The sky was overcast and gray, and the wind was cold.

The blond-haired Nicholas lay limply on the ground, tilting his head and twitching his nose to smell the air. The air was filled with the smell of meat, but the smell of it made the stomach more and more hungry. Nicholas reluctantly lay back and tightened his clothes.

Around him were three hundred men of the same company. Nicholas was the company commander of this company, and they had a company of 300 men, and it was also the standard unit in the Spanish Army, with about 300 men per company. Usually eat and live together, train together, and fight together, and have a good tacit understanding and affection with each other.

Nicholas's company was subdivided into squads of twenty-five men led by a squad leader, and Nicholas's company of three hundred men had twelve squads.

The Spanish Army generally had two types of companies, musket and spear.

When fighting, they generally united five companies and formed a phalanx to fight, one musket company and four spear companies.

Due to the continuous reduction in the number of troops stationed in Taiwan, only 500 soldiers remained, including 200 sailors and 300 army troops. Nicholas's company had eight squads of spearmen and four squads of musketeers, and could form an improvised Spanish phalanx when fighting.

In this simple phalanx, the spearmen were lined up in a dense phalanx, with twenty men in front and ten columns in depth. On the four outer corners of the three horizontal spearmen in a dense line, twelve on the front and sixteen on the depth. Then on each of the four corners of this phalanx, a squad of twenty-five musketeers was arranged.

Although this simplified version of the phalanx was far inferior to the Spanish phalanx, the phalanx had three dense lines of spearmen on the battlefield, each with five to sixty men on the front and twenty columns in depth. Dense formations of musketeers are arranged in the four corners. The dense formation, which was sturdy and maneuverable, was about 150 meters wide and 100 meters deep. A column of musketeers was lined up on each of the four outer sides of the phalanx, and a separate detachment was sent out for skirmishes.

With this sharp Spanish phalanx, they have made great contributions to the establishment of a colonial empire in Spain.

It's a pity that the Spanish Army in Taiwan has only one company, and Nicholas didn't even have a chance to fight the Ming army with his simple phalanx.

Not a single shot was fired. And he became a captive.

The aroma of meat continues to blow in this direction with the sea breeze, making people more and more uncomfortable.

The standard-bearer of Nicholas' company was a tall Viking, and he was not afraid of the cold wind blowing from the sea, but the feeling of hunger was really uncomfortable. The delicacies in the castle had been bought the day before from the local Guirou Society, and the ripe venison had been returned to them, and he often exchanged the venison skins, gold, sulphur, and pearls he had hunted for some salt, cloth, and ironware.

Among the items exchanged yesterday, there are still more than a dozen live deer, which he temporarily kept in the castle, but now. These deer, which originally belonged to them, were being boiled in a pot by the Ming army. Thinking of this, Andrei's teeth clenched together, and the scar on his face was also released out of annoyance.

I should have been sitting in the castle right now, drinking delicious rum, eating chunks of venison, and even cuddling the tame Japanese.

Those damned Ming people robbed me of my flesh, my wine, and my women and castles, and made me sit in the clearing. Blowing a cold wind.

Damn, sitting here, my hungry chest is almost on my back.

"Shit." He slammed his fist on the ground, "I can't stand it." That's my venison, and I'm going to eat it. ”

"Don't be stupid, we can't kill the Ming people." Nicholas also had a large deck, he was a Germanic of the German Holy Roman Empire. Fierce in battle, he worked as a mercenary for many years, and later joined the Spanish fleet and came to the East. became a company commander stationed in Taiwan.

Nicholas' retinue, Marcos, was a young German and Nicholas's nephew. He crossed his arms and put his palms in his armpits, "Are the Ming people planning to starve us to death, we have already surrendered to them, but they have locked us up here and won't even give us a piece of bread." ”

He complained, "Fuck Potillo, if you knew this, you might as well start a war with the Ming Dynasty." ”

"Don't say that, the people of the Ming Kingdom have a saying, it's better to die than to live, I don't want to die on this desert island in the east like this."

"Then what do you explain to the Chinese people?"

Nicholas blinked his dark eyes, thought for a moment and whispered, "I don't think we will be in danger, the people of the Ming Kingdom have already got what they want." They got San Salva, they got the port, they got our fleet, and they got the money and goods in the castle, why do you think they killed us? I think the Ming people probably want to starve us first. ”

"And when can we go?"

"Let's go?" Nicholas smiled and shook his head at his young nephew's innocence. "We are now captives of the Ming people, how can we leave so easily. Besides, the ship is gone, how do we go? And we don't have to go. ”

The standard-bearer, Andrei, asked suspiciously, "What do you mean?" ”

Nicholas said, "Although we are Spanish soldiers, we are basically mercenaries from other European countries, and we have come to the East to adventure, isn't it for the treasures of the East?" To put it bluntly, we are working hard for the Spaniards to earn money, and since the Spaniards can no longer pay us salaries, why do you think we have to work for the Spaniards? As long as you have money, who is it not to work? ”

Marcos reacted, "Are we going to work for the Ming people?" ”

"But these Ming people are so short, ignorant, backward and barbaric," Andre interjected on the side.

"Shut up, Daming is so rich and prosperous, how can it be compared to your Nordics. Look at the Ming soldiers, how good their armor and equipment are, I'm going to try it, it's better than continuing to starve here. Nicholas said.

"What about the Spaniards?"

"Fuck the Spaniards." Marcos slapped his fists and said with a wandering look in his eyes, "The Spaniards in Taiwan are finished, what do we care about them." ”

Nicholas pinched his short beard like a steel needle on his chin and said to several officers, "But if we are going to fight with the Ming people, then we have to find a way to pull all the people over, so that the Ming people can pay attention to us, and in the future, we can also join the group without being bullied, and we can ask for a good price." ”

Andrei nodded hurriedly, he agreed with the suggestion. "I'm going to talk to Paul and a few of the captains."

"I'll talk to Anthony and the captains." Marcos also hurriedly said.

At that moment, several people began to move, talking to the squad leaders of their company in the prisoner camp. Although the defenders outside saw their movements, they didn't pay much attention, these people could still turn the sky with their bare hands.

In San Diego, Liu Jun is reviewing the report below. Due to the continuous withdrawal of troops from the Spaniards in northern Taiwan, the Spaniards had previously only managed the city of Santiago, which also made the reception work smoother.

The statistics were reported quickly, and the harvest was very fruitful.

A total of 800 Spanish soldiers were captured, and there were also some wives and servants of Spaniards stationed in Taiwan on the island. There were more than 500 people in total, in addition to some Japanese and Chinese merchants in the city, and some of them were nearby natives who had dealings with the Spaniards. The rest of the Spaniards and their servants were all put into temporary custody, numbering nearly two thousand.

The captured armament included a four-masted Galen battleship, four armed merchant ships, and ten caravels. Some other sampans. In addition, there are more than 50 cannons on the harbor fort and castle, more than 500 guns, hundreds of swords and armor, gunpowder and so on.

In addition, a large amount of gold, silver and food were seized. There were also many Spaniards who bought goods from the island's natives, as well as Chinese and Japanese merchants, for transshipment to Manila.

Although there is a lot of money and goods, Liu Jun doesn't care too much, he still cares more about the dozen or so ships, especially the Galen ship and the four armed merchant ships. This is the equivalent of the main battleship. Although Zheng Zhilong is known as China's maritime hegemon, there is not a single ship of this level.

Liu Jun got five ships at once, not to mention that Galen was still far superior to the Zheng family's big battleship.

The circumference of the Castle of San Salva is about a mile. The lower width and the upper narrow fortress, there are also four circular fortresses in the city, if there are enough soldiers and horses, such a fortress is definitely fortress-level. But now, without losing a single soldier, Liu Jun has taken here.

"Master Hou, there is a yellow hair who said that he wants to work for Master Hou." Wang Guoqiang came in to report it.

"Do you want to work for me?" Liu Jun raised his head, muttered, and said with a smile, "What is the identity of this person?" ”

"He is known as the army company commander with red hair here, Master Hou, how big is this company commander?"

Liu Jun was a little surprised when he heard that it was a company commander, "Company commander, it's probably equivalent to the commander of our nine-headed bird, in charge of three hundred people." ”

"Hey, it's still a big official, the red hair here has only a few hundred soldiers in total, and he is in charge of three hundred by himself, and he is the number one."

Liu Jun asked Wang Guoqiang to bring people. As soon as Nicholas came in, he immediately knelt down, bowed, and then reported his meaning to Liu Junyu in a thick foreign accent. He was just a mercenary, not a Spaniard, he only worked for the Spaniards, and he never killed the Ming people. Now, he is willing to take a company of his subordinates to work for the Marquis of Daming.

"You mean let me hire you, don't you?"

Nicholas nodded hurriedly. Liu Jun smiled, there was nothing unhappy about this yellow-haired man's thoughts, mercenaries, this kind of behavior is not a treachery or something, after all, Spain has already made him surrender.

"Your three hundred men are willing to be hired by me with you?"

"Yes, three hundred of us are like brothers, of course we want to come together."

"And how much salary do you ask?"

Nicholas smiled and said in his broken Chinese, "I know that the Ming Dynasty used to hire Portuguese people from Macao in his early years, and at that time they were paid a salary of one hundred and fifty taels of silver a year to their team leaders, plus an additional fifteen taels a month, and the rest of them were given one hundred taels a year, and another ten taels of food money per month. ”

"Our requirements are not high, just follow this, I have a company of 300 people, I am the company commander, there are twenty officers such as standard-bearers and captains, and the rest of the hundred musketeers and one hundred and seventy-nine spearmen. As the company commander, the Hou Ye paid me 500 taels of silver every year, and each of the 20 officers including the captain was 350 taels of silver, the musketeers were 300 taels per year, and the spearmen were 250 taels per year. You don't have to pay for food! ”

Liu Jun heard it and sneered, Chongzhen hired the Portuguese back then The salary was very high, and this guy asked even more.

The soldiers of the nine-headed bird have an average of about two taels of silver a month, and less than thirty taels a year, although there are other combat rewards. Compared to the two hundred and fifty taels of silver that the most common spearmen proposed by Nicholas, the price of these mercenaries can be said to be ten times the salary of the nine-headed bird.

"Two hundred and five." Liu Jun said.

When Nicholas heard this, he thought that Liu Jun was making a counteroffer, and he was secretly happy in his heart at the moment, and he pretended to be a little unhappy on the surface, "Master Hou's price is a bit low, there are three hundred people in the whole company, if it is two hundred and fifty taels per person, it is a little lower." But as a sign of respect for the strong, we are willing to accept this employment salary. ”

Liu Jun laughed angrily at the big man. "Nicholas, is it? If you plan to earn food under me in the future, then remember to learn more Chinese in the future, because the breadth and profundity of Chinese is not so easy to learn. When I say two hundred and five, I don't mean to give you two hundred and fifty taels of silver. This is actually called the words of the evaluator, which means stupid! ”

The smile on Nicholas' face froze.

"Don't open your mouth, Benhou doesn't like that kind of pompous person. I'll tell you the truth, the soldiers under my command only get a salary of two taels of silver a month, and a six-grade and hundred-household official in the Daming Guard is only ten taels of rice per month, less than ten taels of silver. Do you think that all the silver of the Ming Dynasty fell from the sky? No. You should know that most of the money comes from the Americas and Japan. ”

Liu Jun continued unhurriedly, "As far as I know, you are employed by the Spaniards. A skilled musketeer can earn four escudos per month, while a spearman cannot earn more than three escudos. I'm not wrong, right? ”

"In addition, you are hired by the Spaniards to come to Taiwan to garrison, and you generally only pay your salary once a year. Right? ”

"And how much is an escudo worth? An escudo can only be exchanged for one or four cents of silver now, and I'm right, right? ”

As Liu Jun reported the numbers one by one, sweat fell on Nicholas's face. He didn't expect this young Ming nobleman. I know these things so well.

"That is to say, you do things for the Spaniards, and a skilled musketeer is only five taels or six silver a month, and a spearman is only four taels or two silver. This salary is not much more than our Daming, but you dare to talk to me about two hundred and fifty taels a month, your head is really in the water. Also, have you forgotten that you are now my captive? You are now actually my personal property, and I can even sell you to grow sugar cane if I want to!" ”

Nicholas sweated his back.

Although Nicholas was hired by Spain for more than that, and they came to the East to work as mercenaries, the main income was the war income, and the rewards during the war and the booty during the robbery were the main income. But now that he is facing Liu Jun, he doesn't know what to say.

"I will give you ten taels of silver a month, and twenty of your officers six taels of silver a month, three taels a month for the musketeers, and two taels a month for the spearmen."

Liu Jun offered the employment price.

"That's too low!" Nicholas whispered. "It's only about half of what we used to be, and we used to be employed in Spain, and our main income was various incentives and dividends."

"What I just said is also your basic salary, and if you fight bravely, of course, there are additional rewards." Liu Jun said, "Of course, you can also not accept my employment conditions, you can wait for the Spaniards to redeem you with silver, if they don't redeem, then you can go to Daming to mine or farm!" ”

"Which one do you choose?"

Nicholas replied helplessly, "We are willing to accept the employment conditions of the Hou Ye, from now on, we will be your warriors." ”

"Good."

"Master Hou, I want to make a request to you."

"Say."

"We've been hungry for a day, can you give us food first."

"Absolutely." Liu Jun nodded with satisfaction, "You go and bring your people to register first, and then you will have food." After you've eaten, come back here, I have something to talk to you about. ”

Nicholas and his company of three hundred soldiers finally had their meal, and as they held the bowls, they burst into tears.

The other red-haired, yellow-haired, white-skinned and black-skinned people in the prisoner camp over there felt even more hungry when they saw that these soldiers were eating deliciously. Some people knew that these mercenaries had switched to the Ming Kingdom, and their hearts began to move. Soon, some sailors also shouted to the Ming army guarding them that they were willing to work for the Ming army.

"We want to eat, and we are willing to work for Mingguo."

"We're going to eat!"

"What are you arguing about, those who are willing to work for Master Hou will have food immediately, come here to register first, truthfully report your name and identity and original job, and queue up!"

Some people took the lead, and more and more people chose to exclude the registration and choose to work for the Ming army.

"Master Hou, almost all the sailors on the Spanish ship have signed up, and they are all willing to work for us."

"Good." Liu Jun smiled and nodded, "Let these people go back to those ships, remember to send some more Zheng Jiaba to our crew and sailors, and send some of our own people over, we must take care of these Spaniards, don't be careless." ”

"Yes."

After Nicholas had eaten and drunk enough, he came to Liu Jun's new flagship, the Fuhai, to ask for a meeting.

"Have you eaten enough?" Liu Jun asked Nicholas with a smile.

"I'm full." Nicholas replied, "What did Master Hou ask me to talk about?" ”

Liu Jun said to him, "I plan to give you a promotion, and you will get twenty taels of silver a month in the future." ”

suddenly rose from ten taels of monthly salary to twenty taels, and Nicholas was a little puzzled in surprise, "What does Master Hou want me to do?" ”

"I'm going to pull out another batch of people for you, let you build a standard Spanish phalanx, and train it into an elite for me."

Nicholas thought for a moment and replied briskly, "No problem, I need to pull out four more companies of people for me." ”

"I'll pull someone out of you right now."

"I also want the command of the entire Great Phalanx."

"For the time being, you only have the right to coach, and as for the command, I'll talk about it later." Liu Jun stopped Nicholas's inch. (To be continued......)