"Hehe, even if the Wu thief confesses, he will not escape the suspicion of the Qing court." Zhu Yongxing laughed heartily, "When a traitor reaches such a point, the two ends are not people, it can be said that he is to blame and suffers himself." ”

"I'm afraid it's more than that." Ye Hu smiled slightly and said with a smile: "Li Benshen and Wu Zhimao were ordered to move their troops, and the deployment of the siege and conquest of Shuixi fell into chaos, I am afraid that it will not be able to be readjusted in the short term." ”

"I hope that the Shuixi side can take the opportunity to win a few battles, and it will not be in vain for us to help each other so much!" Zhu Yongxing nodded with a smile, pondered for a moment, and then calculated the time and said: "The Intelligence Department sent someone to the sea to contact the king of Yanping County, and it is estimated that he will be back soon." It would be good if the war in Yunnan Province was over, and I would be free to deal with the affairs of the South China Sea. ”

Although there was an idea of attacking the Nanruan Navy Division and dominating the Beibu Gulf, the intelligence from the reconnaissance made Zhu Yongxing feel that he might not be able to secure the chances of victory.

North Zheng and South Nguyen have been able to confront each other for a hundred years, North Zheng relies on the advantages of manpower and material resources, while South Nguyen relies more on the power of firearms and has closer ties with Western countries, especially Portugal. Nam Nguyen not only procured artillery through Macao, but also introduced Portuguese cannon casting workshops in Hue.

On the part of the naval division, accurate intelligence showed that Nam Nguyen had more than sixty large war ships, each of which was equipped with six cannons; There were more than 100 small ships, each equipped with two four- or eight-pound guns. This kind of strength is even better than that of the South China Sea Fleet, and Zhu Yongxing naturally has to be cautious.

In careful comparison, several capital ships of the South China Sea Fleet have superior equipment and are more experienced in naval warfare; And the Nam Nguyen Naval Division surpassed the South China Sea Fleet in the number of ships. If a fight really starts, a successful sneak attack may be able to take advantage, but once a battle is fought in which both sides are defeated, the South China Sea Fleet, which Zhu Yongxing has painstakingly built, will suffer a great loss in strength.

This kind of result was obviously not what Zhu Yongxing hoped for, so he had to borrow troops from Zheng Chenggong to help in the war. And he gave an account to the messenger. It is necessary to make an appointment with the king of Yanping County on the date of the meeting, if the king of Yanping is unknown, or delays for some reason, then he has to find another way.

Of course, borrowing troops to help the war is not empty words, and Zheng Chenggong is moved by what kind of imperial court. It's a kind of employment in disguise. Defeating Nam Nguyen's naval division, forcing Nam Nguyen to pay war reparations, and sharing the war captures equally, this is the condition put forward by Zhu Yongxing.

As for the war in Yunnan Province, Zhu Yongxing also figured it out, and Wu Sangui probably guessed his own thoughts, thinking that he would not take Kunming directly for the time being. At the same time, Wu Sangui's strategic thinking also underwent a change, from attaching importance to famous cities to attaching importance to the army. I don't want to continue to play this slowly attritioning tactic with myself.

If people lose land, people and land will survive; If the land is lost, the people and the land are lost. Although Zhu Yongxing didn't think that Wu Sangui could sum up such a classic strategy, he also knew that this old traitor had become cunning and even more difficult to deal with.

From the change in Wu Sangui's thinking, Zhu Yongxing also came to a relatively favorable conclusion, that is, Wu Sangui no longer had the same devotion to the Qing court as before. With the idea of preserving strength, the pressure on the Ming army will be greatly reduced. The sit-in standoff is likely to become a long-term state of affairs in Yunnan Province.

The longer it takes to rectify the operation, the more beneficial it will be to the Ming army. In this regard, Zhu Yongxing is still confident. The stall has just been rolled out, and it will take some time to build and produce results.

"Your Highness, the Ministry of Military Industry has just sent news that a new musket has been manufactured." Ye Hu brought another joy to Zhu Yongxing, "The French complain that our iron ore is not good. So much so that it took time, and it meant that I wanted to get more benefits. ”

"What's the benefit-" Zhu Yongxing smiled slyly, nodded, and said, "I know in my heart, and I still have to give the sweetness that should be given."

Well. At present, the Western colonial powers still adopt an exclusive and exclusive model. At present, Britain and the Netherlands are fighting fiercely, and France will compete with Britain for India in the future...... It can be said that such a complicated state-to-state relationship, a situation in which enemies and friends are flickered and wars are flickered into peace, is a good time for us to reap the benefits of this and make a fortune.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

Golden Gate.

"Long time without tribute-" Zheng Chenggong shook his head slightly, and couldn't help but laugh, "Min Shizi's excuse is very interesting, but he can be regarded as a famous teacher." ”

"Father, are you going to send troops to help in the war?" The prince Zheng Jing laughed twice and asked suspiciously: "His Royal Highness Min is obviously not able to catch it, so he sent someone to beg for the master." It is difficult to confirm the benefits of war—"

"The benefits of this battle are only for the immediate term, for the sake of long-term planning, even if it is not profitable, our army must also send troops. Otherwise—" Zheng Chenggong raised his hand to interrupt his son's short-sighted words, pondered for a moment, and continued: "His Royal Highness Min has established a foundation overseas, and the South China Sea Fleet will need to take more care of future business dealings. In the case of Taiwan, the land vacated by our army is too narrow, who dares to guarantee that it does not need the help of the southwest? When the Qing army came to attack in a big way, His Royal Highness Min had sent troops to help, and now he has asked for it, but our army did not help, isn't it chilling? Laugh at me for being ruthless and unjust. ”

Zheng Jing frowned and thought for a while, and said, "Since this is the case, then send the child to lead the army to help in the battle!" ”

"No!" Zheng Chenggong had already made up his mind in his heart, and categorically vetoed: "You sit in Jinmen, and lead the sailors to go for your father, one is to help the war, and the second is to fight with His Royal Highness Min." ”

"How can my father's daughter travel a long way and go to Yunnan to meet you?" Zheng Jing was taken aback and hurriedly stopped.

"I don't go into Yunnan." Zheng Chenggong shook his head slyly and said, "I only replied that I would go to help in the war." ”

"What if His Royal Highness Min doesn't come to get along with his father because of his identity?" Zheng Jing asked.

"He'll come." Zheng Chenggong closed his eyes slightly, leaned his head on the back of the chair, was silent for a long time, and said quietly: "If I am not mistaken......"

Zheng Chenggong didn't say everything in his heart, and sending troops to help the war was not a guarantee of trade routes, and it was as simple as exchanging courtesies.

Now that we have a plan for resuming Taiwan, we must make careful preparations. Repairing warships and preparing food and equipment are naturally indispensable. However, it is very difficult to raise enough grain in such a small place as Jin and Xiamen. Otherwise, in history, in the later period of the restoration of Taiwan, Zheng Jun's food supply would not have been difficult, and the soldiers in Taiwan even relied on collecting plums and other fruits to satisfy their hunger.

Although Zhu Yongxing had previously instructed Chen Shangchuan to convey his support for Zheng Chenggong's recovery of Taiwan, he said that he would provide assistance in terms of food and salary. But the help is mutual, if Zheng Chenggong does not send troops to help the war this time, food and salary assistance may be just empty words.

………………

The two mountains of Dae are opposite each other. Xiaoe comes in the middle of the world, and the three are beautiful and beautiful, so why do you need to wade into the sea to find Penglai......

Li Guoying, the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, led the defeated army to the mountainous area of Emei County, but at this time he had no intention of enjoying the scenery of Mount Emei, which was praised by literati and writers throughout the ages. In front of him and behind him were the dejected and demoralized generals, the cruel and bloody battles that had been fought hard for days in Zhuqing, and the large number of Ming troops who suddenly counterattacked when the soldiers were tired and weak. Then came the defeat and fled, and the repeated blows made this Qing army mentally fall to the bottom.

Can you stand in Jiading (now Leshan) and regroup? Li Guoying didn't have much confidence in his heart, the army was defeated, all the baggage was lost, even if Jiading still had some supplies, grain and grass, but it was only barely supported. If you want to fight the Ming army again, you must mobilize troops again.

Chongqing, there is a threat from thirteen. It is no longer possible to draw troops; Boryeong, the road is too far, I'm afraid it will not be urgent; The soldiers and horses of Wu Zhimao, the general soldier of Sichuan, were far away in Shuixi, and they could not rush to reinforcements.

Or you can defend in Jiading, block the Ming army, and first mobilize troops from Xuzhou (now Yibin), Ziyang, Fushun (now Zigong) and other surrounding areas. Although there are not many garrisons in these places, they add up to a lot of strength, and they can finally gather a lot of strength.

A hurried sound of horses' hooves came from behind him. Li Guoying looked back, and many soldiers looked frightened. Thinking that the pursuers were approaching, they accelerated their already tired pace.

"Lord Qiqi, the chasing soldiers have quickened their speed, and they are less than ten miles away from the rear team." The scout jumped off his horse, got down on one knee, and reported, "General Sun, please ask your lordship." Is there a cease-of-arms? ”

Li Guoying pondered for a moment, estimated the time, and then shook his head and said: "Order General Sun, order him to lead the army to step up, and I will send troops here to respond." There are many mountains and forests here. There is a narrow pass in the front, which is more suitable for blocking enemy troops. ”

The scout agreed, jumped on his horse and returned to the herald along the same route.

Li Guoying continued to hurry, and when he reached the pass in front, he gathered his troops and blocked the pursuers according to the favorable terrain. In his mind, the enemy pursued from a long distance, and the grain and grass he carried were not much, and he would definitely retreat if he was blocked.

The pursuing Ming army was indeed close to the limit, which Li Guoying judged correctly, but he did not expect what impact the defeat of Yazhou and the news of the Ming army's entry into Sichuan would have. Death was looming, but he was still at a loss.

Speaking of which, Li Guoying was also a figure in the early Qing Dynasty, the official to the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, participated in the Battle of Baoning, and defeated Liu Wenxiu, the king of Shu, together with Wu Sangui and others; When the Thirteen Families attacked Chongqing, he personally commanded and repelled the siege; It was also he who proposed the suppression of the three provincial capitals, and destroyed the thirteen families after the most Lu, ending the last anti-Qing forces on the mainland.

But history often does not give every celebrity a more dignified and glorious death, Li Zicheng, who spanned the north and south, died in the miscellaneous landlord armament; Zheng Chenggong, the national hero who recovered Taiwan, rebelled and choked to death; Li Dingguo, the king of Jin in the south of the sky, was sad and grieved and died in the wilderness......

But it was a nameless soldier who ended Li Guoying's life, and he didn't figure out who shot this feudal official of the Qing court.

A cluster of chaotic arrows suddenly shot out, and Li Guoying, who was clearly clad and armored, hit several arrows in succession, and the surrounding soldiers were also turned on their backs. Bows and arrows continued to be shot from the rocky forests on both sides of the road, and rolling logs and rocks fell down the mountain like rain.

After the defeat, the Qing army, which was busy on the road, was suddenly attacked, and immediately became a mess with heavy casualties. They did not expect that they would encounter an ambush on their own territory, and the most dangerous enemy would not be the pursuers behind them, but the "rebels" who had turned against them.

"My lord, my lord—" Several pro-soldiers surrounded him, protecting Li Guoying, and called out repeatedly.

An arrow was shot at Li Guoying's neck, this was a fatal wound, Li Guoying trembled and wanted to pull it out, but his hand stopped in mid-air, and a faint sound came out of his mouth, and then his eyes were scattered, his hand fell weakly, and he swallowed the last breath.

Chen Jian's traitor, Li Guoying, at the end of his life, called out the murderer who might attack him. Yes, his judgment was right, it was Chen Jian, the former general of the former Shu Domain, who rebelled against the Qing Dynasty. When Li Dingguo and Yongli decided to abandon Kunming and go to western Yunnan, Chen Jian and Zou Jianchen, the political envoy of the right communication, fought for it, and then heard people say that "Ji Xiang and the king of Jin cut their teeth, and will accuse him of being willing", the two of them fled to Lufeng at night to avoid trouble, and went to the general army Long Haiyang in Sichuan, guarded Jiading Prefecture in Sichuan, and then surrendered to the Qing Dynasty with Long Haiyang.

Long Haiyang was transferred to another place, while Chen Jian stayed with a few hundred soldiers in the Hongya and Jiajiang areas to maintain law and order. After Li Guoying's defeat, he sent a messenger back to Jiading to report the news, and ordered the defenders along the way to be responsible for answering. After Chen Jian heard the news, his mind became active again, and as soon as he gritted his teeth, he detained the messenger, led hundreds of old people to rebel against the Qing Dynasty, and rushed to the dangerous place in the mountains to set up an ambush, and attacked and killed Li Guoying in one fell swoop.

The key is sudden, the important thing is timing, Chen Jian's troops are only a few hundred, even if it is an ambush, it will not play a big role. But shooting Li Guoying to death directly led to the collapse of the defeated army, and received unexpected results.

………………

After the troops drawn from the southern Yunnan theater arrived in eastern Yunnan, Zhu Yongxing rushed back to Mengzi. Judging from the movements of the Qing army, there is no problem in forming a state of confrontation again. The changes in Wu Sangui's psychology have also been further confirmed with the adjustment of the deployment of the Qing army.

The nearly two-month war in Yunnan Province finally came to an end, and although the strategic goal of annihilating the Qing army's vitality was not fully realized, the recovery of Chuxiong could be regarded as a relatively satisfactory result.

What makes Zhu Yongxing satisfied is the flintlock pistol that he is now holding in his hand. The infantry flintlock pistol caliber 19.8 mm, the length of the gun 1600 mm, the weight of the gun was 6.69 kg, and the projectile weighed 32.6 grams. Whether it is the length, weight, or the thickness and polishing of the barrel, it is all in line with Zhu Yongxing's expectations.

The French were still complaining about how difficult it was to refine iron ore and how difficult it was to refine steel suitable for making guns, Zhu Yongxing just smiled faintly. The grade and impurities of iron ore are different from place to place, and it is normal to spend some time trying to test and explore. The grade of China's iron ore is low, and there are many impurities, and Zhu Yongxing knows a little. Otherwise, future generations would not have relied on imports from Australia and Brazil, and would not even have pricing power.

Zhu Yongxing knew that the current output of the arsenal was about 20 sticks a day, which was not up to his requirements. One of the sources he had read said that a musket could be made in a day, a longbow in a month, and a crossbow in a week. Because of the brevity of his words, he couldn't tell whether it was a craftsman or a few craftsmen. It's just that he knows that if he increases investment and personnel, with the improvement of technical proficiency, there is still a lot of room for improvement in output.

"The craftsmen of your country have worked hard, and the cooperation between the two countries can be seen to be sincere and the future is bright!" Zhu Yongxing saw that the French stopped talking, and said in a deep voice: "The production process of mirrors, your country can send people to study and observe." In addition, I am ready to make Saigon a free port, and if your country is willing to participate in the construction, I will give you the treatment of the most favored trading country. Of course, your country should also treat my country equally. ”

René thought for a moment and said, "I hope that Your Highness will allow our merchants or family members to have the right of settlement in Saigon, and if you can agree with your kindness, a new chapter will be opened in the cooperation between your country and our country." ”

Zhu Yongxing frowned, pretended to ponder for a moment, and when René was about to be disappointed, he slowly spoke: "Okay, I hope that the businessmen or family members of your country can keep to themselves, otherwise, our country's laws are ruthless." ”

…………… (To be continued......)