Dominate the Country

"The defeat in the Battle of Changzhou made the Tatars lose their military control over the rebels. The empire lost its most important money warehouse, and the rebels cut off the empire's north-south traffic from the land. The only territory that the Tatar government could directly control was the relatively poor north. Although the location of this strategic confrontation was thousands of miles away from Guangzhou, its influence was already taking effect.

In mid-April [Western calendar], more and more Chinese pirates gathered under the banners of the Zhang and Zheng military groups. Especially Zhang, he was the son of the rebel leader and the commander of the southeast sea naval force appointed by the Grand Marshal who led the rebels to victory step by step. Zhang and Zheng's power and strength were growing rapidly every day. The Tatars in Guangdong and Fujian The sea surface advantage in the sea area is disappearing little by little.

At the same time, on land, the Tatars' dominance in the entire southern China is rapidly declining, and every class in society is shaking in their confidence in the Tatar government. The respected Mr. Pan Zhencheng is also disappointed with the development of the situation. Frankly speaking, the empire's strategy to suppress the rebellion has suffered a major setback. Once the rebels march south in large numbers, the existing military forces in Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces will not be able to resist the rebels' attack.

..."

Robert Peel, the chief of the British East India Company's Guangdong office, is writing to the Indian Management Committee. He suggested that the company immediately stop the arms trade with the Tatars, because Guangdong is likely to be ruled by the rebels in the near future.

"...The raw silk and tea that the company needs, and all the Chinese goods it needs, are under the control of the rebels. Losing trade in Guangzhou because of a little bit of arms profit is the biggest stupidity in the world. "

Although the last time the rebels' spies burned the East India Company's trading house into ruins. But in the face of interests and bright money, it was all a "little unpleasantness" in the past that was not worth remembering.

Robert is a senior manager of the East India Company in Guangzhou, so he can take the position of chief of the "office". Although this is only a newly established organization less than a year ago, it governs all the affairs of the East India Company in Guangzhou.

Robert has entrusted Pan Zhencheng to contact the Fu Han Army's secret camp in Guangdong. He believes that the rebels will never turn a blind eye to a "big man" like Pan Zhencheng. Even if Pan Zhencheng's current actions are based on the interests of the Tatar Empire, who knows if he has another side? Robert believes that there must be a secret connection between them.

Putting down the quill pen, Robert once again picked up a document at hand. This is the "victory report" posted by the Fu Han Army's secret camp in Guangzhou in recent days. Robert knows Chinese characters and can speak good Chinese. So without a translator, he can know what these words are about.

The Fu Han Army is already threatening to go south to attack Guangdong and Guangxi.

Because they have already taken Hangzhou and Ningbo, they will soon be able to open up contact with Fujian. The brothers Zheng Lianfu and Zheng Lianchang also surrendered to Chen Han. The rebel marshal appointed the Zheng brothers as the admiral and deputy admiral of the Nanyang Navy.

"Mr. Robert, are you still reading this old news?"

The door was opened by Robert's servant, and Luis Paulo Ribeiro walked out of the door. In the fourth month of the lunar calendar in Guangdong, the climate was not cold at all. Ribeiro had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, just because he was dressed too neatly.

"Of course. Sir Francis Drake's miracles have been performed again and again in this ancient country, so I can't..." Robert was stuck. He couldn't find a suitable word to describe his psychology. Envy? This is not appropriate. He is now facing a Portuguese native to Macau. And to say ridicule is a lie. People's pursuit of honor and interests is innate.

"Isn't this world completely different from Europe?" Robert shrugged and said a sentence that many Chinese people in troubled times regarded as the main idea: "Kings, princes, generals, and ministers, are they of the same kind?"

"Chinese people all know this sentence. They don't have much respect for bloodline."

"Besides, Zhang Qiu and the Zheng brothers are not the rebels' Sir Drake. You must not underestimate their personal ambitions. I suggest that you should look at the Yangtze River estuary not far from Changzhou. The surface forces fighting with the Tatar fleet there are the real navy of the Fu Han Army."

Robert invited Ribeiro to sit down, and the two quickly turned to business. Ribeiro came here today not to debate with Robert about whether Zhang and Deng were reliable or not.

"Mr. Robert, do you want to see the true face of the rebels?"

Ribeiro took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Robert. It was written in Chinese characters. This was the latest news posted by the Fu Han Army in Guangzhou City. Ribeiro used it as a gift for Robert.

Robert didn't bother to read the latest news, his eyes wide open, "You... are going to meet the rebels? Now?"

Guangdong is still firmly controlled by the Tatar government, and they still have enough power to completely wipe out Macau.

"In the Battle of Changzhou, Captain Blanco and the 20 to 30 Portuguese artillerymen who accompanied the army tragically became prisoners of the Fu Han Army. The Macau Parliament and the Austrian Governor have the responsibility and necessary obligation to rescue them as soon as possible." Of course, it has to be as soon as possible. The tragedy of Fernandez and others last time, the whole of Macau does not want to see it again.

"The main force of the Tatars in South China was wiped out by the rebels. Many Chinese people I know are pessimistic about the prospects of the war. They believe that when the rebels march south, Guangdong's military strength will be unable to resist."

"So Macau must prepare early." Just like the Qing Dynasty back then, the Portuguese in Macau are going to experience it again.

Ribeiro's visit was a way for Macau to curry favor with the British. When they went to meet the Fu Han Army, they did not forget the British. The smoke of the Seven Years' War had just dissipated, and the Portuguese were still holding on to England's thighs. Besides, the power of the Westerners in China was still very weak at this time. If they could not unite and work together at this time, then at this turbulent moment, they would most likely encounter a catastrophe.

When it really came to the most critical moment, the Western power that could support the Portuguese in Macau was not the weak Portuguese Kingdom thousands of miles away, but the British who were right in front of them. The British had just won the Seven Years' War, and the Portuguese, who joined the war two years before the end of the war - in 1761, were one of the British allies.

After Ribeiro and Robert made an agreement, they got up and left the trading house. Robert had the opportunity to see the latest news brought by Ribeiro.

"It turns out that it is a compensation for civilians accidentally injured in the battle, and the treatment of the Tatars in the war..." The banner soldiers in the Battle of Changzhou and the banner soldiers in the Battle of Hangzhou.

"Twenty silver dollars for one death, two to ten silver dollars for the wounded depending on the severity, fifteen silver dollars for the disabled due to injuries, and corresponding tax care, and priority for renting official land..." Robert did not deny this data, four pounds for one life, and this number seemed not low based on his understanding of China.

All the Eight Banners soldiers with knife and gunshot wounds were executed on the spot. "Oh, what a barbaric and cruel decision."

The captured Eight Banners hereditary officials above Zuoling and above, and civil and military officials above Garrison, were all beheaded, and the male members of their families over five years old were executed, and the women and children were sent to the Fu Han Army as slaves; the hereditary officials above Zuoling and above, and civil and military officials above Garrison who surrendered voluntarily, were equivalent to the hereditary officials below Lingcui and below, and civil and military officials below the fifth rank, and were sentenced to serve for twenty years, and their families followed; the most ordinary banner soldiers without official positions were sentenced to serve for ten years, and their families followed. As for the men in the family who had died in the war, they would be classified according to the status and title of the men before their death and then raised one level. There was another thirty years above the twenty years of service!

Robert frowned unconsciously and put down the tabloid. All that echoed in his mind were the rumors that the "Fu Han Army wanted to kill all the Tatars". Such news was very popular in Guangzhou, especially recently, because the Guangzhou Eight Banners were cursing. Many of those rumors did not seem to be false. So what is going on now?

As long as you are willing to surrender and surrender voluntarily, you can do it. Although they still have 20 years of service waiting for them.

"Have the rebels relaxed their policy on the Tatars?"

Although the punishment is still very severe, at least they are not killing them all, and there is still a glimmer of hope. Do they want to use this policy of "no resistance, no killing" to shake the Tatars in Guangzhou and Fuzhou?

Robert suddenly felt nervous. This policy of the Fu Han Army, this "far-sightedness", doesn't it mean that they are really looking at Guangzhou? Otherwise, why would they be so good?

"Hey, Finley, go and call Mr. George over, I have something to find him." Robert suddenly felt a dullness in his chest, as if a big stone was pressing on his chest, and he shouted to the servant outside the door.

...

At the same time, Chongming Island was the last fortress of the Qing army on the Yangtze River.

When Changzhou was still holding on, Chongming Island was a torch of the Qing Dynasty on the Yangtze River, dazzling and bright. It was reflected by Changzhou by land and water, and it was established as a symbol not only in military terms, but also in spirit. Emperor Qianlong sent the imperial edict of reward to Chongming Island for free.

Huang Zhenggang himself was awarded the title of second-class man, a yellow jacket, a double-eyed peacock feather, and the name Shangyong Baturu. His important naval and land generals were all rewarded, and almost everyone had a hereditary position like Yunqiwei and Qingcheduwei. At first, it was encouraging that the soldiers and horses on Chongming Island were full of enthusiasm.

Huang Zhenggang retreated from Jiangyin to Songjiang, and then from Wusong to Chongming, and brought all the troops, materials, and military supplies he could gather to Chongming.

This large island with silt and sand has never left a worthy mark in the history of modern Chinese wars, but in the eyes of the Chinese at that time, it was the first line of defense at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

In the coastal defense thought of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Chongming was regarded as the river and sea gateway to the south of the Yangtze River, and it was a first-line coastal defense town that must be defended. The Qing Dynasty once deployed six battalions of navy here. Even when time came to the middle of Qianlong, there were still four battalions of navy here, with more than 3,000 soldiers.

The soldiers and warships on Chongming Island have been reduced several times, but the foundation here is still there!

Huang Zhenggang led his troops to retreat to this place, with complete land and water resources, artillery and warships, which can attack and defend, and is familiar with the geography, so it really "blocked" the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Chen Ming also valued this island. When Chen Jigong was operating the shipyard and organizing the fleet, one of his important tasks was to find out the water conditions of this generation at the mouth of the Yangtze River, and he also set up a secret camp on Chongming Island. But the Fu Han Navy, which carefully sailed by looking at the map, could not compare with the Qing Navy, which could walk around the mouth of the sea with its eyes closed.

Yang Shijin led the navy to Chongming, and the warships of both sides fought several times. The Qing army was not as good as the Fu Han army in terms of ships and firepower, but they relied on their familiarity with the water conditions to attract the Fu Han army's navy to chase them. The large-sized thunder ship and bird ship in the queue ran aground twice. Although they sailed away after the high tide, Yang Shijin and other generals were still frightened.

So that the Qing army in Changzhou was completely wiped out, and Huang Zhenggang was still like an indestructible cockroach, jumping around on Chongming Island.

"Zhoushan is a ripe fruit, but before we pick the fruit of Zhoushan, we must take Chongming."

Chen Ming did not return to Nanjing, nor did he go to Suzhou and Hangzhou, but went to Wusong. With the successive victories on land, the deadlock in the naval battle had reached the point where it had to be broken. Moreover, Hangzhou had been taken, and Ningbo had also been taken. Even if the navy fleet went straight out of the Yangtze River and failed to attack Zhoushan, they did not have to risk being intercepted by the Qing navy in Chongming and then return to Wusong. They could directly stop at Ningbo for supplies.

Chen Ming didn't know how many times he cursed Chongming when he was alone. Before the battle, he thought the navy could determine the victory early, but who knew that the naval battle would drag on until now. The Qing navy was just like their Lu Yong. It was not like what Chen Ming imagined, with both sides setting up their positions and rushing fiercely.

With the Fu Han Army's attack on Zhejiang, those Jiangnan official families who had nothing to do with the Fu Han Army and some escaped bannermen had cut off their way to Guangdong in the south. Going west to Jiangxi was not a good place either, so they had no choice but to flee to the sea. They regarded the current Zhoushan Dinghai as a "paradise".

How many wealthy and powerful officials and noble families brought their gold and silver to Dinghai, and then used Dinghai as a transit point, taking a boat from Dinghai to northern Jiangsu, and then heading north to Beijing and Tianjin. However, the navy of the Fu Han Army was dragged to Chongming Island by Huang Zhenggang.

Yang Shijin tried to persuade Huang Zhenggang to surrender several times, saying that if Huang Zhenggang surrendered, he would be willing to give up his position, but he was sternly rejected. Yang Shijin was so angry that he cursed Huang Zhenggang as a "traitor" and a "traitor"!

"What's the use of scolding people? Can you curse Huang Zhenggang to death?"

"The Marine Corps has been training for 20 days, and the secret camp has also opened up connections for you." No matter whether the connection is big or small, it is still a connection. "You have to use your brain to think about it."

"How to take Chongming down, take it down as soon as possible!"

"We must take Chongming down! Take Chongming down!"

...

April 5th, Zhoushan Islands, Dinghai.

As the sun was setting in the west, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the Qing army suddenly imposed martial law throughout the city, and no civilians were allowed to walk on the streets. In an ordinary residential building in the south of the city, Chen Jigong hid here just after the Qing army imposed martial law. At this time, Chen Jigong's heart was still beating "thump thump", not to catch him. Such a big commotion was not to catch him, but the Qing army must have some special action!

He wanted to know very much what the Qing army was going to do, but his people couldn't go out at all now.

Time passed little by little, five o'clock, six o'clock, dusk and sunset, and martial law remained. Chen Jigong was anxious and turned around in the house, but he could only wait.

As night fell, Dinghai County was quiet, and soldiers continued to guard the streets and alleys. The Qing army even sent soldiers to form patrols to patrol the streets and alleys in the city.

However, most of the Qing army soldiers in Dinghai were stragglers who withdrew from land to here, and both morale and military discipline were very problematic.

In the quiet night, a bearded Qing army captain kicked open the door of a tavern, put a knife on the neck of the bitter and timid shopkeeper, and then the kitchen of the tavern immediately got busy.

"If there is no Shaoxing daughter's red wine, then bring Shikumen rice wine. Shikumen!" The captain slammed the table and shouted.

The next day, Dinghai was still under martial law, but the Qing army could only impose martial law on land, they could not stop the pigeons in the sky.

Shikumen rice wine, this is a new brand in Jiangnan, produced in Shanghai!