Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

Under Chi Honghai's guidance, Miss Wu finally finished the whole bowl of porridge.

He gently placed the bowl on the table, then got up and walked towards the door.

"Once you've recovered, you can do whatever you want. Just tell Ai Si what you'd like to eat."

Then Chi Honghai went out and headed towards the sailboat that had docked.

"How is it?"

"Reporting to you, sir, the goods are almost ready. However, aren't there a bit too many firearms? We don't have that many men, do we?" Pang San replied.

"Is it too much? It'll be less soon."

"What do you mean by this, sir?"

"Pang San, Liu Qingjiang, you two come with me."

The three walked to the side and whispered something to each other.

"You two take some brothers with you, each with ten taels of silver, and go to the surrounding villages to find villagers and give each of them one tael."

"Master, isn't this just throwing away our money? We can't just squander it like this now that we have it," Pang San said anxiously.

"I haven't finished yet, why are you in such a hurry?" Chi Honghai continued explaining his plan: "Have these villagers go to the grain merchants in Xin'an County to buy grain. If asked, say that merchants from Chaozhou Prefecture are here to collect grain and they don't have enough manpower. After the villagers who promised to do the job buy the grain, each villager will receive ten catties of grain as a gift."

"Sir, I don't quite understand what you mean."

"Just do as I say. Remember, find remote and impoverished villages, and you must be back within two days."

"Yes."

After the Portuguese left, they looked at the mess on the ground and everyone's happy faces.

Chi Honghai's words dampened this joyful scene.

"Everyone, the typhoon is coming soon. Move all these things into the mountains, and move your belongings to the caves up in the mountains."

"Sir, how did you know a typhoon was coming?"

"Don't worry about that now, hurry up and get them! If we're late, everyone's been working for nothing. If these heavy cannons are hard to move, just leave them in the village and secure them! Secure the two boats in the harbor, and as for the remaining fishing boats, if there's really no time to move them, just abandon them."

Chi Honghai's words immediately caused everyone present to panic again.

At this moment, Shen Er leaned over and said something to Chi Honghai.

"Sir, what if that woman doesn't leave?"

"This is my territory, she has no say in it."

Two days later.

After most of the valuables in the village had been transported to the cave, Chi Honghai stood on the shore watching the situation unfold.

The blazing sunlight made it difficult for him to open his eyes.

After a long time, they finally saw the silhouette of a cargo ship on the sea. Judging from the size and appearance of the cargo ship, they knew that Pang San and Liu Qingjiang had returned.

"How did things go?"

Chi Honghai walked onto the boat, asking questions as he went, wanting to get a clear view of the situation inside the cabin.

"Sir, everything has been taken care of. Most of the grain in Xin'an County has been bought back. However, the government should have noticed that so much grain has been purchased from grain merchants in such a short time."

"It's alright, as long as the grain is brought back, we can pile it all up together. Put what can be stored in the cellar in the cellar, and bring the rest with me to the mountain."

"Up in the mountain? What happened, sir?"

"A typhoon is coming. Everyone should go to the mountains to avoid the storm. Guangzhou is going to be in trouble."

"A typhoon?"

Chi Honghai didn't waste any more words, but instead told everyone to do as he said.

They just talked as they walked.

"Do you remember when we went to Macau a few days ago, we encountered a little rain on the way, and the sea was shrouded in fog on the way back?"

"Remember."

"But on the day we returned, the weather was very clear, and we could see it for miles around. This was not normal, so I judged that a typhoon was coming."

"So, sir, you're just sending us to the city to buy so much food for refuge? But isn't that too much?"

"We don't need this much food for refuge. Including families, there are only about a hundred of us. Even if we try to eat our fill, we won't be able to finish it." Chi Honghai patted the bags of food. "I have a great use for this food."

"But sir, you know about this, why don't you tell those Portuguese?"

"What do I care if they live or die?"

……

A day later, the typhoon made landfall in southern Guangzhou.

It grazed the edge of Hong Kong Island and rushed towards Guangzhou Prefecture, and Xin'an County was naturally not spared from the disaster.

The typhoon raged through Guangzhou for three whole days before finally leaving, leaving behind only ruins and mournful cries of grief.

When Chi Honghai emerged from the cave, he was immediately struck by a strong, fishy smell.

Sure enough, after everyone came down the mountain, the beach was full of sea fish that had been swept ashore by the typhoon. Some were still struggling and looked very fresh.

Seeing this, the people behind them realized that they had never had such a large catch when they were fishing. Unable to contain their excitement, they rushed forward and picked up the fish on the beach.

Looking at these people, Chi Honghai understood something.

This is ultimately a mob; if they want to accomplish anything, changes must be made.

Otherwise, if the authorities really come knocking, we'll be annihilated like birds and beasts fleeing a bombardment.

He summoned Pang San and Liu Qingjiang again, and had them, along with a dozen or so brothers, load some grain onto a small boat and head towards the outskirts of Xin'an County.

"Master, why don't we use that cargo ship?" Pang San asked as he carried the grain.

"What, you think you can just sail away like that after losing this boat in Xin'an County?"

Once he realized what was happening, Pang San said "Oh" and then obediently continued with the rough work at hand.

The supplies are secured; everyone should proceed.

Arriving by boat in the suburbs, the place was in complete disarray.

Chi Honghai and his group, wearing face masks, walked along the road.

Liu Qingjiang, standing beside him, reminded him of his thoughts: "Sir, you previously had us distribute some grain to the villagers in these areas. After this typhoon, they probably won't need us to distribute grain anymore."

Chi Honghai gave a cold laugh.

"High-ranking officials prey on low-ranking officials, and low-ranking officials prey on the common people—it's not that easy."

As Chi Honghai had predicted, most of the grain in the city had been taken away, in addition to some manipulations by the Xin'an County government and the transfer of grain from the north.

There is not much food left in the city.

The government granaries were empty, while grain merchants charged for their grain, and at that time, the prices were not low.

Besides, why would an official pay for it out of his own pocket?

Therefore, after the typhoon ended, the government couldn't even afford to cook a decent pot of porridge.

If there's rice at the bottom of the pot, that's already a big favor.

If there's no food, then we definitely have to find a way, at least to save face, otherwise who can bear the blame from above?

But what can be done?

That should be "taken from the people and used for the people".

After some inquiries, it was learned that the people who bought the grain a few days ago were farmers from the surrounding area.

What else is there to say?

Borrow grain!

Most of the yamen runners and soldiers of Xin'an County were sent out to plunder grain from various villages and bring it all back to the city.

Set up a few relief tents for disaster victims, pour in a few bowls of rice, and everything will be fine.

In this way, there are still some left over.

Just as the group was discussing the situation, a group of soldiers entered the village in front of them...