The Prosperous Era of Longwan

"General, Lord Deng and his men have already led the people there."

When it was almost four o'clock in the morning, Yu Dayou could no longer sit still. He stood up, opened the curtain and walked outside, looking towards the direction of Daimao City.

The guard at the door of the tent walked carefully to his side and whispered.

Yu Dayou nodded slightly and said nothing.

Behind him, King Bakker of Sulu and other generals who were not assigned tasks also came out of the tent at this time.

A group of people stood together, still quite a lot of people, but half less than before.

Some people led the troops and the team went. The Ming army was divided into two waves. The first wave entered the city with Deng Zilong and Chen Lin, and the second wave had more than 2,000 people responsible for the support.

In addition, several generals who were good at naval warfare went to the navy fleet, and they were commanded to enter Pengasilan Bay tomorrow morning.

Just as they were eagerly waiting for the news of the siege, Deng Zilong and Chen Lin had already approached the north gate of Daimao City with their men.

On the north gate wall, as usual, torches were lit at a distance, and shadows were visible under the torches, indicating that pirate soldiers were patrolling along the wall.

Deng Zilong and Chen Lin kept their composure. If there was no signal from the opposite tower, they would not rush over with their men.

Who knows what the result will be.

Even if the other side regretted and did not open the city gate, it would not be a big loss for them, but just a little disappointment.

The most dangerous thing is whether they can quickly control the city gate after entering the city.

Only when they climbed the city wall and controlled the city gate can they feel at ease.

By then, even if Lin Fengchun and his men wanted to regret, it would be impossible.

At this time, on the tamarisk tree opposite them at the north gate, Lin Fengchun and Xu Yingmei were also walking around anxiously.

As the agreed time approached, the tension became more and more intense.

It is a good thing that we have not received any news from Yan Youqian and Wu Dacheng.

If they really sent someone to deliver the news, it might be trouble, but the two were still very nervous.

It can only be said that Lin Feng has too high prestige in the pirate group, and they are afraid of this person from the bottom of their hearts.

Don’t look at the friendly way he is usually, when he really deals with people, his means are very vicious.

“Brother, there are not many hours left.”

Xu Yingmei looked at the clepsydra placed in the corner of the tower, saw the arrow water marks, and said to Lin Fengchun.

In this era, the Ming Dynasty actually had clocks introduced from the West, but that thing was expensive. After all, it was a very delicate device, all handmade and unique, so the circulation was very narrow, and only dignitaries and wealthy merchants could afford it.

For pirates, although they often deal with foreigners, they rarely have the opportunity to get it.

Because this thing is expensive, it is relatively unsuitable.

In the East, although there was no precise timekeeping machine, there were still some things that could calculate time, such as the gnomon and the clepsydra.

The gnomon is an ancient tool for measuring the length of the sun's shadow, which is mainly used to determine the change of seasons by observing and recording the change in the length of the shadow at noon.

The structure of the gnomon is simple, that is, a pole is erected perpendicular to the ground. In this way, the length of the sun's shadow can be measured and the time can be determined.

So the gnomon has another name, that is, the guibiao, which means that it can tell time.

In addition, large cities often use sundials to measure time.

The sundial, also known as the sundial, is also an instrument for measuring solar time in ancient my country. In fact, it originated from the guibiao.

The sundial consists of a table, that is, the gnomon style, and a dial surface engraved with time lines.

According to the direction of the placement of the dial surface, it can be divided into: horizontal sundial, equatorial sundial, vertical sundial, inclined sundial, etc.

If the dial surface is made into a hemispherical shape, and the apex of the gnomon style is at the center of the sphere, it is a spherical sundial.

If the solar term gnomon is engraved on the dial according to the local geographical latitude and solar term, the time of the solar term can be determined from the direction of the shadow and the position of the tip. This is a solar term sundial.

However, whether it is a gnomon or a sundial, it is necessary to use sunlight to measure the time, but at night when there is no sunlight, it is naturally useless.

However, the ancient Chinese were certainly not helpless about this, so they invented the clepsydra.

The clepsydra is also called a water clock. According to the principle of isochronism, there are two methods of dripping water to record time. One is to use a special container to record the time when the water is completely leaked, that is, the water-draining type; the other is a container with no opening at the bottom, which records how long it takes to fill the water, that is, the water-receiving type.

China's water clock was first a water-draining type, and later the water-draining type and the water-receiving type were used at the same time or the two were combined.

If you pay a little attention, you will find that the gnomon is called the guibiao, and the clepsydra is called the water clock. In fact, these names are only in modern times, corresponding to the clocks introduced from the West.

In the Lin Feng Pirate Group, Lin Feng has an "egg" watch, which was bought from a foreign merchant at a high price. It is extremely precious.

The "egg" watch in Lin Feng's hand is actually the "Nuremberg Egg", the ancestor of pocket watches. Even in the West, it is a novelty that has just appeared not long ago and is often hung on the chest as a pendant.

This thing was created by Peter Henlein, a locksmith in Nuremberg, Germany, in the early and mid-sixteenth century. He used steel springs instead of heavy hammers to create a small mechanical clock with a crown wheel escapement mechanism. It was named because of its egg-like shape.

The dial of the Nuremberg Egg of this period only has an hour hand, but no minute hand and second hand, but the watch has a structure of minute hand and second hand.

This is because people at that time did not require high time accuracy, and usually measured time by the quarter, so watchmakers omitted the production of minute and second hands and only kept the hour hand.

This is the first clock in history that does not need to use gravity as a power source, and it is also the earliest portable timekeeping tool.

Before this, the only timepieces were clocks. In addition to the large clock in the clock tower hanging high in the center of the town based on work and rest, there were standing clocks as tall as a person placed at home.

As for other people, they still used things handed down from ancient China, that is, the gnomon and the clepsydra to tell time.

At this time, Lin Fengchun also looked at the clepsydra, and when he was sure that the time had come, he called two guards and asked them to raise torches and wave them outside the city.

This was the secret signal they made, waving three times in both directions.

"There is movement."

Deng Zilong and Chen Lin, who were waiting in the dense forest outside the city, saw it and whispered, and then ordered the guards around them to light torches and make the same movements, but each time they waved two circles, they would wave in the opposite direction.

Lin Fengchun and Xu Yingmei on the tower naturally saw the movement outside the city. Lin Fengchun glanced at Xu Yingmei and said, "Open the city gate. We have no way out."

"Brother, I'll go down and open the city gate."

Xu Yingmei whispered.

"Go ahead, and bring the Ming general to the tower."

Lin Fengchun said, and then summoned several guards near the tower to lower the drawbridge at the city gate.

The Daimao City has no moat, but a trench more than ten feet deep was dug near the city gate. The main reason is that the pirates are short of manpower and cannot bring in river water to build a moat.

As the drawbridge was lowered, the soldiers patrolling around also heard the noise and just glanced at the tower.

Under the torch, Lin Fengchun's figure appeared in their eyes.

The soldiers were not surprised. Some people knew the news two days ago. Most people did not object to surrendering to the Ming army.

Who is willing to be trapped in an isolated city, or the party that has no hope of winning at all.

However, knowing what to do, they stopped patrolling the city and quickly gathered near the north gate tower.

At this time, Xu Yingmei and several guards had already gone down the city wall and walked into the city gate. Under the flickering torch, he took out the key and handed it to the guards beside him, asking them to open the city gate.

The north gate, which had been closed for more than a month, slowly opened with a harsh sound of "squeaky" wood friction, and the sound was heard far away in the middle of the night.

At this time, the Ming army in the dense forest outside the city had walked out of the jungle, and they all tried to move lightly towards the city gate. Deng Zilong was in the front.

Chen Lin was still in the dense forest without moving. Behind him were several Sulu generals, and 3,000 Sulu soldiers were ready to go.

Seeing that the Ming army was close to the city gate, Chen Lin waved his hand and led the Sulu soldiers out of the dense forest, thinking of running quickly towards the city gate.

However, the noise made by their movement was much louder than that of the Ming army in front.

Although they knew it was a pre-arranged plan, Deng Zilong and Chen Lin still hoped that the noise would be as quiet as possible.

The Ming army led by Deng Zilong had already reached the suspension bridge. He looked up at the dark tower, where a vague figure stood.

While Deng Zilong was thinking, Xu Yingmei had already walked out of the city gate and walked onto the suspension bridge.

"I am Xu Yingmei. I wonder which general is on the other side."

Xu Yingmei introduced himself, which made Deng Zilong withdraw his thoughts and immediately shouted his name.

In just a moment, Deng Zilong also walked onto the suspension bridge, and the Ming army behind him followed closely. Under Xu Yingmei's guidance, the Ming army quickly passed through the city gate and entered the city.

"This way."

Xu Yingmei knew how to lead the Ming army, so after entering the city, he took Deng Zilong to the north gate tower and met Lin Fengchun.

Deng Zilong arranged a simple defense line at the city gate, and took the rest of the people to the city wall through the horse road.

"The criminal Lin Fengchun pays homage to General Deng."

When Deng Zilong arrived at the tower, Lin Fengchun had already knelt down with his sword in his hands before he could speak.

"You are Lin Fengchun."

As soon as Deng Zilong finished speaking, Xu Yingmei also walked a few steps to Lin Fengchun's side, untied his sword, and knelt down in a manner imitating Lin Fengchun's movements.

"All of you get up, you are smart to abandon the dark and join the light.

Now the army is entering the city, and there are some places where you need to send people to show the way."

Deng Zilong said immediately.

While speaking, he was already standing by the city wall, looking at the black mass of Sulu troops rushing in the distance, and waved his hand.

The personal soldier behind him took out a bamboo tube and lit it on the torch next to him, and the bamboo tube emitted a dazzling red flame.

"Enter the city."

At this time, Chen Lin had already approached the city gate with the Sulu army. Seeing the signal agreed with Deng Zilong on the tower, he immediately gave the order.

After Chen Lin gave the order, someone beside him whispered to several generals in Sulu, and then they shouted a few words to the soldiers behind them.

The Sulu army's advance speed suddenly accelerated. The soldiers rushed to the suspension bridge with all their strength, passed through the city gate, and soon arrived at the small square inside the city gate.

As Deng Zilong's personal guards came over on the city wall, the Sulu army divided into two teams and climbed the city wall from the left and right passages of the tower. At this time, Deng Zilong was assigning tasks with Lin Fengchun.

The two teams of former pirate soldiers now had red ribbons tied on their arms, and led a small team of Ming army and Sulu army to spread from the city wall to both sides. Their mission was to rob the two east and west gates.

Especially the East Gate, where there are Yi troops stationed outside the city. It is necessary to take the East Gate as soon as possible and block the gate to prevent the chaotic army in the city from opening the gate and running out, attracting Yi troops to participate in the siege.

The remaining soldiers, led by Xu Yingmei, rushed into the city, and their target was the mansion where Lin Feng lived.

So far, everything has been smooth, without any mistakes.

At this time, Lin Fengchun also breathed a sigh of relief.

Handing over the North City Tower and leading the Ming army into the city, his mission was also completed.

At this time, he stayed quietly beside Deng Zilong.

And Chen Lin, at this time, had followed Xu Yingmei down the city wall, leading the Ming army and the Sulu army to rush towards Lin Feng's mansion in the center of the city.

As for what happened later, Lin Fengchun didn't want to think about it anymore, and there was no way back.

Not long after, a series of bird gun firing sounds came from the city, followed by shouts of killing.

"It's so late, there are still people patrolling the city?"

Deng Zilong frowned slightly.

He knew that the area near the north of the city was the territory of Lin Fengchun and others, and there should be no resistance.

Just now, Lin Fengchun also said that those who were not very obedient under his command had been locked up in the courtyards of the military camp, and they would not be allowed to come out to affect the army's actions.

"Sir Deng, the traitor Lin Feng issued a strict order after the army surrounded the city. After nightfall, there was a night curfew and soldiers patrolled at all times.

At various street corners, there were also special people responsible for guarding, and the people in the city were not allowed to move without a warrant.

From the sound, General Chen should have led his men to fight with the bandits stationed at the north street corner."

Lin Fengchun explained immediately.

"Isn't the north street corner your responsibility?"

Deng Zilong nodded slightly and asked casually.

"Bugui, that is the neighborhood that Zhang Mazi, Lin Feng's confidant, is in charge of. However, Zhang Mazi doesn't have many people and won't stop the army's movement."

At this time, because of the sound of bird guns and shouts of killing at the north street entrance, the whole Daimao City was awakened from sleep. Countless people had gotten up and put on simple clothes, but they didn't dare to go out, but chose to close their doors.

In the military camps, the bandits who were sleeping at this time were also awakened, and they were ready to go out to see what was going on in the morning.

The battle at the north street entrance broke out suddenly and ended quickly.

Although the sound of bird guns was gone, the shouts of killing were still heard from afar.

Deng Zilong concentrated his mind and calmed down. After listening carefully, he also realized that the people led by Chen Lin should have rushed over and were charging into the city.

At this time, fierce bird gun sounds suddenly sounded on both sides of the city wall, and then shouts and groans came from the city walls on both sides. There were already fires on the city and below, and the Daimao City under the light of the fire looked bloodthirsty.

Chaos, the whole city of Daimao was in chaos after the shouts of killing were heard on the city wall.

Everyone in the city knew what was going on. It must be that the enemy outside the city had sneaked into the city and had already attacked.

In places where fierce fighting had not yet broken out, the pirates had already gathered and sent people everywhere to inquire about the news, to know where the place had been breached.

Up to now, no news had been received from the big boss Lin Feng, so they could not take people to look for the Ming army everywhere, which would only make the situation more chaotic.

At this time, in the street in front of Lin Feng's mansion in the center of the city, the fierce fighting was unprecedentedly tragic.