In the sixth year of Longwu, the Nanjing court of the Ming Dynasty ushered in an unprecedented good situation.

After relieving Zheng Zhilong's troubles, the Ming Dynasty completed the strategic encirclement of the Manchus. The Manchu court under Dolgon's command was like a flying insect struggling in vain in a cobweb, in its dying throes.

At the same time, the details of the various systems of the imperial court were also constantly improving.

For example, the Ministry of War purchased firearms such as flint guns and flowering shells from weapons workshops. At the beginning of this year, according to the rules formulated by the Ministry of War in accordance with the regent's request, if there is a quality problem with the purchased armor and firearms, the order will be immediately reduced and a punitive fine will be imposed.

At present, each of the three weapons workshops has more than 10,000 craftsmen, and large-scale production has brought about cost reduction. Craftsmen work more and get more, and skilled craftsmen can earn fifty or sixty taels of silver every year, which is much better than farming in a world where grain prices remain stable. Thinking of the forced recruitment of labor for the government at the beginning, and now that life is hard, there is finally a hope.

The cost of knives, armor, arrows and other items commonly used in the army is very transparent, and the three weapon workshops are almost racking their brains to improve the quality of weapons in order to get more orders from the military department.

I heard that Zheng Zhilong also set up a weapons workshop in Guangdong, and weapons have become the second largest business in the Ming Dynasty after raw silk, cotton spinning and porcelain.

Almost everyone in the court knew that the regent seemed to be very fond of all kinds of tricks. Song Yingxing's "Heavenly Creations" has been supplemented three times, and it was sold out as soon as it came out.

After the Xifan people came to the Ming Dynasty, in addition to being missionaries and pirates, there are now many more ways to earn money.

In the past two years, Zhejiang's maritime trade to the East and Xiamen has shown an explosive exhibition, and the shipbuilding industry in the south of the Yangtze River has also begun to take shape. Ocean-going fleets not only need to have sturdy hulls, but owners often put forward more demanding requirements on firearms to protect against piracy.

The imperial court did not interfere in control, and the power of money made the handicraft industry like a wild grass growing in the wasteland, and made the coastal gentry feel like sitting on a crater waiting to explode.

The vigorous display of weapons workshops and sea forces makes them feel familiar. Before the Jiajing shipwreck, this was the case in Zhehai. At that time, the squires were still able to use their voice in the government to forcibly take a share of the sea trade, but now, their position was occupied by the regent.

In February, the willow buds by the river, Zhai Tianjian had gone to report to the martial arts hall.

The Ministry of Rites and the Nanjing Admiralty are making full preparations for the examination to be held in one month. The scholars were coming to Nanjing in 66 succession, not only from the local places under the administration of the Nanjing Imperial Court, but also from Fujian, Guangdong and Sichuan.

The day before yesterday, a group of more than 40 soldiers came to Nanjing City and lived in the post house with the official documents of the General's Mansion in hand.

There are many civil officials in the post house, and these rude soldiers live in it, which is very eye-catching. These people spoke loudly and acted arrogantly, but the supervisors of the post house also placed him in the best room, and the civil officials in the past were indignant in their hearts, and they could only scold a few words in their stomachs.

For three days in a row, some scholars from Fujian passed by, and they learned that these people were the personal soldiers of Shi Fu, a general under the account of King Zhenhai.

Shi Fu was also a general soldier in Ganzhou last year, after the reconciliation between the king of Zhenhai and the imperial court, the whole territory of Jiangxi was under the control of the imperial court, and Shi Fu waited for the headquarters of the soldiers and horses to return to Fujian, but did not expect to appear in Nanjing a month later.

After being idle in the post house for five days, the guards of the General's Mansion came to announce the order, ordering Shi Fu to meet the regent tomorrow.

Shi Fu is not tall, in his forties, and is a short and concise type. He was always followed by a young man, burly, with bright eyes, and a talent who was more eye-catching than him.

The guards of the General's Mansion didn't say much, and left immediately after giving the order.

Shi Fu said to the young man beside him: "Honorable Marquis, tomorrow I will meet the regent, you can go with me." "The boy is his nephew Shi Lang.

Shi Lang was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, uncle." My nephew has always admired the name of the regent, when I went north from the Zhejiang Sea, I saw that near Shuangyu Island, the sails were like clouds, not Xiamen, and in just two years, the Zhejiang Sea could match the Fujian Sea, and the prince was not only a hero of the world, but also a capable minister of the world. ”

Shi Fu frowned slightly, and said: "You can say such things in front of me, and don't spread them." ”

Shi Lang smiled, seemingly unconcerned, and said: "When I was in Ganzhou last year, my nephew heard the rumor that the prince was going to raise troops on the side of the Qingjun, and he was very worried. This time he traveled north to Nanjing, and the more his nephew felt that it was the best choice for the prince to reconcile with the imperial court. ”

Shi Fu snorted lightly.

It was Zheng Zhilong who pulled out of the grass and acted only on Zheng Zhilong's orders.

Shi Fu came to Nanjing to obey orders this time, and the reason was the covenant between the imperial court and the king of Zhenhai. The 10,000 men of his subordinates have already gone north along the coastal sea to join the 10,000 sailors who had stayed in Nanjing at Chongming Island.

The Northern Expedition was a hard job and a tiring job, and no one in the Zheng clan wanted to come.

The climate in the north is cold, and the routes are not familiar, and the Qing is still terrible in the eyes of the Fujianese. Shi Fucai lost his position in Ganzhou, and the good places in Guangdong and Fujian were occupied, and he couldn't escape this errand if he wanted to.

However, the young Shi Lang did not feel this way.

The next day, the two came to the regent's palace early. After waiting for a while, a guard came out to lure the two in.

Almost everyone has the same feeling when they first walk into the palace, and the difference between the inside and outside of the regent's palace is too great, and the outside is luxurious and the inside is simple, which is unbelievable.

The two walked to a majestic gatehouse, stopped and waited for a while, and a voice came from inside: "Xuan Shifu, Shi Lang entered." ”

Shi Lang's mind turned, he didn't have the opportunity to meet the emperor, but this posture was somewhat similar to the rumored ritual of the face saint.

The two walked into the main hall, and on either side stood mighty guards. Shi Fu walked to the middle of the hall, and faintly felt that there was a person sitting in front of him, he didn't dare to look up, and bowed down and said, "See the general"

Shi Lang knelt down behind him, he was young and bold, and he looked up and looked forward while kneeling.

Directly in front of him sat a middle-aged man on a tiger skin chair, with a kind face and a hidden smile, not as majestic as he had imagined before he came.

Zhai Zhe said: "Shi Fu, you led the sailors north to participate in the Northern Expedition, which is a matter of great importance, and everything must be fine. You go back to rectify the soldiers and horses, and first explore the route from Chongming Island to Shandong and even Jingshi. ”

"Obey" Shi Fu's forehead pressed against the ground.

Zhai Zhe said: "Since you have come to the General's Mansion to listen to the order, this king has ordered the military department to put your sailor division into the regular soldier sequence, you can go to the registration book, and the military department will provide the number of food and salary." ”

Shi Fu hesitated for a moment and replied, "Yes"

The regular soldiers of the Nanjing Imperial Court were well paid, and the military salary was given by the Zheng family, and he felt that this move was a little inappropriate, but he did not dare to refuse.

"This king plans to go on an expedition to Beijing in August, you must act quickly after you go back, I heard that Shuangyu Island in eastern Zhejiang Province had merchant ships to North Korea to traffic goods last year, you can ask Yang Zhigao of the Shipping Department for specific information."

"Obedience"

When Shi Fu first arrived in Jiangnan, he didn't know anything about the Northern Sea Route, so he could only agree to it in advance.

The process of the two meeting the regent was actually Zhai Zhe listening to the order, and Shi Lang had no chance to speak. He was better than his uncle, and at least he saw the regent's appearance clearly. The Regent's voice sounded like that of an elder.

About a quarter of an hour later, the two were ordered to leave the palace.

Zhai Zhe also left the main hall and returned to the study, and as he walked on the road, he suddenly remembered that the young man just now boldly looked up into his eyes. The young man was bolder than his uncle.

He likes young people, young people have **, and they have ** talents and pioneering hearts. He heard that Zheng Sen had not been able to enter the inner circle of Zheng Zhilong's power after returning to Fujian, which showed that Zheng Sen had not yet resolved his differences with his father. This is the best thing for the imperial court.

The heavy disagreement between father and son on the exhibition strategy will sooner or later split the Zheng family. Zheng Sen was just a toothless tiger, and now there was a tiger king who restrained him

Zhai Zhe thought for a while, shook his head and chuckled, and said to himself: "Maybe that young man can be used by me"

Walking into the door of the study, an attendant was waiting there, and saluted: "See the prince"

He had a stack of papers in his hand, all of which were military intelligence from all over the world.

Zhai Zhe said: "Pick out the official documents from Guizhou and Shaanxi. ”

The attendant said, "Yes."

His name is Zhang Bingyin, he has the reputation of lifting people, he is a fellow villager of Fang Yizhi Tongcheng, and he was recommended by Fang Yizhi to come to the regent's side as an attendant.

After Zhai Zhe ascended to the throne regent, Shilin's opinion of him split into two factions. One faction regarded him as a usurper and traitor, and did not dare to raise troops to serve the king, but at least he did not cooperate with the imperial court. More people have seen him as an emperor-like figure, and it is a great opportunity and honor to be able to sit beside the regent.

The situation in Guizhou and Shaanxi has reached the most critical moment, and there happened to be urgent reports today.

Zhang Bingyin picked out two sealed letters and walked into the study with Zhai Zhe, respectfully placed them on the table, and then exited the door.

Zhai Zhe didn't rush to open the letter, he first leaned back on the chair in a very comfortable posture and looked straight ahead.

Directly opposite the chair in the study is a map of the world from memory, an era when Europeans have completed their voyages around the world and Columbus has already appeared in the Americas.6

No matter how much you think about it, the road still has to be taken step by step.

He picked up the two letters that Zhang Bingyin had just picked out, looked at the cover, put down the notes from Shaanxi first, and carefully tore open the secret report sent by Liu Suifeng from Guizhou.

Liu Suifeng's words are very beautiful, with an elegant atmosphere, and among the letters and recitals he has seen, there are not many people who can make a good impression on him with words alone.

Zhai Zhe looked down word by word, his expression was focused, and after reading it, he couldn't help but pat the table lightly with excitement.

He should think about it carefully, after the military is over, what official position should he give Liu Suifeng?

In the letter, Liu Suifeng wrote: "...... Liu Wenxiu was invited to Guizhou, and was willing to listen to the imperial court's dispatch of the Northern Expedition to Shaanxi, and Li Dingguo also had this intention. ……”

Zhai Zhe didn't know how Liu Suifeng did it, this was really the first good news for the imperial court this year. Even though he had a premonition about this and really got the exact news, he still couldn't contain his excitement.

The Ming Dynasty has no worries, and the Qing Dynasty is surrounded by enemies on three sides, and the victory has been decided.

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