In mid-August, in addition to a small number of ships, Donghai Town also salvaged Dutch shipwrecks in Subic Bay, and most of the people arrived in Manila.At this time, the cost of building a cannon was very high, and if Donghai Town wanted to colonize the South Seas, it needed a strong sailor, as well as building forts and fortresses in various colonization areas to control the colonies.This required the town of Tokai to cast a large number of artillery, so it was necessary to salvage shipwrecks and artillery from Subic Bay and Dayuan Bay.With this batch of artillery, it is enough for the expansion of Donghai Town in the South Seas, which can save a lot of naval expenditures and prevent the naval army from squeezing the military expenses of the land division.After Zhao Ming landed on the shore, he sent a prisoner into Fort Manila and ordered the Spaniards in the fort to surrender unconditionally, but was rejected by the Spanish governor Manrique, and Donghai Town could only prepare for a strong attack.While the warships salvaged the sunken ships and artillery, Manila had gathered more than 10,000 soldiers from Donghai Town, as well as more than 20,000 overseas Chinese and aborigines, and began to dig trenches under the Manila castle, sweating like rain, and sitting in preparation for the siege.Before Donghai Town's southern expedition to Luzon, Zhao Ming ordered the soldiers of Donghai Town to conduct several months of attack on Fort Chikan for a few months of drills to attack the fort, and they already had an established strategy for how to break through Fort Manila.It is to dig a trench directly, advance to the foot of the fortress, and then set up a mortar in the trench that can fire flowering shells, hang and shoot the fortress, and the rest rely on the fierce attack of the soldiers to seize the fortress with the advantage of troops.At this time, the soldiers and civilians dug trenches under the fort, and Zhao Ming summoned the overseas Chinese leaders in Manila to discuss the development of Luzon Island and the settlement of Han Chinese on the island.Outside the big tent of the Chinese army, a soldier of Donghai Town, wearing cloth armor and a saucer helmet, stood with a gun.In the military tent, more than 20 old men, and some young men knelt on the ground to salute, and Zhao Ming sat on the top of the handsome seat.Zhao Ming glanced at everyone, Luzon is rich in products, even if you don't work much, it is not easy to starve to death, and the Han people are well-known for being able to bear hardships and stand hard work, self-motivated people, to say that as long as they are used to the local climate in Luzon, life should be good, but looking at the complexion of everyone, you know that they are oppressed by the Spanish people and are not living well."
I'll wait to meet the prince!"
Zhao Ming waved his hand and smiled: "No need to be polite, folks, please take a seat." ”Everyone hurriedly thanked them, and their hearts were quite frightened, most of their ancestral homes were residents of the southeast coast, although they had lived in Luzon for a long time, but they still regarded themselves as Ming Dynasty people in their hearts.In the past, when they were in their hometown, it was difficult for them to even see the county order, but now a prince sat in front of them and gave them a seat, and everyone was moved, but they were all a little afraid.China has been an official standard for generations, which makes the people naturally afraid of being officials.Seeing that they didn't move, Zhao Ming shook his head, and said with a smile again: "Everyone sit down!"
Do you want this clan to sit down according to you?
”Dozens of people sat down a little uneasy."
Listen to the accent, everyone should be from Fujian!"
Zhao Ming did not go directly to the topic, but used the dialect of southern Fujian to talk about homely things to ease the nervousness and fear of the people.After everyone heard Zhao Ming say a few words, the tension finally eased a little, and someone boldly replied: "Back to Guogong, most of us are indeed Fujianese, and our hometown has many mountains and few lands, so we can't feed many people, so we came to Luzon to beg for a living."
It has been more than 20 years since the grass people came here. ”Zhao Ming asked, "How has life been in Luzon for more than 20 years?"
”When the old man heard this, he couldn't help but tearfully say: "Miserable!
After the grass people arrived in Luzon, they took refuge in the elders of the clan, opened up wasteland and farmed land in Luzon, which was still alive, but later Xiyi killed the elders of the clan and occupied the fields, and the grass people could only work for them, and the harvest was taken by them, but the land in Luzon was fertile, and the grass people suffered some hardships and quietly cultivated a few acres of land, and the family lived just better, but the hateful Xiyi slaughtered us again, robbed us of the money and food we had accumulated, and the son of the grass people was also killed by them~" The old man's words evoked the tragic memories of everyone, and many people wiped their tears.Zhao Ming was at this point, and after a moment of silence, he soothed: "This clan broke through Manila City to avenge you, but after taking revenge, can you think about living a future life?"
”The big tent was quiet, and after the old man wiped away his tears, he said gratefully: "The grass people and others have thanked the Guogong for being the master, but after that, the grass people and others want to return to their hometown." ”Zhao Ming frowned and said, "Why is this?"
”The old man said: "The grass people and others drifted to the sea, originally hoping to live a better life than their hometown, but when they arrived in Luzon, they suffered for decades.Now that I think about it, I might as well have stayed in my hometown. ”Zhao Ming listened and glanced at everyone, it is estimated that many people have this idea, the Chinese have talked about falling leaves and returning to their roots, these people go out to sea, they miss their hometown very much, and life in Luzon is not better than their hometown, they are oppressed by the Spaniards, and there are massacres, but it is better to stay in their hometown."
I hope you will stay!"
Zhao Ming said in a deep voice.The people below heard the discussion for a while, and Zhao Ming continued: "This clan knows that you are here to miss your hometown, and second, you are oppressed, and you have no sense of security and obedience.Now this town is leading the soldiers of Donghai Town, and they are here to drive out the Spaniards, and in the future, Luzon will set up counties, which are also China, and this domain will guarantee your safety, and will not come to oppress and slaughter you in Xiyi, and this domain hopes that you can stay and develop Luzon for this domain. ”Zhao Ming waved his hand and said, "Mr.
Dong, you tell them about the policy of the feudal government!"
”Dong Zhining, who was on the side, immediately said: "Fellow villagers, Luzon has fertile land and abundant products.This is clear to everyone.You are disheartened with Luzon, mainly because the proceeds of your labor have been taken away by the Spaniards, and you have not benefited.This Luzon island is vast and sparsely populated, and there is endless land development.The feudal government promised to provide you with farm tools and ploughing cattle to reclaim the land, and the land here, no matter how much it was cultivated, as long as it was cultivated for three consecutive years, would be issued by the feudal government and belonged to you, and the feudal government would not collect any taxes for the first three years, and only 10% of the taxes would be collected after that. ”At this time, Dong Zhining was promoting the colonization policy of Donghai Town to everyone, but Guo Zhong suddenly picked up the account and walked in to Zhao Ming's side, whispering in his ear.Zhao Ming's heart was shocked when he heard this, and his heart was shocked, but his face was still calm."
Everyone, if you have any questions, you can ask Mr.
Dong first, there are still some things to deal with in this domain, so I will be out of company first!"
Zhao Ming stood up, suddenly waved his hand to interrupt Dong Zhining, and hurriedly left the account after speaking.Coming to the outside of the tent, Zhao Ming's face sank, "What's the matter?"
”Guo Zhong said in a deep voice: "It's not clear about the lowly position, the messenger only said that Nanjing has changed!"
”Zhao Ming immediately said: "What about the messenger?"
”Guo Zhong said: "It's still in Beigang!"
”Zhao Ming said: "Send a boat to meet me!"
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