On February 17, Li Yan returned to Kaifeng.

Because he knew that Li Yan was coming back soon, Li Zhong asked Zhang Han to stay for the time being, and when Li Yan came back, he would personally discuss with Zhang Han. Although Li Yan has been patrolling in northern Xinjiang, the information is not closed at all, and he can receive news in time for major events that he should know. So as soon as he returned to Kaifeng, he could immediately start dealing with affairs.

"Huang Desheng, what's going on there?" Li Yan was discussing matters in the Qinzheng Hall of Kaifeng Palace.

Li Zhong immediately replied: "He is still sending troops to track Li Zicheng." Li Zicheng divided his troops and fled in the Eagle Peak Mountains, but he had not yet found Li Zicheng's main position. He was worried that Li Zicheng would return to Zhejiang and even Huguang, so he asked the imperial court to take precautions. ”

Li Zhong paused for a moment and continued to report: "He also reported that he sank several ships of Zheng Zhilong blocking the Minjiang River. ”

"Oh? Fired on the shore? Li Zicheng asked curiously.

Li Zhong replied with a smile: "Yes." Zheng Zhilong's fleet fired guns and arrows at our troops on the north bank, wounding three of us. The next day, our artillery concentrated 10 guns on the counterattack, sinking two large ships and one small boat with red-hot projectiles, and damaging several ships. ”

"I have a heart." Li Yan said happily: "I know that I will act when I am ready, and I will hit the nail on the head, okay." Let Huang Desheng report to the meritorious soldiers, and the military department will prepare a commendation method. Being able to take the initiative to find ways to destroy the enemy is worthy of being a model for the officers and men of the whole army to follow. ”

"Okay."

Li Yan asked again: "What is the situation with Guo Chengdong?" ”

"Zheng Zhilong's sailors are attacking along the coast," Li Zhong replied, "Guo Chengdong has no way to catch the enemy and fight, and he is one step behind the enemy every time." Moreover, there was a lot of communication with Zheng Zhilong in various coastal areas, and most of the local officials and gentry and common people were reluctant to cooperate with our Daliang, and most of the money, grain, and materials were transported to the islands in the sea, and our army had difficulties in purchasing grain and grass. ”

Li Yan frowned and thought for a while, and asked, "I remember that he just started to report that grain and grass can be purchased on the spot. ”

Li Zhong explained: "This was true at the beginning, but after Zheng Zhilong's navy came ashore, he burned and killed several large households, and threatened that if there were those who dared to cooperate with my Daliang, the pieces could not enter the sea." Therefore, the attitude of the gentry and common people in northern Fujian changed rapidly. ”

"It seems that Zheng Zhilong's influence in Fujian is not small." Li Yan said with a sneer.

Li Zhong then reported: "Four days ago, Zheng Zhilong sent someone to contact my Daliang, saying that he intended to submit to my Daliang, but he had the conditions. ”

Li Yan didn't speak, motioning for Li Zhong to continue.

"He wants to lead the sailors of my Daliang, and also lead the military and political affairs of Fujian and Guangdong." Li Zhong shook his head and smiled, and said: "Moreover, what he still wants is to be like the Mu family in Yunnan, to have a hereditary title and guard Fujian and Guangdong for generations." ”

"Hahaha," Li Yan laughed heartily: "His requirements are really not low." What did you do to him? ”

Li Zhong also said with a smile: "I told him that if you return to obedience, you must have the appearance of returning to Shun, and as for what position and title you can get, the imperial court will make a suitable decision based on the contribution you make." The greater the contribution, the more it will receive, and the girder will not accept any threats. ”

Li Yan nodded, satisfied with Li Zhong's answer. At this time, the guards outside the door reported that Zhang Han was waiting outside the hall. He didn't have a good impression of the eunuchs, so the eunuchs of the Zhou Wangfu left with the King of Zhou, and specially ordered the former Ming Palaces such as the King of Zhou to continue to use the eunuchs, but the eunuchs had to be registered, and no new people could be added.

Most of the eunuchs in Beijing were also sent to Huangzhuang and the former Ming Cemetery, leaving only 200 people to take care of the Forbidden City. The other positions will be replaced by palace maids recruited from all over the country. He has decreed that in the future, there will be no more eunuchs in the palace, and the people will also prohibit castration without permission. Those who have been castrated, after ascending the throne in the government, are sent to work in government-run farms or workshops in various places.

In these years, wars and famines have caused Shandong, Henan, Beizhili, Shaanxi and other places to lose millions of people, plus the Jiangnan region, the loss of population is not less than 10 million. He stopped recruiting eunuchs, which can be regarded as a measure to restore the labor force.

More importantly, Daliang abolished the Dingkou tax and abolished the forced labor, and the people did not have any worries about giving birth and declaring Dingkou, and those who lived in the mountains whether they were evading tax service or fighting could also come out of the mountains to fill the population gap in the villages and towns.

Li Yan ordered: "Let him come in." After that, he said to Sun Sifu: "Isn't the Intelligence Department in contact with Jinyiwei from all over the former Ming Dynasty?" You send some people to northern Fujian to check which ones are for Zheng Zhilong. These people were arrested, and their wealth was confiscated. ”

"The minister will do it." Sun Sifu, who was in the corner, respectfully agreed.

Li Yan reminded again: "Tell the errand officer, what I want is to really communicate with Zheng Zhilong to sabotage, and they don't want to bring out the problems of the previous dynasty." Otherwise, if it is found out in the future, you will be guilty of a greater crime. ”

Sun Sifu immediately agreed: "Your Majesty, rest assured, the Intelligence Department has followed the example of Jinyiwei to establish an audit office, which is specifically responsible for internal supervision matters. ”

At this time, Zhang Han came in and saluted Li Yan, and Sun Sifu stopped talking.

Li Yan asked Zhang Han to get up and asked, "Regarding Zheng Zhilong's question, don't you sailors have any way at all?" ”

"There are too few naval warships, even if it is a sneak attack, it can only destroy a small number of Zheng Zhilong's warships." Zhang Han explained helplessly: "Zheng Zhilong was able to gather thousands of ships, and this was how he took the lead and defeated the Hongyi gunboats. Moreover, the newly renovated warships of the naval division have not yet had actual combat experience, and they dare not guarantee that the improved warships can increase their combat effectiveness. If we rashly start a war with Zheng Zhilong's naval division, all parts of our coastal areas may be attacked and harassed, so the minister suggested that the Zhejiang bandits should be exterminated first, seize the ships, and at the same time cut down giant trees from Huguang and Fujian to build ships. On the one hand, it can test the combat power of the sailors, and on the other hand, it can also expand the scale of the sailors. ”

"Found a way to strengthen the hull?" Li Yan knew that what Zhang Han said was reasonable, and there were specific technical problems.

Zhang Han said regretfully: "This, I haven't found a good way yet, so I can only put the gun in the position of the watertight compartment partition, and this position can withstand the pull of the artillery recoil on the side of the ship." However, with four stone throwers on the side, the firepower should not be too weak. The firepot is placed in a wooden box, and the surrounding area is filled with wood chips, which greatly improves the safety of carrying, and the number of carries can be increased, which can improve the continuous strike ability of the battleship. Moreover, our artillery and trebuchet are not close in range, and the survivability should not be weak. ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "Then so be it, you first lead the fleet to exterminate the Zhejiang bandits, and the giant wood will also start cutting down and transporting immediately." If the newly renovated battleship does have an increase in combat power, start building new warships. ”

After that, he said to Li Zhong: "Inform Guo Chengdong that after the additional troops are in place, cooperate with the Intelligence Department to eliminate some of Zheng Zhilong's sailors on land." At the same time, the coastal areas of Shandong, Nanzhi, and Zhejiang should strengthen their precautions, and if pirates are found to have landed, they must be reported in a timely manner. The garrison and regimental training reacted in time and annihilated on the spot! ”

"Obey." Li Zhong and Zhang Han clasped their fists to lead the order.