In the next ten days, Yang Zhen, who was in the rear area of ​​​​Lushunkou, no longer had the pressure of fighting on the front line, and his life suddenly became much easier and more comfortable.

Although Yang Zhen led Songshan's main force to move to Lushunkou for a short period of time, the leaders who are now responsible for all aspects of affairs in the rear area are experienced, mature and prudent veterans, and they are quick to master all aspects.

Some basic matters, such as smelting iron and steel, and manufacturing guns and cannons, now no longer require Yang Zhen to take care of everything in detail.

In this regard, now he only needs to put forward his own requirements and ideas, and the rest is fully entrusted to Wang Shoutang and Wang Shen and his son.

Not only was Wang Shen able to act on his own, but the two men Wang Shoutang brought who were half adopted sons and half apprentices, namely Liu Da and Liu Er, had also grown up rapidly and were now able to act on their own.

After Liu Da was awarded the position of general officer by Yang Zhen, he changed his name to Liu Songshan. Now he leads a team of more than a hundred craftsmen, responsible for the batch casting and polishing of muskets and flintlock engines.

Liu Da's younger brother, Liu Er, also changed his name to Liu Tieshan after getting the position of general officer. Now he also leads more than a hundred people, who are responsible for the forging and precision boring of musket barrels.

In addition, under the command of Wang Shoutang and Wang Sheng and his son, there were those responsible for making steel using the steel pouring method, some responsible for making cannons cast in iron molds, some forging bayonets, and some responsible for making hardwood gun beds.

The butt of the gun.

Each branch of the smelting plant and gun factory has a clear division of labor and performs its own duties. The entire production capacity has also made great progress. The number of self-produced flintlock muskets and self-produced large and medium-sized artillery in Jinhai Town has also begun to enter a stage of steady growth.

Wangshen Gun Factory's monthly output of self-produced front-loading flintlock muskets has reached an unprecedented level of more than 500 guns.

As for the number of self-produced large and medium-sized artillery pieces, after the Lushun Beicheng Smelting Plant adopted the steel-filling method to make steel, it has a monthly production capacity of more than 40 guns.

Of course, monthly production capacity does not necessarily translate into monthly output. At present, the reason why the gun factory's production capacity can be fully released is that there is temporarily sufficient pig iron material and wrought iron material.

Once the current wrought iron reserves are used up, the production capacity alone will be useless. As the saying goes, a good woman cannot make a meal without rice. When the iron material is cut off, no matter how large the production capacity is, it will not be able to produce output.

Fortunately, not long ago, Fang Guangchen led the main fleet of Jinhai Town to purchase a large amount of pig iron and wrought iron from Yongping Mansion and other places, which was enough to last for several months.

In addition, the ammunition production in Jinhai Town, under Pan Wenmao's supervision, has already been on the right track, and there is no need for Yang Zhen to worry about it anymore.

With the help of the military department's yamen stationed in Shanhaiguan, Yang Zhen went around buying real money and silver, and Pan Wenmao and Wang Shoutang produced their own nitrates and sulfur. Now the ammunition factory subdivides the raw materials for making various black powders according to its own standards.

, in terms of supply, it is quite sufficient.

Therefore, in the past few days, Yang Zhen, accompanied by Zhang Degui and others, walked around during the day, giving instructions on the military production in North City of Lushun, and the expansion of the West Port of Lushunkou and the surrounding fort camps.

The time he spent was staying in the backyard of the main town house, accompanying Qiu Bihan who was expecting a baby.

And at night, after he personally helped Qiu Bihan to sleep, he went back to his own official room in the second hall of the main town house to rest, and then the two maids, Pengyu and Xinyue, took turns to sleep with her.

Regarding Qiu Bihan's arrangement, Yang Zhen was a little reluctant at first, but after the first time, there was a second and third time, and then, he accepted this reality openly.

In the past few days, Pengyu and Xinyue have also transformed from dowry maids to real maids-in-law.

Although their status has not changed significantly, after breaking through the relationship with Yang Zhen, the situation will naturally be different.

When they do things, they are not only more careful and dedicated, but also have an unconcealable smile on their faces every day.

Obviously, this relationship with Yang Zhen is very important to them.

In this way, Yang Zhen enjoyed a peaceful and beautiful life after returning to Lushunkou.

However, he was living in troubled times, so he was destined that his peaceful and beautiful days would not last long.

On March 27, the thirteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, the first batch of immigrants who had completed quarantine on Tuoji Island and North and South Chenghuang Island boarded a fleet led by Qiu Zhenhai and arrived outside Lushun.

After hearing the news, Yang Zhen immediately came to the old port in Lushun, that is, Donggang. He took a left-behind ship and left the harbor with dry food and drinking water that had been prepared by the Assistant Camp Office. Finally, he boarded Qiu Zhenhai's ship and met with him.

On the one hand, we personally inquired about the situation in the Dengzhou Shuicheng quarantine area, Tuoji Island, and the North and South Chenghuang Island quarantine areas.

On the other hand, it also shows to Qiu Zhenhai and others that he attaches great importance to the resettlement issue, and at the same time welcomes all immigrants.

Yang Zhen was extremely happy to learn that the first batch of immigrants who had passed the quarantine and were allowed to board the ship to come north totaled 1,200 households, with a total of more than 4,900 men, women, and children.

These days, for some people, a large population may be a burden, but for Yang Zhen, a sufficient population is a fortune.

Even though in a short period of time, the excessive population may cause food shortages in Jinhai Town and cause difficulties in military and civilian supply, in the long run, these populations are necessary for the survival and development of various regiments and battalions in Jinhai Town and the battalions of the East Marching Advance Army in the Liaodong Peninsula. fundamental.

Without enough population, there will be no continuous supply of soldiers.

Similarly, if there is not enough population, even if there are enough soldiers, Jinhai Town and its various regiments and camps will not have inexhaustible food and wages.

And if we can't have enough food and troops, then why fight, how can we develop and grow, and finally march from south to north, and conquer the Manchus in the north?

Therefore, seeing that his long-planned plan was coming true, Yang Zhen couldn't hold back his excitement, and immediately asked Gao Gao to fight with the general officers of Jinhai Boqin Envoy Headquarters, Liaohai Songlu, Jin Fudongjiang and other departments to conquer the East. The general, with the flags of the Zuo Governor of the Zuo Army Governor's Mansion, led the supply fleet left in the port out of the port with great fanfare, and shuttled across the sea where the immigration fleet was temporarily stationed.

Yang Zhen inspected a large circle on the sea outside Port Arthur, just like inspecting his own army, and at the same time delivered the urgently needed dry food and drinking water supplies to the immigrant fleet.

For safety reasons, Yang Zhen did not board any immigration ship that was already crowded with men, women, and children. However, his appearance, the flag he called for, and the supplies he sent caused a stir among the immigrants. Huge sensation.

Wherever Yang Zhen passed by on the boat, the shouts of men, women, old and young on the boat, led by caring people, to thank Jin Haibo for saving his life, even drowned out the sound of waves and wind on the sea.

The immigration fleet led by Qiu Zhenhai stayed outside Lushun for about an hour. After replenishing a large amount of fresh water and dry food, they followed Yang Zhen's order and headed west around Laotieshan, then continued north to Jinzhou Bay and Fuzhou Bay.

.

Before setting off to board the ship, these 1,200 households had been organized into four 300 households by Fang Guangchen and others who were in charge of immigration affairs, that is, four villages: Changxing Island Qiantun, Changxing Island Houtun, and Xizhong Island

Tun, Chahe Island Tun.

Among them, 300 households in Qiantun on Changxing Island were assigned to Hu Dabao's tribe.

Three hundred households in Houtun on Changxing Island were assigned to Hu Changhai's department.

Three hundred households in Xizhongdao Village were assigned to Gao Chengyou, who also belonged to the Jinhai North Road Naval Camp.

The three hundred households in Chahe Island Village were assigned to Yuan Jin, the navy commander of Jinhai West Road.

Each fleet of the Jinhai North Road Navy has made contributions in the previous wars, and all of them have suffered attrition. This time, they will be given priority to the immigrants, from whom they can be recruited as soldiers. This can be regarded as making up for their losses and rewarding them for their contributions.

.

As for the Jinhai West Road Navy, the attrition in the previous battle to guard the Xipingshan camp was also serious.

Although Yang Zhen has already given Yuan Jin a certain amount of compensation, Yuan Jin, who led his fleet to the front line of the Dengzhou coast this time when he immigrated from Denglai, should certainly receive some benefits.

Assigning Chahe Island and Mayang Island, not far from Changxing Island and Xizhong Island, to Yuan Jin's naval fleet as their anchorage near Jinzhou Bay also included Yang Zhen's other considerations.

On the one hand, Yang Zhen placed Yuan Jin's naval fleet on Chahe Island and Mayang Island near Jinzhou Bay, hoping that they could play a check and balance role.

Tea River Island is part of Fengming Island in the northern part of Jinzhou Bay in later generations, just south of Changxing Island and east of Xizhong Island. Mayang Island is the so-called East-West Ant Island in the west of Jinzhou Bay in later generations.

Yang Zhen placed Yuan Jin's West Route Navy garrison here. To the north, it could check Hu Changhai, Gao Chengyou and others, and to the south, it could serve as a sea barrier, enough to protect the shipyards in Jinzhou Bay.

On the other hand, Yang Zhen hoped that Yuan Jin's West Route Navy fleet could completely get rid of its dependence on the Juehua Island garrison, and then take root on the west coast of the Liaodong Peninsula.

To achieve this, it is only feasible to provide them with a permanent base and a large number of immigrant people who belong to them, just like the resettlement of Liu Wanzhong's troops.
Chapter completed!