In the same naval anchorage, Dongshan Island is not as lively and vibrant as the Guangao Bay, and it is almost impossible to hear any other sounds on the pier and on the ship, except for the sound of the sea breeze blowing the sails and the pennant on the top of the mast.

The temples on the island are full of incense, and shipowners, officers, sailors, and gunners have come to make incense and make wishes, hoping that they can escape from this war and be safe and sound.

For this kind of behavior of asking ghosts and gods without asking about the war, even Zheng Zhilong, the commander of the whole army, is helpless and helpless, and who is not superstitious to engage in a sea career? Even in modern times, there are still many taboos and exquisiteness on board.

"Big brother, it seems that our military salary is a little insufficient." Zheng Zhibao, who was in charge of the whole army's food and salary support, worriedly held a stack of account books and said in a low voice with Zheng Zhilong, who was communicating with Master Guan in front of the statue of Emperor Guan Sheng.

More than 20,000 people, large and small, and more than 1,000 boats and hedgehogs gathered on Dongshan Island, which need to consume a large amount of grain, rice, firewood, charcoal, oil, salt, and meat every day. The people who produced these things were waiting for the Zheng sailors with cannons.

In desperation, Zheng Zhilong had no choice but to scatter silver dollars and raise them on the spot in Dongshan, Zhao'an, Yunxiao, Zhangpu and other places. changed to other military leaders, and the four words of local financing are synonymous with legal robbery, but Zheng Zhilong is not good at doing this. He is a native of Fujian Province, and he is a local official in Fujian, and most of his sons and daughters are from Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Kinmen, Xiamen and other places. Naturally, it is not good to loot in your hometown.

But in this way, the prices in Dongshan and other places immediately became more than several times more expensive!

The price of a pound of pork has soared from less than 50 wen before the war to more than 200 wen, plus the New Year is about to begin, and villagers everywhere are preparing New Year's goods.

The local people held the silver dollars and copper coins in their hands and sold their own pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks and geese, which were naturally very happy. However, the silver money on Zheng Zhibao's side flowed out like a tide.

Although the military salaries of the sailors can be paid once a month, the food during the war should be borne by the shipowner, and Zheng Zhilong, the largest shipowner, has the responsibility to bear the lion's share. There are still five days to go before the Chinese New Year. There was resentment in the sailor's camp. Many sailors and soldiers are thinking about whether they should pay New Year's gifts and military salaries, so that their wives and children at home can have money to prepare New Year's goods.

Listening to his younger brother's complaints, Zheng Zhilong withdrew his gaze from Guan Erye's face and stood at the door of the main hall to look into the distance.

Dongshan Island was originally a small island. The land population of the island is not very large. Most of them depend on fishing at sea for their livelihood. Nearly 30,000 people poured into the island at once. Anchored and camped in the mountains and flats along the coast, as far as the eye could see, there were all camp flags. The mast and banner like the ocean, the arrow tower, is as dense as a forest.

And so many military ships gathered here, the need for grain, grass, timber, ropes, ships, nails, sails, ropes is also massive, so that Zheng Zhibao, who is responsible for the supply of food and materials, is so busy that he is anxious on all fours, constantly going back and forth between the old camp in Xiamen and the eastern mountain of Zhangpu in Zhangmen, supervising the transportation of grain and grass, purchasing pig and sheep materials, and advancing by land and water, which is also the strength to eat milk.

However, in the era when there was a shortage of non-staple food and water, the army dominated by young and middle-aged men, especially among the troops with greater physical exertion, such as the sailors, had a greater amount of food. It is normal to eat one liter a day, that is, two catties of rice. These rice are at least four catties of rice, but some people can even eat them in one meal.

In this way, the more than 20,000 people gathered on Dongshan Island need at least 200 stone of grain and rice a day, and firewood, charcoal, oil, salt, meat, vegetables and vegetables are calculated separately!

"Zhi Leopard! What do you say? ”

"Big brother, what I mean is nothing more than two points, first, send someone to the Xiamen General Military Mansion to bring back the money, and distribute military salaries and a month's salary to calm the army's heart, and at the same time have money to purchase grain, grass and meat nearby. But this is tantamount to drinking water to quench your thirst. Several prefectures and counties near Dongshan Island have already been affected by our army's purchase of grain, rice, and meat, not to mention the doubling of prices, and the things that can be bought are becoming less and less. This method is not advisable. ”

"Second, it is to move troops to eat. The large army was withdrawn to Xiamen, Kinmen, and other places in phases and batches, so that the morale could also be boosted, and the pressure on our army's grain, grass, and military salaries would not be so great. It's just ,......"

"It's just that in this way, Shi Lang's department on Nanao Island will inevitably be alone under the fire of the Nanyue Army's naval division, and it will become a delicacy next to the mouth of this hungry wolf!" Zheng Zhilong said what Zheng Zhibao was worried about.

The Nanyue Army has always adopted an attitude of encircling but not fighting, and isolating and not ceasing, on Nanao Island, which is close at hand, in order to prepare to use Shi Lang's more than 2,000 people as bait to contain Zheng Zhilong's main force on Dongshan Island, and then achieve the goal of consuming and exhausting him.

(Doesn't that sound familiar?) That's right, a small new security guard, a small village and town with a radius of less than one square kilometer, decided the fate of Beijing. Today, Nanao Island has taken on the role of a new security guard. ）

Zheng Zhilong was quite emotional when he looked at the small traders and hawkers who were going in and out of the camp carrying vegetables, fruits, charcoal, chicken, ducks, and meat, as well as a rather prosperous market that had formed outside the camp at some point. Here, because of the war, more and more merchants gathered outside the barracks, and more and more local people sold goods. After seeing a business opportunity, they also took the opportunity to come and sell their various local products, and each time they were sold out. If you bring vegetables and eggs, it is more popular, and all kinds of raised poultry, such as chickens, ducks and geese, are even more popular with Zheng's sailors.

"I can't imagine that I confronted the Nanyue Army here, but it has become a way for these people to make money."

Looking at the lively trading scene in front of him, Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but show a bitter smile.

"Big brother, businessmen are greedy for profit, as long as there is money to be made, it is the blood on the knife edge, and it is also to be licked!"

"It's normal. The world is bustling, all for profit. The world is crowded, all for profit. You, my brother, and these shipowners. If it weren't for the money, why bother to haunt the crests and troughs? Isn't it just for money? As long as there is money to be made, it is said that this military camp is the sea where the artillery fire of the two armies intersects, and these people will not be afraid of life and death! ”

Inadvertently, the brothers' conversation reveals the truth that from ancient times to the present day, merchants and capitalists have been like this, and when there is a proper profit, they are emboldened. If there is a 10 percent profit, the capital is guaranteed to be used everywhere. There is a twenty percent profit. It comes alive. There is a fifty percent profit. It just took a risk. For the sake of 100 percent profit, it dares to trample on all human laws. With a profit of 300 percent, it dares to commit any crime, even risking hanging its head!

"Leopard. How much money do we have in Xiamen? ”

"Big brother. At present, there should be more than two million silver dollars in cash in the treasury. Other than that. The accounts which are due to be collected in various places shall also be paid these days. At least there's so much money out there. Zheng Zhibao carefully considered the words, lest he say something wrong and make the eldest brother angry.

"Five million dollars. That's a lot. Zheng Zhilong muttered to himself.

"Big brother, I have an idea, I don't know if I should say it."

"When did you learn to be such a? Say! ”

"At present, our military salaries are insufficient, and if we think about it, we can only open sources and reduce expenditure. However, the brothers' military salaries and food were indispensable, and that was the only source of the matter. Is it a cost for the shipowners? How about the name is Pingnan donation? Also, are we sending some ships out and collecting some common practice on the various routes? ”

"This?" Zheng Zhibao's idea made Zheng Zhilong's heart quite excited, yes! After defeating the Nanyue army, the benefits are not mine, why can't you bleed? As for the usual money for blocking the sea and collecting some money, that's not even more a problem.

"Okay, I'll go back and arrange for someone to do the usual thing."

After saying one thing, the two brothers finally had some leisure to discuss the scenery characters and gossip.

"Report! Handsome! There is an emergency army reported in Xiamen! ”

Could it be that something is wrong in Xiamen? The hearts of the two brothers couldn't help but sink suddenly.

In order to ensure that his hometown was safe, after the Battle of Liuluowan, Zheng Zhilong continued to build positions, castles and forts in Kinmen and Xiamen for many years, and spent more than 2 million silver dollars in Kinmen and Xiamen before and after. The artillery position on the south bank of Xiamen Island is completely made of wrought iron bars and burnt ash stones, known as the Jincheng Stone Wall, and forms a three-point crossfire network with the two forts of Gulangyu and Longhaiyu Tsaiwei, and the channel is tightly blocked by 280 guns of various types. It can be said that Xiamen has become one of the most powerful coastal defense fortresses in the entire East Asian sea at this time.

Most of the ordinary forts were surrounded by sandbags, but Zheng Zhilong replaced sandbags with solid reinforced concrete to build a permanent artillery fortification. The fort, known as the Jincheng Stone Wall, is about 1.6 kilometers long, 3.3 meters high, and 2.6 meters thick, and was built with wrought iron bars and sand and stones poured with burnt ash and stones, leaving a gun hole every 16 meters, and a total of 100 cannons are installed. The outside of the stone wall is filled with earth with bamboo baskets for protection, which can prevent flying stones from enemy shells from hurting people. Behind the stone wall was built a military room, and there was a fence to protect it.

In order to prevent the old nest from being lost, when he set off to ambush the naval division of the Nanyue Army, Zheng Zhilong deliberately left heavy troops to guard the Jinxia sea area, and deployed a total of 50 large war ships, more than 400 shore guns, nearly 6,000 naval divisions, and nearly 10,000 artillery gunners and land battalions defending on the shore. Such a strong defense is indispensable!

Moreover, in order to keep the nest safe, Zheng Zhilong specially sent his cadres, the general Chen Peng, to lead Lin Cha, Chen Lin, Yang Geng, and Su Cheng to be responsible for the defense of the Jinxia Sea, and specially told him to stick to it and not to go to sea to meet the enemy easily! "As long as you guard the root of Jinmen and Xiamen, it will be your first achievement!"

However, at this time, someone from Xiamen came, what was the good luck? If the fundamental land of Kinmen and Xiamen is lost, then Zheng Zhilong's army will not be far from collapse.

"Rincha! What the hell is going on in Xiamen?! ”

Seeing that Lin Cha, the messenger who came to report the news, was happy, not at all like Kinmen Xiamen being attacked and besieged by the Nanyue army, Zheng Zhilong's heart was a little calmer.

"Report to the marshal!"

Lin Cha smiled and knelt down to Zheng Zhilong to finish saluting, stood up, took out a document from the oilcloth package behind him, and handed it to Zheng Zhilong with both hands.

The good news was jointly sent by Chen Peng, a staff general who stayed in Kinmen and Xiamen, and others.

"The twenty-fourth of this month. There is a southern army warship, which enters the sea of Yu Tsaiwei from Qingyu Yang. …… The ship was flagged in white and did not move...... On the 25th, the ship opened a cedar boat, carrying more than 30 people, rushing across the opposite shore, with one person in the bow, speaking in an official voice, saying that he wanted peace, and his words were wild. Marked inferior and forcefully rejected. You are not allowed to go ashore. The warship was replaced with a red flag. Claiming to open fire......"

"Wait!"

Listening to Lin Cha reading the good news, Zheng Zhilong immediately smelled a danger.

"Our army is here, how did the Nanyue Army Navy arrive in Xiamen? Sending someone to contact you? What are they going to do? When he said this, there were beads of sweat oozing from the corners of Zheng Zhilong's forehead. The right hand involuntarily touched the hilt of the sword at his waist.

"Great. After the group of thieves came ashore, they were swarmed by the brothers. A few who didn't have time to run were captured by us. According to the confession of a small leader at the head. They came to Xiamen to deliver a letter to Dashuai. Advise the marshal to know the current affairs as early as possible, so as not to ruin the lives of the people. ”

As for what Nanyue Jun said in the letter, Zheng Zhilong couldn't care about it for the time being. What he was concerned about was the warship of the Nanyue Army, and whether there were more warships behind this warship?

"What about the boat?"

"That boat, ordered by General Chen, the defenders of the south coast of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Island, and Yuzaiwei opened fire and attacked them on three sides.

"What about the captives? What did the captives say? ”

"The captives confessed that they came from the Magong Islands on this side of Taiwan. Taking advantage of the fact that the marshal led the main force on Dongshan Island, he quietly detoured from Tainan to Ma Palace, and then sent them to Xiamen to write a book. ”

"Mommy!"

Zheng Zhilong howled, led everyone to the huge chart, and began to look for the location of the Ma Palace.

Ma Palace is located in the west of Penghu Islands, with a radius of more than 30 miles, and is named after the Mazu Palace built on the island. Later, after being occupied by Japan, this island was changed to Magong by the devils, which is now one of the Taiwan, Penghu, Jinma, and Matsu. That is, it is one of the locations of the Golden Horse Awards, which often appear in the mouths of Taiwanese men to serve in the military, and the other is the Kinmen that we are familiar with. The island's many harbors and wells are enough to provide a fleet's drinking water for a short time.

The most terrible thing is that it is right behind Dongshan Island, almost facing the sea of Kinmen and Xiamen. This is undoubtedly inserting a knife in Zheng Zhilong's back and stuffing a mallet! (People who think of evil things bow their heads and face the wall!) ）

"Handsome! There are Nanyue military sailors on the sea surface of Magong, so we can no longer stay on the sea surface of Dongshan Mountain! Once the Jinxia Fundamental Land is lost, then we will have nothing! ”

"That's it! Handsome! Make a decision early! Return to Xiamen as soon as possible to defend the fundamentals! ”

When several shipowners heard the news, they heard that the sailors of the Nanyue Army had appeared behind them, and they were very panicked and kept making noise in Zheng Zhilong's ears, demanding that they hurry back to defend the old nest in Xiamen, lest the silver in their own family and his aunt's wife become other people's trophies if they are not careful.

"What's the noise?!" Zheng Zhihu stood with his sword. "Military affairs, naturally, the marshal is in charge alone, we just have to listen to orders!"

After thinking for a while, in the expectant eyes of everyone, Zheng Zhilong finally got up and spoke.

"The fundamental land of Jinxia naturally has to be saved. However, once these more than 20,000 people return to Xiamen, how should this matter of food and salary be resolved? Also, at this time, Shi Lang's department, which is alone on Nanao Island and is the outpost of the whole army, should be? It's all a matter that needs to be discussed in advance! ”

Zheng Zhihu and Zheng Zhibao met their eyes, and they both smiled knowingly, and Brother Zhidao was going to take the opportunity to slash a few knives from these shipowners who had been unstoppable in the past.

"Handsome! As long as the marshal is willing to transfer the ships and artillery manpower on the east mountain and sea back to the fundamental place of Xiamen's defense, he will have some savings to follow the marshal in the next few years, and he is willing to take it out and serve the whole army, and pay for three months! ”

"I'm willing to pay for two months!"

"I'll donate 30,000 stone of grain!"

"I'll pay for two months!"

In the blink of an eye, these shipowners who planned to cut meat to protect their capital had already promised in front of Zheng Zhilong more than a year's military salary and 200,000 stone grain and rice.

Since everyone has a fundamental requirement, Zheng Zhilong, as the commander-in-chief, naturally does not want to go against the will of the whole army, so he has to reluctantly agree to this proposal for the whole army to return to Xiamen.

However, before formulating a plan for the whole army to return to the division, arranging the marching route of the fleet, stipulating contact signals and many other issues, Zheng Dashuai still did something that made everyone admire.

"Zhibao, send a boat to Nanao Island. Send Shi Lang 500 barrels of gunpowder, 2,000 stone of grain, 1,400 large and small shells, and 100,000 silver dollars. Tell him that we must hold on to Nanao Island, and we will definitely launch a general attack on the Nanyue Army after the year! ”

For Zheng Zhilong's arrangement, everyone applauded and admired, gave Shi Lang food and ammunition silver dollars, and asked him to hold on to Nanao Island to cover the retreat of the whole army, "In the end, Boss Zheng!" It is worthy of the eighteen zhi of the year. Such a black and immoral idea can be done so openly! I can't complain that people can be the position of the Fujian General Army! Several shipowners praised Zheng Zhilong in their hearts.

On the 27th of the lunar month, Zheng Zhilong, who had been anchored on the water near Dongshan Island for many days, anchored overnight and headed east. In the chaos, they collided with each other, and several ships were damaged to varying degrees.

On the surface of the sea, only broken planks are left undulating in the waves, and waterfowl flying low over the sea. (To be continued......)