Chapter 14

"Ask my master, since the storm of the last month, I, Guangzhou Customs Temple, have inspected 136 overseas foreign ships, and received a total of 1.27 million guan of maritime taxes. Recently, the docking of sea ships has gradually increased. Some of the merchant ships that used to choose Silla, and Fusang have also sailed eastward. It is expected that the profits will increase this month." In the governor's mansion, which is only a wall from the Customs Temple, Fan Chuanzheng, who has just been promoted to the chief position, is facing the head of the province, Lord Cui, who is sitting in front of the emperor, who has recently returned to the temple affairs.

"Okay! The number of merchant ships has increased recently. Thank you for your hard work. I have sent me a handwritten order. This month, the people and the people in the customs temple will have a four-month salary. I think it means rewards. I hope you can start and end well. You must make the job clean and profitable during this trade wind. Moreover, after the head of Fan returns to the yamen, you also need to remind your colleagues that you should remember the contracts made by Japanese officials. If you dare to accept bribes and neglect merchants, you will want to forgive him, but it is difficult to do good deeds outside the law! This is especially true for new merchants." Hearing that in just over a month, the customs in Guangzhou have gained such gains. Cui Po is in a good mood and is happy to talk to Fan Chuanzhengdao. He is still waiting to strictly declare the law and order the order, but he saw that Li Xiaomao had already arrived outside the hall. After a move, he stopped talking and asked Chief Fan to leave.

Just when Fan Chuanzheng had just left the hall, Cui Po turned around and said to Di Shi, who was serving the marquis, "Go and invite Mr. Li to talk to the front hall." After Di Shi left, he then stood in front of Li Xiaomao, who was standing on the inner wall of the door, said: "Sit down first, and then talk with a cup of tea."

At a moment, Li Boyuan, dressed in Confucian uniform, entered the hall with a graceful look, bowed to Cui Po and sat down, and asked Li Xiaomao: "Li Lushuai, what is the battle situation recently?"

Hearing this, Li Xiaomao stood up like the old days, stood up straight and answered: "According to the news from the brothers on board, since the first news of the trade wind last month to yesterday, the escort ships had lost 42 ships, with more than 2,100 casualties. Fortunately, they fought to kill the enemy, so the losses of past merchants were extremely small. Recently, Guangzhou merchants have received rave reviews from the Customs Temple Guardians."

"Oh! Feng Ruofang is mobilized in a different place? So what about the enemy's troops?" After hearing the battle situation, before Cui Pokaiyan could wait, Li Boyuan frowned and asked first.

"As the news was heard back at noon yesterday, there was no news that Feng Ruofang's troops had a large-scale reinforcement, but the enemy had successively increased their troops. As of yesterday, there were as many as 312 ships, with an average of 95 people per ship, with a total of more than 29,000 pirates.

With a "bang", the teacup fell to the ground, and Cui Po said in surprise: "More than 29,000 people! The information is accurate? On that day, Feng Ruofang once said that the Bohai Yu Jian's troops had only more than 100 ships and only a thousand people under his jurisdiction. Why did 30,000 people reach today? What kind of mystery is this person making?"

"This is not surprising!" After a little thought, Li Boyuan smiled and explained: "Feng Ruofang and Yu Jian were divided into two parts, and were named the "Two Kings". Their strength should not be much different. At that time, when the Lord first came, if he informed Yu Jian's full strength, wouldn't he have revealed his own secrets and made them afraid? He just thought that he had hidden so many people! He was under his command of 30,000! The title of "Sea King" was worthy of his name!"

"It seems that Yu Jian is going south this time. This time, he is going to burn his boats! I don't know what the old fox Feng is planning. There are more than 40 ships and thousands of subordinates. Speaking of which, he has paid enough money! Alas! It's a pity that he can't come to the sea in person. Watching such a battle, what's the regret!" Cui Po, who thought about the joints, stroked the moustache that had just accumulated under his jaw and said regretfully.

"There is no land battle in the sea. How dare the Guansi put the big man on the boat? If these two people have been in harmony for many years, they must have known each other deeply. How could Feng Ruofang not know the reality of the Bohai Sea? Today, Yu Jian has to fight, otherwise he will be trapped in the north! If Old Feng wants to protect his wealth and protect his old nest, he can only fight to the death. The more he has given up before, the bigger the plan will be. It has been more than 40 days since the beginning of the trade wind last month, and the arrangement of the two men has stopped. Seeing that the trade wind is about to end, I expect the final battle to be within twenty days. However, there is a lack of information. It is unknown who will win."

"Sir, don't worry too much. This time, Old Feng is able to get the peace and the advantage of the people and the location, and also the help of the armor and equipment, which can help Bohai get the advantage of close combat. Therefore, I expect the South China Sea to win. Just look at his repeated weakness for more than a month, it must be a plan to be arrogant and tired of the enemy. I think this person is really very thoughtful, and he actually wants to win a complete victory." Cui Po, who was very confident in Feng Ruofang, smiled.

Staring at Cui Po who was full of confidence, Li Boyuan smiled "sneer" and said, "Young Master is sure! You must know that the people of the Bohai Sea have come to the death of the Bohai Sea. This battle is related to their life and death, and this fighting spirit cannot be underestimated. In addition, people in the north have always been better than those in the south. The time and time of the sky are shared by both sides. What is the result of this battle? It is probably too early to conclude at this time."

Upon hearing this, Cui Po smiled but did not answer. If it is said that the history books of the Chinese dynasty era, the King of South China Sea was not the first pirate, but it was definitely the most famous one. The three words "Feng Ruofang" are more common in official history and Tang Dynasty notes. In addition to the extremely attractive description of his wealth, this person is most famous because he was a bandit, but he never robbed half of the Tang Dynasty merchant ships on the sea throughout his life. He had more rescue actions in the face of danger. Therefore, although he was inevitably hated by foreign merchants, some Tang merchants praised him as "a hero"; and his life was extremely high, and there was no reason to lose in this battle. It was precisely because of this that Cui Jun was so confident in his victory.

At the same time, the King of South China Sea, one of the protagonists of this naval battle, was also facing the two words "30,000" in the information sent back from the front. Feng Ruolong beside him had already turned pale. After enduring for a moment, he finally spoke: "Brother, Yu Jian has added more than 50 ships, which is fine. Where did his five thousand people come from? They were originally more ships and more people than me. In addition, the recent losses are now nearly a hundred ships, and this battle..."

"I sent an order to order two ships to hang the flags of the Customs Temple Guardian Division, sail eastward, blocking the South China Sea navigation route. If a merchant ship arrived recently, he asked them to avoid overseas or to turn to Linyi. The South China Sea commercial road would not be allowed to pass within one month." Feng Ruofang, who had been watching the album in his hand for a long time and did not raise his head, ordered:

"The order is sent, the raiding ships in front of us will break away from contact with the enemy and move closer to our own formation. Without the order, no one person or one ship is allowed to fight with the enemy without permission."

"Second brother, you should take the first step and take the fast ship to return to the Chunzhou shipyard. In the name of the Hu'an Department, we will recruit four ocean-going giant ships. We will tell a group of craftsmen that all other facilities will be stopped. First, install giant crossbows and "general artillery" for me. We will also start working hard to make crossbow arrows, tinder oil, stone bombs and other objects. The more will be better! We will also condemn Chun'er to Yazhou and ask Lin Qigong to recruit another 3,000 expert fishermen for me. After this matter is done, you can follow this article to follow the script." After taking a few words on the side, Feng Ruofang handed over it to his brother.

"Brother, even if I want to stay, I should stay and stop the enemy. Brother should go back to Chunzhou to make arrangements first." After Feng Ruolong stood up, he did not accept the Jian, so he said to himself.

"Damn it, when is it now? You can't let me get entangled here, so I can't go quickly!" With a loud shout, he pushed Jian Wen into his brother's hand. Feng Ruofang turned around and said, "Send the order, all the ships will rotate to alert, and the rest will be rested for a long time. Wait until all the haunted ships return to the next day, and prepare for the battle in the future." This shout caused a group of old brothers in the cabin to respond like thunder.

Whenever the enemy is approaching, it is a convention that the King of South China Sea will never change on the first day of his own bandits. Feng Ruolong knew that he could not persuade his brother, so he bit his teeth and turned around and left the cabin. However, he heard his brother's instructions coming from behind: "Ruolong, the ship's field only obeys the orders of Cui Po in the Customs Temple. However, this battle is too important and it is impossible to ask for instructions. If the craftsmen do not listen, you can do it cheaply. There is only one thing, and you must not kill more people's lives. In short, there are not a few ships, crossbows, etc. If you do this matter inappropriately and miss the fighter's opportunity, don't blame me for not thinking about brotherhood."

"Brother, please rest assured, I will take care of this matter." Knowing that the matter was urgent, Feng Ruolong stopped talking, and even went out of the cabin to choose a newly renovated "Clippers" and quickly went south to Chunzhou's nest.

"Li Gao, the governor of the Southern Tangshan Jiedushi, was good at thinking, so he changed the daily use of the big river boat, carrying the front and back wheels to sing it, flying wind and waves, as if hanging sail mats."

——"Old Book of Tang"

Not to mention how Feng Ruofang arranged the upcoming first battle, just saying that Feng Ruolong got on the 4,000-stone Clipper that looked like a "frigerator". With his order, the boatmen were busy and then set sail and headed south.

Although he felt that this ship was faster than usual, the anxious owner of the second house was not very careful. After the leader of the ship walked down the cabin for a while, Feng Ruolong, who was standing on the front deck of the ship, suddenly saw a large splash of water at the bow of the ship. Then, the ship rushed forward lightly like a gust of wind.

"Wu Laosi, what are you doing?" Feng Ruolong, who was surprised, asked sideways when he looked up and saw that there was only a small wind in the air.
Chapter completed!