Xiong Wencan received an urgent letter of 800 miles on the 22nd. As soon as he read the official document, Lao Xiong ordered his entourage to go to the merchant inn in the city to deliver the news and ask General Cao to come and see him immediately.

After receiving the telegram, Zhang Dongdong did not delay, and immediately set off from Taiwan by boat, and on the evening of the 23rd, Deputy Cao Zhentai came to the Yamen of the Fujian Governor.

As soon as he saw the visitor, Lao Xiong picked up the official document on the table and handed it over. At the same time, Lao Xiong's tone also changed, and he revealed his impatience in his kindness, "Brother, something big happened in the capital." ”

Zhang Dongdong knew the big thing in Lao Xiong's mouth, but he still pretended to know nothing and took the official document and read it carefully.

As expected, the edict of the king of Qin.

"My lord, what should I do about this?" After reading the official document, Zhang Dongdong handed over the topic according to the routine.

Xiong Wencan frowned rarely at this moment, stroked his long beard under his chin, shook his head and analyzed, "As soon as this edict comes out, all the military towns in the world will definitely be the king of Jingqin." In this way, if there is no movement in Fujian, I am afraid that it will not be able to explain. ”

Xiong Wencan said this and glanced at Zhang Dongdong.

Seeing the old bear spitting and spitting, wanting to speak and stopping, Zhang Dongdong's heart was bright at the moment.

In history, after Zheng Zhilong was appeased, Chongzhen issued edicts many times, wanting to transfer Lao Zheng to the north to contribute - it can be a Tartar or a peasant army, in short, in Chongzhen's view, it is probably a dog eating a dog.

However, Chongzhen's simple set of methods to drive away tigers and wolves can't fool people at all. Zheng Zhilong has never given Xiong Wencan and Chongzhen half face in matters like King Qin.

In a word, I am a warlord, I am proud, the tiger does not come out of the hole, and no one can do anything to the tiger.

So the old bear is a little stumbling today. After all, he was a normal bureaucrat with experience in governance, and he knew very well that for a warlord, this Qinwang was a bit too demanding.

It is indeed a bit difficult for a group of pirates to run thousands of miles away to fight the Tartars in the northern plains. If Cao Chuan thinks that he Lao Xiong is going to use some tricks like "diverting the tiger from the mountain" and destroying the alliance between the two sides, it will be worth the loss.

Therefore, Lao Xiong is still very cautious today, and he doesn't dare to make a big stab and ask for it.

However, someone's reaction caught the old bear off guard.

Cao Pirate's face was full of loyalty and courage at the moment, and he saw that he was cutting vegetables with one hand, leaning his upper body slightly, his eyes wide, staring at Xiong Da and saying, "But do you want Sichuan to lead troops north to King Qin?" Well, this is an adult's words. The last general will go back to reorganize the armament ship, is a thousand soldiers enough? Or two thousand? ”

Xiong Wencan first opened his mouth when he heard this, and then when he was sure that Cao Chuan was not talking back, he suddenly sighed with emotion, stretched out his hand apologetically, and patted Cao Zhongchen's arm a few times, "The state affairs are difficult, alas, the grievances are empty." ”

"Where did the adults come from?" Cao Zhongchen looked at ease at this time, "The imperial capital is surrounded, if Fujian doesn't pay attention, then wouldn't the adults sit on the wax?" Now the plan, whether it is King Qin or loyalty, this matter cannot be said to fall on Cao. ”

Xiong Wencan nodded at the moment, relieved that Cao Chuan could see the essence of the incident so quickly, which saved him a lot of unspeakable sentences.

In fact, logically speaking, the surname Cao should have gone to Beijing to meet such a big official as the deputy chief soldier, and he would go to the Jinluan Palace to meet the emperor before he was appointed. And Cao Pirate is a thief of Zhao'an due to his special situation, so from the beginning of Zhao'an, this step has been exempted.

However, Cao Pirate is different from others, he has always maintained a posture of "doing his best to integrate into the system" from Zhao'an to the present. And this Qinwang incident, from another point of view, can be regarded as a test, no matter what you usually say or do, now the imperial court needs you to bring troops to Beijing, whether you go or not

Of course, if Cao Chuan really wants to go, the old bear can't do anything about him, but from that moment on, everyone knows each other. From now on, the surname Cao will no longer need to put on a mixed posture - you don't even dare to see the emperor, aren't you a warlord with evil intentions?

So for Xiong Wencan, someone can say this today, it is really the best situation he expected Cao Warlord "thoroughly" showed the attitude of mixing the system, willing to go thousands of miles to risk, and he Xiong Wencan does not have to be difficult between the court and Cao Warlord, it can be said that it is both public and private, loyalty and filial piety.

Xiong Wencan's study is warm and touching at this moment. Now that it has been determined that Cao Chuan is a "Ming courtier" who really intends to "be a minister in the same palace" with him, Lao Xiong, who is a close ally, naturally cannot watch Cao Zhongchen, who has a blue blood and a red heart, go to the north to eat deflated.

So Lao Xiong also opened the skylight at this time and said brightly: "This time, King Qin, you don't need to take a large army to go, and you don't need to go into battle to fight that Liaodong Jiannu, its momentum has been completed, it is a clutch army, and those sailors under your command are not accustomed to the wind and snow in the north, and they are just sent to death." ”

"The Fujian people are not tolerant of the cold, and the army of all roads in the world is not bad. You can go, just do a little bit. ”

"As for the merits of the war, you must not lack silver in your hands, and when you are in a hurry, you can just "find" some heads to make errands. ”

Xiong Wencan, in the end, was a feudal official, and he analyzed the Qinwang incident overnight to the point that there were nine border towns in the nine borders, and there were soldiers and horses of the Qinwang in the northern provinces, and these southern provinces traveled thousands of miles to the king of Qin, and to put it bluntly, they went to complete the political task.

Everyone goes, if you don't go, won't the emperor remember you?

So Xiong Wencan shouted King Qin, but in fact, he didn't plan to let Cao Chuan run to the snow with a large number of pirates to die.

According to Xiong Fujun's meaning, Cao Chuan took some people to Beijing this time to make the momentum sufficient; After the matter is over, just "find" some heads and take them to the capital to order, show a wave of loyalty in front of the emperor, and the matter will be over.

After listening to Lao Xiong's analysis and explanation, Zhang Dongdong naturally wanted to say yes. As for what he will do when he goes back to the capital, he will definitely not tell Lao Xiong now. Tell him, what if the old man is scared?

However, Zhang Dongdong still bought Lao Xiong's Chunchun teachings - he was able to talk about this, and hinted that Cao Zhongchen was "finding" some brains to deal with, and Lao Xiong was indeed treating Cao Chuan as his own brother.

After agreeing on the agreement, the two discussed some details.

For Xiong Wencan, since King Qin is a political show first this time, he must send Fubiao's personal guards to go around the capital on behalf of his old man. Otherwise, wouldn't his good image in the emperor's eyes be maintained in vain?

In addition, since King Qin was on a serious business this time, and he wanted Cao Zhongchen to go to danger, Xiong Wencan immediately stated that he would send 200,000 taels of silver from the official treasury as military expenses, and if it was not enough, he could add it again.

Regarding the cost, Zhang Dongdong, who had 200,000 taels of silver, naturally would not refuse. As for the pro-army in the Fubiao battalion, this Zhang Dongdong said in advance that the number of people must be small, and he must obey his command unconditionally, anyway, Zhang Dongdong will not forget to blow the old bear in front of Chongzhen.

In this way, the matter was decided, and Comrade Cao Pokong, who was brave and ambitious, would soon lead the Fujian delegation to Beijing to participate in the general battle.

As for the Guangdong side, because of the bad relationship between Deputy General Cao and the number one boss of the Guangdong official army, there is nothing to do in Guangdong this time - if Wang Zunde wants to be diligent to the king, he will pay for his own money to discuss with He Rubin, and Cao will not accompany him at all.

This is followed by a series of preparations. Fortunately, there was nothing to prepare for in Fujian, and after Xiong Wencan took out the silver, he allocated another 50 pro-army soldiers with complete armor and horses to be transferred to Deputy Chief Cao Commander.

And Zhang Dongdong immediately returned those pro-army horses - Tianjin is not without horses, and if the sea ships here travel thousands of miles, it will be brainless.

As for the 50 pro-soldiers, he accepted them after meeting with the leader of the Qianzong Chen Ce.

Chen Ce is a young general, and when he was booby-trapping Zheng Zhilong, he also shot one of Zheng Zhilong's subordinates at the city gate. Chen Ce is skilled in bows and horses, proficient in martial arts, and is the eldest son of a hereditary family of thousands in Hebei. Chen Ce's father had an old friend with Xiong Wencan many years ago, so after Lao Xiong became the governor, he came to ask for help and sent his eldest son over for a future.

And Xiong Wencan did not live up to the trust of his old friend, Chen Ce became the commander of the field army at a young age. However, this time Chen Ce was sent to King Qin, but it was not what Lao Xiong wanted, he was afraid that the young general, who would not be idle on weekdays, would run to the north to stab the basket with enthusiasm, so he originally sent someone else out on this errand.

Later, the reason why Lao Xiong changed his mind was that Chen Ce came to beg bitterly, and second, Lao Xiong considered that Chen Ce was born in Hebei and was familiar with the local customs, and he was a guide in the Qinwang army, which was dominated by southerners, so after telling the young general fiercely, he finally sent him over.

When 50 officers and soldiers and 200,000 taels of silver were on board, Zhang Dongdong bid farewell to Xiong Wencan and went straight back to Taiwan.

Taiwan, on the other hand, is frantically preparing for war, and it is wrong to "stock up". It seems that no one cares how many Tartars Cao Zhongchen can kill when he goes, but it is the industrial products transported from the kiln area that are constantly stuffed into the transport ships.

Finally, at the end of the month, the first batch of pot-bellied transport ships sailed to the intermediate station Shanghai. The ships are all 600-ton new lock ships, and they are all sail types with power systems.

On December 5, 1629, the fifth day after the departure of the sailing fleet, the huge battle fleet finally poured out of the Taijiang River, started at full speed, and headed straight for Shanghai.

This time, the battle fleet included two Ariko-class gunboats and two Taijiang-class frigates. What really makes the fleet "huge" is the 1,200-ton iron-ribbed wood-hulled sail double-decker gunboat Zhenman, which took the Imperial Navy ten months to build.