Chapter 307 Two great victories!
The atmosphere in the cabin was at its lowest point.
According to the original plan, Su Ze wanted to defeat the new Japanese pirates led by Lin Daoqian at sea, completely lift the Japanese pirates' blockade on the Fujian area, and decide the sea in one battle.
In order to intercept the Japanese pirates coming from the sea, Su Ze brought almost all the new navy troops to the sea, leaving all matters on land to Qi Jiguang's Qi Jiajun.
If the Japanese pirates did not come to Fuzhou, but landed in Xinghua Prefecture or somewhere else, it would be a huge disaster for Fujian.
Then Su Ze's plan to use his prestige to realize mutual guarantee between Fujian and Zhejiang will also fail.
Once the Japanese pirates land in other places, they will immediately break into pieces and start looting the place. When Su Ze rushes over, he will face the scattered Japanese pirates, just like the spreading virus that enters the body, causing huge damage along the way. Complete eradication will require a lot of energy.
This is also the reason why Su Ze chose to intercept at sea.
However, the sea is vast, and it is not easy to accurately intercept the Japanese pirates. The clipper ship failed to find the Japanese pirates, which cast a thick haze on the hearts of everyone in the fleet.
Until the invention of satellites, even with radar and radio, searching for enemies at sea had a very low success rate. Otherwise, the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor would not have happened.
Su Ze still firmly believed in his own judgment. He looked at the chart and carefully considered various possible scenarios.
It must be because of the monsoon wind direction that the Japanese pirate fleet deviated from its course! The Japanese pirates must be heading towards Fuzhou City!
At the same time, in Lin Daoqian's fleet, the lookouts were checking the stars to determine their position.
"Damn evil wind!" Lin Daoqian complained. Not long after setting sail from Shihaizi Island, the fleet encountered a strange evil wind and blew them off course.
Now they were further south on the preset route, and the entire fleet spent several more days sailing in order to adjust to the original route.
During this period, some Japanese pirates had suggested that the fleet should simply go south to attack Xinghua Prefecture.
But all of them were rejected by Lin Daoqian.
The reason for Lin Daoqian's refusal is also very simple. If he lands in Xinghua Mansion, everyone will grab what they have.
The reason why Lin Daoqian wanted to attack Fuzhou Prefecture was for the silk worth 300,000 taels of silver.
If he had such a sum of silk in his hands, Lin Daoqian could be responsible for distributing the spoils and become the boss of the Japanese pirates like Wang Zhixu Hai.
With this silk, Lin Daoqian could also buy warships and artillery from Westerners in Southeast Asia, and hire samurai in the Japanese country. Then Lin Daoqian could quickly expand into a giant Japanese leader like Wang Zhi, commanding the sea.
So for Lin Daoqian, there is only one goal this time, and that is Fuzhou City!
According to the stars recorded by the lookout, Lin Daoqian took out the chart. He had traveled this route more than a dozen times. He only needed three more days to sail back to the original route.
Then continue sailing for ten days and you will be able to reach Fuzhou City.
Lin Daoqian licked the corner of his mouth and let this battle in Fuzhou establish his reputation as the new generation of Japanese pirate king!
Lin Daoqian didn't know that during the next day, a speeding clipper ship spotted his huge fleet with a telescope, and then quickly turned around and returned.
On the fifth day of May, Xu Wei rushed to Fuzhou City in a hurry, only to learn that Su Ze had led the fleet on a long voyage to sea.
Xu Wei could only stay in Fuzhou City and wait for Su Ze to return from the sea.
At the same time, Hu Zongxian, the governor-general of Zhili in southern Zhejiang, received a report from his subordinate Yu Zongyuan that traces of Japanese pirates were found on the sea in Taizhou.
Yu Zongyuan took the initiative to ask for war, but Hu Zongxian ordered him not to fight and rushed from the governor's office in Hangzhou to Taizhou.
It was the plum rain season in Zhejiang. Under the pouring rain, Hu Zongxian walked into Yu Zongyuan's tent.
Yu Zongyuan, who was having a military meeting, suddenly saw Hu Zongxian coming in. He immediately jumped up and went down to greet his immediate superior.
"Hu Butang! Why are you here!"
Hu Zongxian looked around and found that all of Yu Zongyuan's main generals were in the tent.
He said coldly: "What? Is Mr. Yu going to fight privately? That's why you don't welcome me, the governor of Zhejiang Province?"
Yu Zongyuan was not embarrassed at all, but put on a smile and said: "Hu Butang is joking Yes, after receiving your order, we have been shrinking our troops, Lin Deyang! Come and tell Hu Butang about the layout of our army!" To talk about the creed of
this young master, in the words of later generations, it is "professionalism" Leave the matter to professionals."
Although he is a Fujian martial arts graduate, Mr. Yu is very self-aware. He can't even take care of his own concubine. He often causes fires in the backyard and leads thousands of troops?
Those who can't carry it, those who don't have the ability.
Mr. Yu is self-aware, so everything from daily training to leading troops to fight is left to Lin Deyang and the group of officers assigned to him by Su Ze.
Mr. Yu's job is to go to the military camp every day to express condolences, and then as a mascot to deal with the governor's office and local government offices.
Mr. Yu actually did a very good job!
Lin Deyang and the others were in charge of military affairs, and they deserved a lot of money. Mr. Yu was here to make a fortune, and he didn't want to embezzle the military pay money.
Every time Mr. Yu inspects the military camp, he is very friendly to the people and does not put on any airs. The soldiers all like this commander-in-chief who does not take the blood of soldiers.
Mr. Yu was good at dancing and had good relations with local yamen. He was also able to get extra military rations and rewards, so the soldiers supported him even more.
In addition, Mr. Yu gets along well with the Governor's Office and the surrounding officials. He can achieve good results when he goes out to do external affairs.
Seeing Yu Zongyuan's playful face, Hu Zongxian was not angry, but said:
"Where is the information about the Japanese pirates!"
Lin Deyang stood up and said: "Go back to the department, our beacon tower off the coast of Taizhou has warned that the Japanese pirates have landed on the islands off the coast of Taizhou. There are still a lot of people. They should have gathered all the remaining Japanese pirates in Zhejiang, and their target is Taizhou City." Hu Zongxian continued to ask: "Where are the people near Taizhou?" "Back to the headquarters, the people along the coast have evacuated, and the old people in Taizhou
City
have The weak, sick and disabled have also been transferred out, and those who are left behind are young and strong."
Lin Deyang said worriedly: "Butang, this time the Japanese pirates are coming very hard, and they have also brought the cannons of the Folangji people. If we don't send troops, I'm afraid Taizhou City won't be able to bear it for long."
Everyone in the tent looked at Hu Zongxian.
Lin Deyang sighed in his heart. He had studied closely with Su Ze for a period of time. He once heard Su Ze say, "War is the continuation of politics."
At that time, Lin Deyang was just a commander of the Shanghai Anti-Japanese Corps, and his understanding of this sentence was not deep.
But as he "assisted" Yu Zongyuan in fighting the Japanese in Zhejiang, he gradually understood this truth.
The fight against the Japanese was a political war, and the Japanese rebellion was difficult to quell. In addition to the Japanese pirates roaming the sea and the large smuggling companies along the coast, it also had a lot to do with the political situation of the court.
Although Lin Deyang was not aware of the turmoil surrounding the fall of power in the capital, there were already more and more memorials to impeach Hu Zongxian by the official censor of Nanzhili.
Lin Deyang couldn't help but sigh, Mr. Su is really good at predicting things!
When Su Ze asked Lin Deyang to go south to Zhejiang, he said that when the Japanese rebellion in Zhejiang was over, it would be the time for the officials to attack Hu Zongxian. At that time, Lin Deyang innocently asked Su Ze how Hu Zongxian would break the situation.
Su Ze just smiled and told Lin Deyang to make two plans.
Lin Deyang still remembers these two strategies Su Ze said when they parted:
"The best strategy is to take advantage of the Japanese's self-respect. As long as the Japanese rebellion in Zhejiang is unjust, Hu Zongxian can continue to serve as the governor of Zhejiang. If he is lucky enough to die in office, it will be regarded as a public loyalty in the history books." Tiguo died fighting the Japanese."
"The next best strategy is to quell the Japanese as soon as possible, and then request to retire and return home with the great contribution of pacifying the Japanese. However, once this strategy is used, whether to kill or behead in the future depends on the situation in the court. ."
Lin Deyang didn't understand it at that time, but now looking at Hu Zongxian's old face, Lin Deyang understands everything.
However, after fighting in Zhejiang for many years, Lin Deyang had seen too much suffering of the local people. When he thought of the Japanese pirates' harassment of Taizhou, he clenched his fists and wanted to challenge Hu Zongxian.
But I heard Hu Zongxian say: "General Yu, according to your estimate, how long will it take for the Japanese pirates to land!?" Yu
Zongyuan raised his head blankly, he looked at Lin Deyang, Lin Deyang quickly held his fists in a military salute and said:
"As soon as two Days, at least five days, just in the last few days."
Hu Zongxian lowered his head and looked at the map and said. He did not ask Yu Zongyuan, but directly asked Lin Deyang:
"If the Japanese pirates land, what can the Zhejiang New Army do? Are you sure that all the invading Japanese pirates will be annihilated?"
Lin Deyang was stunned. He looked at Hu Zongxian, then trembled and said,
"If we go back to the headquarters! Our new army will definitely be able to annihilate all the invading Japanese pirates!"
Hu Zongxian nodded. , then waved his hand and said: "Then pass the order, assemble the army and prepare for war. If you need anything, tell me or you, Commander-in-Chief Yu, that all the military guards and regiments near Taizhou will be under the control of Commander-in-Chief Yu." Hu Zongxian looked at it
. Looking at Lin Deyang, he said: "Vice General Lin, the people of Zhejiang are suffering too much. Even if the Japanese pirates cannot be eliminated in this battle, Zhejiang can still gain more than ten years of peace. I leave it all to you!" Lin Deyang looked at Hu Zongxian in surprise.
This In the eyes of Zhejiang officials, Yan Song, a controversial figure who followed the trend of others and was unscrupulous in doing things, suddenly became taller at this moment.
Hu Zongxian did not choose to take advantage of the Japanese pirates, but asked Lin Deyang to complete his efforts in one battle and completely eliminate the Japanese pirates in Zhejiang!
Yu Zongyuan still doesn't understand the choice Hu Zongxian made. He is just happy to be able to fight and make meritorious services.
Only Lin Deyang looked at Hu Zongxian with reverence.
"Lieutenant General Lin, please stay here for a moment."
When everyone left the tent, only Hu Zongxian and Lin Deyang were left in the tent.
Hu Zongxian suddenly said: "Vice General Lin, I remember that you are a fellow villager of Su Rulin and once served in the Shanghai Anti-Japanese General Corps?"
Lin Deyang nodded.
Hu Zongxian said: "After this battle, Hu will resign and return home. It is estimated that it will be difficult to see Su Rulin again in this life."
Lin Deyang was not surprised. Hu Zongxian chose to destroy the Taizhou Japanese pirates, and he was planning to resign and return to hermitage. Ze expected.
"You don't seem surprised?"
Lin Deyang thought for a while and said: "Before I went south that day, Mr. Su once told me that the difficulty in Zhejiang's fight against the Japanese lies not in the military, but in the court!" "That day,
Mr. Su said... ."
Hu Zongxian immediately asked: "What did Mr. Su say?"
Lin Deyang honestly told the two strategies Su Ze said. Hu Zongxian's back, which had been upright, immediately collapsed, and he seemed to have aged ten years.
After a long time, Hu Zongxian finally said:
"Su Rulin is a true scholar! But such scholars are unwilling to join the court. Has our Ming Dynasty really reached this point?" "
Ministry!"
Hu Zongxian waved his hand and said: "Su Rulin has heard about the matter. Like a god, it stands to reason that I shouldn't fight this war."
"But a real man reads the books of sages and accepts the way of sages. Now he tells me not to resist the Japanese for the sake of my own future. I, Hu, can't do it!" "
Resist the Japanese ." For my long-cherished wish, I would like to give one of my favorite poems by Cen Shen to Lieutenant General Lin!" "
I have served the king for thousands of miles and have nothing to ask for. I know the hardships at the frontier, so how can I seek for my wife!"
Hu Zongxian bowed to Lin Deyang and then said: "Leave the matter of pacifying the Japanese to Vice Admiral Lin!"
Lin Deyang immediately straightened his back and said, "I have the order!"
On May 15th, on the sea off Fuzhou, Su Ze personally led a ship to intercept Lin Daoqian, the leader of the new Japanese in Fujian. Japanese pirate fleet led by.
The new force of the Fujian Navy had the upper hand, with the New World as its flagship, two new Western ships, and twenty Qianli Fu ships. With their cannons firing, they defeated the Japanese pirate fleet!
Su Ze collided with Lin Daoqian's ship with his flagship. Lin Daoqian's ship was destroyed and he could only escape in a small boat.
The Japanese pirates had never seen a fleet with such firepower, and the Japanese ships were not strong enough to withstand wind and waves. Many Japanese pirates capsized and fell into the water and died.
Su Ze led his troops in pursuit and captured fifteen more large ships and sank twenty Japanese ships!
After two days of fierce fighting at sea, the new Japanese pirates were defeated and two thousand Japanese pirates raised their flags and surrendered.
Less than a thousand people managed to escape, but they were all captured by Qi's army ambushing along the coast of Fuzhou.
The New Army of the Fujian Navy won a great victory in the first battle, and only a few Japanese pirates such as Lin Daoqian escaped. However, Lin Daoqian's entire family fortune was lost in this battle, and he would not be able to continue to cause harm to Fujian for several years.
At the same time, the Zhejiang New Army in Taizhou immediately cut off the retreat at sea after the Japanese pirates landed, and cooperated with Taizhou's strong defenders to encircle the Japanese pirates who landed!
The Zhejiang New Army fought three battles at the gates of Taizhou City. Lin Deyang personally commanded them and achieved three victories in three battles. The Japanese pirates wanted to break out and escape, but they were tightly surrounded by soldiers from various regiments contacted by Yu Zongyuan. After this battle, Zhejiang The remnants of the Japanese were wiped out, and they were no longer able to threaten the coastal areas of Zhejiang and South Zhili!
News of these two battles spread, from southern Zhili to Zhejiang, and then to Fujian and Guangdong. People in the entire southeast region burst into tears and walked out of their homes to celebrate!
The Japanese rebellion that had roiled the Southeast for decades is finally at peace!
Both battles are decided! But these two battles were just the beginning of a huge storm that swept through the Ming Dynasty.
Yan Maoqing, who was interrogating the Ryukyu envoy in Fuzhou City, received the news of the two great victories and stood stunned on the spot.
When his nephew Yan Lubai supported him, Yan Maoqing shouted: "Hu Zongxian! Hu Zongxian missed Mr. Yan Ge!" "
Hu Zongxian! You want to die, why do you want us to be buried with you!"
Yan Maoqing paced back and forth, and finally said: "Now there is only one way to break the situation!"
Yan Lubai didn't understand what his uncle was talking about at all. His eyes were full of clear stupidity, but he still asked:
"Uncle, what can I do?"
Yan Maoqing said: "Spoil the situation! Swallow the power! ”
(End of chapter)