In the early morning of November 21, it was a rare sunny day in Batavia. The Mori Katsuya stood on a hill about a mile outside the east gate of Batavia, which had been completely cleared of shrubs and served as a viewing platform for him and a group of Japanese officers.

What they wanted to watch was the surrender ceremony of the Dutch to the ASEAN coalition forces. With the sound of three cannons, groups of Dutch soldiers came out of the city, and they placed their weapons in the open space designated by the ASEAN officers, and then walked to the open space on the other side to line up.

When more than 1,000 Dutch soldiers had disarmed, a group of soldiers escorted dozens of high-ranking Dutch officials dressed in gorgeous clothes slowly out of the city. These gorgeously dressed Dutchmen were led to a pergola in the rear by the ASEAN officers guarding the intersection, and in the pergola were the senior officials of the ASEAN coalition led by Zhang Xie and Li Chenfang.

The officials of the ASEAN coalition did not slowly stand up until the Dutch approached them, waiting for the Dutch to salute them. After a brief conversation between the two sides, the Dutchman, led by the Dutch, untied the sword hanging from his waist and offered his hands to Zhang Xie, the commander of the Allied fleet opposite him, as a sign of submission.

Looking at the saber handed over by Anthony Van Dimen, the governor of Batavia, the commander of the fleet, Zhang Xie, did not step forward to take it, but said to Li Chenfang beside him: "It is the credit of the army officers and men to be able to open up the land passage from Bandung to here. Colonel Lee, please accept this saber on behalf of the officers and men of the Army. ”

Li Chenfang was silent for a moment, then stepped forward and took the sword from Anthony Van Diemen's hand with one hand, and then retreated without saying a word. Li Chenfang's move made Anthony Van Diemen extremely unhappy, he thought that the other party's actions were too humiliating to him, but things have come to this point, and he naturally can't go back.

Anthony Van Diemen, who straightened up, immediately met Zhang Xie's gaze and said in a stiff tone: "We have fulfilled our promises, and I hope that your country will not forget your promises." Batavia failed, but the company did not. ”

Li Chenfang smiled and said: "If you are not convinced, take the sword back, let's continue to fight, do you think that saying two hard words can change the doomed result?" ”

It wasn't until Li Chenfang finished talking mocking the Dutch that Zhang Xie stopped him and said, "What kind of jokes?" Do you think we're playing house? It's nonsense to go back and start over.

Your Excellency the Governor, I hope you will not be like him, for our Colonel Lee is still too young to speak with some inconsiderate speech. But one of his words is true. No matter how the battle is fought, Batavia's defeat is doomed.

Your ability to take stock of the situation and accept our goodwill at a critical moment is a good thing for both ASEAN and Batavia. But don't be mistaken, the reason why the ASEAN is willing to hand you goodwill to end this war is purely out of a humanitarian standpoint, and does not want to hurt more lives for a war that has already been doomed. It's not that you're worried about how powerful the Dutch East India Company is behind you.

In addition to justice and respect for life, the army of the Ming Dynasty was fearless. So you'd better not challenge the mercy of the Ming army with unkind words, which is not a good thing for you and your companions, nor for the Dutch East India Company behind you, or even for the Dutch Republic. ”

Anthony van Diemen was speechless at the words of the commander of the Combined Fleet, and Batavia clearly did not have the confidence to be stubborn after handing over the force. He wisely gave way of the way, and the president of the Batavia Council, who was standing behind him, was immediately relieved, and immediately said to Zhang Xie and other coalition officers with a smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, the gates of Batavia have been opened for you, please enter and patrol..."

Standing on the hill and looking at the groveling appearance of the Dutch in the distance, the Maori Shengjia subconsciously touched his face, although the red and swollen face that was beaten by Li Chenfang had already receded, but at this time, he still felt a little faint pain. However, the Maori winner did not resent Li Chenfang at all, but was full of awe of this boss who was younger than himself.

Whether it is in Japan or Java, Li Chenfang's undefeated record has deeply impressed these Japanese officers. Although the young commander was extremely strict in managing his troops, he also gave his subordinates enough money to support their families, and compared with the lords of the Japanese feudal domains, he was really a general who loved his soldiers like a son.

If there is anyone in the heart of the Maori Victor at this moment, it is these Dutch people in front of them. Obviously, when they encountered the Ming army, they were weak and messy, but for them, the Japanese refused to back down, which was simply humiliating them in front of the members of the ASEAN.

"These bastards are also afraid of death. Sooner or later, I'm going to let these bastards know that our Japanese knives are also capable of cutting people. Maori Shengjia couldn't help but say hatefully.

Sanada Yukimasa and the other Japanese officers did not think that there was anything wrong with Maori Katsuya's words, they had paid huge casualties in this war, but there were no Japanese representatives at the time of surrender, fortunately there was also a Li Chenfang standing there, so that they could comfort themselves, otherwise it would be unbearable.

Sanada Yukimasa sighed and said, "In the end, Japan is still too weak. If we also have the cannons on the Ming fleet, will those southern barbarians still look down on us..."

Chongzhen, who had not long returned from the sacrifice of Tianshou Mountain, did not know that there were victories in the South Seas and the Western Regions coming to Beijing at this time. Not long after he returned to the capital, he first received a bad news that Wen Zhenmeng, the secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites, had passed away due to illness.

Although Chongzhen and Wen Zhenmeng have always been at odds with each other, Chongzhen thinks that although Wen Zhenmeng has a straightforward personality, he has no clue about doing things, and will only criticize others with subtle words, which is quite a bit of a backache when he stands and talks. He was driven home not long after he ascended the throne, and in the end, it was only for the sake of Yao Ximeng and some other officials that he was reinstated.

Although Wen Zhenmeng, who returned to his official career, did not change his temper greatly, he finally stopped openly criticizing the reform policies of the imperial court at every turn. He immersed himself in the education of Jinling University and the south, and finally made some achievements. His illness this time was not a terminal illness, but his nephew Yao Ximeng died half a year ago, which made him depressed and sick.

Before he died, Wen Zhenmeng didn't know what to think, and actually wrote a letter to Chongzhen in person. After Zhu Youzhen read the letter, he was also a little compassionate. In fact, there is nothing else in the letter, but Wen Zhenmeng confessed to the emperor that he had a dispute with the emperor about the reform policy before, and from the perspective of today's Ming Dynasty, his original stubbornness seems to be indeed wrong.

Zhu Youzhen glanced up at the people sitting in the conference room of the Wenhua Palace, and looked at these ministers looking at him with blank eyes, as if they were waiting for him to announce Wen Zhenmeng's suicide note so that he could decide how to deal with Wen Zhenmeng's funeral. He folded the letter casually, and then motioned to Wang Chengen to open the charcoal basin on the side, and threw the letter in his hand into it.

Looking at the orange flame that gradually ignited in the letter, Zhu Youzhen said calmly: "Wen Shangshu's temperament is really consistent, although I don't like his temperament, I still admire such a consistent character."

I don't need to discuss it anymore, so let's handle the future affairs of Wen Shangshu with the courtesy of a minister. Let Qu Shiyun go south to express his condolences on behalf of the imperial court, and by the way, see if there are any requests in Wen Shangshu's house, and take care of those who should be taken care of..."

After hearing the emperor's decision, Qian Qianyi and other ministers who had befriended Wen Zhenmeng immediately breathed a sigh of relief. They have always been worried that the emperor still holds a grudge against Wen Zhenmeng against him, and if he forcibly lowers Wen Zhenmeng's posthumous affairs, I am afraid that Jiangnan scholars will stand up for Wen Zhenmeng. In recent years, Wen Zhenmeng has managed civil affairs in the south, and he has been recognized by many scholars.

Qian Qianyi also followed the emperor's tone and said: "Since Your Majesty has a will, then the future affairs of Wen Shangshu will be done like this." However, the Nanjing Ministry of Rites can't be vacant for too long, is it also a candidate today? ”

Wen Tiren immediately continued: "Now the officials who are qualified to take over as the secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites are Min Hongxue, Wang Duo, Jiang Yueguang, Huang Jin... and a few others, the minister thought that Min Hongxue was proficient in practice, and he was the most suitable to take over the post of secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites..."

In the past, the Nanjing Ministry of Rites was not a good job, but it was extremely important in terms of transfer qualifications. If you are not qualified enough to be qualified for the six Shangshu in Beijing, you will go to Nanjing for a spin first, and it will be logical to come back. It's just that since Chongzhen ascended the throne, the seniority process of appointing officials has been broken. Officials with qualifications but no actual achievements can no longer be able to boil out a position of six ministers and cabinet ministers as they did in the past.

The power of the Nanjing Liubu Shangshu has also increased, and it is no longer just a mouthpiece for the Beijing Liubu as before. Therefore, now the competition for the position of the six Shangshu in Nanjing has gradually become fierce. Min Hongxue and Wen Tiren are good friends, and he naturally hopes to let this friend who is already qualified enough to take the position.

Therefore, the other names proposed by Wen Tiren are difficult to compare with Min Hongxue in terms of qualifications and achievements, and he believes that the emperor will inevitably choose his own recommendation after hearing it.

However, Chongzhen shook his head and said: "Wen Shangshu has been sorting out and raising the education system in the south for the past two years, especially from this year, to select some academies to be converted into comprehensive universities or normal colleges in various provinces, we need an official who is more interested in university education and school education." There is no need to limit the status of alternate officials too much, is there no suitable one in the current Board of Education? ”

Qian Qianyi immediately understood what the emperor meant, and immediately said: "Back to Your Majesty, the minister thinks that it is still good for the Dynasty to hire professors from the Education Committee. He was born in Hunan, and his relationship with Jiangnan Academy is not close, so he should be able to handle the transformation of the academy very properly. ”

Zhu Youzhen glanced at the other ministers and asked, "Do you gentlemen have any opinions?" Actually, I also think Professor Wang is good..."

Hearing what the emperor said, others naturally could only change their words and agree with the opinion of Shoufu Qian Qianyi. Zhu Youzhen immediately got up and said to everyone: "Then today's meeting will be discussed here..."

John. Captain Weddell was also standing on the deck of his ship, watching the port of Shanghai grow farther and farther away from him. He came with six king's ships and three Chinese ships, but this time he returned with only three king's ships and two Chinese ships, and the other three king's ships were still roaming between Batavia and the Spice Islands.

But John who left China. Captain Weddell and his companions had no regrets, and their cabins were filled with precious goods such as Chinese silk and porcelain. And every captain's pockets were equally full of wealth, and the Chinese monarch was clearly a very generous rich man.

Only the manager of the East India Company would have taken a painter and a few boxes of strange utensils as treasures, squeezing the precious space on the ship. But John. Captain Weddell didn't care about the loss of space, as long as he could bring back to London the Emperor's gifts and handwritten letters stored under his bed, then a bright and bright future awaited him.

Thinking of such a bright future, John. Captain Weddell withdrew his gaze from the vanishing land, turned to his first mate, and firmly ordered, "Raise the full sails, and we go home..."