Travel back in time and become Chongzhen, watch me turn the tide

A loud shout broke the silence.

"Your servant Huang Fei pays homage to our emperor. Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long, long live the emperor!" Huang Fei knelt on the ground to salute, his loud voice filled with uncontrollable surprise, as if a huge bell was echoing in the air.

Previously, Feng Yuanyang, in compliance with Emperor Chongzhen's order, had kept his identity a secret. Now, when Li Laiheng revealed the truth, everyone knew Emperor Chongzhen was among the troops. The excitement washed over them like a surging tide, and Huang Fei was no exception.

Huang Fei, currently the admiral of the Guanliao, Tongjin, Huaihai, and Jiangzhen naval divisions, held the rank of Viceroy. His fleet was one of the few remaining Ming Dynasty naval forces, and for Chongzhen, it was undoubtedly an invaluable military asset.

Chongzhen quickly stepped forward and helped Huang Fei up with both hands, his eyes full of surprise and relief: "Wenlu, please stand up quickly! This time, thanks to your timely arrival, otherwise I would be in great danger."

Huang Fei stood up, bowed his head slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. It was truly a coincidence. I was waiting by the sea, feeling extremely anxious and uneasy, so I thought of coming to greet him. I didn't expect that Kaizhang would come with his men to ask for help, so I was able to arrive in time."

Huang Fei, born in a humble family, is honest and straightforward, speaking directly and never hiding his inner thoughts. His words are simple and plain, but they make people feel his steadfastness and loyalty.

Huang Fei's uncle, Huang Long, the general of Dongjiang Town, had a close friendship with Feng Yuanyang. Feng Yuanyang had played a significant role in Huang Fei's rise from a humble soldier to his current position. Huang Fei had been secretly invited by Feng Yuanyang to join the expedition, originally to welcome Emperor Chongzhen south. However, Feng Kaizhang's subsequent trip to Beijing prevented him from even meeting Chongzhen, and the plan to welcome him south was put on hold.

Huang Fei was about to return after his expedition to the north failed. Feng Yuanyang was disheartened and prepared to go back to his hometown with Huang Fei. They had originally agreed to set off today, but Huang Fei waited and waited but no one showed up. He was extremely anxious, so he led his cavalry to meet him. Unexpectedly, he made the contribution of saving the emperor.

Chongzhen was in a good mood at this moment. He held Huang Fei's hands tightly and looked him up and down carefully.

Huang Fei wasn't tall, but he was incredibly sturdy, like an indestructible iron tower. Years spent at sea had carved deep furrows into his face, the sea breeze tanning his skin to a gleaming black, like a unique medal bestowed by the ocean. His thick beard resembled a lush patch of grass. Beneath his heavy brows lay a pair of small, radiant eyes, their gaze brimming with unwavering loyalty. His hands were broad and rough, his fingers covered in calluses and scars, the marks of countless hours spent wielding a knife and steering the ship.

In Chongzhen's eyes, Huang Fei was just like Li Kui in later TV dramas, exuding a heroic and rough spirit.

Emperor Chongzhen patted Huang Fei on the shoulder and said with deep emotion: "This is God's will. I have met Wenlu... This time when I go south, my life and property are entrusted to you..."

Huang Fei bowed and said firmly, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will do my utmost to protect Your Majesty even at the cost of my life!"

"General Huang and I are old friends. His uncle, General Huang Long of Dongjiang Town, was a close friend of mine," Feng Yuanyang said, his eyes filled with reminiscence and emotion. "General Huang is now the Admiral of the Guanliaotongjin Huaihaijiang Town Navy. I invited him here ahead of time to help Your Majesty retreat to Nanjing along the coastal route. Although Kaizhang was unable to meet Your Majesty when he came to Beijing, he is finally useful now."

"It is God's will..." Chongzhen nodded slightly, thinking in his heart.

"Your Majesty, this is not a safe place. Why don't we talk while walking?" Li Ruolian reminded softly from the side.

Although the crisis was resolved, Li Laiheng's sudden arrival still left him with a lingering fear of another accident. The safest option now was to leave as quickly as possible.

To prevent any further accidents, the small team split into two groups. Feng Yuanyang and Huang Fei carefully protected Chongzhen and went ahead, while Feng's family members slowly moved forward behind.

This place was only more than 20 miles away from the fleet on the coast. Chongzhen and others galloped on horseback, and in just a moment, they arrived at a simple port on the coast. Huang Fei's navy fleet was anchored here. Although this port was a bit simple, it gave people a sense of security at this time.

This time Feng Yuanyang asked Huang Fei to come and protect him. Huang Fei was naturally generous and the fleet he brought was very large.

Among them, there were more than twenty warships with a capacity of more than 400 tons. A 400-ton warship was a medium-sized warship in the Ming Dynasty navy, usually about 20 to 30 meters long and 6 to 8 meters wide. This type of ship was ingeniously designed, taking into account speed, maneuverability, and durability, enabling it to perform missions in a variety of complex sea conditions. Its hull structure was solid, with double or multi-layer planking, which greatly enhanced its ability to withstand shocks. There were command platforms and lookouts on the deck for the commander to observe the battlefield and command operations. The ship was equipped with a variety of weapons, including artillery, rockets, crossbows, catapults, as well as swords and spears for close combat. The crew had a clear division of labor, including the captain, deputy captain, helmsman, sailors, gunners, archers, etc. Everyone performed their duties to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the ship in battle.

Nearly fifty warships weighed less than 200 tons. These vessels were small, fast vessels in the Ming navy, typically ranging from 15 to 20 meters in length and 4 to 6 meters in width. They emphasized speed and maneuverability, making them suitable for rapid deployment and flexible operations near the coast. Their decks were equipped with basic command and observation platforms, as well as essential weaponry such as small cannons, crossbows, and catapults, as well as swords and spears for close combat.

In addition to these, the flagship, the Zhenhai, was a 1,000-ton warship. This warship was one of the mainstays of the Ming Dynasty navy, typically ranging from 30 to 40 meters in length and around 8 to 10 meters in width. Its hull structure was exceptionally strong, utilizing multiple layers of planking and a complex skeletal structure, greatly enhancing its stability and durability. The decks housed a conning tower, observation deck, and living quarters, as well as multiple gun emplacements and crossbow firing points. The ship was well-equipped with artillery, rockets, crossbows, and catapults, as well as swords and spears for close combat. The crew consisted of a captain, mate, helmsman, sailors, gunners, archers, and soldiers, each with their own specific duties, ensuring maximum effectiveness in battle. This behemoth vessel, designed to perfectly balance combat effectiveness and seakeeping performance, was adaptable to diverse sea conditions and combat requirements. In the Ming Dynasty navy, it served not only as a symbol of strength but also a powerful example of technological and organizational prowess.

Although piracy was rampant at sea, the size of Huang Fei's fleet meant that even relatively large pirates would be forced to evade them. Furthermore, the fleet flew the flag of the Ming Dynasty Navy. Although the Ming Dynasty was currently in turmoil, that flag fluttered in the sea breeze, still representing the Ming Dynasty's majesty and glory. Ordinary pirates would never dare approach.

Chongzhen boarded the flagship, the Zhenhai, and his heart finally settled. In the short two days since his time travel, the novice writer Zhu Youjian had been struggling on the brink of death. Now he could finally breathe a sigh of relief, at least he no longer had to worry about his safety for the rest of his journey.

But what should we do next?