Wu Hao and Shen Yi, one is a recently retired soldier and the other is a newly graduated businessman. The two of them went to the beach in Fujian for a trip, and a wave hit them. When they opened their eyes again, they were lying on the beach in the 45th year of Wanli.
An old man from a fishing village rescued them both. The old man said: This is Shawei Village in Zhangzhou. Looking ahead is the sea and looking back is the Ming Dynasty.
Wu Hao said: I will lead the team to fight, and you will manage the money and food. Shen Yi said: OK. But your bamboo pole soldiers need to eat their fill first.
Then they improved the salt fields, planted potatoes, recruited deserters, recruited blacksmiths, and built shipbuilding bureaus. When the pirates come, they fight. When the Ming army comes, they talk. When the people come, they accept it. Salt was sold from Shawei to Zhangpu, boats sailed from Huzai Island to Dongding, and people gathered from a dozen to hundreds.
They do not claim to be kings, do not submit, and do not rebel. They just built a place to survive on this sea for themselves and those who were willing to follow.
In name, it was the Ming Dynasty's maritime territory, but in fact - the ships were theirs, the soldiers were theirs, and the food was theirs. Even the emperor said in private, "I understand."
More than twenty years later, their fleet is moored at Taiwan's docks, and their silver flows in Japan's silver mines. Wu Hao squatted on the side of the martial arts field and watched the new recruits run in circles, while Shen Yi bargained with the Dutch businessman on the dock. The two met occasionally at the meal. Shen Yi held a bowl of potato stew and said, "Do we change history a little?" Wu Hao chewed his rice and said, "History? The fish is still swimming, the boat is still running, you call that history?"
The sea breeze filled the canvas, and the tide number was leaving the harbor.
Still very good