ZHANG HUANGYAN SAT IN HIS STUDY, FLIPPING THROUGH THE BEAUTIFULLY MADE BRITISH-MADE FLINTLOCK PISTOL WITH THE WORD BROWNBESS ENGRAVED ON IT.

"Not bad! What a good weapon! Zhang Huangyan said with a sigh.

This gun does not require an arquebus, it does not expose the target at night, and this gun is also powerful, and it is much more convenient to reload than an arquebus, and the reloading speed is much faster. The arquebus must be loaded with the lid of the powder pool, and the arquebus must be careful not to accidentally ignite the gunpowder. And this kind of gun, you don't need to think about so many problems, as long as it is loaded, it can be fired after loading. It can be said that flintlock pistols are much better than arquebuses.

However, Wang Xinyu listened to Albert and told them that they British did not like this kind of robbery, but preferred backward arquebuses. Because the trigger force required to pull the flintlock is much greater than that of the arquebus, it takes a lot of force to pull the trigger, and the flintlock pistol does not guarantee that it will be fired every time the trigger is pulled, and sometimes the flint will not hit. Because of this, when Wang Xinyu asked them for a hundred flintlock pistols, Albert generously gave Wang Xinyu all the flintlock pistols on the ship, preferring to use an old-fashioned arquebus.

Wang Xinyu sold fifty flintlock pistols to Zhang Huangyan at a price of one hundred and fifty taels of silver.

"It's a bit expensive, but it's definitely a good gun!" Zhang Huangyan said to himself.

This kind of weapon can be sold to those anti-Qing organizations in Jiangnan supported by the gentry, they still have a little money in their hands, Zhang Huangyan can sell it for two hundred taels of silver, and this change of hands can earn two thousand five hundred taels of silver, which is a very cost-effective deal.

In fact, there are many Jiangnan scholars and gentry who support Zhang Huangyan, otherwise he would not be able to support him for 20 years without any foreign aid, even Zheng Chenggong could not give him military funds in vain. Huang Zongxi, a great Confucian in the south of the Yangtze River, secretly supported Zhang Huangyan, and although Qian Qianyi, who claimed to be "too cold in the water and itchy in the scalp", although he had been cleared, he still secretly corresponded with the anti-Qing rebels, and used his relationship to provide a lot of help to the anti-Qing rebels in Zhejiang.

Zhang Huangyan also met Liu Ruyi, although Liu Ruyi, who used to be Qin Huai Bayan, is already a, but she still has not lost her demeanor back then. Liu Rushi and Qian Qianyi also have a daughter, named Qian Zhiyu, who is just thirteen years old this year, although she is very young, she has the shadow of her mother back then, and she is a little beauty embryo. In real history, this woman later married Zhao Yusen, known as Zhao Qian.

Although Qian Qianyi is also a second minister, he is not a second minister like Hong Chengchou who is willing to do all the bad things for the Manchu Dynasty, but a second minister similar to Zu Dashou, who has not done anything evil since he surrendered to the Manchu Dynasty. And after Qian Qianyi returned to his hometown, he also helped the righteous army a lot.

In addition, Wang Xinyu mentioned to Zhang Huangyan that he hoped that he could help the Zhejiang army train. Wang Xinyu's suggestion was that part of his army should be left in Zhoushan and the coastal areas of Zhejiang, and the Zhejiang army should take turns to go to Nanyang with him for training, and then return to Zhejiang after the training is completed, so that the army will have combat effectiveness.

Zhang Huangyan asked, why did you go to Nanyang for training?

Wang Xinyu replied that he would soon go to Luzon Island and lay down a piece of territory. There is a large area and a lot of land, which can feed more troops. And it is necessary not only to train land divisions, but more importantly, to train water divisions. However, Wang Xinyu did not say a word: in the future, Zhang Huangyan's sailors will be renamed the Ming Yangtze River Fleet. As for the defense of the ocean, it is Wang Xinyu who is responsible for it.

In addition to training, Wang Xinyu also took out a design drawing, which is a kind of sail and oar dual-purpose clipper, this kind of ship is seven zhang long, one zhang wide, a 12-pound red-coated cannon in the bow, eight light Franc machine guns on each side, and 40 sets of oars, which can walk on the river as if flying, and can also go upstream, reaching Wuchang and Chongqing. This kind of ship is the capital ship on the Yangtze River. The 150-ton and 200-ton privateers purchased from the foreigners were used as gunboats on the Yangtze River.

In addition, Wang Xinyu will also send a batch of 290-ton privateers and 400-ton fifth-class cruisers to the coast of Zhejiang to sweep away the Qing army and naval divisions.

But at the moment he does not have so many ships in his hands, and all the plans will be implemented until next year.

Zhang Huangyan agreed to these suggestions put forward by Wang Xinyu, after all, this is something that is good for him. And after Wang Xinyu proposed, Zhang Huangyan felt that this Wang Xinyu was much easier to talk than King Yanping, and it was impossible for King Yanping to help him so wholeheartedly, and because of King Lu's matter, the two were estranged. But this Wang Xinyu can make it as convenient for himself as possible.

After that, Zhang Huangyan also asked Wang Xinyu tentatively, what do you think of King Lu's affairs?

Wang Xinyu replied that he was only a subordinate general under the command of King Yanping, and he had no right to decide on these major matters.

As for the goods such as ceramics, silk, and tea that Wang Xinyu was going to bring back, Zhang Huangyan had already prepared them for him, and as long as they were loaded on the ship, they could be transported away. These goods were all purchased by Zhang Huangyan from all over the country through the Jiangnan gentry. Many people secretly helped the anti-Qing rebel army, and secretly transported them to the sea, and the ships of the Zhejiang army were transported to the island.

"Sir, it's time to go out!" The waiter Yang Guanyu came up to remind.

"Hmm!" Zhang Huangyan nodded.

For dinner, Wang Xinyu invited guests and set up a banquet in the barracks to entertain the officers and soldiers of the Zhejiang Army.

Wang Xinyu knew very well that Zhang Huangyan was a link between him and the Jiangnan gentry, and he needed Zhang Huangyan to get the help of the Jiangnan gentry.

The gentry class is the most powerful force in Chinese history for more than 2,000 years. In later generations, even several important figures among the founding fathers were from the gentry class, which proves the power of the gentry class. Although many gentry classes in Jiangnan have fallen to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, there are still many gentry classes who still have their hearts set on their homeland. What's more, Zhu Guozhi will slaughter a group of gentry next. As long as his special combat team and special forces can seize the opportunity to kill Zhu Guozhi first and save the Jiangnan gentry at the moment when Zhu Guozhi wields the butcher knife, then these gentry who are lucky enough to survive will needless to say that they will completely fall to their side.

Wang Xinyu's military camp was set up on the edge of the wharf, and the soldiers erected wooden fences, set up tents, set up tables and chairs, and lit bonfires.

The officers and soldiers of Zhejiang arrived one after another, and after thanking Wang Xinyu, they took their seats according to the level of their positions.

"Master Zhang has arrived!" The soldiers outside shouted.

Everyone stood up and greeted Zhang Huangyan.

Wang Xinyu personally walked to the gate of the camp, saw Zhang Huangyan, and saluted: "Lord Zhang, please!" ”

Zhang Huangyan sat down on the seat, first said a few words of thanks to Lord Wang for inviting everyone to the banquet, and then the banquet officially began.

The food and drinks that came up were all seafood bought by Wang Xinyu from local fishermen, as well as some pork, chickens and ducks purchased from the local area.

When the wine was served, Wang Xinyu picked up the wine bowl and stood up, and turned left and right: "Brothers! Today, General Ben has just arrived, and I will invite you to a banquet, also to get acquainted! In the future, General Ben will come often! General Ben promises to bring you excellent artillery, armor and weapons in the future! Also, today, General Ben also discussed one thing with Master Zhang: In the future, the brothers of the Zhejiang Army will go to Nanyang with me in batches for training! General Ben will also keep people in Zhejiang to help you resist the Tartar invasion! ”

Hearing Wang Xinyu's words, everyone applauded.

The weapons of the Zhejiang army are really poor, and the soldiers have not undergone much training, so they can have such an opportunity, but everyone is happy.

After the banquet, Wang Xinyu invited Zhang Huangyan to the Drake.

"This boat is really big! It's comparable to the flagship of King Yanping! Zhang Huangyan sat in the captain's living room, although he still didn't like the Western-style furnishings on the ship, and he didn't like the smell left by foreigners because they didn't take a bath all year round, but he still sighed very much about the huge size of the ship.

Next, Zhang Huangyan said again: "General Wang, those Taixi people are now under your command, they are so unhygienic, you have to correct them!" ”

"The Tessie people don't like bathing, they feel that bathing makes it easy to get sick. these, the student can correct them. However, after going to sea for a long time, they could not take a bath, they drifted at sea for several months, and there was not enough fresh water on board. Wang Xinyu said. Suddenly, Wang Xinyu had an idea in his mind: seawater desalination! That thing could be made, so that there would be fresh fresh water to use on the ocean-going ships, and the sailors would no longer need to mix rum with that stinking water to drink.

Then, Wang Xinyu said one thing: "Master Zhang, the students think that if the Tartars have been defeated in a row, they will inevitably take a more severe sea relocation order than the sea ban to deal with us!" ”

"Relocation order?" Zhang Huangyan was stunned for a moment.

"Yes!" Wang Xinyu nodded, "They may move the seaside residents a little deeper!" Now it is within fifteen miles from the sea, no one is allowed to live and farm. Next, the students suspect that they will intensify their efforts and may move to thirty to fifty miles! ”

"They're doing this to cut us off from food, right?" Zhang Huangyan slapped the table and said angrily.

"Not bad! So we have to occupy Dongfan Island, and we have to fight the South Seas! Otherwise we would really be stuck to death due to lack of food! As long as we open up the land outside, the sea ban and sea relocation order of the Tartars will eventually lift a stone and shoot ourselves in the foot! It doesn't affect us at all, but it will cause the trade profits they should have earned to be made by the smugglers! ”

"No wonder you and King Yanping have to explore those barren lands overseas, you have all thought of countermeasures to deal with the Tartars!"

Wang Xinyu said another thing: "Lord Zhang, the Tartar relocation order has not come down so quickly, I hope that Lord Zhang can use his relationship with the Jiangnan gentry to get more ceramics, silk and tea during this time, so that we will not run out of goods from the Taixi people." When the order to move to the sea comes down, I'm afraid that Lord Zhang won't be able to get these goods! Moreover, the price of these goods in Taixi countries will rise a lot, and we will be able to earn more! ”

Zhang Huangyan asked rhetorically: "But how much can you get now?" No matter how much you get, there will be a day when it will be sold out. When the sale is over, what other goods do you have to sell to the Tessie people to make money? If you run out of money, how do you maintain your sailor? ”

"Please rest assured! Students have already taken measures! ”

"How?"

"On the one hand, bribe the Tartar officials and let them secretly lift the sea ban; On the other hand, students have to build a large number of Yangtze River ships in order to enter the Yangtze River and transport goods out! The Tartars will engage in a sea ban, will carry out a sea relocation order, they can't engage in a river ban anymore, a river relocation order, right? If they can really be so ruthless and do not hesitate to block their own north-south traffic, then they can't even ban several tributaries of the Yangtze River, right? If it is completely banned, their transportation and north-south transportation will be paralyzed, and they will kill themselves! ”

Zhang Huangyan said with a smile: "If you can attack the Yangtze River, why don't you capture one or two big cities?" ”

Wang Xinyu replied: "We are relying on the benefits of the sailors, the big cities on both sides of the Yangtze River, if they can be broken, they will be broken, and if they can't be broken, they don't have to care." ”

Zhang Huangyan raised another question: "General Wang spent a lot of money to build the Yangtze River Water Division, if the Tartars lit the fire with wooden rafts and went down the river, how would they break it?" ”

"Lord Zhang! Students think that this problem is not difficult to deal with! Our army only needs to build more small boats. The Tartar rafts were set on fire, and their rafts could be destroyed with a small boat. Wang Xinyu replied.

Zhang Huangyan stood up: "This official thinks that if we can go on a northern expedition, we should make a northern expedition as soon as possible, so as not to chill the hearts of those Jiangnan scholars who support us!" ”