A month ago, Zheng Haizhu, Wu Bondang, Xu San and other partners landed at Lushunkou.
During this trip, the value of Hang brocade, cotton, tea, etc., which were brought to Liaodong, doubled again compared to the previous time. Mao Wenlong was very careful and sent his two adopted sons and Liao people to guard the Port of Lushun in advance. From them,
From his mouth, Zheng Haizhu learned that Mao Wenlong had been transferred west from Aiyang Fort, and was ordered to station in Liaoyang City at the end of autumn, and was promoted to the rank of guerrilla.
Going north from Lushun, passing through Jinzhouwei, Fuzhouwei, Gaizhouwei and Haizhouwei, along the way, Zheng Haizhu asked Xu San to sell goods and Wu Bangdang to draw a map.
When they arrived at Liaoyang City, she and Wu Bangdang basically knew the defense lines and terrain of the garrison near Liaodong Bay in southern Liaoning.
The shipment also caught up with the opportunity for Liao people in various counties to buy New Year's goods. The middle and low-grade items were all exchanged for silver and copper coins. The fine brocades and tea leaves were brought to Liaoyang. Mao Wenlong was first shown them to see which ones they had.
It should be given as a filial piety (free gift) to the governor of Liaodong, the commander-in-chief and other figures, and the remainder should be sold to wealthy families.
From then on, Mao Wenlong regarded this "eldest niece" whom God rewarded by the smelly riverside in the south of the Yangtze River as one of his own. Therefore, when Zhang Chengyin, the commander-in-chief of Liaodong stationed in Guangning, inspected the Liaoyang city defense, Mao Wenlong immediately asked Zheng Haizhu to lead him
Shang Hangjin and Yin Piao visited together and promised Zhang Zongbing that Haoming Trading Company could purchase mink skins from Zhang Zongbing's family members at a price that was 10% higher than that of Shanxi and Hebei merchants.
Zhang Chengyin was so happy that he looked so happy.
Not long after Zhang Chengyin returned to Guangning, Mao Wenlong told Zheng Haizhu that the imperial court seemed to be quite worried about the situation in Liaodong and sent Zhang Quan, the Minister of War, to inspect the defense lines adjacent to the Jurchens in Liaodong and Jianzhou.
Thanks to the butterfly wings of Zheng Haizhu's Jinyuan diplomacy more than a year ago, Mao Wenlong is no longer the cash-strapped military leader in history. He has some financial resources and can make Zhang Chengyin comfortable. Zhang Zongbing naturally intends to support Mao Wenlong and let him
Show your face in front of the military officials.
General Zhang then recommended Zhang Quan to be stationed in Liaoyang, with the guard general Mao Wenlong accompanying him on patrol.
Mao Wenlong, who was quick-witted, reciprocated the favor and immediately came to ask Zheng Haizhu if he wanted to meet Zhang Quan if he wanted to do business in Songjiang cotton armor military uniforms.
Of course Zheng Haizhu couldn't ask for it.
Not only because Zhang Quan and Ma Xianglin were already son-in-law, which helped him sell military uniforms, but also because Zhang Quan was a civil servant with backbone who resisted the Jin Dynasty and was recorded in history.
In real history, in the Liaoyang defense battle a few years later, the Ming army was defeated. Zhang Quan vowed not to surrender to the slaves. When the city was destroyed, he cleaned up his clothes and committed suicide.
Zheng Haizhu learned from the rumors after entering Liao that Li Weihan, the governor of Liaodong at this time, was a useless guard. If he wanted to try to counterattack the slave-building Tatars in Fushun in the next spring, he would have no choice but to influence Zhang Chengyin through Mao Wenlong.
In addition, it is also very important to brainwash Zhang Quan while he is in Liaoyang.
What's even more gratifying is that this time, Wu Bondang can also come forward to thank Zhang Quan for his righteous deeds of defending Qi Jin to the court a few years ago.
Zhang Quan did not expect to see the adopted son of General Qi in Liaoyang City, nor did he expect that the simple, gentle but clear-eyed woman next to Wu Bondang was Zheng Haizhu.
"Miss Zheng, even if General Mao and Bond don't recommend you, I have already heard your name from my mother-in-law. General Qin and Xianglin showed me the dark armor you woven with Songjiang cotton and Jiading yellow grass.
It’s really good.”
When Zhang Quan mentioned this, Mao Wenlong wanted to rush over and complain that the cotton armor of the Liaodong frontier army was now made of rags and rusty iron, so as to promote Zheng Haizhu's business. However, he had just made a piece of hot and fragrant rice.
Stuff goose meat into your mouth.
Just as he was about to chew it and swallow it quickly, Zheng Haizhu over there smiled and spoke, but changed the subject.
"Shilang Zhang, we in Songjiang are good at weaving and embroidery. The gift that Miss Han and I gave to Miss Fengyi is not bad, right?"
"Oh, yes, yes, my little girl likes it very much. Speaking of which, our Fengyi is about the same age as you. However, she can't get rid of her own female celebrities. That girl, like her grandfather, likes to dance with guns and sticks.
Horseback riding and archery, I have always wanted to be Hua Mulan since I was a child."
Zheng Haizhu said hurriedly: "That's great. It's really harmonious with General Xiao Ma. If Miss Fengyi also carries a gun and goes into battle in the future, we will make her battle robe."
As she spoke, she glanced at Wu Bond calmly.
Before going to the banquet, the two of them had already discussed how to cooperate and bring the topic to more serious matters.
Wu Bangde then made an expression as if he was not presumptuous and only worried about national affairs, and sighed: "Wu said something that he was not afraid of offending General Mao. This time when he entered Liao Dynasty, he saw the scenes of poorly prepared guards and disgruntled soldiers along the way. Jianzhou Tatars
Once the attack is over, General Mao's elite troops alone may not be enough. We really need our Zhejiang troops, as well as General Qin's Sichuan troops, to come together."
Mao Wenlong swallowed the goose meat and now his mouth was empty.
Although he had just been wondering why Zheng Haizhu didn't take advantage of this great opportunity to offer business to Zhang Quan, he immediately became more energetic when he heard Wu Bang Bang talking about the situation in Liaodong.
"Mr. Wu compared the boys led by Mao with Qi's army and General Qin's white-armed army. Rather than offending him, he was clearly trying to flatter me. However, in front of the superior officer of the Ministry of War, I have to say something to our Liaodong soldiers.
Sentence. When you come from Lushun, you will see that Jinzhou, Fuzhou and other guard posts have not been engaged in military warfare for a long time. The guards often fail to pay them, so the sergeants are a little slack, which is understandable."
Zheng Haizhu was afraid that Mao Wenlong would start complaining about the court's lack of pay, which would delay him from getting down to business, so he nodded quickly and said: "Actually, I told Bond this as well. I think the defenders at Qinghe Fort and Crow Falcon Pass must be elite soldiers and strong generals."
When Zhang Quan heard this, his eyes flashed: "Miss Zheng is so familiar with the Liaodong border defense? She even knows about Qinghe Fort and Crow Falcon Pass?"
Zheng Haizhu said calmly: "After Zhang Shilang, Nurhachi, the chief of Jianzhou, unified all the Jurchen tribes and established himself as Khan, in fact, many knowledgeable people inside and outside the court were worried. Whether we are in the south of the Yangtze River or Shandong, where we are crossing the sea, we have
It is not uncommon to hear voices talking about the Liao Dynasty. And I already had the support of Xu Hanlin and the old parents of Songjiang Prefecture. I funded the development of artillery myself. While guarding the Songjiang coastal defense, of course I would also think about the Liaodong border defense. I asked Mao for advice.
Uncle, what are the nearest fortifications to the Tatar Hetuala, and what are the firearms?"
Mao Wenlong chuckled and nodded: "Ah, yes, I told this girl about Sarhu, Fushun Pass, Qinghe Fort, and Crow Falcon Pass. When it comes to elite soldiers, the men and horses led by General Zou of Qinghe Fort are nothing.
Said, but the firearms are really not that good. The ones I used when I helped Li Chao fight the Japanese were distributed to the guards of each fort after I came back. They were not well made and kept exploding, so I didn’t dare to use them during training.
, forget about fighting the Tartars.”
Zhang Quan's face darkened as he listened.
These are actually the truths he wants to hear, but the truth often makes a pure minister like him worried.
Zheng Haizhu glanced at Zhang Quan's face and said to Mao Wenlong: "Uncle Mao, firearms are indeed important. Whether it is the machine gun of the infantry array, or the artillery of different sizes, large, medium and small, for city defense and field battle, I believe it will be our future."
It is necessary for the Ming Dynasty soldiers to attack and defend. But sometimes, you don’t need muskets for hunting, you can also use traps, as long as you bet on which way the wild beasts will take.”
Mao Wenlong took a sip of wine and said, "Girl, what do you mean?"
Zhang Quan put down his wine glass and looked at the business woman who was the same age as his daughter.
Zheng Haizhu then respectfully stated his and Wu Bond's judgments.
"Will the Tatars rob Fushun?" Mao Wenlong frowned, thoughtfully.
Zhang Quan asked him: "General Mao, will the horse market in Fushun be opened every year?"
"Yes, when Gao Huai, the mining tax eunuch, was here, our Liao general was afraid that he would lead people to extort money, so we stopped it. We opened it again a few years ago."
Zhang Quan looked solemn and asked again: "Nurhaci established himself as Khan in the first month of last year. So, in the horse market last spring and this spring, did many Jurchens enter the city?"
Mao Wenlong thought for a while, showed a cautious look, and said to the soldiers beside him: "Go and call Kong Youde in."