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1981: The estuary

This is the Dachu combat formation led by Zhou Li.

After the end of the Naval Battle of Manila, the Taiping battle formation led by Ning Zeyuan entered the port for large-scale renovation. After the renovation was basically completed, the Taiping fought almost without stopping. First, it pacified the rebellion in Pattaya and threatened all island countries in the entire Manila waters to gather under the banner of the Ming Dynasty. Then it was a sea battle with the Tiger Dynasty. It had not entered the port for maintenance for two years. This was an extraordinary achievement for the warships of this era. From one aspect, it also showed that the Ming shipbuilding industry was developed and the quality of the warships built far exceeded the overall level of this era.

When the Taiping entered the port, most of the military tasks were taken over by the Dachu combat formation led by Zhou Li. Zhou Baozhen's third fleet is now sailing towards the Sanfoqi and other directions. The Ming Dynasty should strengthen the construction of some strongholds where it is and support the armed merchants of the Ming Dynasty to continue to advance in depth.

In the words of the Ming Dynasty officials, those barbaric areas need the Ming Dynasty to bring them advanced civilization. Of course, the armed merchants must first take out a wide range of commodities to exchange for gold, silver, gems and various local specialties that the Ming Dynasty did not have. If these places do not agree to do business with the Ming Dynasty and do not allow the Ming Dynasty to sell their things in these places, then the merchants who had previously laughed will show their ferocious faces.

Take off the clothes he wore when he was a businessman, put on a full set of armor, and the hand holding the goods changed to a mouth that held the sword, gun, sword and halberd, smilingly greeted the guest, of course, it turned into a bloody word kill.

War is something that costs money like water. Qin Feng does not want to let his own people suffer too much in this war with Qi, so he can only think of ways in these overseas places. It is much better to exploit these people than to let his own people suffer.

After the armed merchants of the Ming Dynasty opened up some strongholds, they had already encountered bottlenecks when they developed in depth. Some powerful forces among the local people who already knew a little about them began to block them. The merchants could not bear it anymore. The Ming Dynasty court, who was originally hidden behind the scenes, was about to make a comeback. They just matched the war and did not require the navy to do all their strength. Then the idle combat power would naturally be used.

Go out and make money! Otherwise, the maintenance fee for these warships is a considerable amount in a year.

Another 4th Fleet, commanded by He Ying, is the weakest of the entire Ming fleet. There is still no five-layer warship escort formation, let alone changing into steam artillery. It is now doing bodyguard work, mainly to protect the Ming Dynasty's merchant ships and the Western Continent. On this sea route, pirates are still endless.

The one who aligns the war and takes on combat missions is actually Zhou Li’s Dachu combat formation.

In the Dachu combat room, Zhou Li's one-eye was shining brightly. He stared at the map in front of him and looked at the Ming officials around him. This fleet was a mixed fleet, with not only a navy, a navy and a marine, but also an army, as well as a large number of engineering teams and civilian officials.

"Everyone, this time our combat target is Crab Bay in Laizhou, Qi State. This is a natural good harbor and the base camp of Ning Zefeng, the former naval commander of Qi State." Speaking of this, everyone inside laughed. The navy of Qi State had been destroyed. The sea was as if it were his own backyard.

"Don't think it's too relaxed. Although the Qi people's navy is gone, the Qi people have not given up on this place. The reason why Crab Bay is called this name can be roughly guessed from his name. The Qi people still stationed heavily here is because although they have no navy, the shipyard here is still building inland river boats. The Red River, which enters the sea from here, is even more a river of life for Qi."

Speaking of this, Zhou Li led everyone to the huge sand table placed on the other side, and pointed to the sand table: "Please see, the Honghe almost runs through the entire Qi State, dividing Qi State into two. Both sides of the Honghe River are the most prosperous areas of Qi State. These places provide Qi State with more than 60% of the taxes. These places are also the most stable areas under the rule of the Qi State, because these places are still very wealthy. Even if Qi State is taking counter-attacks and taking everything back to the state, even the food that lives will be distributed uniformly by the government, but this policy has not been implemented in the areas around the Honghe River."

"So, everyone, this time we have to take down Crab Bay and control the estuary of the Red River. Then, our inland boats can flow upwards and cut the entire Qi into two parts, so that they can't look at each other. Not to mention controlling this area, it is to make this area no longer provide war support for Qi, and to make Qi feel the pain. Controlling this area can at least shorten the war for several years."

Everyone inside was excited.

Zhou Li smiled: "Of course, when we see this, the Qi people will not be unable to see it. Therefore, the Qi people stationed in Laizhou, and there are many important towns around the Honghe River. It is still very difficult to fight. But as long as the fight starts, it will be a heavy blow to the Qi court. From the day they lost the navy, they should understand this."

"We are the vanguard. The combat mission is to take down Crab Bay, seize the shipyard, and build a solid landing stronghold here. We are invincible on the sea, but once we get ashore, I can do nothing, I can only watch you fight." Zhou Li looked at Guan Zhen, the general of the navy and marines, and Suqian, with a smile.

"The Ming Army is also invincible at the time." Suqian said lightly.

Zhou Li laughed: "After we complete this combat mission, the subsequent large forces will continue to replenish in and develop a heart-to-heart plan for the Qi State's operations. This time the commander-in-chief of the Heart-to-heart plan is General Chen Zhihua. The time limit he gave us is to complete all these tasks this winter, because tomorrow spring, the army will come."

When the Ming navy was shaking waves on the sea and heading straight to Laizhou Crab Bay, Ding Shengming, the county magistrate of Laizhou, was standing on the fortress of Crab Bay, staring at the vast sea, a little lost.

The Ming Navy was heading here, which is a sure fact. The information obtained from all sides confirmed this. Even though he had expected it, Ding Shinn still felt that it would be a dream.

A few years ago, the Ming Navy launched an attack on Crab Bay. That time, Ning Zeyuan came. However, the Ming army's combat purpose was not to conquer Crab Bay, but more of a warning. But even such a battle destroyed all the protections on the ridges on both sides of Crab Bay. To this day, the rocks here still showed a scene of being violently burned. At that time, the Ming Navy was far from being powerful now.

After learning about the large-scale naval battle between the Ming Dynasty and the Tiger Dynasty at sea, Ding Xuanming was almost desperate. Now, he did not have a ship that could fight the Ming people at sea, and all he could rely on was defense on land.

The court also knew the importance of Laizhou. Just imitated artillery brought eight gates to Laizhou in one breath. At this moment, beside Ding Shengming, there was a cannon weighing ten thousand pounds. Only when he was stroking the cold cannon barrel could his heart calm down.

The fortress on the two crab armors has long been different from the past. When building the fortress here, the court spent a lot of money. The thickness of the walls made of all steel and concrete structures is unimaginable. The reason for this is to resist the artillery of the Ming army.

The Great Qi has been scattered all over the world for hundreds of years, and there are still some talents. Many of them prevent artillery attacks or can weaken the artillery fire of the Ming army. They have been built on a large scale in the current Qi State. Since their spear is not good, they can only rely on a solid shield.

In the entire Crab Bay, Ding issued an order to discard a large number of triangular cones made of cement. Anyway, I don’t have a sea boat to go out, so you don’t think about coming in.

The biggest difference between Laizhou and other coastal counties is that the other county governments are located fifty miles away from the coast, with no man's area, while Laizhou is deployed layer by layer on the beach, with castles one after another, guarding the estuary of the Honghe River. This is a task that the Qi people must complete. Once this place is lost, the Honghe River along the river area will inevitably suffer, and something is inconvenient. Even if the main attack of the Ming people is blocked in Changning County and Luzhou, it will be useless.

"County magistrate, General Xu, please go back to the mansion to discuss matters immediately." A soldier rushed over and bowed to Ding Shizheng.

"I understand." Ding Shengming nodded.

In order to achieve the strategic goal of defending the estuary of the Red River, Emperor Cao Yun of Qi transferred general Xu Junsheng, who was unified in command of the war, while other civil affairs were coordinated by Ding Saint-Ming. The power of these two people is unprecedented. Xu Junsheng has all the military command power in several counties along the Hong River, while Ding Saint-Ming has the right to mobilize all the manpower and material resources in these counties.

If you have great power, you will naturally have great responsibility. Ding declared that his shoulders could not bear such a burden at all.

After looking at the vast sea again, he sighed deeply. Once upon a time, he sent Ning Zefeng away here, but nothing had changed. What should come will still come.

He turned around and left the fortress, stepped onto the horse, and rushed towards the county government.

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