When Zhang Qian came out, although he also thought that he might hit a nail on Haihan's side, he really didn't expect that this Haihan person's attitude would be so tough, and he was aggressive in every word, and he didn't even bother to say anything about the scene, so he almost didn't directly spray the word "surrender" on Zhang Qian's face. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

How could the Ming Empire surrender to a group of overseas barbarians? This is something that can be clear with his toes, and Zhang Qian will naturally never let go. If he said the word "surrender" here in Haihan, he would immediately be treated as a traitor when he returned. But if he really wants to fight to the end with a powerful enemy and dedicate himself to the country, not to mention that he Zhang Qian is a weak scholar, even the group of Qiu Ba in Shipu City can't do it.

Therefore, surrender must not be surrendered, but it is best to avoid fighting as much as possible, as Shi Diwen said, even if they die here for the country, they may not be able to be recognized by the state - this is undoubtedly an excellent reason for the Ming army, which already lacks the courage to fight.

Zhang Qian still had to say a few words, but the Haihan officer surnamed Shi was no longer interested in listening to him, and directly let people send them off. Zhang Qian was full of anxiety when he came, and he looked disillusioned when he left, and none of his plans before setting off could be realized, and he just came to learn a lesson. If there is any gain, it is probably to witness the true face of the Haihan Army and completely extinguish the unrealistic illusion that "the Haihan Army is strong outside and in the middle".

Ma Ling didn't expect Zhang Qian to come back so soon, and immediately rushed to the city gate to meet Zhang Qian and ask about the results of the negotiation after hearing the report. Zhang Qian responded casually, but his eyes were wandering from side to side, Ma Ling understood this and immediately withdrew his subordinates.

"Brother Zhang, have the Han people outside the city agreed to withdraw from the army?" asked Ma Ling hopefully.

Zhang Qian shook his head slightly and said: "This matter is very troublesome, not only are the Haihan people unwilling to withdraw their troops, but they also want to let the defenders in the city disarm and go out of the city and accept their supervision." I tried my best to persuade him, but the enemy chief was so rude that he gave him an hour, and if the defenders did not close the city after an hour, they would attack it!"

"These thieves are so rampant!" Ma Ling was so angry that he punched the city wall beside him, and the debris was scattered everywhere. Although he didn't have much will to fight, his personal strength was not bad, and this punch actually smashed a shallow pit into the adobe city wall, and his strength was really amazing. However, the real problem is still unavoidable, the Haihan people are approaching the city, whether to fight or surrender, and a decision must be made immediately. At this point, Ma Ling didn't dare to think that what the other party said was just a bluff, and once the artillery outside the city fired, it would be difficult to stop the battle.

"Let's convene everyone to discuss it again!" With such a major decision, Ma Ling didn't dare to be arbitrary, and planned to gather a few hundred households under him to hold a meeting again.

After listening to Zhang Qian's explanation of the situation outside the city, you look at me, I look at you, and they all shut up. Ma Ling was so anxious that he could only name them one by one: "Lin Baihu, the situation is like this, what do you think?"

After the white-skinned Lin Baihu was spotted, he responded softly: "This matter is very important, and I dare not discuss it in my humble position, so I should obey the decision of my lord." ”

Ma Ling snorted, and said to the other person: "Zheng Baihu, what do you think?"

This surnamed Zheng has a big beard and looks reckless, but his words are not leaky: "This Haihan thief deceived the door, he really deserves to be killed, the brothers take the court's money, and they should serve the country! ”

Ma Lingxin said that you are all nonsense, what you said is the same as if you didn't say it, and then pointed to another person: "Wang Baihu, do you say to fight or not?"

Ma Ling was afraid that he would learn from the people in front of him again, so he simply made the problem more clear. The king Baihu said with a bitter face: "Master Ma said war, and my brother fought to the death to serve the court." If Master Ma feels that he can't fight with the thief, then the brothers will endure this breath, save their strength for the time being, and take revenge in the future. ”

This Wang Baihu seems to be obedient, all according to Sima Ling's wishes, but Ma Ling knows that he, like the previous two, only wants to evade responsibility. If Ma Ling said war, then after the defeat, the responsibility would be all Ma Ling's alone. After the war, the Haihan people want to liquidate, and they are also wronged and have debts, and they can all be pushed to Ma Ling, after all, he is the commander of Shipu, and the responsibility is naturally on his head. In the future, if the imperial court wants to investigate it, it will also be concocted in the same way. These hundreds of households have already figured out the key to it, and at this time, they all invariably shirk their responsibilities, and they are unwilling to make a clear statement at all, that is, they want to throw this pot to Ma Ling.

Ma Ling was also so angry at this time, such a group of people who were afraid of the enemy like tigers were in trouble, whether they were fighting or surrendering. At the moment, they can only disperse everyone with a gloomy face and let them return to their respective posts to be on duty first. Zhang Qianzuo said goodbye, but was stopped by Ma Ling, leaving him alone.

"Brother Zhang, think about it carefully, the enemy chieftain ...... That Haihan officer surnamed Shi, does he want to fight, or does he want to make peace?" Ma Ling asked Zhang Qian again.

Zhang Qian blinked and asked, "Is there any difference?"

"Of course there is a difference!" Ma Ling hurriedly said: "If they are determined to kill everything, they naturally do not intend to leave us a way out, and it is a dead end if they surrender or not! ”

Zhang Qian thought for a moment before responding: "In my opinion, although the Haihan people have the heart to negotiate peace, they are ready to go to war. If you want to end the war early, you have to do it according to their wishes. ”

Ma Lingdao: "If we follow their intentions and open the city and disarm it, then our army will have no power to resist, and if it is harmed by the Haihan people, it will be all over!"

Zhang Qian was also anxious when he heard him say this: "What a few hundred households said is the slightest hint of rebellion? As soon as the Haihan people start fighting, these people may open the door and surrender, and it is possible to tie you up and send me out to ask for merit!"

Ma Ling's face sank: "These guys usually call themselves brothers, hee-hee-ha, but when it comes to critical times, no one can be relied on, it's really annoying! If I order the opening of the city, and the higher authorities will investigate and hold me accountable in the future, most of these people will betray me!"

Zhang Qian said: "If you really decide to open the city to negotiate peace, then make an agreement with the Haihan people and let them solve these troubles." ”

Ma Ling frowned slightly and said, "What if the Haihan people rebel?"

Zhang Qian shook his head and said: "What are the rumors that you and I have heard about the Haihan? Is it that they are armed and powerful, their behavior is rude, they are like squandering money, and they have a way to make money? No, it is the Haihan people who keep their promises and do what they say! As long as it is a deal they promise, it will be completed regardless of whether they lose money or make money, and this is the main reason why the merchants of Fuguang are willing to cooperate with them. What the Haihan people say is only more reliable than these hundreds of households under you. ”

Regarding the rumors about the Haihan people, Ma Ling had also heard about it. It is said that most of the wealthy people in Fuguang were willing to deposit their gold and silver in the "banks" opened by the Haihan people, and when they were ready, they would withdraw them with special gold and silver checks. Acquaintances don't even need cash to trade, just take the check to the bank to transfer the account. This kind of trust is built on the excellent business reputation of the Haihan people, and only with a promise can people rest assured that their money will be deposited in their hands. After listening to Zhang Qian's persuasion, Ma Ling originally had some thoughts of activity, but he was even more shaken at the moment.

Ma Qianhu in the city was still undecided, but the Haihan army outside the city was already eager to try. After taking control of the eastern port area of Shipu Port, nearly 1,000 soldiers had already landed, and several military formations were formed in companies about 300 meters south of Shipu Castle. In front of it was an artillery position that had been erected, with four siege artillery pieces and eight 12-pounder army guns all in their emplacements, ready to open fire on the siege.

Takahashi Nan raised his hand to look at the time, and the mechanical automatic watch in his hand was a reward given to him by Qian Tiandun after the Battle of Taipei. Although the original value of this watch was not high, it was a priceless treasure in this time and space, and Takahashi Minami was also grateful for it, after all, among the naturalized civilian officers and cadres, there were only a handful of people who could get such a valuable reward.

With this watch, Takahashi's orders when directing operations are more timely, for example, at this time, he can confirm that Shi Diwen has not much time left for the defenders in Shipu City, and at this time, there still seems to be no sign of any intention to open the city and surrender. Minami Takahashi decided to ask his boss one last time if he would launch an attack on Ishiura Castle on time.

"Tell the battalion commander Takahashi to launch the attack on time. "Shi Diwen is not a soft-hearted person, since the Ming army of Shipu does not know what to do, then it is necessary to carry out the attack according to the plan made in advance. However, before officially launching the attack, he felt that he could still warn the Ming army in the city one more time.

"Let the artillery position shoot a few shots, don't miss the mark when you start the war!" Shi Diwen commanded lightly. He knew that there was no long-range firepower in Shipu City that could threaten his artillery position, and he could completely implement this attack plan as artillery stone ammunition training.

So just when the people in Shipu City were panicking, there was a sudden rumbling cannon sound on the Haihan position outside the city. Ma Ling bounced up from his chair at once: "Why did the Haihan people start the war in advance!

The defenders at the head of the city were even more disorganized, and when they heard the sound of cannons, they could not take care of their defenses at all, and they all ran to the base of the city wall like headless flies. And the irony is that the people who took the lead in becoming deserters turned out to be all officers, and the hundred households who said they wanted to follow Ma Ling just now were also among them. If Ma Ling hadn't come out in time to maintain the situation, these people might have gone straight to open the north gate and fled into the mountains.

In fact, the sound of the cannon only rang out a few times before it stopped, but the nerves of these people in the city were too tense to notice this at all, and they were still in a mess. Ma Ling was also a thousand-family household, and soon discovered that the enemy situation was wrong, and shouted angrily: "You guys are panicking! The Haihan people are just firing artillery at school, and they haven't started a war yet! If there are any more troublemakers, they will be dealt with by military law!"

Seeing that the chaos in the city had calmed down, Ma Ling went up to the city to check the situation with a scolding attitude. Haihan had only fired six shots just now, including four 12-pounder guns and two siege guns. Due to the proximity, all six shells hit the southern city wall, and one of the siege guns was consciously fired at the city gate by the artillerymen, although it did not penetrate the two four-inch thick door panels, but it had already broken the three door bolts and two door bars behind the city gate. The hinges at the junction between the gate and the city wall have also been loosened. Another 12-pounder shell hit the battlement, splattering adobe debris everywhere, and the battlement was cut nearly a foot high, and there was no room for people to hide behind.

Although there were no casualties in the shelling, the panicked behavior of his men really disappointed Ma Qi. He thought that at the beginning, he had even organized this group of people to hold out for a few days and survive until the Haihan army retreated on its own, which was simply a great irony compared to reality. Many of these soldiers have never been on the battlefield since they joined the army, and they are usually negligent in training, and they only go out once a month, so how can they be expected to perform well when the enemy attacks.

Of course, this is not all Ma Ling's fault, he has to rely on his officers to control the soldiers, he has to feed them, he has to rely on his superiors to cover himself, and if he seeks promotion, he has to pay tribute to his superiors, and at the same time, he has to support his family and save some belongings for himself. In order to achieve these goals, it is certainly not enough to rely on Ma Ling's own military salary, and he can only rely on empty salaries, reducing military expenditures, and engaging in smuggling and trading to accumulate money. This guard army usually serves as a façade, and it is enough to scare the pirates, and there is no need to really go to war anyway, but at this time, in the face of a well-trained professional army, the weakness is suddenly exposed.

Of course, Ma Ling could still order to continue to hold on, and wait for the Haihan people outside the city to attack. But he can also imagine the consequences of doing so, with the will of these people in the city to fight, as long as the city gate is broken, there will probably be no more people to resist.

"It's useless to fight, let's surrender......" Ma Ling shook his head helplessly, and made the final decision: "Pass my order and open the city gate......"

Seeing that Shipu Castle slowly opened the city gate, Takahashi Minami outside the city also shook his head helplessly: "With such an army, no wonder it will collude with pirates." Daming Haijiang is in the hands of such a person, and it is really impossible to save it. ”

Ma Ling took Zhang Qian, followed by several hundred households, walked out of the city dejectedly, and stood in a line on the side of the road, waiting for the Haihan army to come forward and surrender. Although this is an extremely shameful thing for the soldiers, these people all have the same happiness in their hearts, at least for now, they have saved their lives. As for how the Haihan people will deal with them in the future, and dispose of this Shipu City, the initiative has already been handed over.

Shi Diwen also witnessed all this from a distance, and smiled disdainfully: "Sure enough, it only takes a few shells to scare and scare them, this courage is worse than the Weisuo army in Fujian and Guangdong!"