RoleplayNovel Chapter 82 Shi Lang
Chapter 82 Shi Lang
By noon that day, the temporary dock at Dagou Beach was taking shape, and the sleepers and planks were being transported by more than a thousand soldiers and conscripted locals.
One after another, 12-pound infantry guns and wagons loaded with military supplies were slowly pulled by packhorses onto the land, leaving two deep tracks in the damp sand.
Under Zhu Jiheng's orders, six scouts were dispatched, all of them elite soldiers or cavalry selected from the army, who rode away and disappeared into the rolling hills and sugarcane field paths.
Since the land forces had not yet been completely disembarked, the two naval commanders, Lü Qianfan and Qin Yunwu, went ashore with the land force officers and stood beside Zhu Jiheng to discuss the next military strategy.
They sat around a hastily set-up map table. Lü Qianfan pointed to the location of Luermen on the map and suggested:
"Your Highness, if the navy advances north immediately, I believe it is unnecessary to directly confront the Fujian navy. Instead, we can first use some warships to blockade the Luermen Channel and sever the connection between Taiwan and Penghu and Fujian Province."
Although the Qing army had tens of thousands of troops in Taiwan, they were divided into different areas, with at most three to five thousand soldiers guarding the city and its surrounding areas. If they were unable to coordinate their efforts and were cut off from reinforcements and supplies, the city could fall without a fight.
Zhu Jiheng stared at the map, not answering immediately, but pondering in his heart. Although the Qing army on the island was said to number in the tens of thousands, the actual number of soldiers who could fight was probably only three or four thousand. Those left to guard Taiwan and Penghu were mostly second-line soldiers, and their combat effectiveness was not high.
"Blocking Luermen is feasible." After a moment of thought, Zhu Jiheng said, "But we don't need to send the whole army. Order four level six ships and four two-masted fast ships, along with two lines of infantry, to be stationed outside the Luermen waterway. If they encounter Qing naval reinforcements, attack them; if they encounter Qing breakout ships from Taiwan, intercept them."
The remaining troops will follow you north, patrolling towards Penghu. The main force of the Fujian Navy should still be reorganizing and replenishing in the Xiamen and Haicheng area. It will take at least half a month for them to receive the news, gather ships, mobilize troops, and then cross the sea to provide reinforcements. In this half month, I will take Taiwan!
"Yes, sir!" Lü Qianfan solemnly accepted the order.
"The rest of the land forces will advance with me towards Taiwan. If the Qing army dares to take the initiative to fight, our army will engage them head-on and crush their field fighting capabilities in one battle. Then the main city will be shaken, its will to defend will waver, and it will collapse without a fight!"
"Your Highness has made a wise decision!" everyone responded in unison.
Meanwhile, the commotion in the direction of Takow did not escape the notice of the Qing army outpost. As the defeated soldiers gradually fled back, the Qing army outpost dared not be negligent and hurriedly dispatched fast horses to rush towards Taiwan Prefecture to report to Shi Lang, who was still stationed there.
That very evening, a fast horse rushed into Taiwan Prefecture and arrived at Shi Lang's headquarters to inform him that a large army bearing the Ming army's banner was crossing the sea to invade Tainan.
Shi Lang's headquarters was set up in the former residence of the Prince of Yanping of the Zheng family. The hall was brightly lit, and armored soldiers lined up inside and outside. When the fast horse rushed to the gate of the prince's residence, the horse was exhausted and foaming at the mouth.
The knight landed on his saddle, barely able to stand, and after explaining his purpose, was dragged into the hall by two guards.
At this moment, Shi Lang was holding a candle and reading the recent document from the Fujian Naval Commander's Office. At the age of sixty, his brows were furrowed with the composure honed by decades of battlefield experience. His achievements in pacifying the seas and the naval power he held had been inscribed in the imperial edict. He was the most respected naval commander in Fujian and Taiwan, and he controlled the land and sea routes.
In recent months, he has been stationed in Taiwan, ostensibly to inspect coastal defenses, but in reality to oversee grain supplies and reorganize the military. With the Three Feudatories recently quelled and the coastal borders just settled, the court's attention has shifted from the southwest to the southeast. Now that the southeast is pacified and a period of peace is finally approaching, the remnants of the former Ming dynasty are still causing trouble, which is really vexing him.
The imperial edict from the other side of the strait made him realize that the remnants of the former Ming dynasty that he had missed a few months ago had already gained influence overseas. Upon hearing this, Shi Lang was extremely apprehensive.
This anxiety stemmed not only from the fear that court officials would use this as a pretext to attack and denounce him, thereby erasing his achievements and even imprisoning him.
But...
He, Shi, is a traitor who abandoned darkness for light, a meritorious official who pacified the seas, and the one who personally presented the grandson of the Prince of Yanping, a member of the Ming imperial family, as a prisoner before the capital. If the heir of the Prince of Lu truly makes a comeback, then…
"Urgent report on dog catching—!"
Just then, the knight's cry interrupted Shi Lang's thoughts. He looked up and saw a soldier being carried in, his voice hoarse:
"Reporting to the General's Office! Urgent report from Dagou! At dawn this morning, countless massive ships suddenly appeared on the sea, their masts like a forest, their flags bearing the character 'Ming'! The enemy army bombarded the forts and strongholds with cannons, causing heavy casualties among the defenders. Battalion Commander Zhang Rongji was killed in action, and the garrison troops scattered! Dagou... Dagou has fallen!"
The hall was silent.
Shi Lang's hand holding the document trembled slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"How many rebel troops are there? Who is the commander? How many warships? Is there any follow-up report?" He suppressed his shock and asked repeatedly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.
"Report...Report to the commander! Less than thirty of the routed soldiers escaped back. They were all in such a panic that they could not speak of the details. They only said that there were a great many enemy ships, which covered the sea and came with such fierce cannon fire that they had never seen before in their lives!"
Tens of thousands of pirates landed on the shore, all dressed in red robes and white belts, armed with sophisticated firearms, and their formation was impeccable—far superior to ordinary sea pirates. Their banners…the banners indeed bore the words 'Regent of the Great Ming Dynasty'!
The Regent of the Ming Dynasty!
The four words fell into the hall like icicles falling into a jade plate.
Shi Lang remained silent for a moment, then slowly put down the document in his hand. He stood up and said in a deep voice, "Pass on the order."
His advisors and close generals all obeyed his orders with utmost respect.
"First, immediately issue a proclamation to Wang Wanxiang, the General Commander of Taiwan Garrison, ordering him to immediately inspect the troops in the prefectural city, strengthen the city's defenses, impose martial law at all four gates, and investigate spies. The Anping Fort and the Luermen garrison should each be on high alert and not engage in battle without orders."
Secondly, a urgent report was sent by express courier to the Governor-General, Governor, and Admiral of Fujian: Zhu Honghuan, the former Ming rebel leader, has led a large force of rebels to invade Taiwan, and the island of Takow has fallen. Further details will be reported separately. The court is requested to quickly dispatch land forces to reinforce the island.
Thirdly, an edict was issued to Zhan Liuqi, the deputy commander of Penghu: Strictly patrol the waters off Penghu to guard against enemy ships spying on the west. If enemy ships attack, hold the fortified positions and do not engage in reckless fighting.
Fourthly, I hereby order Lan Li, the adjutant general of the central army under my command, to immediately organize 800 personal guards and 500 naval troops, prepare three days' worth of dry rations, and await my personal command.
The staff officer exclaimed in surprise: "General! You intend to personally lead the troops to the front lines?"
Shi Lang did not answer. He walked to the map of Taiwan's coastal defense hanging on the wall and his gaze fell on the long and narrow coastline on the map.
With the loss of the dog-beating ground, the enemy army has landed and will surely march north towards Taiwan.
"General, if the enemy army is indeed that bastard surnamed Zhu who came in person, their strength will surely be considerable. General, you are a pillar of the nation and the pacification of Taiwan. How can you send troops out lightly?" the aide urged urgently.
Shi Lang did not answer, but stared at the map.
He recalled that a few months earlier, he had led an army of 20,000 men and 300 warships in a decisive battle against Liu Guoxuan at Penghu. The sky was filled with the sound of cannon fire, and the sea was stained with blood. After seven days of fierce fighting, he finally conquered the 36 islands of Penghu. Zheng Keshuang submitted a memorial to surrender, and the battle ended on the first day of the third month.
When he accepted the surrender in Taiwan, he met Zhu Honghuan. At that time, Zhu Honghuan was only twenty years old. He stood in the ranks of the surrendered officials, looking dejected and not particularly eye-catching.
He checked the register and identified more than 120 members of the imperial clan, and sent them all in chains to the interior. However, the group was attacked en route. Most of the imperial clan members and surrendered officials were later captured and brought back, but this person was nowhere to be found.
At the time, it was thought to be scabies that had fled to the mountains and soon festered on its own.
However, only a few months later.
Shi Lang closed his eyes briefly, the flickering candlelight casting a dim and indistinct shadow over most of his face.
"I have received great favors from the nation, and it is my duty to pacify the seas and establish peace." He opened his eyes, his voice deep and resolute. "That wicked beast escaped the net back then, leading to this calamity. If this villain is not eliminated, I will have no face to face the Emperor again."
He turned to the crowd and said:
"Lan Li's troops will follow me south to scout the enemy's strength at the first quarter of the morning tomorrow; Wang Wanxiang will defend the city and provide support as needed. The flags on the walls of Taiwan City will continue to be raised as usual. Do not panic or let anyone shake your morale."
"Yes, sir!"
The troops responded with a resounding ovation.