Chapter 521 The Wanderer Returns Home (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
"Swear to worship the heaven and earth, and form an alliance for the red country"
Standing in the Hongmen incense hall, Fang Renli had a solemn expression. He stared at the couplets on the incense hall and then set his eyes on the tablets for offerings.
Whether it is the ancestor Hong Ying, or the five sages: Zhu Zhiyu, Gu Yanwu, Huang Zongxi, Wang Fuzhi, and Fu Shan, or the five sects: Wenzong Shi Kefa, Wuzong Zheng Chenggong, Xuanzong Chen Jinnan, Dazong Wan Yunlong, and Weizong Su Hongguang.
Without exception, they were all patriots who opposed the Qing Dynasty and restored the Ming Dynasty.
Hongmen... is a secret organization that advocates overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty. However, in the past hundred years, this purpose has become a bit empty, and new members often only seek protection from Hongmen. As for overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty... that was a matter of several lifetimes ago.
For them, how many people can remember the original intention of establishing the Hongmen?
But now, a Ming Dynasty man came to visit.
No, it is the Ming Dynasty that is alive again.
This made the Hongmen a little embarrassed.
"Master Fang, what do you think of this matter? What should we do?"
After Zhao Anbang, who was sitting in the hall, spoke, everyone else turned their eyes to the hall master. Facing everyone's gaze, Fang Renli thought for a moment and said.
"For so many years, we have been in foreign territory and have suffered a lot from foreigners. Now, the warships of the Ming Dynasty have arrived. These are our warships. No matter what, we welcome them. Pass the order, prepare the things to entertain the troops, go to the dock and welcome the official troops!"
Whether it is the Ming Dynasty or the Qing Dynasty, there is no difference for these overseas wanderers. What do they desire in their hearts?
That is the desire for shelter!
Just like the Westerners protecting their people. Although people's feelings were complicated, even though the Chinese people here had pigtails, it did not prevent them from welcoming the Ming fleet with the greatest enthusiasm.
The sounds of firecrackers and gongs and drums from dancing monkeys echoed at the dock. People who heard the news rushed to the dock beating gongs and drums. People from the Hongmen came, as did people from the Tiandihui. As for the local party halls such as Hongshan Hall and Xingyi Hall, they all came. Not only did they send a lot of fresh meat, fruits and vegetables, they even presented military rewards as per custom.
The silver dollars were wrapped in red paper. There were dozens of them on the tray held by the strong man, at least thousands of yuan!
Facing the reward for military service sent by Li Mingkuan, leader of the Tiandihui, Meng Qingen said.
"Master Li, everyone, we appreciate your kindness, but we cannot accept the money!"
Seeing that the other party refused to take the money, Li Mingkuan's heart skipped a beat and he immediately understood that the other party thought the money was too little!
He hurriedly clasped his fists and bowed.
"I'm sorry to make you laugh, General. It's not easy for us to make a living overseas. The money is not much, but it is also a token of our filial respect to the government troops! Please accept it!"
Looking at Li Mingkuan who was almost kneeling down, Meng Qingen laughed.
"Master Li, you are too polite. The Ming Navy has its own military discipline. I don't know what the rules are in the Qing Dynasty, but in the Ming Navy, not only can we not accept silver, but we have to compensate you for the gifts you have given us!"
What?
Now it was Li Mingkuan and the others' turn to be dumbfounded. Before he could come to his senses, Meng Qingen turned around and asked.
"Have you got a good price for the things that Hall Master Li and the others sent?"
"Commander, I have calculated it. The total is 276.25 yuan."
"It's not easy for our compatriots to make a living overseas, so we'll calculate it as 300 yuan! For the military supplies sent by all parties, we'll round it up to the nearest integer. We can't let our compatriots suffer any loss!"
"yes!"
money!
When the piles of Nanhua silver dollars were counted out, Li Mingkuan and others were all dumbfounded. They came to give silver and gifts to entertain the troops, but how could it be... that the government troops were giving them silver!
"General, how about this..."
Just as Li Mingkuan was staring at the silver dollar in a daze and muttering at a loss, Fang Renli, who was watching the scene at the side, suddenly knelt down and shouted with his hands trembling slightly.
"Master! This is the Master of the Ming Dynasty! We, the common people, have suffered at the hands of the Tartars for hundreds of years. We have been exploited by them for generations, year after year. The Tartars treat us as prey, but the Master treats us as our compatriots. Today, the Master has landed. I am happy to see the Master of the Ming Dynasty alive. I will die with no regrets!"
For people who had long been accustomed to the exploitation of Qing officials, even an army that did not collect military pay and paid for goods with silver was already a benevolent and righteous army. At this moment, no matter whether the people present said the word "compatriots", they all instantly identified with this "Great Ming Dynasty".
The Ming Dynasty’s royal army is here!
In the next two days, people in Singapore were all talking excitedly about the "Ming Dynasty" and the royal army. Whenever Ming Dynasty sailors appeared on the street, there would always be enthusiastic people inviting them to have a drink in the restaurant. Even if they wanted to buy something at a stall, the vendors would just stuff the things into their hands and repeatedly say "no money". When the sailors wanted to give them money, they would all hurriedly pick up their carrying poles and leave.
The enthusiasm shown by these overseas travelers is unexpected.
As usual, after the news spread that the warship was open and the people could go on board for a visit, all the overseas Chinese were eager to go on board for a visit. There were so many people who wanted to visit, but there were only two days. After the first day of the visit, there were still people queuing there that night. The next morning, before daybreak, the visiting line had already stretched out to the dock.
When the sunset dyed the sea and sky in the distance red, the tour was about to end. Just like yesterday, the bugler on the bridge blew the trumpet, which was a notice for the end of the tour. Those who were unable to board the ship all sighed and said that they should have come earlier.
Looking at people's reluctant expressions, Meng Qingen said.
"Fellow countrymen, please turn on the lights and extend the visiting time for another four hours tonight!"
The light is on!
On this night, the port of Singapore was lit up by the lights of the two warships. Everyone saw the two ships. Even in the Governor's Palace on the top of the mountain, people could see the lights on the dock. In these lights, people who came from all over the world,
"Ming Dynasty, that's our country too!"
The old man on the deck, with tears on his face, touched the thick gun barrel and muttered to himself. Suddenly, he shouted.
"Do you have scissors? Do you have scissors?"
The old man shouted, ignoring everyone.
"Cut off my braids. I am a Ming Dynasty person. I cannot keep my braids. I cannot keep them..."
The old man's actions stunned the sailors on the deck who were introducing the warship to the visitors, and also stunned the visitors. They looked at each other and at the braids behind each other's heads.
Yes, pigtail, this is from the Qing Dynasty, what about them?
At this time, a man came over with a dagger in his hand, which he got from somewhere. He walked up to the old man and said.
"Grandpa, let me help you."
The braid was cut off, and the one-foot-long braid was thrown into the sea. Everyone around was silent after seeing this scene.
Some people looked at their braids floating on the waves, some looked thoughtful, and some seemed to have made up their minds and cut off their braids.
This action meant a break with the Qing Dynasty! This break came from their hearts, just like a wanderer finding his home. At this moment, they returned home.
"This is our Ming Dynasty's warship!"
Sitting by the boat, looking at the warships lighting up the night sky, Chen Asheng, holding his pipe, talked to himself.
"Our Ming Dynasty...don't say it, this is easy to say!"
After taking a puff of cigarette, Chen Asheng seemed to remember something. He touched the braid behind his head. Suddenly, as if he remembered something, he took a pair of scissors to cut the braid and threw it into the sea. Looking at the braid floating on the sea, Chen Asheng said.
"From now on, we will be people of the Ming Dynasty!"
When he said this, he was calm, as if this was the most normal thing.
(End of this chapter)
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