Wang Xiao concluded that Yuan Chonghuan was a typical Donglin Party member, and then lost interest.

The biggest characteristic of the Donglin Party is that it likes to talk big things to fool the emperor, which is the case in the Ying Dynasty and in the five years of Pingliao.

Although Wang Xiao couldn't take five years to pacify Liao, he was unwilling to give the Donglin Party the slightest chance. This matter is in the past.

In the first year of Chongzhen, the famine in various places was still continuous, and the displacement caused the northwest to gradually fall into chaos.

Wang Xiao has no good way to deal with this for the time being, and grain production is greatly reduced during the Xiaoice River period, either going out to grab or relying on high-yield crops.

The former is not in a position until the training of the new firearms army is completed and the construction and purchase of new sea vessels are completed. As for the latter, it is also necessary to wait, waiting for John Tong to return.

While organizing and training the new army, Wang Xiao appointed Ni Yuanlu to build a large shipyard in Weikaifu, Tianjin.

His eyes are not just on the land, there is more land and wealth beyond the sea, and he needs to plan for a rainy day as soon as possible.

It is said that the Age of Discovery originated in the West, but in fact, Zheng He went to the West and even as far away as Africa much earlier than the West. The treasure ships of that era crossed the Indian Ocean.

Although the craftsmanship of the treasure ship has long been burned by the Wenchens, the shipbuilding technology of the Ming Dynasty is not bad.

Huaxia was inspired by bamboo to obtain the technology of watertight compartments very early, and this technology has not been mastered in the West until now.

After the redesign and adjustment, the ships built by the Ming Dynasty were no worse than those in the West. All that's missing is powerful and long-range artillery.

When the time came to the second year of Chongzhen, Tang Ruowang finally came back.

John Tang stayed in Macao for more than a year, recruiting many mercenaries and craftsmen for the Ming Dynasty. Production machinery and technology were bought from Europe, and a fleet of commissioned ships brought in large quantities of crop seeds from South America.

"You're doing a great job." Wang Xiao received John Tang and expressed great satisfaction with his work.

The dusty Tang Ruowang saluted: "This is what Weichen should do." ”

"You have been allowed to serve as a missionary. However, the law must not be breached, and the matter of the lesson plan must not be repeated. "Wang Xiao is not a person who crosses the river and demolishes the bridge, and he will naturally be rewarded for his meritorious deeds.

For John Tong, his personal pursuit is not much, and his greatest wish is to spread Catholicism.

Hearing Wang Xiao's promise, Tang Ruowang's tears were about to fall. The goals that many ancestors have been striving for have finally been realized in his hands.

As for the lesson plans, they will never make this mistake again, having already suffered a big loss.

When the grateful Tang Ruowang left, Wang Xiao instructed Wang Chengen, "These seeds are planted in various imperial villages, and they should be popularized as soon as possible." ”

Wang Xiao values the seeds of these crops more than munitions.

Although there are no chemical fertilizers and no breeding improvements, these high-yielding crops are still of unattainable use.

Moreover, the technology of the soil fertilizer plant is not difficult, and breeding can also be cultivated from generation to generation.

Historically, Kang Mazi's boasting of prosperity is a joke, but one of them is true, and that is sweet potato.

It's sick to eat too much, but it does play a role in alleviating food shortages. Because it does not pick the ground, the yield is very high.

There have been many potato crises in the history of Europe, because the production of potatoes at that time was extremely large, and they were an important source of food for the common people. Now that Wang Xiao has obtained a large number of potato seeds, he also attaches great importance to this high-yield and fast-maturing crop.

In addition to this, there is corn, which can be eaten by humans and can be used as livestock feed to increase the supply of meat and milk.

Chili tomatoes or something, even if it is a type of flavoring, the degree of attention is far less high. The main purpose is also to solve the problem of having and not having it.

To solve external troubles, we can rely on muskets and artillery, but to solve internal problems, we must use food.

Even if it is to kill Zhang Xianzhong, Li Zicheng and others. But as long as the food supply problem is not solved, people who cannot eat will still follow.

The high-yield seeds brought back by John Tang, as well as the numerous soil and fertilizer factories, are a big killer to solve internal worries.

"Shen Lian, have they arrived?"

After arranging these things, Wang Xiao, who had a relaxed face, shifted his attention to another major event.

"The soldiers and horses of the Jinyi Guard have arrived in Zhangjiakou, and it is estimated that they will do it tonight."

There were many traitors at the end of the Ming Dynasty, but the most shameless nature is the so-called Eight Masters of Jin and Shang.

Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Binbin, Tian Shenglan, Zhai Tang, and Huang Yunfa were several big businessmen who manipulated Zhangjiakou's trade activities. And in the name of doing business, he secretly transported military supplies and intelligence to the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

They provided food to the Manchus during the most difficult time of the Manchu Qing Dynasty to help the Manchus tide over the difficulties, and they were a famous traitor family.

After the Manchu Qing entered the customs, in order to reward them for their merits. It was exceptionally allowed to raise the flag from the Han people to the Han army flag, and the imperial merchants were sealed.

Their generations of glory and wealth have been exchanged for the blood and lives of countless Han people and the wealth of the fields.

For this kind of person, Wang Xiao's attitude has always been very clear.

Before, because of the lack of strength in his hands, he kept it secret, and he was just doing a secret investigation.

When the training of the new army, which has now exceeded 20,000 pure firearms, is completed, Wang Xiao will no longer be patient.

If you want to say that the place that has changed the most during this time, it must be the firearms factory.

Not only has the scale been repeatedly expanded, but the production efficiency has also soared into the sky like a rocket.

Under strict quality control and high incentives, the output of flintlock pistols has gradually increased from three pieces a day to nearly 100 pieces a day.

At the same time, the production of artillery is also running fast.

Not only has the first batch of new troops been completely built into pure firearms troops, but there is even spare power to provide for Jinyiwei and Dongchang.

Sun Chuanting has already begun to organize and train the second batch of new troops, and this time there are even more of them. Basically, they are all good families in farms near the capital.

The premise of all this is that Wang Xiao can continue to provide financial support.

In the name of raiding the eunuchs, more than 10 million taels of silver were stolen from the house, and almost all of them were smashed into it.

At this moment, whether it is to cut off the Manchu supply of goods, or to punish traitors, or to fill the purse that has dried up. Zhangjiakou's Jin Shang Eight is the best choice.

Outside Zhangjiakou, Shen Lian and Lu Jianxing, who were already much calmer, led a large group of brocade guards to surround the entire market town.

As for Lu Wenzhao, he took another group of people to the hometown of the Eight Families.

Looking at the Ming army who rushed all the way, Shen Lian sneered, "Big brother, sure enough, it's the same as in intelligence, the soldiers and horses of the Xuanfu are here." ”

Lu Jianxing nodded, "Since they are looking for death by themselves, then fulfill them." ”

The eight families are rich, and it is impossible for them to hide their smuggling business from the border army. So their choice is very simple, that is, to feed these border troops directly with money.

Now that the Jinyi guards suddenly surrounded this place, the eight families who had ghosts in their hearts hurriedly contacted the fed border troops to save their lives.

"Wang Chengyun, the chief soldier of the Xiaguan Xuanfu, has seen my lord." Wang Chengyun, who led the team, stepped forward to greet him. At the very least, you have to understand what these brocade guards are doing when they suddenly come here.

Lu Jianxing asked in a deep voice, "Lord Wang, why is he here?" ”

Wang Chengyun swallowed his saliva, "The lower official received a report that a horse thief attacked Zhangjiakou, and he came here to check." ”

"Horse thief?" Shen Lian next to him laughed, and took out a bright yellow holy decree from the horseback box, "Your Majesty has a decree, whoever dares to rescue the eight families is rebellious!" Mr. Wang, do you want to accept this will? ”

Wang Chengyun's expression changed rapidly, and after a while, his eyes showed a fierce light and made a decision.

Since the emperor already knew about the affairs of the Eight Great Families and sent Jinyi Wei, the matter of his involvement in it would be liquidated sooner or later. In that case, it's the other way around now. It's a big deal to take refuge in the Manchus!

Wang Chengyun rode his horse back and beckoned his men and horses to prepare to charge.

This time, the people who came with him were all his generals' own soldiers. Riding a horse, wearing heavy armor, skilled in martial arts. It's no problem to deal with these brocade guards who don't even have armor.

When Wang Chengyun came with hundreds of families, the brocade guards lined up in a neat line and raised their muskets in their hands.

Regarding Jinyiwei's musket, Wang Chengyun sneered.

There are a lot of musketeers here in Xuanfu, and he knows the quality and range very well. It's just something that looks lively and has little practical use.

It may be useful to face the old, weak, sick and disabled, but it is useless to face the elite cavalry under his command.

Then, Wang Chengyun saw those brocade guards from a distance and opened fire.

Wang Chengyun smiled shamefully in his heart, he fired so far away, and he couldn't hit a single hair.

But in the next second, he felt like he had been hit hard in the chest and fell directly from the horse. Before he could think about anything, a hoof inlaid with a horseshoe stepped on it directly.

The dense and continuous sound of muskets shook the eight families in Zhangjiakou, and when the gunfire finally stopped, the news from outside made them fall into an ice cave.

The hundreds of families brought by Wang Chengyun were all wiped out!

"It's over, it's over." These traitors who drank the blood of the people of the Ming Dynasty to live a good life were like the sky falling one by one at this time.

In terms of the crimes they have committed, it is definitely worse than death to fall into the hands of Jinyiwei.

It's just that I'm used to living a pampered life, and I don't have the courage to commit suicide.

The Eight Families sent important materials such as weapons, armor, food, and cloth to the Manchus, in exchange for blood-stained jewelry, gold and silver that the Manchus had stolen from the Han Chinese.

Such people, let them continue to live will invite heaven's damnation.

Jinyiwei rushed into Zhangjiakou and captured eight families. It is believed that they will soon contribute all their wealth in the face of the centuries-old interrogation skills inherited by Jinyiwei.

A similar scene also happened in the hometown of the Eight Families. They have enjoyed the blood-stained riches, and they should pay for it.

The shriveled purse finally bulged again, and Wang Xiao waved his hand to promote new crops, mass production of muskets and artillery, expansion of the new army, construction of new warships, and relief of the victims.

It was not until October 27 of that year that the news of the Manchu Qing Dynasty's three-way detention came, and Wang Xiao jumped up. The time he had been waiting for had finally arrived.