Li Yan nodded and said with a smile: "Okay, I know." You go back and get ready, and tomorrow the Privy Council will have a meeting to discuss this matter. You'd better be prepared, you're the only naval combat expert in my Daliang. ”

Although Li Yan did not agree to Zheng Zhilong's request to lead the troops to fight in person, Zheng Zhilong was not disappointed. In his opinion, if he wants to start a war with the Dutch in Taiwan, who else can he use for the Zheng family fleet and Zheng Zhilong? He knows the strength of the Dutch, and he can still take advantage of the sneak attack, if the war starts, the original sailors of Daliang will not be competent, and they still have to rely on the Zheng family fleet with hundreds of warships.

Now when he heard that Li Yan asked him to prepare for the meeting of the Privy Council, he knew it in his heart. In this battle against the Netherlands, his Zheng family fleet will definitely take on a heavy responsibility, and he himself will definitely be able to regain control of the naval division. With this great achievement, it is not so easy for Da Liang to cut his military power again.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the minister will be fully prepared to ensure that my Great Liang will definitely be able to defeat the Dutch Hongyi." Zheng Zhilong confidently assured.

Li Yan smiled and nodded, but the topic changed and said, "Zheng Qing's family, your black guard, the imperial court wants to borrow it, what does the Qing family think?" ”

Zheng Zhilong was stunned, and he didn't know how to say this. But he reacted quickly, and immediately said: "It is said that those black slaves, even the ministers are the courtiers of the Great Liang, but Your Majesty has been expelled, and the ministers will not give up." ”

These more than 300 black men were black slaves that he bought through the Portuguese and used as guards. This is his proud work, not to mention the mainland, even in Quanzhou, where foreign exchanges are frequent, the appearance of this tall, strong and black black man will also make people stunned.

This time I came to Kaifeng with the guards, even though dozens of white missionaries gathered in Kaifeng, with different hair colors and pupils, but the people couldn't help but stop and watch when they saw the black people who looked like black charcoal. Even the guards of Kaifeng also demanded that these blacks be washed before entering the city.

"You don't have to be nervous," Li Yan reassured: "It's just a temporary loan, as short as a year, as long as two or three years, and it will still be returned to you later." The people have never seen these black people from Africa, and I plan to have these people travel around the country with a map of the world to educate the people. I am a Chinese people, and I can't be a fool who closes my eyes and listens. ”

Zheng Zhilong immediately praised: "Your Majesty is kind-hearted and far-sighted, and it is far beyond the previous generation of Ming Monarch Holy Lords. I have a holy monarch like Your Majesty, which is really a blessing for the community and the people. ”

Li Yan smiled and accepted Zheng Zhilong's praise. After letting Zheng Zhilong leave, he immediately sent someone to find Li Zhong to arrange the use of troops against Taiwan. First of all, a part of the grain was raised from the nearest grain, and the subsequent grain was transported from the granaries of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Nanzhi. Then there are the troops, and the anti-seasickness training that the army had participated in before has already been completed by a team of 4,000 people, and it is just right to use this part of the troops to cross the sea and fight.

"Is the current labor expedition to show favor to Zheng Zhilong?" Li Zhong said incomprehensibly: "I think it is better to think about overseas affairs after completing the great cause of reunification." ”

Li Yan waved his hand and explained: "It's not bad for these four thousand people. Although Taiwan is overseas, it is only 200 miles away from the mainland, and if the Dutch are allowed to use it as a base for invading our main beams, the pressure on our southeast coast will be very great. There is no reason to prevent thieves for a thousand days, and instead of dealing with it passively, it is better to take the initiative and push the Dutch farther. ”

Li Yan spread out the world map brought by Zheng Zhilong, drew a circle in the position of the South Seas, and then nodded a little in the position of Europe, and said: "The Netherlands can't get together 5,000 soldiers in this 10,000-mile radius, and if the troops are transferred from the Netherlands, it will be even more distant, and it won't be half a year, or even a year." At this time, Taiwan has already been taken by me, and we can complete considerable construction. At that time, if there was a war, whether it was Taiwan or the mainland, it would be a coastal or land battle, so should you still be afraid of his Dutch warships? In another three or four years, our new warships and sailors will be able to go to sea to fight one after another, and our maritime frontier will be safer. ”

"Four thousand, isn't it too little?" Li Zhong was still a little uneasy and said: "In addition to the Dutch, there are also Shengfan on the island, and you should also pay attention to these people." ”

Li Yan said lightly: "Those are not problems. The four hundred soldiers of the Dutch have packed up all those tribes, and our troops in Daliang will not be worse than the Dutch. Even if there is a problem, you can send troops to support it, but it is not far away. ”

"Well, that's fine." Li Zhong agrees. After that, while thinking about it, he added: "The gunpowder workshop and the craftsman's workshop should also be prepared, at least the ammunition must be self-sufficient, otherwise it will be too passive." The dockyard also needs to support some manpower. It is also necessary to do a good job in the rotation of soldiers and generals, after all, it is overseas, and soldiers will have accidents if they leave their hometowns for a long time. ”

Li Yan instructed: "These are arranged slowly, don't be in a hurry." I have already asked Luo Miaohyun to lead the team to investigate the situation first, you inform Zhang Han and ask him to lead the main fleet south to Quanzhou, and select suitable sailors, interpreters, and ships among Zheng Zhilong's men. Then inform the maritime merchants who have already prepared it, let them sell the goods to Shanghai or Quanzhou, and give them tax exemption this year. If you are still willing to go to sea, explain the risks to them, and they will bear the consequences. ”

On the morning of the next day, Li Yan held this meeting of the Privy Council in the main hall of the palace in Kaifeng. This meeting was one of the few opportunities for the generals who had been deprived of their military rights to perform, so they all worked hard. Although these generals are all army and do not understand the affairs of naval warfare, there are similarities in war, and they are not completely incomprehensible.

Zheng Zhilong pointed out and explained on the large map, talking about the difference between the land breeze and the sea breeze, the key points of the Dutch defense, the appropriate landing place, and the appropriate time to send troops. After a detailed explanation, he gave a suggestion that when the sea breeze turned southwest in March next year, the fleet would sail with the wind and capture Taiwan.

"Why don't you send troops from the northern ports?" Zuo Mengeng first questioned: "In this case, the land breeze in the northwest, the sea breeze in the northeast, and our warships can go southeast with the wind." ”

Zheng Zhilong was disdainful in his heart, and replied lightly: "My big ships are all in Quanzhou, and the north wind is calling, and it is difficult to go north." The fleet in Shanghai consisted of only a dozen ships, which carried a limited number of troops, weapons, and food, and could not guarantee the delivery of enough soldiers, weapons, and food. This is not on the road, there is no way back, it takes time for the battleship to be shipped back and forth, and the sea route is dangerous, anything can happen. ”

Liu Zeqing also spoke: "Why don't you land from the north and south of Dayuan, and you have to cross that waterway?" ”

"There are almost no roads on the island, and there are many raids, so it is very difficult for the army to move. This will only make the Dutch more prepared and disadvantageous to my attack. Zheng Zhilong said disdainfully. What I thought in my heart was: There are so many passes on the road, how can they be bypassed casually? Stupid!

Gao Jie also joined in the fun: "Then in the past five months, wouldn't the Dutch be more prepared?" ”

Zheng Zhilong knew that this was the point, so he hugged his fist to Li Yan and swore an oath: "As long as a few pulp warships are sent to blockade Dayuan Bay, and the Dutch will not be allowed to report to Batavia (Java)." At the same time, you can also give the dog some food and ammunition support, let him occupy the waterway of Luermen, and Weichen will definitely lead the fleet in the coming year, take Taiwan, and dedicate it to His Majesty. At that time, even if the Dutch come to the rescue of the fleet, Wechen can ensure that the enemy is annihilated at sea and strive to ensure that Taiwan is not lost. ”