Lushun.

It was named Duli Town during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and was called Shizikou in the Yuan Dynasty. In the fourth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, sent two generals Ma Yun Ye Wang to lead an army from Penglai, Shandong to land on a boat and land here across the sea to recover Liaodong. Because the sea journey was smooth, Shizikou was renamed Lushunkou and has been used to this day.

This was once a prosperous port. When the Ming Dynasty once ruled Liaodong, Liaodong went to Guannei mainly from Shandong Denglai Peninsula to take a boat to Miaodao Islands to Lushunkou to land on the Liaodong Peninsula.

Later, the Jurchens rose and the imperial army went to Liaodong to fight. Most of their food, pay and supplies were transported to Lushun via Denglai. This place was once a commercial port town. The leather and medicinal materials from Liaodong were transported back to Shandong by sea. The grain and cloth from Shandong were shipped from here to Liaodong. It was even an important transit station on the trade route between the Ming and North Korea.

From Penglai, Shandong to Lushun, Liaodong, there are only more than 200 miles of sea routes.

"There are few ships in the port"

Li Yifeng looked at the port. Such a good harbor, but there were only a few ships inside. Most of them were small boats, traditional hard sailboats, sand boats and blessed boats, mostly single-masts, and many smaller fishing boats, without even masts.

The boat was small and worn, and most of the boatmen and fishermen on the boat were ragged and pale and thin. Some soldiers were patrolling the harbor, and some arrow towers and sentries.

"It used to be very popular here. There were hundreds of ships moored at the port, but since Jianlu occupied this place, it has become like this." Manager Hu said.

Since the Qing army captured Lushun, the court completely lost control of the Liaodong Peninsula and the islands on the Liaohai Sea. Because it was unable to counterattack and retake it, the court began to ban merchants and fishermen from Shandong and other places from going to the coast of the Liaohai Sea. Although some people still secretly came to smuggle and sell goods, they were a minority after all.

In just a few years, it quickly weakened.

"After the Tartars entered the pass and ransacked the two mines in Shandong, they sent the Han army flags and Manchuria flag troops to send troops to North Korea. They conquered North Korea in less than two months. Now, the Tartars have conquered North Korea and Mongolia, and have completely controlled the coast of Liaodong and the northern part of the Zhili Gulf."

"Is the three traitors in Shandong just like Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming happy? "

Manager Hu nodded. Kong Youde and the other three were miners in Liaodong. Among them, Kong Youde's father also died against the Tartars. Later, they all became the command of Mao Wenlong, the general of Dongjiang, and became their adopted sons. Later, Mao Wenlong was killed, and Kong Youde and others defected to Shandong. In the end, they all started to cause trouble and defected to the Tartars after being defeated. Now they are all named the title of the Qing Dynasty. Because they have the character Shun in their titles, they are also called the Sanshun King.

However, the Ming Dynasty generally called the three of them Shandong Sanminers or Shandong Santraitors.

"These traitors" Li Yifeng cursed coldly. He was the Yebukuai of the Jiutou Intelligence Department. This time the army fought eastward. He and many Yebukuai were sent as vanguards and entered Liao first. Li Yifeng is also an old Jiutouai. He is in great health and has always been unable to accept it at night. Now he is also in charge of the General Office of the Hundredth General.

However, the Nine-Headed Bird had already started sending secret spies to Liao as early as last year's Battle of Huaixi to collect intelligence. However, this time, they did not accept them to Liao in batches. They were actually going to contact these intelligence personnel, responsible for receiving and transmitting intelligence. Li Yifeng and several team members were riding on the boat of merchant Zhanggui Hu.

Manager Hu once traveled to Lushun for a long-distance trip. He was very familiar with this area. Even Manager Zhou and a relative were in Lushun.

"There are many Han people who defected to the Tartars. In the past, Tong Yangxing's Wu Zhenchao, later Ma Guangyuan's Nikan's Haha, and later Kong Youde's Tianyou Soldiers, Shang Kexi's Tianzhu Soldiers, etc. There are quite a few. In recent years, the Qing barbarians have expanded these traitors from both wings to the Four Banners of the Han Army. It is estimated that they will soon become the Eight Banners of the Han Army. In the Qing army, there are about 20,000 to 30,000 people in the Han Army and Tianyou Tianzhu Soldiers."

Li Yifeng snorted, "These traitors will be settled soon. Manager Hu. Does this Lushun Port seem to be not strong in defense?"

"The Tartars have recently transferred a lot of troops from Lushun to Jinzhou. I heard that they are going to surround Jinzhou."

"We will not be discovered when we enter Hong Kong like this, right?"

Manager Hu smiled and said, "Don't worry. The Tartars are actually better fooling around and are more greedy for money. As long as they give them some money, these people will not investigate them strictly. What's more, we are merchant ships, and we are still transporting food. The Tartars are now panicing with food."

The boat entered the port and docked. Sure enough, several Tartars were dragging pig tails to check. After receiving a piece of silver from Manager Hu, they saw that what was transported was food. After shouting for a few words, they left swaggeringly.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Hu, for sending you off, let's say goodbye." Li Yifeng said.

"You should be careful, too." Manager Hu said with concern.

After Li Yifeng got ashore, he quickly entered a shop in Lushun.

"Shopkeeper, I have something to store here, come and pick it up."

“What kind of goods is it?”

"A batch of lacquerware shipped from Japan."

The shopkeeper looked at Li Yifeng, "Please follow me if you are a guest."

Several people followed the shopkeeper back and entered a wing room. The shopkeeper whispered, "Token"

Li Yifeng took out half of the bronze medal, the shopkeeper took it, and took out half of the bronze medal from his body. The two sides faced each other, and the two were tightly matched, which was exactly the same. The shopkeeper nodded, "No matter whether it was windy or rainy, the sun rose as usual."

"Dawn is right in front of you," Li Yifeng replied.

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "I finally waited for you, has the army finally set out to fight?"

"Well, let's fight before the station, and the Marquis leads the army and arrive later."

The shopkeeper pulled a few people to sit down, "That's great. I have a great news to tell you. A few days ago, the captain Huang Taiji had just drawn a Jianlu from Lushun to the north. We found out clearly that he was going to Jinzhou. In addition, there was also good news that our people had obtained detailed information on the Jianlu garrison of Lushun. In addition, we successfully convinced several Han officers who surrendered to the Tartars. We were originally from Dongjiang Town, but later we had to surrender to the Tartars, but they were not valued. We were bullied by the Tartars many times. Especially one person, one of his concubines was teased by the Tartars generals after drinking."

"Is this person trustworthy? What position is in Lushun?"

"Niulu Zhangjing is equivalent to the garrison or Dusi of the court. However, this person is very popular among the Han officials who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty by Lushun. We have contacted and instigated several Han generals through him."

The Qing Dynasty expanded the two wings of the Han army into the four flags of the Han army last year. The flags were pure green, pure green, pure green, pure green, pure green, pure green, pure blue, pure blue, pure blue, pure blue, pure blue, pure blue, pure blue, pure blue, pure blue, and pure blue, with more than 7,000 soldiers and horses of Gushan Ezhen. However, the Tianyou soldiers and Tianjiao soldiers of the three traitors, Kong Youde, and more than 10,000 soldiers were not yet incorporated into the four flags of the Han. The flags they fought were white, black, and were directly under the jurisdiction of Huangtaiji.

The Niulu Zhangjing Zhao Dezhi was a pure green and red Han army flag. He was an officer of Dongjiang Town. Later, he followed Shen Shikui to Dongjiang Town until the tenth year of Chongzhen. After his defeat, he was captured and finally surrendered. After surrender, he was awarded an official position. He also entered North Korea for his merits and was promoted to Niulu and later transferred to Lushun to garrison.

But he was not valued at Lushunkou. Instead, he was asked for money many times by the Qing general stationed in Lushun. He swallowed his anger every time. But later, he invited Lu Jian at home to a banquet, but something serious happened. The enemy broke into the inner courtyard of his house and teased one of his concubines. His concubine resisted hard, but was stabbed to death by the man's anger.

This matter was regarded as a great humiliation by Zhao Dezhi. Therefore, when the Nine-Headed Bird's Secret Works learned about this, Zhao Dezhi agreed to do things for the Nine-Headed Bird without saying a word. Not only did he provide information to the Nine-Headed Bird, he also actively persuaded several Han generals like him to work together and secretly do things for the Nine-Headed Bird.

"Very good, you can find a way to bring Zhao Dezhi over. I'll see him." Li Yifeng said.

Liaodong, Shengjing.

Huang Taiji, who was forty-six, was in his prime and had succeeded to the throne for fourteen years.

Since the beginning of spring, Huang Taiji was infected and was ill for many days. The weather warmed up and his body finally gradually recovered. However, even when he was unwell, he did not relax his treatment of important military and political affairs.

However, when he looked at the report in his hand, he couldn't help but frown.

"It is said that Ding Qimin is here to see him."

A guard on the side replied carefully, "Report to your Majesty. The first third-class Melezhangjing Ding Qiming has been dismissed from his post as a slave for his crime."

Huang Tai said impatiently, "After giving Ding Qiming a gift to Zhang Jing, bring him here immediately."

Ding Qiming was originally a general of the Ming Dynasty, and was once the deputy general of the Biao battalion of Liu Zhilun, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War. Later, he was defeated and captured with the Qing army. Huang Taiji was demoted to guerrilla according to his original position. Because he had some knowledge of Ding Qiming's red cannons, Huang Taiji asked him to preside over the Qing army's cannon casting. Later, Ding Qiming actually cast the cannons and was promoted to Meilezhangjing, but later he was criticized by his slaves. He accused his general of "expending all" of the hundred people he gave and pawned the sable fur he gave. After it was found that it was true, he was stripped of his post as a slave.

But now Huang Taiji can no longer control these things. He needs Ding Qiming, an expert in the Qing Dynasty's cannon casting, to solve a doubt for him.

Ding Qiming was soon found. After hearing that he was restored to his official position, he almost went crazy. Although he was only given the title of Niulu Zhangjing, at most it was equivalent to a garrison, it had already satisfied him, at least he didn't have to be a slave anymore.

After taking a quick shower, he changed into a new official robe and Ding Qiming entered the palace to see him.

Before Huang Taiji could kneel down and salute, he waved, "Ding Qiming, come here and see this for me."

Ding Qiming stepped forward carefully and took a letter from Huang Taiji. There were also many pictures on it, including ships and fire ships.

"Ding Qiming, tell me, is it possible that the warships and artillery mentioned above are true? In this world, are there really such powerful warships and such sharp artillery?"

Ding Qiming looked carefully and became more and more frightened. The warship, which was more than 20 meters long, had nearly three meters of water and four masts, could sail sixty miles in one hour, and had three full gun decks, connected to the gun positions on the top deck. This warship actually had 104 cannons. The cannons on the bottom deck weighed more than 6,000 kilograms, and could shoot twelve miles per gun, firing twenty-four kilograms of shells, and the barrel was more than 1 zhang.

Moreover, such cannons are actually cast by iron.

The more he looked, the more surprised he became, and finally he was a little confused.

Huang Taiji waited for a long time but didn't see him reply, and said impatiently, "How?"

Ding Qiming suddenly came to his senses and knelt down and replied, "Your Majesty, I have never seen such a large warship, let alone such a large cannon. A twenty-four kilogram cannon shell, more than ten miles a day, is still cast in iron, and I can't believe it."

"In your opinion, are the warships and cannons on it fake?"

Ding Qiming swallowed, "I think the Ming court should not have the ability to build this ship and cast this cannon."

"Where do Westerners have such warships and cannons?"

"I did hear people mention it during the Southern Dynasties, but I never saw it myself. I think that Westerners may not be able to be so capable, and they must be exaggerated."

"Are you exaggerating?" Huang Taiji frowned and finally waved his hand, "You go back."

After retreating Ding Qiming, Huang Taiji looked at the drawings and texts for a long time, and finally felt that this must be an exaggeration. This was the information sent back from the south, collected by Shanxi merchants. It was about a young general who was newly emerging in the Southern Dynasty. He and Wu Sangui from western Liaoning were known as the Ming Dynasty. This man made great contributions to the Southern Dynasty's pacification of bandits and also trained a new army.

According to information, last year, this man defeated the last major thief in the Central Plains in Huaixi and was accepted as his adopted son by the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty. Then he sent to the southeast to inspect military affairs, fought with the Red Barbarians at sea, and won a series of victories and captured many Western ships and cannons. The specific ones were like the ones he drew in front of him, which made people frightened.

The information also said that Liu Jun owned seven warships with more than 100 guns, dozens of ships with other dozens of guns, and many other ships with troops and grain transport, with a total of more than 100 ships. There were thousands of cannons of thousands of kilograms.

Now, this young general, full of mythological ship, is preparing to send troops. There are rumors that the emperor of the Southern Dynasty has appointed him as the general of the conquering enemy and wants to mobilize him to attack the Liaodong Peninsula from the sea.

With the words of Ding Qiming, the artillery expert, Huang Taiji calmed down a little.

"Rumors must be rumors, just attacking the heart." Huang Taiji sneered, "If the Westerners really have such warship cannons, how could they be defeated by Liu Jun. And if the Westerners really have such giant ship cannons and are defeated, it means that the giant ship cannons are not that powerful. No matter what the situation is, he doesn't have to worry too much."

He put down the drawing and turned his eyes to the map on one side. On the map, there was a place with a red pen. It was Jinzhou. After conquering Mongolia and North Korea and sweeping away the coastal islands of Liaodong, he was already eager to siege Ningjin.

The key is Jinzhou. If you take Jinzhou, Ningyuan will be alone and difficult to defend. If Ningyuan takes it, then the entire land outside the pass will be the territory of the Qing Dynasty. At the beginning of his succession, he was afraid of the Ming Empire, and once only wanted to negotiate with the Ming Dynasty in order to achieve a stable development.

But the Ming Dynasty rejected him again and again. Then many years later, he had already expeditioned to Mongolia and pacified Korea in the east. He finally had the strength to be on par with the Ming Dynasty. A few years ago, he also officially changed the country's name to Qing and called himself the emperor.

At present, everything will be led by Ning Jin.

Thinking of this, Huang Taiji pulled his mind back from the uneasiness brought by that intelligence.

After a long time, Huang Taiji couldn't help but turn his eyes to the information again.
Chapter completed!