Another layer of concern lies in the people's hearts - the streets are relatively quiet now. With their relationship with the high-ranking officials and dignitaries of the Ming Dynasty, it is not difficult to get a permit to leave the city. But it is precisely because most people are out of town now.

If they cannot reach the city, they will become particularly conspicuous if they evacuate first.

Once concrete actions are taken, the talk of "Short-haired abandoning the court and running away" will inevitably become popular. No matter how they explain that they are only evacuating some of the female family members, those who spread gossip or even create rumors will not care.

——The more sensational the topic is, the more provocative it is, and the more it attracts attention. Modern people who have experienced the Internet age know this very well. And what emotions will the entire Ming court, including Emperor Chongzhen and high-ranking officials and dignitaries, have about this?

, of course it can be imagined - it will definitely not be positive.

"...Our friendship with the Ming Dynasty will be greatly reduced, and it will be difficult to make up for it in the future."

During the internal discussion meeting, Guo Yi used a game term to explain the consequences of retreat, which everyone could understand. After tapping the table and pondering for a long time, Lin Hanlong asked again:

"Does the rear base camp have any suggestions on this?"

——In the past few days, the ticking sound in their telegraph room has not stopped, and they have always maintained high-intensity contact with the rear. Chen Tao, who was in charge of this area, shook his head:

"The base camp made it very clear: we have the right to decide whether to leave or stay. In any case, they will give their full support, and the collective will bear the consequences."

Lin Hanlong nodded silently. It is not surprising that the headquarters would say this. This is related to the life and death of more than ten core personnel of the Qiong Navy and a large number of close subordinates. Even the committee does not dare to give random orders for fear of being responsible for the consequences of misjudgment that may lead to tragedy.

.

Therefore, they can only let the personnel at the front make their own decisions, and the rear can only provide full assistance.

After looking at the recording paper, Chen Tao added:

"In addition, Pang Yu has led the main force of the third regiment to board the ship from Weihai and plans to dock in Tianjin. If we want to withdraw, we will go to Tianjin to meet them."

"Wang Pu agrees to our troops landing in Tianjin?"

"Not yet. In the name of merchant ship escort, Pang Yu will arrange for the troops to temporarily stay at our exclusive dock. After he lands, he will go to interview Wang Pu. Wang Pu has been hanging around with them in Qiongzhou Mansion for so long, and it is with his own eyes that

Those who have seen their 'Qiongzhou Thirteen Taibao' way of doing things will not refuse."

Everyone nodded secretly. The people on their side had a good impression of Wang Jieshan and believed in Pang Yu's methods. They felt that landing the troops should not be a big problem. However, Wang Chen next to him suddenly interrupted:

"But Zhang Fengyi, Minister of the Ministry of War, is also in Tianjin during this time. Wang Pu may not be able to make the decision. Zhang Fengyi has no great friendship with us. It would be troublesome to use bureaucratic means to shirk it."

Chen Tao nodded:

"That's right, so Pang Yu sent a telegram, saying that it would be best if we could help get a name from the Ming Central Committee. Even if a powerful person in the court said something, it would be easy for him to convince the other party.

Much more."

"Hey, it's hard to talk about retreat this way..."

Lin Hanlong frowned and said, favors are limited. Now you run and say that you want to evacuate and give permission to leave the city. Based on past friendships, people always have to give face even if they feel unhappy. But then you said that we still want to

Sending an army to the capital of the Ming Dynasty to protect one's own property? That would be an act of overreaching and ignorance.

Besides, there are not many so-called "powerful figures" who can be used to persuade the Minister of War. There are not many in the entire Ming Dynasty. Qian Qianyi may not be qualified, that is, the first assistant Zhou Yanru and Emperor Chongzhen himself have such face. But these two can

Neither of them are easy to deal with. The former is cunning and cunning. If you owe him a favor, you will be able to repay it later. The latter is a fool who is easy to fool, but the emperor has a noble status and will never deal with them directly.

If you want to contact him, you must go through Qian Qianyi, Wang Chengen and other close ministers and chamberlains - and those people are not simple roles either.

Just when everyone was at a loss what to do, a hand was placed on the table and tapped twice. It was not just a subconscious action like Lin Hanlong's, but a deliberate sound to attract everyone's attention.

So everyone looked up and looked at each other - Old Jack, who rarely spoke in such discussions, made an exception this time.

"Everyone, I think our discussion may have fallen into a misunderstanding."

Old Jack didn't give in, he went straight to the core when he opened his mouth:

"We only considered the issue from our own standpoint, but we never thought that we are not actually the protagonists in this current turmoil."

He pointed to his feet:

"This is the capital of the Ming Empire, where their emperor, senior officials, and most important figures are located. For them, the life and death of us outsiders is actually irrelevant. Their own safety is the core issue."

"Judging from past examples, when those people encounter military threats, they will definitely mobilize all surrounding military forces to protect themselves. According to your custom, what is it called..."

"——King Qin."

Chen Tao reminded from the side, and Old Jack nodded:

"That's right, King Qin - that's what they did five years ago. So this time, I think they have no reason to refuse an army that flies the flag of the Ming Empire and has proven its combat effectiveness to come and provide assistance."

Regarding Old Jack's analysis, Lin Hanlong just shook his head slightly:

"The truth is correct, but Jack, I think you may have overlooked one point - the Ming Dynasty has never truly trusted us, just as we do not trust them. We both know this. Occupy Qiongzhou and send troops

Shandong, fighting in Liaodong... they can tolerate these, and are even happy to see the results. But allowing the Qiong Navy to enter the Gyeonggi area... I think they may not be able to accept it."

"It depends on the development of the situation. If those uninvited northern barbarians do invade this core area, it will be meaningless for the Ming Empire to keep us out. Their reserved and conservative attitude will naturally change when the time comes.

Changes will be made.”

"That means we should...wait patiently at this stage?"

Guo Yi folded his arms and muttered, and Old Jack nodded:

"Yes, there is no need for us to jump out in a hurry at the moment. After all, it is just a rumor, and judging from historical records, the capital of the Ming Empire was not really threatened this time. Becoming actors on the stage too early is not good for us.

It’s no good—the last person to appear is the finale.”

Everyone couldn't help but laugh. Old Jack often accompanied his wife to the theater to listen to music during this period. It seemed that he really learned a lot.

"In this case, our response strategy at this stage is to remain unchanged in the face of ever-changing circumstances and stay still for the time being. What do you think?"

Lin Hanlong suggested, and everyone thought for a moment and agreed to the idea. The retreat plan was temporarily put aside.

…………

So in the next few days, Qiongshi Square was quiet and quiet, and there was no movement. Including Tianjin, Pang Yu led his army to meet with Wang Pu, Zhang Fengyi and others after landing. I don’t know what he talked about. Anyway,

Nearly 2,000 people from the third regiment were allowed to go ashore. However, they did not continue forward, but only stayed in the Xingang area.

Originally, the agreement signed between Qionghai Trading Company and the Tianjin government included the provision of helping to build military ports, barracks, forts and other military facilities. The engineering department has a ready-made construction team working there. Originally, it was because it had to focus on profitable civilian projects first.

Facilities and military port areas have not yet started construction, but the land has been planned for a long time. After Pang Yu brought people over, he temporarily adjusted the construction sequence. With more than 2,000 strong laborers, and with the help of a professional construction team, a construction project was quickly established.

They settled down in a simple camp area and assumed a permanent stance.

Qiong Haijun could calm down, but the Ming court could not - just as old Jack said: They are the protagonists. Although the chaos on the surface has been suppressed, the chaos in people's hearts is not due to martial law.

It can be done.

Although the streets have been quiet these days, there are endless rumors. Military intelligence reports are sent from the front every day, but the news coming is all kinds of things. Some say that the Tatar army is still

While those who were besieging Datong Prefecture were also said to have moved to Xuanhua, the most exaggerated statement was that Tatar reconnaissance cavalry were seen near Huailai, Yanqing, and Juyongguan... It can be said that there were three surprises in one day in the capital.

The response of the Ming Dynasty court was like a headless fly. Every front-line newspaper was required to be sent directly to the imperial court for personal reading by the emperor, chief minister and others. However, the contents of these front-line newspapers were written by many different people.

From the governor down to the garrison, there are also secret reports from the local guarding eunuchs... Each report is based on the partial information they have come into contact with, and is also mixed with secret reports either out of timidity or selfishness.

And the various exaggerations and inaccuracies mixed in make it a mess.

"Now I know what the fog of war is. This is simply a blind man trying to fathom an elephant!"

——Lin Hanlong, Guo Yi and others have not been idle these days and have been trying to find out the news. With their current relationship with senior officials and nobles of the Ming Dynasty, as long as they do not make some difficult demands, such as the large-scale evacuation of Qiongshifang,

Or let Qiongzhen soldiers and horses be stationed in the capital, etc... Basically, the Ming court could get the first-hand information, and they would soon be able to see the second-hand transcripts.

It's just that the more I read, the more confused I become - the content of these military intelligence reports is confusing and self-contradictory far beyond the limits that normal people can imagine. With the logical reasoning ability of a bunch of modern people, even old Jack

Including this former professional soldier, he also used accurate maps from later generations to synthesize the contents of those newspapers, but he was unable to deduce the current situation.
Chapter completed!