Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

To the north of Chikan City, east of North Gate Street, the alley leading to the City God Temple was bustling with activity even during the day. Guan Shisheng, dressed in a cyan leather jacket, hurried past the city gate and quickly entered this ancient alley.

He knew today's operation was crucial; any misstep would expose them to the enemy. As they moved south along the narrow alleys, Guan Shisheng's team members stood guard, ensuring no outsiders could detect his connection. They had been in and out of these areas countless times, familiar with every brick and every street layout.

Finally, Guan Shisheng exchanged clothes with another team member at an inconspicuous alleyway, quickly transformed himself into an ordinary clerk, dusted off his collar, and, taking advantage of the bustling crowd, headed west toward the alley. A few minutes later, he successfully circumvented the surrounding patrols and arrived at the action team's contact point.

This seemingly ordinary shop conceals Chikan City's most secretive operations. It appears to be just an ordinary framed goods shop, run by a distant cousin of the Zeng family. Though a small establishment, it hides dozens of highly skilled Jinyiwei assassins and a near-perfect elite operations team.

In the shop's front yard, customers streamed in continuously, and business was booming. In this busy lobby, customers bought and sold framed items, completely unaware that, just fifty steps away, more than forty well-trained assassins were hiding.

However, despite the bustling front hall, the backyard is a completely different scene. Ordinary customers cannot enter the backyard, and even those who can access it must go through layers of security checks and strict procedures before they can pass through.

Guan Shisheng walked to the last door in the backyard and knocked skillfully six times, three long and three short. Then, a "creak" sound came from the door, and the door was quietly opened. Standing behind the door was a calm-looking action team member. When he saw Guan Shisheng, he nodded politely and led him into the yard.

Guan Shisheng didn't stop, but walked quickly through the backyard, his eyes constantly alert to any movement around him. Without a moment's hesitation, he headed straight for a wing room in the backyard. A team member had already opened the door for him, and with a touch of respect, Guan Shisheng walked steadily inside.

The atmosphere in the room was solemn. Lin Fan, Huang Qixiang, and several other important figures were already waiting. Seeing Guan Shisheng enter, they immediately stood up and bowed to him. Guan Shisheng nodded expressionlessly, motioning for everyone to sit down before heading into the inner room with the two captains.

When they entered the inner room, the other members immediately made way for them. Although the atmosphere seemed somewhat oppressive, the members of the action team did not panic at all. Each of them had a calm and resolute look in their eyes.

After all, they are elites who have experienced countless bloody battles in Xuzhou, Xi'an, Xiangyang and other places, and they also have elite soldiers transferred back from outside the Great Wall and Jiangnan.

Zhu Cilang attached great importance to this operation, and Zhou Shixian almost concentrated all the elite forces of the Southeast Action Team in Chikan City. The success or failure of this operation was directly related to the security of the entire southeast region.

Guan Shisheng sat down, picked up the teacup on the table, gently poured a cup of tea, and took a sip. He glanced around the room, then said calmly, "Those damn red-haired people have indeed sent troops to reinforce Chikan City. They will arrive early tomorrow morning."

As he spoke, his brows furrowed, his tone heavy: "Besides, this guy is very cautious. He Nan just got the news, and we don't know exactly how many people have been dispatched."

The atmosphere in the room froze instantly. Everyone knew that the Red Hair's reinforcements were not just a numerical increase; they also put immense pressure on Chikan City's defenses. If their whereabouts were discovered by the enemy, the subsequent operations would become extremely complicated, and they might even be in a very disadvantageous situation.

Guan Shisheng put down his teacup, a sneer on his face: "However, no matter how many red-haired people there are, our operation this time will not be affected. As long as we seize the opportunity, we can hit the target with one strike."

Huang Qixiang's tone was filled with worry. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked uneasy. "Could it be that damn red-haired guy is suspicious of He Nan?"

He frowned and asked in a deep voice, "Have we been in contact with him too frequently recently? Will the red-haired spies notice anything?"

Guan Shisheng slowly shook his head and said calmly: "It shouldn't be this problem."

He placed his palm on the table and explained in a low voice, "Not only He Nan, but all the Han officers in Chikan City were unaware of the reinforcements. No one knew the specific number of troops, the time, or even the location. Including He Nan, they only learned of this news this morning when the Dutch officers summoned them to discuss the new city defense deployment."

Guan Shisheng spoke succinctly, but every word revealed his keen insight into the situation. "Every time we interact with someone, we use smuggling as a cover. He Nan alone is under our close surveillance. Even the restaurants and shops of the Zeng, Sun, and Gong families have our spies on constant alert."

He looked around and said firmly, "So, even if the Dutch spies are operating in the city, our tracks won't be easily discovered."

Lin Fan remained calm after hearing this, his expression unchanged. He said calmly, "Our operation was carefully covered, especially the location where we met with He Nan, a place he frequents. There wouldn't be any loopholes. What could the red-haired spies possibly find out? The Dutch's counterintelligence efforts have been largely limited to military investigations, and they've been unable to detect our movements at all."

Guan Shisheng raised his lips slightly after hearing this, expressing his agreement with Lin Fan. "You're right. There will definitely be no problems with the location where He Nan will contact us."

He paused, his tone slightly grave, and continued, "But Red Hair clearly doesn't trust these Han officers, otherwise he wouldn't have to secretly send reinforcements. According to He Nan's observations, the tribal mercenaries and other officers in the city also knew nothing about the reinforcements."

Huang Qixiang's brow furrowed, his doubts still lingering. "Then how are we supposed to get our intelligence out? Military scouts have trouble getting through the Dutch blockade. If our spies in the city are tricked by the Dutch, the news won't get out, and we won't be able to respond in time."

Guan Shisheng pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, "We must immediately convey this news to Lord Zhou. The most urgent task now is to ascertain the specific circumstances surrounding the Dutch reinforcements. The leaks of the previous Han uprisings have made the Dutch extremely cautious. If they decide to deploy troops secretly, even our spies in Southeast Asia might not be able to detect their movements." A hint of heaviness lingered in his tone as he continued, "If the Dutch succeed in increasing their forces, our advantage in Chikan City will be quickly reversed, and the situation will become extremely unfavorable."

Huang Qixiang's expression grew increasingly grim. He took over the conversation, saying, "He Nan mentioned earlier that if there were more than sixty Dutch soldiers stationed on the North Gate Tower, he wouldn't be able to guarantee control of the North Gate at a critical moment. If his retainers were discovered by the Dutch, and the Red Hairs discovered their intentions, the consequences would be disastrous."

Huang Qixiang's voice was low, his tone filled with worry about the situation. "Once the enemy sends a strong reinforcement, any small mistake could cause our plan to fail completely."

Guan Shisheng's brow furrowed, a flicker of uneasiness in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a calm determination. "Yes, what we need to do most right now is to understand the Dutch troop deployment and learn about their reinforcements as soon as possible. That way, we can be fully prepared for the next operation."

Lin Fan also interjected, "But our current action team can only mobilize less than two hundred people. We can't send all of them to Chikan City. Moreover, even if we infiltrate in batches, the Dutch are no fools. They will definitely be on high alert, and it is almost certain that they will discover any signs of us."

He paused, his expression becoming more serious as he continued, "Right now, there are only about forty people in the action team, which is already the limit."

An invisible pressure hung in the air. Everyone knew that the situation in Chikan City was changing rapidly, and any slight disturbance could lead to unforeseen consequences. Guan Shisheng stood up, paced back and forth, took a deep breath, and then said calmly:
"We can't wait for any opportunity. We must act immediately to ensure the flow of every piece of intelligence and the safety of every member. Even if it means taking risks, we can't let the Dutch take advantage of us."

"Okay." Huang Qixiang nodded, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes. "I will take people to contact Lord Zhou immediately and pass on the news of the reinforcements as soon as possible. At the same time, I will strengthen surveillance in the city to ensure that all operations are under control."

Guan Shisheng nodded and said, "Okay. The rest is up to you."

He glanced at the other members, finally stopping at Lin Fan. "You are responsible for staying here and closely observing the Dutch's movements. If there are any abnormalities, you must report them immediately."

As the order was issued, the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense. But the arrangements were far more complex. Guan Shisheng stood up and paced back and forth, his brow furrowed, appearing extremely anxious. The entire situation in Chikan City was in a delicate balance; any misstep in decision-making could lead to total collapse.

"Those thirty-odd retainers of the Zeng family could be useful if a fight breaks out." Guan Shisheng paused, scanning every member of the room with a sharp gaze. "These people are tough as nails. While they may not excel in battle formations, they're adept at melee combat, sneak attacks, and even murder and arson."

He paused, clearly thinking about how to maximize the use of these men, and quickly added, "Although they can't be used on the city walls, they're definitely more than enough to disrupt the situation in Chikan City."

Guan Shisheng knew that facing this complex battle, Chikan City could not afford to lose. This city was not only a military high ground, but also an essential strategic hub. If it fell, the situation in the entire southeast could be completely out of control.

To ensure the smooth progress of the mission, he not only had to rely on his elite action team, but also fully utilize all possible resources around him. He pondered for a moment, then turned to Liu Xiang and said in a low, forceful voice, "Tomorrow, take a few people and quietly go to another stronghold to arrange everything. At the same time, keep a close eye on the movements of the north gate. He Nan must not make any mistakes, and he must not be given any room to waver."

Guan Shisheng's eyes darkened, and he gritted his teeth and said, "There are already 2,000 Dutch soldiers in the city, which is already troublesome enough. Now they have sent reinforcements. A strong attack is absolutely impossible. Without He Nan as an insider, our operation will be even more difficult."

Liu Xiang didn't respond immediately, instead pondering Guan Shisheng's words. He knew that He Nan was their greatest support within Chikan City. Without this insider, the entire operation would be paralyzed. Whether it was supplying food or deploying troops, He Nan provided crucial support. Without this key figure, the situation would become complicated and dangerous.

Seeing Guan Shisheng finish his words, Lin Fan slowly spoke, his tone still calm, "As for Lord Zhou, should we spread the news immediately, or wait until tomorrow to confirm the details of the Dutch reinforcements before making a decision?"

He had been calmly considering how to maximize the transmission of the message, without making any mistakes. Guan Shisheng turned to Lin Fan, his eyes revealing a hint of urgency as he said, "The original channel must deliver the message as quickly as possible. There can be no further delay."

He took a deep breath and continued, "If we wait until the red-haired reinforcements arrive, our situation will become even more passive. The Dutch reinforcements will likely block all smuggling routes, making it difficult for us to even pass on basic intelligence. The situation will then become even more difficult to deal with."

He paused, his thoughts turning, his face becoming more serious as he spoke, "Attacking a city is never easy. The Dutch not only stored a large amount of food and weapons in the city, but even the warehouses were guarded by their elite troops. Even He Nan couldn't get close to them casually, let alone us."

Obviously, this is the biggest bottleneck in the current situation. Without the support of inside information, they cannot effectively infiltrate the enemy's position.

"The only thing we can do now is to hold the city gates and wait for General Zhang to arrive from Quanzhou with his army." Guan Shisheng's eyes grew more determined, as if he had already prepared for the worst. "As long as we control the north gate, Chikan City's defenses will be useless."

Lin Fan stood up and calmly said to Guan Shisheng, "This is our mission. If we accomplish it well, we will win. There's no point in worrying about anything else. His Majesty and Lord Zhou will naturally make their own arrangements. We just need to focus on the task at hand and leave the rest to them." (End of this chapter)