When Qiao Mingjun arrived in Dengzhou, it was already the fourteenth day of the first month of the second year of Ruichang.

Dengzhou City is very lively. People attach great importance to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The Dengzhou Chamber of Commerce specially organized a large lion and dragon dance team to pay New Year's greetings to the merchants in Dengzhou City one by one, and congratulate the merchants on their prosperous business in the new year. This

They received a warm welcome from the merchants. Each merchant prepared elaborate gifts. Watching the lion and dragon lantern dancers show their extraordinary skills, they took away the gifts they prepared and cheered for them. The chamber of commerce considered that some merchants belonged to

It was a small business, so there was no special arrangement. These merchants even went to the chamber of commerce and asked the lion and dragon lantern dance teams to perform in their shops to congratulate them.

It was in this atmosphere that Qiao Mingjun came to Dengzhou.

It has been a long time since I left Dengzhou. When I came to Dengzhou again, I saw the huge changes inside and outside the city. Qiao Mingjun couldn't help but feel that it was only under the leadership of the emperor and the court that Dengzhou became so prosperous.

The situation is like that after the Denglai Mutiny, Dengzhou almost became an abandoned city. Under such circumstances, if we don’t do our best to protect the Wu Dynasty, we will have no face to face the people of the world.

Information was continuously delivered to Qiao Mingjun, and he read the information carefully along the way.

As the deputy commander-in-chief of the Denglai New Army and the admiral of the Denglai Navy, he was given a huge responsibility. After reading the emperor's imperial edict, Qiao Mingjun understood his responsibilities and even more clearly understood the situation in the south.

, need to rely on the Denglai Navy.

While reading the intelligence, Qiao Mingjun had been thinking about it. He only had two months. In early March, the Denglai Navy would set off to conquer the Fujian waters in the south.

Although the Denglai Navy has not experienced many battles and has mostly been responsible for transporting military supplies and soldiers, the construction of the Denglai Navy has not been relaxed at all. Once upon a time, the emperor insisted on increasing investment in the Denglai Navy.

, build large warships, and equip them with the most advanced artillery and firearms. Even Liao Wenru and others found it strange.

After so many years, after a lot of investment and training, the Denglai Navy is undoubtedly powerful. It has 300 large warships and 500 medium-sized warships. Each large warship is equipped with hundreds of troops.

There are artillery pieces above the gate, among which there are fifteen giant warships, also known as command ships.

The five hundred medium-sized warships move very fast. The warships are equipped with thirty to fifty cannons and are flexible. When launching an attack, they can quickly pursue and approach the enemy's warships.

Because of their fast speed, medium-sized warships are also the main offensive force during combat.

There are not many small warships. After all, the concepts of sea combat and inland water combat are different. It is difficult for small warships to play a big role on the sea. The main purpose is to surprise the opponent when attacking the opponent.

The naval power of the previous dynasties was well-known, especially during Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas during the Ming Dynasty. The giant warship formations were invincible and made the West extremely envious. During the Wanli period, the navy of the previous dynasties defeated the Japanese navy.

, which frightened all opponents. However, during the Tianqi and Chongzhen years, the navy was gradually ignored, and land warfare was highly valued. In addition, the court was extremely short of money and food and was unable to support the navy's expenses. This resulted in the former navy's strength being greatly reduced.

The magnitude of the retreat gradually declined.

It can be said that when the previous dynasty collapsed, no one paid attention to the power of the navy, whether it was Chongzhen, the last emperor of the previous dynasty, or Huang Taiji of the Later Jin Dynasty, who was famous for his bravery.

Wu Zongrui is one of the exceptions. His emphasis on the navy even puzzled Zeng Yongzhong, Liao Wenru and others.

After all, Wu Zongrui is a person who has traveled through time and understands the importance of the ocean. It can be said that after the Middle Ages, the world has entered the age of ocean. Whoever can control the ocean can almost control the whole world.

In the imperial edict to Qiao Mingjun, Wu Zongrui particularly emphasized the importance of the navy. He warned Qiao Mingjun that the navy must not only fight to unify the south, but also prepare for the future. As for the role the navy will play in the future

Wu Zongrui did not mention it in the imperial edict as to what role it would play.

When we entered Dengzhou City, the streets and alleys were full of people. Dengzhou City not only had lion dance and dragon lantern dance teams, but also lantern riddle guessing activities. There were four large-scale lantern riddle party scenes set up throughout Dengzhou City.

There are four directions: east, west, north and south. Of course, the peak time for guessing lantern riddles is on the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Qiao Mingjun did not stop and sent the carriage straight to Penglai County where the Navy was stationed. He wanted to take office as quickly as possible.

The naval station is not so conspicuous. Compared with the previous dynasty, Penglai County has undergone major changes and has become a business center. The most lively place is the shipping terminal.

Due to the prosperity of overseas trade, the Dengzhou Shipping Terminal has been expanded several times, and the number of overseas merchant ships docked has continued to increase. At the same time, the Denglai Navy Terminal has also been gradually expanded. However, the Navy Terminal is a military center, and ordinary people

I couldn't get close, so the place didn't look so lively, and seemed a little deserted.

The carriage stopped in front of the navy station, and Qiao Mingjun got out of the carriage in one stride and strode towards the camp.

The navy's camps are close to the pier, only a few hundred meters apart from each other, and they appear to be connected from the outside.

The breeze blew, and a unique smell of sea came. Qiao Mingjun took a long breath. From now on, he will be accompanied by this smell for a long time.

At the door of the barracks, all officers above the naval guerrilla general level stood waiting.

The management of the military camp is different from that of the local government. Even during the Spring Festival, there is no resting period. Ordinary sergeants have fifteen days of resting time every year and can leave the military camp and go home. Most of the family members of the officers stay with the army and stay in the camp.

Around Penglai County, senior military officers have slightly greater freedom of control. Their family members will accompany the army, and the army will arrange fixed residences for them.

The navy officers had already received the order from above, all the sergeants had returned to the team, and all the officers had returned to the barracks.

When Qiao Mingjun walked to the gate of the military camp, all the officers clasped their fists and saluted him.

Qiao Mingjun nodded and looked at many officers speaking.

"Thank you for your hard work. Tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. All the officers and sergeants are staying in the military camp and cannot be reunited with their families. Okay, let's go to the Chinese military tent. I have something to say..."

The Chinese military tent was not very big, but after nearly a hundred officers entered, it seemed slightly crowded.

"Everyone, you all should be clear about the mission of the navy. We have two months to focus on training for maritime operations. Starting from tomorrow, we must do our best to train. The subjects of naval training are already in your hands.

We will go on an expedition in early March. Before the expedition, we sent the sergeants home in batches to see. The battlefield is ruthless. They were all born to their parents. Letting them go home to meet their families is what we should do.

..”

"The navy of the Zheng family is said to have three thousand warships. It seems to be extremely powerful. The warships of our Denglai navy are only about a thousand in total. On the surface, it seems that our strength is not as good as

The navy of the Zheng family, but you must know that the Dashun Army under Li Zicheng, which had millions of sergeants, was also wiped out by our Denglai New Army of 300,000 troops. Therefore, our powerful navy will definitely be able to completely

Destroy the navy of the Zheng family..."

"Many of you are familiar with me. We have fought together. You all know my temper. As long as I fight bravely on the battlefield, I am happiest. Of course, I want to emphasize the issue of military discipline and regulations. Maritime operations are different from

Fighting on land is extremely cruel. If you don't pay attention, there will be no corpses left. When the battle reaches its most intense moment, no one can care so much. By the time the battle is over, some people's corpses may have disappeared."

"It is said that in such a fierce battle, it is a bit unreasonable for me to emphasize the military discipline and military regulations in maritime operations, but I still want to emphasize that we are the Denglai New Army and the navy of the Denglai New Army.

The military discipline and rules of the Denglai New Army are ironclad and no one can violate them."

"Having said that, you all abide by military disciplines and regulations and fight bravely. As long as you have made meritorious service, I will truthfully report it to the Governor's Mansion and the imperial court..."

This is the first time for Qiao Mingjun to visit the naval station. However, he used to be the leader of the Cao Gang and his water quality is not bad. Of course, there is no way to compare the canal and the sea, so after becoming the commander of the navy, Qiao Mingjun also has to participate in the sergeant's training.

During training, you must also be familiar with everything about naval operations, so that you can better lead the navy in operations.

Qiao Mingjun knows very well that Zheng Zhilong, the patriarch of the Zheng family and the commander of the navy, was a pirate in the past. He has been fighting at sea all year round. He is good at command and familiar with naval battles. In this aspect, Qiao Mingjun is not as good as Zheng Zhilong for the time being, but he will not

Fear, when the sergeant is training, he will also strengthen his own training and become familiar with the laws of maritime combat as soon as possible.

There are many backers behind Qiao Mingjun. The Denglai New Army Intelligence Department spared no effort to spy on and understand the situation of the Zheng family and the Zheng family navy. Zhang Dongtao and Li Yan also sent the most effective scouts to Quanzhou to detect intelligence.

More importantly, the Intelligence Department has learned that after the new year, the Zheng family is likely to send a large army to Huguang to fight. The leader of the army is Zheng Chenggong, which means that the Zheng family's military strength will definitely be dispersed.

Combining many external factors and the general trend of the world, it should be a sure thing that the Denglai New Army Navy defeats the Zheng Family Navy.

...

Qiao Mingjun's barracks is right next to the Zhongjun tent. You can go directly to the barracks without leaving the Zhongjun tent.

After most of the officers left, Qiao Mingjun took several soldiers and went directly to the dock to take a look.

The warships docked at the pier were so densely packed that it made his blood boil. In two months, these warships would set off to conquer the south. Whether the imperial court could conquer the south in the shortest time would depend on the navy's performance.
Chapter completed!