The time left for the Republic of China and the United States of America to form a "homecoming group" is only about 50 days, otherwise, according to the monsoon law of the Indian Ocean, after October, the time to form a team to go to the East will have to wait until May of the following year. The departure time of the Eastern Expeditionary Fleet is tentatively set for September 16, the anniversary of the passage through the interior of the Great Tribulation, an intriguing day.

At the army garrison camp in Shuangwan City, Bermuda Island, there was a lot of buzz, and waves of army officers and soldiers from various places were gathering, some from the Porter City military base, some from the West Point town military base, and even from the American Concession garrison in the Azores' Porta Sangra. They will be selected to form a Wehrmacht infantry battalion, all of whom must be soldiers who have settled in North America for at least four years and have a family and served for at least one year.

In the distant Governor of Nanshan, a battalion of Foreign Legion officers and soldiers was also being reorganized at the same time, and the Foreign Legion soldiers selected from each combat battalion in a platoon unit were all young men who were "excited" in the previous Caribbean indigenous wars in China and the United States.

A total of two Army reinforced infantry battalions is the final figure set by the Ministry of Defense and the Army Command after an overnight trade-off. Each battalion has three infantry companies and one combat engineer company, plus a number of auxiliary units, for a total of 1,050 officers and men.

As early as the end of July, the deployment of the navy began to be comprehensively adjusted. A large number of outstanding officers and men began to be transferred from various ships, and a number of major warships entered the naval base ahead of schedule for emergency maintenance.

As for the most appropriate number of capital warships to send, Vice Admiral Wang Tiezhu, commander of the Navy, and Zheng Quan, minister of national defense, repeatedly deliberated for a long time. The final confirmed main force of the Eastern Expeditionary Fleet will consist of 5 sail light cruisers. They are: Republican Republic and West Point, and gem-quality Sapple, Dark Crystal, and Bloodstone. The first two of them belong to the North Atlantic Home Fleet, and the last three belong to the Caribbean Fleet. In addition to serving as expeditionary escort and fire support missions, they will also carry a small portion of the army force.

In terms of logistical support. To feed this almost all steam sail hybrid fleet. The two "Chaoyang-class large ocean-going sailing merchant ships" belonging to the state-owned import and export group that were completed and put into operation in the late spring of 1628 were requisitioned by the Ministry of National Defense. They are the "Chaoyang" and the "Linfeng". With a full load displacement of more than 3,400 tons, this large sailing merchant ship is capable of transporting 1,500 tons of supplies at a time at a cruising speed of 10 knots to the port of Nanshan, thousands of nautical miles away. In this expeditionary sequence, these two large merchant ships will be responsible for loading naval anthracite.

You Qi's initial lack of confidence in the design was finally approved by users in the second half of 1626. The state-owned import and export group's orders are still large, ordering two ships at one time, and the price of a single ship is as high as 650,000 US dollars. The Chaoyang class has become the largest tonnage ship in China, and the construction period is also very terrifying. Straight up to 16 months.

Three Aoguang-class large flying scissor merchant ships were also requisitioned, namely Ao Guang, Ao Bing, and Ao Shun. Although the maximum cargo capacity is only 850 tons, the Aoguang class with a full load displacement of 2,500 tons is superior to pure sail power and will not consume precious smokeless carbon, making it a very suitable ocean-going merchant ship taking the Indian Ocean monsoon route. According to the arrangement, the Ao Guang will also be loaded with naval anthracite, and the Ao Bing and Ao Shun will be responsible for carrying most of the army units.

Five short shirt-class merchant ships were chartered, and the 420-ton cargo capacity of these tried-and-tested flying clippers contributed greatly to the overseas trade of the entire United States in the early years of the founding of the United States. They are the Baxia, the Glutton, the Prisoner Niu, and the Weiyang Palace. and the Huaqing Pool. The first three ships belong to the state-owned ocean shipping company, while the Weiyanggong and Huaqingchi belong to the "Mayflower Ocean Shipping Company" under COSCO International Trade Group.

To ensure the medical work of the expeditionary force. No matter how vulgar the name of the ship, which exuded Ren Changle's "obscene style" from the inside out, the Huaqingchi would be urgently converted into an expeditionary hospital ship, and the Weiyanggong would be responsible for loading general cargo and a small amount of trade supplies. The remaining Baxia, Gluttony and Prison Cattle were loaded with more than 1,200 tons of fresh water and food supplies. In order to fill these three ships, Merlin Food Canning Company not only had to empty all its inventory, but also worked overtime for half a month, and after that, the normal domestic canned food market supply and most export contracts would be completely ignored.

COSCO International Trade Group will serve the country so willingly, in addition to the large amount of rent paid by the Ministry of National Defense, it is also related to the careful thinking of Ren Changle and his family. COSCO International Trade Group is the only domestic private trading company that has been allowed by the Ministry of National Defense to send trade representatives.

If the Atlantic trade is not running and using its precious merchant shipping capacity to "support the country", no matter how you say that the government cabinet will sell this face. It is said that if it weren't for the fact that she was pregnant again, Yang Wenwen would have planned to go to Daming with the team in person.

However, these two people are not low-key, under such a move, a number of domestic nouveau riche and "homesick groups" are also anxious, and they have strongly requested to send business representatives to form a joint trade delegation.

The Blue Whale large transport ship belonging to the Navy has also joined the expeditionary fleet sequence, it is the same class ship of the Gray Whale, which has just been commissioned this summer, and the Blue Whale with a full load displacement of 2,800 has a cargo capacity of nearly 1,300 tons of military supplies. The Blue Whale will then be transformed into a terrifying arsenal, loaded with all kinds of weapons, ammunition and military supplies to accompany the fleet on its expedition.

Finally, there is the Navy's "Luban" working ship, which has made great contributions in the Caribbean Sea in the past year. The 1,600-ton sail ship will be responsible for towing and daily repairs of damaged vessels, and in addition to loading a large number of ship maintenance parts, it will also employ a number of skilled technicians from the Beiyang Shipbuilding Company and General Industries.

A total of 12 logistics support ships and 5 warships formed the maritime lineup of the Eastern Expeditionary Force. Including the officers and men of the army, the scale of the entire expeditionary force has reached more than 2,300 people, especially the navy, which has almost exhausted its elite funds, and a large number of half-toned sailors have been forced to take up their posts on the warships of the navy, which have been selected as elite veterans, in order to fill the façade.

In addition to the nearly 2 million Ming Dynasty immigration funds that were "not spent" this year. Nanshan Port was "peacefully established", and the 500,000 military expenses that were saved with great difficulty disappeared in an instant. The National Assembly also approved an additional $2 million in special military spending. Of these, 1.5 million are treasury bonds. At a time when the credit of the treasury bonds was still very strong, several domestic commercial banks were suddenly rushing to collect funds for the state within a few days.

Various domestic enterprises have received urgent production orders, and a large number of clothing, medicines, ammunition, canned food, and ship repair workpieces are required to be completed within 20 days. COSCO International Trade Group, which took the opportunity to engage in Far East trade with the team, also wantonly issued commodity purchase orders to private production enterprises in various localities.

Nothing can promote "domestic demand" more than war, orders for various products have skyrocketed, and it is inevitable that relevant enterprises will work overtime. The stimulation of large bonuses is indispensable, and the workers are happy to see their teeth and eyes, and they are happy to do it. From Porter City to West Point, from Qingcheng City to Elm Town, all of a sudden, everyone felt that the Dutch East India Company was not so annoying, and the world was really beautiful.

……

Thursday, August 3, 1628.

The city of Twin Bays, Bermuda, was enveloped by a summer storm, with almost all city activities from the marina to the city temporarily suspended. Gale winds of 10 or higher almost blew ashore a string of small fishing boats anchored at the fishing dock near the exit of the bay. Heavy rains have poured into the island's major reservoirs, creating small ponds in more low-lying areas. In many fruit and vegetable plantations, large shacks have been destroyed by storms, plants have been blown down, and large areas of stagnant water have gathered in the fields that are difficult to divert in a short period of time, leaving farmers who are worried about the harvest busy and bleeding from their hearts.

Now Mingxing company, the monthly trade profit has exceeded 3,000 US dollars, early beyond the initial "annual income of 10,000 gold" expectations, the company's working capital can be mobilized at any time more than 20,000 US dollars, all the company's shareholders are greatly satisfied. Zhao Mingchuan even wanted to rely on such a company's business performance, continue to take out loans from the local Bermuda commercial bank, and then go to China and the United States to order a merchant ship that really belongs to him.

Since the spring of this year, with the help of the spring breeze of the "Shipping Incentive Act", the "Qingcheng Shipyard", a joint venture between the Beiyang Shipbuilding Company and the Haizhou government in Qingcheng, has launched a fully steam-powered merchant ship with a cargo capacity of 440 tons, with a cost of only more than 80,000 US dollars, which is specially used to meet the domestic maritime transportation needs of small and medium-sized trading companies.

Zhao Mingchuan sat in his study, flipping through the latest newspaper of the week that arrived from the capital, frowning at the many news on it.

It looks shocking that the country's foreign trade has "suffered" such a big loss. I have long heard how the Dutch are flying in maritime trade, and if they are so lawless, the big trading companies will naturally have the ability to "resist disasters", but it is difficult to say about the small households in China. Zhao Mingchuan couldn't help but worry about whether the trouble would spread to his own Mingxing Trading Company, because it happened that just last month, a Dutch Chamber of Commerce from Europe suppressed the price on the grounds that refined sugar was damp, and almost canceled a refined sugar export contract, which made Zhao Mingchuan depressed for several days.

The news about the westward migration of Ming refugees made Zhao Mingchuan feel that there was a fire in his chest that was difficult to express. As early as many years ago in Guangzhou, I heard that the Dutch red-haired smugglers of piglets and slaughtered Chinese merchants on the sea, and now this behavior has spread to the westward refugees, which sounds outrageous.

Looking at the political trends in China, the attitude of the US Congress and the US government in China is very firm, not only announcing that all merchant ships of the Dutch East India Company entering the ports of China and the United States will be subject to a special cargo tax, but also launching diplomatic denunciations, and even more to set up an Oriental investigation team to go to the Far East to "seek the truth." Look at the scale of the "investigation team", what kind of investigation is this, the entire crusade army that has escaped thousands of miles away!

One of the major customers, the Merlin Canned Food Company, has officially sent a large order to its own Mingxing Trading Company, with a contract amount of up to 6,000 US dollars, and needs to urgently supply a large number of Bermuda's characteristic black and white spotted pigs to process canned meat for the Eastern Expeditionary Fleet, and the local naval base in Bermuda found Zhao Mingchuan a few days ago and asked to provide a large number of fresh fruits and vegetables as soon as possible, because the warships that were dispatched were going to leave Nanshan Port in the next few days to assemble.

Mingxing Trading Company, which has signed long-term supply contracts directly with local agricultural growers, has no problem completing supplies to the navy, and he plans to wait for the storm to pass and quickly ship the pig orders to the processing plant of the Meilin Canned Food Company in Twin Cities. After seeing the hungry demand information of various enterprises in the newspaper, Zhao Mingchuan's face became more and more ruddy.

"Be the ruler and the master for the people. Good! Good! That's right! The people are the foundation of the country. All the people work together. The fortune of a nation. Seize every moment! Seeing this, Zhao Mingchuan couldn't help but applaud again and again. However, after more than ten seconds, Zhao Mingchuan stopped his movements in amazement, and the surging tide in his heart stopped instantly.

Why is there such a rage? Overjoyed? Is this the so-called unity of the people, solidarity and solidarity? The foundation of the country is the benefit of the people, and the interests of the people are also the foundation of the country?

Zhao Mingchuan stood up and pushed the window open with all his might. The storm that found a breakthrough rushed in and hit Zhao Mingchuan's face, making the weak scholar fall a little down.

"If I can do this for the people, the farmers, the businessmen, the peddlers and pawns, all enjoy the national benefits, protect the country, and the world will be peaceful!" In the noisy storm, Zhao Mingchuan sighed deeply.

……

When Yan Xianping took Uncle Yan Qi, who was seriously ill and discharged from the hospital, rushed back to the capital Manchester City on a naval warship moving at full speed. It's already August 16th.

In the exclusive apartment building for the children of the Yan family in the United States, which is jokingly called "Yan Mansion" by insiders, a mourning hall has been arranged for almost a month and has not been removed. Including Yan Siqi, many of the henchmen of the Yan Family Group placed their spiritual positions in a row.

As a relative of the Yan family, the husband of the seventh aunt, the daughter of Uncle Yan, also died in Macau in this sudden change. Luo Da, who was shocked to hear that his brother-like Yan Siqi and many friends had died, drank and lamented all day long. Even if he got a hint from the side of the Chinese and American government, Luo Da still knelt in front of the gate of the Ministry of Defense of the Chinese and American government in three days, "crying and begging the Chinese army and sea to seek justice for the Yan family", and the blood on his forehead did not flow less.

The Yan family's crying spirit in the Chinese capital has also made the Chinese who have been immigrants for many years sigh. They have mixed love and hate for the Yan family, it is this Yan family that separated their wives on the way to escape from the Ming Dynasty, and they went through life and death to Huamei. But it is also because of the Yan family that they have regained their hope of life and dignity as a human being in this paradise, and people are so contradictory.

Every day, a small number of Chinese nationals will come to the Yan Mansion with funerals to pay tribute to the Ming general who shocked the Ming East China Sea. When I saw the red and swollen face of the seventh aunt who was in charge of the reception, which was completely different from the past, the elderly Chinese housewife was also moved to tears.

"Daddy! Daughters are not filial! As soon as he ran into the main hall, he saw a room of snow-white banners and white wax, and an original letter symbolizing Yan Siqi's relics was placed in front of the spiritual seat.

"Big brother, Xianggong, you died so unjustly...... My poor Ping'er...... "Seeing that the old father who reported the news from thousands of miles also came to Huamei Jingshi, the seventh aunt was even more sad, hugging the tearful Yan Xianping, while handing incense and paper to her old father.

"My Yan family is not a person who sits still! Stop mourning! ”

Uncle Yan Qi, who is still an old man, is amazing, after the incense, suddenly his old face turned grim, and he threw the paper money in his hand, and a high-pitched but still weak voice appeared in the mourning hall.

"Luo Da!" The old man's eyes widened, and he looked at Luo Da who was wearing linen and filial piety on one side.

"Uncle Seven!" Luo stood up with a loud cry and clenched his hands into fists.

"My Yan family started an incident more than ten years ago, and it was born in the East China Sea for thousands of miles, so that we have this foundation! Si Qi's early death at a young age can be called sad. But the Yan family is still there, and so are the people with lofty ideals, although Sihai is young and short-term, it is not difficult to defend the big man in one city and one fort! Hearing that the U.S. government in China has issued a military order, and the army will be sent to the army in a few days, how can we weep and lose our bodies! ”

"Dad, is the Huamei Mansion really willing to seek justice for my Yan family? I read that the newspaper was full of condemnation of the Dutch red hair, and there was no half of the Yan family's problem-solving......" The seventh aunt quickly stood up, supported her father's body, and asked while wiping her tears.

"What kind of kindness and morality do my Yan family and the Chinese Americans have, everyone has different opinions, and naturally it is inconvenient for the Chinese and American governments to say it clearly. However, it is true that the Dutch Fanmao and the East China Sea Japanese have helped Zheng Zhilong for many years, peeping into the Ryukyu Penghu, intercepting and killing the Chinese merchants in the East China Sea and the South Sea, and slaughtering the Chinese people! The Huamei government naturally took this as an opportunity to persuade the head of the cabinet of the country to raise an army to the east, and you have never had this vision? ”

The seventh uncle made a loud noise, and Luo Da on the side also nodded again and again.

"Ah, Ping'er, where are you going!" Suddenly, the seventh aunt screamed, and the family members in the room looked over curiously, only to see Yan Xianping grabbing the military hat and walking towards the outside of the mourning hall without looking back, and the crying spirit children along the way all avoided it.

As soon as he walked out of the apartment, Yan Xianping was stunned.

A group of Chinese and American naval officers stood quietly on the lawn of the apartment, including Lieutenant Commander Sun Yang, Commander of the Caribbean Fleet, Major Wen Tuo, Commander of the Nanshan Port Naval Base, and his colleague Lieutenant Tang Hannah, and even the exclusive carriage of Vice Admiral Wang Tiezhu, the commander of the Navy, was parked outside the gate not far away, and several guards stood by the carriage door with their heads held high.

Another wave of grievances came to his heart, and Yan Xianping actually shed tears in front of so many high-ranking naval officials.

"The general told you to come over and get into the carriage to talk." Sun Yang walked over, arranging Yan Xianping's messy hair with great concern, and personally put on a military hat for the other party, "Your father's business, everyone is very sad, the Eastern Expeditionary Fleet is being organized, and it will uphold justice for your father." The command of the Navy will extend your vacation, and you take good care of the people here. ”

"No, I'm going to Daming too!"

Yan Xianping shook off the other party's hand, strode towards the carriage, and then stood straight in front of the carriage door and gave a military salute, it seemed that a "death admonition" was inevitable. Behind him, the old seventh uncle and Luo Da, who also walked out of the apartment, looked stupid. (To be continued.) )