Not long ago, Yizhou City Hekou Port returned to the hands of the Li Family Chamber of Commerce fleet of the Ming Empire and was captured by a team of Li Family Musketeers with a number of about 800 people. At the same time, there was a team of Ming soldiers with a number of more than 3,000 people, who were auxiliary soldiers of the Li Family Musketeers.
That's right, the soldiers of the Ming Empire are now sailors from the Li Family Chamber of Commerce and the most elite 15,000 musketeers. The rest are all fencemen and auxiliary soldiers, which are useless!
When the Admiral of the Ming Navy and the Admiral of the East China Sea, Li, on June 17, the 17th year of Chongzhen, led an army of 20,000 to defeat Kyoto, seize Shanhaiguan, killed more than 40,000 Jiannu, surrendered tens of thousands, won the capital and drove the invading enemy out of the pass, soon the Ming Empire made a comeback again and revived Shandong, Shanxi and north of the capital to Shanhaiguan and other areas.
Especially after the rebel Li Zicheng was defeated by the Li family and the Ming army again in Pingyang and Huaiqing, the imperial power of the Ming Empire was rarely consolidated as if he had cleared the clouds and mists and saw the sun, and guarded the clouds and saw the bright moon.
On August 15th, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the 17th year of Chongzhen.
On this day, he was known as the "Huo Guang" of the Ming Empire. He was appointed as the general, the commander of the Beijing Guard and the governor of the Five Army Governor's Office, and the East China Sea Governor Li welcomed the eldest princess Zhu Mai to the Forbidden City in the morning of the 15th, and returned to the palace.
At night, the moon is in the sky, and the light in the capital is shining, and people can see the shadows, just like daytime.
At that time, the ministers gathered in the Taihe Hall to discuss matters. The Li family sailors were guarding the hall outside. Under the moonlight, some magpies mistakenly thought it was daytime, so they played and sang among the eaves of the palace.
At that time, after the ministers saw it, one of them immediately stepped forward and kowtowed and shouted, "Feng Ji Taihe Hall, and the Red Bird saw the court. This is auspiciousness and a sign of the revival of the Ming Dynasty?"
After hearing this, the eldest princess, who was sitting sideways by the dragon throne, was shocked, but she did not dare to move or answer easily.
However, Li, the admiral of the Ming Navy and the admiral of the East China Sea, agreed and supported by the ministers who returned to the Ming Dynasty. On the spot, the eldest princess Zhu Mai, who was only fifteen years old and had just reached her prime, became the queen of the Ming Dynasty, changed the reign of the Heavenly Sutra and changed the capital to the capital of the God Capital.
“!!”
"Absurd! It's simply ridiculous!"
"What are the queens of the Ming Dynasty? She also 'Feng Ji Taihe Hall, the Red Birds meet the court'. Did the Li family think that I hadn't read history books before the elders of the cabinet?"
"It's outrageous!"
“It’s simply outrageous!!”
"The moon is still bright in the sky, and the gods are so proud that they are so lazy that they can even think about the year name. It is simply too much to copy the year name of Wu Zhi and Wu Zetian. It is simply too much to deceive others!!"
In Yangzhou City, Yangzhou Supervisor, Jianji Palace Grand Secretary, and Minister of War Shi Kefa, when he saw the mansion report from the north and the manifesto of the new emperor's amnesty in his hand, he was so angry that he washed his precious jade pen and threw it hard on the floor and let it fall into pieces.
“…”
“…”
On the side, his officials did not dare to breathe for a moment, but looked at each other with each other looking at me and I, and no one dared to go up to persuade him at this time.
After all, there was nothing we could do. The Li family did not recognize their court in the Southern Ming Dynasty. They did not listen to the orders or the Xuan. Then they went north and conquered the capital, defeated the Jiannu and the thieves, and then successfully welcomed the eldest princess to the old capital during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The great martial arts were indeed very convincing to the world.
As for the queen and so on...
Anyway, there is a precedent for Wu Zetian, so it seems that it is not too difficult for them to accept it in the eyes of officials who do not have much interest disputes and even the people in the south of the Ming Dynasty?
"Where do they do that to bring my new emperor?"
"It's really a lie!"
"It's a very evil crime!"
As he said that, Superintendent Shi picked up another good Duan inkstone and planned to smash it out again.
However, when he saw the fragments of the jade pen washing on the ground, his mouth suddenly twitched, he hesitated for a while, and finally he had to put the inkstone back on the table.
He knew that it was useless for him to lose his temper here, because the soldiers of the Li family and the Li family did not listen to them at all, and the other party had strong combat power. The arrogant Jiannu and the Mongols were beaten away by them. Li Zicheng, a thief who was in trouble all over the world, suffered a series of failures. It is said that they have fled to Xi'an now. With such strong combat power, coupled with the strong ships and powerful cannons, what can they do if their Southern Ming court is dissatisfied?
After all, the other party fought back to the north, took over the capital area, Shandong, Shanxi and Shanhaiguan, and then made the first emperor's legitimate daughter the emperor in the Taihe Palace in an open manner. It seemed that it was always more legitimate than they made King Fu as emperor in the south?
However, as the saying goes, there is no day, and there is no two masters of the country. There are two emperors in the south and north, and two courts. Such things cannot last. At this point, their south and north are doomed to be inconsistent, and there may be a big chaos in the future!
And this is the reason why his military commander Shi lost his temper.
"explain!"
"Tell me all!"
"Now, what should I do?"
After losing his temper and thinking it through, Supervisor Shi had to temporarily suppress his chaotic thoughts and turned to his officials indignantly asking for advice.
“…”
“…”
The officials looked at each other, and then for a long time, an official in casual clothes who looked more like a merchant walked out and said:
"Supervisor!"
"At present, I have no choice but to fight. I can't beat you, so I can only settle for the status quo."
"but……"
"Report from the front line..."
"After the Li family took over Yizhou and other places, in the north of our Yangzhou, Commander Zhang from the front line of Xuzhou led several thousand households and surrendered to the north with thousands of people..."
"At present, people in the north are unstable, and many generals leading the troops are ready to move. This is not a solution."
Although this is indeed not good news, it will only make Supervisor Shi feel worse, when this person's heart is fluctuating, the official can't take care of too much.
After all, these people are also very 'human hearts are floating' at this time, and are preparing to continue to wait and see, and then quickly place a bet again to find another future!
"ah!"
"What did you say?"
"When was that happening?"
"Report to the Supervisor!"
"According to the speed at which the messenger delivers the letter, it was about three days ago."
“!!”
"Three days ago, didn't that mean that the defense line in the north has been pulled a big hole?"
"This, this..."
The Yangzhou governor Shi Kefa was stunned and staggered to sit on the chair behind his desk. He could not come back to his senses for a long time.
Unexpectedly, the empress in the north hurriedly ascended the throne, and there were already generals in the south voluntarily leading their troops to surrender. If this continues, wouldn't that be fine?
"What should I do?"
"well……"
Although he, the Yangzhou governor, has never truly controlled the soldiers outside Yangzhou City, and his name is not only true, as long as those generals still recognize the Ming court and recognize him as a minister of the Ming Dynasty, everything will have room for maneuver.
But now, as soon as the Queen in the north ascended the throne, the rats on both ends of the head and rats actually abandoned them without hesitation?
Shi Kefa can imagine that under the fluctuation of people's hearts, there will definitely be even worse things waiting for them next!
Especially when the Southern Ming Dynasty court is newly established, the government orders are not fulfilled, and the generals from all over the country are in control of their own troops, if such a terrible joint effect occurs, the only thing waiting for them, the Southern Ming "members" will be that miserable end.
So, he had to think of a way...
“…”
“…”
Looking at the Shi Superintendent who was panicked, sitting down dejectedly and his face was constantly changing, the official sighed in his heart, and did not say much, but quietly retreated to the queue of everyone.
He heard that the court and the queen in the north are recruiting refugees to reclaim land and resume farming, and also sending land and seeds for free. They also guaranteed that there would be no tax for three years, and at the same time opened the maritime ban and encouraged trade. The officials were all moved by the hearing.
They knew that the Li family was very rich and had many sea ships for sea trade. The gold and silver shipments returned from Japan and Nanyang were even as good as the taxes of the Ming Dynasty in the past few years. After regaining the North, they never did the fundraising system. Even the soldiers' pay was doubled on time. Not to mention the commander-in-chief Zhang, who was often deducted food and salary, if they were the ones, they would probably know the place and choose good trees to live in, right?
From this we can see that once the Li family in the north is freed up to defeat the thief who is like a stray dog ​​at this time and recover a large area of ​​land in the northwest to quell the civil strife, then at that time, the Southern Ming side can naturally make an order!
After all, the people in Jiangnan are not at the moment. The Southern Ming Dynasty was not yet established for a while and no one was convinced by anyone. They are also very wealthy and will never hang themselves on a tree.
Of course, you can’t talk nonsense about hanging things!
Because it is said that Emperor Chongzhen died on a crooked tree and died for his country. "The emperor guards the country's gates, and the king dies in the country." Although it is heroic, such things, whether in the Southern Ming or the Northern Ming Dynasty, are all taboo things and cannot be easily said.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Gradually, the study room of the Yangzhou governor Shi Kefa fell silent.
Including Shi, the few people here were silently thinking about their own affairs and thinking about their own little abacus in their hearts.
As for whether they are thinking about the same thing, only God knows.
...
When the distant Eastern Ming Empire was causing severe turmoil for something, on the other side of the earth, at the gateway to the Mediterranean of Europe, the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Invincible Fleet, the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Invincible Fleet and the admiral of the Spanish Kingdom Navy, finally led his Invincible Fleet back to the Port of Seville, and naturally saw a broken area of ​​shipwrecks, smoke, firelights and shocking dense masts standing on the sea of ​​the harbor.
In the distance, Seville's coastal defense fortress had been knocked down by most of the collapsed walls. Between the broken eaves and walls, there were only a few walls and pillars standing there, which looked so desolate.
The hideous thieves from the port to the fort, the broken cannons and broken bricks and stones from all directions were silently telling what they had experienced here.
There were also ships floating on the water on the pier burning with sparks and curling black smoke, but no one paid attention to them and let them float there and continue to burn, because compared to the rolling black smoke in the shipyard and the fire in the pile yard that had not been extinguished for two days, the port was just a small problem.
“…”
Although there were not many corpses, he was carrying the soldiers safely with his ugly face. Looking at the tragic appearance of the Port of Seville in front of him, Barudis couldn't help but hold the hilt of the sword that the king at his waist symbolized power.
"explain!"
"Where are those Orientals?!"
At this time, Barudis saw an officer who was running over to greet him with a small group of soldiers. Then, he was furious and quickly stepped forward. Without waiting for the other party to speak, he grabbed the other party's collar and asked angrily.
"Report, report to the Admiral!"
"That devil-like fleet, they bombarded Seville, destroyed the docks, forts, and fortresses, and then burned the merchant ships, the military ports and shipyards, and then took the initiative to retreat."
"I heard..."
"It is said that they are now heading into the Strait of Gibraltar."
The officer dared not resist, nor did he dare to hide it, and answered the question quickly and honestly.
“!!”
"There are more than 30 warships of all sizes here in Seville. Where did they go, are they all waste?"
"Just let them bombard the port and leave with a swagger?"
Although Barudis, who received information from Ras Palmas and urgently returned to the sea, had thought that Seville would be attacked by those cunning Orientals, he could not believe that the Port of Seville was beaten so badly?
"them……"
"Report!"
"Sir, where are our warships now..."
The officer did not break away from Barudis's hand, but pointed at the military dock tremblingly.
There were only a few dozen or hundreds of masts that were sunk in the sea and exposed, facing each other, and one or two wooden ships that were floating and smoked, burning only the wreckage of underwater. They just laughed silently at the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Invincible Fleet, Barudis, the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Kingdom Navy who had just returned.
“!!”
"Impossible! This is impossible!!"
Barudis pushed the officer away and roared hysterically.
"Admiral!"
"The orientals from the Ming Empire were very cunning. They secretly came over in the morning light with their backs facing the sun. When we saw them clearly, it was too late!"
"Before the fleet had time to open the port, it suffered a devastating blow, and then..."
"It's all sunk!"
"Then they began to bombard merchant ships..."
"You don't know that their artillery fire is very fierce and the range is very long. Our turrets cannot fight back, and the shells cannot reach them at all."
"The fortress was later destroyed by them."
"The fires in the docks and military ports burned for a day and a night, and the fleet, merchant ships and warehouses were all over!"
"It's all over!"
Fortunately, the Li family fleet only destroyed merchant ships, warships, wharfs and shipyards. It did not land, nor did it bombard the residential areas in the city. But even so, their Spanish Invincible Fleet and the Port of Seville also suffered heavy losses and may not be able to recover for several years.
Of course, the most important thing is: the bad impact caused by the shelling of the Port of Seville!
So, before Barudis came back, His Majesty the King sent someone to order in advance immediately after receiving the news: He ordered the Invincible Armada to catch or destroy those hateful Oriental people at all costs?
"explain!"
"How much is the loss?"
Barudis looked at the deserted pier around him with a blue face, and then asked after a while.
"After preliminary estimates..."
"There are at least 100 merchant ships of various sizes and sizes, countless warehouses and cargo, and almost all fortresses and forts were destroyed. The shipyards and material piles were basically completed. As for warships..."
"More than thirty warships of all sizes were wiped out!!"
With his head down, the Spanish officer did not dare to hide it and probably told him some of the data he knew.
Five ships lined up in a row, and then hundreds of long-range cannons were bombarded at their port on one side. That kind of scene, just thinking about it, could still make the officer feel heartfelt fear.
"roll!"
"waste!"
"It's all waste!!"
"etc!"
"You just said...those Orientals, have they entered the Mediterranean?"
After a few angrily rebuked, suddenly, the furious Barudis barely suppressed his anger, turned around suddenly, stared at the officer who bowed his head and asked this question.
"Yes!"
"There are merchant ships that entered the Strait of Gibraltar and have not heard of them coming out again."
“!!”
"Order!"
"Let the fleet block the Strait of Gibraltar!"
"Tele to Madeira and other fleets near the Mediterranean to order them to return to Seville immediately!"
"besides!"
"Sort all armed merchant ships from our country!"
"Those Ming people, they are dead this time!!"
The commander-in-chief of the Spanish Invincible Armada, who was fooled by once, said with gritting teeth, the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Invincible Armada.
"yes!"
An officer following Barudis was shocked and prepared to run to pass the order.
"etc!"
"Mobilize the Mediterranean intelligence network, all port intelligence networks!"
"I must know as soon as possible the whereabouts of those Eastern people and their Li family fleet!"
In Barudis's view, since the other party entered the Mediterranean like a death sentence, the next thing will be much easier.
"besides!"
"I have someone bring fifty warships to the Port of Ceuta that requisitioned the Portuguese!"
"Let them guard the other side of the strait!"
After all, there is only the entrance and exit of the Strait of Gibraltar in the Mediterranean, so even in a state of rage, Barudis still gave the order he thought was the most accurate.
As long as he mobilizes a huge fleet to defend Sevilla and Ceuta, he completely stops the Mediterranean estuary, he believes that even if he can't find the enemy, his initiative will always be with him.
Because those Orientals always have a day when they come out and are defeated by their invincible fleet!
"yes!"
"Abide by the order!!"
(??)
Chapter completed!