Xia Nan asked expectantly: "How long will it take for the sample cannon to be mass-produced, and will it be able to catch up with the war with Zheng Zhilong?" ”

"It depends on the results of the test. www.biquge.info This large-caliber heavy gun is different from the Caron gun and the 12-pounder naval gun, which are relatively thin-walled, and it must ensure that cracks do not cause cracks after continuous high-intensity firing -- as I told you, once this cannon explodes, it will be a catastrophic consequence, not only causing serious damage to the battleship, but also instilling fear among the gunners and affecting future battles -- only after passing rigorous tests can it be officially built and equipped on new 1,000-ton warships. ”

Xia Nan was a little disappointed: "After talking for a long time, that is, it may not be able to catch up with the war?" ”

Lin Weiye nodded: "In addition, I have to pour some cold water on you, because each cannon needs me to personally check the cooling link, and the manufacturing process is much more complicated than the Caron cannon, so even if this kind of cannon is put into manufacturing, it cannot be mass-produced, and it can only ensure the supply of warships of more than 1,000 tons." ”

"This problem is not big, it is not called a big killer if it is made casually like Chinese cabbage, what I care about is whether it can be equipped and formed at the same time as the battleship is launched."

"I can only say that I tried my best, and I can't guarantee that I can keep up with the progress of the battleship launch."

Xia Nan said helplessly: "Okay, you just do your best, even without it, you can fight with the existing fleet." ”

Lin Weiye was more optimistic than him: "Compared with the Dutch, we have an advantage that they do not have: Bofu Shipyard can start construction of four to six Wuyi-class warships at the same time, and the ability to replenish battle losses is much stronger, and if it is replaced with a smaller tonnage Wuxiang-class, the progress will be faster, while the Dutch can only hope that the East India Company headquarters in Batavia or the distant Dutch mainland will send new armed merchant ships, which is a factor that can change the tide of the war in the era of sails that win by numbers." ”

Xia Nan asked Sun Yuanhua, who was waiting on the side: "Mr. Sun, you are responsible for the overall planning of logistics, what is the overall situation of the shipyard?" ”

Sun Yuanhua replied: "Brother Lin is right, now in addition to the two 2,000-material ships, the rest of the dockyards are also building 1,000-material warships, but the front-end time silver turnover is tight, the craftsman's bonus has also been delayed, and the purchase and supply of timber, tung oil, jute, white linen, rivets and other materials are also given priority to ensure the two big ships, and the progress has slowed down a little." Now that there is enough silver, the supply of materials is not a problem, the craftsmen can work day and night, and five or six thousand-grain warships will be launched in the near future. ”

After listening to this, Xia Nan had a bottom in his heart: "Since you are not sure that you will defeat Zheng Zhilong in a decisive battle, then prepare for a protracted battle." Now that we have a stable income from maritime trade, which can support a long-term war of attrition, we will grind Zheng Zhilong to death. ”

The Qiongzhou camp was privately ready to compete with Zheng Zhilong, but Zheng Zhilong didn't know that now was the time for him to be in high spirits. Zou Weilian, the governor of Fujian who had always been hostile to the Zheng family and strictly implemented the maritime ban policy, was dismissed, and a big mountain that was pressing on the Zheng family's head was removed.

In the battle of Liuluowan, Hongmao and Liu Xiang were defeated, and the Qiongzhou battalion, which was hiding in Taiwan with their backs, inadvertently cleared the way for Zheng Zhilong. In the original history, in order to completely eliminate the remnants of Liu Xiang's forces, Zheng Zhilong bit Liu Xiang to death, "one is broken in Shiwei, then it is broken in Dinghai, three is broken in Guanghe, four is broken in Baige, five is broken in Dadan, and six is broken in Qianao." This story of suppressing bandits at sea was staged until the Battle of Guangdong in the eighth year of Chongzhen (1635), which forced Liu Xiang to self-immolate and drown in the decisive battle, which was considered to have completely eradicated this old opponent.

In the twelfth year of Chongzhen (1639), the Dutch once again sent Lang Bi that Richer to lead 9 large warships to make a comeback, and defeated the small fleet of the Ming Dynasty sailors several times, and was finally attacked by Zheng Zhilong by carrying a bamboo tube full of gunpowder to swim in the water, and burned 5 ships in a row, and Lang Bi was defeated and returned. It was not until this time that the Zheng family finally seized all the East Asian sea control from Japan to the South China Sea, Zheng Zhilong only embarked on the pinnacle of life, known as the "King of the Fujian Sea", and then only Zheng Zhilong in the southeast sea frontier was from, and the merchants at home and abroad used the Zheng banner, and the history contained: "Each ship enters 3,000 gold, and the annual income is 10 million, and the city is built in Anping (Zheng Zhilong's hometown, now Anhai Town, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province)."

In order to absorb the remnants of Liu Xiang and the Dutch, the Qiongzhou battalion not only obtained the sailors and seamen urgently needed for the expansion of the army, but also stifled the momentum of Liu Xiang's remnants and counterattack, and the capture of Putmans and the remnants of the fleet disrupted the normal deployment of the East India Company.

The window period of power in the East Asian sea gave Zheng Zhilong an excellent opportunity, and history was rewritten, and it took five or six years to reach the goal in the original historical time and space, and now it seems that it is close at hand, Zheng Zhilong began to consider issuing the Zheng family flag to the merchant ships along the coast of Fujian, charging a protection fee of 3,000 taels of silver per year, and at the same time, his hometown Anping also began to build a large number of buildings, building a luxury mansion covering an area of nearly 100 acres near the old house. These moves are six years ahead of the original history.

In the city government office of the center left, Zheng Zhilongzhi proudly listened to the good news reported by his brothers and subordinates.

Zheng Cai took Zheng Hongkui's place and was in charge of trade with Japan, and he reported to Zheng Zhilong with a happy face: "This flat transaction went smoothly, making up for the loss of being looted by Liu Xiang last time. Without the red hair plugging in, the townspeople of Hirado became more enthusiastic about the Zheng family. In terms of commercial trade, the Dutch relied on Zheng Zhilong to supply goods to China, but with spices and other goods from South Asia, they were still the Zheng family's biggest commercial competitors. After the Battle of Liuluo Bay, the Dayuan Merchant House collapsed and interrupted the merchant fleet to Japan, and for a time the Zhengjia fleet at the Japanese port was dominant.

Zheng Zhilong nodded with satisfaction: "You did a good job." Next time I go to Japan, I will take Fumatsu with me and let him experience the experience, and it just so happens that he also misses his mother. ”

Zheng Cai replied respectfully: "Yes." ”

Fumatsu is the son of Zheng Zhilong and his second wife Hosokawa, nicknamed Zheng Fusong, and later taught him that his husband helped him take the name Zheng Sen, born in Hirado, and his grandfather Tagawa Yuhuang was a retainer of the Hirado Domain. Fukumatsu lived with his mother in Hirado until two years ago, when Zheng Zhilong took him back to Fujian to study the Four Books and Five Classics in preparation for the scientific examination, while his mother Hosokawamatsu remained in Hirado according to the shogunate rules that the Japanese were not allowed to leave the border. Fusong is already ten years old this year, and he is known for his intelligence and wit, and he has reached the age of training.

He will also have a well-known name when he becomes an adult, called Zheng Chenggong.