I

Outside Nanchang City, there are military camps of officers and soldiers.

Jiangxi local officers and soldiers have fled home one after another, and now there are more than 300 people left. Those who did not escape were all guardsmen with no worries. Even those who escaped would be enslaved by their superiors.

In addition, there are more than 1,600 Guizhou vine armor soldiers!

The number of pacesetters for the governor of Guizhou is actually only one thousand men. This quota was set in the 43rd year of Jiajing.

But since the governor could have pacesetters, there have been various excesses due to actual circumstances. For example, when Weng Wanda fought against Mongolia, he once had tens of thousands of soldiers. They trained their troops first and then asked the court for instructions. Some governors simply did not bother to ask for instructions.

Zhu Xieyuan organized and trained two thousand pacesetters in Guizhou, which was a thousand more than the quota. As long as he could win the battle, the court didn't bother to care.

These Guizhou vine armor soldiers were left in Nanchang by Zhu Xieyuan, mainly to defend Nanchang Fucheng.

However, after Xiong Wencan inspected Jiangxi, the treatment of Guizhou soldiers plummeted due to insufficient money and food. At least they can be fed at this time. Once Xiong Wencan leaves, the Guizhou soldiers will simply eat and go hungry.

If this continues, in two or three months at most, more than a thousand Guizhou soldiers will definitely mutiny, or risk plundering outside the city.

"Stop...stop..."

The officers and soldiers guarding the barracks became weaker and weaker, retreating as they spoke.

Huang Yao smiled and said: "The guards are dividing the fields. I'm here to let you go home. From now on, there will be no military households. You can all be farmers, and no officers dare to bully you. After you go home, everyone can divide the fields."

The officers and soldiers guarding the camp were startled, then they knelt down and cried: "Bodhisattva bless the general to live a long life!"

Huang Yao said with a smile: "Go back to camp and tell your colleagues to come and receive a bucket of rice. This is your severance pay."

Several officers and soldiers guarding the camp immediately ran, shouting as they ran: "Everyone has come out to collect the rice. After receiving the rice, go home and divide the fields!"

Faced with receiving rice and dividing farmland, these officers and soldiers were powerless and instantly transformed into Mr. Zhao's supporters.

Not to mention that they are in the military camp outside the city, not to mention that their number is only more than 300. Even if there are more than 3,000 people standing on the tower at this moment, they will open the city gate and actively join the rebels.

The area around Nanchang Prefecture was under control, and the Jiangxi government was unable to collect taxes. Naturally, these soldiers would go hungry.

Each of the more than three hundred guardsmen received a bag of rice, kowtowed to Huang Yao, and then went home happily.

Huang Yao continued to walk in, and Fei Chun led someone to push the cart behind him.

More than 1,600 Guizhou soldiers were already wearing rattan armor and standing guard with their weapons when the soldiers at the guard station were receiving rice.

These Guizhou soldiers were all slaves of the chieftain, and it was Zhu Xieyuan who rescued them. They did not recognize the imperial court and only listened to Zhu Xieyuan's orders.

They also distrusted the Jiangxi rebels and thought that Huang Yao was coming to kill them all. I am not familiar with the place. This is Jiangxi. No one of the more than 1,600 Guizhou soldiers escaped. They all formed formations and planned to fight to the death.

Looking at the Guizhou soldiers who were clearly starved but still brave enough to fight, Huang Yao's mood was extremely complicated.

He fought bloody battles at Lion Rock for several days, and the biggest casualty he suffered was from the surprise attack by these Guizhou soldiers. He both hated the other party and admired the other party, and his emotions were very tangled.

Fei Chun pointed to the cart behind him and said: "Take the food to make a fire for cooking, and fill your stomach first. Each person will receive five hundred copper coins. Anyone who is willing to continue to serve as a soldier can come and receive it. From now on, you will be Mr. Zhao's soldiers."

The Guizhou soldiers looked at each other and began to relax their vigilance.

Huang Yao shouted: "The leader stands up!"

A Guizhou soldier stepped forward.

"What's your name?" Huang Yao asked.

The man replied in Guizhou Mandarin: "I used to be called Chihei, but Governor Zhu gave me the name Chihuchen."

Chihei means "dog meat".

The slaves snatched or bought by the Yi chieftains are collectively called Chihei. Gradually, Chihei even became a surname, and many descendants of slaves were named Chihei.

The Chi Huchen in front of him didn't even know which clan he was from. It might be the Han, it might be the Miao, it might be the Yi, it might be the Zhong. Anyway, he was captured by the chieftain when he was very young, and then he was recruited as a soldier by Zhu Xieyuan.

"Zhu Xieyuan has died of illness. Are you willing to work for Mr. Zhao in the future?" Huang Yao said, "As long as you are obedient, the rations will be sufficient in the future and the military pay will be paid on time. Those who want to settle down will be given land to you. If you are able, you will be married by yourself. Go and beg your mother-in-law."

Chi Huchen ran back to discuss with the officers and made a decision quickly.

In fact, they have no other choice. Once Zhu Xieyuan dies, he will be like a child without a father and a mother. If it continues, he will inevitably rebel and raise wages.

"I'm willing to serve as a soldier for Mr. Zhao!"

More than a thousand people all knelt down and spoke Guizhou Mandarin, which was very close to Ming Dynasty Mandarin.

On the same day, they received money and food, had a delicious meal, and followed Fei Chun to Ji'an Mansion the next day.

This time the army was expanded to 16,000 men, and the Military Academy once again made reforms.

Fei Ruhe took charge of the south courtyard and had 4,500 soldiers.

Huang Yao took charge of the North Courtyard and had 4,500 soldiers.

Zhang Tieniu took control of the middle courtyard and had four thousand soldiers.

The commander of the navy in Gujian Mountain has three thousand soldiers.

The defense areas of the counties in Ji'an Prefecture were changed to Zhang Tieniu's Intermediate Court. This guy only knows how to fight, and all military affairs are actually left to his deputy Liu Zhu. Liu Zhu is working hard to read and write. He has already escaped from the category of illiteracy and is no longer the blind person he used to be.

More than 1,600 Guizhou Tengjia soldiers were all organized as Zhao Han's personal soldiers and classified as regular soldiers of the Central Academy.

Outside Ji'an City, at the school grounds.

Some of Zhao Han's personal soldiers, the Nu'er Army, were sent out to serve as officers, and the rest were organized with the Guizhou soldiers, making up just two thousand.

After more than a year of brewing rattan armor and rattan cards, Zhao Han also made some himself.

The two thousand people in front of me are wearing rattan helmets, rattan armor, rattan tablets, and steel knives as weapons. Their armor is very light, and at the same time, it is very defensive, and it is extremely useful when attacking cities and mountains. Moreover, it is suitable for long-distance raids, and it is very convenient to cross mountains and ridges and cross rivers.

Zhao Han said: "You don't have any family members for the time being. Next year, you will go to Xiangnan, where bandits will ravage the area, and the number of young adults will drop sharply, but there will be a lot of women left. There are also many women who have been plundered by bandits. You can go to Xiangnan to start a family. There are also many unowned fields there, and the owners of the land have been killed by bandits. Get rid of the bandits, and I will divide the land for you, so that you will have wives, fields and children in the future!"

"Long live the town!"

"Long live the town!"

The two thousand rattan armor soldiers shouted with all their might, their faces full of excitement and longing.

They have no family members. After marrying wives and dividing the land, they can rent it out to other farmers for farming. Zhao Han did not prohibit tenants from renting land, but only prohibited tenants from subletting it again.

...

The state capital of Funing Prefecture is Xiapu, and Zheng Zhilong's mansion is in Jinjiang. It is quite difficult for Fei Yinghuan to see Zheng Zhilong.

The two met for the first time last year, and Fei Yinghuan only expressed their admiration without in-depth communication.

Jinjiang, Anhai Town.

The Zheng family mansion here took three years and two months to complete. Not only for living, but also for military and trade bases, which can be directly converted into castles in case of war.

"Master, there is a guest asking to see you!"

Zheng Zhilong took the greeting card and saw that it was the magistrate of Funing who had come.

He has a good impression of the prefect of Funing. Last year when he passed by by boat, the other party offered to provide some food and grass, and personally went to his boat to have a banquet and make friends.

Zheng Zhilong walked quickly to the courtyard, went to greet him in person, cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Master Fei Zhizhou is here, welcome if you are far away, welcome if you are far away!"

"Brother Yiguan, I came here without warning, so I took the liberty of disturbing you." Fei Yinghuan also laughed.

The title "Brother Yiguan" made Zheng Zhilong very happy. No civil servant called him like that before. Immediately laughed, dragged Fei Yinghuan inside, and ordered the servant: "Quickly serve the wine and the meat!"

Walking through the hall and the room, the two sat down.

Zheng Zhilong asked: "Brother Fei left Funing, but got promoted again?"

Fei Yinghuan looked behind Zheng Zhilong: "Please turn your back to the left and right, please."

Zheng Zhilong immediately waved his hands and said, "You all go down."

Wei Jianxiong left with the servants of the Zheng family, and after closing the door, he quietly guarded the door.

Fei Yinghuan said in a low voice: "To tell you the truth, Brother Wei left with a seal this time."

"But you offended the treacherous court officials?" Zheng Zhilong asked.

"No," Fei Yinghuan shook his head, "It's my son-in-law who wants to offend the emperor."

Offended?

Did you offend me?

Zheng Zhilong was confused and asked, "Which great sage is your brother's son-in-law?"

Fei Yinghuan asked back, "Have you ever heard of Jiangxi thief Zhao?"

Zheng Zhilong said: "Of course I know. The governor of Fujian and the commander-in-chief of Fujian were ordered to go to Jiangxi to suppress the bandits, but they were wiped out by the Zhao bandits in the first battle. The deputy commander-in-chief of Fujian was also transferred to be the commander-in-chief of Jiangxi. We bought twenty Franco cannons here."

"Jiangxi thief Zhao is my son-in-law." Fei Yinghuan smiled.

Zheng Zhilong thought there was something wrong with his ears, looked at Fei Yinghuan and blinked, and asked again: "The one from Jiangxi is my brother's son-in-law?"

Fei Yinghuan nodded and said, "This winter, my son-in-law will occupy the whole of Jiangxi, and send troops to southern Hunan and Guangdong next year. I can't hide my identity, so I just hang up my seal and leave. I came here to meet an official before leaving Fujian."

Zheng Zhilong's mind was turned back and forth, if the Jiangxi bandit Zhao really occupied Guangdong and southern Hunan, wouldn't he be sitting on two and a half provinces?

Fei Yinghuan added: "After my son-in-law captured Guangdong and southern Hunan, he will send troops to take Fujian."

Zheng Zhilong's expression became serious. The Guangdong sea area is his territory, and the Fujian sea area is his core. If the Jiangxi thief Zhao can really occupy Fujian and Guangdong, he will have to deal with them frequently in the future.

"What can I teach you, brother?" Zheng Zhilong asked.

Fei Yinghuan handed over a letter: "This is a handwritten letter from my son-in-law to an official."

Zheng Zhilong is also literate, and couldn't help laughing when he saw the first sentence. He and Fei Yinghuan called him brother and brother, while Zhao Han called him "brother" in the letter, so I don't know what to say about this seniority.

In his letter, Zhao Han said that the ocean is very important, and after he became the ruler of the world, he planned to drive away the red barbarians in Luzon and Malacca (Malacca). We have to go to Tianzhu. Zheng Zhilong can be the commander of the navy, and he can also be a prince at sea.

Zhao Han directly asked Zheng Zhilong, Dinghaigong, Zhenhaigong, Jinghaigong, Kaihaigong... Which of these titles does my brother prefer?

This question made Zheng Zhilong's heart beat wildly, and suddenly his blood boiled.

Although Zheng Zhilong was recruited by the imperial court to dominate the South China Sea, his official position was only "Guerrilla Defense".

That night, Zheng Zhilong tossed and turned, got up in the middle of the night and wrote a letter, and asked Fei Yinghuan to pass it to Zhao Han the next day.