Zheng Chaoer led troops to surround Sanming County, hoping to trap the Taiwanese troops and horses led by Jarvis. He thought that he would be trapped for a few days before the enemy camp would send a letter, but it was only the first day.
The letter came strangely.
In the morning of this day, Zheng Chaoer led the people to practice for a while. Suddenly, soldiers pointed at the Sanming City and shouted. I saw a huge ball rising from the city gate, and it seemed like a basket was hanging below. There were people in the basket.
.The ball rose very high, floated slowly, and came towards Zheng Ying. The soldiers were in an uproar.
The ball gradually floated to the top of Zheng's camp. Everyone looked up and saw a man wearing Taiwanese armor sitting inside. The general shouted, "Fire arrows!" Dozens of archers aimed at the basket, and there was a "swish, swish, swish" sound.
None of the arrows could catch the rain of arrows - they flew too high. The man in the basket took something from his feet, put it out of the basket, and put his hands down! A black dot fell from the sky and gradually enlarged into a black ball.
Seeing that the black ball was about to fall, Zheng Chaoer shouted: "Get out of the way!" Everyone fled in all directions. Hearing a "plop", the object hit the ground. A soldier came forward and saw that it was a green-skinned man.
The baggage had been broken. It was wrapped in an ordinary blue cloth, but there was a letter wrapped in the blue cloth. The soldier hurriedly handed it over to the hands of the Commander-in-Chief.
Zheng Chaoer opened the letter and took a first look at it, secretly praising "good words!"
This letter contains only a few strokes. "Junior Lin Mou pays homage to Mr. Zheng, the Commander-in-Chief of Fujian Province. A city of three miles and a country of seven miles cannot be defeated in a ring. The terrain is not as good as the craftsmanship. If I don't throw away this book now, I will give it to you."
How about using cast iron thunder, arrows, fire, gun bullets, or pouring clear oil and then firing rockets? I hope the general will consider the people and not disturb their livelihood sooner or later. I will pay my respects to you later."
Zheng Chaoer suddenly felt a coolness from the heavenly cap penetrating through the soles of his feet! What to do? There is death but no life, defeat but no victory. He raised his head and looked at the ball, which was slowly flying back towards Sanming. It was obvious that this person was just here to deliver a message.
, the military advisor surnamed Lin really just wanted to let him understand. Not only could he not be able to fight against him, he was simply beating a stone with an egg. But the words in the letter were arrogant and unsatisfactory. He took half a cup of tea and gritted his teeth and said: "
For the sake of the people! But I am disturbing the people!" For a moment, he sighed in despair.
Zheng Chao'er was so bored that he didn't even eat lunch and sat in the tent. He sat until the sun gradually turned to the west. Finally he stood up and ordered people to change clothes and prepare horses. He did not wear armor, only ordinary arrow sleeves, tied with
Wearing a turban, one man and one horse left the camp.
Just as they arrived at the gate of Sanming City, a soldier guarding the gate poked his head out from above and asked, "General, are you going to enter the city?"
"That's right." Zheng Chaoer cupped his hands and said, "Please open the door, brother."
"General, please come here."
Not long after, they heard a creaking sound from the city gate, and the two doors were opened wide. Jia Jun lined up on both sides: "Welcome General Zheng!" Zheng Chaoer sighed lowly, without asking how they knew he was Zheng Chaoer, and urged them.
The horse entered the city and said, "I want to see your military advisor Lin." The leader of the gatekeeper sent a soldier to lead the way and led him straight to the magistrate's Yamen.
There were also two rows of soldiers lined up at the gate of the county government office, standing like pines and cypresses. The soldier leading the way made a gesture with his right hand between his eyebrows, and the two rows of soldiers gestured back in unison. Zheng Chaoer thought about what kind of salute it was.
The leader said to an officer in front of the door: "General Zheng Chaoer, the general of the Fujian Army, wants to see Military Advisor Lin, and my subordinates are ordered to lead the way." The officer nodded and called the soldier under him to lead Zheng Chaoer.
They bowed to each other with their right hands and went back.
Military Advisor Lin said: "In troubled times, we cannot live without soldiers, because we don't know how long we will live in peace. Therefore, the Taiwan government has to step up military training to prepare for emergencies. However, the island is sparsely populated and deserted. If a young and strong man
Everyone has come to serve as soldiers, and there are fewer and fewer people to farm. Mr. Jia is also forced to do so. As the saying goes, it is hard to leave one’s homeland. If not, who would be willing to leave his hometown and his family? Nowadays, although some poor families cross the sea to open up wasteland, they are all without food and clothing.
If there is a natural disaster, these are the first ones to starve to death. After all, there are still many people who miss their hometown. Taiwan is not big, but there is only so much land to open up wasteland, and it will all be cleared in a few years."
Zheng Chaoer said: "According to Military Advisor Lin, what should we do in Fujian? It is no longer easy to find tenant farmers."
Military Advisor Lin said: "The so-called sharecroppers are those who know how to farm their own land. Because their families are poor and have no land, they rent other people's land to farm and give them some rent. That's right."
"good."
Military Advisor Lin said: "Everyone attaches great importance to profit, and everyone is nostalgic for the past. The tenant farmers have worked hard for a year in spring, summer, and autumn harvest. If they can leave more food for themselves, they are accustomed to farming and are familiar with the neighbors, so they probably won't be too lazy.
I went to open up wasteland. Opening up wasteland is extremely hard after all.”
Zheng Chaoer was silent for a moment and said: "Now the rents of many Zhuangzi houses in Fujian have dropped."
"Then the rent is not enough." Lin Junshang said with a smile, "If you don't want to lower the rent more, wouldn't it be better to work harder and farm by yourself? An old poem says that there is no idle land in the world, and farmers are still starving to death. Rich and poor
Too much differentiation is not good."
Although Zheng Chao'er didn't quite understand what she was saying next, he also knew that there was no solution to the matter. The Taiwan government needs people, and if they don't bring some from outside the island, there will be no one to farm and no one to serve in the army. Now it is obvious that others have more troops than they do.
Qiang Sheng thought for a moment and then said: "Master Jia's plan is obviously to cut out the flesh of Fujian. Since he has no one to open up wasteland, he can only find some good landless people, so why accept escaped slaves."
Military Advisor Lin said: "Master Jia is not sincere in accepting escaped slaves. In fact, many good people have no way to lead them. Master Zheng must also know that there are all kinds of officials under Master Huang's rule. Besides, if a beggar suddenly has hope and wants to cross the sea,
Isn't it good to open up wasteland? Where can he find roads and guides?"
Zheng Chaoer said: "The issues between tenant farmers and runaway slaves are getting worse and worse, which has caused dissatisfaction among many families. Princess Jin's natal family is from Fujian, and there are also slaves in their family who crossed the sea and escaped."
Military Advisor Lin smiled and said: "Master Zheng, don't worry. The King of Jin is cautious by nature and will not use weapons rashly. If the Princess of Jin's natal family realizes that they have little money as they stay in Fujian, they will sell Zhuangzi and take the money to the Kingdom of Jin to join their son-in-law.
Don’t worry about no one buying it, just sell it cheaper and it will sell naturally.”
Zheng Chaoer immediately said: "Commander Lin, does he not take the King of Jin seriously?"
Military Advisor Lin wondered: "Everything I say, junior, is the truth. Why don't you take the King of Jin seriously?"
Zheng Chaoer said: "Zhuangzi, where my mother-in-law could earn thousands of silver taels a month, suddenly had to reduce the rent. How can Princess Jin be happy?"
Military Advisor Lin said: "What does it have to do with the King of Jin? The wife clan is just a wife clan after all. The Yue family of the King of Jin wants to fight against the power of the King of Jin across the mountains and rivers, unless others are concerned about their son-in-law and avoid them. In fact, this matter can only be thought about briefly.
It doesn't matter if you know." She smiled calmly and said, "Even if the King of Jin wants to send troops, he will not go south. Not to mention that the King of Yan and the King of Chu will not give way to him 90% of the time. Even if he is willing to give way, he will defeat Fujian Neng.
What’s the benefit?”
Zheng Chaoer said: "Why is he attacking Fujian? I'm afraid he is going to attack Taiwan."
Military Advisor Lin smiled brightly: "If General Zheng can persuade the King of Jin to come to attack Taiwan, I would like to thank you in advance." Zheng Chaoer was stunned. She said, "I have practiced siege and defense all the way here, but I have never practiced Cross the island to attack and defend."
"This..." Did she use Fujian and the King of Jin as a training ground? Then she smiled bitterly and said, "Military Commander Lin has never practiced this before."
Military Advisor Lin said: "To be honest, this is the first time that a hot air balloon has been used on the battlefield. We have always used it to transport baggage. Because the general besieged the city, we suddenly came up with this use. If it hadn't happened like this, I'm afraid I can't even imagine this level of experience." She smiled, "Sure enough, working behind closed doors is different from actual combat."
Zheng Chaoer was dumbfounded: "You really don't want to save my face."
Military Advisor Lin said: "General Zheng did not lose to the juniors, he just lost to the utensils."
Zheng Chaoer waved his hands, thought for a moment and then clasped his fists and said, "Commander Lin is as smart as a human being. Can you give Fujian some ideas on how to guard against runaway slaves?"
Military Advisor Lin said: "Han Yu said that if all things are not equal, they will groan. If the master treats his slaves better, they will be less likely to want to escape. If they really don't want to stay, they can redeem themselves."
Zheng Chaoer frowned and said, "Since they are slaves, how can they be left to their own devices?"
Military Advisor Lin said: "There are few masters but many slaves. People's hearts yearn for freedom, just like flowers and trees facing the sun. They cannot be trapped if they are trapped. However, there are also many people who like to be slaves. Treat those who like to be slaves well, and let those who don't like to be slaves be treated well. Isn't it better to redeem oneself than to lose one's money?"
"You!" Zheng Chaoer was a little angry, "Are you robbing someone by force?"
Military Advisor Lin said: "We are just tempting people with benefits. Master Huang and Master Zheng can also think of other ways to retain people. Wouldn't it be good for everyone to rely on their own abilities?"
Zheng Chaoer knew that they were not willing to give in, and said with a sullen face: "You are tempting with profit, but you are only trying to lure the slaves to escape. How is it different from robbery?"
"If we want to rob the population, we only need to use long guns and artillery to force the people of each village onto the boat and transport them to the island." Military Advisor Lin smiled and said, "Besides, it is considered robbery, I dare to ask the general , what should you do if you encounter a robbery?"
Zheng Chaoer just wanted to say "beat", but suddenly he remembered that his family could not beat others; ordinary people would "report to the officials" when they encountered robbery. After reporting to the officials, they would suppress the bandits, and the bandits would be "beat" again, but they could not beat others. This is What Military Advisor Lin said was true. Even if they were robbing us, there was nothing we could do with Fujian's current strength.
Military Advisor Lin added: "After all, Mr. Jia comes from a well-known family, and he will not do anything to drive the people away with weapons. Fujian has a favorable geographical location, and if you want to retain people, there are many ways. It just depends on whether you are willing to give up or not, and how much personal gain you have for ordinary people." The common people and domestic slaves are doing better."
Even though Zheng Chaoer was a rich man in his family and was not stingy by nature, he was not willing to give up his own people and money. At first, he saw Jia Jun several times and did not hurt him, just thinking that he could still be reasonable. Now It seems that they have given up their reasoning. Military Commander Lin’s beauty is rarely seen in the world, but Zheng Chaoer didn’t find it pleasing to the eye at the moment. Instead, he clenched his fist and said harshly: “Commander Lin is not young anymore, why don’t you get married? ?”
Military Advisor Lin lowered his eyebrows and smiled: "I have been too busy these past two years to think about this matter."
Zheng Chaoer sneered: "If you enter the military camp as a woman, who will marry you?"
Jarvis, who was sitting silently aside, said casually: "I." (..)