Nanming Yiming

Chapter 88 Lure the enemy to go deep
After Zeng Jiahui returned to the Ming Dynasty anyway, he was appointed by Qian Mo as the commander-in-chief of the Zhejiang Navy of the Ming Dynasty, and led the fleet to blockade Hangzhou Bay.

Now that Hangzhou Bay has no navy of the Qing army, Qian Mo can even directly support Ningbo and Taizhou through the waterway, and the strategic environment has improved a lot.

As a person of later generations, Qian Mo understands the importance of the ocean too well. Now that the "Great Navigation Era" has already arrived, China has already fallen far behind the world in this respect. If it does not catch up, it will inevitably become the prey in the eyes of Western powers.

Now the Portuguese have occupied Macau, while the Dutch have just driven out the Spaniards to occupy Taiwan alone. The failed Spaniards are also eyeing the land of China in Manila, and there are also those new "sea overlords" English who have not yet set foot in China. .

However, the navy in Qian Mo's hands is not enough to compete with these big powers. He must first find a way to resume maritime trade and earn some money.

Qian Mo immediately ordered Xia Wanchun and Qian Buer to organize a caravan for maritime trade, selling special products such as silk, lake pens, and tea overseas.

The traditional Japanese and Korean markets can be opened first, and then slowly radiate to the Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf and Africa, and finally Europe.

The profits of ocean trade are jaw-dropping. It is not necessary for Qian Mo to impress the merchants too much. As long as a successful trade is organized, the high profits will naturally attract them.

The ancestors of Wu and Yue have always had a foundation for maritime trade, and Jiaxing has always had a tradition of overseas trade. Although there are not many maritime merchants who are familiar with foreign trade due to the long-term sea ban, once such huge profits reappear in the merchants In front of us, the sense of smell of our Chinese merchants is definitely not inferior to that of any other country.

In addition, a large shipyard will be built to build new types of warships. The intelligence department has begun to search for shipbuilding craftsmen everywhere, and even go to Macau to recruit Portuguese craftsmen at high prices.

Father Philip has also notified his businessman friends from Macau to come to Haining for business cooperation. Qian Mo is willing to exchange "fairy lime" for guns and other commodities produced by the Portuguese in Macau.

At this time, Qian Buer complained to Qian Mo about his bitterness. Although the Huzhou government has increased the tax of 4 taels of silver a month, with the crazy military expansion of the Suhu Governor's Mansion and Qian Mo's large-scale purchase of grain, the three places built Bastion and other projects.The silver deposit in the treasury has hit a record low, and it is now less than 30 taels.

Qian Buer said that building new shipyards and organizing ocean-going trade caravans required a lot of money, and his chief executive Yamen would certainly not be able to afford so much money.

Qian Mo said that the ocean-going fleet can use private ships and let the merchants prepare their own goods and ships, and the Industry Department can cooperate with them to form a caravan.You don't have to do it all by yourself, the Industrial Division doesn't have the ability to eat such a big piece of cake right now.

The Hangzhou navy can send warships to protect them all the way, but the merchants have to bear the corresponding costs.

In addition, the chief envoy's yamen will set up a new city shipping department to manage and collect reasonable taxes from merchants participating in the trade.

Now that a port like Haining has just been won, the regulations can be drawn up first, and then various details will be gradually discussed and improved during the period.

Trade caravans, shipyards, and shipbuilding departments must be established!
There is no need to worry about the shortage of money. Although these projects have invested heavily, they are not a one-time expenditure.During the occupation of the counties of Hangzhou Prefecture this time, 30 taels of silver were confiscated from the treasury and the property of the traitors in various places, which can be used as the start-up capital of the shipyard.

Previously, the Governor's Mansion of Suhu had hoarded a large amount of grain. With the outbreak of wars, the price of grain in various places has begun to rise to varying degrees. However, Qian Mo knows that it is far from the time for harvesting. Once the war between Ganzhou and Nanchang becomes intense , The price of food will rise to a sky-high price, and there will be as much silver as you want.

Jiaxing Mansion is still under the management of the Qing Dynasty in name, but in fact it has long been Qian Mo's territory.Right now, the road from Jiaxing to Hangzhou is blocked, so there is no need to escort the tax to Hangzhou.

At present, the biggest problem encountered by the Suhu Governor's Mansion is the lack of troops. Now Yanzhou Mansion only has 1 Qing troops. If there are enough troops, Qian Mo wants to go south to capture Yanzhou.

Qian Mo ordered Xia Wanchun to form a new Tianmu camp in the Tianmu Mountain area, with Bai Bing as the general.The 1000 soldiers and horses left by the Jiaxing Battalion at Tianmu Mountain were transferred to Jiaxing to deal with threats from Su Song at any time.

Now that we are determined to set up a shipyard and shipbuilding department in Haining, we must have enough troops to defend Jiaxing, otherwise it will be a waste of money.

On March 1648, the second year of Yongli (3), Zeng Jiahui led the newly formed Zhejiang Navy of the Ming Dynasty to enter the Qiantang River from Hangzhou Bay.

I saw the triangular dragon flag of Ming Dynasty fluttering with the wind, and dozens of lucky boats spread out across the river, which was quite a spectacular scene.

The people on the bank were also amazed, and praised the might and majesty of Master Daming!
An old man said with tears in his eyes: "It has been more than two years, and the master of the Ming Dynasty finally crossed the Qiantang River again. Now we can finally cut off this damn braid."

Following Zeng Jiahui's order, the gunners of each ship began to fire and fire. Amidst the rumble of cannons, the sentry towers, forts and other buildings built by the Qing army along the coast were instantly blown to pieces.

Hong Fugui said: "The first appearance of the Zhejiang Navy is really extraordinary. The Qiantang River defense line of the Qing army is almost useless!"

Zeng Jiahui said with a smile: "General Bing Hong is absurd. This is the first time that our Zhejiang Navy has cooperated with your ministry. Naturally, Zeng did not dare to be careless. It will be up to General Bing Hong next."

Dozens of troop carriers were seen sailing towards the river, and then 2000 soldiers from the Chongming Battalion quickly disembarked and charged towards Xiaoshan County.

Where did the Xiaoshan county magistrate see such a scene of soldiers of the Ming army all over the city?Immediately cut off his own braid, ordered his men to open the city gate to welcome Master Wang into the city.

The successive fall of Haining and Xiaoshan also means that Hangzhou is now completely surrounded by the Ming army.

Since Lu Bingwen got acquainted with Qian Mo in Tianjiazhuang, his official career has gone smoothly. Not only did he become the magistrate of Jiaxing as he wished, but he also became a confidant of Zhejiang Governor Xiao Qiyuan.

Even Xiao Qiyuan did not doubt Lu Bingwen's head after the news of Jiaxing's general soldier Wang Zaixing surrendered to the Ming army reached Hangzhou.

Xiao Qiyuan might never have dreamed that most of the officials in Jiaxing from top to bottom were Qian Mo's people, but they still wore braids and hung the Qing flag, and they didn't announce their return to the Ming Dynasty anyway.

At this time, a beggar-like man appeared at the gate of Jiaxing prefect's yamen.

When the servant saw a beggar coming, he rushed forward and said, "Don't you even look at the place when you beg, this is the magistrate's yamen. Leave before I get angry, or you will be punished."

At this time, I saw a beggar with disheveled hair and a foul smell, straightened his hair and said, "I am the messenger of Lord Xiao, the governor of Zhejiang, and I have come to Jiaxing to deliver letters to your prefect Lu. Why don't you go as soon as you are a little yamen servant?" report."

After all, the yamen servant also worked in front of the magistrate's yamen, and then said with a smile: "You say that you are the governor's messenger, what proof do you have?"

I saw the beggar took out a letter from his tattered clothes, and the yamen servant took a look at the letter, and sure enough it had the seal of the governor's yamen on it, so he hurriedly called the special envoy to enter.

Lu Bingwen had just eaten his lunch at this time, and he was so choked by the bad smell of the beggar that he almost vomited his lunch.

Although he was displeased, he didn't want to get angry with the "special envoy", so he yelled at the yamen servant: "You bastard, you don't arrange for the special envoy to wash up, what's the matter?"

But the beggar waved his hand and said: "The Ming army is in a hurry to besiege Hangzhou. Governor Xiao has repeatedly urged Su Song to send troops to relieve the siege of Hangzhou, but there is no news. Now that the Ming army has occupied Haining, the land transportation between Jiaxing and Hangzhou has been blocked. Governor Xiao specially ordered Jiaxing Mansion to escort the tax money to Songjiang so that Governor Ma can send troops."

Lu Bingwen took the official document and looked it over carefully, and said: "Since Governor Xiao has ordered, I, Jiaxing Mansion, will naturally cooperate with all my strength. I also ask Mr. Special Envoy to go down and freshen up first, and leave after lunch."

The beggar special envoy had just stepped down to take a bath in the bathtub when the tattered clothes were taken out.A spy from the intelligence department said: "Sure enough, there is a letter written by Xiao Qiyuan to Zhang Tianlu, the admiral of Jiangnan, in his clothes."

After reading the letter, Lu Bingwen hurriedly set off for Tianjiazhuang.

The subordinate asked: "What should the special envoy do?"

Lu Bingwen said: "Since he likes pretending to be a beggar so much, let him be locked up in Jiaxing prison and let him stay with beggars."

Tianjiazhuang is located 20 miles northeast of Jiaxing Fucheng. Lu Bingwen rode his horse and arrived at Tianjiazhuang soon.

Although Lu Bingwen has been sending information to Tianjiazhuang these days, in order to avoid suspicion, Lu Bingwen has never been to Tianjiazhuang in person.

When he saw Tianjiazhuang again, Lu Bingwen was taken aback too. Today's bastion has been built into a complete defense system.

Looking at the surrounding moats, side slopes, shooting holes and hollow fortresses, Lu Bingwen felt incredible.

Soon he entered the main fort of the bastion, and at this time Qian An had returned to Tianjiazhuang from Tianmu Mountain.

Lu Bingwen said: "Xiao Qiyuan has already received Ma Guozhu's promise that Zhang Tianlu, the Jiangnan admiral stationed in Songjiang, will lead his troops to support Hangzhou."

"However, Zhang Tianlu did not act for a long time. In order to let Zhang Tianlu send troops, Xiao Qiyuan decided to escort 3 taels of silver from Jiaxing Mansion to Songjiang."

Qian An said: "The 3 taels of silver must not be given to Zhang Tianlu. At this time, the 2000 troops in my Jiaxing camp are ready to go. Even if Su Song's Qing army comes to attack our bastion, it will not be able to do anything."

Lu Bingwen said: "Governor Qian has already issued an order that once Su Song's Qing army supports Hangzhou, I must attract them to Tianjiazhuang."

"Zongbing Qian only needs to prepare the army in Tianjiazhuang, and then leave it to me."

In Huating County of Songjiang Prefecture, Zhang Tianlu, the admiral of the Qing Army Jiangnan, was also on pins and needles.

Not counting the Wusong navy huddled in the port, there are only 5000 troops in Suzhou and Songjiang at this time.The [-] Green Battalion under Zhang Tianlu had to be divided into Wusong and Huating. Due to insufficient troops, the Qing army even gave up Jinshanwei.

At this time, Zhang Tianlu received an order from Liangjiang Governor Ma Guozhu to send troops to support Hangzhou.However, Ma Guozhu did not specify how many soldiers and horses to send, and let Zhang Tianlu decide for himself.

Zhang Tianlu was not stupid either, he stayed still on the pretext that the Chongming Ming army showed signs of attacking Songjiang.

Ma Guozhu had no choice but to send 2000 Mongolian Eight Banners from Zhenjiang to support Songjiang, so that Zhang Tianlu could send troops to support Hangzhou.

At this time, soldiers outside the camp came to report that there were envoys from Hangzhou asking to see him.

A member of the intelligence department pretended to be Xiao Qiyuan's messenger and said: "Now that the Ming army has captured Haining and bombarded Hangzhou day and night, the military situation is urgent. Admiral Zhang is also requested to send troops to support Hangzhou."

Zhang Tianlu said in embarrassment: "I have received the order from Governor Ma to send our troops south to support Hangzhou, but the Mongolian Eight Banners who took over our defense have not yet arrived in Songjiang. Now the Ming army in Chongming is also eyeing Songjiang, and we still need to wait a little longer." time."

Seeing that Zhang Tianlu didn't get in, the messenger could only take out Xiao Qiyuan's handwritten letter and hand it to Zhang Tianlu.

Seeing that Xiao Qiyuan was about to send the 3 taels of tax from Jiaxing Mansion to Songjiang, Zhang Tianlu immediately showed joy, and asked the envoy, "When will the silver taels from Jiaxing Mansion arrive in Songjiang?"

The messenger said: "When I set off for Songjiang, Yunyin's convoy had already set off from Jiaxing Fucheng, and it should arrive here soon."

Hearing that Yinzi was about to arrive, Zhang Tianlu said: "The Mongolian Eight Banners will arrive in Songjiang tonight, and our army will set off early tomorrow morning to go south to break the siege of Hangzhou."

Zhang Tianlu waited for more than an hour and still did not see Yunyin's convoy, so he sent sentry cavalry to Jiaxing to investigate.

Soon after, the sentinels brought back two soldiers from Jiaxing Mansion, and the soldiers said: "It's bad, our team was ambushed by the Ming army not long after we left Jiaxing Mansion. They were all robbed by the Ming army, and the two of us ran out while it was dark, and came here to report to your lord."

Hearing that the money had been robbed, Zhang Tianlu was furious, and quickly asked: "Where is the Ming army and how many troops are there, do you know where the money was transported?"

The soldier said: "The Ming army has 500 people, fighting under the banner of Qian Mo, Governor of Suhu Lake. They used firecrackers with fierce firepower. They wiped out most of the 300 brothers we escorted in a short while."

"The Ming army asked us prisoners to push the carts and sent the silver to a manor near Jiashan. There was a small fort there, which should be a stronghold of the Ming army. We brothers sneaked out while the Ming army was unaware. "

Zhang Tianlu scolded: "The Ming army actually built their stronghold in Jiaxing Mansion, what are you doing?"

The soldier said: "Now I only have 1000 troops in the entire Jiaxing Mansion. It would be good if I can barely hold the city. How can I care about other places."

"I know that this place was originally Tianjiazhuang, the former magistrate's private manor. It was originally built with strict barriers, but I didn't expect it to be occupied by the Ming army and used as a base."

So Zhang Tianlu said: "The Ming army probably hasn't transported the silver away yet. I passed on an order to 1000 cavalry to set out to surround Tianjiazhuang first, followed by 2000 infantry. We must take back the silver."

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