Chapter 1119 Seeing is believing

Haihan has been engaged in the introduction of immigrants for so many years, so he naturally knows what method is most convincing. For these Ming officials who are dealing with Haihan for the first time, even if they talk openly, it is impossible to completely dispel all the doubts in their hearts.

The most effective way is to let them truly see Haihan's actual immigration operations.

Sure enough, Shen Shikui was very moved by Xie Li's suggestion. After hearing this, he asked, "When can we go?"

"You can do it at any time." Xie Li continued to suggest: "Otherwise, Master Shen will send someone to follow our fleet back to Shandong, so that we can see the most real situation there."

Xie Li is full of confidence in the progress of Haihan's construction in Zhifu Bay. Although Haihan has not arrived there for a long time, the infrastructure facilities are much more decent than those on Pi Island. He is not worried about the consequences of people from Pi Island visiting.

It will affect their confidence in Haihan. This matter has hundreds of benefits and no disadvantages for Pi Dao, and there is no need to bear any risks. Xie Li believes that Shen Shikui will not reject this plan that can solve Pi Dao's survival crisis.

Of course, Shen Shikui still had some doubts. After all, these uninvited guests who fell from the sky were too kind. You must know that no one in the Ming Dynasty even tried to solve these problems for him. It was a group of foreigners whose names he had never heard of before.

It was simply unreasonable for him to take the initiative to solve the problem for him. But he really couldn't refuse the temptation of the other party's solution. If the survival problems of the people and garrison on the island were not solved as soon as possible, the next mutiny might happen again.

It's coming soon, and Pidao's strength has shrunk greatly in the past year, and it can no longer withstand the hardships.

Shen Shikui looked at his nephew: "Zhixiang, would you like to take a group of people and go to Shandong with them?"

"I accept my order from this humble position!" Shen Zhixiang did not refuse and agreed. Currently, there are only a few generals leading troops on the island, and there are even fewer people Shen Shikui can trust. Shen Zhixiang also knows that this errand must be assigned to someone.

On my own. But judging from the attitude shown by the other party, there should be no risk in this trip.

Xie Li added: "This time we decided to come to Pi Island at the last minute. I didn't prepare any gifts in a hurry. I could only squeeze out a thousand kilograms of food from the fleet's supplies. I hope Master Shen won't dislike it."

"You're welcome!" Of course, Shen Shikui would not turn away the food that came to his door. Based on the current situation of Pi Island, the food supply is never too much, and not too little, as long as there is food coming in. How much?

It's not the point. Being able to maintain channels for food imports can appease the hungry and restless people on the island.

After the two parties finished talking about business, Xie Li went to see the people on the island. Shen Shikui asked Shen Zhixiang to take him around. Xie Li found that the situation in this place was very similar to that outside Fushan County a few days ago.

They are all simple shacks all over the place, with dull eyes due to hunger, yellow-skinned and skinny people, and a rotten smell in the air.

Xie Li remembered something and asked Shen Zhixiang: "Are there enough doctors on the island?"

Shen Zhixiang didn't know what he meant, but he still responded and explained: "There are seven or eight doctors on the island, but their medical skills are mediocre... The special envoy feels unwell? Can a doctor be sent to check and take the pulse?"

Xie Li shook his head and said: "That's not true. The reason I asked this is because I saw that the living conditions of the people here are so simple, and I am afraid that there is a risk of epidemics. If there are not enough doctors and medicinal materials on the island, then once the epidemic breaks out,

It’s very possible that I can’t control it.”

Shen Zhixiang responded: "The special envoy is right, but we don't know the truth. It's just that the traffic on Pi Island is blocked, and it is difficult to divert materials and personnel. We can only maintain the status quo. This island is full of Liaodong with no way out.

It is impossible for the Han people to drive them out of Pi Island. Even if there is a possibility of an outbreak of disease, they still have to be allowed to stay on the island."

Xie Lidao: "If there is no outside help, Pidao may not be able to survive for long. When Houjin Tathagata comes to surrender, the people on the island will probably have to surrender in order to survive!"

Shen Zhixiang shook his head and said: "The Governor is loyal to the emperor and the court, and will never choose to surrender. Even if the gold thieves come to attack, the Governor will fight to the end."

"If General Shen had made the decision, would he have made a different choice?" Xie Li continued to explore.

Shen Zhixiang seemed not to be aware of the trick in Xie Li's question, and responded very straightforwardly: "We people have been guarding the border for the Ming Dynasty at sea for many years, but does the imperial court really care about us? We need people but no one, and we need food but no food.

, when the gold thieves harass places like Ji, Liao, Xuanda, etc., the imperial court will order us to attack Liaodong to hold back the gold thieves’ strength. Only at this time will the imperial court remember that we still have our troops overseas. Let me tell you,

People on this island should try to survive first before considering other things. If you can’t save your life, what’s the use of being loyal to the court?”

Before Xie Li came to Phi Island, Wang Tom specifically instructed him to pay attention to the attitude of Shen Shikui's nephew - this was a new instruction Wang Tom received after reporting to the Zhifu Island headquarters. Although Xie Li didn't know

However, he still paid special attention to it and tried to test Shen Zhixiang whenever he got the opportunity.

What Xie Li didn't know was that after consulting the database, the command found that historically Shen Shikui generously went to justice after being captured and was killed by Qing soldiers, but his nephew Shen Zhixiang chose to surrender to save his life and was later included in the

Zhengbai Banner, after the Qing troops entered the customs, he led troops to defeat Li Zicheng, and also followed Kong Youde south to conquer Huguang. He sacrificed his life for the Qing government and fought many more battles than when he served in the Ming army.

Although this plot has not yet happened, it would be too early to accuse Shen Zhixiang of being a "traitor" in advance. However, the Haihan people believe that since the other party has a tendency to treason and surrender to foreigners, they must take precautions in advance to avoid bringing Haihan into trouble in the future.

Han was also sold together. Of course, if he could seize the opportunity, he might be able to get ahead and use it for his own use. After all, judging from his original life trajectory, his loyalty to Ming should be relatively limited.

, far inferior to his uncle Shen Shikui in this aspect.

When Xie Li heard Shen Zhixiang's statement, he found that it was indeed different from the Ming army officers he had come into contact with in the past. Even if those people he had come into contact with in the past, even if they were involved with Haihan, they would definitely still talk about being loyal to the emperor and patriotic and politically correct.

His remarks were all done well on the surface. But Shen Zhixiang's tone was obviously dissatisfied with the imperial court, and he was also full of pessimism about the current situation and future of Dongjiang Town. He obviously had some small thoughts.

Xie Li did not continue to talk about this topic in depth at the moment. Firstly, he wanted to avoid Shen Zhixiang from becoming alert. Secondly, this Pi Island was another family's territory after all, and he was afraid that people would listen through the walls. This didn't matter to Shen Zhixiang, but if his uncle knew

, it will inevitably affect the perception of Haihan.

The situation on Phi Island was far worse than Haihan expected. A large number of refugees could only huddle in shacks and suffer from hunger. The sanitary conditions were extremely poor. Who could have persisted for such a long time without the outbreak of the plague was because of Shen Shikui and his

The management ability of his predecessors really depends on luck. Although Xie Li has traveled to many places in the past few years and has seen many refugee camps, he also believes that the situation on Phi Island is on the verge of being very dangerous and may happen at any time.

A devastating event.

After visiting two refugee settlements, Xie Li had basically understood the general living standards of the local people, so he invited Shen Zhixiang to leave Pidao to join the Haihan fleet. Shen Shikui allocated two ships to Shen Zhixiang, and one followed him.

He sailed south to Shandong, and the other ship was used to transport back the thousand kilograms of grain presented to Pi Dao by the Haihan fleet.

Before leaving, Shen Shikui warned him: "Observe the Haihan people carefully along the way to see if they are bragging or if they are really capable. Also, after going to the local area, if you can meet the person in charge of Haihan, you should try your best to promote cooperation.

, if we can get this assistance, Dongjiang Town may be able to survive the current difficulties."

Shen Zhixiang had been to Shandong before, but he always went with his own fleet to collect food there. This was the first time he went to sea with others to go south. He and Xie Li went to sea on a Haicang ship and took the small boat that Xie Li came on.

The boat was tied behind the ship and slowly approached the Haihan Fleet anchored on the north side of Pi Island near Cheosan County of North Korea.

As it got closer and closer to the Haihan fleet, Shen Zhixiang truly realized how big the Haihan flagship was. The small Haicang ship gestured at its side. The side of the ship was at least five feet shorter. It had to be followed.

Only a rope ladder hanging down can be used to climb up to the deck. The most conspicuous thing on the side of the ship is the neat square gun windows. Shen Zhixiang took a quick look and saw that there were at least more than twenty, and he was very shocked. If these gun windows were not decorations on the ship,

thing, then the firepower of this ship is probably astonishingly strong.

Xie Li observed the situation and knew that the other party had noticed the firepower configuration of the warship. He pretended to be unintentional and said: "We went to Lushunkou a few days ago and met the Dengzhou navy who defected to Liaodong last year."

Sure enough, Shen Zhixiang immediately asked: "Will we fight with him? What will be the result?"

Xie Li smiled and said: "Since we have encountered each other, of course we have to fight each other. However, there are only four lucky ships on the opposite side. We can deal with them in a few or two."

Shen Zhixiang was a little unconvinced: "The Dengzhou Navy is well-trained and can be considered a strong army. Can your army easily solve it?"

Xie Lidao: "There is no basis for what you say. The dozens of prisoners of war we captured at that time are being held on the ship. General Xiao Shen will know the truth when he gets on the ship. Please come!"

Shen Zhixiang was dubious, but he still followed the instructions and climbed up the side of the ship from the rope ladder. After getting on the deck, Shen Zhixiang found that there were indeed several artillery pieces placed on both sides of the deck. The firepower alone was definitely stronger than that of the Ming army warships. These artillery pieces

They are all fixed on a complex-shaped gun base, and the gun body is covered with oilcloth. It seems that it will be removed during the war.

After Shen Zhixiang waited for Xie Li to come up, he couldn't wait to ask: "May I ask the special envoy, where did your country purchase this artillery?"

Xie Li smiled and said, "Want to buy it?"

Shen Zhixiang nodded repeatedly and said: "If the price is right, then book a few doors."

Shen Zhixiang has seen how powerful artillery is in combat. In the early years, Dongjiang Town was able to defend a small place like Lushunkou because of the powerful weapon of artillery. However, in the past year, Dongjiang Town has lost ground one after another.

, the artillery deployed in various strongholds has also been lost a lot, and now there is not much inventory on the island. But this thing is not a mass product that can be made everywhere, and if you want to buy it, you can’t find a place. Shen Zhixiang saw it at first glance

There were so many artillery pieces on the Haihan battleship, and I immediately started thinking about it.

Xie Li brought him to a naval gun, pulled off the gun jacket, pointed at the gun body and said, "Look at the words on it."

Shen Zhixiang bent down slightly, took a closer look, and saw two lines of Song-style inscriptions along the direction of the gun barrel. One line read "Made in the 41st Workshop of Haihan Ordnance Industry", while the font of the other line was like earthworms rolling sand, not Chinese characters.

Shen Zhixiang only understood the first line, raised his head and asked: "Is this cannon made by your country? What does the second line of words like a heavenly book mean?"

Xie Li nodded and explained to him: "The first line is the unit that built the cannon, and the second line is the number of the cannon. These numbers are specially recorded. If necessary, you can check the specific number from this

Time and craftsmanship."

The guns and cannons produced by Haihan Ordnance Industry all have unique numbers, which are composed of English and Arabic numerals. This is confidential, and secondly, it is more convenient to engrave than to engrave Chinese characters. However, this falls to outsiders like Shen Zhixiang.

In the eyes, nature is like a book from heaven.

Xie Li continued to introduce: "This cannon weighs six hundred and forty kilograms in total, and the projectile weighs ten kilograms and eight taels. It is fifty feet long and can break a two-inch-thick ship plank. It is the least powerful cannon on this ship."

Shen Zhixiang was listening attentively before, and almost burst out when he heard the last sentence. However, Xie Li stopped abruptly and put the oilcloth gun jacket back on the gun: "We will talk about the artillery later. Let's take General Shen first.

Go see the chief. If General Xiao Shen has any ideas, you can mention them to the chief."

Although Shen Zhixiang didn't know what rank the "chief" held in Haihan Kingdom, but judging from the respectful manner in which Xie Li mentioned it, he thought he must be a real big shot, so he quickly dressed up. He remembered Shen Shikui's instructions before setting off,

I also want to take this opportunity to see how the senior figures in Haihan behave.

Xie Li led Shen Zhixiang through the noisy deck and through the stairway cabin at the rear of the ship. The captain's cabin of the ship is located at the rear of the ship, and there are two guards on duty at the door. Xie Li introduced Shen Zhixiang's identity to Tom Wang , and consciously stood beside and behind Wang Tom.

"General Shen, nice to meet you!" Wang Tom put down what he was doing and stood up to greet Shen Zhixiang.

Shen Zhixiang responded, but his eyes noticed the various nautical charts hanging on the four walls of the cabin. Some of them he could immediately recognize as the terrain of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, but more of the charts were completely unfamiliar. In the sea area, it is obvious that the other party has much more sailing experience than myself.
Chapter completed!