Hearing Shen Yourong's question, Zheng Zhilong knew that the drama was coming. The previous ones were all small sections. It was just a matter of words in the battle report. This sentence was the key. Who knew if this was a trick or a trick to lure the tiger away from the mountain? Wait until The Ming Dynasty's fleet broke away from the caravan. Either there might be a trap ahead, or pirates would take the opportunity to attack the caravan.

No matter what the situation was, Shen Yourong couldn't handle it if something happened.

This is indeed a problem, a problem based on trust. However, Zheng Zhilong did come to seek refuge with sincerity. Soon, he came up with a way, "General, you might as well take the fleet to take a short detour and wait around Ryukyu Island. Use clippers to monitor, and when Zheng and Brother Yan start fighting and the fire breaks out, the general will break in with his men and end the battle."

This sentence is quite sincere. It means that the hard work is done by the two of them. Shen Yourong can just pick the peaches, and the initiative is in Shen Yourong's hands. He can do it if he wants to, or if he doesn't want to or if he feels something is wrong. , you can leave and leave at any time.

Sure enough, Shen Yourong nodded with satisfaction. This was a foolproof strategy with no risk at all. "So, it will be up to the ship owner tomorrow."

Shen Yourong could still tell whether a war was real or fake. If he couldn't do this, he, as a naval general, should not continue to do so.

"I have made up my mind to live up to the general's expectations. Please wait for the good news and take your leave." After the discussion, Zheng Zhilong did not hesitate and left.

Watching Zheng Zhilong's leaving figure, Shen Yourong's face twitched a few times, and he raised and lowered his hands several times, as if he wanted to do something, but was hesitant.

In the end, until Zheng Zhilong's figure disappeared into the night and left on a boat, he did not issue any orders.

He shook his head and smiled, and said with some helplessness, "As we get older, we are just suspicious. I wonder what Mr. Wang thinks of this matter."

Wang Wenyan chuckled and said, "The general hesitated for a long time. Isn't it because he believed what the other party said in his heart? Why bother to ask Wang?"

"Yes, if his proposal was not sincere, how could the general let him leave safely?" Shen Yourong nodded and admitted what he was thinking.

"Yes, a little risk is worth it." Wang Wenyan nodded in agreement, "Although I don't know much about maritime affairs, I still have some ideas. General, you might as well listen."

"Master Wang, please speak." Shen Yourong looked serious and listened.

"General, please take a look." Wang Wenyan unfolded the nautical map rolled up on the table, pointed at the map and said, "The three kings of the East China Sea occupy Da Yuan Island, the Ryukyu Kingdom, and Japan here are just in the same chain. , if a naval base can be established here, with this as the center, the Western fleet can be kept out and not threaten the Empire's coastal transportation."

"Furthermore, the Ryukyu Kingdom and Daoyuan Island currently occupied by bandits are at the must-pass points of trade routes. These are uninhabited islands. If they can be occupied and managed, some supply points can be built to facilitate the smooth flow of trade routes. Especially Da Yuan Island, which is vast in area, is said to have a hot climate and is very suitable for growing sugar cane, rice and the like. It is considered a treasure land, and if it can be won easily, His Majesty will definitely be happy."

"It makes sense, it makes sense." Shen Yourong listened to Wang Wenyan's explanation. The more he looked at it, the more he felt that this island was very strange. It actually blocked the Ming Dynasty's external navigation route. If he could control it, From North Korea to Guangdong and Hainan, the Ming Dynasty just formed a stable maritime defense line.

If ports are built along these places and fleets are stationed to patrol and protect them, wouldn't the smuggling matter that your Majesty has been worrying about be solved easily, and Japan can be better controlled. As a person of the same era as Yu Dayou, he has no doubts about the Japanese pirates. He also had no good feelings at all. Now that he had the idea of ​​being able to contain the other party, he became excited.

"Okay, let's do it this way." Shen Yourong slammed the table excitedly and decided.

The next day, the naval battle on Ryukyu Island broke out. Under the surprise attack of Yan Siqi and Zheng Zhilong, Xu Xinsu did not last long and was quickly defeated. Then the Ming fleet stationed at the port, took over everything, and then started searching. , and no conflict broke out between the two parties.

Everything went very smoothly, and the final result was that Ming's caravan was once again a bit bloated, with many old fortune ships following behind it.

A few days later, the entire fleet approached the Ming Dynasty's coastline. However, once here, the fleet began to split. Some went directly to Shanghai Port for trade, some went south to Guangdong Port, and some followed Shen Yourong and Wang Wenyan. Head to Tianjin Port.

In a few days, the Ming Dynasty, the capital, and the Forbidden City will be revealed.

When Zhu Youxiao looked at the people he met, he couldn't help but be very surprised. Shen Yourong and Wang Wenyan were normal, but why were the two people following them so strange?

"The last general Shen Yourong (Wei Chen Wang Wenyan) is here to see His Majesty."

"Caomin Zheng Zhilong (Yan Siqi), please see Your Majesty, long live my emperor."

After hearing what they called themselves, Zhu Youxiao suddenly realized that it was these two people. It seemed that with them here, the three sea pirates had been solved.

"Everyone is safe." Zhu Youxiao smiled and nodded, then looked at the black box that was touched by the eunuch. "Could it be that Xu Xinsu's head is contained here?"

"Your Majesty clearly knows that it is Xu Xinsu's head." Shen Yourong replied seriously.

"Oh, it's true." Zhu Youxiao was obviously a little surprised and looked over with a hesitant expression, "Hand it over and show it to me."

"Your Majesty." Liu Ruoyu shouted, "This thing..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Zhu Youxiao, "I've been in and out of the battlefield several times, why are you afraid of a glazed human head?"

Liu Ruoyu had no choice but to go down in person and pick up the box. The pungent smell of blood almost made him gag.

Zhu Youxiao smelled the smell, but he didn't feel any discomfort at all. He opened the box and saw that there was a human head inside. The head's eyes were closed and his face was pale. After seeing it, he was stunned, and then he remembered that he It seems that until now, I have never seen this enemy I once hated so much.

"I didn't expect that our first meeting would be under such circumstances." Zhu Youxiao murmured softly and put the head down. Seeing that His Majesty had finished reading, the clever little eunuch hurried over and took the things down.

"Two dear friends, let's talk about this journey." Zhu Youxiao collected his memories and got to the point.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The two of them responded in unison, and then began to tell each other one by one. From going out to sea at Shanghai Port, to the investigation along the way, encountering some small pirates, and then to Manila. Manila can't eat so much goods, so... Sailed again to Batavia.

Where there is the Spice Islands, its trade is several times more prosperous than in Manila, and there are merchants from all over the world. Once there, the goods organized by Wang Wenyan were quickly dumped out. Afterwards, he brought back a batch of spices from the local area, preparing to pass through the Tiangong The business name is sold.

Zhu Youxiao listened with great interest, and occasionally interrupted to ask a few questions. The two of them took turns answering these questions. Shen Yourong answered about military matters, and Wang Wenyan answered about other matters.

Finally, it came to the naval battle on Ryukyu Island. Shen Yourong told the whole situation one by one, including his thoughts, motives, and strategic assumptions. Of course, he praised Wang Wenyan, saying that he was very strategically talented. .

"You two have done a good job. Ryukyu Island is of great importance and must be captured." Zhu Youxiao was very sure of the two people's ideas.

"General Shen's strategic vision is indeed critical. When the time comes, I will allocate a special sum of money to the navy for port construction. The navy will also expand. General Shen, don't just neglect the training of sailors and gunners, coastal defense and military port defense. It is also a part of the navy and cannot be ignored." Zhu Youxiao commented.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will do my best to conduct state affairs with sincerity and live up to Your Majesty's expectations." Shen Yourong saluted and replied.

"Wang Ai'ai's idea is also very correct." Zhu Youxiao turned to Wang Wenyan, "Dayuan Island is a good naval base and an important place for maritime transportation. It is related to national defense. Moreover, the local resources are rich, and planting rice can It is ripe three times a year. It can also be used to make sea salt and plant sugar cane to extract sugar. It is of high value and must be developed well."

"Yes, Your Majesty, Wei Chen will arrange for various companies to move in." Wang Wenyan bowed his hands.

"As for you two." Zhu Youxiao looked at Zheng Zhilong and Yan Siqi, who had been ignored for a long time. When the two of them saw that the emperor finally looked over, they were almost moved to tears.

They stood in silence with their hands lowered, waiting for the emperor's orders.

"The two of you are incorporated into the navy. Just like your subordinates, you will first receive three months of recruit training. Those who can persist will be broken up and incorporated into the navy. Those who cannot, will serve as port and coastal defense personnel. In this way, Do you two have any objections?" Zhu Youxiao simply dealt with it.

"I obey His Majesty's will." How dare the two of them have any objections? If they were a little reluctant before, but after seeing the power of Shen Yourong's navy, they couldn't even think of resisting. In this splendid palace, After experiencing it and seeing the supremacy of the king's power, I didn't have any small thoughts at all. I just did whatever the emperor told me to do.

"It's okay if you don't have any objections. I'll forget about the past. Forget about the gold and silver you hid, but you must serve well in the future and make meritorious deeds in the navy."

The emperor's words made the two of them feel excited. They knelt down and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will do my best to serve the king with sincerity."

"Well, that's good, let's shake it up." Zhu Youxiao nodded, "Shen Yourong, we must do a good job in screening the pirates under their command. Don't forgive those who have committed heinous crimes. Deal with them directly. Those who have committed minor crimes will be punished. We’re considering incorporating it.”

These words almost made the two people who stood up kneel down again. They thought to themselves, I don’t know how many people will die this time. As a pirate, it is almost impossible not to see blood on your hands. Just look at this screening. How powerful it is. However, this no longer cares about the two surrendered people.

They finally got the emperor's understanding, but they didn't dare to take the risk on this matter.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Shen Yourong replied. He has been dealing with pirates for many years and is very familiar with these matters.

"Okay, let's all go down." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, and everyone bowed and left.

In the days that followed, both Zhu Youxiao and the cabinet were busy. The cabinet was making plans for the coming year, while Zhu Youxiao was busy holding meetings with the inner government and the governor's office. These two institutions were the support of his imperial power.

The emperor's private institution would not appear at court meetings, so many matters had to be resolved in private meetings and the highest decisions made.
Chapter completed!