At Hoi'an Port, there are a team of strong men recruited from all over the country, with thousands of people, which makes the Hoi'an Port, which was originally occupied by the Nanyang Fleet, extremely congested.

Many of these strong men who were forced to conquer were dressed in rags, at least they were wearing rough linen clothes and did not have any weapons to use. Most of them were farmers or homeless people, and only such families were easily victims and pushed to the front line during wars.

A general wearing light armored sword was pinned on his waist, and patrolled the streets with his brows. Looking at the noisy recruits, he became more and more worried.

"You are talking about you. How old are you?" Ruan Youyi, who was in the inspection, found that a recruited new man looked like a dead tree and his body was a little hunched. He couldn't help but stop and asked.

"Reply to the general, I am fifty-six years old this year." said the soldier who looked obviously old.

"Fifty-six, you are so old, why are you still coming?" Ruan Youyi said in surprise.

"The young man had two strong men in his family, but the eldest son died of an epidemic at the beginning of the New Year. The second son fell and injured his leg when he went to hunt in the forest. However, the government said that when we registered last year, there were two male men, and they had to go to the military service. They also suspected that the eldest son escaped to avoid military service and had to dig the eldest son's grave. The dead were the eldest son, so the old farmer dared to agree, so he had to come to serve the military service by himself." The old soldier said.

"It's outrageous. Although it's the life and death of our Ruan family now, we can't force the old man to go to the front line. After the war is fought, I will settle the score with them. Old man, you don't have to board the boat to go to the front line today, just stay here and wait for us to return in triumph." Ruan Youyi said to him.

"No, I followed Lord Ruan to fight when I was young, and now I miss the battlefield very much. I want to do my part to Lord Ruan in the sky to protect his descendants." However, the old soldier shook his head resolutely, not intending to escape.

Ruan Youjin was a little moved and helpless. The Ruan family had really reached the end of their lives, and even retired veterans had to re-enter the battlefield. The Ruan family, with a population of only 600,000, could draw fewer and fewer troops, and they also lost many men last year. After this battle, next year, even women and children would have to plant crops in the paddy fields to support the food they will survive in the future.

After leaving the resolute old soldiers, Ruan Youyi patrolled around Hoi'an Port. Most of the soldiers here just made up the number of people and were cannon fodder. Only a small number of elite soldiers had brief training during the preparations, using cold weapons and clamps. Only some of the elite soldiers brought by Ruan Youjin were equipped with flintlock rifles from the Jiuzhou Army.

"This time we went to the expedition, there were 7,253 soldiers, sailors and servants, of which 60% were recruited." The official responsible for counting the number of people said to Ruan Youyi.

"How many will they send to the South China Fleet to the north with us?" Ruan Youyi asked.

"According to the officers they approached us, they would be in full swing, with four formations and thousands of people," the official said.

"It seems that they did not break their promise and were still happy to help us deal with the Zheng family. As long as we go down the Rili Haikou and cut off their food routes, they will definitely ask us for a truce." Ruan Youyi said.

"General, why do you think Zheng Zheng knows that the Jiuzhou Army is likely to help us, and we have the advantage of the water, so why do we take the initiative to go south? The ending this time is nothing more than last year." The official asked again.

"Master Zheng is not without his little thoughts. Our new master is now in his prime. He wants to test our depth and make us feel uncomfortable." Ruan Youjin said as he walked, "Their national strength is stronger than us. Even if this time is futile, our national strength is even worse after being tossed by them. Moreover, the cost of hiring the Nanyang Fleet is too high. Every time we hire them, we will have to bleed heavily. Last time we compensated the privileges of Hoi An Port, and this time we have millions of taels of debt. What's next time? We will soon be able to invite the Nanyang Fleet at no cost. Next time, when Master Zheng calls again, what conditions will we use to exchange for the support of the Nanyang Fleet?"

After thinking these days, Ruan Youyi finally came up with a "reasonable" explanation of why Master Zheng went south at this time. Not only Ruan Youyi, but Ruan Phucxi and others also agreed with Ruan Youyi's idea, and they all believed that Master Zheng did not intend to win this war this time, but to disgust the Ruan family and waste the national strength of the Ruan family.

"Since the Zheng family is trying to consume us, why do we still have to respond so actively? And we still have to ask the Jiuzhou Army for full support regardless of the millions of dollars they have to bear?" the official asked in confusion.

"This is the cunning thing of Zheng Lord. He came with all his strength. If we found out that we did not have the help of the Jiuzhou Army, or only invited a small number of Jiuzhou Army, they would definitely turn the action that consumed us into a full-scale attack, breaking the Changde Base in one fell swoop, and driving straight in." Ruan Youyi said earnestly, "Zheng Ye is really an old fox, with ulterior motives!"

"Hiss... I am worthy of being an old fox occupying the north. Fortunately, the general can see through it thoroughly." The official said in admiration.

"Oh, what's the use of seeing through it? This is Zheng Jian's plot. We have to act according to their ideas. This is the most uncomfortable thing." Ruan Youyi said.

After patrolling the Huian Port, Ruan Youyi had a certain understanding of the general combat effectiveness of the troops under his command. He is now both Ruan Youjin and Ruan Youjin. This time, the counterattack of the Zheng family's Imperial Army was led by him and Deng Qianlong.

Deng Qianlong had already led the naval soldiers of the Daqin Sail Battleship to board the Daqin Sail Battleship. The Daqin Sail Battleship, which has more than 50 naval guns, is the most advanced warship with firepower in the South Ocean region and the most fierce warship. It was built in southern Liaoning according to the specifications of the Great Britain Sail Battleship in the late 18th century.

In addition to the Daqin sail battleship, there are also the Dawei, Dazhao and Dahan sail battleships of similar size to the Daqin, forming four formations. Each formation has frigates and supply ships. Such a powerful fleet has almost no opponents in the South China Sea, and the only threats that can pose to them are storms and tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean.

"Commander, the four formations are ready, our supplies are enough for three months to fight." The adjutant of the Daqin said to Deng Qianlong.
Chapter completed!