Outside the East China Sea, hundreds of grain merchants composed of Hongmaofan, that is, Dutch merchants, are heading for Shandong, where Zhu Youzhen took the lead in opening the Qingdao port, and is preparing to open a precedent for overseas trade in the north of the Ming Dynasty.

As for why Qingdao was chosen instead of Zhili, which was closer to Beijing, that is, the area of Hebei and Tianjin in later generations, the main reason was that it was too close.

Although the current Houjin, the sea power is infinitely close to nothing.

However, the bandit business of the Dongying Bandits was in full swing.

"Your Majesty, why do you attach so much importance to this trade that you do not hesitate to gather all the merchant ships from all over Asia together to transport grain to this Ming royal auction house? It stands to reason that whatever we ship to Daming should be worth more than this rice, and we won't occupy so many merchant ships..."

The man known as the Earl was the old Earl of Pulit of the Dutch East India Company.

"You haven't figured it out, for us, it's the first thing we need to do to make more profits, but what is more important is the opportunity before the high profits."

"Opportunity?"

"I have calculated this trade, there is no possibility of making money at all, there are too many merchant ships hired, and there are even merchant ships from other countries mixed in, but it doesn't matter, even if this business is losing money, I am willing to do it."

"If making money is the first thing, why do it when you lose money? We're going to be floating on this sea for a few more months, and I'm starting to miss my wife. ”

"Because now the emperor of the East finally no longer opposes the matter of trade, but uncharacteristically opens the Qingdao trading port, which makes me ecstatic."

"So His Excellency the Earl is for the Qingdao Trade Port?"

"Alas... There are so many desirable things in this huge empire that as long as His Majesty the Emperor can leak a little bit through his fingernails, it will be enough for our Dutch East India Company to make a lot of money, so why not take this opportunity to befriend His Majesty the Emperor and transport some food, what's the big deal. ”

When the golden retriever on the side heard this, he couldn't help but glance at the old earl in front of him.

I secretly said in my heart, yes, of course it's not a big deal for you, in order to raise the food this time, India has begun to starve to death a lot, and Java has been looted.

At the same time, a large amount of grain was mobilized, and the Dutch merchants lived up to the title of sea coachmen of this era.

It's just that for Zhu Youzhen, who is bent on doing the industrial revolution, this kind of good business that can be exchanged for a lot of grain with some handicrafts made in the Ming Workshop is a rare occurrence in thousands of years.

As long as the grain can be brought in, not to mention any private kiln or official kiln, it is a royal thing, and Zhu Youzhen doesn't mind taking it out and selling it.

The merchant ship set off from the Indian Ocean and crossed Malacca and went straight to Qingdao Port in Daming Shandong.

...

Guanning Pass.

Meng To, who reported the matter, did not wait in place, after all, under the current traffic conditions, the transmission of news is still very slow.

It is impossible to delay the fighter because of such a small encounter.

"There's nothing to be afraid of this tartar... If you want me to say, the brigade commander ... We might as well take the initiative directly from the Guanning Pass..."

When Meng Tu heard his subordinates' words, he also had a headache, how could he not understand the truth that the arrogant soldiers would be defeated.

"Take the initiative? Even if Huang Taiji is a pig, then tens of thousands of pigs that can run can consume us to death..."

At present, the entire establishment of the Second Brigade of the First Division of the Tianhu Army is only 3,500 people, even if the subordinate grain transportation team is added, the entire scale will not exceed 5,000 people, in fact, this is why the news of the Tianhu Army's attack on Liaodong is only spread in a small area, and even many people in the Beijing Division do not know.

Soldiers are fast.

After rushing with all his strength, Meng Tu finally arrived at Guanning Pass, but it was different from Huang Taiji's iron wall and sharp blades.

On the day the Heavenly Tiger Army arrived, Bi Zisu was about to be beaten and cried by Huang Taiji.

Although it is said that the Ming army in the Guanning Pass defended the city and fought to the death, the sun and the moon can be seen, and the courage is unparalleled, but this is the era of cold weapons, knife to knife, arrow to arrow.

After a long period of consumption, although Huang Taiji is uncomfortable, Bi Zisu is even more uncomfortable.

In particular, Huang Taiji began a wheel war.

What is called wheel warfare.

Huang Taiji could see it at a glance, although it was said that this Guanning Pass was so strong that it would not be able to enter for a while.

Then simply not attacking is an attack.

Set up camp thirty miles away from the city wall of Guanning Pass,

The soldiers under his command were divided according to the ready-made rules of the Eight Banners, divided into eight teams, twelve hours a day, and each flag lasted for one and a half hours.

Constant offensive ... Fall back.. Offensive... Fall back...

Bi Zisu can be said to be tortured enough, if you want to say that you don't defend, then even if this is a single banner soldier climbs the city wall, then other armies will follow...

The city is over.

But if it's defense, there will always be a time when manpower is exhausted...

Seeing the place, Mont Tuo stood behind the pass and shouted at the foot of the city.

"The Second Brigade of the First Division of the Tianhu Army, on the orders of the emperor, came to the aid of Guanning Pass, please open the door.."

In fact, the Sky Tiger Army appeared from the horizon, and after being seen by the sentinels on the city wall, they went to report Bi Zisu as soon as possible.

Overjoyed, what does it mean to be overjoyed.

At this moment, Bi Zisu can understand the meaning of this word too well.

In the past, no matter how much silver the imperial court spent, most of the troops were sent from all over the country to aid Liaodong, and it was uncertain how long it would take on the road, and how could there be a speed like the Heavenly Tiger Army.

And according to the news delivered by Ningyuan Pass in advance, the grain transportation team will also arrive in time during this period, and there will be food and reinforcements.

Although there are not many of them, I heard of their encounter with the Tartars in the Valley of the Wolves.

When there were no casualties and more than 1,100 Tatars were annihilated, Bi Zisu had doubts in his heart.

But it is also very happy, even if there is moisture in the middle, it can also show that this army is not a straw bale filled with straw in the middle of the embroidered pillow.

It's a serious army that really has the strength to fight in the face of the Tartars.

"Open the door.. Open the door to greet..."

The gate of the back city burst open, and the Tianhu Army with food was not polite, and directly entered the city of Guanning.

Bi Zisu stood in the city early to greet Mengtuo.

This made Meng Tu flattered, after all, from the perspective of Da Ming's current official system, this Bi Zisu is more than several levels higher than Meng Tu.

"Why should Master Bi be so polite, if it is useful to get the place of liberation, you can give orders."

"Then Bi Mou will not be polite to the commander of the Meng, at this moment, the Tartars outside the city continue to attack and harass the Guanning Pass, the defenders of the Guanning Pass are already exhausted, if the Tianhu Army can fight now... I also ask Brigade Commander Meng to send his subordinates down to the city wall to assist in the battle."

Without saying anything, he turned and shouted in a voice like a bell.

"The whole army has it, go to the city wall, cooperate with the brothers of Guanning Pass, take over the defense task of this Guanning Pass, distribute food to friendly troops, and we will stand guard for our brothers."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Go to the walls!"