Qi Jiguang's life is a glorious life, a life of struggle, and a life of compromise.

History has given him a lot of halo - a famous anti-Japanese general, an outstanding military strategist, a calligrapher, a poet, and a national hero. He fought against the Japanese in the southeast coast for more than 10 years, swept away the plagues that had plagued the coastal areas for many years, and ensured the safety of the lives and property of the coastal people.

Later, he resisted the Tatar invasion in the north for more than ten years, safeguarded the security of the northern territory, and promoted the peaceful development of ethnic groups.

He wrote the 18-volume "New Book of Discipline and Effectiveness" and the 14-volume "Actual Record of Military Training" and other famous military books, as well as the "Zhizhitang Collection" and the recitals and revisions submitted to the imperial court in various historical periods.

At the same time, he was also an outstanding weapons expert and military engineer, who successively transformed and invented various fire attack weapons; The large and small warships and chariots he built made the Ming army's waterway equipment superior to the enemy; He creatively built a hollow enemy platform on the Great Wall, which could be attacked, retreated, and defended, all of which were very distinctive military projects.

However, history rarely records his life completely, especially his tragic old age.

In the previous life, after the death of the first assistant Zhang Juzheng, the "Zhang faction", including Qi Jiguang, was brutally purged, and a large number of meritorious men became prisoners and died in prison.

Because Qi Jiguang's performance was too solid, the opposition really couldn't do it directly, so he could only send him to Guangzhou to be the chief soldier. Then he repeatedly belittled him for reasons to belittle, and finally returned to his hometown in Shandong, where he died silently in the midst of poverty, hunger, boredom, poverty and illness.

Probably even the neighbors would not guess that this old man who looks down on the sick and no one cares about him is the legendary Qi Jiguang!

According to Hua Mei, Qi Dudu did not receive too much criticism, and the layout of the second uncle before his death had a great effect. Zhang Siwei and Hai Rui passed away one after another, and now the Ming Dynasty is dominated by prudence, supplemented by Shen Shi's behavior, and the overall situation is relatively stable, but the arrogance of the opposition has always been relatively arrogant!

Because the big boss behind the opposition is none other than the little emperor who is high above the temple - Zhu Yijun of Mingshenzong!

This rebellious little emperor deeply hates Zhang Juzheng, who restrains himself like a father, even if he is deceased, he still hates everything related to it without reservation!

But as the king of a country, he knew that all this was beneficial to him, so although he was unhappy in his heart, it was not good to suppress it with open fire when Shen Xing, Shen Shixing and others insisted.

But in private, it is impossible to say, Yu Shenxing and others have many difficulties in the process of promoting reform, but they still gritted their teeth and endured it and remained silent. It's not that they don't know what happened, they just can't say it clearly, and they don't want to give up under their sense of responsibility.

Qi Dudu had died miserably under their blows, and the situation in this life was slightly better than in the previous life, but he still couldn't change the fate of being marginalized. In the fourth year after the death of the second uncle, he still made a request to Zhishi, and Zhu Yijun naturally replied and agreed in seconds.

Now, he has returned to his hometown in Shandong to retire, but his physical condition is deteriorating, and his time must be short.

Perhaps, Qi Dudu is my first mentor and most important friend in the true sense of this world!

I need to rush back to at least see him again.

Moreover, Hua Mei also told me that although the current Dongying still maintains a separation, it is always ready to move against the Ming Dynasty and Goryeo!

This gave me even more reason why I had to go back.

For now, however, I must first go back to London - the Queen has sent five envoys to ask me to return to receive a reward, and it would be a breach of order not to return!

I am a meritorious person, not a guilty person, and there is nothing to avoid.

On the way back to London from Dublin, there was still lightning and thunder in the air, but at this time it looked so lovely and charming.

This is probably because of the difference in mood, which creates a different perception of the environment.

The Palace of Westminster, in order to welcome my arrival, fired a gun salute, which was a grand welcome to the triumphant heroes. The rare sunny weather added a lot of color to the celebration.

"This is a celebration for you, and a canonization ceremony! Your Excellency the Duke of America! Isabella, dressed in full costume, said to me excitedly, "Her Majesty has prepared it for you!" ”

As she spoke, there was an indescribable smile in her eyes, and it was very interesting, just like the ambiguous expression of a girl who had a crush on me when I was in college the previous life, when she learned that I had a crush on another girl.

I don't understand where this smile comes from, and I wonder deeply about the name in her mouth - Duke of America? What does that mean?

Turning her head to look at Queen Elizabeth I, sitting on the throne in the main hall of the palace, she was wearing a white queen's dress today, looking majestic and inviolable. At this time, he was smiling and looked at me with a happy face:

"I already knew that you were a good guy, but I didn't expect to be so good!" Elizabeth I's voice was ethereal, as if from a distant starry sky.

"As for the title of Duke of America, it is Isabella's title - this niece of mine thinks that the title of Marquis of Mexico is just a joke, or - the situation requires it, and now it is not needed, so she thinks that you should be given a title according to your preference, I wonder if you agree with her idea, or if you have a better choice!"

Before I could speak, I saw Isabella gently cover her mouth with the two fingers of her right hand and smile: "My aunt has always said the same, and today she is willing to make an exception to modify the fate for the sake of His Excellency the Duke, which is what I really can't believe." ”

The two sang and harmonized, which made me a little confused, and I only felt that my brain was a little insufficient.

The drums next to me were noisy, and I felt a little unreal to hear it. Because the queen's attitude has gone far beyond treating a "hero", it is more like treating her own "lover"!

I couldn't help frowning slightly, and after a pause, I saluted deeply: "Thank you for Your Majesty's love and praise, I am deeply ashamed!" I'm just pushing the boat with the right time, and this big victory is thanks to the queen's wisdom, how dare I be greedy for merit? ”

Elizabeth I smiled: "For a bird to fly, it needs the command of the mind and the drive of its wings. Qilan doesn't have to be too humble, we all see your credit. ”

As she spoke, she asked meaningfully: "I don't know what Qilan plans to do next?" ”

I bowed deeply and said, "I have come this time to listen to His Majesty's teachings, and on the other hand, I have come to bid farewell to Your Majesty!" ”

As soon as the words came out, Elizabeth I's face immediately showed a slightly sluggish expression, and she glanced at Isabella next to her, before turning to me and whispering, "Where are you going?" What are you going to do? ”

I immediately replied: "I have received news from my hometown that one of my extremely important elders is not in good health, and I am afraid that time is running out, and I intend to rush back to the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible to visit my elders." ”

Isabella said, "Is that going to be back?" ”

I didn't understand what she meant, so I could only vaguely reply: "All these years of life at sea have made me fall in love with all this, and I will definitely go to sea again." ”

Isabella seemed to let out a long breath, a small movement, but I still heard the long, seemingly non-existent breath. Then she glanced at Elizabeth I, and the queen regained a smile on her face, looked at me, and said:

"What you did was right. I should write a letter on the opening of trade routes, and ask Qilan to bring it to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and mediate from it. ”

This kind of favor, why not do it? I immediately agreed to it, and everyone was happy for a while.

The dinner at the Palace of Westminster was a grand and splendid affair with London's celebrities from all walks of life.

My heart was not in the slightest part of the atmosphere, and if I could, I would rather not attend such a worthless hype than set out on a voyage back to the East.

However, although time is precious, it is not such a cherishing method, and sometimes the necessary hypocrisy and grievances will have a higher cost performance.

In the melodious symphony, Hua Mei, who accompanied me to the dinner, returned the salute elegantly to every nobleman who came to toast, and behaved very decently and generously, coupled with her traditional red and black two-color dress reflecting her fair skin, heroic and upright but delicate face, everything was even more extraordinary, and it was particularly dazzling among the female companions.

"Qilan, the queen seems to be watching me all the time." Hua Mei suddenly whispered after we saw off the Earl and Count Charles, who came over to toast, "Or rather, she is looking at you, as if she has something important to say to you." And every time he looked at me, he seemed to have some bad intentions. ”

After speaking, she wrinkled her little nose slightly: "Don't ask me why I know!" I can only tell you - a woman's intuition! ”

Then he put on an aggressive expression, and said in a low voice: "Honestly, what did you do with her during my absence?" ”

I didn't say anything the whole time, just watched her perform helplessly. To be honest, I actually noticed that the queen had been peeking at her, and several times people went up to greet her and seemed a little absent-minded.

I certainly don't have the narcissism to think that the English supreme has anything else to think of me, and I can only put it down to the wise queen having something to tell me.

Sure enough, as the music transitioned from a cheerful march to a melodious dance, the crowd in the hall consciously dispersed to the surroundings - to make enough space for the most noble and beautiful ladies present to dance the first dance.

Of course, the most noble and beautiful is just a saying - everyone knows that this first dance was reserved for Queen Elizabeth I. All people care about is who she will invite to be her dance partner, and that's it.

In previous years, the Queen's dance partner had generally been Sir Raleigh, but since last year, more precisely, since Sir Raleigh's defeat at the New Continent, the Queen's orientation and choice seem to have changed.

Sir Raleigh was no longer her first choice – not even on the shortlist, and the Queen generally bestowed the honour on her niece Isabella, which was seen as a restraint and renewal of the Queen's social relationships.

When people thought that today's queen would give up this opportunity to Isabella again, the supreme king of England slowly stood up and looked in a certain direction of the crowd.

I chuckled in my heart, it can't be such an inch, right? Just as she was thinking about what might happen, she heard Elizabeth I say happily in her characteristic sharp voice: "For the first dance, I would like to invite Sun Qilan, the hero of the country and the Duke of America who made great sacrifices and efforts to defeat Spain, to dance with him!" I wonder if I'm honored? ”

Hearing this, people looked in my direction and said in their hearts that this Oriental boy is really a lucky guy. Then she looked at Hua Mei beside me again, and showed an obvious gloating expression.

At that time, in the Western ball, knowing that the other party had a male partner or a female partner, he had to invite the other half to dance the first dance, which was a somewhat clear declaration of love!

Just when people thought that Hua Mei was going to swallow this dumb loss and had to accept that her lover had the first dance with other more powerful women, they heard Hua Mei's crisp voice ring out in the hall:

"Sorry, Her Majesty. My fiancé doesn't do court dancing. Moreover, I don't borrow! ”