Compared with the situation in Luzon, along the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, Xu Zixian's state of mind gradually became dark and gloomy.

The sea in the north of China is originally much darker, the sea in the south is bright and blue, the sea in the north is much lighter, and the color is mostly dim yellow. It's March, and the remnants of ice can still be seen floating in the sea.

The air is cold, the temperature may have been very warm for the people of Liaodong, but for the southerners, the temperature of more than ten degrees is not much better than in winter, many Fujian people are shivering from the cold, although before going north, the shogunate has ordered the military and political logistics departments to prepare winter robes for the soldiers to change, but when the cold air in the north hits, it is still a little unbearable.

With Xu Zixian went north were more than ten large warships such as the No. 1 Zhong, in addition to 20 medium-sized warships, and then more than 200 ships of various types and Guangdong ships.

Because of the northward journey, there was a delay in maritime trade, and even a lot of civilian ships were requisitioned, and the shogunate had to compensate the shipowners for their losses.

Even if some ship owners said that going north to meet the Northern Expedition army was a serious matter, and it was related to the life and death of the national war, they did not want to compensate, but the shogunate would definitely make up for this part of the loss.

The northward movement was not for naval battles, but to meet the Northern Expeditionary Army, so there were not many warships going north, but mainly merchant ships.

When they arrived off Phi Island, the ships of Wang Zhi's department came to meet one after another.

When they saw the banner of the word "Qin" upgraded high on the mast, many soldiers of Wang Zhibu bowed their heads and paid tribute to the future commander with the most reverent attitude.

In addition to the thousands of pirates who continued to follow Wang Zhi, or scattered and returned home, or stationed on the islands of Phidao and Huludao as the imperial court's northern naval division, most of the more than 10,000 pirates will go south, regroup, and become part of the officers and soldiers of the Great Wei Naval Division.

In this way, even if they have completely washed away their past sins, they are now considered officers and soldiers of the Great Wei, and many people also have official positions, but everyone knows that this is not true, this kind of official position is just a bondage, a means of appeasement, their official position is different from the serious Great Wei forbidden army, they will not be recognized when they return to their hometown, and there is no respect, except for a few people, most of them are still guarded against and excluded.

Once he goes south and becomes a member of the government army, he will become the official forbidden army of the Great Wei, and his previous official position will be reconfirmed, and all sins will be washed away.

Of course, there will be a price, they will be reorganized, subject to assessment, those who are unruly and difficult to be controlled by military discipline will be cleared out, or transferred to less restrictive positions such as sailors, if you want to serve in the army and get glory, you must be subject to military law and military discipline, which is completely consistent with the government army. Then, in the naval division, he served for the country's conquest and washed the past with blood and sweat.

Nothing is easy to obtain, and everyone has to pay for what they want.

Previously, Wang Zhi, Deng Wenjun, Lu Sihai and others had been gradually carrying out similar work, and counting the ships and personnel one by one, and had already reported the roster to the shogunate once, and when Xu Zixian arrived, there were already hundreds of military attachés with Deng and Lu, which was regarded as an official visit.

When Xu Zixian landed on Phi Island, these military attaches of Wang Zhi's department performed military salutes under the gaze of more than 10,000 soldiers, and from this moment on, their contract with Wang Zhi was terminated and they officially became Xu Zixian's subordinates.

"I've seen Your Highness

。 ”

After a simple salute, many military attachés from Wang Zhi's department surrounded Xu Zi and walked to the center of the island first.

This is a big barren island, the island can not be planted, the wind is too strong to build too many buildings, even Wang Zhi lives is a rather simple stone house, some wild grass and shrubs grow around the island, some islands hovering in the air to feed, from time to time swooping down, catch fish and then fly and spin up.

Lonely and barren, with only a port and a small number of buildings, Wang Zhi's department is actually scattered on dozens of islands and Dengzhou and other places, and places like Phi Dao cannot afford more than 10,000 people stationed.

Because it was only attached to the feudal system, the imperial court did not pay the military salary, and Wang Zhi's subordinates maintained it by means of sea trade and taxation at sea. Last year, about half a year of sea trade was nearly interrupted, it was Wang Zhi who took out his savings to supply military supplies, and the court did not make up a penny, and at the end of the year, Wang Zhi finally gave up, and the court had to mobilize a lot of manpower and material resources to transport materials to the front, which can be described as foolish.

Now after the annexation, Xu Zixian brought a large amount of money and grain to the north this time, and this is the time to announce the award.

"You have sinned and gone the wrong way, and now you are repenting, but you are not enough." Xu Zixian said to everyone: "Fortunately, after that, I will serve the country and the shogunate of this king, which is enough to offset the past." I also know that you have worked very hard for the country in the past six months. This time, the command is above, and each gives a hundred dollars, which is better than nothing. Ordinary soldiers, each person will be given ten times of money, a little subsidy, after the matter goes south, all the soldiers' salaries are the same as those of my shogunate sailors, and they may not be as good as the looting income of the year, but this money is at ease, innocent, and reassuring, everyone can understand? ”

Pirates plunder, of course, get a lot of money, and it is also very fast. But the benefit of the biggest head must be that Wang Zhi and other big bosses take it, the big thieves eat meat, the small and medium leaders gnaw bones, and ordinary pirates drink soup.

Because the money comes quickly, it goes very fast, because of the bumps to escape, the opportunity to go ashore is to spend desperately to enjoy, no pirate can save a few pennies, once the income is not enough to make ends meet, it will be quite embarrassing.

In the north for two years, especially for more than half a year to transport military supplies for the imperial court, there is no income, many big leaders are almost unable to survive, Wang Zhi's money has also consumed most of it, and no one should be worried about the wealth of this old pirate after that, everyone knows that he is breaking his wealth to buy peace, and the remaining money is enough for him to retire.

As for the ordinary pirates, although it is not said that they are hungry and cold, the situation is also quite difficult.

Although the money given by King Qin this time was not much, it was a timely rescue, and many pirates were quite emotional when they shouted and cheered.

As for the following, the annual military salary is not said to be dozens of times, and it is indeed not as fast as the looting back then, but everyone followed the king to recruit An and put down the things of the year, not to mention that they were also worried and scared at the beginning, and it was not easy to get money. Now that he has become a forbidden army, saving money for a year or two is enough to buy a house and marry a wife, comfort his ancestors, and he can pass on his ancestry, for many ordinary pirates, such a future is not bad.

In the thunderous cheers, Xu Zixian nodded slightly, this pirate Wang Zhi is not bad, the previous constraints were stricter than the Luzon pirates and Kang Tianqi, and it took two years to survive after the attachment, and the previous violence, cruelty and greed were almost boiled, and those who couldn't hold on either ran away, or they were cut off by Wang Zhi for violating the ban, and it is estimated that after eliminating one or two thousand people, the rest of them are almost military men who can accept control and get a salary.

"I've seen Your Highness."

"I've seen the festival marshal."

Wang Zhi's rank is also from the second rank of the marshal, hanging the title of general, the rank of the envoy. Recently, quite a number of people have written to the center, asking for the title of Wang Zhi, at least the marquis of three generations of hereditary lineage, otherwise the soldiers will be cold, and I am afraid that no one will be willing to serve the court in the future.

The center has not yet responded, but Xu Zixian estimates that the problem should not be big.

The reward of the title is quite cautious in the Great Wei, but Wang Zhi's merits are also sufficient, and his own generals and festival envoys are also more than the marquis, plus last year's great merit in transporting military food and soldiers, the marquis is only the most basic gift, if the court is generous, it is not unacceptable to give a prince.

But after all, Wang Zhi is not a general from within the forbidden army system, and it is impossible for the court to completely trust this former king of pirates, give a prince, and allow a generation when the emperor is controlled, this is the bottom line of the imperial court, and if you want more things, unless Xu Zi can be in charge first.

Feng Gong, hereditary three generations, if Xu Zi can be the master of the house first, it is such a reward.

There is no reward for money and food, the promotion of official positions, and even the title and name and instrument are so stingy, no wonder the Great Wei Dynasty is really declining.

Xu Zixian remembered that when Donghu entered the country and Li Kaiming approached Beijing, the center and the Son of Heaven had already messed up, and issued edicts one after another, and the prince did not want to be rewarded like money, and a military commander could be given a marquis, which was simply ridiculous.

When it should be used, when it should not be used, it is useless.

Wang Zhi's back is still straight, but the white hair on his sideburns seems to be a little more, but his eyes are still sharp, and he still hides the cunning color that Xu Zixian is familiar with.

After the two met, Wang Zhixian sighed with emotion: "When I said goodbye back then, I never expected that this would be the case when we met again. ”

"Although the status has changed," Xu Zixian said: "My perception of the festival has not changed, if it weren't for the original perception, we wouldn't be here today." ”

Wang Zhi understands that the identity of a noble person like Xu Zixian is quite special, even if he had status and strength back then, if it weren't for Xu Zixian's feeling that he could intersect, the two would still not have any intersection, and what Xu Zixian said now is also to reassure himself, although his identity and status, including strength, have undergone earth-shaking changes, but since his perception has not changed, he has actually changed for the better, so Wang Zhi can rest assured.

Wang Zhi showed a look of relief on his face, called a young man, and said, "I have seen His Royal Highness King Qin. ”

The young man hurriedly bowed and saluted, with a very respectful and respectful attitude.

Xu Zixian nodded and said, "Jie Shuai wants to take Ling Gongzi back to live in Mingzhou, I suggest that you wait for about half a year." ”

Wang Zhi didn't expect Xu Zixian to speak so directly, and unconsciously responded: "I don't know what His Highness means?" ”

"In about half a year, our shogunate army will be stationed in Mingzhou, or stationed in Mingzhou with a fleet of sailors to protect the safety of Mingzhou. At that time, the marshal took the old department, and the son returned to Mingzhou, so there was no need to worry about safety. In terms of the imperial court, it is procrastinating, but it will not be delayed for more than half a year, and then the marshal will return to his hometown as a marquis, pay tribute to his ancestors, and return to his hometown, and the family will welcome him, and the scenery will be very different from the current return. ”

"Thank you, thank you." There were obvious tears in the corners of Wang Zhi's eyes, and after calming down for a while, he arched his hand and said, "Don't worry about it, the old man will arrange everything according to His Royal Highness." ”