mousepad-d2 Chapter 83 People's Expectations
Chapter 83 People's Expectations
The crowd dispersed, leaving Shi Lang alone in the hall, gazing at the map on the wall. To the north of Taiwan City lay the Taijiang Inner Sea, and to the west, the natural barrier of Luermen. The city was fortified and its moats deep, with enough provisions to last three months. As long as he held the city and held off the enemy army, the outcome would be uncertain once the Fujian reinforcements arrived.
However...
Zhu's rebellion gained momentum within a few months, inflicting a major defeat on the Western barbarians. This cannot be ignored. Although they have always regarded Westerners as barbarians, they must admit that the Westerners' weapons are not inferior.
Zhu Ni fled overseas with only a few men, and within a few months he defeated the Western barbarians and took their place. Moreover, the confession mentioned that they had "sharp and sophisticated firearms," which forced Zhu Ni to be on high alert.
After much deliberation, Shi Lang ordered someone to prepare a brush and ink, and personally wrote a memorial to the throne. At the end of the memorial, he wrote earnestly:
"...Although the enemy's strength is formidable, their campaign is arduous and they have come from afar. A swift victory is the best option. I request that we hold our ground and await reinforcements to wear down their army. I also humbly request that the Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang be ordered to quickly assemble ships and recruit elite troops to cross the Taiwan Strait when the winds are favorable, so that we can launch a pincer attack from within and without, and annihilate these scoundrels beneath the city walls. Your humble servant Lang respectfully submits this memorial."
……
The next day, at the end of the Yin hour (3-5 AM), before dawn.
The south gate of Taiwan City quietly opened, and Shi Lang, fully armed, rode out on horseback, followed by eight hundred personal guards and five hundred naval troops. The formation was not perfectly orderly, but the morale of the troops was high.
Shi Lang did not waste the night either. He also sent out many scouts to the south to investigate the Ming army's intelligence, and mobilized troops stationed in various places to return to Taiwan Prefecture.
Although the Qing army was not large in number, it was a well-trained force that had followed Shi Lang for many years. The soldiers were clad in bright armor, and passersby would keep their distance when they saw the flags.
Meanwhile, after a night of landing, the Ming army finally transported all its troops and supplies to the land. The navy moved north in batches as planned, blockading the Luermen Channel and patrolling around Penghu, preventing the Fujian navy from crossing the sea.
He himself led the main force of the army northward, with Chen Ang leading 2,000 troops as the vanguard to clear the way and head straight for Taiwan Town.
As the Ming army marched north, the Qing troops stationed around Tainan received the news to varying degrees and fled in panic. When the local people learned that the imperial army had returned, they spontaneously gathered on both sides of the official road.
At first, there were only a few people, hiding far away by the sugarcane grove, craning their necks to look around. They stared at the "Ming" flag on the road, lost in thought.
Although the uniforms of these Ming soldiers were extremely strange, more like the attire of Western barbarians, their appearance and accents were no different from ours, and the battle flag with the character "朙" was enough to prove their identity.
No one knows who knelt down first, but the crowd, like the wind blowing through a ripe wheat field, knelt down one after another along the official road, cheering for the return of the royal army.
More and more Han Chinese people gathered, supporting the old and carrying the young, bringing food and drink, kneeling by the roadside and field ridges. The old people wept bitterly, their eyes burning with fervor as they pleaded for help, their gazes fixed on the fluttering banner of the Regent.
Even more extreme, some soldiers, disregarding the soldiers' attempts to stop them, tried to stuff their last remaining rice and pickled vegetables into the hands of the soldiers. The will of the people, like drops of water flowing together, ignited a raging fire in the hearts of the Ming soldiers, making their steps even more resolute.
As Zhu Jiheng gazed at this scene, his heart churned with emotion, and he couldn't help but sigh:
"The people's hearts are truly within our grasp. With such popular support, how can our army not drive out the Tartars and recover our lost territories?"
After expressing his feelings, Zhu Jiheng summoned a messenger and instructed him: "Pass on my military order: all units are strictly prohibited from harassing the people and from committing any offenses against them. They may accept rice or grain offered by the people, but in exchange for silver."
"Yes, sir!"
The messenger rode off to relay Zhu Jiheng's order. Soon, the soldiers, who had been somewhat bewildered by the grain offered by the people, accepted it without hesitation and forcibly stuffed the silver coins from their pockets back into the people's hands.
The people, holding the still-warm silver coins in their hands, were momentarily stunned.
They had never seen an army with such discipline. Over the years, the flags of various armies had risen and fallen like the tides, and every time they had conscripted soldiers, distributed grain, or looted villages and communities along the way.
Which army would force money into the hands of the people for a few handfuls of dried sweet potatoes or half a jar of pickled vegetables?
Perhaps only the legendary Yue Family Army could have accomplished this!
Amid the expectant gazes of the people, the army continued its northward advance. Local cavalry and dragoons responsible for reconnaissance frequently traveled back and forth to report the enemy situation at the front to Zhu Jiheng.
Their reconnaissance range was extremely wide, so they inevitably clashed with Qing scouts.
Shi Lang was unaware of what was happening in the south. On the very night he set off, the scouts he had sent out finally returned at breakneck speed. They appeared to have engaged the enemy, and some of them were even dragging wounded soldiers on their horses. Upon seeing this, Shi Lang's expression darkened slightly.
"What happened? Have you fought with the bandits?" Shi Lang asked before the scout captain could speak.
The scout captain dismounted, knelt on one knee, and said, "Reporting to the commander! We engaged in battle with enemy cavalry ten miles ahead, suffering a minor setback. The enemy's firearms are sharp; they can shoot us with muskets from horseback. Their archery skills are superb, and we dare not approach. We can only retreat for now."
Shi Lang tightened the reins, his eyes sharpening: "Using a musket on horseback? Is it a Western firearm?"
The other party lowered his head and replied, "Indeed, the bandit cavalry are all equipped with short guns, which they fire only when they are close. Before our archers could even draw their bows, seven or eight of them had already been hit and fallen from their horses. The sound of their guns is crisp and fast, unlike ordinary bird guns."
Shi Lang remained silent, his gaze passing over the scouts and looking towards the southern horizon.
Foreigners are skilled with firearms. Zhu Honghuan seized Luzon and started a rebellion, taking over the foreigners' territory. He probably also learned their firearms tactics. In that case, it seems that things are getting a bit tricky.
"How many bandit cavalry?" he asked after a moment's thought.
"There were about thirty or forty riders, divided into several groups, engaging our scouts in skirmishes, striking and retreating quickly, not lingering in battle." The scout captain paused, then hesitated, saying, "It seems they are driving away our outposts, not wanting us to get close enough to spy on their camp."
Shi Lang nodded, agreeing with his view.
Lan Li then rode forward and said in a deep voice, "General, with such elite cavalry protecting our flanks, the main force of the enemy must already be on its way north. Our army has only a thousand men. If we rashly engage them, it will be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot..."
As he spoke, he carefully observed Shi Lang's expression. Seeing that Shi Lang showed no abnormality, he continued, "In my humble opinion, it would be better to retreat to Taiwan Town and rely on the high walls to hold out..."
Shi Lang glanced at Lan Li, his gaze not stern, but Lan Li still wisely kept quiet.
"You're right. The enemy army is powerful and at the height of its strength. We cannot engage them in a head-on battle," Shi Lang said thoughtfully.
Upon hearing this, Lan Li's tense expression eased slightly, only to hear Shi Lang slowly continue:
"But if we retreat into the city without firing a single arrow and allow them to advance unimpeded to our walls, where will our morale be? And how will the people of Taiwan view us?"
Upon hearing this, Lan Li immediately understood that Shi Lang would not be withdrawing from the prefectural city.
Sure enough, Shi Lang changed the subject and ordered the city to be set up camp. He said to Lan Li, "This is not a reckless battle, but a test of the enemy. The enemy's firearms are sophisticated, and we do not know their true strength. If we are trapped in this isolated city without a fight, how can we defend it when the enemy besieges us later, without even knowing their strength?"
Shi Lang's words made sense, and Lan Li could only silently agree.