Listening to Yue Yang's words, Wu Qing shook his head.

"Hou Ye is too worthy of his humble position, and he has only traveled in Shandong for two years, and he is not careful to understand the affairs of the army, but Hou Ye is asking the wrong person."

"Oh!" Yue Yang pursed his brows, "Sanshi, isn't it true that my Ming Dynasty's vast sea frontier doesn't even have a person who is proficient in water warfare?" ”

Wu Qing smiled bitterly and said: "Lord Hou, you don't know, although I have a vast sea area in the Ming Dynasty, but since I became an ancestor, none of the emperors of my Ming Dynasty have paid attention to the sailors, and my dynasty is also heavy on literature and light on martial arts, so that now I don't have a navy master who can handle it, let alone a talent who is proficient in naval warfare." But there are no absolutes, you may be able to go to Weihaiwei to have a look, maybe there are some people there. ”

"Weihaiwei?" Yue Yang looked at Wu Qing with some strange eyes: "Is there still a sailor in Weihaiwei now?" ”

"This ......" Wu Qing paused, then said: "I don't know this humble position, you can go and see for yourself." ”

Weihaiwei is the 31st year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1398), in order to prevent the invasion of the Japanese invaders and set up a guard station, take the meaning of Weizhen Haijiang, the name of Weihai comes from this. When Zhu Yuanzhang set up this guard, his original intention was to guard against threats from the sea, and he initially had more than 8,000 foot soldiers and a sailor. In the Yongle period, it reached its peak, at that time, in addition to more than 30 Dafu ships as the main force, there were more than 200 ships of eagle boats, sub-mother ships, building ships, Mengchong, fighting ships, sea falcons, boats, yachts, and more than 200 ships, and the Daming Naval Division at that time had a total of more than 3,800 ships, including 1,350 patrol ships, 1,350 warships, and more than 400 large ships and more than 400 grain ships stationed at the base of Xinjiangkou in Nanjing, of which 250 were ocean-going treasure ships. In addition, it also had a large number of vigilance and law enforcement ships and herald ships to protect the ocean and patrol the river, and the famous Zheng He's fleet was actually just a maritime mobile fleet of the powerful Ming Empire's navy. At this time, the Daming Water Division was the first in the world in terms of scale and combat effectiveness.

However, with the death of Zhu Di and the encouragement of the ministers of the court, the successive emperors had little interest in developing the maritime frontier. In the Hongzhi period, when the Western European countries at that time did not hesitate to borrow money from Venetian bankers in order to build a navy, Liu Daxia, who claimed to be well-versed in poetry, books, astronomy and geography, and was a square man, actually destroyed the navigation materials that had very important strategic value and had been obtained by Zheng He's fleet for decades. If Zheng He had known about it, I am afraid he would have cried bitterly.

Thinking of the grand occasion of the Great Ming Water Master, Yue Yang couldn't help but be stupid, and after a long time, he sighed lightly, "Okay." Let's go to Weihaiwei to have a look. ”

A few hours later, when Yue Yang and Wu Qing took a boat from Liugong Island and led by guide to the garrison of Weihaiwei, they saw a scene that surprised the two of them.

This is a large open space, an area of several miles from Yueyang's visual inspection, and there are watchtowers and more than ten forts built on the side of the sea, but at this time the forts are empty, and the artillery originally placed there has disappeared. Moreover, behind the fort, Yueyang could still see more than a dozen crumbling houses standing, and there were more than a dozen ragged women mending fishing nets nearby.

Looking at the scene in front of him, Yue Yang couldn't believe his eyes. Pointing to the stammering guide in front of them, he asked, "This...... This is Weihaiwei? ”

The honest-looking guide hurriedly nodded and said, "My lord, this is indeed Weihaiwei." ”

"That'...... And what about the garrison of Weihaiwei? And the sailors stationed here? ”

When the guide heard this, he smiled bitterly and said: "My lord doesn't know, how can there be a sailor in Weihaiwei, as early as the Wanli period, the sailor in Weihaiwei was gone." Originally, there were more than 1,000 military households left here to beg for a living, but during the Apocalypse, the imperial court abolished the remaining monarchs, and most of the remaining garrisons scattered to beg for a living, leaving only more than 100 people who did not want to leave and still lived here. It's just that now it seems that there are not many of these people left. ”

"What...... And what's going on? ”

Yue Yang's mood at this time was as if he had knocked over the spice bottle, and all the tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy and salty poured out. Originally, in his opinion, even if Weihaiwei abolished the sailors, there should always be some military households in the guard. Otherwise, how to defend against threats from the sea. But now it seems that he still thinks highly of the ruler of the Ming Dynasty, and the current Weihaiwei is simply an undefended harbor.

The arrival of Yue Yang and his party naturally could not hide from those who were working not far away, and soon caused a panic, and many women who were mending fishing nets packed up their things in a panic and hid in those crumbling houses, and soon more than a dozen men with dark faces and black and thin appearances came out of the houses.

One of the men came to Yue Yang, bent down and asked in an almost flattering tone, "Adults, I don't know what you are doing here?" ”

Before Yue Yang could speak, Chen Dazhi on the side said loudly: "Our lord is the loyal and brave marquis of the imperial court, and the current governor of Shandong, and we are here today for the official business of the imperial court, so quickly call your steward out to reply to our marquis!" ”

As soon as Chen Dazhi's words came out, these people knelt on the ground in fright, and the man led by him said in a frightened tone that was almost out of tune: "Big ...... Ah no, Master Hou...... These villains have never been to the sea all these years, and they are ...... Those girls are just idle to mend the fishing nets, and we didn't go to the sea! ”

"What?" Yue Yang was stunned for a moment, what is this!

Seeing that Yue Yang was stunned, the guide on the side understood, and he quickly explained: "My lord, the imperial court has long had a rule, and it is not okay to even fish if you are not allowed to go to the sea. ”

"And this?" As soon as the guide's words came out, Chen Dazhi was stunned, scratched his head and asked puzzledly: "We have heard that there are many businessmen running by sea in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and we haven't heard of anyone who has been cut off?" ”

The guide smiled wryly and shook his head, but stopped talking.

Seeing the appearance of the guide, Chen Dazhi was unhappy and continued to ask, but was stopped by Yue Yang on the side, and glared at him helplessly: "Okay, let you read more on weekdays, but you just don't listen." These shameful people are thrown home, right? ”

Chen Dazhi, who was trained, lowered his head and muttered: "Master Hou, what are these words, if I had studied and become a general, I would have become a general." ”

"What are you talking about!" Yue Yang's brows furrowed: "Is it very wronged to be the captain of the personal soldiers by my side?" Why don't I transfer you to a local post when I go back? ”

"No, no...... Hou Ye's words, the villain is just joking. Chen Dazhi was taken aback, what a great honor it was to be the captain of the personal soldiers by Yueyang's side, although the official was not big, he was really majestic, even Yue Shunbao and Hu Laosan, the generals around Yueyang, had to politely call him brother and brother, not to mention those military generals such as guerrilla commanders.

After a few people said a few words, Yue Yang remembered that there were other people next to him, and then he asked these people in front of him: "Are you all the original military households of Weihaiwei?" ”

"Exactly, the ancestors of these villains are all military households of Weihaiwei. Since the Apocalypse was abolished, most of the people have dispersed after the imperial court abolished Weihaiwei, but the villains have lived here for so many years, but they are reluctant to leave here, and they are satisfied that they can be buried here after death. Hearing this, Yue Yang felt the unrelenting feelings of his homeland in this man's words.

Looking at the more than a dozen ragged men in front of him, Yue Yang sighed lightly and comforted: "Don't panic, Ben Hou is not here to arrest fishermen who are forbidden to enter the sea, Ben Hou is here to follow the will of the imperial court, to recruit soldiers and craftsmen here to prepare for the rebuilding of the sailor." ”

The man asked in surprise. "What...... Master Hou, aren't you here to check the sea ban? The imperial court is ready to form a sailor again? ”

Not only the man with the title, but even the more than a dozen companions behind him were also stunned.

"Exactly!" Yue Yang nodded, "Ben Hou has decided to re-establish the Weihai Weishui Division and make contributions to my Ming Dynasty." A large number of people with lofty ideals are needed to contribute to the imperial court, and you can also participate if you have the heart. ”

"Master Hou said with a smile." The man smiled bitterly: "The villain is just a humble people, how dare he say that he will serve the country." ”

Seeing the cautious appearance of the people who came, Yue Yang shook his head slightly, it seems that these people's vigilance is still very strong. But it's no wonder. The Ming Dynasty has banned the sea for so many years, and the ban on not going to sea has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the sailors have also been disbanded for many years. It would be strange if I could convince these people with just a few words.

"That's it!" Yue Yang sighed and patted him on the shoulder and said: "In a few days, Benhou will send someone to recruit people to rebuild the port, if you have the heart, you can also come to help, and the salary is good, any of you can also come and participate in the ......" After speaking, Yue Yang turned his head and walked towards the road he came, it seems that there is still a long way to go to rebuild the water division.

Out of Weihaiwei, Yue Yang came to the yamen of the prefect of Dengzhou Mansion non-stop.

The prefect of Wendeng Mansion is named Wei Yingjiang, and he has passed the age of knowing the destiny of heaven this year, and he still has a long beard under his chin, and when he heard that Yue Yang was coming, he was so frightened that he hurriedly welcomed Yue Yang into the inner hall. Yue Yang sat in the first seat, Wei Yingjiang sat respectfully in the bottom, and Wu Qing and Chen Dazhi stood aside.

After the two sides sat down, Wei Yingjiang looked at Yue Yang, who was wearing a python robe, and couldn't help but feel a little stunned in his heart, he asked cautiously and with some trepidation: "I don't know if the Hou Ye came from afar to welcome the officials, but I don't know what the Hou Ye ordered when he came to Wendeng this time?" ”

Yue Yang waved his hand: "Governor Wei, Ben Hou came to Wendeng this time to reopen the sea ban. And Lord Wei's Wendeng Mansion is the first place to bear the brunt, I don't know how you are prepared? ”

Wei Yingjiang's face became bitter when he heard this, and Yue Yang's face couldn't help but sink when he saw it, and said coldly: "Governor Wei, if Ben Hou is not mistaken, the official document of the governor Yamen was sent two months ago, are you not prepared at all?" ”

"Master Hou forgives the sins...... Master Hou, please listen to the words of the lower official! ”

Yue Yang has been an official for so long, and the official authority on his body is getting stronger and stronger, coupled with the evil aura cultivated in the battlefield over the years, such a glare scared Wei Yingjiang half to death, and quickly stood up from his seat, knelt down towards Yue Yangtong, and said in fear: "Master Hou, you don't know, this matter of opening the sea ban is also prepared, but this matter is very troublesome, and it won't be so fast for a while!" ”

Wu Qing on the side also reprimanded: "Why is it not so fast for a while and a half, isn't the ban on opening the sea just to issue a notice to notify the fishermen on the beach to allow them to go to sea, and also let the businessmen know that they can go to sea to do business, where is there so much trouble?" ”

"Wait......"

Without waiting for Wu Qing to finish speaking, Yue Yang stopped his words, looked at Wei Yingjiang and asked with a solemn expression: "Governor Wei, are you saying that the resistance to the opening of the sea ban does not come from the government but from the people?" ”

"Exactly, Hou Ye is wise!"

Listened to Yue Yang's words. Wei Yingjiang breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve and said: "Hou Ye Yingming, in fact, the sea ban on the coastal lands of my Ming Dynasty has long been unworthy of the name, although there is a ban from the government and the imperial court, but fishermen from all over the country often secretly go out to sea to fish in order to make a living, and the local government is also turning a blind eye, after all, the people are just to eat and eat, as long as it is not too much, I will not cough too much." Moreover, maritime merchants from all over the country often organized fleets to go to sea to places such as Nanyang, Dongyang, Da Ni, Huni, Champong, Luzon and other places, and the difference was only one share. ”

"In that case, then what else is there to say, will it be over soon after the government only needs to post a notice?" Wu Qing asked curiously.

"If only it were that simple." Wei Yingjiang smiled bitterly. "This lord doesn't know that the imperial court needs to set up a ship department to collect taxes when the sea is banned, but how can those merchants ever pay taxes to others? Now that the imperial court has opened the sea ban, it can openly collect commercial taxes from the maritime merchants, how can they be willing to do so? After all, it is not easy to go out to the sea, the sea is dangerous, you may not be able to come back when you encounter a storm, and what is even worse is that there are pirates on the sea who specialize in robbery, these people are extremely fierce, if you are lucky enough to meet them, you can pick up a life and come back. If you are unlucky, you can only end up with no people and money, do you say that the maritime merchants will hand over the silver they have earned so hard to the imperial court? There are even ......"

"What's more, even those pirates don't want the court to ban the sea, right?" Yue Yang, who was on the side, didn't wait for Wei Yingjiang to speak, and said with a calm face.

"Pirates? What happened to the imperial court to ban those pirates? Wu Qing was even more confused at this time.

Looking at Wu Qing's puzzled expression, Yue Yang sighed lightly. It seems that there is a shortage of people who are familiar with maritime affairs these years, Wu Qing is already a few staff members under his command, but he is also so unfamiliar with the matter of the sea ban, he has to start all over again.

This time, I didn't wait for Wei Yingjiang to speak. Yue Yang explained: "The reopening of the sea ban by the imperial court is a signal that the Ming Dynasty has begun to attach importance to coastal defense, and it is uncertain when the naval division will be reorganized." If the Ming Dynasty builds another sailor who can fight well, do you think those pirates still have a way to live? ”

"Oh...... I see! Wu Qing suddenly realized that there are still so many twists and turns in the opening of the sea ban, which is far from being solved by a piece of paper.

Seeing Yue Yang tell the truth, Wei Yingjiang said with admiration on the side: "It turns out that the Hou Ye has long been insightful, and the lower officials really admire!" ”

"What kind of cave is this, Ben Hou just thought of it. It seems that there is still a long way to go to reopen the sea ban! At present, the most important thing for us is to rebuild our sailor shelf. Yue Yang looked into the distance and picked up the teacup and drank it slowly......

After a while, Yue Yang put down the teacup and looked at Wei Yingjiang and asked, "Governor Wei, how many years have you been the prefect of Dengzhou?" ”

Wei Yingjiang replied respectfully: "Back to my lord's words, I have been serving as the prefect of Wendeng for eight years!" ”

"What...... Eight years? At this time, even Yue Yang was taken aback, "Didn't the imperial court stipulate that officials from all over the country should serve a three-year term?" How did you stay here for so long? ”

Wei Yingjiang smiled bitterly: "My lord doesn't know, although Dengzhou Mansion is close to the sea, it is a barren place compared to Laizhou Mansion and Gyeongju Mansion, and no one wants to come here to grab the position of Dengzhou Governor with a lowly position, and the lowly position has been able to stay here for eight years." Speaking of this, Wei Yingjiang looked ashamed, after all, being the prefect for eight years but not moving his nest in the eyes of the officialdom is a manifestation of incompetence.

Yue Yang asked with great interest: "Since Lord Wei has been in Dengzhou for eight years, he must be familiar with the humanistic stories of Dengzhou?" ”

Wei Yingjiang said modestly: "It's not familiar, but the officials still know a little about the affairs of Dengzhou." ”

"That's good." Yue Yang immediately became interested, "Then does Lord Wei know that there are generals who are proficient in sailors and craftsmen who can build ships in the Dengzhou area?" ”

"A general who is proficient in sailors?" Wei Yingjiang was embarrassed when he heard this: "Hou Ye's words are difficult to fall down, you also know that Weihaiwei has been disbanded for many years, how can there be generals who are proficient in water warfare?" But you're proficient in water warfare...... Eh...... Pregnant! ”

Wei Yingjiang's expression perked up, "Xia Guan remembered, there is really such a person who is proficient in water warfare, but this person is a pirate, and although he was demoted to my Ming court, he is not reused, but now he is idle at home." ”

"Oh, who's this man's name, and where does he live?" Yue Yang also came to his senses and hurriedly asked.

"This person is called Guo Jingxian, who was originally the number one general under the pirate Liu Xiang, and later Liu Xiang and Zheng Zhilong were defeated and killed in the battle for hegemony at sea, and this person surrendered to the court in a fit of anger, but the court now has no sailors except for a few broken ships in Jinling, although this person is accepted, there is nowhere to place it, so he can only let him be idle at home. At present, this person is opening a grocery store in Laizhou to make a living. ”

"Is that so?" Hearing this, Yue Yang's heart began to turn, (to be continued......