In this industrial and commercial catastrophe directed by the Wanli Emperor and targeted by the wealthy clans in the southeast, the north reached Liaodong, south to Yunnan and Guangdong, east to Susong and Shanghai, west to Shaanxi, and the central part such as Shanxi,

Hundreds of cities in Lianghu and Jiangxi have not been spared.

But according to historical experience, the Wanli Emperor firmly believed that as long as the peasants were not chaotic, the Ming Dynasty would not be chaotic, and the crazy tossing and turning of him and the eunuchs would indeed be less harmful to the vast rural areas than the cities.

For one, the peasants had land, at least rented land, and food could be grown from the land.

This guarantees that they will not have to exchange goods and will not starve to death.

Second, the tide of urbanization since Jiajing has caused wealthy and large landowners in the countryside to move to the cities one after another to enjoy the convenience of urban life. This objectively caused the mine supervisors and tax collectors to focus on the rich people in the cities, rarely set foot in the countryside, and had limited disturbance to the peasants.

So despite the chaos in the cities, at least the peasants in the north felt little change. The peasants in the southern countryside were not so lucky, and the unsalable silk and cotton caused them heavy losses, but the good habit of the peasants to accumulate grain and save money helped them not to starve to death for at least a year.

Although they missed the days of prosperity in the past, they felt very content compared to the citizens who starved to death in the city, and many of them got rid of the mulberry trees and cotton huā in the fields, and resumed the cultivation of rice and melons and vegetables.

At least in Wanli's view, despite the rapid development, the cities are still as few as morning stars in the vast land of the Ming Dynasty, and the proportion of residents in the subjects of the Ming Dynasty is too small, and the proportion of wealthy merchants and gentry is even less. He completely regarded these people as pigs and sheep to be slaughtered, and believed that without their money, or even directly exterminating them, would not cause the state to move.

As long as the army and the peasants are not chaotic, what is there to worry about?

Reality gave him a resounding slap in the face, and Luzon rioted......

Emperor Wanli was not unaware of the special xìng of Luzon, which was far away from the mainland, the imperial power was weak, and the immigrants were mostly outlaws, and the government was also in vain... At least in the information he receives, that's the case.

It is said that this kind of wild land that does not obey Wang Shi should be decisively abandoned, but the large number of gold mines in Luzon is the life-saving elixir of the Ming Dynasty, as long as the gold here can be controlled, the domestic financial crisis can be suppressed, and the vast majority of the people can be appeased. Therefore, he had to grit his teeth and gnaw this hard bone to send the most powerful eunuch Zhang Hong, and enabled Qi Jiguang, the chief soldier of Hunan, to lead 10,000 elite divisions in Guangdong and Guangxi, and took the warship of the Southeast Naval Division. Let's see how those rabble deal with Qi Jiguang's heavenly army!

Emperor Wanli's preparation is not inadequate, but he only became a confidant, but he did not understand what the situation is like in Luzon today!

Four years ago, Luzon only had the prototype of a strong force, but four years later, Luzon has become completely strong. This is an irreproducible miracle, but it is logical because here, there are unique geographical conditions, the Indochina Peninsula, the American continent, the islands of the South Seas, and the Indian route are all within its radiation, above the ocean, unimpeded.

Because the imperial power is the weakest here, and the strength of the merchants is the strongest, all the laws and regulations are tailored to industry and commerce.

Because of the huge gold reserves, the financial crisis on the mainland has not hurt the monetary system here, and the financial market is still stable.

Because here, sī has property that is sacrosanct.

Therefore, the emperor went against the grain in his homeland and forced industry and commerce to a dead end, and the merchant ships and merchants of the whole country would naturally rush here, and even the factories that did not grow long have been relocated one after another, and Luzon was not as developed as a rocket, which was really strange.

During these few years of rapid development, the relationship between Luzon and the imperial court deteriorated dramatically. Because there is no silence in the court, its founder, but there are many emperors who want to keep their wealth for themselves.

The local imperial court did not have a strong rule in Luzon, and what really had the final say here was the Luzon Governor's Palace, the Nanyang Company, and the councils at all levels. The fragile political umbilical cord could not reconcile the two, and the Wanli Emperor tried several times to strengthen his rule over Luzon by removing the governor.

However, as soon as Shen Jing stepped down, Luzon immediately caused chaos in the world, and the governor and eunuch sent by Wanli were either killed or disappeared.

Wanli didn't guess that Shen Jing was making trouble, and he also ordered him to go to Beijing several times to report on his work, but Shen Jing said that he couldn't travel far because of his illness, and he didn't leave Luzon for four years. This time, Wanli sent a large army, and most of them were to deal with him, the king of Luzon.

But from the very beginning, the Wanli Emperor made a big mistake, in distrust of the army and generals, he mobilized the armies of two different military regions to form a joint team, and used the general army of the third military region to command. Even if the commander-in-chief is called Qi Jiguang, he has to wait for the two troops to assemble in place, and then mix and reorganize them to form a whole. Otherwise, once infighting is formed, what awaits the Oak Army is endless internal friction.

At the same time, I had to argue with the local government countless times, and by the time the supplies were in place, it was already March of the following year.

At this time, the news that the emperor would send a large army to return all the gold mines to the imperial court had been spreading throughout Luzon for half a year.

Because the miners in Luzon owned shares in the mines, they feared that their wealth would be taken away. The merchants and plantation owners who moved to Luzon also feared that the city would repeat its own fate and become a purgatory for businessmen. There are also Wang Xuemen people who fled here under the persecution of Dongchang, and they are also worried about losing their shelter and having no escape.

Luzon's unique economic and political system meant that the majority of the people here had unimaginable common interests among the various classes of the country, so fear hung over the island, and people were extremely resistant to the incoming army and eunuchs.

However, half a year was enough for people to digest their fears and begin to discuss countermeasures. Wait until Qi Jiguang's army is finally ready to set off. The joint council, composed of representatives of the six provinces and forty counties of Luzon, as well as the gentry and wealthy merchants, had ended the lengthy debate and finally decided to use force against the imperial court, and not allow a single soldier of the government to land.

When Qi Jiguang's 30 naval warships arrived at Manila Bay, what they saw were more than 300 warships waiting for battle, as well as more than 1,000 shores on the shore prepared for the Spanish invasion.

The enemy warship that covered the sky and the sun made Zhang Hong, the chief of the Ouchi on the flagship, almost unsteady on his feet, and he held on to the railing and asked in a trembling voice: "Where did so many ships come out?" ”

"There is the Luzon Company, there is the Wufeng fleet" Qi Jiguang put away the clairvoyant mirror and said: "There is also Wang Cuiqiao's Xu fleet." ”

For Zhang Hong, these names are like thunder, but because these sea giants never operate in their homeland, for him, these forces are like the heavenly soldiers and generals in mythology, although they are a little intimidating, but they do not take them seriously.

It wasn't until this moment, when he saw with his own eyes that the terrifying fleet was ten times larger than the sun, that he understood that this was not an ethereal legend.

It's a really powerful existence!

At this time, the battleship on the Luzon side suddenly flickered, followed by white smoke rising and rumbling cannons. Although it was too far away to fully feel the power of a thousand cannons firing at once, Zhang Hong was still so frightened that he hurriedly lay on the ground, and the eunuchs with him were also in a mess, each looking for a place to hide.

"Father-in-law don't panic." Qi Jiguang, who has entered the age of huājia, but is still strong and strong, and his eyes are sharp, but he did not move, and said calmly: "This burst of artillery, one is distance measurement, the other is a demonstration, not to attack us. ”

When Zhang Hong heard this, he raised his head and happened to see more than 1,000 water columns rising on the sea several miles away, and the water columns were connected to form a water curtain and fell back to the sea.

He couldn't help but secretly complain about Qi Jiguang in his heart, why didn't you say it earlier, it would make the miscellaneous family lose face? However, in front of the world's number one general, Zhang Hong couldn't say anything frivolous, got up and patted his body, and said: "With so many warships assembled, there is no news from Dongchang." ”

"It's normal." Qi Jiguang said: "On the ocean, these hundreds of warships are just a drop in the ocean, and there is no trace to be found. As soon as they set an appointment date to assemble here, we would be caught off guard. ”

"It doesn't make sense to say that." Zhang Hong said with a bitter face: "What should I do now?" ”

"Wait" Qi Jiguang said: "If we advance rashly, we will be attacked by them, we are outnumbered, and there are 10,000 infantry on board, we must not fight." ”

"Looking at their posture, there is no intention of taking the initiative to attack." After a pause, Old General Qi continued: "Otherwise, with their number and familiarity with this sea area, they can surround us unknowingly, instead of lining up like now." ”

"Then wait," Zhang Hong said depressedly, "Look at what the situation is." ”

Time flew by, and after a day of standoff, the Luzon side finally sent an emissary with eight demands for autonomy from the United Council.

This kind of thing is naturally not decided by Zhang Hongneng, so the Luzon side has no intention of negotiating at all, and purely regards him as a letter.

Zhang Hong did not hesitate to withdraw, otherwise the supplies would run out and he would have to be buried in the South China Sea.

Standing on the observation deck of the flagship, Zhang Hong watched the battleship turn to return, and a bubble of old tears flowed uncontrollably. All the eunuchs sent abroad had frequent successes and brilliant achievements. He, the chief of the Ouchi who commanded the army and had the heaviest task, first rubbed for half a year, and then touched a gray nose, and returned in vain, not to mention, he also brought back the news of the Luzon rebellion. What awaits his fate can be imagined.

He looked at the expressionless General Qi beside him, and couldn't help but secretly wail: "Sure enough, it is a famous general like a beauty since ancient times, and he is not allowed to see a white head in the world" Qi Jiguang is also old and useless, Qi Jiguang can feel Zhang Hong's thoughts, there is still no expression on his face, but there are eight words ringing in his heart, only this once, grace and righteousness!

One by one, one by one, as if he felt something, on one of the warships of the Nanyang Company, Shen Jiangnan, who was dressed in white, sighed softly.

"Lou Mo sighed, isn't it worth being happy to force back the army of the world's number one general?"

It was Zhang Juzheng, who was dressed in a tie shirt, who spoke, and he couldn't tell whether he was sarcastic or praised.

"Do you think Qi Jiguang's prestige is blown out?" Shen Mo said lightly: "There is something inside that you don't know." ”

"The rumors are really good, he is your person!" Although he was mentally prepared, Zhang Juzheng was still shocked and angry: "If it is really a day and night defense, it is difficult to prevent thieves!" ”

"You're wrong, he has to be my man." Shen Mo shook his head: "Why do I have to work so hard, I have already erected a big banner and crusaded against the unreasonable." ”

"That's right." Zhang Juzheng's face was slightly foggy, and then he mocked: "Even if you ignore the people of the country and set off this monstrous disaster!" The army is still loyal to the emperor, and the officials will not rebel against you.

Your most realistic choice is to be your native emperor in Luzon! ”

"How many times have I said that!" On his silent and calm face, anger finally emerged: "The domestic financial crisis will break out sooner or later, and all tragedies will be staged, I just puncture this pustule so that the harm will not be irretrievable!" ”

"Hehe" Zhang Juzheng smiled disdainfully: "Even if what you say is true, but you have changed history, so history will only remember that it was you who caused this crisis that will destroy xìng!" ”

This sentence poked the silent sore spot, his face turned pale, his fists clenched for a while, released for a while, and finally nodded heavily: "Yes, this crime, Lou can't shake off"

"This alone is enough to wipe out all the good names you worked so hard to accumulate in the first half of your life." Zhang Juzheng said with a smile: "In history, you are destined to be a character like Wang Mang!" ”

"Stay.!" Listening to what he said, the more unpleasant it became, Zheng Ruozeng, who couldn't help it for a long time, shouted: "If you dare to talk nonsense, I will throw you into the sea!" ”

"Hahahaha, lose it" Zhang Juzheng laughed and said: "Anyway, you can do everything, what is it to kill an old man?" "You" Zheng Ruo was about to have a seizure, but was stopped by Shen Mo waving his hand and said: "I won't kill you, because I never change my mind." The same is true for other things. ”

"You won't win the hearts of the people!" Zhang Juzheng took a sip.

"For people like me, the so-called public opinion and public opinion can be swayed at will."

was silent, but what he said made Zhang Juzheng lose his prestige: "Even if there are 10,000 people like you who expose my true colors everywhere, I can easily turn you into madmen." ”

After a pause, he said word by word: "Yes, history can judge me, but not modern history, but history one hundred years later."

The so-called infamy is rolling, and it is also a matter of death.!.