Chapter 1228: The Square-Rigged Ship

"We're deeply grateful to Master Jin and Master Lüzheng for taking us in. From now on, we'll be counting on all you masters for your care and guidance." Li Sizhang hastily chimed in, his face full of deference, though inwardly he was thinking that Xuzhou barely had a few seagoing vessels to its name, and this so-called fleet was just what the Li family had brought over. With capital like that, to speak of any future at sea was truly a joke.

This was the first attack from the sea since the establishment of Haizhou Port—a force of over a hundred vessels of varying sizes, moving with highly suspicious stealth. It put the entire Second Brigade on extreme alert. Beyond the tight security at the port, Shi Manqiang also reinforced the land defenses. Light cavalry was dispatched to the fishing villages and salt flats along the coast. Should the enemy attempt a landing elsewhere, the household troops would be mustered immediately to meet them in battle.

Because of the salt trade, a great deal of ready silver had been paid in advance at the port. While it wasn't two hundred thousand taels, a sum of seventy to eighty thousand was certainly there. The Zheng family fleet had brought large amounts of silver on each of their visits. According to them, Japan had mountains of gold and silver. Goods from the Great Ming were shipped over, and what came back was gold, silver, and copper. This was not just payment for goods, but also a specialty product of Japan.

Moving that much ready silver would cause quite a commotion, and the current situation was clearly unsuitable for it. So it was simply left where it was, since the treasury was adjacent to the household troops' garrison and could be conveniently watched over.

Beyond this, patrols were arranged along five li of coastline around the port, walking the shore with lanterns to guard against anyone swimming ashore under cover of darkness. Shi Manqiang himself spent that night near the port as well, ready to respond at any moment.

A night of tense vigilance passed entirely without incident. The next day, no one dared to relax, yet it remained uneventful. Two merchant ships flying recognition flags even entered the port. These were short-haul coastal vessels from Clam Bay near Qingjiangpu. When asked if they had spotted anything unusual at sea, they all said they had seen nothing.

After a full day and night of silence, confirmed by these two ships, it seemed the raiding fleet had struck once and then retreated far away. Haizhou Port began to relax. The shipmasters and sailors who had been seeking pleasure ashore all returned to the docks, preparing to set sail for home the next day. From Shi Manqiang on down, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The port's managers and the like were even more delighted. Haizhou Port was just beginning to flourish; if it were constantly harassed and blockaded by pirates, it would surely never develop.

Although Haizhou Port's current earnings meant little to the Zhao Battalion, everyone knew how much Zhao Jin valued this place, and no one wanted their own prospects damaged. The Internal Guards, who had been keeping a close watch on the Zheng family's main group, also reported back to Shi Manqiang that the Zheng people had shown nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, they were cursing furiously in their discussions, saying things like, "Who's so blind as to dare touch Xuzhou's port and delay our Zheng family's business? We'll see their entire clan wiped out—they'll regret this!" The information extracted from the captive was known only to those within the Zhao Battalion.

These signs and reports put Shi Manqiang at ease. He had originally planned to return to Xuzhou to speak with Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing. The northern district of Huai'an had now become the heartland of the Zhao Battalion's sphere of influence, shielded on all sides by the strength of the household brigades. The farming settlement system there was sufficiently well-established, and the local militia and volunteers were loyal and reliable. Under such circumstances—especially with the Great Ming on the brink of open conflict—keeping the Second Brigade stationed here seemed a waste. It should be sent where it was needed more.

Shi Manqiang hadn't originally had such thoughts. He had always obeyed Zhao Jin's arrangements absolutely. But he couldn't withstand the constant murmuring of the company commanders and squad leaders beneath him. Coupled with his own reluctance to remain idle, he had prepared to go and present his ideas. Moreover, Shi Manqiang felt that the northern Huai'an district and the Second Brigade were being somewhat neglected, with less and less contact with the Xuzhou center and with Zhao Jin himself. This couldn't be a viable long-term arrangement.

Once the great battle ended and the situation stabilized, he had intended to go. Unexpectedly, first the remnants of the Li family came seeking refuge, and then this fleet launched a surprise attack, making it impossible for him to get away. If it was confirmed that all was quiet here, he would have to set out immediately.

There was still about one shichen left before sunset. Many household troops not on duty liked to gaze at the sea and the horizon. Many of them had only seen the ocean for the first time the previous year and were captivated by its magnificent, majestic scenery. Watching it lifted their spirits. From somewhere on a ship at the dock, someone began singing a folk song from their hometown. Though no one understood the dialect, the homesickness in it was clear to all.

Just then, the bell in the tower began to toll. It rang out with great urgency. On every gun platform and watchtower, men were waving flags. The enemy was attacking—a large force was coming!

"Brigade Commander, that fleet from the day before yesterday is back! And this time there are a few more ships—it's the foreigners' big square-rigged ships!" A household cavalryman from the port found Shi Manqiang and gave a brief report. Shi Manqiang had just finished his inspection and was preparing to return to the garrison for a short rest.

Upon hearing this news, Shi Manqiang was first stunned, then immediately grasped the situation and roared angrily, "Those bastards! They've been trying all along to get us to let our guard down so they could catch us off guard! Pass the word—same response as the day before yesterday."

The household cavalryman there vaulted onto his horse and galloped toward the port. Shi Manqiang's orders continued as the household troops began forming ranks and preparing. Shi Manqiang's brow was tightly furrowed. He had only heard of the foreigners' great square-rigged ships; his concrete impression came from drawings made by those foreigners in Xuzhou, which had been circulated among the port personnel to memorize. They said these ships had two decks, some even three or four, and carried dozens of cannons. More than half of them could be fired at once, with devastating power. At the time, Shi Manqiang hadn't quite believed it, but when he asked the visiting shipmasters and sailors at the docks, they confirmed it was indeed true.

"... The foreign devils' ships are formidable, and they're faster at sea too. One of their ships can take on several or even a dozen of ours. But there are only a few hundred of them across all these oceans, and a squadron of four or five is the absolute limit. When battle starts, if you send out fire ships, they'll run..." The men of the Li family's main group spoke with disdain, but their account left Shi Manqiang feeling stifled as he listened.

"Why would the foreigners' ships come here? Could it be for their countrymen in Xuzhou?" Shi Manqiang muttered a couple of times, though he didn't quite believe it himself. From that man Louis to the later Schall, very, very few people knew of them.

"We're not afraid of them coming ashore. Don't get too close to the dock berths—let the gun platforms deal with them. The foreigners' firearms are deadly, so everyone must be on guard!" Shi Manqiang shouted. The household troops ran swiftly to relay his orders.

Today, Li Hai'ou was on lookout duty at a gun platform situated at a higher elevation. He was the first to spot the approaching fleet and was now staring out at the sea with extreme tension, watching four large foreign devil ships slowly sailing into the port. The sea wind was quite cold, yet Li Hai'ou was drenched in nervous sweat, his fists clenched tight. He had spent time in the main group and had witnessed the power of these foreign square-rigged ships. At sea, one could indeed hold its own against ten. What was worse, these foreign square-rigged ships were the vanguard; the large fleet spotted the day before yesterday was right behind them.

If the great sea lords of the Ming and the foreign devils' gunboats were cooperating, who on these seas could possibly stand against them? Could Haizhou Port hold out?

"Brothers! These foreign devils' square-rigged ships have many cannons and they fire fast! Everyone be careful!" Li Hai'ou shouted, his voice hoarse.

"What 'foreign devils'? We call them ocean-men around here. Don't worry, their ship cannons can't shoot straight, but our shore cannons can!" the household troops yelled back. Cold sweat covered Li Hai'ou's forehead. He turned his head to look at the gunboats slowly entering the port. He could see the complex canvas sails and rigging, so unlike those of the Great Ming, being worked. The four ships were lined up in a row, and he could see the gunports along their sides opening. Faintly, the dark muzzles of cannons came into view.

The docks were in a panic, men fleeing and horses rearing. Many shipmasters and sailors who had already boarded their vessels were scrambling to get off, some wailing loudly as they ran. Today's situation was different from the day before yesterday's. The ships were now fully loaded with cargo. If anything went wrong, they would truly lose everything.

Weeping and cursing aside, every man of the sea knew the fearsome power of these Western square-rigged ships. Not a single one dared to linger on board. If they had still had confidence in the Xuzhou troops at the port the day before yesterday, today they dared not think that way anymore. Otherwise, they wouldn't be crying as they ran.

Li Hai'ou watched the square-rigged ships sail into the port. Naval battle was completely different from fighting on land. On land, by the time two forces spotted each other, they might already be charging into combat. But ships at sea were not so fast. Everyone could only wait for them to draw near, into the range of the cannons.

They were about to enter the firing range of the first gun platform, but the first gun platform did not open fire. What was happening? Not only did Li Hai'ou lean out, but the household troops on several gun platforms couldn't help peeking out as well, only to be shouted back by their company commanders. The reason soon became clear: the enemy ships were outside the gun platform's preset fire zone!

The cannons on the platforms could of course adjust their angle and direction, but they usually had a preset impact point, because the shipping lanes in and out of the port were relatively fixed. Ships were certain to pass that point. Presetting this zone ensured they could open fire immediately. Who could have imagined the enemy ships would actually avoid this area? Once they understood the reason, everyone busied themselves. Adjusting the angle and direction wouldn't take much time. Once the first shot rang out, these foreign devil ocean-men's square-rigged ships would learn what real power was.

A series of cannon blasts erupted. Someone cried out in shock. Such a thunderous roar could not possibly be from the gun platforms' cannons—it was from the enemy ships!

"Platform Seventeen is finished!" someone shouted. They could already see the fortifications of that gun platform shattered and broken. The household troops inside had likely met a grim fate.

"Fire! Fire quickly!" This unexpected loss did not throw the household troops on the gun platforms into a panic. Their shouts and curses were merely an outlet for their emotions. The steps for operating and firing the cannons remained meticulous. The cannons on the platforms began to roar.

Cannonballs kicked up pillars of water across the harbor's surface, but only one nine-pounder struck an enemy ship's broadside; all the others missed. Li Hai'ou finally understood why. Although the enemy fleet was moving slowly, they were all avoiding the gun platforms' preset zones. Haizhou Port was large, but that "large" shrank considerably under the range of nine-pounder cannons and above. To create overlapping fields of fire, to seal off the port, and to fire as quickly as possible, the positions of the gun platforms and the firing arcs of the cannons were all necessarily constrained.

Thanks to the three old friends "Qi Sanwen, Yuan Heng Lizhen, and Duan Yichen" for their tips. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets. Thank you, everyone.