237 preparation for war

While Qiongzhou City was mobilizing and actively preparing for war, other places on the island were also preparing for war.

The Qionghai cannot be dispatched, and the disadvantage of being passively attacked is reflected - the enemy force is strong, and the navigation at sea can adjust the direction at any time. Even the staff team cannot judge where the opponent's main attack target will be. Anywhere on Hainan Island

They are all likely to be attacked, or even attacked at the same time. After all, the opponent has plenty of troops, so they can be deployed easily.

Fortunately, on the entire Hainan Island, they only need to focus on Lingao and Qiongzhou for defense. As for Chengmai, which is sandwiched between these two places, the plan is to send a company there to watch if the enemy lands.

If there are few troops, they can engage in beach blockade operations. If there are many troops, they can simply put them ashore and then deal with them. Anyway, they have the support of modern communication technology and are not afraid of being cut off. If the enemy really dares to land in Chengmai, both sides can send troops to attack from a pincer attack.

But we cannot give up on other places. Qiongzhou Prefecture has three prefectures: Ya, Dan, and Wan. In addition to Qiongshan, Chengmai, and Lingao, there are also Anding, Wenchang, Huitong, Lehui, Changhua, and Thanksgiving.

, Lingshui and other seven counties... these places are now nominally their short-haired territory.

However, it is only in name - it has been almost three years since the Qionghai ran aground in Hongpai Port. The one hundred and thirty-nine time travelers who got off the big iron ship claimed to control the entire island of Hainan.

But in fact, except for Qionglin, which is under direct control, and Chengmai, which is semi-remotely controlled, the Chuanchuangzong's rule over other areas on Hainan Island is in name only. Except for occasionally sending some exploration teams to understand the resources and minerals, they have never gone there.

An administrative staff member was dispatched to these locations.

Except for the officials in Qionglin and Lin who had to be dispatched, the Ming Dynasty officials and assistants in other places had been living according to their original habits. The official documents they sent to the capital would be approved as usual, and the food and salary they requested would be met, and the amount

There will be more... So many local people don't actually care about the changes in the state capital. For these people, since everything is the same as before, who controls the city, and what does it have to do with them?

However, when the news came, it was said that in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty on the mainland, they were all "rebellious" people and had somehow become rebels? Naturally, everyone in that group of officials screamed that they were wronged. The local officials

That's it. All the officials sent by the imperial court were studying hard in a miserable life. They expected to stay in such a ghost place for a few years so that they could go back to get fat jobs in the future. Who would have thought that they would end up in such a situation?

The house master, the seat master, the same year, the same hometown... It is conceivable that these people have searched for all the connections they can find, and I don’t know how many letters they have written to the mainland. But it is also conceivable that when it comes to rebellion,

Who dares to speak out? This kind of defense is useless.

After hearing the news that the Ming Dynasty was going to send troops to encircle and suppress them, this group of people was even more panicked. How could they become rebels after being officials? And they had to be conquered by the imperial army? There is nothing more unfair in the world than this.

?

When Liushen was left without a master, someone finally came from the state capital and brought them the arrangements for Fucheng Shorthair. If it were normal times, these guys who still considered themselves loyal ministers of the Ming Dynasty would definitely attack those who "stealed the throne."

The guys who are like "monkeys and crowns" are dismissive, but at this time, they have no choice but to obey the shorthair's arrangements.

Fortunately, Shorthair's request was not excessive. They did not send a single soldier. They just said hello to the local government - Don't be afraid when the Ming Dynasty's army comes. Just hang a white flag and surrender. If the other party admits it,

There is no need to even surrender, just open the door to welcome Master Wang. Anyway, the flag of the Ming Dynasty has always been hung in these places.

"However, the army that the Ming Dynasty came to conquer this time was mainly composed of southern barbarians and Western barbarians. Those people are not good people. I am afraid they will harass the place and rob people's property. So, if

If you feel that the people coming here have bad intentions, you can also send someone to inform us and we will take care of them."

According to what the messenger relayed from Mr. Shorthair, it can be said that the controllers of the prefectures and cities have done their best to be benevolent and righteous - it is up to you whether you want to fight or surrender. This actually gives those local bureaucrats a chance to choose:

Do you want to continue with Ming Dynasty or come to our side? It’s up to you!

It sounds very good, but in fact, when old Professor Li Mingyuan sent those envoys to various places, he had some discussion on this:

"Based on the military discipline of the Ming Dynasty's army, they will definitely not be able to do anything wrong. What's more, the people who came this time are all mercenaries, relying on military merit and robbery... So even if those local governments are completely devoted to the Ming Dynasty, I believe that in the

After this time, they may all have to turn to our side."

"In other words, what Ming can do for us is what we can't do?"

"Yes, basically, similar to the Central Propaganda Department of our time."

——Occasionally, the old professor would have a sense of humor. Ling Ning, Wen Desi and others burst into laughter when they heard this.

The news was passed quickly. Ling Ning led a small fleet and circled around Hainan Island, notifying all seven counties. The Ming Dynasty's ruling areas were all in coastal areas. As for Hainan Island,

In many places in the mainland and southern mountainous areas, the Ming Dynasty has never been able to effectively rule, and local tribal leaders are self-governing. These people have no good impressions of all outsiders, whether Ming or short-haired. Over the years, officers and soldiers have quelled "barbarian rebellions"

They were the ones who killed the most. If the Ming army really had the ability to get into that kind of place, there would be no need to go through all the trouble to deal with it. It is estimated that it would be difficult for them to climb out of the mountain.

In addition to the two large ships Qionghai and Princess, Chuanzhong now also owns a dozen other wooden-hulled ships of various models. Qiongzhou and Lingao each have a batch. The ships in Qiongzhou are relatively larger in tonnage.

, which has a larger load capacity and is mainly used for cargo transportation. The one on the Lingao side is mainly fast and light. Its main tasks are patrolling, sentry, and communication. It also does some things like fishing and shrimp fishing to help improve the situation.

Food in the big cafeteria.

Most of the cargo ships were purchased, while most of the patrol boats were built by the shipyard and were the work of Wang Ruobin. However, the designer himself was not satisfied with his works.

"Hey, if I had been allowed to engage in schooner design, we would have had a mature fleet of brigs armed with eighteenth-century technology. How could we be like now, unable to make a difference...

"

At that time, Wang Ruobin wanted to get it right in one step and directly launch the more mature Western two-masted schooner "Schooner". However, Tang Jian asked him to build the simplest and most mature local ship type on the grounds of time constraints. As a result, a batch of comparative ships were built.

Low-end traditional Cantonese-style pointed bottom boats can be used, but their performance will definitely not meet the high standards of these modern people.

That's fine. The key problem is that after these ships were built, it dragged on for more than half a year. During this period, we repeatedly said that we were going to fight, but no war actually started. However, the shipyard was always in a state of war readiness.

Construction could not start normally, and Wang Ruobin's plan to continue developing large sailing ships was also delayed, which caused great dissatisfaction among the gun dealers and ship owners. He often complained in private that Captain Tang made wrong decisions and delayed the development of the navy...

…

But he was just grumbling in private. Even if Wang Ruobin had the guts to do so, he would not dare to express his opinions in person to the armed police captain who was responsible for guarding him and took off his handcuffs. Wang Ruobin only dared to

Complain to Ling Ning and Wen Desi - they are representatives of the user. The patrol fleet in Lingao is mostly led by Ling Ning, and occasionally Wen Desi makes a guest appearance, responsible for going to Qiongzhou

The opposite is true for the transport fleet delivering goods to the government.

Regarding the shipowner's complaints, the two men just laughed and gave up. Wang Ruobin only considered shipbuilding but did not think about the problem of sailors. Even if he really built a schooner of the eighteenth century level, where would he find so many knowledgeable sailors to operate it in a hurry?

After all, there is only one sailing genius like Andrew. A lot of the experience of driving a schooner has to be summed up little by little while operating the Yukikaze. Until now, he is still slowly exploring it, and there is still a long way to go before it can be put into practical use.

There is a road to go.

As representatives of the navy, Ling Ning and Wen Desi have also complained recently - with the current war approaching, as a vital maritime force, they cannot play any use. Regardless of the fleets in Qiongzhou or Lingao, including those

The Princesses are now all moored at the innermost anchorage of Red Brand Harbor. There are several forts next to them. They are under the heavy protection of several bronze cannons. They are absolutely safe, but they are no longer allowed to go out.

Although the two of them approached the old professor and Captain Tang several times and expressed their willingness to lead a ship to attack, even if they harassed and prevented the other party from crossing the sea smoothly, they were repeatedly rejected.

"Even if it is equipped with artillery and rockets, our wooden ship is not much more advanced than the opponent in terms of performance, but it is at an absolute disadvantage in terms of quantity. What's more, you two have never commanded a real naval battle, so you launched it rashly

Facing the Zheng family and the Western war fleet? There will be no other result except the destruction of the entire army."

Although Tang Jian didn't understand naval warfare, he made clear strategic judgments, so no matter how impassioned the two men were, he refused. The entire staff also held the same attitude, including Ling Ning's best friend.

The same goes for Pang Yu.

The two people actually understood this truth in their hearts. However, seeing that everyone was actively working for the upcoming war, they, the sailors who were supposed to be at the forefront, were doing nothing, and it was inevitable that they would feel depressed.

"Even the Beiyang Navy successfully fought a battle in Dadonggou back then. Why did we become an 'existential fleet' without even firing a single shot?"

However, the situation was such that the two of them had nothing to do. The only thing they could do was to go to the shipyard construction site every day and pray that the modification of the Qionghai could be completed as soon as possible so as not to miss this battle.

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Hey, I'm sorry, the network in the unit was interrupted today, I can't get online, and I can't update.
Chapter completed!