the English fleet, and bombarded the English East India Company fleet with artillery.

The sailors dispatched on land, and the governor of Liangguang, Yamen, also mobilized more than 10,000 people near the provincial capital to deploy defenses on both sides of the Pearl River, intending to make the English have nowhere to land and force them to retreat.

Forced by the shape, Weddell's fleet had no choice but to withdraw from the waters of Guangzhou. Wandering back and forth in the Pearl River Estuary, Humen, and Macao. And taking advantage of the southern Chinese army's Liao Dongzhi Department to move south, they captured the Humen area, plundered and burned the troops on a large scale, intensified the burning of ships and houses, and even destroyed the fort after conquering the Humen Fort.

At this time, there is no room for maneuver.

Weddell's fleet was put into combat readiness in the Humen area, and the Yamen of the Governor of Liangguang and the Yamen of Guangdong mobilized tens of thousands of officers and troops to surround the Humen area.

However, no one dared to fire the first shot.

Weddell's side came thousands of miles away. Every barrel of gunpowder, every shell is extremely precious. What's more, the manpower is not so sufficient, and if the losses in the battle are too large, then the trade will be ruined. The fleet had to be sailed to Macao gradually, trying to get the Portuguese to come out and mediate. Allow yourself to complete the trading activities in the East. Sell the goods transported on the ship.

The two sides confronted each other nervously in the return of the Portuguese messengers.

Until Shouhan brought the army and horses to come.

Look at the thousands of military horses that entered the city. I couldn't help but make the following officials tremble. Looking at its military appearance and its team, it is far from being comparable to the battalion soldiers, family soldiers, and Tusi soldiers that everyone is used to.

But. According to the law of officialdom, the discipline of the troops that can fight is generally not good, and the combat effectiveness is often proportional to the barbarism of the soldiers.

However, after this army entered the city, it did not move again except to take over the city defenses and rest and train in the camp. Every day, only a small number of buyers came out with white silver dollars and yellow and clear tongbao to purchase all kinds of fresh vegetables, fish, meat, etc., which made the small merchants and vendors in Guangzhou make a small fortune.

However, not disturbing the people does not mean that combat effectiveness is not good.

On the streets of Guangzhou, more than a dozen family members of the governor's yamen broke out into clashes because of accusations against the armor and military appearance of the Nanzhong Army, and finally it turned into a group fight between the governor's Fubiao battalion and the baggage soldiers of the Nanzhong Army.

Hundreds of pro-soldiers who were armed and rampant in the market on weekdays were chased and beaten by more than 70 heavy soldiers and men of various departments of the South Chinese Army in Guangzhou, = for a time the people in Guangzhou City were very eye-opening.

The dignified Fubiao soldiers were chased and beaten along the Pearl River on the streets of Huacheng by dozens of men with aprons and shoulders around their waists, and this scene became a big topic of conversation among countless people in Guangzhou after tea and dinner that day.

So, when it was learned that there were more than 10,000 such soldiers and horses outside the city, the Guangdong officialdom was really shaken.

Early in the morning, the officials of the various yamen gathered in front of the governor's yamen, and went to the general of Yuexiu Mountain with the governor to bow down.

What frightened the Guangdong officials was that only by getting close to and observing the soldiers of the South Central Army did they know how elite and powerful this army was.

Although due to the problem of geographical environment, the people of Liangguang and Nanzhong are generally not tall, and their bones are small. Overall, it feels thinner and smaller. However, the soldiers of the Nanzhong Army in front of him were full of red light, their muscles were strong, and they felt that their bodies under the armor were full of strength and spirit.

Compared with Chen Tianhua's troops stationed in Guangzhou not long ago, there is a big gap. Although Chen Tianhua's troops are much stronger than the local officers and troops in Guangdong.

"Family! It must be a housekeeper! ”

After weighing the difference between these soldiers in front of them and Chen Tianhua's soldiers not long ago, the officials quickly made a reasonable judgment.

But with this judgment, another jaw-dropping question was placed in front of the officials.

"Since the dynasty had its own family system, it is said that the person with the largest number of family members and the strongest combat power is none other than Li Chengliang Li of Guangning Bo in Liaodong in the past. However, it is said that there are only 8,000 people, and now there are more than 3,000 people stationed in this Zhenhai Tower, thousands of people in various parts of the city, and thousands of people outside the city. How many families should this General Li have! ”

There was a careful official peeking at the cuirass on the soldiers' bodies, although they had been wiped and oiled, and under the autumn sun, they shone with a metallic light, but on closer inspection, some subtle marks and depressions could still be seen on the cuirass, and it was obvious that these cuirasses and the people who wore them were veterans who had passed through the battle formation and had seen blood.

Most of these veterans, with the exception of a set of cuirasses, wore a bag made of buffalo skin diagonally. From the left shoulder to the right hip, the cuirass was divided into two halves, and there were several small pouches bulging on the ochre-red belt, and I don't know what was inside.

The soldiers with belts were all armed with a firearm. The mouth of the gun is carefully covered with a cloth cover made of muslin cloth to prevent dust and moisture from entering.

A long dagger hung from the belt around their waists, without a scabbard, but with a holster over the hilt, tied around their waists.

Because of the geographical location, Guangdong has been in contact with Western muskets for a long time, and many iron factories are also processing and manufacturing all kinds of guns and even artillery, and the Guangdong soldiers are even more famous for being good at using firearms. Many of these officials use firecrackers, and they also have their own ability to judge the quality of firecrackers.

But. Among the more than 3,000 dings. I'm afraid that there are 2,000 people who use firearms, and all of them are finely made, sturdy and heavy, and there is absolutely no risk of exploding. If such a firearm is purchased in Foshan, I am afraid that it will be expensive. If you equip 2,000 families. I'm afraid it will cost more.

There is that the officer has decided; You must take refuge under General Li and be a lackey.

There is no other reason. The soldiers are strong and strong, the number is large, and the money and food are abundant. Such a master. Even the elders of the cabinet have to stammer.

However, an officer of the Guards who came out of the Zhenhai Tower politely accepted everyone's handbooks and name cards, and then told them, "The general went out of the city early in the morning to take people to Humen. I am afraid that I have arrived in Humen at this time, and the governor led the second army of water and land to start a war with Yingyi. ”

Zhang Jingxin, who had just taken over the official post of Liangguang Governor of Liangguang from the post of Guanglu Siqing in Nanjing in the fourth month of the tenth year of Chongzhen, was a typical literati scholar, and his life's achievements were to write books such as "Notes on the Book of Changes", "Collection of Yunyintang", and "The Book of Communication", which reflected his attainments in the Book of Changes, poetry, and how to select officials. However, there is a great lack of such a thing as using troops to fight a war.

When I heard that General Li, who had been ordered to supervise the pacification of the two Guangzhous, had gone out of the city to fight against the offenders, I couldn't help but be greatly moved.

"The seat is not warm, and the sword and the performance are the duties and ethics of my generation of ministers."

However, the civil and military officials under him were not very interested in this nerdy governor who had just been in office for less than half a year.

General Li went out of the city to fight against the rebels, if we, the officials of Guangdong Province, were not on the scene, how should we report to the imperial court in the future?

General Li was victorious, and his military exploits did not have us at all. There is no such thing as the size of my Guangdong official on the report paperwork, and when the court bigwigs see it, don't they want to vigorously apply for my Guangdong officialdom to fear the enemy like a tiger, and don't think about how to report to Jun En and go down to An Lishu?

If General Li is defeated, then when he shirks his responsibility, he can also deduct all the black pots to the Guangdong officialdom, what grain and grass are not timely, the backup is not strong, and so on. Anyway, now the imperial court doesn't dare to do anything to the generals who lead the troops, but it is not merciful to kill us civil officials.

Besides, with these tiger ben in General Li's hands, how can he be invincible?

How can you miss this military exploit?

"Governor, General Li is worried about state affairs, and has already gone out of the city to fight against the rebels, we can't sit idly by, and our subordinates will build yì, and my Guangdong officials and troops will immediately pour out of the nest to help General Li quell the rebellion!"

"The subordinates immediately collect pigs, sheep, cattle and wine in the provincial capital, and prepare to reward the victorious army!"

"Mark the wish to lead the department to Humen and wait for General Li's dispatch!"

"Please make a decision sooner! It's too late, and Lord Li's subordinates are about to start a war with the rebels! ”

This is already very naked.

Before the start of the war, you are fighting together, even if it is when others fight tigers, you help Wu Song pick up the whistle stick, and when it is time to write the victory document, you can also lay it out.

arrived at the time of the battle, which was regarded as reinforcements, and the quality was a little worse, but it was also a war achievement.

When others finish fighting and winning, you arrive, at most it can be regarded as the part with strong protection. Military exploits? Excuse me, what's the matter with you?

Although Zhang Jingxin is a scholar, he also knows a little about these doorways in the officialdom, (nonsense, if you don't understand, can you get into the position of governor?) If you don't move at this time, I'm afraid that the court and subordinates will be offended.

"It's good! Benyier and others said that all ministries and yamen should work hard to do errands according to their duties! ”

After instructing his subordinate military officers, he turned around and bowed his hand to the officer of the Guards very kindly. "The general."

"Don't dare to be, in the Lower Guards Brigade Battalion Officer Linkexin." Lin Kexin looked at the scarlet official uniform on Zhang Jingxin's body and the crane complement on it, and knew that this should be the Governor of Liangguang.

"Please tell me something, sir."

Seeing that Lin Kexin was neither humble nor arrogant, he did not kneel down to salute and sign up, Zhang Jingxin and Governor Zhang were unhappy in their hearts, but here and now, they could only endure it.

"I don't know when the general went to Humen, and which way to go?"

"Early in the morning, we went to the Pearl River wharf, and prepared to board the ship to Humen to join the land and water armies near the mouth of the Pearl River. At this time, I'm afraid that I have already passed Dongguan and are about to reach the surface of the Lion Ocean, right? ! ”

As a result, the civil and military officials in the Guangdong officialdom were in full swing.

Lord Zhang Jingxin personally led the superintendent battalion and more than 10,000 land and water soldiers to Humen to rush to the aid of General Li Shouhan's headquarters. The prefect of Guangzhou is collecting pigs, sheep and cattle wine, preparing to reward the three armies. The streets began to drill up colorful archways, ready to welcome the triumphant soldiers.

Without the magnificent departure ceremony and the magnificent wine-pouring ceremony, Governor Zhang hurriedly chased down the Pearl River by boat.

As soon as the governor's fleet passed Huangpu Island, he met the Dongguan County Commander who came to report the news.

"Your Excellency! Master Lee's soldiers and horses distributed documents and posted notices everywhere. This is the letter of rebellion they posted in the county seat of the county! (To be continued......)

PS: The farming plot is over, and the pig's feet begin the journey of conquest.