The whole of Penghu is actually composed of 64 scattered small islands, some of which are very small, less than one square kilometer, and are usually uninhabited on the islands.

The main island, Yuwen Island, and Baisha Island add up to less than 100 square kilometers.

When the fleet of two ships sailed into the port, everyone felt that the ships were stable, and before docking, the shaking under Xu Zixian's feet had completely stopped.

This island is known as the key to the southeast, and its geographical location is quite important, a little far from Fujian, only 35 kilometers from the nearest place in the Eastern Domain, and strong sailors can swim in the water.

To the north is the Zhoushan Islands of Zhejiang, and to the south is the Dongsha and Nansha Islands, which reach Luzon.

It is also very close to the Wa Kingdom, and because it lies between Fujian and the Eastern Domain, almost all the ships from Jinhai, Dengzhou, Jiangnan, and Zhejiang in the north have to replenish their water from here.

Because of the importance of geography, the Great Wei Dynasty developed foreign trade in the early years, and when the navy was strong, it began to transport bricks and stones from the island country to build the Penghu port and county seat, and the number of residents of this island was much larger than that of the Eastern Domain.

The population of 40,000 or 50,000 people is spread across the island, Baisha and Yuweng, and thousands of people live on more than 20 islands larger than one square kilometer.

The main livelihood of the people of Penghu is to provide services to passenger ships, build a lot of warehouse areas for entrepot trade, and the government also collects taxes from them, in addition to planting hemp, beans, stocking a large number of goats and so on.

Compared with living in the mainland, the natural conditions on this side of Penghu are much more difficult, there are often strong winds blowing on the island, and the straw house can not bear it at all, and can only be lived in by a brick and stone house, and even the masonry house can not hold up for a long time, and so on.

After the Fu No. 1 docked, many Penghu people rushed over, knowing that the ship did not unload and did not replenish food and water supplies, but only stopped for a short time, these Penghu people turned around and left in disappointment.

"Junhou," Fang Shaoqun, who had been back and forth several times, stood beside Xu Zixian, his face was also pale, although it was not the first time to take a boat, Fang Shaoqun was also vomiting, but fortunately, he was also determined, and he quickly adapted to it. Pointing to the other side of the port, there were more than a dozen large ships docked there, the sails were not raised, and the sides of the hull were covered with moss and no one cleaned them up, Fang Shaoqun sneered and said: "That's the remnants of the Nanyang Naval Division, fifteen small warships, five medium-sized, two large, and three Fu ships, dozens of large and small sentinel ships and oars......

Xu Zi first looked in the direction his finger pointed, and sure enough, he saw dozens of ships, large and small, which gave people the feeling of being dilapidated and deep in twilight.

There were not many guards on the side of the moored naval warships, only a dozen soldiers wearing hats, green robes, and overalls patrolling back and forth on the shore, which were regarded as the caretakers of these warships.

"How long has it been since they've been on patrol?"

"I haven't been out to sea for at least a month." Fang Shaoqun said: "The last time I went to sea was when the Qishan pirates escaped, the Penghu sailors went to sea to inspect, but they didn't catch a single person, and they returned after five days at sea. ”

"Do they train?"

"Just practice bows and arrows and long bows on the shore." Fang Shaoqun said lazily: "Junhou, except for a small number of sailors, most of these people can be dismissed, just like Qishan." ”

"The total dismissal is also wasted." Xu Zixian groaned: "I have my own district. ”

Fang Shaoqun nodded, he didn't need his advice on such matters, he believed that Xu Zixian had his own way to deal with it, and he would definitely handle it well.

The group climbed down from the boat, and Xu Zixian couldn't help jumping twice on the ground, which made Gao Shilai and Tian Heng around him laugh.

"It's better to be down-to-earth." Xu Zixian said with a smile, and then turned to Gao Shilai and the others: "The ballista crew of the Navy Division needs qualified officers, you have to work harder." ”

The water battalion belongs to the start-up, Xu Zixian has not yet figured out which general will lead the water battalion, and the number of soldiers on each ship is not necessarily, and the ballista group is a long-range attack, and there is a jumping gang under it.

Yes, like the considerations on the shore, Xu Zixian felt that the artillery technology of this era was not up to par, and the angle warfare and gang jumping warfare were still the mainstream of water warfare.

If a sailor wants to win, he will not dare to collide with each other or jump into a white-knuckle fight.

Even in the seventeenth century, when the artillery was relatively mature, such as the large-scale naval battles between the Spanish and the British, the two sides dispatched hundreds of warships, fired more than 10,000 rounds of artillery at sea, and only one battleship was really sunk.

Compared with the development of naval warfare techniques and tactics and artillery during the period when the invincible warship was destroyed, Xu Zixian's judgment was not wrong, and if you want to win a hearty victory at sea in this era, gang jumping is the most reasonable and efficient way to fight.

Compared with the bravery and ferocity of the pirates, Xu Zixian felt that he had to focus on cultivating the spirit of the army to dare to fight, in addition, in the naval battle, a certain method of battle should also be adopted, the pirates' jumping gang battle is pure courage and personal martial arts, two ships when they meet the side into a pot of porridge, this way of playing, which side has more veterans and which side wins, or which side has more people, which side wins.

If the Nan'an Water Battalion also uses this method, it will not be an opponent of the pirates in another twenty years.

The main reason why the British were able to dominate the seas was that they were the first to enforce strict discipline at sea, from the fleet to the inside of the warships.

"I'll work hard." Gao Shilai and others all hugged their fists and promised, and their young faces were full of high morale.

Crossing the dock area, Xu Zixian saw a familiar face at first sight.

"At first glance, it's really a little uncomfortable......" Xu Zixian joked to Wei Yi: "Yanke, the way you are wearing an official robe is really a little awkward." ”

Wei Yi laughed and said, "My own family is also a little awkward...... Fortunately, I've gotten used to it. ”

Wei Yi went to Penghu two months ago to take office, as the magistrate of Penghu, Chen Zhengbin was transferred to the Xinghua Army as the deputy envoy of Xuanfu, he has been in Penghu for many years, quite hard, and it stands to reason that he should also be promoted.

Wei Yi's new official took office, and after returning to the county government, he did not pour bitter water on Xu Zixian, but just said: "Transferred to Penghu, it should be the layout of King Qi and Changwen Chenhou, since Mingda You confirmed that the official households are in the Eastern Domain, Penghu is very important, King Qi should be worried that you are subject to the Changwen Marquis Mansion, although it is an in-law, but it is better for you to take care of everything......"

Xu Zixian nodded silently, King Qi's care for him was really meticulous, and Chen Dujing also tried his best to do his best.

You must know that Penghu is the throat, and if it is in your own hands, then the Eastern Domain and Penghu are one, and they are completely able to resist the maritime power of Fujian Road and even Fujian and Zhejiang.

If Penghu falls into the hands of others, the threat to Xu Zixian is too great, even if it is in the hands of the Marquis of Changwen, it will always be a hidden danger for Xu Zixian.

It is much more convenient to replace Wei Yi, Wei Yi has been Xu Zixian's friend for many years, he is like a brother, and his interests are one, the Wei family has long shown his willingness to stand on the same front as Nan'an Hou Mansion, Wei Yi knows Penghu, Penghu is equivalent to falling into the hands of Xu Zixian, which of course makes King Qi and Xu Zixian feel at ease.

"This is another thing that Uncle Wang planned for me...... Xu Zixian was moved in his heart, looked at Wei Yi and said: "I plan to promote my subordinates to the Penghu defense envoy, and I want to appease the envoy and will not object, what do you think?" ”

"There is no county governor or county lieutenant in Penghu, only one person stationed in the Criminal Division, who is responsible for daily public security and criminal cases, one tax official stationed in the transfer envoy, and one ambassador stationed in the warehouse by Changping." Wei Yi said: "Three classes and six rooms are complete, assisting me, the county, the entire Penghu is tens of thousands of people, and a town in Nan'an, the island is inconvenient, outsiders only have sea boats, there are no casinos and brothels or anything, and it is difficult to think of simple folk customs...... There are very few things to worry about, and what we have to worry about is to prevent disasters when strong winds come, provide disaster relief afterwards, and find ways to make people's lives better. If you increase the garrison and set up defense envoys, it will be a good thing for the people of Penghu, but the place is poor, and how much supply you want to get from Penghu, although I won't say anything else with the relationship between the two of us, but the county treasury is empty, I have to explain in advance, I can't help much...... Oh, and at intervals, send the garrison some goats, some beans, and that's fine. ”

Penghu's specialties are beans and goats, and of course there is no shortage of fish, so there is no need to point them out separately.

The reason why beans are a specialty is because high-pole crops are not easy to grow on the island, it is difficult to have high yields, and once a typhoon is over, it will be completely destroyed, so it is the most suitable to plant beans.

Take fish, goats, and money to buy food, this is the current situation in Penghu.

With the relationship between Wei Yi and Xu Zixian, of course, it is not empty words, but telling the facts.

"Most of the 3,000 sailors will be dismissed, and I will do it in the name of the observer." Xu Zixian said: "Under such an excuse that Penghu's defense is empty, and the army is replenished, no one can say strange things." As for the sailors, I will ask for more sailors and soldiers, and I will gradually enrich ......"

Wei Yi suddenly smiled and said to Xu Zixian: "Mingda, looking back more than a year ago, I can't imagine how you are strategizing now." ”

Xu Zixian also laughed and said to Wei Yi: "What Yanke said is that looking back on the past, I also feel funny...... Things always have to be done, and if you don't do it, you can only let others fish for meat. ”

Wei Yi said in a deep voice: "Is it so serious? ”

"The Northern Expedition will be defeated...... Xu Zixian said: "There will be considerable chaos in the north, inland bandits will rise together, the center's constraints on the local area will become more and more loose, the local will become more and more centrifuged, and there will be quite a lot of pirates on the northern sea, and Wang Zhi may not control it...... He's old! And we here, there is a threat inside Fujian, and there are Kang Tianqi, Yan Qi, Liu Dan, and Pu Xingfeng outside, maybe they won't come in the next two years, maybe they will arrive next month, if you don't prepare in advance, are you really waiting for people to come to the door? ”