Huai'an, in the compound of Liu Zeqing's mansion.

Xu Dingguo has been under house arrest in the small courtyard in the middle for two days, and he is not very nervous, but he is very angry.

Huang Desheng came in in the evening as usual to see Xu Dingguo, who was under house arrest. Two days after the robbery in the city, he deceived Xu Dingguo in the name of inviting Xu Dingguo to Liu Zeqing's mansion for a banquet. He knew that for these generals who didn't know how to abide by discipline, Li Yan would not let it go easily.

Xu Dingguo was dressed in regular clothes and sat at the table drinking tea. Originally, he wanted to drink, but Huang Desheng didn't even provide him with wine, which made him even more angry. He raised his eyes to look at Huang Desheng who entered the door, and asked contemptuously: "It's only been two days, and Generalissimo Li shouldn't have any news yet." ”

Huang Desheng sat down by himself and said with a smile: "The news has just arrived, and I have come to inform you." You'll be able to go out the day after tomorrow. ”

"Hahaha," Xu Dingguo laughed for a while, and then said, "It's still Generalissimo Li's magnificence." What a big deal, isn't it just a robbery? This is Liu Zeqing's garrison, and it is also appropriate to rob him. Without these money and women's hooks, who would want to be a soldier with their head pinned to their trouser belts. ”

"It's to escort you back to Kaifeng." Huang Desheng smiled and gave an unexpected answer.

The smile on Xu Dingguo's face instantly froze, and he asked in disbelief: "Escort?" ”

Huang Desheng still smiled and said: "That's right, not only you, but also the five battalion officers under you, as well as their personal generals. ”

"What do you mean?!" Xu Dingguo asked sharply.

Huang Degong replied lightly: "The soldiers will be separated, and the soldiers who participated in the looting will be disposed of on the spot." Murderers, adulterers and adulterers are beheaded; looters, property recovered, prisoner camps to work to atone for their sins. Others, etc., will be trained on the spot, and those who should be dismissed will be dismissed, and those who can stay will return to the camp for retraining. ”

Xu Dingguo laughed angrily: "How many other soldiers and generals are hostile to you in Jiangnan?" Did Generalissimo Lee really not know the consequences of doing so? He appointed me Xu Dingguo today, and tomorrow, there will be millions of troops fighting you to the death! I don't believe Generalissimo Lee could be so unwise. Moreover, if you escort us away the day after tomorrow, are you not afraid of the mutiny of the soldiers under my command? That's 6,000 elite men who have fought for many years. ”

"We are not afraid of the two questions you mentioned." Huang Desheng took a leisurely sip of tea and said slowly: "We have fought countless battles in the past few years, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty, and you, the officers and soldiers of the former Ming Dynasty, which is our opponent?" As for a possible mutiny under your command, that's your imagination. You have eight battalions under your command, and all the battalion officers are under control, do you think those hundred generals can organize a mutiny? Even if there is a real mutiny, it will not take much time to exterminate these rabble. You have been in Xuzhou for more than half a year, so you should know our methods. ”

Xu Dingguo slapped the table, and with a muffled bang, a crack more than two feet long appeared on the one-inch-thick mahogany Eight Immortals table. He gritted his teeth and said, "Do you really think this yard can trap me? ”

"If General Xu thinks he is skilled, then he might as well give it a try." Huang Desheng glanced at Xu Dingguo and said with some disdain.

Xu Dingguo did not speak ill again. He had seen the equipment of Li Yan's troops, the crossbow arrows could penetrate the heavy armor at thirty paces, and the muskets could kill and injure the heavily armored soldiers at sixty paces away. There are also handcuffs, bombs, all of which are sharp weapons for killing, even ordinary spears, but those pikemen are also fast, accurate and ruthless.

There were only two personal soldiers by his side, and he really didn't dare to guarantee that he would be able to break out of this heavy courtyard. And at this time, he saw that the four personal soldiers behind Huang Desheng, one person and two handcuffs, were already in their hands. This thing is so powerful that it will shoot a projectile with a snap of your finger, and within ten steps, you won't even have time to dodge.

Xu Dingguo took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and asked in a slightly calm tone: "Then General Huang, what will Generalissimo Li do with Xu?" ”

"Then it depends on General Xu's attitude." Huang Desheng didn't seem to have a mustard, and reminded casually: "After all, the order to enter the city and loot did not come from General Xu. ”

Xu Dingguo understood what Huang Desheng meant, that is, to put all the responsibility on his subordinates. Although he was able to pick out the relationship himself, the hearts of his subordinates were scattered. But he didn't hesitate, after all, Li Yan didn't care about the effectiveness of the thousands of soldiers in his hands at all, so what was the use of him clinging to these capitals? It's better to be a rich man by yourself, so as not to make wedding dresses for others after many years of accumulation.

"Thank you, General Huang, for the point." Xu Dingguo finally stood up and thanked Huang Desheng with a fist.

Anping Town, Fujian.

Zheng Sen returned to the Zheng family's mansion, a magnificent and solid castle covering an area of more than 100 acres. This is not only Zheng Zhai, but also Zheng Zhilong, the palace of the overlord of the sea, halls, pavilions, pavilions, small bridges, winding paths, ponds and exotic flowers and plants are all over the courtyard, both magnificent atmosphere, but also elegant and quiet.

"Father, the child is back." Zheng Sen entered the main hall and met his father Zheng Zhilong. Before he got up, he asked anxiously, "Is there something wrong with the father calling the child back?" ”

He was studying in Nanjing Guozijian when he was called back by Zheng Zhilong in a hurry. Although Li Yan and Zuo Liangyu were both heading towards Nanjing, they were still far from Nanjing, so they would not be in such a hurry to call him back.

Zheng Zhilong frowned, looking at this eldest son, he felt a little pedantic. He said in a deep voice: "You are not too young, you can't always circle around those books. Zheng Tai (Yizi, equivalent to a house slave) and others take care of the business to and from the sea, but you also have to learn it, so as not to be deceived by them and make people laugh. There is also the ability to compete for power in the ocean, and it is time to learn it well. It's okay to be able to read and write, your fourth uncle (Zheng Hongkui) is a jinshi, but if it weren't for our achievements across the sea over the years, he might not even be able to be a magistrate, let alone a general soldier and a feudal uncle. ”

Zheng Sen couldn't accept it anymore, and retorted: "Father, the imperial court is deeper than the sea for us, if there is no recruitment from the imperial court, no matter how many warships we have, we are just pirates who everyone scolds." If it weren't for the imperial court giving you the status of an official soldier, it would be difficult for you to even go ashore, let alone build such a large mansion. ”

"Bullshit!" Zheng Zhilong scolded: "What you said is upside down!" I'm the one who can turn this southeast coast into ruins! I can make the big Ming piece board into the sea! That's why Da Ming gave me an official dress to wear. How can the court be kind to me? The treasure of gold and silver that I gave out is gone, and I will buy everything back! This time, I drew ten big ships to Liaodong, delayed how much business with Japan and Nanyang, and made hundreds of thousands of silver less in one trip, and even a duke and marquis were reluctant to give, and how much kindness there was! ”

"Eating the king's fortune, loyal to the king, since you are a minister of the imperial court, you should share the worries of the imperial court."

Zheng Zhilong waved his hand and interrupted Zheng Sen's speech. ordered: "The imperial court can raise 100,000 water masters for those three melons and two dates?!" You don't have to grind your teeth here with me. From today on, you will go to me and follow your Uncle Cai to learn water warfare! Our family started by the sea, and we can't lose our ability on the sea. You have to remember one thing, there is no sea and no home. Go ahead! ”

Zheng Sen had no choice but to exit the hall silently. Although he was a little worried about the situation in the imperial court, he couldn't do anything about the head of the Zheng family.

...