Chapter 347: The Qing Dynasty Version of the Three Kingdoms Alliance
Zhu Hongyu ordered awards and rewards to be given to Chen Wenbin and many members of the cabinet. Chen Wenbin left Zhu Hongyu's office with a happy face.
Zhu Hongyu is not stingy at all when it comes to giving rewards to his subordinates.
Chen Wenbin left, and Zhang Huangyan came next to see him.
Zhang Huangyan held a tome in his hand and sent it to Zhu Hongyu. Zhu Hongyu looked at the "New Confucianism" on the cover of the tome, pondered for a while and said.
“Have the New Confucian textbooks been compiled?”
Zhang Huangyan nodded and said.
"Yes, Your Highness, with the participation of three great Confucian scholars, Wang Fuzhi, Gu Yanwu, and Huang Zongxi, the compilation of New Confucianism is proceeding smoothly!"
"With the endorsement of these three people, the tone of New Confucianism will be very high!!"
Zhu Hongyu nodded slightly, but didn't take it seriously.
"Shaobao did a good job, I am very satisfied!"
Zhu Hongyu indeed valued these three great scholars, but the New Confucian school did not have to rely on them.
If he wants to increase the weight of the New Confucian school, Zhu Hongyu has many methods!
For example, when the official recruitment examination was announced, the content of the examination was the Four Books and Five Classics annotated by Zhu Xi, which should be New Confucian textbooks.
He has the final say on what will be tested in the imperial examination. Is it difficult to change the minds of the people in the world?
Besides, New Confucianism is still Confucianism!
Although Zhu Hongyu mixed in a little more private goods...
As long as Zhu Hongyu did not abolish the imperial examination, no one would care that he infiltrated New Confucianism with personal gain.
"Your Highness, do you want to summon those three great scholars?"
Zhang Huangyan asked.
Zhu Hongyu pondered for a while, and then spoke.
"Well, let's meet!"
"Take those three gentlemen to the flower hall and meet them in the flower hall alone!"
Zhu Hongyu was still very curious about these three great Confucians in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.
In particular, Huang Zongxi and Zhu Hongyu once read his "Records of Visits to the Ming Yi" in their later generations.
Huang Zongxi's idea of "the world is the master and the king is the guest" is probably the earliest democratic idea bred in the land of China.
Now that he can see him in person, Zhu Hongyu is naturally happy.
Zhang Huangyan exited Zhu Hongyu's office, and Zhu Hongyu also ordered him to change into a Confucian shirt, preparing to meet Wang Fuzhi, Huang Zongxi, and Gu Yanwu.
…
Wearing a cross-collar Confucian shirt, Zhu Hongyu stood in front of the mirror, looked at himself in the mirror with a hint of elegance, and smiled slightly.
"Let's go to the flower hall!"
Zhu Hongyu gave the order casually. He walked in front, followed by several soldiers from the Guards Brigade.
Not long after, Zhu Hongyu stepped into the flower hall.
In the flower hall at this time, Zhang Huangyan, Wang Fuzhi, Gu Yanwu, Huang Zongxi and others were sitting respectively.
Zhu Hongyu strode in. The four of them stood up and bowed to Zhu Hongyu who walked into the flower hall.
Zhu Hongyu saw the three of Huang Zongxi at a glance. To be honest, in terms of appearance alone, these three people were not particularly outstanding.
But the gentleness unique to scholars cannot be concealed!
Zhu Hongyu thought wildly.
Maybe this is why a gentleman is as good as jade!
At the same time, Huang Zongxi and the others also looked at Zhu Hongyu.
The first time they saw Zhu Hongyu, the three of them felt a surge of confidence and high-spirited temperament.
It felt like any difficulty or obstacle standing in front of him was no problem!
There is only one thought in the minds of the three of them, and that is Qia Qingnongniang!
Isn't this young man's high-spiritedness exactly what the Ming Dynasty lacks at this time?!
Maybe there is only such a person who can save Daming!
Zhu Hongyu said directly.
"Three gentlemen, please take a seat!"
After saying this, he strode to his seat and nodded slightly to Zhang Huangyan and others.
Several people also said in unison.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Supervisor!"
…
Chongming Island, Qing army camp!
The triangular dragon flag of the Qing Dynasty was flying high, the banner with the word "Shi" representing Shi Lang's identity, and the banner of the Fujian Navy admiral were equally eye-catching.
Now, the goal of the Qing army gathering in the south of the Yangtze River is very clear, which is Zhoushan.
In this battle, the Qing government appointed Fujian Navy Admiral Shi Lang as commander and Manchu general Duolong as supervisor.
The British Captain Brown and the Dutch fleet commander Van der Laan also participated.
After learning about the Ming army's massive southward expedition to Batavia, Vanderland finally understood why there was no news about the envoy he sent to Batavia.
Since he did not yet know that the victory in Batavia had been decided, the Dutch East India Company was completely defeated and its forces were expelled east of Malacca.
Therefore, after learning that the Qing court was going to launch a large-scale attack on the Ming army, Vanderlaan took the initiative to participate with the idea of sharing the pressure on Batavia.
Naturally, the Qing court would not refuse!
If he had known that Batavia had changed hands, Vanderlaan would most likely not have dared to get involved in the war between the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The fleets of the Qing, British, and Dutch allied forces were stationed in the Chongming area at the mouth of the Yangtze River.
The Qing court was also constantly gathering troops in the Chongming area!
The Green Camp was stationed in Jiangnan, the Eight Banners were stationed in Nanjing, Hangzhou and other places, and the officers and soldiers of the Navy Battalion were transferred from Dengzhou, Fujian.
Nearly 20,000 people gathered on Chongming Island!
After Shi Lang's order, a large number of Qing Navy officers and soldiers began to board the ship and prepared to set off.
A rather small fleet left the Chongming Naval Base and headed straight for Zhoushan!
This time the Qing government is going to attack Zhoushan, and the fleet size can even be said to be quite large.
The Qing government's most important water force in the south, the Yangtze River Navy, was mobilized almost entirely, as well as some ships and troops from the Dengzhou Navy and Tianjin Navy.
In addition, there are several sailing battleships from the British and the Dutch, as well as several Dafu ships that were rushed out by the Longjiang Shipyard during this period.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the Qing court was all about the best people!
The huge fleet set off from Chongming and spread out across the entire sea.
Looking from a distance, the white sails almost merge with the white clouds in the sky.
Shi Lang was wearing cotton armor, standing on the bow of the ship, looking to the south.
I swore secretly in my heart.
When the Battle of Zhoushan is over and the Great Qing Navy is built, the Zheng thieves will be destroyed!
He must personally raise his troops, conquer the high officials, and cut off the head of that traitor Zheng Chenggong!
To avenge his father and brothers!
…
On the other side, Zhoushan Islands!
The news of the large-scale southward movement of the Qing navy could not be concealed from anyone at all.
As soon as the Qing Dynasty gathered troops, horses and ships in Chongming, the Ming army received the news.
Zhoushan immediately began preparations for war!
The Ming fleet set sail and left Zhoushan Port, preparing to wait for an opportunity to seek a decisive battle with the Qing navy.
The fort's artillery was also ready to fire, and the long-barreled, large-caliber coastal defense guns began to be loaded.
After preliminary training, the Zhoushan Ming army, which was fully equipped with armor, also began to gather on the main island and was ready for battle.
Prepare to block the Qing army's landing on the beach of the main island!
Zhao Erhu stood on the watchtower, looking into the distance, with fighting spirit surging in his chest.
Although the order given to him by His Highness Jian Guo was that if Zhoushan could not be defended, he should withdraw as soon as possible.
But he was unwilling to flee Zhoushan in despair!
If he doesn't fight, Zhoushan will be lost. Wouldn't his Zhoushan defense become a joke?
Besides, the current Zhoushan looks like this, but it was all built bit by bit under his command.
Today's Zhoushan is like his child!
Zhao Erhu couldn't do such a thing if he was asked to abandon his child and flee without a fight.
Besides, although the Qing government mobilized heavy troops to attack this time, Zhoushan also had a lot of troops.
You must know that all the thousands of Zhang Huangyan's rebel troops in Zhoushan were reorganized.
Even if some of the old and weak were eliminated, Zhoushan's defenders still numbered three to four thousand people.