"Zheng Qing, I lied to you about the Queen Mother Jianlu borrowing seeds from you!"
Hearing Emperor Chongzhen say such words, Zheng Zhilong was stunned for a moment. After he came to his senses, he felt something was wrong. He was indeed a little weak when he woke up, and there were obvious signs of being borrowed.
While he was thinking about it, he heard Emperor Chongzhen say to him again: "Didn't you say that the young Emperor Jianlu and that regent were fighting openly and secretly? If the Empress Dowager Jianlu had a big belly, wouldn't it just give that regent the opportunity to
Truth?"
"What your Majesty said is absolutely true!" Zheng Zhilong said hesitantly after hearing this, "But...but the Empress Dowager Jianlu said that she was sure to hide...hiding it, wouldn't it be her maid?"
After all, he comes from the world of martial arts and has experienced great storms. What kind of scene has he not seen?
Of course, it is true that I have never seen such a scene.
However, this does not mean that his mind has always been confused.
After Emperor Chongzhen's reminder, he came back to his senses. After thinking about it carefully, he immediately guessed another possibility.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen immediately nodded approvingly and said: "Yes, that's the situation. I can still trust your loyalty to the court. It's okay if this matter goes away in the future. If there is a follow-up, no matter what you do,
I can trust them all!"
What Zheng Zhilong is most worried about is not whether he may have a child with Jianlu and whether it will be safe. For him, he has several wives and several sons. One more or one less is really not a big deal.
Big impact.
What Zheng Zhilong was most worried about was whether Emperor Chongzhen would believe this and whether he would think that he and Jianlu were actually colluding?
To put it simply, he is just worried about his own future or that of his family.
At this time, Zheng Zhilong's anxious heart was relieved after receiving the emperor's promise.
Later, Emperor Chongzhen said to Zheng Zhilong: "I have agreed with Wu Qing about the matter in Dongjiang Town. In terms of logistics and supplies, Qing will be responsible for it. If you give him more troops, he will collect them from Lu. I will issue an order to
Over there.”
In fact, this does not conflict with the previous arrangement. It is still Shandong province that supplies Dongjiang Town's logistics. There is just a slight change, that is, the grain and grass supplies that will be sent later must be sent there in advance.
"The general will obey the order!" Zheng Zhilong heard this and quickly agreed.
"Here is a general topographic map of North Korea. There may be slight changes in some places. Please bring it to Wu Qing. Maybe it can help him!" Emperor Chongzhen said, picking up another copy from the imperial case that he had already prepared.
He handed the roll of paper to Wang Chengen who was waiting at the side and asked him to pass it to Zheng Zhilong.
Needless to say, this topographic map of North Korea was provided by Liu Weichao. I found a later map that was as close to ancient times as possible, which can always be useful to some extent.
Zheng Zhilong was a little frightened, thinking, Your Majesty is going to ask Emperor Taizu for instructions again?
After he had just put away the topographic map of North Korea, he saw Emperor Chongzhen picking up a rolled piece of paper from the imperial desk, handing it to Wang Chengen, and explained again: "This is the formula for the cement factory, please send it to me."
Send a ship of grain and grass supplies to Jianlu. I just said that this is all we have for the time being, and the remaining grain and grass supplies must be obtained by returning to Fujian, which will take some time."
According to Liu Weichao's suggestion, first send some to hang Jianlu, and then send the bulk of the food and supplies until there are signs of war. At that time, the food and supplies will be soaked in heavy metal water and dried in the sun.
Bundle.
This was the emperor's order, so Zheng Zhilong naturally had no objection, so he quickly agreed and put away the cement formula.
This cement formula actually has flaws, not to mention the refractory bricks. If Jianlu had to calcine the cement, the cost would be much higher.
"In addition, I already know about the Tsarist Russian Empire." Emperor Chongzhen continued to say to Zheng Zhilong, "I will tell you a little bit about it, so that you have an idea. If you encounter something about the Tsarist Russian Empire, you can also know what to do.
Deal with it!”
After finishing speaking, he asked Wang Chengen to hang up the world map, and then walked down in person. Using the world map, he told Zheng Zhilong where the so-called Tsarist Empire was and what its current situation was.
Zheng Zhilong was naturally very shocked by this. This news was definitely beyond human power. In other words, it was Emperor Taizu's guidance again.
Thinking this way, he did not dare to have any disrespect towards Emperor Chongzhen.
With the blessing of the immortal Emperor Taizu, who can resist?
Seeing the respectful Zheng Zhilong, Emperor Chongzhen was in a good mood and continued: "By the way, more than ten new iron-clad steam warships have been modified and can be used in naval battles. By the middle of next year, they will probably be available
All transformations are completed. If your side falls out with Japan and the navy wants to fight, I will send out new iron-clad steam warships. Of course, it would be best if we wait until all transformations are completed before fighting!"
Saying this is also to give Zheng Zhilong a clear answer. To prevent Zheng Zhilong's navy from going into a naval battle with the enemy and causing unnecessary losses under unexpected circumstances. After all, Zheng Zhilong's warships can also be modified. Losing one of them will be less.
An ironclad steam warship.
However, although it was to give Zheng Zhilong the final answer, Emperor Chongzhen actually had reservations. In fact, at this time, there were already more than thirty warships that had been modified. The largest ship sealing modification had also been technically difficult.
After Song Yingxing conquered it, it is estimated that the transformation will be completed by early next year.
After Emperor Chongzhen finished explaining what needed to be said to Zheng Zhilong, he sent him out of the capital.
On his side, Emperor Chongzhen once again held an imperial meeting in the Wenhua Palace, and formally said to his ministers: "I have received a report from Navy Chief Zheng Zhilong that the Japanese state has formed an alliance with Jianlu and has sent troops into North Korea."
Previously, he sent Jin Yiwei commander Li Ruolian to work with Zheng Zhilong to help Jianlu form an alliance with the Japanese country, which would definitely not be made public. This time, he took the opportunity of Zheng Zhilong's return to announce the alliance.
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the Wenhua Hall, even if they had been in official circles for many years, were extremely shocked.
Most of their generation knew about the campaign to resist Japan and aid Korea during the Wanli period. In the aftermath, many literati believed that the campaign to resist Japan and aid Korea greatly reduced the imperial court's control over Liaodong.
This led to the rise of Jianlu and subsequent years of war.
At this time, I heard that the Japanese country not only invaded Korea again, but even formed an alliance with Jianlu. Doesn't that mean that the threat to the Ming Dynasty this time was much higher than that during the Wanli period?
The situation in the Ming Dynasty had only been improving for a few years, but now such a big disaster happened again?
"Your Majesty, I wonder how many troops the Japanese country sent?" Chief Assistant He Fengsheng came to his senses and quickly responded, "They entered North Korea. How did North Korea respond?"
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen sneered and said: "North Korea recognized thieves as its father and Jianlu as its suzerain state. Now they have been sold by Jianlu. The king of Korea and his ministers were moved to the northeast of Liaodong, and the entire Korea will be given over to the Japanese."
"
"..." After hearing this, not only He Fengsheng, but also others looked at each other in shock.
No one expected that North Korea would end up like this?
Suddenly, a voice sounded: "Well, in an ungrateful country, evil will be punished!"
Everyone heard the sound and looked around, but it was Liu Zongzhou, the Zuodu censor of the Ducha Yuan.
Qingliu, it’s normal to say this!
He Fengsheng came back to his senses, ignored Liu Zongzhou, and quickly said to him again: "Your Majesty, can you send the Southwest Army back to Fangshan Pass?"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he immediately vetoed it: "No, the five-year plan remains unchanged. The bandits and chieftains from the southwest must be dealt with. I told you this news, just to let you know what to do in the first five years."
The plan is mainly to solve the problem of the southwest of the Ming Dynasty; the second five-year plan is to solve the problem of Liaodong and North Korea! There are many things that you and others must be aware of!"
"..." After hearing this, everyone looked at each other with worries on their faces.
This is an alliance between Jianlu and the Japanese! It is far stronger than the enemies they encountered before!
Of course, this is because they don't know how strong the military power of the imperial court is! If Sun Chuanting were here, his reaction would definitely be different from theirs.
No, Ni Yuanlu, the Minister of Household Affairs, cautiously said: "Your Majesty, do you need to send an envoy to North Korea to question the Japanese and find out what is the reason why the Japanese who have not made any movement for so many years have made such a big movement?"
He didn't dare to say the words of peace, but what he said had some meaning. Let's see how the Japanese pirates react. Is it possible that there is no need to fight?
This is really going to be a war, and he doesn't know whether he can win it. At least he feels that the treasury will definitely be empty again!
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he immediately said: "The Japanese country's ambition to capture North Korea and then plot against our Ming Dynasty is not new to us today. Don't forget, our vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, the Ryukyu Kingdom, was also conquered by the Japanese."
Under actual control. This Japanese’s attempt to replace me, Ming Dynasty, is already Sima Zhao’s intention, and everyone on the road knows it!”
The implication is that there is nothing to talk about, there is only a way out.
The envoy from the Ryukyu Kingdom came to the capital six months ago to ask for help, and these officials in the Wenhua Palace naturally knew about it. Listening to what Emperor Chongzhen said at this time, I felt that the Japanese country really had such wild ambitions, and the peace talks would definitely lose power and humiliate the country. Absolutely
Can't talk!
Thinking like this, they became even more worried, and they all talked about it, some said that they should strengthen the Shanhaiguan defense line, and others were worried about Dongjiang Town. In short, from their point of view, Daming's side was definitely at a disadvantage.
Seeing their behavior, Emperor Chongzhen understood. After all, he was very worried when he received the news that Jianlu was going to form an alliance with Japan.