ushernet Chapter 667: Family ruined
Chapter 667: Family ruined
From afar, the twenty-odd North Korean soldiers left behind by Han Chengyi to keep watch watched as large swathes of trees were felled and gathered together by people carrying loads and pulling oxen.
On such a cold day, the captain of the North Korean soldiers, Kang Sung, was extremely satisfied to have landed such a wonderful job.
Chen Er ordered that food be provided to these Korean soldiers and that they be fed to their hearts' content.
After watching for two days and eating seven full meals, Jiang Cheng couldn't stand it anymore. How could he just eat the food of the emperor without doing any work?
"Let's go help the lord of the upper kingdom carry timber." Led by Jiang Cheng, more than twenty Korean soldiers went.
Upwind is a poor place because there is very little arable land on the island. Most of the island's residents make a living by fishing, and drying fish and seafood is their main means of livelihood.
Fishing was a very dangerous job in those days because the boats were small and the tools were poor, making it very easy to sink. As a result, there were more women than men on the island.
Residents further away, seeing the soldiers join the work, slowly gathered around. The weather was cold, and they couldn't go out to sea yet.
As long as you're willing to work, you'll have plenty to eat. This caused quite a stir; every North Korean person within a hundred miles who was still able-bodied came to help.
As more people came, meals were no longer provided. Except for the soldiers, everyone who came to work was paid, with each person receiving a small bag of coarse grains per day.
What kind of life do the people of Shangfeng live on a regular basis? In previous years, although it was cold in April, it was already time to go fishing at sea. But in recent years, it has become increasingly cold, and it is already mid-April, and the ground has not yet thawed.
One can only imagine the kind of life the islanders, who already had limited resources, led.
Let alone the Ming Dynasty, isn't it said that even in the 21st century, South Korea is still unable to be self-sufficient in food?
Seventeen days after the fleet landed on the island, a fleet arrived. According to Yang Tiansheng, it was a North Korean naval warship. A small boat sent someone to deliver the message.
The Korean court rejected the Huaxia Group's request to lease Sangfeng Island and demanded that the fleet leave immediately.
Did I come to the upper hand just to get your approval? Since we can't reach an agreement, then let's do it.
The fleet was excited by the sight of six large-bellied ships, each estimated to be only about 1000 tons. Wasn't this the real combat opportunity the president had mentioned?
Let's all go together then, just practice the artillery.
What was the result of a fleet of 15 cannons ganging up on 6 small boats? There was no result; after hitting only two iron balls, the Korean navy surrendered.
It wasn't about actually going to war with Korea; surrendering would have been fine. They summoned the Korean naval commanders and Han Seong-yi, the magistrate of Jeongui County.
The document is ready. Take it back and tell your court. They can either stamp it or come back to stamp it if they disagree.
Couldn't you have said you'd give me the money earlier? The two counties of Shangfeng can't even pay 1000 taels of silver in taxes a year. Wouldn't it have been better if you had just said you'd give me the money earlier? Leaving the Shangfeng fleet behind, Chen Er led his troops off again, leaving Gan Hui and Yang Tiansheng to handle things on their own.
There's only one principle: if someone doesn't submit, beat them until they do.
The sea surface finally began to thaw. Chen Er had originally planned to visit North Korea, but the large amount of floating ice along the coast ruined his plans again.
Along the coastline of the Korean Peninsula, far away from the ice floes, Chen Er could only listen to Pang Huaiyi and Liu Xiang's explanation through binoculars.
That day, they could see a relatively large island in the distance. Pang Huaiyi introduced it as Shenmi Island, and a short distance further ahead was Pi Island, followed by Changshan Island, Haiyang Island, Wangjia Island, and so on...
"Wait, what island are you talking about up ahead?" Chen Er suddenly felt that a place name sounded familiar.
"President, Pi Island is ahead," Pang Huaiyi replied.
Why does that name sound so familiar? Pi Island, Pi Island… Mao Wenlong. I finally remember! Isn't Pi Island the garrison of Mao Wenlong, the General of the Eastern River Army?
His daughter, Mao Dongzhu, is the fake Empress Dowager, isn't she? Okay, I've mixed up the shows.
Mao Wenlong. Mao Wenlong, who was tricked ashore and killed by Yuan Chonghuan. Chen Er was somewhat expectant of Mao Wenlong of Dongjiang Town, the man known as the dagger fixed on the waist of the Later Jin dynasty.
By the afternoon, Pi Island was in sight.
It's a deserted island, and there's hardly anyone on it. We've circled most of the shore, but haven't seen any signs of a large human population.
Is the historical process different from the original timeline? Chen Er was puzzled. Although he understood the principle of a butterfly flapping its wings, what was going on with the complete disappearance of Dongjiang Town?
In the original timeline, Mao Wenlong led his people to Pi Island in the winter of that year, while Chen Er arrived earlier.
Pi Island's strategic location is also very important. Now that Dongjiang Town is gone, we need to send people to occupy it. Judging from the map, Pi Island's location is even better than Shangfeng Island's.
Once the order was relayed, a small boat would naturally go upwind to deliver it to Gan Hui.
Opposite Pi Island is Cheolsan Mountain in North Korea. Since it is called Cheolsan Mountain, it must have iron ore. Setting up a workshop here would ensure the supply of iron ore.
Regardless of production volume, it will be a supplement to the Upper East Fleet and the Hirado Fleet. Sailing along the Korean coast, Chen Er pondered the issue of the Northern Fleet's base.
Did the Ming Dynasty have any ice-free ports in the north? Lushun, Dalian, and Qinhuangdao—these three place names immediately popped into Chen Er's mind, who loved to travel.
Lushun was occupied by the Later Jin quite late, and Dalian... I think it's called Jinzhou now. I wonder what the situation is like in Jinzhou?
However, occupying the mainland is not something Chen Er is suited to do at the moment, let alone Qinhuangdao, because it is too close to a certain place - Shanhaiguan.
Pang Huaiyi was from Huzhou, Zhejiang. His family was once extremely wealthy, because Huzhou was indeed a prosperous place.
Huzhou is not only fertile and has a pleasant climate, but it also boasts a rich literary tradition. The Zhong family produced a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) in the Song Dynasty, which led to their rise to prominence.
The family once owned thousands of acres of fertile land, as well as mulberry groves and tea plantations. During the Hongzhi era, another scholar passed the imperial examination, making the family business even more extensive.
The literary scene flourished, and the Zhejiang faction once held a prominent position in the court. However, it began its decline during the Jiajing reign. The Donglin faction then emerged on the historical stage.
During the Wanli era, the Donglin faction launched a fierce offensive against other factions in the court, and for a time, the Zhejiang faction, the Shanxi faction, and others gradually lost power.
The Zhejiang and Shanxi merchants behind these parties were gradually eroded by the Anhui merchants. Defeated in the court, the economic blow was even greater.
Minor legal disputes were falsely accused of treason. Which wealthy family in Southern Zhili and Zhejiang didn't engage in maritime trade? But once they lost power in the court, the Donglin faction's methods became direct and brutal.
As if overnight, the Zhong family was either killed or exiled, and in an instant, the family was destroyed. Pang Huaiyi, who had gone to sea with the ship, escaped the calamity.
Pang Huaiyi, who had received a proper education, received news of his family's destruction in Nagasaki. The cargo on the two ships was sold for a little over 20 taels of silver, and the once noble young master was reduced to a pirate.
In Li Dan's group, there were only two true pirate factions: one led by the dead Li Kuiqi, and the other led by Pang Huaiyi.
The others were actually maritime merchants who mainly engaged in trade, and only occasionally became pirates in order to cooperate in the struggle for interests.
But Pang Huaiyi and Li Kuiqi were different; their main business was robbery.