The reason why Yan Siqi returned to Nuergancheng was because the guide said that Heilongjiang would enter a freezing period at the end of September. In fact, the East China Sea Fleet only went nearly 2,000 miles upstream from the city of Nurgan, and it was still more than 3,000 miles away from the confluence of the Arusolian (Erguna River) and the Shilka River.

It's already very good to be able to go so far with sails alone, Yan Siqi wants to go back first, and then talk about whether to find a slender man or change boats, I heard that there is a kind of boat built in the capital, which can walk by itself by eating coal without sails, and the speed is not slow.

After encouraging Zhou Tongjin, Yan Siqi stayed in Nuergan City for a few days, brought some of the specialties here, and set sail to the mouth of the Heilongjiang River. On Kuyi Island, the patriarchs of various ethnic groups have collected the tribute mink and Dongzhu as the missing tribute over the years, and asked Yan Siqi to bring them back to the capital.

When he arrived at Ezo Island, he learned that the emperor had changed the name of the island, met with Wei Liangqing, Chen Shouyi, Zhang Chenghua, Hou Guoxing and others, and then sailed to Tsushima Island after carrying their gifts back to Beijing.

He was the governor of the East China Sea, and Xinzhou was the scope of his inspection, accompanied by Ma Shiying, the governor of Xinzhou, he inspected the entire Jiuzhou Island, visited the Ming army stationed here, and listened to Ma Shiying's report.

After doing this, it was already the end of October, and the fleet sailed directly to Quanzhou, while Yan Siqi took three warships to live in Tianjin Port, because the emperor wanted to see him.

This meeting in Yuntai was the first time Zhu Youxiao saw Yan Siqi, this burly man with bright eyes kneeling in front of him, and he couldn't help but feel excited. This is the "King of Kaitai" he was familiar with in his previous life, although he is not needed to open the stage now, what can he become as other Kai King, such as "King Kaisiberia"?

He walked down in person and stretched out his hand to help Yan Siqi. Yan Siqi had no choice but to stand up with the emperor's hand. Zhu Youxiao laughed and said, "General Yan, you are a hero, today I will introduce you to a few heroes like you." ”

Yan Siqi hurriedly bowed his head and said: "The minister thanked His Majesty for his false praise, Weichen just acted according to His Majesty's strategy, and he was not a hero." ”

Zhu Youxiao said: "If you are not a minister in the world for me, and you are a hero if you bind the enemy chieftain to your majesty." To put it more simply, if I say you're a hero, you're a hero. Come, I'll introduce you, the Mixed River Dragon, to the Guard's Winged Tiger. ”

He pulled Yan Siqi to the side and said, "This is the general of the Guards Army, Lu Xiangsheng, Bachelor Lu, alias Xiaotian." ”

Yan Siqi hurriedly arched his hand, and when he was halfway through the arch, he found that it was wrong, and immediately changed his salute to the military, and Lu Xiangsheng immediately returned the salute. Yan Siqi said: "I have admired the name of the bachelor for a long time, and I can write and martial arts, and I am a real hero." “

He was very strange in his heart, when the emperor introduced Lu Xiangsheng, he didn't say his words, but directly said his other words. He didn't know that Zhu Youxiao couldn't wait for Lu Xiangsheng to directly change his name to Lu Xiaotian, or Zhu Xiaotian?

Zhu Youxiao pulled him to the second person and said: "This is General Cao Wenzhao, the lieutenant general of the Guards, the name Wuxiang." “

The two saluted at the same time, and Zhu Youxiao said with a smile: "General Cao's archery skills are like gods, and there are few opponents in the Guards." “

Yan Siqi is naturally "looking up for a long time." Zhu Youxiao introduced them in turn, Man Gui, Lu Qin, Zhou Yuji, Yang Guangkui, Yang Guanggao...... Yan Siqi found that the senior generals of the Guards were all in this cloud platform.

After a long period of politeness, everyone sat down according to their ranks. At this time, Sun Chuanting ran in sweating, said sorry repeatedly, and said to Zhu Youxiao: "Your Majesty, the minister's business has just been completed, and it is a little late." “

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "I know you're busy, sit down first, let's have a meeting." “

Zhu Youxiao said: "Lao Xiong has some health problems, so he can't come today." He sent his adjutant Li Delin to attend the meeting, and the generals of the General Staff and the Guards were all here. One of the issues to be discussed today is how to recover the large territory to the east that was abandoned at the time of Renxuan. “

"After Lieutenant General Yan sent the recital of Zhou Tongjin, the commander of the Nuergan Dusi, he was shaken. The spirit of a descendant of the commander of the old capital insisted on erecting the banner of the Ming Dynasty in Nuergan City for several generations, which is indeed touching. Most ministers agreed that the territory to the east should be recovered. Now that we've discussed whether we should take it back, let's talk about how. “

Sun Chuanting stood up and arched his hand: "Your Majesty, not all ministers think that the eastern territory should be recovered, and there is much opposition in the cabinet, so Your Majesty can also let the generals discuss whether it should be recovered." “

Zhu Youxiao said unhappily: "Then let's discuss it together." It's strange that you, a soldier, should oppose the repossession of the country. ”

Yan Siqi was amazed that the secretary of the military department dared to raise his objection to the emperor so directly, which was really unheard of. saw that the other generals all looked surprised, as if they didn't think it was a big deal at all.

Sun Chuanting said: "Your Majesty, the minister only thinks about whether it is beneficial to my Daming, and other things cannot bind the minister." ”

At this time, Lu Xiangsheng spoke: "Your Majesty, none of us have been to the eastern territory, but Lieutenant General Yan has been there personally, and after staying for such a long time, the minister thinks that Lieutenant General Yan should have a lot of right to speak." ”

Everyone looked at Yan Siqi, Yan Siqi was in turmoil, seeing this, the emperor wanted to take it back, and the ministers opposed it. No matter what you say, you will offend one of them. At the beginning, the emperor's decree asked him to explore the sea route to threaten the Mongols, and he had already complied with the order, so I was afraid that it would be a little late to change the court.

When he had just made up his mind to speak, Zhu Youxiao said: "General Yan, you only need to explain the situation truthfully, as for your opinion, you can say what you think, and you don't have to worry about anything else." You are a general, not a civilian, and don't let anything else interfere with your judgment. ”

Yan Siqi is bitter in his heart, as the saying goes, the king of Hades is easy to block, and the little ghost is difficult, so he said it truthfully, but he was afraid that the civil officials would not let him go. He was scared of something, at most he could go back to the island to fish, and what was it.

He had made up his mind, so he told him about his entry into Heilongjiang, and then said: "The minister thinks that although there are not many Han people here, the Ming Dynasty is still there, and the soil here is fertile, the water is convenient, and the crop yield is high. If an army is stationed here, and then a large number of immigrants, this place can be another granary for the Ming Dynasty. ”

Sun Chuanting asked: "According to General Yan, Heilongjiang is frozen at the end of September, and the river is only opened in March and April, and the planting period can be no more than half a year at most. ”

Yan Siqi replied: "Siqi also asked Zhou Tongjin at that time, and he said that after the river is closed, he can also get fish, and some crops can also be planted in winter. There are many trees in the local area, and there is plenty of firewood in winter, which is not enough to survive the winter. ”