The island of Ceylon, overcast.

In the council hall, Liang Guogong Fan Zhong and Tang Xinggu and other officials were discussing the military situation, but their gloomy faces were like the sky outside, which showed that the current situation was already very grim.

Since Peng Qing's fleet was seized by the Ottomans, Fan Zhong immediately organized soldiers and horses to go to the Ottomans to reason.

The Ottomans were also very happy, and the two sides immediately opened up their positions and used cannons to tell the truth.

Peng Qing was not easy to provoke, and immediately led the crew to launch a counterattack, took advantage of the chaos to grab a few ships, and withdrew to Ceylon Island with Fan Zhong.

This confrontation completely angered the Ottomans, and immediately dispatched all the sailors to attack the Ming army stationed on the island of Ceylon.

The two sides went back and forth, and there was a stalemate for three months, but they didn't get any bargains for each other.

However, the Ottomans seized the opportunity to occupy the kingdom of Tik in the north of the island of Ceylon.

The country is located at the southernmost tip of the Indian continent and still lives a relatively primitive agricultural life, and one day, King Tik and his wives were eating hot pot and singing, when suddenly a group of ships rushed by, and then there was no more.

After the Ottomans landed on the shore, a large amount of food was found, and the logistics were solved.

Then, relying on this, a steady stream of warships and troops were sent over to continue the siege of Ceylon.

The resources on the island of Ceylon were limited, and more than half of the warships were damaged when rescuing Peng Qing, and it was impossible to break through with the current firepower.

The sea routes are blocked, supply ships are impassable, and the problem is urgent.

"Tang Tongzhi, has you found a solution to the food problem?"

Tang Xinggu shook his head slowly, and said: "The Ottoman forces are still increasing, and our ship can't get out, so now we can only hope that Nanhaiwei will suddenly come with a ship and bring back the information here, and His Royal Highness the King of Yu will send troops to rescue." ”

"Liang Guogong, Tang Tongzhi ......"

Fan Zhong looked up to see that Peng Qing was helped into the hall.

Don't look at this person as a civil official, he fights cleanly, and he doesn't get angry at all.

It was precisely because he was so brave that he was hit by a stray bullet when he led the charge and almost died.

"Peng Envoy, why are you here?"

Fan Zhong didn't dare to slack off, stepped forward to support him, and sat on the chair.

"Skin trauma, it's fine."

Peng Qing waved his hand and said, "This time the old man was careless, and he caused too much trouble to the two of them, and I couldn't help it." ”

Tang Xinggu stepped forward and said: "I am equivalent to the court as an official, don't you say this to the outside?" ”

After hearing this, Peng Qing tried to stand up and said, "Tang Tongzhi, the old man used to have a lot of complaints about you, and ......I will compensate you for it."

"Don't dare to be, don't dare to be!"

Tang Xinggu hurriedly held him down and said: "The top priority is to discuss how to break the enemy, the emperor will hand over Ceylon Island to us and others when he leaves, if we really lose it, then we will be sinners for the ages!" ”

Fan Zhong nodded and said: "If there is really that day, a certain will die in battle, cover the evacuation of the two, bring the news back to the Ming Dynasty, and wait for the emperor to reorganize the army and avenge the soldiers who died in battle!" ”

Tang Xinggu was anxious and retorted: "Liang Guogong, it's not right for you to say this, I, Tang someone, is from the supervision of the imperial history, after you are a meritorious service, you look down on me, and I often trouble you, but that's all in the past." Now that you and I are ordered to be stationed here, why do you want to die for the country, am I not worthy of someone? ”

These words silenced Fan Zhong for a long time, and he was speechless for a long time.

Seeing this, Peng Qing said: "Don't fight between the two, the source of this matter is in the old man." ”

"Master Peng, this matter has nothing to do with you!"

Tang Xinggu waved his hand to stop it, and then continued: "I, Tang someone, used to be a little higher, and I also did some dishonorable things in order to drill the camp, but the saint has clouds, and he can change his mistakes, and he is very good......

Fan Zhong's face turned pale, and his heart became more and more irritable, but he could only endure it as much as he could.

“…… On the top of the main hall, the emperor slapped me in the face, who can embarrass me? If I care too much about what other people think, I won't be able to live......"

"The ......"

"Liang Guogong, don't speak, listen to me first."

Fan Zhong was sweating on his forehead, taking advantage of Tang Xinggu's panting, he just wanted to interject, but was ruthlessly interrupted.

"You are in charge of the military and politics, I am in charge of the civilian, and the logistics support cannot be solved, this is my problem......"

"No, I mean ......"

"You don't need to say it, I know what you think, you are fighting on the front line, I can't even do the material support in the rear, and when I get in front of the emperor in the future, I will ask for ......"

"Tang Xinggu!"

Fan Zhongzhong couldn't bear it anymore, and with a loud shout, Tang Xinggu was taken aback, and then he closed his mouth.

The hall suddenly fell silent, and at this moment, it was Fan Zhong's turn to be embarrassed, and hurriedly went out to apologize: "I didn't mean that, Tang Tong knows that it's not weird, it's not weird......"

Seeing that the atmosphere had become a little embarrassing, Peng Qing said: "Two, now that the matter is over, don't blame yourself anymore!" ”

Fan Zhong nodded and said, "What Envoy Peng said is right, let's stop talking nonsense, hurry up and think of a way to break the enemy!" ”

Tang Xinggu also frowned tightly and fell into deep thought.

After a long time, someone came in a hurry.

"Qi Liang Guogong, Zhang Baihu asks to see!"

Fan Zhong hurriedly said: "Zhang Jin is back?" Quick, let him in! ”

This Zhang Baihu is none other than Zhang Jin.

This person was once a guilty person, but he has repented, and the emperor himself pardons his sins.

What's more, this person has a flexible brain, is good at observing the situation, and also knows several foreign languages, which makes him a rare talent.

When Ceylon Island was trapped, Fan Zhong tried his best to send him out.

However, as soon as the person left, the news was cut off, and his life and death were unknown.

Now that I heard that the man was still alive and had broken through the Ottoman blockade and returned to the island, he was naturally overjoyed.

Zhang Jin hurriedly entered and knelt down: "I've seen Liang Guogong, I've seen Tang Tongzhi, I've seen Peng ......"

"Okay, these etiquette numbers are waived!"

Peng Qing was an anxious person, and without waiting for him to finish, he waved his hand to stop it.

Fan Zhong then asked, "Have you ever seen His Royal Highness King Yu?" What did His Highness say? And how did you break through the Ottoman blockade? ”

Faced with a series of questions, Zhang Jin was not in a hurry: "Liang Guogong is slow, and he will answer one by one." ”

"Okay, you say!"

"The lowly post did go to Nanhaiwei, but it was ......"

Fan Zhong immediately frowned and said, "But what? ”

Peng Qing patted his arm and said, "You let people finish talking!" ”

Fan Zhong also realized that he was out of shape, so he had to nod his head.

"His Royal Highness King Yu is not guarding ...... in the South China Sea"

"Not there?"

Fan Zhong stood up suddenly, as if realizing that he was too anxious, and sat down again.

"Nothing, you continue!"

Zhang Jin's sentence was interrupted twice, then he sped up his speech and said: "His Royal Highness King Yu was summoned to Beijing, and besides, the strength of Nanhaiwei was also withdrawn, even if they got information, they would not be able to rush to help for a while. ”

At this moment, Peng Qing and Tang Xinggu also frowned, did King Yu lead his troops into Beijing?

I'm a good girl, it can't be something, right?

The old Zhu family has a rebellious bloodline, and the vassal king led troops into Beijing, and this situation is ...... I don't dare to think about it!

Tang Xinggu cautiously asked, "Is it serious over there in Jingshi?" ”

Zhang Jin nodded and said, "I heard that it is very serious!" ”

Tang Xinggu looked at Fan Zhong and then at Peng Qing, not knowing what to do.

Peng Qing continued to ask, "What about the emperor?" Isn't it in Kyoshi? ”

"Of course not, otherwise King Yu would not have led troops into Beijing."

Peng Qing turned his head to look at Fan Zhong and said, "The emperor is too busy to take care of himself, let's figure it out by ourselves!" ”

Fan Zhong was in a hurry, and he couldn't wait to fly to the emperor's side immediately, only to see him smash his fist on the desk, and said angrily: "Even the king of Yu has rebelled......

"Oh, no, no!"

Zhang Jin realized that the three of them seemed to have misunderstood, so he hurriedly explained: "There are indeed people who rebel, but they are not King Yu." ”

"His Royal Highness the King of Servants is here to help, and it is the emperor who issued a holy decree asking the King of Servants to bring troops into Beijing and kill the thieves!"

"I have also heard that almost all the overseas smuggling fleets have been cleaned up, so it can be seen that these man-made rebellions must not have succeeded, and the emperor should be fine."

Fan Zhong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You didn't say it earlier!" ”

"I ......"

Zhang Jin is also helpless, I said slowly, you interrupted, I said fast, you misunderstood, I am also difficult!

Fan Zhong asked again: "In this way, the Nanhai Guard is empty and unable to support?" ”

"Exactly!"

Zhang Jin nodded and said: "His Royal Highness King Yu took away the main force of Nanhaiwei, and even transferred some soldiers and horses from Jiaozhi, Luzon and other places. ”

Fan Zhong thought for a moment and continued: "The Ottoman ships have cut off all routes, how did you come back?" ”

"The southern route taken by the humble duty, fortunately!"

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was shocked.

The southern route is not a shipping route, but a wide ocean.

From ancient times to the present, no matter how big a ship is, it has to take a specific route.

The so-called ocean voyage is not to rush headlong into the sea and rush straight over, but to move forward along the coastline, stop at the shore to rest when it gets dark, and continue walking at dawn.

This line is the shipping lane, and every ship departs with a chart, and they need to know where there are reefs, which islands have fresh water, and where there are ports.

When the Ming Dynasty restarted its voyage to the Western Ocean, Peng Qing had a fight with the Hanlin Academy because of the waterway.

Hanlin Yuan also suffered a big loss because of this, and a boatload of people almost died on a desert island.

Although the island of Ceylon is only an island, it covers a very large area, and it is almost impossible to make the surrounding area of the island impermeable.

The Ottomans were holding the shipping lanes to besiege the Ming army on the island.

Zhang Jin couldn't break through head-on, so he took a risk, deviated from the course, and passed through the unknown sea.

When this approach was dangerous, it was simply a matter of putting death on the line, but fortunately, he succeeded.

Fan Zhong patted Zhang Jin on the shoulder and said, "Actually, you don't have to come back." ”

Zhang Jin's face changed: "Liang Guogong, you scolded me?" ”

Fan Zhong said earnestly: "Nanhaiwei can't be reinforced, you come back by yourself is nothing more than an extra life, why bother?" ”

"Liang Guogong, you can't say that, we haven't lost yet!"

Zhang Jin said: "Haven't the Ottomans yet hit the island? And even if they come, so what? The island of Ceylon is so big, which means that our strategic depth is very wide, fight with them, and when the reinforcements arrive, these people are all turtles in the urn, and none of them can run! ”

Fan Zhong listened to it and smiled bitterly in his heart, although this idea is good, but Nanhaiwei has been transferred, which shows that the matter of Jingshi is very serious, how can the emperor have the energy to take care of overseas affairs?

Now, we can only take one step at a time.

As a coach, he must set an example and boost morale.

"You're right, fuck it!"

Tang Xinggu glanced at him resentfully, and said, "The top priority is to solve the food problem, if it is too late, I am afraid that there will be a mutiny!" ”

"I blame the old man for this!"

Peng Qing looked annoyed and said: "The fleet is trapped, the supplies are lost, and the island of Ceylon is given thousands of extra mouths, it is the old man who is incompetent......"

"Master Peng, what you said is out again!"

When the two excused each other, someone came to report again.

"Qi Liang Guogong, Peng San and Han Liang are back."

Fan Zhong asked, "The two of them came together?" ”

"Yes, there are some people with me, who should be local natives."

Fan Zhong looked overjoyed and said, "Let him come in...... Forget it, I'll go out to meet you! ”

After speaking, he got up and walked out, and sure enough, he saw Peng San and Han Liang waiting outside the door, followed by a few local natives.

Before the Eastern Romans landed on the island of Ceylon, there were aborigines here.

At that time, the Sinhalese Kingdom and the Tamil Kingdom controlled the south and the north respectively, and when the Eastern Romans mixed in, the three sides fought together, the Sinhalese Kingdom retreated to the north, the Eastern Romans occupied the south, and the Tamil Kingdom was forced to migrate to the mountains in the center.

After the Ming army landed, the Eastern Romans were defeated and their sphere of influence was replaced by the Ming Dynasty.

The Sinhalese Kingdom and the Tamil Kingdom had been at war for hundreds of years, and if Fan Zhong took advantage of the situation to attack, he could easily control the entire island of Ceylon.

However, he did not do this, but after gaining a foothold, he established relations with the two countries separately, and accepted tribute from both countries in the name of the suzerain.

He even personally intervened to mediate the centuries-old dispute between the two countries.

This move undoubtedly showed the demeanor of a great power, and the Sinhalese Kingdom and the Tamil Kingdom were also sincerely attached.

As the saying goes, adversity sees true love, and now that the enemy is present, no one knows whether these two little brothers will change their minds......

Peng San and Han Liang went to the two countries to ask for help, which can be said to be risking their lives.

Because the two countries might rebel at any time, they captured the envoys of the Ming Dynasty and presented them to the Ottomans as a sign of loyalty.

When he saw the envoys of the two countries coming, the stone in Fan Zhong's heart finally fell to the ground.

"Knock on Liang Guogong!"

"Knock on Liang Guogong!"

When the two saw Fan Zhong, they hurriedly saluted.

"Get up!"

Fan Zhongxi smiled and asked, "Are things going well?" ”

Peng San replied: "The king of Sinhala is willing to send troops and food to cooperate against foreign enemies!" ”

Han Liang said: "The Tamil king also agreed to send troops and food, and sent His Royal Highness the Prince to come and return to his life. ”

Behind him, a young native said in broken Chinese: "Our soldiers and horses are being assembled, and the grain is being delivered, soon." ”

(End of chapter)