Just as Zhang Zhijie was completing the refitting of the fleet, an urgent reel was sent to Beijing, and a fleet appeared on the Pearl River and invaded Tuen Mun Island in Dongguan County.

This fleet was the fleet of Westerners, who approached Dongguan County and tried to land but were rejected by the local government, and these Westerner fleets brazenly shelled and forcibly landed and plundered.

Zhang Zhijie attached great importance to this matter after knowing it, and he knew that at this time, only the Western colonizers were running around the world. In Zhang Zhijie's impression, the occupation of Macao by Portugal began in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Zhijie, who knew very well that Western warships were powerful, immediately returned to Beijing, and the cabinet did not attach much importance to it after receiving the Cantonese decree, but only planned to order the governor of Guangdong to organize troops to expel the Westerners' fleet.

After Emperor Zhengde saw the cabinet's vote, he temporarily put down the chapter and prepared to summon Zhang Zhijie back to Beijing. Because he knew that Zhang Zhijie knew more about the sea and was very interested.

But before Emperor Zhengde could send someone, Zhang Zhijie had already returned to Beijing quickly. Zhang Zhijie, who returned to Beijing, didn't care about anything else and came directly to the palace.

Emperor Zhengde smiled and said, "I was about to send someone to Tianjin to summon you back to Beijing, but it happened that you came back!" ”

Zhang Zhijie said with a smile while saluting: "Your Majesty, the minister heard that there was a Westerner fleet in Guangdong, so he was in a hurry to enter Beijing. ”

Emperor Zhengde smiled when he heard this: "I am also looking for you for this matter, this Westerner fleet is looting in Guangdong, and it also occupies a small island, and the cabinet is about to organize troops to expel the governor of Guangdong!" ”

Zhang Zhijie nodded and said, "Your Majesty, expulsion must be expelled!" Let's set up a city to open the sea for trade, if the fleet of Westerners comes to trade, as long as we pay taxes and trade according to our rules, then we are welcome, if you want to come by force, then you must let them know that the Ming is powerful! ”

Emperor Zhengde raised his voice and said: "Yes, they dare to come to my realm to spread wild, they are really bold, they must taste it!" The cabinet wants the governor of Guangdong to organize the expulsion of troops, what do you think? ”

Zhang Zhijie shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, the Westerners' fleet has strong firepower, and the governor of Guangdong wants to organize troops to expel him, and if he is not careful, he will suffer a big loss!" ”

Emperor Zhengde was a little puzzled and said, "No, right?" It is said that there were only eight Westerner warships! With the power of Guangdong, can't you still pack up these eight Westerners' warships? ”

Zhang Zhijie said with a smile: "Your Majesty, it is natural that these eight warships that can be cleaned up by gathering the power of Guangdong to clean up the Westerners, but they are likely to suffer a big loss, and I hope that the warships of the people should not be underestimated!" ”

"Your Majesty, the warships of the fleet have been reequipped with the new guns of the Firearms Bureau, and the minister wants to personally lead the fleet south to Guangdong, and meet this Westerner's warship for a while."

Emperor Zhengde smiled when he heard this: "Zhijie, there are only eight Westerner warships, do you still need to go south to supervise the war in person?" ”

Zhang Zhijie said with a smile: "Your Majesty, the ministers are idle in Beijing and are about to get moldy, and it just so happens that the ministers also want to see these Westerners!" ”

Emperor Zhengde was still a little hesitant when he heard this, after all, if Zhang Zhijie went south, he would not go to Tianjin, and he could return to Beijing after a day's work on horseback. If he goes south, it will take two or three months for Zhang Zhijie to go once.

Zhang Zhijie said earnestly: "Your Majesty, please lead the fleet south!" ”

It is rare to see Zhang Zhijie so earnest, and Emperor Zhengde said helplessly: "That's it, you go and go back quickly!" I allow you to act cheaply, and all coastal warships can be mobilized. ”

Zhang Zhijie smiled when he heard this: "Your Majesty, that minister is not welcome." Since the sea was opened to trade, it was indispensable to deal with Westerners in the future, so the minister would bring more warships to see for a long time. ”

After leaving the palace, Zhang Zhijie returned to the mansion and immediately explained that he wanted to take a look at the situation. Xu Jiaying and the others immediately changed their faces, and said very worriedly: "It's only been a few days since it was stable?" Why do you want the second master to go south again? ”

Zhang Zhijie said with a smile: "It's nothing, I asked the emperor to go south." ”

Xu Jiaying was immediately dissatisfied when she heard this: "Since you don't need the second master to go south, why should the second master ask for his own life to go south?" It's only been a few days since I was in Beijing, and the old lady is always looking forward to the second master in Beijing. How did the second master explain to his wife and wife? ”

Zhang Zhijie smiled: "It's good for you to explain!" Rest assured! I went south with 40 warships from Tianjin, and then requisitioned warships from Quanzhou and Ningbo, but only eight Westerners transshipped from Guangdong. Think about it, what's not to worry about? I just wanted to see what Westerners were like, and I'll be back soon! ”

Xu Jiaying lost her temper when she heard this, according to Zhang Zhijie, there was indeed no danger. At this time, Ziyi was already pregnant, and Yiye asked, "I'll go south with the second master!" ”

Xu Jiaying was just about to nod, but Zhang Zhijie had already smiled and waved his hand: "Okay, none of you have to follow!" I'm on the boat this time, and there's no danger, and I don't have to follow Yiye, so I'm still taking care of the children in the house! ”

Yiye hugged the child and hesitated: "You always have to have someone around you to take care of it, and I can take care of it properly!" ”

Zhang Zhijie said with a smile: "Just take care of your daughter!" I'm also a first-class minister of the imperial court, who can wronged me. ”

Xu Jiaying saw that Zhang Zhijie insisted, so she had to tell the maids to take care of their things. Zhang Zhijie hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Just bring some change of clothes, I'll leave immediately." After all, the military situation is urgent, who knows if those Westerners will continue to loot! ”

Even so, it is still a big bag, and in the face of Xu Jiaying's insistence, Zhang Zhijie can only reluctantly accept it, and immediately rush out of Beijing to Tianjin with the assembled Tiqi.

Since Zhang Zhijie received the news, Feng Haisheng and the others knew that the adults intended to lead the fleet south, so they had already made the best preparations. Just wait for the Admiral to come and lead the fleet south.

The fleet set sail from Tianjin, sailed all the way south to Quanzhou, and after leaving the cargo ships in Quanzhou, Zhang Zhijie immediately ordered all the sailors to be assembled.

There are as many as 40 warships in the fleet formed by Zhang Zhijie, and they are basically equipped with the new artillery of the Ordnance Bureau. The ships of the naval division were not equipped with new artillery, but Zhang Zhijie still ordered the ships of the naval division to be assembled.

According to the report from Guangdong, the Westerners' fleet consisted of only eight warships, and now Zhang Zhijie's warships were no weaker than the firepower of the Western fleet. Zhang Zhijie already had a great advantage with a full forty warships.

But who would think they have a greater advantage? Anyway, it's at your own doorstep, just pull out the warships and fight! Besides, it would be good to let these warships experience more scenes of naval battles, especially to let them see the warships of the Westerners.

(End of chapter)