Chapter 14: Penghu's Sixteen British? (Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

  Whether you should respond or not, you'll end up having to respond anyway!

  Promised, in the future or still can find a way, shouldn't, just afraid now is life and death, this account Hong Diao Yuan will still be calculated.

  Thinking of this, he let out a long sigh: "My life will eventually be lost in your hands!"

  As soon as these words came out, everyone's face lit up with joy, and Hong took it as a promise.

  Xiao Yifeng and Bao Zhuhua's faces changed faster than flipping through a book. As soon as they heard Hong Diaoyuan agree, they immediately put away their knives and half-knelt on the ground, loudly shouting:

  "Big brother!"

  Hong diaoyuan reluctantly nodded. But he was clearer than ever that this nod would leave him no room for retreat.

  They didn't follow the order of age, Hong Diao Yu was the highest official rank here, so he should be the big brother. Lao Ji had no official position, but he followed Hong Diao Yu for the longest time, taking the second seat.

  Ding Yunyi was a patrol officer, and in terms of official position in Penghu, he was only under Hong Tiao-yuan, so he was ranked as the third brother.

  Third Brother? Ding Yunyi was speechless with laughter and tears. The one he had followed in another era was Third Brother, now that he had come to another era, he himself had also become "Third Brother"?

  Everyone respected Qin Yun as a bookworm, so they pushed him to become the fourth elder...

  When the seating arrangement was settled, there were sixteen people in total. Hong Diao Yuan and Ding Yun Yi led a group of brothers to kneel down in front of the incense table, loudly reciting:

  "Heaven is above, earth is below. I, Hong Taiyuan, Ji Dechang, Ding Yunyi, Qin Yun... sixteen people today form a fraternal bond of different surnames, to report to the country above and bring peace to the common people below. United in heart and effort, we share life and death together. If anyone betrays this oath, he will be punished by both men and gods!"

  After finishing the oath, the sixteen people stood up and called out "Big Brother, Second Brother" for a long time.

  Qin Yun smiled and said: "Today we sixteen people have sworn brotherhood in Penghu, so we can be called 'Penghu Sixteen Heroes'."

  "The Penghu Sixteen Heroes" sounds quite impressive, but it's a bit exaggerated. These sixteen people were either poor soldiers who had nothing to their name or starving scholars who couldn't even fill their bellies. They're really far from being "heroes".

  Ding Yunyi didn't think of this, but was just happy in his heart.

  In this era, I was a newcomer, except for an unfeeling "dad", there were no relatives at all. Suddenly, one night, fifteen brothers appeared, which is also a comforting thing.

  Hong Diao Yuan, who was also dragged into the water, let go of his worries and stopped thinking about anything. Whether it's good fortune or bad luck, it's up to heaven's will now.

  At that time, Lao Ji brought out all the wine and drank with a group of brothers. They drank until dawn, when everyone dispersed east and west.

  Ding Yunyi woke up from his sleep and found that it was already three poles high in the sun.

  Here, no one cares about drills, and Hong Deyuan is an incompetent and muddle-headed person who leads the army as an amateur. As a result, these soldiers stationed in Penghu can sleep whenever they want, which is more relaxing than the Ming officials and soldiers elsewhere.

  Ding Yunyi came out rubbing his eyes, finished washing up, and saw that Hong Diaoyuan was already sitting with Old Ji outside the barracks sunbathing. He immediately went over: "Big Brother, Second Brother."

  "Third brother, come, sit down." Hong Diao Yuan still had a worried look on his face: "Today when I got up, I discussed it with Old Ji, and we still feel uneasy about it. We only have sixteen people, and there's also Qin Xieyuan who can't even tie a chicken. As for those pirates, they don't need to be mentioned, every day is a bloody battle. Let alone those dry silk people, I've seen their swordsmanship before, it has its own unique style. Looking at our people again, fishing is fine, but fighting is a big problem..."

  What Hong Diao-yuan said was exactly what Ding Yun-wei was worried about.

  When it really comes down to it, no matter how carefully you plan and arrange things beforehand, there's nothing you can do if you're not good enough to beat others.

  "Big brother." Ding Yunyi sat down, furrowing his brow and said: "Brother just thought of this too, it's always a problem when fighting that one person has to bring a fishing net onto the battlefield... I think from now on, brothers will be divided into two groups every day, one group goes fishing to solve the hunger problem, and the other group practices martial arts, alternating days."

  Hong Diao Yuan nodded after a moment of contemplation: "The method is not bad, but who will be responsible for the training? To be honest with you, third brother, I was appointed as the commander because my mentor saw that I was diligent and hardworking. As for leading troops in battle, I am completely inexperienced."

  Ding Yunyi knew what Hong Diaoyuan said was true, so he gritted his teeth and said: "I'll go."

  Hong Diao Yuan was overjoyed: "Third brother is willing to do so, that's the best. This way, in the future I'll lead the fishing group and you can lead the training group."

  "You go fishing, I'll train soldiers?" Ding Yunyi smiled wryly.

  I myself am not good at leading troops, it's really like driving ducks onto a perch, I'm doing my best, but looking around, who else can take on this heavy responsibility besides me?

  Xiao Yifeng and Bao Zhuhua were indeed serious about fighting the Dutch, they could be considered as their own helpers. Thinking of this, he said: "Big brother, it's settled then."

  At this time, the brothers also came out in threes and twos. Hong Tiao Yuan called them to his side, with a serious face, he said what he had just discussed with Ding Yun Yi, then said:

  "Everyone, last night we've sworn brotherhood, from now on we're all our own people. Big brothers, since parents are not around, the eldest brother is in charge, will you listen to me from now on?"

  "Yes!" The brothers all shouted in unison.

  "Alright!" Hong Diao Yuan's spirit lifted: "From now on, we'll do as Inspector Ding said, divide into two groups, one group in charge of fishing, the other in charge of training, alternating daily! Brothers, fighting against the pirate Tai Xi people is a dangerous matter that can get your head chopped off if you're careless, everyone must work hard and not be lazy!"

  "We are willing to listen to Big Brother and Third Brother's words, and practice with all our hearts. We dare not be lazy!" The twelve brothers responded in unison.

  Hong Diao Yuan nodded in satisfaction and immediately said to Ding Yun Yi: "Third brother, you come and advise a few words."

  Ding Yunyi didn't mince words: "Brothers, I'm not worthy of your praise. From now on, we're a family. What does it mean to be a family? When we have wealth and honor, we share them together as one family. If outsiders bully us, we stand shoulder to shoulder and beat the crap out of them!"

  The brothers burst out laughing, thinking that this big brother spoke plainly and was easy to understand, unlike other officials who spoke in a way that nobody could understand.

  Ding Yunyi continued: "I won't say much else, just one thing - when others eat meat, we should at least have a bowl of soup to drink. If someone doesn't even give us that and wants to starve us to death, then I'll say it again, beat the dog's daylights out of him! Pirates and foreigners treat our Penghu as their supply depot, coming and going as they please, not giving any regard to us soldiers at all. What can we do? This mountain was opened by me, this tree was planted by me - if you want to come here, leave some wealth on the island! If not, I'll take you guys to rob it!"

  Brethren, all of them were greatly encouraged:

  "We are all willing to go through life and death, wanting to come here, leaving behind wealth on the island!"