Inside and outside the city of Nanjing, soldiers and horses surged, and the people of the whole city knew the news that the emperor was about to conquer Jiangbei.

Between the several great victories of the Ying Long army, although the people were a little afraid of the Qing army, they were not panicked, but quite stable.

Two men in armor rode maroon horses into the city of Nanjing.

Both of them were in their twenties, one of them was wearing silver armor, with a white face and a heroic appearance, and the other was wearing ordinary gray armor, and his demeanor was obviously dominated by the silver armor general.

"It turns out that this is the city of Nanjing, and it is really prosperous." General Yinkai looked at the shops on both sides of the street, as well as the merchants who came and went on the road, many of them were richly dressed, silk brocade could be seen everywhere, and in this era, there was only one dynasty in the imperial capital that had so many dignitaries.

"Young master, our Quanzhou is not bad, but the place is a little smaller, but there are more rich businessmen." The gray armor general didn't care.

This person is actually right, Quanzhou is the largest port for smuggling and maritime trade, and there are many merchants, so it is naturally extremely prosperous.

At the same time, it is also the lair of Zheng Zhilong, the overlord of the South Seas.

Zheng Zhilong was originally a pirate in the East China Sea, and later changed to sea trade, specializing in doing business with foreigners, accumulating a huge amount of money, growing in power, there are thousands of ships under his command, tens of thousands of sailors, often plundering coastal counties such as Guangdong and Fujian, the imperial court has no way to take Zheng Zhilong, so he started the idea of recruiting An, recruited him 14 years ago, and was named the general of coastal defense, Chongzhen 16 years and entered Annanbo, and concurrently served as the general of Quanzhou, Zheng Zhilong completely became the emperor of Quanzhou.

Although he used to be a pirate, Zheng Zhilong, the people of Quanzhou's nest, was extremely benevolent, not only did not kill people, but even often helped the poor, and his prestige in Quanzhou was higher than that of the Ming court.

Zheng Zhilong has been running Quanzhou for more than ten years, not only has a strong naval fleet on the sea, but also has Quanzhou as a way to rely on, to this day, Zheng Zhilong's power has already been several times stronger than 14 years ago when he accepted the imperial court's recruitment, under his command there are nearly 4,000 ships, more than 100,000 sailors, even on the road there are more than 30,000 troops, the annual income of 10 million taels of silver, the power is strong, even the Dutch, who dominate the world at this moment, saw the Zheng family's fleet in the South Seas to take a detour, which shows Zheng Zhilong's power.

Originally, with such a force in hand, Zheng Zhilong could not take the Ming court in his eyes, but Zheng Zhilong was tired of living a pirate life, and his ancestral home was in Quanzhou, and the Zheng family had long regarded Quanzhou as their root, so in order to avoid confrontation with the imperial court, Zheng Zhilong would generally not disobey the orders of the imperial court.

This time, Zhu Cihong prepared to personally conquer Xuzhou, Jiangbei, and specially issued a holy decree to Zheng Zhilong, who was the chief soldier of Quanzhou, asking him to also bring troops to participate in the war, and test his mind by the way.

Zheng Zhilong naturally didn't dare to come by himself, but he didn't dare to oppose the holy decree of the imperial court, so he thought of a compromise solution, called himself sick, and sent his eldest son Zheng Sen to come on behalf of his father.

Zhu Cihong had expected this, was not disappointed, and was even overjoyed, Zheng Sen's arrival made him more pleased than Zheng Zhilong coming in person.

Zheng Sen, the famous Zheng Chenggong in later generations, not only because he is good at war, is a rare general, but more importantly, his loyalty, his loyalty to the Han people, to the Ming Dynasty, in history, Zheng Sen in order to refuse to surrender to the Qing Dynasty and even fell out with his biological father Zheng Zhilong, after entering Taiwan, he has been serving the dying and struggling Southern Ming Yongli regime as orthodoxy, accepting the dispatch of the Yongli regime, once sent troops to participate in the Yongli regime and the Manchu Qing war, and even after the Manchu Qing unified the mainland, in order not to cause the Ming Dynasty to perish, In Taiwan, he respected another prince of the Ming Dynasty as the emperor, and has insisted on resisting the Qing Dynasty for decades, so it can be said that he is loyal to the Han nation, and Zhu Cihong likes such a person the most.

The silver armor general is Zheng Zhilong's eldest son Zheng Sen, this time Zheng Sen brought 20,000 Quanzhou soldiers and horses to participate in the battle, as soon as he arrived outside Nanjing, Zhu Cihong couldn't wait to summon Zheng Sen.

"Let's go! Go to the palace to meet the emperor. Although Zheng Sen wanted to take a stroll around Nanjing City, thinking of the emperor's summoning order, he subconsciously didn't dare to let the emperor wait for a long time, and went directly to the palace as quickly as possible.

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Cihong was explaining some things to Ma Shiying and others, and Zhao Dequan, the chief eunuch, came to Zhu Cihong's ear and whispered a report.

Zhu Cihong was overjoyed, and even let Ma Shiying and the others go back first.

"Get people in." When Ma Shiying and the others walked out, Zhu Cihong couldn't wait to see Zheng Sen.

Zhao Dequan could see that the emperor valued this Zheng Sen very much, and he didn't dare to slack off, so he said to Zheng Sen with a smile: "Prince Annan, the emperor announced that you should go in." ”

"There is Father-in-law Lao." Zheng Sen was a little nervous in his heart, and followed Zhao De's whole body and walked towards the Qianqing Palace.

Although the Zheng family is powerful, Zheng Sen grew up familiar with Confucianism, and he has also been admitted to the examination, and he has stayed in the Guozijian for two years during the Chongzhen period, under the influence of Confucianism, he subconsciously respects the imperial power, and the idea of loyalty is no worse than some loyal ministers, which is one of the reasons why Zheng Sen refused to surrender in later generations no matter what.

"Alas, what are you doing!" The entourage who came with Zheng Sen also wanted to enter, but they were immediately stopped, and they immediately said dissatisfied.

"The emperor summoned the prince of Annan, how can any idle people also be able to meet him? If you dare to be rude, watch your head! Zhao Dequan turned around and shouted angrily.

In Zhao Dequan's heart, the emperor's heavenly power does not allow anyone to offend, all offenders are capital crimes, and the expression of staring at this entourage is full of cold murderous intent.

"You" The entourage was afraid that he was used to relying on the power of the Zheng family in Quanzhou, and he didn't react when he came to the palace for a while, but when he saw the real murderous intent in Zhao Dequan's eyes, his heart immediately jumped, and he grew up under the influence of imperial power, so he subconsciously shrank his head, and cold sweat flowed down.

"Ah Nan, just wait outside, don't be rude, otherwise you will be annoyed by the emperor and condemned to death, and I won't be able to save you." Zheng Sen glared angrily, annoyed by this retinue who didn't know the height of the sky, if it weren't for Nian Qi growing up with him since he was a child, he even had the intention of driving him back to Quanzhou as soon as he left the palace.

Zhao Dequan nodded secretly, although he was very angry at this little entourage, Zheng Sen's attitude was still satisfactory to him. The Zheng family's power is great, but this Zheng Sen is a smart person.

"Shizi, come in, don't let the emperor wait for a long time." Zhao Dequan urged, and before leaving, he glared at the rude entourage again, and stared him into a cold sweat.

Zheng Sen walked into the Qianqing Palace, and at a glance, he was a little puzzled, this place didn't seem to be the imperial study.

"Father-in-law, what kind of place is this?" Zheng Sen asked in a low voice.

"This is the Qianqing Palace, the emperor's bedroom, and the emperor will deal with government affairs here most of the time." Zhao Dequan returned to the road.

Zheng Sen was stunned in his heart, in his impression, shouldn't the emperor handle government affairs in the imperial study, how could it be a dormitory. Although he understood, Zheng Sen didn't dare to say more.

"Your Majesty, Zheng Sen, the son of Annan, brought it."

Zheng Sen caught a glimpse of a young man in a bright yellow dragon robe sitting on a soft couch looking at the figure, knowing that this was the emperor, he quickly knelt down and worshipped: "Zheng Sen, the son of Chen Annan, see the emperor, long live my emperor, long live long live!" ”

"Let's get flat!" Zhu Cihong said in a gentle voice.

"Emperor Xie!"

Zheng Sen stood up, only then did he have the opportunity to look at Zhu Cihong secretly, although he knew that the young emperor in front of him would not be sixteen years old until he was more than a month old, five years younger than himself, but seeing that the emperor was calm and majestic, and his eyes were shrewd and wise, he couldn't help but admire, and said in his heart, he really deserved to be the emperor, and he was not ordinary from ordinary people.

Zhu Cihong also looked at Zheng Sen carefully, dressed in silver armor, heroic, and talented.

"The prince is really talented, if I have a princess, I will definitely marry her to you." Zhu Cihong praised and said with a smile.

Zheng Sen was immediately stupid, although he knew that the emperor should be a joke, but he couldn't help twitching the corners of his mouth, the emperor was five years younger than him, if there was a princess, it would be a few months old at most, marry such a young princess to him, would it be too spoof to let him lead a sedan chair to carry a nursing baby back to get married.

"Just kidding, Aiqing doesn't have to think about it." Zhu Cihong saw Zheng Sen's face and realized that what he said just now was a little inappropriate, and immediately said with a pleasant face.

Zheng Sen wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, smiled awkwardly, and comforted himself in his heart that the emperor was really a man of temperament.

Zhu Cihong invited Zheng Sen to come, in fact, there was nothing else, just purely wanted to see him, after some small talk, he asked him to go back after a few words, and at the same time, he secretly decided in his heart that he must find an opportunity to put Zheng Sen by his side for a while in his heart to take advantage of this war with the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

"Young master, what did the emperor say when he summoned him this time?" The entourage who followed Zheng Sen into the palace was named Tang Nan.

"I don't know, the emperor just chatted with me casually, but the emperor's temperament is quite gentle, as rumored, he is a rare Ming army." Zheng Sen thought for a while and said.

In fact, Zheng Sen was also a little puzzled in his heart, the emperor really didn't say anything when he summoned him this time, he had always been kind and pleasant, which was difficult to guess, and he sighed again in his heart, the emperor really deserved to be the emperor.

Tang Nan frowned and was silent for a moment, unable to think of a reason.

"Forget it, I don't want to, this time I came to Nanjing City, I plan to go to see the teacher by the way." Zheng Sen shook his head, didn't want to be superfluous, and said with a smile.

After Qian Qianyi was demoted that year, he taught students in Guozijian for two years, and it happened that Zheng Sen became one of the students of Guozijian at that time, and worshiped under Qian Qianyi.

"I don't want to see Qian Shangshu, I don't want to see Qian Shangshu, but I want to see Qian Chuyao and Miss Qian!" Tang Nan laughed.

"Mouthy!" Zheng Sen scolded with a smile, mounted on horseback, and walked towards Qian Qianyi's Shangshu Mansion.

Qian Chuyao is the daughter of Qian Qianyi and his original wife, and Qian Qianyi's only child, at this time he is seventeen years old, beautiful as a flower, with the breath of a book, Zheng Sen fell in love with Qian Chuyao at first sight when he was fourteen years old, and he can't forget it for several years, for her not even married yet, the strange thing is that Qian Chuyao has also refused several family affairs and has not married yet, which makes Qian Qianyi and Liu Ru worried.

When he came to Qian Qianyi's mansion, the housekeeper invited Zheng Sen in.

When passing by a courtyard, Zheng Sen saw a blue shadow, which made his heart beat slightly faster, and he wanted to chase after him to see it.

"Shizi?" The housekeeper followed Zheng Sen's gaze, but didn't see anything, and when he saw that Zheng Sen was still there in a daze, he reminded him.

"Huh?" Zheng Sen came back to his senses and sighed slightly, secretly feeling sorry.

"What did the prince see?" The butler asked curiously.

"It's nothing, let's go see the teacher." Zheng Sen decided to meet Qian Qianyi first and then make plans.

Hearing that Zheng Sen was coming, Qian Qianyi would not slack off. For Zheng Sen, a student, Qian Qianyi actually likes it very much, Zheng Sen is not only studious, good character, but also very talented, but unfortunately Zheng Sen is a pirate in the end, and there is still half of the blood of the Japanese in his body, which makes Qian Qianyi a little uncomfortable, the reason why he took Zheng Sen into his door back then was just to prevent him from going on the road of his father Zheng Zhilong and opposing the Ming Dynasty in the future, so he took great pains to teach seriously, but let Zheng Sen learn what he had learned in his body.

After Zheng Sen visited Qian Qianyi, it didn't take long for him to start attacking Qian Chuyao from the side.

Qian Qianyi knew what he meant, but he repeatedly diverted the topic, and until Zheng Sen left, he did not disclose any news about Qian Chuyao to Zheng Sen.

"Master, I think this Zheng Shizi seems to be interested in Chu Yao, seeing that he looks dignified, and his character revealed in his every move is not bad, or the son of Annan, why don't you consider it?" Liu Ru was as wise as a torch and saw Zheng Sen's thoughts.

Qian Qianyi sighed slightly: "I don't know this idea of his, I taught him for two years back then, and I also know that his character is excellent, but he was born as a pirate in the end, and he still has half of the blood of the Japanese Kou, although the Zheng family has accepted the recruitment of the imperial court over the years, but has repeatedly refused to listen to the dispatch of the imperial court, it is for disloyalty, I will never consider marrying Chu Yao to him!" ”

Qian Qianyi said extremely firmly, there was no room for negotiation at all, Liu Ru sighed secretly, and did not say much.

"Miss, miss, guess who just came." In Qian Chuyao's boudoir, the maid Qiu Ju ran in with a smile.

"Who's coming? What's the matter with me? It's not going to come to me again, is it? I would never agree! Qian Chuyao's willow eyebrows raised slightly, and her apricot eyes glanced at Qiu Ju lightly.

This kind of thing has happened many times since she was fifteen years old, but every time she relied on Qian Qianyi and Liu Ru to love her, and always refused all on the grounds that she didn't want to leave her father and mother so soon. Qian Qianyi only has such a daughter, he doesn't want to hurt his daughter's heart, and he doesn't want his daughter to marry out so soon, so he lets his daughter be willful.

"Miss, it's Zheng Gongzi."

"Which Zheng Gongzi?" Qian Chuyao frowned.

"Zheng Sen, Zheng Gongzi! Haven't you been thinking about him, miss? Why is he here, miss, you don't care? Qiu Ju said.

Qian Chuyao's face was slightly red, thinking of Zheng Sen's handsome face, a little charm was revealed in her eyes, and she knew that she was tempted at a glance.

The little maid twittered and teased Qian Chuyao, and the words of the two somehow reached Qian Qianyi's ears, Qian Qianyi knew that her daughter was actually moved by Zheng Sen, and her face turned black.

"Sure enough, no, Chu Yao must not be allowed to have any more contact with Zheng Sen, this time I have to find a good family for Chu Yao no matter what, I hope that after she leaves the cabinet, she can forget Zheng Sen as soon as possible." Qian Qianyi, who didn't want his daughter to have anything to do with Zheng Sen, was ruthless and made up his mind to find a family affair as soon as possible to marry his daughter.

In the palace, Peng Cheng reported to Zhu Cihong, and among them was Zheng Sen, who Zhu Cihong asked him to focus on.

After Zhu Cihong heard that Zheng Sen was interested in Qian Qianyi's daughter Qian Chuyao, a trace of color flashed in his eyes, and he asked, "Has Zheng Sen married a wife?" ”

"Back to the emperor, Zheng Sen did not marry a wife." Peng Cheng replied.

"Oh? Then I can't say that I have to be a moon old again. Zhu Cihong smiled slightly, and had an idea in his heart.

...