"Boom! Boom! Boom!" On the surface of the Pearl River, the shallow water gunboats of the "Amur River" class inland river were fired, hitting many 4-pound and 8-pound shells on a small wooden boat, and then successfully forced it to stop. As the sailors on the east coast took a rifle on the ship and detained the ship as spoils as all the goods on it, the owner's face was already in despair, and the whole process was as clear as the situation in Guangdong in the past few months.

Yes, the war that broke out on the ground in Guangdong, which was fought for the throne by the two Lis. Well, it may be a bit inaccurate to say that the throne is likely to be more accurate. After a period of time, the war caused by the violent intervention of the East Coast people has now begun to disappear invisibly.

Just in early this month (March), Li Yuanhao, Duke Huiguo of Southern Ming, officially sent his prestigious old minister, Hao Shangjiu, to a Tianzun Taoist temple on Haizhu Island to negotiate with Major Tang Moyu on the east bank. The main content of the negotiation is actually very simple, that is, to require the people on the east bank to withdraw their troops from the suburbs of Guangzhou, and then return them to the occupied Foshan Town, Shunde County, Xiangshan County and other places. Apart from that - nothing!

Yes, that's right! There is nothing! There is neither asking the East Coast people to compensate for the losses nor asking the East Coast people to guarantee anything. It's just simply asking them to retreat, and it's simply weak!

Of course, this is also related to the situation facing both sides. More than 4,500 soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Lan Fei have arrived in the suburbs of Guangzhou. They are well-equipped, well-trained and well-logistic, and are simply invincible in small-scale field battles: muskets and cannons far exceeding the range of Li Yuanhao's army, super high firepower projection density, and more than a thousand cavalrymen with a Blackwater Horse and a few thousand people, no one can do anything to them. They can basically win the battle, and the casualties are controlled within a very small range, which shows the strength gap between the two sides.

In other words, unless Li Yuanhao mobilized tens of thousands of troops to advance the encirclement and suppression layer by layer, it would be difficult to do anything about this East Coast army. But the question is also here, where did Li Yuanhao mobilize tens of thousands of troops to encircle and suppress this East Coast army that is on the waist of Guangzhou City? After thinking about it, he had to withdraw his troops from Chaozhou area, and there was no other way.

Li Yuanhao did this. Although the east coast army outside the city is still separated from Guangzhou City, it is difficult to guarantee that they will cross the river in large numbers and harass the core area of ​​Guangzhou. Perhaps this group of people cannot enter Guangzhou City, but plundering around in the wild is also a headache, and it will affect his prestige, so it must be stopped as soon as possible.

But it is not that simple to get the people of the East Coast to retreat. Lieutenant Colonel Lan Fei is also an old man who has fought in the local area, South Africa and Europe. He has his own opinions on the situation. In addition to his advantages in equipment and troops, he doesn't think that the shrimp soldiers and crab generals on Li Yuanhao's hand can do anything about him. Maybe the Lianzhou New Army equipped with all firearms is a trouble, but hasn't they had time to withdraw? So, this guy is now in Foshan, moving all the machines and personnel of the already-scale iron smelting and cannon industry here (of course, it was a coercive measure), while constantly sending cavalry to inquire about the news, threatening the wealthy families in the countryside to send money and food, and their lives are very happy.

Li Yuanhao did not send people to Lan Fei's army to ask for retreat, but there was no effect at all. He had no choice but to go to Haizhu Island, intending to let Tang Moyu control Lan Fei and let him retreat as soon as possible. Not to mention how Tang Moyu, a major, controls lieutenant colonel, just his own wishes, he will have to wait until his goal is achieved before he withdraws his troops. That is, Li Yuanhao must at least ensure peace with the Chaozhou General (Li Chengdong submitted a letter to the Kunming court before Li Chengdong died of illness and obtained approval) Li Yuanyin, and there are some commercial conditions. If these are not met, he will not agree to withdraw his troops now. This is a very clear thing.

Therefore, when Hao Shangjiu came, he clearly stated several conditions: "First, immediately withdraw troops from Chaozhou Prefecture and reconcile with Li Yuanyin, and the two sides will not attack each other again; Second, disband the Portuguese and England advisory groups in the new army of Lianzhou, and the East Coast sent experienced officers to carry out comprehensive reform and management; Third, hand over the Guangzhou Maritime Bureau to the East Coast management. After the East Coast people collected a certain amount of management fees, the remaining part was stored in the special account of the Taiwan Bank in order to purchase weapons, war horses and other materials at any time; Fourth, rent Xiangshan County to the East Coast, and the term of the period is fifty years."

Even though Hao Shangji was old and had practiced so well that he could not show his emotions, he was surprised to hear these conditions: The people of the Eastern Kingdom did not mediate, they were obviously forced to be a ward! In this way, this webmaster Tang had a great appetite, much darker than the Blue Army Sect.

"It's easy to talk about withdrawing troops. Duke Huiguo has already planned to stop the war with the Chaozhou General. I believe that General Li of Chaozhou will agree to this matter. The Zheng family of Fujian has been eyeing Chaozhou for a long time." Hao Shangjiu said: "I am afraid that I can't make the decision about disbanding the Lianzhou New Army Advisory Group and have to report to Duke Huiguo to the decision. However, judging from Duke Huiguo's importance to the Lianzhou New Army, it is unlikely. Stationmaster Tang should not make too embarrassed Duke Huiguo."

"As for the Guangzhou Maritime Warehouse Affairs Office..." Having said this, Hao Shangjiu also smiled bitterly, and then said: "Your country's Haizhu Island merchants stand here. Is it a big difference whether the Maritime Warehouse will hand over to you?"

Hao Shangjiu's words were actually quite real. Everyone is actually very clear. If the East Coast people did not intervene in this Guangdong civil war, maybe this war would still have to be fought. Not only the army of Er Li was fighting, but the troops of Fujian Zheng Jing should have also rushed in under the name of aid tide. It is difficult to say whether Shunguo will send troops to Shaozhou, but this possibility cannot be ruled out. Therefore, to a certain extent, it is also timely intervention by the East Coast people, which has been involved in a war of several mansions and has been invisible. Of course, at present, the Fujian Zheng family, who is eager to try, must be "persuaded" back. At present, the Navy and the Taiwan Bank are already taking action.

Hao Shangjiu later mentioned the matter of the Lianzhou New Army Advisory Group, pointing out that this unit is the lifeblood of Li Yuanhao and the foundation for his ability to firmly hold the position of Huiguo Duke, so it is impossible to hand over this unit to others to make trouble. Those Portuguese and England advisers were hired by foreign merchants over the years through foreign merchants. Most of them were experienced veterans or officers, and they played a great role in establishing this new army. Moreover, the existence of these people is a link with foreign merchants, which can help Guangzhou maintain a foreign trade ties, which is also very important for Huiguo Duke. After all, neither Li Chengdong nor Li Yuanhao wanted to let Guangdong's foreign trade lifeline be held in the hands of one of the East Coast, especially the crucial introduction of foreign military technology and equipment.

Therefore, Hao Shangjiu just pointed out in a tactful way that Li Yuanhao is afraid that it will not be possible for him to agree to this, and it is impossible no matter what. This is simply a perseverance: those Englishmen, Portuguese Li Yuanhao can control and subdue them, because they can be said to be rootless Ping, but if they are replaced by the East Coast Officer Advisory Group, try it?

Compared with this matter involving principles, the matter of Guangzhou Maritime Company is less important. To put it bluntly, after the East Coast people set up the Haizhu Island Merchant Station and renovated the Yaniang Shoe Battery, the area around the Pearl River estuary was basically decided by the East Coast people. Any foreign ship who wanted to go to Guangzhou for trade must first obtain the permission of the East Coast people before they could make a trip. Judging from the implementation in recent years, the same is true. Except for a few ships from England, Portugal or Dutch East India Company that were allowed to enter Guangzhou for trade, most of the foreign trade in Guangzhou Port was controlled by the Taiwan Bank. A large number of tea, raw silk, brocade, porcelain and other specialty goods transported from inland provinces were forced to be delivered at the Haizhu Island Merchant Station, and a large number of interests were taken away by the East Coast people. Guangzhou Maritime Company used the use of a deserted door to describe it, but it was definitely a big impact.

Therefore, this time, the East Coast people proposed to take over the Guangzhou Maritime Control Bureau. Hao Shangjiu just thought about it for a little while. The problem should not be very big. It has an impact on Guangdong, but it is absolutely not to be unacceptable. At worst, I will find a way to negotiate with foreign merchants in the future and set the trade location at other ports. With such a long coastline in Guangdong, there are several talents on the East Coast, and the number of talents on the East Coast can block all the coasts? Brag!

Finally, there is another thing that Hao Shangjiu didn't mention, that is, the matter of renting Xiangshan County. He thought it was not easy to deal with, but not because he couldn't bear it, but because he was concerned about his face.

Speaking of Xiangshan County, it has been under the control of the East Coast people. This county not only has a large training base rented by the Taiwan Land Battle Camp of the East Coast people, but also has a material transfer warehouse, a military hospital and a small ship repair agency. There are also many personnel, and they have been under the control of the East Coast people. The local magistrate has always been very tactful. He knows that he is just a rubber stamp and cooperates very well. He has never refused various requests from the East Coast people and is quite helpful.

This time, the people of the East Coast proposed to rent Xiangshan County for fifty years. I expected that there would be no big opposition in the local area. The only obstacle should be Li Yuanhao, Duke Huiguo. He has recently taken office and has not long been in power, and he actually wants to "cede land", which is not a good thing for his prestige, so Hao Shangjiu did not mention this matter just now.

However, he did not mention this matter, but Tang Moyu did not intend to let it go. He directly reminded him again and wanted to give a clear explanation about the lease of Xiangshan County. Hao Shangjiu could not resist it, and finally he could only say helplessly that the lease of the matter would need to be discussed for a long time, perhaps it was not openly, but Xiangshan County secretly responded to all major and large affairs, "according to the laws of the Eastern Dynasty."

Tang Moyu was still a little dissatisfied with this, but he also knew that this was probably their limit. The four conditions he offered were originally asking for a huge price, and he did not have the absolute advantage that would definitely make the other party surrender. Li Yuanhao was not a fool, and naturally there were capable people under his command to advise him. He knew that what the people in the East Coast wanted was peace in Guangdong and that the various strengths were balanced. If there was a strife, wouldn’t Li Yuanhao join forces with Fujian Zheng Jing to completely make things worse?

Zheng Jing's hungry wolf, as long as he promises Chaozhou Prefecture's profit, he will definitely directly defeat the alliance and fight with Li Yuanyin. Is this what the people of the East Coast want to see? You know, Fujian is not as easy to interfere as Guangdong. The Zheng group was self-organized in the Ming Dynasty. After Zheng Chenggong's hard work, the scale of the navy and army is quite considerable, and the combat effectiveness of the originally criticized army has also improved (this matter is still doubtful, because no one has confirmed it). The people of the East Coast have no foundation in the local area, let alone lead the way. Therefore, the Zheng family is not afraid of the people of the East Coast. Once they decide to enter Chaozhou Prefecture and expand their territory, what should the people of the East Coast use to curb them?

Therefore, quelling the situation as soon as possible is what the East Coast people should do, instead of raising some very harsh conditions to make Duke Huiguo terminate the peace talks in anger and cooperate directly with Zheng Jing, which would be complicated.

Hao Shangjiu returned to Guangzhou City that afternoon and discussed with Li Yuanhao. After he left, Major Tang Moyu did not stop at Haizhu Island, but took a boat to the south bank of the Pearl River, went to the military camp of Foshan Town to find Lieutenant Colonel Lan Fei, and had an emergency consultation with him, the content was also about the situation in Guangdong.

At this time, Lieutenant Colonel Lan Fei had already learned about the situation in Chaozhou and knew that the Zheng family in Fujian was coveting this place. Previously, because of his weak power, Chaozhou General Li Yuanyin hooked up with Zheng Jing and even formed an alliance secretly. But the Zheng family's ambition was not very much to do with. Li Yuanyin's alliance with him was tantamount to a slut! Now Tang Moyu was worried that Zheng Jing could not control the huge temptation of interests, so he directly sent troops to Chaozhou Prefecture - this was legitimate, and completely muddled the water in the name of helping his allies.
Chapter completed!