Zheng Zhilong was about to pass on the people to open the middle door to welcome Zhang Shangshu, but he heard from the disciple that Master Zhang was visiting in civilian clothes, so he immediately gave up, but he also went out of the house to greet him.

Enter the foyer and serve tea and snacks.

Zhang Huangyan is the secretary of the military department and the head of the right department of the military and political department of the prime minister's office, and he is a figure who leans towards the government and the opposition from any point of view, so naturally he will not visit for no reason, so Zheng Zhilong ordered the idle people to withdraw.

Now that the marriage has been decided, there is no need for Zhang Huangyan to hide it anymore, otherwise it will make Zheng Zhilong think that Prime Minister Wang Cheng has actually taken a fancy to his girl for a long time, and let the military department Shangshu use the excuse that Nanshi is actually here to dig a pit for the Zheng family.

So, Zhang Huangyan was outspoken, and Wang Cheng heard about the virtue and talent of the daughter of the Zheng family for a long time, and was impressed by it, so he took this opportunity to let him come to Fujian to see, but he didn't expect the emperor to suddenly give marriage, Zhang Shangshu, the big matchmaker in hand, was a little surprised, so he came to humble and congratulate.

Zheng Zhilong is a straightforward person, he doesn't like to go around and around when he speaks, even though his daughter's talent is superior, but it is not enough to pass it on to Nanjing, and it is impossible for the prime minister of the dynasty to marry a wife by reputation, ninety percent of them want to rely on the strength of the Zheng family to pave the way for his ambitions, but fortunately, he let the fourth (Zheng Hongkui) in Nanjing move in advance, take the initiative of what will definitely happen, and take the initiative to show goodwill to the prime minister.

Zheng Zhilong said, "Lord Zhang is busy with official business, and he must have some guidance when he comes to the private residence of the lower official, and he can't apologize, if you have something to say, please know that everything is endless."

Zhang Huangyan tasted tea, playing with a piece of tea between his lips and teeth, staring at him with a smile, and even a little cynical, not at all like a court official.

Zheng Zhilong didn't know what he meant. He was overwhelmed by what he looked at, and he smiled. "Why is Lord Zhang looking at me like this?"

The prime minister used a marriage to win over the Zheng family, and Zhang Huangyan was like a mirror for this alone. Prime Minister Wang Cheng is the only one who can achieve great things in the future, but he can't guess what the outcome of the Zheng family will be in the future, but now the Zheng family will be turbulent and attract everyone's attention.

Zhang Huangyan pondered for a moment, then slowly got up, straightened his clothes, and arched his hands very respectfully, "I have come to congratulate the Zheng family on their great joy falling from the sky. Congratulations."

Zheng Zhilong was a little puzzled, got up and saluted, "Joy and joy, the Zheng family is ashamed of the love of the saint and the prime minister, and has given us great glory for the Zheng family, but I don't know where the three joys of Lord Zhang come from?" ”

Zheng Jiasi behind the screen listened carefully, for fear of revealing a word, his face was red and his ears were red, and his heart was like a deer. I didn't expect my reputation to reach the ears of the prime minister of Nanjing City, that prime minister from Wu Zhuangyuan is really his wishful husband?

Zhang Huangyan twisted his beard, pretended to smile mysteriously at Zheng Zhilong, and groaned. "General Zheng once jumped on the branch and became an authoritative figure in the imperial court, and when the lower officials saw General Zheng in the future, they were afraid that they would have to stand with their hands tied. Haha"

Zheng Zhilong is more anxious the more he listens, what's the matter. Can you be happy, but I'm in a hurry.

Look at his fiery appearance. Zhang Shenyan was proud in his heart, hmm! It's high enough, so let's hear it from you.

Zhang Huangyan looked outside the door, and then went to close the door again, and then said with a peach blossom face, "I naturally have a provenance for the three joys, and this first happiness is naturally a marriage gift from the saints, and the beauty is a hero, is it happy?" ”

Zheng Zhilong nodded, everyone in Fuzhou City knows this joy, "Be happy, be happy"

"This second joy, for Zheng Zongbing, it is even more glorious and famous, do you want to hear it?"

Nonsense, Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but press Zhang Huangyan to the place with a knife and force him to hurry up and say, "Please teach Master Shangshu"

Zhang Huang said, "On the fifth day of the fifth month of May, Prime Minister Wang Cheng and the daughter of the Zheng family have been married for a hundred years, and then General Zheng will become Prime Minister Wang Cheng's father-in-law, and he has just received the Prime Minister's 600-mile urgent document, and the Prime Minister said in the letter that General Zheng has worked hard to guard the southeast, and now he has become his father-in-law.

Zhang Huangyan paused, took a sip of tea, and then said, "General, after the marriage of King Zheng's two families, the prime minister will invite the emperor to crown you as the first king with a different surname since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and crown you as the king of Yanping County, can this be a joy?" ”

"What?"

Zheng Zhilong didn't believe his ears a little, King Yanping? Really fake, the background of our old Zheng family bandits, can also get this kind of title?

Zhang Huangyan nodded affirmatively, "Of course it's true, the prime minister's words are never false, but it's not time yet."

According to the Ming lord system, the highest title of relatives and nobles is the earl, and the highest military meritorious minister can only go to the duke, the prince can not be obtained by anyone except the emperor's son, and the county king is only unique to the royal family, and those who are not surnamed Zhu can get the title of the county king, all of them are posthumously sealed after his death, and the living king with a different surname, the entire history of the Ming Dynasty in the past three hundred years can not find one.

Such a big title fell in front of Zheng Zhilong, he really couldn't believe it, damn it, this future son-in-law is interesting enough, daughter, you also give your father a long face.

However, Zheng Zhilong has been in the world for a long time, and he quickly understood that this matter is not so simple, Wang Chengxiang himself is not a duke of Dingguo, and he has a big face in front of the king of Yanping, is this really good? It's not about playing a trick on yourself.

To say that according to the current situation, as long as Prime Minister Wang is willing, it is not difficult for the emperor to add officials to anyone, not to mention that he is the actual person in power in the southeast, and he doesn't even care about the governor and governor, and it is not too much to be crowned a king.

But Zheng Zhilong is also sure that there are no free benefits in this world, Prime Minister Wang Cheng has all the power, how can he not risk being scolded by the world for a woman to be the king of the Zheng family, what does he want?

Zheng Zhilong was mixed with joy and sorrow, and arched his hand, "Thanks to the love of the saint, the prime minister values it, but this matter of the king, how can the subordinate officials do, don't dare, don't dare."

Zhang Huangyan laughed, "When did General Zheng learn so deeply, as far as Zhang knows, the Zheng family wants such a title given by the saint himself, to say something that the general doesn't like to hear, everyone in the world knows that the Zheng family is not enough to be from outsiders, the general doesn't deny this, right?" ”

Zheng Zhilong nodded ashamedly. Hehe laughed it off.

Zhang Huang said, "I can get the title of the king of the county." That will definitely make the Zheng family have no worries about fame from now on, this is a knighthood given by the emperor. It's something that is worshiped by the people of the world, General Zheng, don't you want it? I don't think so, right? Haha"

I don't want to, that's a fool, but it also depends on what you have to pay, just a daughter is definitely not enough, even the queen's father in the Ming Dynasty can only get an earl.

Zheng Zhilong felt that today's Zhang Huangyan spoke very boldly, and he didn't look like a character in officialdom at all, he was really not easy to answer so directly, he had known this. So he called Gan Hui, that kid has a good brain.

"This, the emperor gave the title, and the lower officials naturally did not dare to refuse, but the leisurely mouth of the people of the world, the lower officials are defenseless, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to convince the public."

Zheng Zhilong's words are actually asking, let's say, what does the prime minister want from Lao Tzu?

Zhang Huangyan is also an understanding person. At the moment, he did not hide it, and said bluntly, "No, no, the general has the merit of supporting the building"

Zheng Zhilong didn't understand. What did Lao Tzu do? The customs tariff of the pit imperial court? Can you ignore the court? Supporting the army is also considered meritorious?

"Please make it clear to Lord Shangshu?"

Zhang Huangyan said slowly, "At present, the imperial court must be Nanjing. The thieves in the north are usurping and rebelling, and the captives are eyeing each other. Nanjing is always in danger of exhaustion, and the 100,000 sailors under the command of the general are invincible in the world. Such a great opportunity, why don't the general take this opportunity to ask the saint to transfer the Fujian Navy Division north into the river, Gong Wei Jingshi, with this great achievement, who else dares to say that the general is crowned the king of the county?"

Zheng Zhilong understood, oh! It turned out that I was thinking about my 100,000 sailors, dreaming, this is Lao Tzu's foothold in the southeast, transferred to the north, in case it is gone, Lao Tzu will drink the northwest wind, who will take Lao Tzu as a green onion in the court.

"This, Lord Zhang said with a smile, the defense of the Yangtze River is the most important line of defense of the imperial court, and the sailors under the sea are still struggling to defend the sea frontier in Fujian, how to talk about going north, this, this is afraid that some strongmen are difficult."

Zhang Huangyan also knew that it was impossible for Zheng Zhilong to hand over the military power of the water division, and a fool would not do it.

"No, the imperial court means that no matter how important Fujian's coastal defense is in front of the Yangtze River defense line, it is also a trivial matter, General Zheng, think about it, now that the Central Plains is ruined, the southwest is lost, and the prime minister is alone after the Nanjing crisis, and then look at the governors of the world, one by one, they are watching from the wall, and they don't care about the glory and disgrace of the court.

Zheng Zhilong will not agree, the Fujian sailor is his capital, and he can't afford to lose.

"Master Zhang has a good reputation, the world knows that my Zheng family is not from a good background, if I lead troops into Beijing, it will inevitably be criticized, and those who don't know think that I want to do things that anger and resentment of the heavens, can't and can't, the lower officials are still in Fujian to protect the territory and the people."

Zhang Huang said, "How can the general think so, as long as the general agrees, the prime minister will immediately ask the Military and Political Department and the Ministry of War to jointly issue an order, the division is famous, and the general is more hearted, not to mention, if you miss this opportunity to go north to make contributions, next time you just want to go north to become famous, I am thinking about your Zheng family."

Even if Zhang Huangyan said that he would go to the sky, Zheng Zhilong would not agree to transfer the Fujian Navy Division to the north, let alone the King of Fengjun, the Prince of Feng had no negotiation, this is the bottom limit, Lao Tzu's Water Master can only be in Fujian, and he will not go anywhere.

Zheng Zhilong's face was difficult, "Lord Shangshu's kindness has been understood by the officials, but the Fujian Navy Division has not been in battle for a long time, the troops are not ready, the military spirit is unstable, the Yangtze River defense line is related to the country, I am afraid that there is nothing I can do, please return to the prime minister, the lower officials dare not accept the order"

In the face of Zheng Zhilong's iron-hearted indifference, Zhang Huangyan had nothing to do, thinking about it, the prime minister really dared to think that as soon as the upper and lower lips touched, it would take people to save the family money that they had worked so hard to save, isn't this a clear robbery.

Zhang Huangyan remembered one thing, when he left Nanjing, Wang Lanping had given him a secret letter, saying that he could take it out when Zheng Zhilong was dead or unwilling to go north, and also said that as long as Zheng Zhilong saw this thing, he would definitely agree, thinking of this, Zhang Huangyan reached out and pressed the letter on his chest.

Zhang Huangyan smiled slightly, stretched out his hand and touched the secret letter in his arms, he didn't know what was written inside.

"The general doesn't need to make such a quick conclusion, you don't have to take a look at this first"

Zhang Huangyan put the secret letter on the table and pushed it down the table to Zheng Zhilong's hand.

Zheng Zhilong looked at the letter, and then at Zhang Huangyan, and made up his mind that no matter what, Lao Tzu's soldiers would not go anywhere.

Unveiled the fire paint seal, Zheng Zhilong took a closer look at the letter.

The letter was written very simply, with few crosses, but judging from Zheng Zhilong's jaw-dropping appearance, the content of the letter must be incredible.

Zheng Zhilong watched it five or six times in a row, and the more he looked at it, the more he felt his heart fluttering, and the hand holding the paper couldn't help shaking, and he said to himself while reading, "Those who know me, the prime minister, good, good, Zheng's wish is enough, so ......."

He said a long list of good things in a row, and the smile on his face never broke, Zhang Huangyan wondered, could it be that the prime minister cast a demon spell on the letter, and the change was too great.

Zhang Huangyan saw him like this, then it must be that this letter has worked, then it is easy to do, strike while the iron is hot.

Zhang Huang said, "The general and the prime minister have become Weng son-in-law, one loss and loss, one glory, the prime minister has the ambition to help the world, and also has the talent to recreate the prosperous world, he will succeed in the prime minister, this merit naturally belongs to General Zheng, the prime minister said, Fujian maritime frontier is also the country's heavy defense, there is no room for loss, the Yangtze River defense line is tight, please transfer 50,000 Fujian sailors to the north to aid Beijing, all military expenses are provided by the imperial court"

100,000 sailors were handed over, and Zheng Zhilong could not agree, and he wanted half of them or could be negotiated.

But he didn't expect Zheng Zhilong to smile, he didn't mean to refuse at all, and said continuously, "Okay, Zheng's training is also for the imperial court, and the training is used for a thousand days, I don't know why the prime minister wants the water division to move, yes, the lower officials are old, and they are afraid of the trust of the court and the prime minister, so the lower officials will not go with the army to the north, please choose another commander to lead the 50,000 water divisions."

Of course, Zheng Zhilong will not go to Nanjing, who can guarantee his fate if he goes.

Zhang Huangyan was stunned, this change was too fast, he didn't agree just now, and now he opened his mouth to come, oh my God, what did the letter say.

Zhang Huangyan also breathed a sigh of relief, he went south to promote the marriage is a small matter, saying that it is a big deal to move the Fujian sailors to the north, this time it is finally a bit eyebrow-raising, but Zheng Zhilong will not go This is also expected, he will definitely not do it if he leaves the nest, but he will not hand over the 50,000 sailors so simply, who to choose, it must be Zheng Zhilong who has the final say.

Zhang Huang said, "General Zheng has been in water warfare for a long time, why doesn't the general recommend a person for the imperial court to lead these 50,000 sailors"

Zheng Zhilong pressed the joy in his heart and said casually, "The Military and Political Department is left and right Governor, Zheng Sen"

Zhang Huangyan laughed in his heart, is there any difference between the transfer of military power from your hands to your son's hands, but this is already commendable, what the prime minister wants is just for the sailor to go north, and he hasn't said that he wants to seize the military power of the Zheng family, not to mention that now that the two of them have become in-laws, he is still an outsider.

"Zheng Sen, okay, the tiger father must have no dogs, I will report to Nanjing urgently, general, oh no, King Yanping"

Zheng Zhilong laughed when he heard it, this was the happiest day in his life, and the grudges accumulated over the years were swept away.

"Oh, haha, it's early, it's early, by the way, it's big, you tell the prime minister, I Zheng can't marry a daughter naturally, the dowry is definitely the first in the world, April 22, I personally sent the daughter out of the cabinet, and I will never delay the auspicious day"

Zhang Huangyan said with a smile, "The Zheng family is rich and rivals the country, and the dowry will naturally not be less, according to Zhang's guess, it will definitely not be less than one million taels, haha"

Zheng Zhilong was stunned, but quickly replied, "Yes, one million is one million, Lord Zhang, you just said that there are three joys, one happiness is marriage, and the second happiness is the king, so what are the three joys?" ”

Zhang Huangyan pointed to the secret letter in Zheng Zhilong's hand that he didn't know what was written, and said with a smile, "Isn't this it?" ”

The two looked at each other and laughed.

Immediately, Zhang Huangyan left the Zheng Mansion, and the 50,000 sailors were going north, so they had to report this matter to the prime minister as soon as possible.

Zheng Zhilong sent the guests away, and then said to the people in the house, "Go, go and invite Mr. Gan" (to be continued.) )