Zhu Cihong visited the waterwheel under the guidance of Gao Hongtu.

In general, this waterwheel is still in line with Zhu Cihong's vision. It's just that some details still need to be carved and improved.

Zhu Cihong made some targeted arrangements and drove back to the palace.

It's just that as soon as he returned to the dormitory, Han Zanzhou, the eunuch of the inner factory, came to ask for a meeting.

Zhu Cihong summoned Han Zanzhou in the warm pavilion.

Since the last time Zhu Cihong Longyan was furious and scolded Han Zanzhou for rectifying the inner factory, the efficiency of the inner factory has been greatly improved, and there is an overall posture of catching up with and surpassing the East Factory and Jinyiwei.

Moreover, in the collection of external intelligence, the internal factory does have an irreplaceable role.

"Anyway, what's the point of coming to see me today?"

Zhu Cihong took a sip of tea and said lightly.

"Back to the emperor, it's news from Fujian."

Han Zanzhou replied cautiously.

When Zhu Cihong heard the word Fujian, his heart trembled.

Because of Zheng Zhilong, the Military Intelligence Department of the Inner Factory sent a large number of secret agents to Fujian. If there is any wind in Fujian, the news will be transmitted back to Nanjing as soon as possible.

"What's the news?"

"Emperor, according to the report of the informant of the Military Intelligence Division, Zheng Zhilong is afraid of secretly communicating with Dongyu."

Although he already had a hunch, Zhu Cihong was still shocked when he heard this.

In the original history, Zheng Zhilong descended to the Qing Dynasty, which was made when the Manchu Qing Dynasty had gone straight to Fujian with the overwhelming momentum of Mount Tai. And now that the situation in Daming is very good, why is Zheng Zhilong still fighting with Manqing?

Zhu Cihong knew that this kind of major event would be reported to him after repeated verification. If Han Zanzhou is just chasing after the wind, he really doesn't want his head.

"Explain the cause and effect of the incident to me clearly, and don't miss a word."

Zhu Cihong sat down with a serious face.

"The slave obeys."

Han Zanzhou paused for a moment and then continued: "Not long ago, the spies of the Military Intelligence Department in Fujian discovered that the local grain prices in Fujian had risen a lot. Originally, the rise in food prices was nothing, but this time it was impossible to stop the rise, and it has more than doubled. Although Fujian is not a major grain-producing province, there has been no major disaster this year, and the grain on the market should be sufficient. This aroused their suspicions. After a thorough investigation, they found that all the grain in the Fujian market was taken away by Zheng Zhilong. ”

Zhu Cihong's mood suddenly became much heavier.

Why did the good Zheng Zhilong buy so much food?

Hoarding food, there must be a plan.

The most straightforward explanation is that they wanted to rebel and hoard food for the army.

"Go on."

"Later, they found out that Zheng Zhilong began to buy grain from Liangguang, and even grain from Huguang was transported into Fujian."

Han Zanzhou's proportions were just right, which not only left Zhu Cihong time to think, but also did not speak too slowly.

"Zheng Zhilong has such a big movement, it is really suspicious, these spies tried their best to finally find that these grains were transported to the dock to be loaded on the ship, floating to the sea and heading north."

Hiss!

Hearing this, Zhu Cihong gasped.

Transporting grain to the north, it is too obvious what Zheng Zhilong wants to do.

The Zheng family has a lucrative maritime trade project, and there is no reason to sell grain at all.

How much profit can such a thing as food be? Zheng Zhilong has been doing sea trade all his life, can he not know this?

Of course, this alone is not enough to prove that Zheng Zhilong has fornicated with the Manchus.

Zhu Cihong also wanted to hear what Han Zanzhou said next.

"Emperor, according to the report of the governor of Denglai, the Zheng family sailor did bypass Dengzhou and continued to the north. Look at the direction, it's to Tianjin Wei. ”

Han Zanzhou's words undoubtedly eliminated Zhu Cihong's last illusion about Zheng Zhilong.

Now the entire Northern Zhili is in the hands of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

Zheng Zhilong sent sailors to the north, and he was already convicted of secretly communicating with the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

If he goes to Japan, there is no need for him to go around such a big circle, isn't this tantamount to seeking the near and far?

Zhu Cihong's mood at the moment is very complicated.

He treated Zheng Zhilong well, and he couldn't imagine that Zheng Zhilong still lost him.

Thinking of Zheng Zhilong's betrayal of Emperor Longwu in the original history, it can already be completely concluded that he is a despicable villain.

Han Zanzhou saw that Zhu Cihong's face was gloomy, so he lowered his head and didn't dare to speak.

After a long time, Zhu Cihong sighed and said: "This matter must be strictly controlled, and I am not allowed to mention it to anyone except me." ”

"The slave obeys."

Han Zanzhou hurriedly responded.

"Stand down. I want to be alone. ”

Zhu Cihong's voice was a little tired.

"The slave and maid are gone."

Han Zanzhou cautiously got up and exited the hall.

Zhu Cihong simply closed his eyes and thought about countermeasures.

Zheng Zhilong dared to secretly communicate with the Manchu Qing Dynasty, because he was sure that the imperial court would not dare to do anything to him.

After all, the strength of the Zheng family's sailors is much stronger than that of the imperial court sailors.

If the imperial court really forced Zheng Zhilong to be in a hurry, he could completely carry the gold and silver on the ship and surrender the clan.

However, Zheng Zhilong did not blatantly rebel, which shows that he was also cautiously optimistic about the Manchus.

He was not sure that the Manchu Qing would be able to win the world, so he chose to step on two boats, so that no matter who ruled the world in the future, Zheng Zhilong would enjoy glory and wealth.

It's a pity that he met Zhu Cihong.

Zhu Cihong is not a person with a weak character, and he must not accept this kind of behavior of riding the wall.

Zheng Zhilong's behavior is not much different from directly launching a rebellion, and it is essentially a trampling on imperial power.

It's just that how to deal with it is a real problem.

It is definitely not possible to send troops directly to fight, Zheng Zhilong is fully capable of leading the sailors to the north to surrender to Qing.

The best way is to weave a big net and cover Zheng Zhilong in it. Then slowly tightened, so that by the time Zheng Zhilong realized that it was too late to break free.

It's just that the technique of weaving the net must be delicate, if it is noticed by Zheng Zhilong, it will not be beautiful.

Zhu Cihong doesn't plan to let too many people know about this matter, but there must also be someone to discuss. After thinking about it again, Zhu Cihong decided to summon Lu Zhenfei.

As the secretary of the military department, Lu Zhenfei has an unshirkable responsibility in this matter.

said that Lu Zhenfei, who was working in the yamen of the Ministry of War, hurriedly entered the palace by order.

After he came to the warm pavilion of the Qianqing Palace to salute, Zhu Cihong gave him a seat.

"It's really important for me to summon my own soldiers in a hurry."

Zhu Cihong said straight to the point: "Zheng Zhilong and Dongyu secretly communicate with each other, and they have become rebellious. ”

Lu Zhenfei was shocked.

"Your Majesty, this... Is this news true? ”

"The Military Intelligence Department of the Inner Factory and the Governor of Denglai have confirmed it, there should be no fake."

Zhu Cihong smiled bitterly and said, "I didn't expect me to treat him so favorably, but I raised a white-eyed wolf." Let's talk about it, for the sake of today, what should I do? ”

Lu Zhenfei was silent for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that he can first issue a holy decree to order Zheng Zhilong to go to Beijing to report on his work and find out his bottom." Whether he comes or not is acceptable to the imperial court. ”

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