Just when Liu Dahai rushed back to Shandong to see Liu Pei in the starry night, Liu Pei was looking at the account book in a daze! The reason is simple, the losses that the bookkeepers expect to shrink this year have not only not narrowed, but have become larger!

The main reason was because of the war at sea, which had dragged on for several months. With the war, not only did the sea trade not have to be done, but also various expenses had to be spent! For example, medical expenses for casualties, pensions. Expenditures for artillery shells, gunpowder, and so on and so forth.

Although Zheng Zhilong's side suffered heavy losses in this battle, Liu Pei was not easy! As the saying goes, if you kill 10,000 enemies, you will lose 8,000 yourself! Liu Pei's side also paid the price of nearly 300 killed, more than 80 disabled, and more than 300 minor injuries! This is still because of the superiority of the artillery used by Liu Pei's fleet, there are only so many casualties, otherwise it will be even greater!

In naval warfare, the first priority is to use artillery! The second is the firecracker. Because of the strong wind at sea, bows and arrows are easy to miss, and few people use them. And the buckshot shot from the artillery gun hit the person is definitely dead or maimed! In addition, in hand-to-hand combat, the opponents are all pirates who have accumulated years, and they are good at fighting in a narrow and shaky environment, and they are ruthless! So the number of dead sailors far outnumbered the number of wounded.

Although there were no direct battle damage ships on Luo Pei's side, one was scrapped and two were overhauled after returning to port! The rest of the ships will go to the repair shop to be refurbished! Looking at the strings of bright red numbers, Liu Pei couldn't help but sigh that the war is the economy!

Just when Liu Pei was wondering where to get some silver, there was a quick knock on the door. Liu Pei knew that the guards would not knock on the door like this if they were not in a hurry, could it be that something big happened at sea? Liu Pei immediately asked in a deep voice, "What's the matter?" ”

The guards outside replied loudly: "Great handsome, Lord Liu has returned from the Wa Kingdom!" He said that there is good news for the big handsome! ”

Liu Pei was overjoyed when she heard this, and immediately guessed that it was the result of the negotiation! Immediately said: "Hurry up and invite him in!" Serve tea! ”

After a while, Liu Dahai entered the room with a happy face and said, "Dashuai, Xia Guan is fortunate not to be dishonored, and the matter of peace talks has been discussed!" ”

When Liu Pei heard Liu Dahai say this, his mood settled down. Now what Liu Pei is most afraid of is that the war will drag on, and finally drag Li Dan in! If Li Dan really protects Zheng Zhilong, as long as he speaks to call on everyone to besiege Liu Pei, then Liu Pei will definitely not win! It can only be retracted to the mainland and develop slowly. As long as the war stops now, Liu Pei can slowly wait for Li Dan's death. When Li Dan is dead, Liu Pei can let go of his hands and feet!

Thinking of this, Liu Pei said, "Come, sit down and talk in detail." ”

Liu Dahai told the story before and after. In the end, Liu Dahai said: "Dashuai, I think that Zheng Yiguan is not willing to stop the war this time, but I am afraid that he has the idea of delaying it." After he stabilizes the interior, he will fight back! So I'm afraid we have to be careful when we go to sea! ”

Liu Pei nodded and said, "You're right, it should be like this!" People like Zheng Yiguan will not admit defeat easily! But don't forget, we need a truce more than he does! Also, did all the people from the Intelligence Bureau spread out? ”

Liu Dahai said: "I left a few people on the surface, specifically to attract their attention. I don't know who is in the shadows, but there is a letter they asked me to bring back. ”

After speaking, Liu Dahai took out a thick letter from his arms and handed it to Liu Pei with both hands. Liu Pei took it and looked at it, and the cover was not damaged, so he opened it and looked at it carefully. The letter was a briefing written back by someone Liu Jiang sent to Nagasaki. There should also be a detailed report sent to Liu Jiang.

The letter said that they had made preliminary contact with some maritime merchants and pirates. The main contacts are the neutrals. There are also some people who clearly express their dissatisfaction with Zheng Zhilong's succession as leader. Liu Pei unexpectedly saw a few familiar names in it.

After reading the letter, Liu Pei asked some questions he was concerned about, and said, "I understand the situation!" You've worked hard! Go back and see your mother! ”

After Liu Dahai said goodbye to Liu Pei, Liu Peiyou read the letter twice. Then he tugged on the rope of the guardhouse. Soon a guard pushed the door in and said, "Commander, what do you command?" ”

Liu Pei said: "Call Liu Jiang to see me immediately." ”

When Liu Jiang arrived, he sent Liu Pei to be standing in front of the map on the wall, pondering something? So he closed the door gently, not daring to disturb Liu Pei. Just stand aside with your hands down.

After a long while, Liu Pei looked back and saw him before saying, "Come on!" I just happened to have something to ask you. Do you know all the situation on Zheng Yiguan's side now? ”

Liu Jiang said: "Most of them are mastered. Commander, I just had detailed information delivered to me. ”

Liu Pei said with satisfaction: "Very good! What do you think about this truce? ”

In fact, Liu Jiang was already thinking about what Liu Pei was going to do with him on the way here? I have also carefully read the detailed information, of course I understand what Liu Pei is thinking? So he said: "Marshal, I'm afraid this peace talk will be a delaying tactic for them and for us!" According to Dashuai, Li Dan's death is imminent, so he must hope that the two of us can reach peace talks so that his foundation can be smoothly handed over. By the way, it is just a matter of delaying time to let Zheng Yiguan stabilize the interior! Several brothers have already broken into the pirate interior. They said that because of the impact of this war, the voice of opposition within the pirates to Zheng Yiguan taking over as the leader has become louder! ”

Liu Pei perked up after hearing this and said, "Let's be specific. ”

Liu Jiang said: "Our people sent out information that the pirates are now roughly divided into several groups. The most are neutral. In fact, they just fall with the wind, and they will take refuge in whichever side they think has the upper hand! Of course, if you make a mistake in line, you will pay a big price! ”

Liu Pei nodded and said, "Since ancient times, those who have ridden the wall have been like this. What about the others? ”

Liu Jiang continued: "The rest of the people are mainly divided into two major factions. One is Li Dan's die-hard faction! Those people have followed Li Dan for many years and are very loyal. Now it is under the jurisdiction of Zheng Yiguan. They will obey Zheng Zhilong's orders, but for now, they will only obey. If Zheng Zhilong can't show his strength for a period of time in the future, I'm afraid that after a long time, they will also be centrifuged by Zheng Zhilong. Now Zheng Yiguan wants to envelop these people! ”

Liu Pei thought for a while and said, "Then the rest is the opposition!" Are there many people in this faction? ”

Liu Jiang said: "On the surface, it doesn't look like much. There may be a lot of people who are against it in their hearts but don't express it. It's just mixed in with the neutrals. ”

Liu Pei nodded and said, "It's very likely that you said." So you have to pay attention to a person named Liu Xiang! ”

In the early years of Longqing, the Ming Dynasty opened the sea ban, and the sea ban was implemented during the apocalypse, but the sea ban has actually been "withdrawn and relaxed". Maritime trade flourished, and maritime armed forces such as the Japanese and Hongmao emerged one after another, such as Yuan Jin, Li Zhong, Yang Ce, Zheng Zhilong, Li Kuiqi, Zhong Bin, Liu Xiang, etc., among which Zheng Zhilong, Li Kuiqi, and Liu Xiang had the greatest influence. And Liu Xiang was originally a member of Eighteen Zhi, but later he and Zheng Zhilong turned against each other. Later, he committed suicide after defeating Zheng Zhilong.

In the sixth year of the Apocalypse (1626), Liu Xiang gathered people to carry out armed activities at sea, from Changle in Fujian, to Tongshan, Gulei, and Youao, down to the area of Haifeng in Guangdong, and sometimes to Zhejiang and other places. In February of the fifth year of Chongzhen (1632), Xiong Wencan promoted the right squire of the military department and the right servant of the imperial history, the governor of the military affairs of Liangguang, and patrolled Guangdong. Liu Xiang attacked the coastal counties of Fujian and Guangzhou for many years.

The emperor was worried about this and blamed Xiong Wencan, but Wencan was unable to crusade and discussed the method of appeasement. Liu Xiang pretended to agree to be appeased, and Wen Can sent Hong Yunsteam, deputy envoy Kang Chengzu, general Xia Zhiben, Zhang Yijie and others to Liu Xiang's ship to preach appeasement, and Liu Xiang tied up these people and kept them as hostages.

The appeasement failed, Wen Can was afraid of crime, and Hong Yunxuan and others believed Liu Xiang in credulity, so that they fell into themselves. In the matter, Zhu Guodong thought that Xiong Wencan's crime was Xiong Wencan, and he was impeached, and the edict was demoted, and the crime was self-effective. and transferred Zou Weilian to act as Xiong Wencan's governor of Fujian. At that time, Zheng Zhilong had been appeased in July of the first year of Chongzhen (1628) and served as a guerrilla, Zou Weilian ordered Zheng Zhilong to attack Liu Xiang, and Liu Xiang was defeated.

In April of the fifth year of Chongzhen (1632), Liu Xiang led the crowd to attack Haicheng, arrived at the floating palace at night, and Liang Zhaoyang of Haicheng Zhixian County sent the general Wu Zhaoxian and Yuan De to lead troops to resist. Liu Xiang's ship is tall, the fortress of Elephantia, the official army is difficult to attack, from night to dawn, the official army reinforcements arrive, and they attack together, Liu Xiang led the crowd to withdraw. In November, Liu Xiang led the crowd to attack the coastal area of Zhejiang.