Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 80

General Discussion on Maritime Defense, Part IV

At Changdong A strategic coastal or river defense position in the Pearl River Delta, there are currently about 500 cannons available for use. Additionally, there are approximately 100 cannons that have been unloaded from red-vane ships 紅單船 (hongdan-chuan): large, sturdy Cantonese merchant vessels often conscripted by the Qing navy for their ability to carry heavy armament and wind-draggers 拖風船 (tuofeng-chuan): swift, coastal sailing vessels used for transport and patrol. Although these pieces are not particularly large, they are by no means unsuitable for defensive preparations. It would be advisable to inspect and test-fire them individually to facilitate their distribution among the various ships and land-based encampments 營盤 (yingpan): fortified military camps or batteries positioned along the shore. Regarding the outfitting of the ships and their crews, the vessels should be sailed to locations near Foshan, such as Wufukou, Molisha, and Guabukou. There, the outfitting should be completed in stages as they await deployment orders; this approach will ensure that no negligence occurs in the preparations.

Furthermore, the fire-ships and water braves 水勇 (shui-yong): local naval volunteers or irregular militias, often recruited from the Tanka boat people or local fishermen for their expert knowledge of local waters must be organized and selected for service. Based on observations, when foreign ships original: 夷船 (yi-chuan), "barbarian ships," referring specifically to British steamships and men-of-war enter the inland rivers, they are most vulnerable to fire attacks. Last month, Counselor Yang Yang Fang (1770–1846), a prominent military official sent to Guangdong to manage the defense against the British ordered the preparation of firewood, straw, oil, and rosin, and approximately one hundred fire-ships were outfitted. It is understood that Qi Shou, the Acting Vice General of the Governor’s Command, and Qian Yanyi, a Candidate Magistrate, were among those managing this project. However, many days have since passed, and I fear that the firewood, straw, and other materials may have become moldy or damp, or that the quantities have been reduced. It is necessary to order—