"Your Majesty sent a navy to Nanyang to rescue the Han Chinese. Since the South China Sea fleet has arrived in Nanyang, it will not leave anymore," Zheng Xing bowed to Li Tong. "In the future, the army will inevitably disturb Li Tou."
"It should be, it should be," Li Tong said repeatedly, "The Spaniards on the Southern Ryukyu Islands..."
"Don’t worry, Li Tou, we will completely expel them. If they don’t know each other, we will annihilate them. The South China Sea Fleet is no longer comparable to the Spanish. What we defeat today is the combined forces of Spain, the Netherlands and the Populus. Xi Yi’s days of dominating Nanyang are not long."
"General Zheng said..."
Zheng Xing feels that this military plan should not be leaked for the time being, "Li Tau, the future plans of the South China Sea Fleet have to be asked to the commander. I am only following orders.
"Oh, ha ha, ha ha..." Li Tong knew this was a military secret, he smiled awkwardly, and stopped asking questions.
Zheng Xing turned to the subject, "Li Tou talks very well, he should be a scholar, right?"
Li Tong grinned: "General Zheng laughed. Li was originally a talented talent. Because he failed repeatedly, he didn't have the overnight rice at home. Then he went to Southeast Asia with his relatives and friends to make a living, because he knew a few words. , Was elected as the leader of Passalen by his fellow villagers."
"Oh, listening to Li Tou's accent, he should be from Fujian? How long have you been in Luzon?"
"Li is a native of Quanzhou, Fujian. He came to Luzon ten years ago and has never returned to his hometown." There was a faint sadness in Li Tong's eyes, which should have moved his homesickness. "General Zheng is from Fujian. Are you there? Is there any change in Quanzhou now?"
Zheng Xing didn't specifically talk about Quanzhou, but simply said the earth-shaking changes that happened to Daming after Zhu Youjian became the throne.
Li Tong sighed, if he hadn't left Daming... But he quickly shook his head, this is impossible. It has been ten years since he left his hometown. The people in his hometown no longer know him, and he has no connection with his hometown now.
"When the Ming Navy came to Nanyang for the first time, can Li Tou give a brief comment on the situation of the Spanish garrison in Luzon, and Zheng will go back and ask the commander for instructions?"
Speaking of Luzon, Li Tong suddenly opened the conversation.
According to Li Tong, the Spaniards came to Luzon in the forty-fourth year of Ming Jiajing (AD 1565), and in the sixth year of Ming Longqing (AD 1572), the city of Manila was established in the southern part of Luzon. The Han Chinese who came to Luzon dig gold mines in the Southern Ryukyu Islands and sold large amounts of silver from the Americas to buy Ming porcelain, silk, tea, etc., and transport them back to Spain for high prices.
In the second year of the Ming Dynasty Wanli (AD 1574), the Han Chinese who were unwilling to be enslaved by the Spaniards, led by the local pirate leader Li Feng, fought a large-scale battle with the Spaniards. Li Feng almost captured Manila. Later, Li Feng After being defeated and fleeing, the Han Chinese no longer have the ability to resist in Luzon, and are basically left to bullying by the Spaniards and local indigenous people.
Now in the Southern Ryukyu Islands, the Spanish army is said to have 6,000, mainly stationed at the Manila headquarters, in the gold mines of Baguio and Santa Cruz on Luzon, and in Suri where the copper mines on Mindanao are located. There are also garrisons in other areas. There is no garrison, or few garrisons, mainly indigenous or Han people to maintain the rule. The Spaniards will regularly patrol the island, collect rent, and sometimes use fleets to patrol the coast.
"Gold mines, copper mines? Li Tou, did you say that there are gold mines in Southern Ryukyu?" Zheng Xing deserved to be born as a pirate. He heard about the gold mines, and his eyes flashed instantly, as if the gold of Huang Chuan was flying in front of his eyes.
"Yes, General Zheng, the Spaniards occupy the southern Ryukyu Islands. Their profits are mainly in three areas: gold, silver and copper mines, trade, and rent."
"Does Li Tau know where these mines are?"
"I know some, but it's incomplete, and it's not very accurate. The Spanish people protect the locations of these mines very tightly."
"It's good to know, can Li Tou draw the location of these mines?"
"Okay, I just don't know if it's accurate." Li Tong picked up a pen and paper and quickly drew a sketch of the Southern Ryukyu Islands, and then pointed out the locations of various mining sites on the sketches.
Zheng Xing was about to collect the drafting drawings, and found that the ink was still wet, so he had to leave it to dry temporarily, "How does Li Tau know the location of these mines?"
"General Zheng did not know that Li served as the leader of the Han people in the city of Pasalun. In addition to managing the order of the city of Pasalen, he also pointed out the direction of work for the Hans who were new to Luzon to prevent them from slamming on the island."
"Oh." Zheng Xing understood. Li Tong's job is equivalent to the Han Chamber of Commerce. Choosing a suitable job for the Han laborers who are new to Luzon should also charge a small fee. The Spanish will also give him a rough direction. .
"General Zheng, these mines..."
"Haha, I'm not sure right now. Zheng just provided some useful information to the commander. As for the future, it's up to the commander to decide."
"That is, that is." Li Tong did not ask.
"Li Tou, how are the local indigenous people?" Zheng Xing asked vaguely. He needed all the information from the indigenous people, the more detailed the better.
"General Zheng, according to estimates by the Spaniards, there were originally more than 3 million natives. After the Spaniards invaded Southern Ryukyu, they clashed with the natives, so they began to slaughter the natives. Together with the deaths of labor, the natives now only have Two million people."
"Two million? So many?" Zheng Xing is a bit big. These two million people cannot be slaughtered. It is much more difficult to manage than in Taiwan. "How is their relationship with the local Han people?"
"There are only 200,000 Han people in the entire Southern Ryukyu Islands, much less than the local indigenous people. Coupled with the indulgence and provocation of the Spanish, the indigenous people often bully the Han people and rob Han people from property." When it comes to indigenous people, Li Tong hates. He had to gnash his teeth. He hated the indigenous people even more than the Spanish. The Spanish bullying and exploiting the Han people are usually indirect and obscure, while the indigenous bullying of the Han people is direct and naked.
"According to Li Tou's statement, is it to drive out the Spaniards, or is it impossible to guarantee the personal and property safety of the Han Chinese?"
"It should be like this. The indigenous population is ten times that of the Han. They are crowded and barbaric and lazy. They are very united when robbing the Han people. Unless the army is permanent, the interests of the Han people are still difficult to guarantee."
"But it is impossible for Daming's army to live on the island. Otherwise, how will the army pay, ammunition, and food be solved for a team of tens of thousands of people?"
"Military expenses can be paid by the Han people on the island, as well as food, but there is no way to supply ammunition." Li Tong is not a god, there is no firearm factory on the island, and he can't change ammunition.
"Li Tou, for an army of tens of thousands, the salary and food are not small, and who can guarantee the timely supply?" Zheng Xing said, once the supply of food and payment is not available, the soldiers on the island may turn into pirates. Want to eat.
"General Zheng, food rates are not a problem. When the Spaniards occupied southern Ryukyu, they would collect rents every year. These rents should be used as military payments and should not be a problem. However, to ensure the supply, local government offices must be established on the island. supply."
It is not Zheng Xing's business to establish local government offices. It is a matter of the imperial court. But Zheng Xing is a little interested. He casually asked, "Then, according to Li Tou's words, how to establish a government on the island?"
"Incorporating Southern Ryukyu under the jurisdiction of Ming Dynasty, for example, the establishment of Southern Ryukyu Province, regardless of the indigenous or Han people, must pay taxes throughout the island. The taxes on the island and the support of these tens of thousands of troops should not be a problem."
"Establishing a province?" Zheng Xing looked at Li Tong. How did he feel that he was similar to Zhu Youjian and liked to establish provinces in newly conquered places. If the Southern Ryukyu Islands really established provinces, then Zheng Xing would be the hero of Ming Kaijiang. , He couldn't help but feel excited.
"General Zheng, only by establishing a province and establishing a long-term taxation system can Daming's army be permanently stationed on the island. Otherwise, even if the Spaniards are driven away, the Han people will be at a huge demographic disadvantage on the island and will not be able to escape the destiny of being bullied. "
"Leader Li is right. Once the Spaniards on the island are driven away, I will make a suggestion to the commander and let the court send civilian officials." Whether to establish a province or not is a matter for the court. Zheng Xing can't control it. Head, how about the properties of the Southern Ryukyu Islands?"
"General Zheng, there are abundant fertile fields in the Southern Ryukyu Islands, which can grow double-season rice or triple-season rice, which can feed the residents of the island. Gold and silver mines can bring huge profits. In addition, trade also brings taxes."
"Food, mining, trade?" Zheng Xing didn't quite understand these things. He was a pirate and he naturally knew the huge profits of trade.
"Yes, food can allow the residents of the island to survive, and mining and trade can provide financial resources for the government." Li Tong said the key to the Southern Ryukyu Islands, thinking that Zheng Xing was testing him.
"Li Tau's words, I must tell the court. As for whether to establish a province, we can only suggest." Zheng Xing saw that Li Tong was right, and he admired the former talent with his heart. Do the Han people on the island support it?"
"Absolutely support. The Han people are fed up with the bullying of the Spaniards and the indigenous people. They left their homes. Most of them couldn't live there before they came to Nanyang to ask for a living. If they live well and are protected by the army, they are too late to welcome them." Generally speaking, it is also his own experience. He is also one of these Han Chinese.
"It's good to support."
"Li Feng was a pirate back then, and he was able to unite the Han people and oppose the slavery of the Spanish. If the Ming court sends officials and troops, the Han people will absolutely welcome them, and General Zheng can rest assured." Li Tong assured Zheng Xing.
Zheng Xing thought, to conquer the Southern Ryukyu Islands and gather the Han people together, Li Tong's role is indispensable, and it is best to let him participate. "I wonder if Li Tong is willing to join the army as a staff member?"
"Counselor?" Li Tong had never heard of this kind of official position, nor did he know the meaning of it.
"That is the person who made various suggestions to the officers in the army. Everywhere our army went, Li Tou was also responsible for contacting the local Han people, assisting the Ming army in driving the local Han people, and receiving a certain salary. Of course, Li Tou was not A formal soldier can reject Zheng's suggestion."
"Li is willing to serve Daming's army." Li Tong knew that he could no longer pass the imperial examination. If he wanted to make his ancestors shining, the opportunity was right in front of him. How could he be unreasonable