Volume 2: Soaring! The Overlord of the Region Chapter 369: The Siege of Saigon Fortress
"General, I touched the fortress wall in the afterglow this afternoon. The Siamese thieves were very alert and would launch heavy artillery attacks if they got a little closer. Later, I organized some people to dig a little deeper. It turned out that there was too much groundwater."
"Can the three trenches that the Siamese have built outside the fort be used?"
"No. First, they are too shallow. Second, they are too far away. The nearest trench is about 700 to 800 meters away from the city wall."
"Okay, I understand this matter. Don't worry, General Liu. I will go get you some manpower next. Let the engineers draw up the earthwork drawings first."
"Hehe, then I'll leave it to Xiong Zhijun."
After Liu Zhaosun retreated, Xiong Tingbi said to the soldiers around him: "Go and bring in those guys who just asked to see you."
"Excuse me, are we calling all the soldiers in together?"
"Yes, all of them. Together."
Therefore, representatives from the Moc family, the Nguyen Phuc family, the Zheng family and even the Le royal family were all called in together.
This made everyone feel awkward, especially the representative of the Li family. When he looked at the representative of the Zheng family, he wanted to die.
But Xiong Manzi didn't care at all: If the Zheng family thinks that the Li family is disobedient and ambitious, and wants to kill the current Li Weixin and replace him with someone else, what does it have to do with me, Xiong Tingbi?
He acted as if it was none of his business, but the four representatives under him looked at each other and were speechless.
"Hahaha, why are you looking for me? I know what you want without you telling me. It's very simple, just bring the food! Four stone of refined rice, um, that's 240 kilograms, which is equivalent to one silver dollar. The flintlock rifles of my Ming soldiers cost forty silver dollars each, and are provided with two hundred bullets and corresponding gunpowder. The muzzle-loading smoothbore cannon costs one thousand silver dollars each, and is provided with ten solid bullets and corresponding gunpowder. The flying thunder cannon, haha, don't underestimate that large iron barrel with a large caliber, that thing has to withstand the repeated tossing of the propellant, and has very high strength requirements. Of course, more important is the explosive packs that are fired. These things, one large cannon barrel with ten explosive packs, one thousand yuan! There are also wooden-handled grenades, various individual equipment, and even warships outside the port, all for sale! The price is negotiable. However, my dynasty does not accept silver, only refined rice!"
As soon as Xiong Tingbi said this, the representatives from all parties felt a sharp pain in their teeth.
Annan is a good place for grain production due to geographical factors. But you can't stand the fact that Annan is divided into three factions fighting each other. As a result, the ratio of soldiers to civilians is very distorted, and the burden on the people is already very heavy. If you have to take out a large part of the already scarce rice and go to Ming to exchange equipment, wouldn't you have to increase taxes on the people in the country?
But we have to buy it! If we don’t buy it, we will be destroyed by other countries!
And the most hateful thing is that the representatives of each company are not allies but sworn enemies. There is no way for them to unite and bargain together!
Therefore, among the four representatives, except for the Li family representative who was flustered and incoherently saying that he was only representing the King of Dai Viet to greet Governor Xiong, the other three representatives all nodded without any intention of struggling.
"In addition to bringing rice to buy, you can also provide people."
"Someone?"
"That's right." Xiong Tingbi stood up and said, "Now our army has arrived under the wall of Saigon Fortress, but the artillery on the wall is really powerful. Our army does not want to cause too many casualties due to a strong attack. Therefore, our army is ready to use trench siege. However, there is too much groundwater here and the soil is too soft. Therefore, we need a lot of manpower to help us dig trenches and build water diversion channels... "
Looking at the representatives of the three families who were silent but concentrating, Xiong Tingbi smiled grimly: "Those of you who are working as laborers, bring your own dry food to work. If you die of exhaustion or are killed or injured by shells on the city wall, I, the Ming Dynasty, will not care. However, for every person who works for a day, you will be counted as one dou of fine rice. In this way, ten people will be counted as one dan."
Hearing this, the representative of the Nguyen Phuc family laughed so hard that his face almost broke: Saigon is the closest place to the Nguyen Phuc family's base. After returning to report to the head of the family, we can mobilize 10,000 people to work. In this way, we can get 1,000 dan of fine rice a day! Twenty-five flintlock rifles will be in hand! Twenty-five rifles a day, ten days will be two hundred and fifty!
What? You ask me about the cost? Can those untouchables eat a bushel of rice a day? So this business is a big profit anyway!
"Please rest assured, Mr. Xiong. Our Nguyen Phuc family is a loyal vassal of Dai Viet, and naturally a loyal vassal of the Celestial Empire. There is no need to consult our patriarch on this matter. I can . Ten thousand people! Within fifteen days, ten thousand civilians will arrive at the scene and obey the command of the Celestial Empire's army."
The Zheng family representative beside him cursed the Nguyen Phuc family for their shameless rebellion, and quickly bowed his head: "Master Xiong, the war is temporarily in a stalemate due to the mercy of the Celestial Empire. Therefore, the soldiers of my Zheng family are idle anyway. If Master Xiong allows, can we allocate half of our soldiers to participate in this project?"
"As long as you ensure that your defenses will not be breached, that's fine."
"Uh, Mr. Xiong, although our Mo family is small in number..."
"Hahaha, all is fine. I still say the same thing, soldiers can participate in infrastructure construction. But they must ensure that there are no problems with the section of the defense line they are responsible for, otherwise, humph!"
"Please rest assured, old man. We will resolutely guard the defense line we are responsible for. We will not let anyone escape from the city!"
"Hmm..." Xiong Tingbi twirled his beard and thought for a while: "Speaking of not letting anyone escape, um, I remember that Nguyen Phuc was responsible for the defense of the westernmost section."
"Yes, please let me go..."
"Well, what I mean is that after today's battle, the Siamese bandits in the city must be terrified. They might want to send people out to ask for help. So, if they are messengers asking for help, just let them go."
"Ah? Oh, that's a good idea, old man. This way we can attract the Siamese army from the mainland. Hahahaha, now that the sea route has been controlled by the Celestial Empire, when the Siamese army emerges from the rain forest of Zhenla, our army will be well-rested and will surely win a great victory!"
"Yes, yes, we admire Master Xiong's strategy!"
Listening to the tide of Ah Yu, Xiong Tingbi's mouth twitched slightly: You fools, how can you expect Siam to come with its entire army? It is impossible for them to come with their entire army. This is just to give the other king an illusion that the main force of our Ming Dynasty is still in Saigon. Humph, the grand layout of my emperor is not something you ordinary people can imagine? Alas, it's May 20th now. I hope the Siamese in the city will send messengers as soon as possible and run as fast as possible. Otherwise, we really can't let the other side misjudge.
