Shou Xuan and Zeng Ying's white glove Wang Shi did a few more business, and the two sides established initial trust. Wang Shi arranged a meeting, and Shou Zhi knew it well, so when he took the Storm to meet a Ming ship off the coast of Dengzhou, he was not surprised to see a gray-haired old man.

The old man sat upright in the official hall, wearing a Lingyun scarf and a wide robe with large sleeves. Although he didn't wear an official uniform, Shou Xuan felt that Denglai was the only one who could have such an aura.

"Dare to ask, but Zeng Zhongcheng?"

Although the old man's figure is elegant, it is estimated that he has led soldiers for nearly 20 years, and he does not have the pretentiousness of ordinary literati.

"It's the old man, please sit down."

Zeng Ying is over 60 years old this year, and it can be seen that the perennial military camp life has made his body very healthy.

Out of respect for the old man, the orderly posture was lowered, "Lord Zhongcheng, I don't know what happened to call me." ”

Zeng Ying leaned back in the chair, "Feihuang has mentioned you many times in his letters, saying that you have made a big career in Nanyang when you were weak, and he admires you very much. ”

Feihuang is Zheng Zhilong's word, and he smiled in order, "General Feihuang is also a weak crown year and has been across the sea, and he and I are just each other." ”

Zeng Ying looked Shou Xuan up and down a few times, "Feihuang is a rare hero on the sea in the world, he said that you can compete with him, the old man was a little unconvinced before." Now, it seems, he was not wrong. ”

"Zhongcheng praised it."

Zeng Ying sighed, "It's a pity that the old man doesn't have a granddaughter, if there is, I will marry her to you." ”

Shou ordered a sip of tea almost squirted out, opened his mouth wide, and couldn't close it for a long time.

Zeng Ying smiled very happily, "Feihuang said that you are not married yet, could it be that in just a few months, you have already married a wife?" ”

"No, no, no, old man......"

"If you are in a barbarian land, you should marry a Chinese woman."

Zeng Ying's sudden change to the tone of teaching the juniors made Shou Xiang very uncomfortable, "Old man, this marriage matter also depends on fate. ”

"It also makes sense, you are now the head of a country, but others are not good at helping you with this matter, and you have to grasp it yourself."

"Yes, old sir."

Shou Xiang didn't understand, and I don't know where to start, Zeng Ying began to seize the initiative in the conversation. Zeng Ying is not a roundabout person, and without affecting the military and political affairs of Dengzhou, he does not mind taking the lead and doing some business between Shandong merchants and Shou Order. But Shou Xiang did not have the idea of gaining a long-term foothold in Shandong, so he had to try his best to be perfunctory.

The two gradually pulled the topic to military politics, and after a few words, Zeng Ying asked Shou Ling directly, "Would you like to go to North Korea?" ”

Shou Zhi secretly thought, the main topic is coming. "What do you say, old man?"

Zeng Ying stood up and took out a map of the Liaohai Sea and spread it on the table. Orderly put down his teacup and stood across from him.

Zeng Ying tapped on a location on the map and looked up at Shou Ling, "Jianyu sent 13 Niu Lu to recruit thousands of Korean and Liaodong Han people to cut wood and build ships at the mouth of the Yalu River. Help me get around and burn down their boatyards. ”

Shou Xuan coughed, "Old man, I'm here to do business, not to fight." ”

Zeng Ying looked at him with a smile, "Lord of the country, the old man has been an official in Fujian for more than ten years, and he has dealt with Luzon Yi and Hongmaoyi a lot. Feihuang told me that your methods in Nanyang are even more ruthless than Yangyi. ”

"Nanyang is a small country, and its population and territory are less than that of North Korea."

Zeng Ying laughed, "No matter how many North Koreans there are, he won't be able to reach Nanyang." Even if I go, I'll give you a gift. ”

Shou Xuan still shook his head, "Old man, I only brought four warships this time, and it is so risky to provoke a big country like North Korea." ”

Zeng Ying glanced at him, "Let's just say it, how much money do you want." ”

When it came to money, the momentum of the order was a little stronger, "Old man, I won't talk about the North Korean army for now." There are 13 cattle records in Jianzhou, each of which has 300 people, and there are more than 3,000 defenders, and I can't fight it. ”

"Who told you that there are 300 people in a cow?" Zeng Ying felt that the order was asking for a price in the sky, "When the old slave first divided the eight banners, there were indeed 300 people in each Niulu, but after so many years of fighting, they also had to die." The chief of Jiantou is still constantly splitting the cattle records, and it is rare that the cattle records are full, generally only 200 people. Besides, the Jianyu sent troops, which has always been drawn from each cow record, and the three soldiers in the big war were drawn one, and at most two were drawn to one, and there were soldiers left behind after the draw. In a marginal place like the Yalu River Estuary, it would be good for him to draw twenty or thirty dings per cow. ”

Shou Xuan coughed again, "Old man, expect the enemy to be lenient." ”

Zeng Ying was a little angry, "Do you know Jianyu or I understand." ”

"Of course, adults know better, okay, my lord, I want 30,000 taels of silver, 10,000 stone of grain, cotton clothes, gunpowder, ......."

Zeng Ying interrupted the order, "20,000 taels of silver, it can't be more." Dengzhou's military spending is also tight. ”

"Sir, I have more than 1,300 brothers, and they all have to share the money."

"Dengzhou really can't come up with that much money now. If you can bring ginseng and mink from North Korea, I will sell it for you, and the price must be the best. ”

Ginseng and mink used to be the most important foreign trade commodities in North Korea, but after the loss of Phi Dao, the sea route was cut off, and the price of domestic ginseng and skin rose day by day, while on the North Korean side, it was just the opposite, with a backlog of goods and a particularly low price.

Shou Xuan thought for a moment, "I still need an island. ”

"What do you want the island for?"

"Temporary storage of goods, preferably an island without garrisons, but with some houses."

"Miaodao is too close to Dengzhou, and the remaining islands of the Changshan Islands are too windy and rough in winter, and they are not suitable."

Shou Xu's finger tapped lightly on the three words of Weihaiwei, "What does the old gentleman think of Liu Gongdao." ”

Zeng Ying nodded and said: "You are really knowledgeable, Weihaiwei is an extremely heavy seaport, and there are many berths." You must not interfere with the merchant ships of the north and the south. ”

Shou Zhi nodded, "I promise, at most, I will only do business with them." “

"If you want to borrow Liugong Island to live temporarily, I can only give 10,000 taels of silver."

Orderly: "Yes, but I want food now." ”

Zeng Ying frowned and pondered for a while, "Okay, the old man will allocate 10,000 stones to you from the Dengzhou Grain Depot first." ”

Order: "When do I leave?" ”

Zeng Ying: "The sooner the better, now it is only 20 days before Chongyang, your ship is fast, it is best to return before Chongyang." ”

Order: "Why is that?" ”

Zeng Ying: "The North Ocean is not as good as the South Sea, and the Double Ninth Festival will be delayed for another month, and the wind and waves in the open sea will be very fast, and it will be unbearable for ships, and the harbor will be frozen at that time." ”

Order: "I see. Sir, I am short of manpower, can you send me some troops? ”

Zeng Ying paced back and forth a few steps, "The old man will draw 600 people for you, but you have to promise to bring them back." ”

"Old sir, the war is fierce and dangerous, how can anyone make such a promise." "But don't worry, I'll bring them back." ”

Zeng Ying's finger swiped across the map, "I can't transfer troops for you from Dengzhou, it's too much movement." Wang Zongyun Department stationed in Longwu Camp, Liao Town, Miaodao Bay, Liang Hexiang Department stationed in Dengzhou Shuiyou Camp on Tuoji Island, and Chen Zhijun Department stationed in Dengzhou Shuizuo Camp on Huangcheng Island. I will send men with my warrants that they may be at your disposal. ”

"That's fine, I'll leave tomorrow. I'll send a ship to Weihaiwei first. Please send the grain over as soon as possible. ”

"You borrowed an island, and you need food urgently." Zeng Ying narrowed her eyes, "I don't care what you do in North Korea, but you have to take care of your people in Liugong Island, and don't cause trouble in the territory of the Ming Dynasty." “

"Except for the necessary transportation of supplies, I guarantee that no one will leave Liugong Island."

"Then it's decided." Zeng Ying looked at the time, "Don't be in a hurry at this time, let's leave after eating." ”

After the matter of North Korea was settled, the atmosphere of the conversation became relaxed again, and Shou Xu wanted to know more about the situation, "Old gentleman, I Guandengzhou's army can also be called elite, why don't you go to the mouth of the Yalu River yourself?" ”

Zeng Ying sighed, "After all, North Korea used to be a subject country of the Ming Dynasty, and it was also loyal in the past. Even though they had now declared themselves vassals to Jianyu, the imperial court still could not make up their minds to go to war with Korea. The old man has been in the book, don't engage in any unrealistic 'Lianxian Tunu', North Korea will not agree, we will simply send 100 ships to kill it, but the resistance in the court is too great. ”

"Then old man, you will be fine if you send troops with us this time, right?"

Zeng Ying snorted coldly, "There are only 600 soldiers, and there are still some people in charge of the headquarters." As long as you burn down the shipyard of Jianyu, everything will be easy to say on my side. ”

Yes, the self-proclaimed people of the headquarters came out, and said in order: "Don't worry, old man, collect money and do things, I will definitely do a good job." ”

Zeng Ying: "You are on the road, if you need shelter from the wind, you can go to Shicheng Island, where Daming still has the last piece of soil in Liaodong." ”

Order: "Dongjiang? I thought they were all done. ”

Zeng Ying sighed, "When Dongjiang Town was still there, the imperial court often had the discussion of withdrawing the town on the grounds that Dongjiang laborers were paid and there was a lot of loss in grain transportation by sea. Now that the Dongjiang River is really gone, the princes of the court feel the pain of losing the Dongjiang River. Without the Dongjiang River, I Denglai will face Jianyu, hundreds of miles along the coast, everywhere needs to send troops, and how can I defend it. ”

Shou Order: "So the old gentleman sent troops to recover Shicheng Island in the Dongjiang River?" ”

Zeng Ying shook her head, "It's not the old man, it's that Wang Wuwei." This Wang Wuwei was a little greedy for money, and Lianxian Tunu's strategy was too ambitious, but he still did something. Last year, he led 27 ships to the DPRK and inspected all the islands in the Liaohai Sea, from Guanglu to Phi Dao, and rescued some Liao people. Good is great, good is great. ”

Whether it is the Ming army or Jianzhou, it is safer for them to rely on island chain navigation when mobilizing sailors for expeditions. Shicheng Island is located on the east side of the Liaodong Peninsula, based on Shicheng, which can provide Dengzhou with more ample early warning time.

Shou Order: "Since the old gentleman thinks that Wang Wuwei is a capable official, why should he be transferred away." ”

Zeng Ying: "At the beginning of the year, the sailor went on an expedition, and he paid 100,000 yuan and got nothing, so someone had to be responsible." It's just that the transfer is already a good thing for him. ”

As the two talked, the ship's galley quickly prepared a few side dishes. There are some winds and waves at sea, but both of them are people who have been running at sea for many years, and they have long been accustomed to it.

"The old man's daily taste is relatively light, and he may be used to order?"

"Out of the way."

After eating, Zeng Ying called in a soldier wearing the cotton armor of the Ming army.

"This is Wang Leopard." Zeng Ying said to Shou Xu, "Wang Wuwei rescued the Liao people on Yuncong Island (Shenmi Island) in North Korea, and he is very familiar with that area. ”

"Mark the king leopard, see the lord."

Zeng Ying picked up the teacup and gently blew away the two tea leaves floating on the sleep, "Wang Bao, Lord Chen will take you to Liaodong, if you have anything to say, just say it here." ”

"Lord Zhongcheng, I just want to follow Lord Chen to rescue a few more Liao people who are suffering from the Tartars."

……

Shou ordered back to Miaodao Bay and immediately summoned the whole fleet to announce the order. Wang Zongyun naturally had someone from Denglai's governor Yamen to inform him.

Leaving the Melville and 50 men behind, he told the whaling ship's captain, Jacques Brown. Rossili, "Set up camp on Liugong Island as soon as possible, besides, we are not familiar with the sea conditions around here, so you should not be too far away from the island." The wind and waves in the Liaohai Sea can be very strong, and before I come back, safety comes first. ”

"Yes, Admiral."

Shou Xiang was still a little uneasy, and he put Chief Staff Officer Harris. Acton also stayed.

The next day, the Nanhai, Raphael, and Tempest were all ready, and in the past few days, the sails of the Junk ship had been renewed. The most important thing is that the new Fu ships of Wang Huizhi have been replaced with new hard sails with bamboo trusses, which gives them the ability to fight the wind. In order to cope with the possibility of high winds, each vessel is additionally equipped with spare cable anchors.

Wang Zongyun selected 200 soldiers and took Wang Huizhi's warship, and did not use the Ming army's own warship. Wang Huizhi's attitude towards these Liao soldiers who were fighting on the border was quite good, after all, unlike the officers and soldiers in Guangdong and Fujian, the Liao soldiers had no enmity or grudge against him.

The cold air from the Mongolian plateau makes the northerly wind season manifest as a clear northwest wind in the Bohai Sea, and the fleet sails to the northeast, which can be crosswinded. If Wang Huizhi's newly acquired ships did not change their sails, this kind of wind downward would not be able to be used at all.

After the fleet departed, it first sailed along the Changshan Islands, and had to pick up two waves of people in order. The first to arrive is Tuoji Island, according to the voyage measured by the Ming army, Tuoji Island is 180 miles outside the Dengzhou Pass, the Ming army's chart error is too large, in fact it is not that far. Originally, there were several fishing villages on Tuoji Island, but after the change of Dengzhou, it was all white, and now there are only 300 garrisons of Dengzhou Shuiyouying.

After Tuoji Island, the Ming Dynasty Beiyang route will arrive at Lushun along Huangcheng Island, and the branch line from Lushun will follow Guanglu Island, Changshan Island, Shicheng Island, Dalu Island until Phi Island, this chain of islands is also the shipping route of Dongjiang Town more than ten years ago.

A large number of materials arrived at Phi Island by sea, and the transportation efficiency of the Ming army was still good, and the smoothest one, the materials arrived at 99% of the list, and there was almost no drifting. Over the years, Mao Wenlong has received millions of stone military rations and millions of taels of silver. And that's just official shipping, and there is also a huge exchange of non-governmental maritime trade goods on Phi Island. Orderliness can imagine how busy this route, which now has no ship, must have been busy.

Huangcheng Island is the last island of the Changshan Islands, which received the Ming army stationed and sailed into the Yellow Sea with the right rudder of the guard. In order to prevent the surprise attack of the Ming army's naval divisions, Jianzhou set up complete coastal early warning measures on the long coastline from Lushun to the mouth of the Yalu River.

According to Wang Wuwei's report on his inspection of the Dongjiang River, the early warning system is still in effect.

Note: For Wang Wuwei's inspection of the Dongjiang River and the rescue of Wang Bao and others, see "Discussion on Wang Wuwei's Envoy to Korea and 'Lianxian Tunu' in the Late Ming Dynasty", Wang Gang.