Chapter 54 Zheng Zhilong returned to the treasure house, and happened to meet the red hairy fan on the sea

Zhang Xianzhong's matter, the kiln gang people handled it tepidly, and it was a matter of course.

Early the next morning, Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He were very happy when they heard that Zhang Xianzhong had confessed.

Chen Yunfeng said: "This guy is capricious, he has surrendered to the imperial court several times, and we have to guard against him." ”

"Huh!" Ouyang He smiled and said, "The Eight Great Kings can't jump out of our palms. This time, we handled Zheng Zhilong's matter so neatly, which taught him a lesson. Now they can inform Liu Yun that they and the Eight Kings will work together to make a detailed plan to solve the Southwest problem! They have a group of people who have also been busy in the southwest for a long time. It's finally time to get busy. ”

"Alright! You can arrange Zhang Xianzhong and the southwest! That Zheng Zhilong's house should be arranged as soon as possible, he has a lot of family, and the place should be bigger. Arrange a few more places, and it is convenient for them to come and live. Zhang Zhimu said.

"I just don't know if Zheng Zhilong will agree to come to Yaogang? It's time to see General Li Jing's ability. Ouyang He said.

"He has to come if he doesn't come, and he can't help it, so if he doesn't come, he will be beheaded on the spot." When it comes to Zheng Zhilong, Chen Yufeng is full of anger.

"Let's prepare first," Zhang Zhimu said, "and I will send a telegram back to the emperor today." It is estimated that the emperor will not be able to eat for the next two days, and the good mood of the Kaifeng meeting must be gone. ”

"Yes, the emperor still has to be stable." Chen Yunfeng said, "You can deal with the emperor's affairs, we still have to help Lao Lu deal with the disaster relief." On the estuary of the Huai River, although a channel has been blown up, the flow is still not enough. There are several embankment failures in the middle and lower reaches, and this year's disaster relief is not small. Fortunately, with Tang Jingyao in front, we coordinated back and forth, not as chaotic as last year. ”

"Alas! It will be better to stop this year. Zhang Zhimu said, "You guys are busy, I'll go and draft a telegram for the emperor." ”

Zhang Zhimu's telegram to the emperor first introduced the situation in Fujian, and said, "After Zheng Zhilong subdued the law, he has already admitted to hiring Qiankunmen to harm me. Not to mention, Qiankun Gate is an evil sect that has been strictly eradicated since Taizu, Zheng Zhilong has supported Qiankun Gate with heavy money is already heinous, let's just say that he is on the southeast coast, although he has been recruited by the imperial court, but his thief nature has not changed, and all passing ships will be looted if they do not pay protection money to them, which is completely piracy. Zheng Zhilong didn't pay attention to the officials sent to Fujian by the imperial court at all, but used the looted gold and silver property to bribe the officials of the imperial court. Whenever there is something unfavorable to Zheng Zhilong, there will be many important ministers in the court who will stand up and speak for Zheng Zhilong. According to investigation, Zheng Zhilong bribed those high-ranking officials with gold, silver and jewelry, no less than to the imperial court Taichang treasury. Originally, we wanted to be patient with Zheng Zhilong's hiring of a murderer to harm me. But people like Zheng Zhilong dominate the southeast, and if they don't eradicate it early, they will leave trouble. We sent troops to suppress the thieves this time, not only to avenge our own personal vendetta, but also to eliminate harm to the imperial court. Now that Zheng Zhilong's thief has been captured, Fujian will be stable immediately. Li Zicheng's reorganized army would not stay in Fujian for long. We will send them to Annam by land and water. ”

When the emperor received the telegram from Zhang Zhimu, he was furious and thunderous, and he tore up the telegram in a few handfuls. He knew that Zheng Zhilong was finished, and Fujian would also return to Yaogang. But what can I do but get angry? The hateful thing is this Zheng Zhilong, he is incompetent, how can he still hire people from Qiankun Gate, it is self-defeating, and he was caught by the kiln gang people, it is simply too infuriating. Although Zheng Zhilong is not very obedient, they are still officers and soldiers after all. Zhang Zhimu didn't care about it, so he sent troops to destroy Zheng Zhilong.

Emperor Chongzhen was even more angry that Zhang Zhimu had been hiding this from himself. In the past, when the Yaogang people sent troops to fight, the radio and newspapers had to follow up and report continuously, but this time there was no news at all, and all the information was sent back by Dongchang.

Li Zicheng got the news that Zheng Zhilong was captured, but it was much earlier than Emperor Chongzhen. After getting the news that Zheng Zhilong was arrested, Li Zicheng couldn't close his mouth happily, and said to the people around him: "How is it?" Understand, the kiln gang people do things, or they don't do it, as long as they make a move, they will be determined all at once. ”

Song Xiance smiled and said, "Hehe! Your Majesty, don't worry about being happy. Inform General Kwon on the front line of this news immediately! Let the soldiers go to the front line to shout to Zheng Jiajun and inform them of the news that Zheng Zhilong has been captured. Their morale will inevitably be shaken, and we can also take advantage of the situation to seize those places. ”

"Yes, yes, I'm glad to be patronizing, so hurry up and inform Zhongmin." Li Zicheng reacted.

At this time, someone said, "Your Majesty, the people of Yaogang are so smart!" We gnawed bones here, they took Quanzhou Port Quanzhou City over there, and then took Ping'an Town, Zheng Zhilong's big money fell into the pockets of the Yaogang people. ”

Hearing this, Li Zicheng was a little unhappy, "Hugh is talking nonsense!" The people of Yaogang don't have such small-bellied chicken intestines as you. They develop strategies and tactics, and they don't calculate these first. Besides, have you counted the military supplies he has provided us, how much silver is that? People are sending good things. And that Fuzhou, the Yaogang people will definitely leave it to us. By the way, tell the brothers, just like the previous agreement, only the things of the official government and the yamen are allowed to enter the city, and the things of the people's shops are not allowed to be moved. Those who violate the order will be killed! ”

"Yes! We must not only wear the clothes of the kiln workers, but also look like the kiln workers. Niu Jinxing said, "We're leaving, and the kiln people still have to govern these places." Let's not leave the kiln people in trouble. The kiln gang people have given us everything they can give, and we must also have a conscience! ”

"The prime minister is right!" Li Zicheng said, "We are fighting with the kiln people this time, and we also want the kiln people to know us again." When people support us, we can feel happy. ”

After Fan Chengkun and the others collected the captives in Ping'an Town, they roughly counted them, and there were about 20,000 people. Among them, there are many people who swear to die with Zheng Jiajun to guard Ping'an Town. Fan Chengkun asked the people to educate them and let them go home. The captured people didn't expect to let them all go so easily, and when they returned home, they saw that none of the people in the town had been violated, and they all felt that there was really no need to fight with the kiln gang people. They came out to help the Zheng family army guard the town, that is, they were afraid that the town would be broken and their families would be harmed.

After Zheng Zhilong's family was escorted back, they were all locked up in a small courtyard in Zheng Zhilong's house.

In the evening, Li Jing invited Zheng Zhilong to come over for a drink. The banquet was set up on the deck of the Xiurong.

After Zheng Zhilong was escorted up, Li Jing asked Zheng Zhilong's handcuffs to be opened and asked him to sit down. Zheng Zhilong, who let go of the handcuffs, moved his wrist and arched his hand and said, "General Xie Li!" Then, sitting opposite Li Jing, he glanced at the things on the table and said, "Alas! I never thought it would appeal to me before. ”

Li Jing filled Zheng Zhilong's wine cup, poured it into her own wine cup, picked up the wine cup and said, "Zheng Zongbing drinks!" ”

Zheng Zhilong picked up the wine cup and drank it with Li Jing, Li Jing said, "Come on!" You haven't eaten much in a day, eat something to press the wine! ”

Zheng Zhilong was not polite, picked up the chopsticks, picked up the fish and ate it in a big bite. After a binge meal, Zheng Zhilong said with a smile: "General Li, don't laugh at my lack of interest, I'm really hungry today!" Let me tell you, I haven't eaten much since yesterday. ”

"Tell me good news, and you'll be able to eat better." Li Jing said, "Your family has returned to your house. Isn't that a good thing? ”

"Oops! Thank you so much, General Lee. Zheng Zhilong arched his hand and said.

Li Jing also knew that people like Zheng Zhilong were not afraid of death at all, but he would rather cut himself with a thousand knives than suffer his family. Although Li Jing was unwilling to threaten Zheng Zhilong with his family, there was no other way to deal with him.

Looking at Zheng Zhilong, Li Jing said, "There's something I want to ask you for a favor?" ”

"Huh! Want my vault? Zheng Zhilong looked up at Li Jing and asked.

"That's a trifle," said Li Jing, "your vault can't escape!" I would like to ask you to give your officers and soldiers the order to surrender and let the brothers shed a little less blood? Think about it! ”

"Don't think about it, I'm like this, so I don't have to shed any more blood from my brothers. I will write a few letters at once instructing the brothers to lay down their arms and to obey the fate of your kiln people. Zheng Zhilong said. Because he knew that he was captured, and the people outside had to surrender if they didn't flee in all directions. It's better to be a favor, just like Li Jing said, and let the brothers shed less blood. So Zheng Zhilong happily agreed.

"How many letters do you write and they'll listen to you?" Li Jing was a little worried.

"Haha! General Lee was reassured. After I finish writing the same letter, I will be able to recognize it by stamping it with the official seal. Guaranteed to work! Zheng Zhilong said, "It's useless for others to follow the second!" ”

Li Jing nodded and said with a smile: "I believe you have a way!" Li Jing did believe that Zheng Zhilong had a secret communication with his brothers.

The two drank for a while, and Li Jing said, "Let's talk about that little thing, shall we?" ”

"Huh!" Zheng Zhilong touched his mouth with his hand and said, "That's the savings of most of my life!" ”

"How much is ill-gotten gain?" Li Jing was not polite.

"There is no distinction between gold and silver, is it true that the gold and silver that the emperor gets are all righteous?" Zheng Zhilong quibbled.

"Alright! We don't say whether there is righteousness or not, gold and silver must also have life flowers! Li Jing didn't want to debate this with Zheng Zhilong.

"Does General Li think I'm a person who is afraid of death?" Zheng Zhilong came up.

Li Jing really wanted to cut off Zheng Zhilong's head with a knife, but she still suppressed the fire, looked up at Zheng Zhilong and asked, "Zheng Zongbing, your vault can't run, can't you and I solve this matter like friends?" ”

"I can ask for my treasury, but I want to have it." Zheng Zhilong said.

"Can't we find your vault without you? You know what we do? Li Jing said, "However, I would like to hear your conditions." ”

"Without me, you can't find my vault," Zheng Zhilong said, "I want you to release my family, and I will tell you the vault." ”

"How you and your family deal with it depends on how you behave, not as a condition." Li Jing said, "You better mention other conditions!" ”

"If I don't let my family go, I won't talk about the treasury." Zheng Zhilong is very resolute.

"I'll dig three feet into the ground in Ping'an Town? I'm going to see where your vault can be hidden. Li Jing said as she watched Zheng Zhilong's reaction.

A smile appeared on the corner of Zheng Zhilong's mouth and said, "Then you can try it." ”

"Under the water, we won't let it go." Li Jing, who had been staring at Zheng Zhilong, found that the corners of his mouth were a little imperceptible spasm, and then Zheng Zhilong laughed and said, "What can you do to show it as much as possible!" Li Jing knew that Zheng Zhilong was hiding her nervousness.

Li Jing didn't entangle with Zheng Zhilong on this, and asked, "Zheng Zongbing, have you thought about your future plans?" ”

"Huh! What are the plans of the defeated general? Let it go! Zheng Zhilong looked like he didn't care.

"We're going to think about what to do with you." Li Jing said, "It's easy to cut you with a knife." I can also send you to the capital and see if your ministers, who have spent a lot of money, can save you!" But I think they see that you are useless, and they are worried that the past will be revealed, and they wish you had died sooner. Besides, it is also a capital crime for you to collude with Qiankunmen, and even if you are an official soldier, it is a capital crime to lose Fujian. ”

Zheng Zhilong picked up the wine cup and dried it again, and said with a smile: "Haha! The words turned back again, General Li, do you think I am a person who is afraid of death? ”

Li Jing said unhappily, "I haven't wanted to answer your words, it seems that I have to say it." You have a lot more to do than die, do you need to tell me? ”

"This ,......" Zheng Zhilong finally lowered his head and couldn't speak.

"I discussed it with our naval commander Fan, seeing that you are a hero, I want to show you a clear way, but I didn't expect you to have no sincerity except for making mistakes!" Li Jing said, "A big husband, is he just thinking about his own business? Don't you know what will happen to your family in the future? ”

Zheng Zhilong lowered his head and stopped talking, and Li Jing's words poked Zheng Zhilong's weakness.

Li Jing poured wine into the wine cup of the two of them again, and said, "Drink!" ”

The two of them drank the wine in the wine cup. Putting down the wine cup, Li Jing said, "I won't go around the bend." What Commander Fan and I can do is that we ask the family to build a big mansion for your family in Yaogang, and your family will go to Yaogang, and you will cooperate with us, and in the future, you will be regarded as a person from Yaogang. What do you think? Of course, your house in Yaogang can't be like what you are now. We don't have such a house in Yaogang yet. ”

Li Jing's words made Zheng Zhilong a little tempted, because now he was standing on the verge of death, and he would not let go if he grabbed a little life-saving thing, "What do you mean, are you asking me to cooperate with you?" ”

"Yes, in this way, we can ask the family to build you a house in the kiln!" Li Jing said.

"My family is here, I can work with you too!" Zheng Zhilong was tempted.

"Do you think it's possible?" Li Jing said, "You have been operating in the southeast for so many years, it is good that we can fight not to kill you." Don't make unrealistic demands. Besides, when your family arrives at Yaogang, life is much better than here. I won't say much more about that. ”

Seeing the hope of life, Zheng Zhilong's face was different. Ever since he was captured, Zheng Zhilong has been thinking about how he died. Because, the people of Yaogang knew that he had hired people to assassinate Zhang Zhimu several times, and they would definitely not let him go. Therefore, Zheng Zhilong, who has thought about it, has always shown that he is not afraid of death.

"They all say that your life in the kiln is like heaven, I know." Zheng Zhilong asked, "Then how can I cooperate with you?" ”

"I have discussed with Commander Fan, you will stay in Fujian, as Commander Fan's deputy, to assist Commander Fan in managing Fujian and coastal affairs, of course, your focus is on overseas trade. You enjoy the treatment of the corresponding officials of our kiln gang, and your family also enjoys the corresponding treatment. In addition, the kiln gang has agreed that within ten years, you can share a part of the profits from overseas trade. Starting at 5 per cent per year, decreasing by 1 per cent each year, and remaining unchanged after 1 per cent. I can also tell you that after we take over Fujian, the volume of overseas trade will increase substantially. This matter is not a trivial matter for you, you should think about it. ”

"Don't think about it, I agree." Zheng Zhilong is very refreshing, a life-saving straw, Zheng Zhilong will never let go.

"That's good! We are all smart people, if you have something half-hearted, the consequences are serious, do you know? Li Jing asked.

"General Li, there is no need to say this. It's useless to make small moves against you kiln people. Zheng Zhilong said.

"Also, you have to hand over the affairs of the Heaven and Earth Society to me personally." Li Jing stared at Zheng Zhilong again and said.

"Good! It's useless for me to keep it. Although there are some assets in the rudders in various places, without financial support, I can't control this world meeting. Zheng Zhilong said.

"Good! Zheng Zongbing is also a cheerful person. It is also the duty to offend a lot, and I hope to be a friend with you in the future. Li Jing said with a wine cup.

Zheng Zhilong hurriedly picked up the wine cup and said, "General Li, it's my honor to be friends with you!" Also, in a moment, you take me to meet my family, and I'll tell me where the vault is! ”

Zheng Zhilong's words made Li Jing stunned, could it be so easy to get Zheng Zhilong's treasury.

Li Jing was stunned, where could she escape Zheng Zhilong's eyes, "Haha!" General Li doesn't believe me, Zheng Zhilong, and I'll lead you over in a while. ”

Zheng Zhilong really did not lose his trust, and after drinking with Li Jing, he came to Zheng Zhilong's mansion together. Zheng Zhilong saw that his family was there, so he led Zhang Zhimu to the bottom of a rockery in the back garden and moved a large flower pot planted with flowers and trees. Lift up the bricks under the pots and dig up the soil under the bricks. Sure enough, a stone slab was exposed underneath. Push the slab open, revealing a downward stone staircase. Li Jing and Zheng Zhilong walked down the stone steps together, Zheng Zhilong personally opened the mechanism, and the stone door in the basement opened with a bang. There are many rooms in the large basement, Li Jing turned on the flashlight and shone inside, and the gold bricks and silver ingots piled up on the shelves of the room shone brightly.

Zheng Zhilong said: "My years of hard work are here. General Li, I, Zheng Zhilong, will never break my word, and I will hand it over to you! ”

Seeing these piles of gold and silver, Li Jing was a little dazzled, and said to Zheng Zhilong: "Brother Zheng is really a gentleman, and he is a gentleman!" Let's go up! Tomorrow, I'll arrange for someone to come over and take stock. ”

"Don't count it, I'll tell you a total, here are five million taels of silver. One hundred and fifty thousand taels of gold. Nothing is here. Zheng Zhilong said.

After hearing this, Li Jing's mind flashed and asked, "Brother Zheng, you collect more than this amount of money every year, right?" ”

"What you said is that in addition to paying some to the imperial court, we also have to give it to those dignitaries of the imperial court. Our people in Fujian can support me so much, and I also use most of the money I collect on them. It has never been used to build bridges and repair roads, and the people have contributed money. In addition, we spend a lot of silver every year on shipbuilding, and most of our property is in the cargo of the ship. Zheng Zhilong continued: "In the past two years, in order to deal with Li Zicheng's army, fighting with Li Zicheng has been like flowing money. It's just that I resolutely didn't move the money here. Otherwise, there will be no left. ”

Hearing Zheng Zhilong say this, Li Jing didn't speak. But Li Jing was skeptical of what Zheng Zhilong said.

The next day, at dawn, Zheng Zhilong really wrote letters to his subordinates everywhere.

After unloading their personnel and cargo at Quanzhou Port, the two 5,000-ton ships of Yaogang returned to Hangzhou Bay and transported the infantry of another division of Yaogang, who respectively took Zheng Zhilong's letter and took over the ports of Mawei, Xiamen, and Zhangzhou in Fuzhou. and other major port locations. Li Zicheng's army also took over Fuzhou and Yanping at the same time.

The big ship of Yaogang, which had finished transporting the soldiers, also docked to Ping'an Port. One night, Li Jing's special forces took matters into their own hands and loaded all the gold and silver in Zheng Zhilong's vault onto the ship.

Zheng Zhilong was also very cooperative, following Fan Chengkun and Lin Zongwei, walking along the coast of several port wharves, personally speaking to the original staff on the wharf, announcing his current identity, and letting everyone work with the new officials in Yaogang, telling everyone that everything must work normally, and everyone's treatment can only be improved in the future. Things quickly stabilized.

On this day, Li Jing said to Zheng Zhilong: "We Mr. Zhang want to see you. Just right, you can go to the kiln with your family. I'll accompany you back to the kiln! ”

Zheng Zhilong understood that if he wanted to follow the people of Yaogang, Zhang Zhimu had to pass this pass, so Hao agreed without hesitation.

The Zheng family all boarded the Hongze Lake loaded with gold and silver, and Li Jing accompanied Zheng Zhilong to board the ship. Another 5,000-ton Gaoyouhu ship was loaded with grain. Mu Yi personally led five steel-hulled ships and accompanied the two large ships to sea. They had to make sure that the ships carrying gold and silver were safe.

All the ships, after converging in Quanzhou Bay, sailed together to the open sea.

Zheng Zhilong is an expert in navigation, and when he boarded the Hongze Lake, his eyes were not enough. I've heard of steamships before, but today I've seen them. In particular, he used a telescope to see the escort steel-hulled ship from the Hongze Lake, without the majestic posture of sails moving freely on the sea, and said to Li Jing: "It's ridiculous to think about it, I always thought that we had thousands of ships, and there was no problem in dealing with you Yaogang people at sea." Now I know how ridiculous it is, I think you kiln people look at me, that is, a fool, right? ”

Li Jing did not answer Zheng Zhilong's statement about stupidity, but said: "We have a great advantage in dealing with you, that is, your intelligence is not as good as ours, and your people's vision is not as good as ours. Most of our understanding is taken for granted, and you have no reason to be invincible. I want to keep you, or we'll make a sudden move and kill you all at once. There are many such plans. ”

"Haha! I said, I often feel a chill on the back of my neck, it turns out that you have been thinking about my head! Ha ha! Zheng Zhilong laughed after speaking.

On the fleet, the Zheng family inevitably cried. Although, Li Jing has tried her best to let them take away everything they want to take away. Even their family's favorite furniture was hoisted onto the boat. But they still have too much reluctance.

However, after getting on the ship, they lived in air-conditioned cabins, and the novelty replaced the feeling of leaving home. There were also drinks such as soda on the ship, which they had not drunk before. The utensils in the toilet on board are even more new to them.

Zheng Zhilong saw that his family's mood had improved a lot, and his mood was also a little better. Li Jing comforted: "It's not easy, just get to the kiln slowly." When we arrived at the Yellow River, we changed into my passenger boat, and everyone watched a few movies, and everyone was in a better mood! ”

Due to the construction of the canal from Kaifeng to Huai'an, it is not navigable. Their big ships had to send them into the Yellow River before they could be exchanged for passenger boats.

At this time, Mu Yi suddenly used the radio to contact Li Jing and said, "General Li, a large number of warships have been found on the sea, it seems that they are coming to us?" ”

When Zheng Zhilong heard this, he immediately ran to the top of the boat, picked up the binoculars, looked into the distance, turned back to Li Jing and said, "I can't see the situation on the sea clearly. However, if there is a large number of warships now, it is likely to be the ships of the Hongmaofan (Dutch), because we have made an agreement to work together against you. However, I didn't come to deliver the letter in a hurry, I wonder how they came so quickly? ”

"You can't see clearly with the telescope in your hand, but they can see clearly when the gun scope on our warship can go one or twenty kilometers." After speaking, Li Jing used the radio to tell Mu Yi what Zheng Zhilong said.

Mu Yi said happily when he heard this: "Okay! We don't have to go out to find them, they come to the door. Your great ship raises its sails and hastened northward. You have both sail power and steam power, and they can't catch up with you. We've dealt with all these Red Hair (Dutch) boats and we're going to chase you! ”

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Mt. Fuji erupted, Japan was earthquaked. --Progress of "Memories of the Southern Song Dynasty".