Liu Ming stood outside the city gate, looking at the confluence of the two Pearl Rivers, only to see many huge ships anchored on the nearby river. The weather was very good, it was sunny for several days in a row, and it was very hot in Canton Province, and it was completely impossible to feel that it was the climate of autumn in August. The boats on the water in the distance, shrouded in a light yellow hue under the afternoon sun, looked even more gorgeous.

At this time, he heard Tang Jing, the military general next to him, speak, and Tang Jing's voice said: "As Liu Yuanjun, you can go south by yourself, go to the camp at the mouth of the Pearl River, and listen to the meaning of the Chinese army." What exactly is the Chinese military going to do? ”

So Liu Ming put away his gaze from afar and turned his head to look at Tang Jing. Suddenly, a sip of wine came to my face, and it smelled very bad.

A group of civil and military personnel who came to Guangzhou Mansion to repair ships went to a banquet today, which was a hospitality banquet set up by the Guangzhou prefect. Tang Jing and the others all drank, but Liu Ming did not, because the decoction prescribed to him by the medical officer had not yet been consumed, and he was advised not to drink and be tired.

Liu Ming glanced back at the guards who were far away, and said quietly: "Why did I leave Beijing to send it, General Tang knows?" Now I, the chief envoy, am only in charge of diplomatic relations, and the fleet has nothing to do with my official position. I shouldn't be in charge of things, I don't bother to ask, so as not to attract suspicion. ”

Tang Jing smiled, and suddenly slapped Liu Ming's shoulder with a "snap". He may have drunk wine and slapped Liu Ming's body crookedly with one palm. Tang Jing said: "I don't know why, I can talk to Liu Yuanjun quite well." You speak in a down-to-earth manner, not so many twists and turns. ”

Liu Ming looked at Tang Jing with a somewhat strange mood. The person in front of him was still the same as before, but because Liu Ming remembered his calm and resoluteness in the storm, when he looked at him again, he had a different vision.

"If you don't practice martial arts, where are there many twists and turns?" Liu Ming said casually.

Tang Jing approached and whispered, "Have you seen Jinyiwei?" That's what we know, and the defense is against the collusion of the officers and men in the army to rebel. There are also things we don't know, what we are guarding against is that we are military generals with military power, and some people don't talk like Liu Yuanjun. ”

Liu Ming nodded lightly and did not continue the topic. He said: "According to the arrangement of the princes of the imperial court, the fleet must arrive in Zhenla by the latest before the lunar month. Now these damaged ships, I don't know how long they will be delayed in Guangzhou, I'm afraid they won't be able to continue the trip? ”

Tang Jing thought for a while, shook his head and said, "If it's time, it's time." It's only the beginning of August, and there are still four months to go. It won't take long to repair these ships; Those warships that could not be repaired for a while and were about to enter the dock had already gone to the harbor under the control of Yongning Weizuo and Zhongqianhu. ”

"I see." Liu Ming said.

Tang Jing burped and said, "It's still early, let's go find a wine shop and drink two more cups." ”

Liu Ming said: "I can't drink for the time being. ”

Tang Jing patted his head and said, "Liu Yuanjun is right. Listen to the doctor, and I will not persuade you. ”

Liu Ming said again: "But we can go and drink tea." There are singing ladies in the teahouse, who can sing songs and accompany guests. ”

Tang Jing suddenly said happily: "This method is good, and the general will also follow Liu Yuanjun Fengya for a while, as a sobering wine." ”

Liu Ming said: "What is elegant? Tang Jing should also know that the little girls in those places sing words about stealing people and trysts. ”

The two laughed teasingly, and Tang Jing said heartily: "Last time I went to Chen Dashuai's place to discuss matters, some people were worried about morale. I'm here

Didn't the big tent say that find a prosperous port to dock, so that the brothers can have wine to drink and a kiln sister, and ensure that there is nothing to do. ”

Liu Ming smiled and said: "General Tang's words are reasonable, and his words are not rough. He paused and asked, "After the port of Guangzhou, is there still a prosperous port?" What is the Songtaiwei Port in Annam? ”

Tang Jing shook his head without hesitation and said: "Songtai is not good, the city just built by the Ming Dynasty officials and soldiers is almost all guards. You have to go to Da Nang in the Champa country, which is said to have been a prosperous port since the Tang Dynasty, so why don't you want wine and meat? It's nothing more than that the little lady looks darker. ”

Liu Ming couldn't help but laugh and said, "General Tang is very knowledgeable. However, Da Nang is in the name, and now it belongs to the country of Annam. ”

While the two were talking and laughing, they turned around and walked towards the city. The official carriage that had taken them back to the camp had returned. They had no choice but to walk back to the city.

The group was not familiar with the city of Guangzhou, so they walked through the streets and alleys with many people. On an old and quaint street, a noisy and lively teahouse attracted the attention of Liu Ming and others, and the sound of silk and bamboo was faintly heard inside. So the two looked at each other and walked in.

When Fang entered the hall, the sound of the musician blowing and pulling suddenly became louder, and there was a stage above it, and a woman with grease and powder was singing. The singing was probably a southern opera, and even Liu Ming couldn't tell which script it was, and he couldn't even understand the lyrics, and he sang in Cantonese. However, the female voice of the warbler and Yanyan sounded like a beautiful sound.

The two of them found a place with a screen to cover them slightly. When Xiao Er came up to serve tea, Liu Ming ordered a few plates of dim sum. Liu Ming asked, "Is there a little lady singing alone?" ”

Xiao Er understood that they were speaking official language, so he said enthusiastically: "Upstairs private room." ”

Tang Jing said: "The tea is served, let's sit here for a while." ”

Xiao Er turned his head and said, "Okay! ”

The two drank two sips of tea, and Liu Ming also turned the direction slightly, looking at the drama on the stage, wanting to hear what she was singing. After a while, Xiao Er brought the snacks, and Liu Ming turned around and said a brief word to Xiao Er and sent him away.

At this time, Tang Jing's voice said: "My ancestor was an illiterate peasant. ”

Hearing Tang Jing suddenly talk about his own affairs, Liu Ming guessed that it was because he also told Tang Jing some family matters. Therefore, Tang Jing regarded him as a friend, and it was indeed not easy between civilian, military and military generals.

Tang Jing's expression was incompatible with the glamorous sound floating in the air. He lowered his eyes as if reminiscing, and then said: "At the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, my father defected to the official army and fought outside all the year round, and I grew up with my grandfather at that time. ”

Liu Ming nodded and said, "We're all about the same." Those whose ancestors were rich from the Yuan Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty are afraid that they do not need the imperial examination. ”

Tang Jing said: "I still remember that I asked my grandfather before, what is a good day?" Grandpa's words were that there was rice and fatty meat to eat after work. ”

The two laughed together.

Tang Jing said: "My grandfather is honest, unwilling to go far away, dare not do anything out of the ordinary, every day facing the loess with his back to the sky, digging in the ground to live. As long as it is not a place of war, the life in the countryside is stable. But when I was a child, I knew that I was not like my grandfather at all, and I couldn't stand that way of living day after day, day after day. ”

Liu Ming asked curiously: "General Tang's position as the commander of the guard, is it hereditary?" ”

Tang Jing nodded

"Yes, more fortunate to be an officer in the Navy. Maybe I've been in the boring countryside for too long, but now I want to go to sea, see all kinds of places, and experience different things. People think the sea is miserable, but I find it very funny. ”

Liu Ming said: "Everyone has their own ambitions. Mr. Wuliu is concerned about the countryside, and General Tang is ambitious all over the world. In the future, if the official resigns and returns to his hometown, he will write a biography for General Tang. ”

Tang Jing said excitedly when he heard this: "Don't you dare to leave a name in history?" Ha, let's have a drink, it's a word. He picked up the teacup and soon realized that the contents were only tea.

Liu Ming cooperated with a smile, raised his glass and said: "General Tang's talent is not an ordinary person, and he does have a writing head. ”

Tang Jing said: "At first, I paid attention to Liu Yuanjun and came up to make friends and talk, thinking that you were a fellow practitioner. Haven't you volunteered many times? ”

Liu Ming shook his head and said, "What General Tang wants is experience, and what I want is results." ”

Tang Jing smiled: "Ha, this statement is interesting. ”

Liu Ming thought about it, and then said in a deep voice: "This time I went to sea because of the crime at home, the Holy Lord may want me to avoid the limelight and go back to serve the public with some hard work. But at first, I did take the initiative to come. ”

Tang Jing groaned: "For your cousin Chen Zhang? ”

Liu Ming nodded: "No one can return, but you have to find the main messenger for him." In the dead of night, when I think about the past, I can also ask for peace of mind. ”

Tang Jing bowed, leaned his head over to the table, and said: "The saint can personally arrange for Liu Yuanjun, a good thing that only the royal celebrity has, what are you worried about?" ”

Liu Ming said quietly: "The people in the Shilin are still different from the military generals and nobles. ”

Tang Jing pondered something.

The two continued to talk for a while and ate some dessert. When Dr. Tea came to add tea, Liu Ming proposed to go upstairs to the private room.

It was Liu Ming's idea to propose to go into the city to drink tea before, and according to the rules, he would be the east. said that if there is a little lady singing and accompanying him, then he can't be omitted, so as to avoid General Tang thinking that he is stingy.

When they arrived at the private room, Liu Ming asked Xiao Er to find two little girls, one singing and one playing, and specifically mentioned that they wanted to be beautiful. After speaking, Liu Ming put a small stack of new copper coins in the small second-hand hand. Accompanying a martial artist like Tang Jing, and in such a teahouse, Liu Ming understood in his heart that it didn't matter whether the little lady he found sang well or not, the key was to have a good look.

This private room is also thoughtful, and there is a small room inside. After listening to the song, it seems that there is something else to do. It's just that there is no wine, and it seems that there is less atmosphere......

A few days later, the Zhujiang Estuary battalion sent people to Guangzhou Prefecture to summon the naval commanders and military generals, as well as some civil and eunuch officials accompanying the army, to immediately go to the battalion to discuss matters. So Liu Ming and Tang Jing both left Guangzhou, rode south on the post road, and the horses went to the post station official shop to receive ready-made.

Sure enough, Shangfeng said that it was a discussion, but it was just an announcement of a decision to everyone. The great eunuch Wang Jinghong had the royal order in his hands, and Chen Xuan had the seal and military power, and according to the recent emperor's approval and authorization, they could directly decide whether the navy would go or stay.

The Chinese military ordered the naval fleet to set sail again within August and continue to move south to complete the unfinished strategy.

……

……

(I'm sorry everyone, there was a delay a few days ago, and I was interrupted for three days in a row, I'm really sorry.) ）