Shen Tingyang provided some information on the deployment of the Ming army.

The Tatars oppressed in three ways, and the Ming army in Zhoushan also responded in three ways.

Shen Tingyang's sailors confronted the Tatar Jiangnan sailors in the north. From Zhoushan to Wusongkou, no matter whether you go north or south, the two islands of Yangshan in the north of the archipelago are all necessary places, and once the Tatars enter Yangshan, they can threaten the three islands of Zhoushan, Daishan, and Daqushan.

Shen Tingyang controlled the sea near Yangshan with a fast boat, and if the Jiangnan naval division went to sea, Shen's warships would attack from Qushan Island and Daishan Island respectively to fight the enemy at sea.

Zhou Hezhi, Wang Yi, and a few other Ming troops dealt with Ma Jinbao in Taizhou in the south.

The main force of Zhang Mingzhen's whole army is on the main island of Zhoushan. The Ming army lookout post closely monitored the main force of the Tatar Zhejiang Naval Division at Dingguan. The enemy forces on the three routes are the most dangerous in the middle.

The Taizhou and Wusong naval divisions were far away from Zhoushan, and the Ming army had plenty of time to prepare. From Dingguan to Zhoushan, the water distance is only more than ten kilometers, and the fleet can reach it in half a day.

If the Tatar sailors set out in foggy weather, the Ming army had only a short time to react.

So far, Zhang Mingzhen and Ruan Jin have done a good job. Lookouts and beacon towers dotted with islands on the sea monitored the sea surface in all directions.

Orderly: "When did the Tatars gather such a strong army of sailors?" ”

Maiden spread his hands and said, "Most of them were defective Chinese troops, and the policy of appeasement of the Tatars was effective." ”

Ships are not a problem, the Tatars occupy the mainland, junk ships are cheap, and it is not difficult to build ships. The problem of the Tatars has always been the sailors.

The Ming army held on to the island very hard, and it was difficult to maintain military discipline by surviving on food, so the army was constantly fighting among themselves. The Tatars were appeased at the right time, and the military salaries offered were much better than those on Zhoushan Island, and during the confrontation, the Ming army continued to surrender and enrich the Tatar naval division.

Filhoff put away his baton, "Summarizing the news from all sides, the Ming army is pinned down on the island and is unable to go ashore to plunder. The Tatar armies deployed in three directions cost a huge amount of money, and the Tatar emperor could not bear to continue to be idle. ”

Orderliness nodded, "So fighting is a common expectation on both sides. ”

"Yes, there will definitely be a decisive battle on the sea surface of Zhoushan, and we judge that it will be this year."

"Stay tuned and do what you can."

Maiden: "The Tatar army and the Chinese army on the coast of Fujian and Zhejiang have been in a confrontation for a long time, and both sides have built a large number of fortresses, and recently we have gained a significant decline in population compared to before. ”

"What are your plans?"

"Zheng Cai and Zhou Rui made an appointment to attack Ruian County, they lack ground strength, and hope we can help."

"What about the Council's opinion?"

"Cities are population concentration areas, and only by attacking cities can you quickly gain population."

Maiden's attitude is relatively clear, Shou Zhi will not interfere too much in Taipei's specific affairs, "You decide for yourself, the main task of the Taipei Army this year is to reorganize the army, just don't delay." ”

"Okay."

The final topic is the development of Taipei.

Since its development, Taipei Administrative Region has a population of 460,000.

The garrison battalions reorganized by the army and various Ming armies enter the mountains every autumn and winter to sweep the mountains, and now the east and west have realized the division, and the high mountains are compressed in several reserves. For example, the slightly larger basins in the mountains such as the north of Sun Moon Lake and the Nantou area have been reclaimed.

Taipei's greatest shortage of iron is iron, and the 60 transport ships brought by the order this time carried a large number of iron ingots and finished iron tools to alleviate the problem of iron shortage.

Another reason for Taipei's slower population growth was food production. Now that grain shipping to the South Seas has reopened, it is much closer to buying grain in the Philippines than in the South Seas.

The hilly and mountainous areas are suitable for growing tea, mulberry and other cash crops, trading with special products, buying grain, and the population can be further expanded.

After a general understanding of the basic situation, the order was over. He is most concerned about the mining of coal, copper and gold.

"I'll bring 50 steam engines this time, and you can load them all into the coal mines."

"Is this really that good?"

"You'll know if you've used it, and you'll want to increase the number of steam engines tenfold next year."

"I'll see."

The output of the copper mine in Taipei was maintained at 800 tons, and the gold output was 8,000 taels. The money was mainly used to maintain the navy, and the army rarely made sorties and did not get much.

The army is a gold-swallowing beast that is 3 times more terrible than the navy, and the army that enters the state of war is much more expensive than the navy. The Federation has no money, so it has always used the navy, a cost-effective service.

The strategic goal is to build around the navy, and there is no way, it really can't afford to use the army, so it can only maintain the army on a small scale.

"The army has calculated with a test battalion that the cost of one army battalion in a continental war state is equal to one battleship in one year. According to the latest establishment, an army division will have 8-10 infantry battalions, 1 artillery battalion, and 1 cavalry regiment. At the time of occupation, the annual military expenditure was almost equivalent to the entire current navy. ”

The Taipei Council is closest to the front line and knows more about the extent of the army's gold annexation than in China.

"We plan to build two army divisions on the mainland, and the cost of formation is 3 million taels of silver. Of course, this is an annual investment. After that, the annual maintenance cost is 1.5 million taels. If it is put into the battlefield, it will be difficult to calculate the military expenditure, and it may cost 10 million taels a year. ”

"So expensive, has something to do with new weapons, new formations, and new tactics?"

"Yes, it's more expensive than your Taipei trip."

"Does the Senate know?"

"For the time being, it is still under wraps, and the total number is known only to the top of the army."

"It's all counting on Australia's gold mines, right? We don't have that kind of money in the whole country. ”

"Yes, domestic production should be distributed to the navy, and the expansion of the army can only rely on the outside."

Maiden: "That's the main purpose of your visit to Taipei, right?" ”

"After all, I have the title of governor of the new territory, and I must definitely make a trip."

"Well, it seems that the main task is my task again."

Orderliness smiled, "How many ships do you have now that can sail across the oceans?" ”

"Regardless of the fleet, 8 Yahats, 2 are not in good condition after returning from Australia, and I don't recommend sending them out."

"So it's 6 Yahats, which ships in the fleet can be used?"

Allemand: "We have decommissioned several old ships, including four ships from Brenshire, Huberion, Taipei, and Yilan, and eight frigates and notification ships. ”

"Auxiliary warships, you can use them yourself, and as soon as the second wave of escort ships arrives, you will immediately form a long-distance fleet."

"I'll do it when the meeting is over."

"So be it, thank you."

After the meeting adjourned, Shou Xu and Maiden went to the office of the chief executive of Taipei.

Maiden poured a glass of wine for Order, "I want to run for the next consul." ”

"Are you ready?"

"What do you think of Taipei?"

"Very good."

"Taipei belongs to the Senate, but I almost treat Taipei as my own territory, and I treat public affairs as private affairs."

"A lot of things, only I know how hard it is for you."

"In the general election the year after tomorrow, I will be in Taipei for 14 years." Maiden looked out the window, "How many 14 years are there in life?" I gave the best time to Taipei. ”

"I understand your feelings, and I definitely support your decision. But are you sure? ”

"My iron tickets are only for the army and Taipei, and Marmont must have more iron tickets than me now, but it is definitely not as good as you."

"If you have been away from your homeland for too long, the people who voted for me may not vote for you."

"I know, so I'm going to think of something else."

Shou Xuan raised his glass, "Although I fought the Battle of Manila Bay, the consul is Marmont after all. ”

"The Commander of the Victory."

"He's still studying the war for homegrown expansion."

The Dutch were at war with the British, and the East India Company had recently changed its attitude towards the Confederation. After the armistice with Spain, Marmont planned to take advantage of this rare opportunity to destroy the two sultanates of Selangor and Perak and annex Pahang in the Sultanate of Johor. At that time, the land area will be 2.5 times the size of the current one.

"Can the Dutch agree?"

"They acquiesced, on the condition that the tin mines be handed over to them for development and that we would not enter the Negeri Sembilan area."

"Then Johor will completely fall to the Netherlands, instead of being in the same way as it is now."

"Yes, but it doesn't matter, the Dutch only want to secure tin and Malacca."

"It is necessary to conclude a new treaty with the Dutch."

Drink the wine in the glass in order, "With the example of Spain in front of you, this is not difficult to achieve. ”

"So, the war with Spain is the equivalent of our war of independence."

"That's right, Marmont is in high esteem."

A smile tugged at the corner of Maiden's mouth, "No one can beat him in the election now, but not necessarily in two years." ”

"Tell me about it."

Maiden drank the wine dry in one gulp, "People are forgetful creatures, and 2 years is enough to change a lot of things. There were many consuls in Rome who won the war but lost the election. ”

"What do you have to make the senators forget about war?"

"Gold."

"Australian?"

"Of course, almost all the veterans now own a share of the Australian gold mines. As long as you can bring back the gold, I am confident that I will fight Marmont. ”

"How much gold is in Dragonstone and Australia?"

"I don't know, for fear of being intercepted by the Spanish warships on the return voyage, the return fleet only brought back a small part. Most of them are still in Dragonstone and King's Landing. ”

Shou Zhi nodded, "I'll bring all the gold back." ”

Maiden closed his eyes and leaned back on the couch, "Gold, what a lovely thing. ”

Shou left the administrative residence in an orderly manner and returned to the bamboo garden in Huixiang.

After Wen Cun, Shou Xuan hugged the woman and whispered, "Get ready, sail with me." ”

"You're going to war again?"

"No war this time, tourism."

"Are you going back to Taipei?"

"Return, but you'll have to come with me next time."

Two lines of tears flowed from the woman's eyes, "What about Zhuyuan?" ”

Shou Xiang kissed the woman's forehead, "Keep it as a souvenir." ”

Half a month later, 2 battleships, the Croto and the Atropos, 4 frigates, and 46 Canton ships escorted by the notification ship arrived in Taipei.

Most of the Canton fleet remained in Taipei waiting to carry this year's migrants.

The fleet was in Keelung for 40 days, sailing south on the Croto, Collingwood on the Atropos, 4 light auxiliary warships, 6 Yahats, 30 Cantonese ships, carrying 10,000 immigrants.