The survivors in Korea can be divided into three types.
One is the Japanese Rebellion of Imjin in the past. Many soldiers from the Eastern Expedition were seriously injured and had to stay in Korea to settle down.
For example, Shi Wenyong (Dusi), Xu He (General Manager), Qiu Shuijing (Deputy General), etc.
The other type is the Ming Dynasty who followed Lord Fenglin (who was a prisoner in Shengjing) and returned to Korea from Shengjing.
And there is another way, which is to take the initiative to go to North Korea, either to flee or to avoid the Manchus.
For example, Shi Tan, the son of Shi Xing, the Minister of War who advocated sending troops to Korea, and the descendants of Li Chengliang in Liaodong, Li Rumei's son (the fifth son of Li Chengliang), Li Yingren (the grandson of Li Rusong, the main general of the Eastern Expedition), etc.
Of course, in order not to offend the Manchus, all the fishermen and businessmen who came from the sea were repatriated to North Korea.
But in fact, these are only middle- and upper-class people, and there are also a large number of lower-class people in Liaodong who fled to North Korea and settled down.
As for Wenxi's trip, in addition to winning over these middle- and upper-class survivors, the most important thing was to select righteous men among the refugees from Liaodong and overthrow the Manchu rule in Liaodong.
However, before leaving, Li Cao consulted Wang Yongzhen and asked him to go see Wang Shizi first.
That is, the Fenglin Maharaja mentioned above was the master of Shengjing.
After the death of Prince Zhaoxian, Li Hao, as the legitimate second son, was made the heir apparent by Li Hao despite all objections.
"The foreign minister pays his respects to your Majesty!"
Wenxi cupped his hands and bowed, with a correct attitude.
The king of Joseon is addressed as His Highness, and the crown prince is addressed as His Majesty.
"The envoy can be saved!" Li Hao nodded and said with some excitement: "I am very happy to hear that the angel has come from thousands of miles away."
Li Hao is now twenty-seven years old and in his prime, but his face is thin and he has obviously suffered a lot of grievances.
That's right, I just came back last year, and I have a lot of resentment in my heart.
Wenxi explained the situation of the Ming Dynasty with a smile, and couldn't help but say: "The land south of the Huaihe River will be restored to the Ming Dynasty. His Majesty the Emperor dare not slack off and work hard to restore the country."
"Very good!"
Li Hao was overjoyed and rubbed his hands.
"Your Excellency——" On the side, an excited scholar comforted Li Hao, then faced the angel and kowtowed:
"I am Huang Gong, a native of Hangzhou, who returned eastward with the prince."
As he spoke, he couldn't help wiping away tears and said: "Since I learned that the city of Beijing was destroyed, my heart has been filled with despair. I never imagined that I would still see the Ming Dynasty today and die without regrets."
Several other men who were kneeling also expressed their feelings of gratitude.
At this time, Wenxi realized that the prince had actually rejected a large number of anti-Qing patriots.
"No wonder you asked me to come here!"
With joy in his heart, Wenxi said intimately: "This time I came to North Korea to recruit the survivors of Liaodong on behalf of the imperial court, form a rebel army, and fight with their blood feud."
"I wonder if the prince can give me some advice?"
When Li Hao heard this, he showed excitement: "Angels, immigrants from Liaodong, all live on the south bank of the Yalu River, and they live in numerous groups."
"Thousands of soldiers are easy to get, but one general is difficult to find. You have to choose a general."
As he spoke, he leaned slightly and his eyes were bright:
"One man, whom the angels have given him, can be equal to ten thousand soldiers."
"Oh? Who is it?" Wenxi was stunned and asked.
"The grandson of General Li Rusong, General Li Yingren."
Li Hao said with admiration.
Immediately, he introduced Li Yingren who fled to North Korea for refuge without shaving his hair. He was extremely courageous and commendable for his loyalty.
After talking for a long time, Wenxi left.
The next day, he went to see Li Yingren.
Li Yingren lived in Daming Cave (the name of the place, because most of them were survivors of the Ming Dynasty, so it was called Daming Cave), hiding in the house all day long, not being an official, not making friends, it can be said that he was extremely isolated.
"Brother Li, Brother Li!"
Suddenly there was a knock on the door of the dilapidated thatched house.
A burst of hurried shouting finally woke up the people in the house: "Don't disturb me, I am praying for the late emperor!"
The voice is low and thick.
"The angel is coming!" the man shouted again.
"Which angel?"
"Great Angel!"
Click——
In an instant, the door suddenly opened, and a tall man with a beard and long hair, wearing a bright robe, walked out impatiently, his eyes bright and lively.
"Where is the angel?"
The man outside the door was stunned, and then said: "I was on my way here, and I came here specifically to visit you."
"How can we trouble ourselves? How can we trouble ourselves?"
Li Yingren was so excited that he couldn't control himself, so he was reminded by the man beside him to take a shower and change clothes.
Place the incense on the table and sprinkle with water.
The once muscular man has now become an ordinary man, but his eyes are still full of passion.
"Li Yingren, a humble general, kneels down to welcome the angel!"
Li Yingren knelt down and saluted seriously and meticulously, showing no signs of unfamiliarity.
"As expected of a descendant of the Li family in Liaodong, he is truly extraordinary."
Wenxi praised.
Anyway, it's a nice gesture.
Immediately, people from the entire Damingdong gathered around, hundreds of people cheering, it can be said that they were extremely enthusiastic.
“Has Shandong ever recovered?”
"Did Wang Shi take Beijing?"
"Have you ever avenged the late emperor?"
Amidst all the chatter, many people had tears in their eyes. They didn't know what to say and just knelt down.
Wenxi was also moved by this scene and bowed down: "I am ashamed. In June of this year, the emperor ascended the throne and changed next year to the first year of Shaowu. Even the south of the Huaihe River was recovered, but the northern land still fell."
"However, the imperial court has no intention of surviving and is determined to expedition to the north. It is expected that in a few years, the Ming Dynasty will be restored and the world of the sun and moon will be restored."
After replying for a long time, Wen Xicai communicated with Li Yingren privately:
"I won't hide it from you. The Jiannu are preparing to go south, and the imperial court is struggling to cope with it. They are preparing to recruit remnants and martyrs from North Korea to operate in Liaodong to harass the Jiannu and make them afraid to do their best."
"For the sake of Ming Dynasty, I will do whatever I can to the end."
Li Yingren agreed enthusiastically, and said excitedly: "Our Li family has hundreds of servants who can serve as the backbone, and with a few hunters, we can threaten Liaodong."
“So best!”
Wenxi thought for a while and said: "Although the imperial court has also sent personnel this time, the generals are the main ones and he is the deputy."
"In addition, the imperial court has prepared five hundred iron armors, two thousand gongs, one thousand bird guns, five thousand stones of grain and grass, and ten thousand taels of silver for preliminary preparations."
Hearing this, Li Yingren's blood boiled. He did not expect that the imperial court would be so generous.
"With these supplies, angels, don't worry, I can at least raise tens of thousands of troops."
Wenxi was also happy to hear this, and immediately opened the map and found the location of Pi Island (today's Chudao in North Korea) at the western estuary of the Yalu River.
This place has an important location and heavy draft, making it a rare good port. After the Korean War, Chinese troops were stationed here and did not return to China until 58 years ago.
"In the past, Mao Tung used this place to involve the spirit of establishing slaves. Now he can use this place to repeat his past."
Wenxi said excitedly.
Li Yingren nodded and turned his gaze westward. There was a series of small islands in the Bohai Sea: "Occupying this place, with just a few soldiers and horses, can draw the energy of Shandong, no less than Pidao."