Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 192 Japanese Ship
"Husband, husband..."

Qi Yongze was awakened from his sleep, slowly opened his eyes, and looked at the woman in front of him in a daze.

"Husband, Captain Liang of the Guard has something important to discuss with you..." His wife, Lin Fengru, holding a baby less than six months old, leaned over and whispered with concern, "It seems something happened at sea, and we need to report it to you urgently."

"Hmm?" Qi Yongze sat up from the bed and glanced out the window. It didn't seem to be bright yet. "What time is it now?"

"It's about the Mao hour (5 to 7 a.m.)..."

"What could possibly happen at sea so early in the morning?" Qi Yongze muttered, taking clothes from the bedside and putting them on slowly. "...It's not like the Japanese are coming to kill us, is it?"

Last night, I had a brief meeting with several colonial management personnel and made some important arrangements regarding the upcoming arrival of the immigrant fleet. Afterwards, I ate some game and drank some wine with them and went to bed a little late.

He was woken up by his wife at this time. He was still a little tired and a little grumpy, but he couldn't face the woman and the baby in the cradle, so he left the house with a look of surprise on his face.

He glanced coldly at Liang Sangui who came to report, then sat down on a wooden chair, picked up the teapot on the small table, and poured himself a glass of cold boiled water.

"Captain..." Liang Sangui bowed and saluted him, then said with a stiff face, "Captain, I am sorry to have woken you up so early in the morning. But the warning just now from the seaside is really..."

"What nonsense!" Qi Yongze waved his hand, impatiently interrupting him. "I'm not happy to be woken up so early by you, but I can't blame you. ... Let's get to the point. What happened at the beach?"

"Yes, Captain!" Liang Sangui said immediately, "Around dawn, the guards on patrol along the coast spotted a Japanese fishing boat drifting outside the harbor from the watchtower."

"Hmm?" Qi Yongze's expression suddenly changed when he heard this. "Have you captured that Japanese fishing boat?"

Before this, Linhaibao had also encountered fishing boats blown by wind and waves, but they were all from other coastal areas of the island or the Ainu people on the Kuril Islands. After a little rescue, most of them were released and allowed to trade with the furs they hunted in the following days.

But this is the first time that a Japanese fishing boat has been blown here by a storm.

Considering Japan to the south and the Matsumae domain that was initially colonized at the southern tip of Hokkaido, Rinkai Fort had to pay attention to this.

"When the Japanese fishing boat saw us, it approached the shore on its own. There were five fishermen on board, and they were all captured by the escort team that arrived."

"Have they been tortured?" Qi Yongze pressed on. "...Are there any other Japanese fishing boats outside the harbor?"

"We conducted preliminary inquiries, but the guards couldn't understand the Japanese bird language, so we detained them." Liang Sangui said, "Before I came to report, no other Japanese fishing boats were found outside the harbor."

"Let's go and take a look!" Qi Yongze stood up and beckoned him to go outside together. "After daybreak, have someone drive a small boat around the nearby sea to see if there are any Japanese ships. If you find any, capture them immediately!"

"Yes, Captain." Liang Sangui followed closely behind him. "I suspect this Japanese fishing boat was blown here by the wind and waves and accidentally discovered our Linhai Fort. After all, we have explored the surrounding coastline for thirty or forty miles and have never found any Japanese forces."

"That being said, we still need to maintain the necessary vigilance and avoid any negligence." "Captain is right," Liang Sangui nodded in response. "After we get down, I will reorganize the guard team and strengthen daily vigilance and defense to prevent any external enemies from taking advantage of the situation."

"Agui, you said that our guard team has only more than 60 people. Isn't the number a little too few?" Qi Yongze paused and turned to ask.

"Our escort of more than sixty people is more than enough to deal with the surrounding barbarians. But if the Japanese pirates from the south attack in large numbers, I'm afraid we'll have a hard time." Liang Sangui was immediately excited when he heard Qi Yongze's intention to expand the escort. "Now, several groups of immigrants have arrived in Linhai Fort, and the number has exceeded one thousand. It's time to expand our military force a little."

"Well, let me discuss this matter with the captain of the guard and then make a decision." Qi Yongze nodded and said, "In the next few days, your guard team can first select some backup candidates from the immigrant group. Once a decision is made, immediately train them."

"Yes, Captain!" Liang Sangui responded hurriedly.

"Well, when another immigrant fleet arrives from Liaohai, they might even provide us with some Liaodong soldiers and horses who can ride horses. Then we can form a cavalry squadron, which will be able to cope with any dangerous situation in the future."

"That's right!" Liang Sangui echoed, "If the fleet leaves us a few more cannons, then our escort team will be able to move freely on this big island. When the time comes, I will lead my men into the inland hinterland, conquer more natives, seize more territory, and strive to completely control the entire island within two or three years."

"You're so arrogant!" Qi Yongze laughed. "I was thinking it would take at least eight to ten years to control this big island."

"Hehe... Captain, you're a cautious and steady person, and you've considered many aspects thoroughly. You're certainly not as reckless and ostentatious as us," Liang Sangui said. "Under your leadership and that of the Captain, our Linhai Fort has grown from just forty or fifty people two years ago to over four hundred the following year, and now to over twelve hundred. In two or three years, won't our population grow to nearly ten thousand?"

"Furthermore, we've also reclaimed thousands of acres of farmland, grown a lot of food, and established four or five settlements. With our growing strength and the wise leadership of our two captains, controlling this large island shouldn't be a piece of cake."

"Agui, your flattery is too obvious, there is no technical content at all!" Qi Yongze teased with a smile.

"Captain, I'm speaking the truth, not flattering you." Liang Sangui smiled and said, "Two years ago, when we were first thrown into this wild land, we couldn't say we were completely despairing, but we couldn't hide the despair in our hearts. I was worried that we would be carried off by wild beasts or captured by savages and die here without a sound."

"Look, it's only been over two years, and we've not only built a large wooden fortress, but also established several nearby camps. We've even conquered five or six surrounding native tribes and made them our vassal states. In a few years, our territory will surely expand inland and along the coast! Hehe, with the natives' limited strength, how can they stop us?"

"Humph, you're even more optimistic than us. But, have you forgotten that we can't even be self-sufficient in food right now? How can we have the confidence to expand into the inland areas?"

"Huh?..." Liang Sangui was stunned for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Then the captain of the guard led his men to explore the southwest a month ago. Wasn't he going to occupy new territory?"

"They're looking for a better place to grow crops." Qi Yongze seemed to be reminded and subconsciously turned his head to look at the seashore. "Hiss, it's been a month. Shouldn't they be back by now? Did they encounter some danger..."

"It shouldn't be that serious," Liang Sangui consoled him. "The captain of the guards has over fifty people in his group, operating four small boats. They have muskets and swords. Even if they encounter a larger tribe of natives, they will be able to handle it. There shouldn't be any major danger."

"Even a small danger is worrying!" Qi Yongze said with a worried look on his face. "Those Japanese fishing boats were blown to the doorstep of Linhai Fort by a storm. If they were to encounter a storm as well, where would they drift to?"

"..." Liang Sangui's heart skipped a beat when he heard this, and he looked at him in a daze.

(End of this chapter)