France is one-third, Britain is one-quarter, Zhu Yongxing chose these two countries, also with the intention of competition. Whoever contributes more will benefit more, and the two countries will naturally perform well for their own interests. On the other hand, Britain and France are not too powerful in Asia, and there are fewer worries about cooperating with each other. Moreover, the share of trade is according to the current volume of goods, a certain year, and in the future, tea, porcelain, silk and other goods will increase in quantity due to smuggling, but it has nothing to do with Britain and France.

The two shipyards cooperated with Britain and France respectively, and Zhu Yongxing was also worried that their skills were hidden. Judging from the tonnage, ship type, tactics and firepower of the navy at that time, European countries were already ahead of the curve. For example, the Netherlands has more than 100 large warships, each with more than 40 guns. Britain, on the other hand, began to use front-line tactics and would boldly use them in the Second Anglo-Dutch War.

The sea was used to control the land and contain it everywhere, so that the Qing army could not concentrate all its strength to attack the southwest. Zhu Yongxing's idea became more definite and firm after the Manchu Qing Dynasty implemented the relocation of coastal borders. The vast coastline is impossible to prevent; The waterway of the Yangtze River separates the north and south. With a powerful navy, it can not only amphibious landing, attack cities and villages, but also line up along the river to control the Jianghuai River and cut off the grain routes from the north to the south.

Cao Yun may not have been the only and irreplaceable artery of the Qing court before. But after the ban on the sea, it became an Achilles' heel of the Qing court.

Because of the Ming Chengyuan, it is mainly by sea, supplemented by river and land transportation. One from the river into the sea, through the mouth of Zhigu to Tongzhou, or to Liaodong; One is transported from the river into the Huai and the Yellow River, from Yangwu County to Weihui Mansion by land, and then transported from the Wei River to Jizhou (now Jixian County, Hebei). However, the Qing court gave up shipping, and if Cao Yun was threatened again, the Qing court could only maintain Cao Yun at all costs.

Historically, the final decline of Caoyun. It is precisely because of this fatal heel.

In 1842, in the later stage of the Opium War, the British army did not hesitate to pay a heavy price to capture Zhenjiang at the confluence of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Yangtze River, blockading Cao Yun, so that Emperor Daoguang quickly made the decision to sue for peace. became the decisive battle in the entire war; After 1853, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom occupied Nanjing and Anhui along the river for more than ten years, and the canal transportation was forced to be interrupted. The ensuing fighting was so brutal that the major cities along the canal were devastated, some or even all burned to the ground.

Zhu Yongxing didn't consider the possibility of doing it now, but after weighing it repeatedly, he felt that if Zheng Jun did not cooperate, with the South China Sea Fleet and the thirteen sailors, there was little chance of success. Since the time is not yet ripe. Zhu Yongxing could only endure it, he was worried that if he acted rashly, the Qing court would be on guard and would not be able to reap the effect of a sudden launch.

Of course, since he has this idea, Zhu Yongxing will work hard in this direction. On the one hand, he tried every means to strengthen the strength of the South China Sea Fleet, and on the other hand, he also issued an edict to the Thirteen Families. Let the thirteen families build ships and train sailors.

But before opening up the transportation channel with the thirteen. It is obviously impossible for the 13 companies, which have limited manpower and financial resources, to expand the number of naval divisions by a large margin, without the financial funds to be disbursed and to be replenished with weapons and equipment. In other words, at present, Zhu Yongxing can only pin his hopes on the South China Sea Fleet.

Although it is said that cutting off Cao Yun may not be able to defeat the Qing Dynasty in one fell swoop, it will save the enemy. It is also a strategy for the secret art of war.

At present, the British and Dutch navies already have rough standards for the classification of ships: first-class ships have three gun decks, 90 to 98 guns, a capacity of about 750 people, and a displacement of more than 2,000 tons; The second class ship has two to three gun decks. 64 to 80 artillery pieces, with a capacity of about 5 or 600 people, and a displacement of 1,300 to 2,000 tons; Three-class ships - two decks, 50 to 56 guns, a crew of about 350 people, and a displacement of more than 1,000 tons. Among them, the second-class ships are the most numerous capital ships in the British and Dutch navies.

Zhu Yongxing hired some British naval instructors, and was somewhat upset to find that only three warships in the South China Sea Fleet could barely be classified as third-class, and the rest should be classified as frigates, cruisers and sloops.

The era of competing with the great powers at sea is still far away, Zhu Yongxing sighed secretly, and could only reluctantly turn his attention to the domestic battlefield first, which also has a lot to do with the talks with James.

"Four third-class ships, well, yes." Zhu Yongxing set the first strategic goal at destroying the Qing army's Guangdong naval division, and if the Zheng family did not actively cooperate, he would use mercenaries, "The landing is our army's business, and your country's warships are only responsible for sea operations, and according to the instructions of the personnel sent by our army, it is enough to shell land targets." ”

"As you wish!" James agreed happily and looked at Zhu Yongxing expectantly.

Greedy British! Zhu Yongxing cursed secretly, his fingers swiped on the map, pulling James's gaze, and stopped in the Borneo Islands with hesitation. After a while, Zhu Yongxing slapped his hand and made up his mind to give up one of the small islands occupied by the Ming army to the British.

"In addition—" Zhu Yongxing stretched out his voice and said, "In the ports controlled by the Emperor Ming Empire, your country's merchant ships can dock for repair and replenishment. ”

"All of them?" James's eyes lit up, doesn't this mean that with the successive victories of the Imperial Ming Empire, British merchants will get more supplies to dock at the port, and this expected benefit is really huge.

"If you and China reach an agreement, if our merchant ships also enjoy the same rights-" Zhu Yongxing looked at James with a smile.

"Of course, this—" James was a little embarrassed, after all, it was beyond his authority, and he had to go back to the East India Company to report to the East India Company, "this is absolutely no problem. ”

If China can be successfully revived, the re-established Emperor Ming will be an open country, and the seclusion of the country and the prohibition of the sea and the port will be words that can only appear in the history books. The port of Huangming would not refuse all merchant ships of non-hostile countries, and Zhu Yongxing slyly exploited James's preconceived notions, in fact, this promise had little to lose.

Britain's presence in Asia was still very small, and although the East India Company invaded India, Britain's position was not consolidated, and the territory under its control was very small, and large tracts of land remained in the hands of princely princes, large and small. Make India a complete colony, according to the historical timeline. There are still almost two hundred years to go.

Two hundred years? Zhu Yongxing will not let history repeat itself, the civil war is over, and the Emperor will become an open country and an expansive empire. Compared with the colonists who came from afar, Huangming had an absolute advantage in geography and the number of personnel, which was also Zhu Yongxing's self-confidence.

Between countries. There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests. Zhu Yongxing once said this sentence in the martial arts hall and the academy, although it is not yet understood by most people, but the seeds have been planted in the soil, and it is only a matter of time before they take root and sprout.

……………

The cold of the winter of the eighteenth year of Shunzhi has passed, and groups of people calling Huazi seem to be recovering in the warmth, and the number of begging along the street has increased several times. The shops and ruined temples west of Hademen in Beijing were crowded with these people. Families and nests set up dilapidated nunnery and thatched huts at the base of the city wall. Beijing was repeatedly revolted, and its population was reduced by five or six. There is rubble everywhere inside and outside Dongzhi Gate, and some are idle places. Otherwise, it's going to be overcrowded. Most of these people speak Kanto accents, and many of them seem to be from the Zhili, Shandong, and Henan regions, and they wear ragged cotton jackets, straw ropes around their waists, and beg for food from people with broken bowls.

Since the fall of Dolgon, the owner of the yellow flag worshipped, thinking that when he enclosed the land, his flag had suffered a loss. Relying on his official position and power, he proposed that the enclosure should be arranged in the order of the eight banners. The land in eastern Hebei should be owned by the Yellow Banner in order, and the land should be exchanged with the White Flag. If the land is insufficient, "don't enclose the people's land to make up for it".

As a result, not only did there be a dispute between the Eight Banners, but the common people couldn't live their lives, and the land could not be planted. I couldn't stay at home, so I had to escape from home with my children and daughters, begging near the capital to survive. The crowds of refugees in the capital are all caused by the "circle-changing" area.

Shunzhi did not choose the prince of the clan to serve as an auxiliary minister, but chose a minister with a different surname. This has to do with the experience of Dolgon's autocracy in his childhood. He didn't want another "Dolgon" to control the world of his descendants. But power is a magic wand capable of changing one's mind. As a result, although there will be no Dolgon, there will be a despotic worship.

Sony, who is the head of the four auxiliary ministers, is a veteran of the Four Dynasties, and his position is grand, but he is old and sick, afraid of things and avoids trouble, and often neglects to ask questions in many things; Sukh Saha belonged to the white flag, originally attached to Dolgon, and after Dolgon's death, because of the report of the newly dead Dolgon, he was reused by Shunzhi and ranked second among the four auxiliary ministers. But he was split from Dorgon's side, and Sonny and the others looked down on him; The third-ranked Kupilon is from a famous family, but he is a cowardly person, has no opinion, and belongs to the yellow flag, and often echoes the worship; Although Ao Bai ranked fourth, due to his old qualifications and high military achievements, he often won the momentum.

The old emperor Yan drove, the new emperor ascended to the pole, amnesty the world, and opened the department to select scholars, which is a practice handed down from several dynasties. In fact, without waiting for the edict to be issued, the ministers from various provinces rushed to the capital, rented houses and lived in hotels, and waited for the edict to be issued while preaching poems and papers.

Although many people rushed to wait for the opening of the department, the number was not as large as expected, and the innkeeper had the most say in this. When Nanming recovered Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan Province, the news came, and many people checked out and left.

As for scholars, their ambition is to become officials and run the country, which is the saying goes, "learning and excellence are the best". Therefore, when there is no choice, although in the heart of the heart may be bitter for Shenzhou Lu, but the scholars who bravely stand up are all wiped out by the Manchus, and other people will feel that they can only participate in the imperial examination of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in order to live up to their hard work.

But when Nanming had the hope of Zhongxing again, if he did not do well in the imperial examination of the Manchu Dynasty, it would become a stain on his life, and a regret that he would be hated for eternity. Moreover, most of the gentlemen of the older generation still have the emperor in their hearts, and as elders, they still have a great influence on the younger generation of gentlemen.

Although Yongli was still in Burma, and the Nanming government could not hold imperial examinations, it established a system of academies and gave scholars the opportunity to realize their ideals.

"You stinky deeds, you can't match me as a third-class minion, how can you speak?" Lu Wenyang's ears were still ringing harsh words, and the place on his back that had been whipped by the whip was painful, which was the result of his uneven road just now and stepping forward to help.

Hehe, the majestic city, at the feet of the Son of Heaven, don't say that the woodcutter has nowhere to be reasonable, he is a scholar, and in the eyes of the Manchurians, he is just a slave who calls and drinks. Thinking of this, Lu Wenyang couldn't help but show a wry smile of self-deprecation.

Lu Wenyang's family was poor, and he wanted to exempt himself from forced labor and taxes when he participated in the imperial examination of the Qing court. But now he regrets it, feeling that he was just trying to provide for his family. It is also enough to disgrace the ancestors.

"The clothes and hats in the Yaji picture have been changed, and the names in the party monument are not. Gou Quanshi believes that it is easy to talk about it, and the governor is the least hungry to death. Lu Wenyang thought of this poem, and in deep remorse and self-blame, he felt fortunate that he had not yet stumbled. He has not yet become a man of rebellion through the ages......

Go, leave this filthy place where the people are displaced, all industries are withered, those who are fierce and do not turn into bandits and thieves, and those who follow the law and are good and cold and hungry in the ditch. Although I am still a citizen of the Emperor Ming in the land ruled by the Tartars, even if it is difficult and difficult, I will return to the rule of the Emperor Ming and repeat the clothes of the Han family.

Lu Wenyang thought of this. After making up his mind, he suddenly felt light and refreshed, and the pain in his back was nothing, so he opened his legs and feet and strode away.

……………

"Kangxi is less than ten, there is one of the four lives left, the child is unbearable, and the hero is the first to land."

Shunzhi has just been dead for less than a month. These four proverbs suddenly spread in the capital. Although only a very small number of attentive people take it to heart and ponder the mysteries of it. But it is impossible not to arouse the different thoughts of some people, and Ao Bai is one of them.

On the main hall, Jieshu is the head of the class, and below are kneeling Aobai, Kupilon and Sukh Saha. Senior Minister Suo Etu held a stack of papers in his arms and bowed behind the three Auxiliary Ministers. Two rows of imperial guards, dressed in distinctive mending uniforms, with treasure swords hanging from their waists, stand under the Dan Tree.

The abridgement of the cantata is reported by Suo Etu as usual. Suo Etu reads. While talking to Kangxi, it took an hour.

Kangxi is just a child, pretending to listen while playing with a green jade Ruyi on the case, more of a formality.

Ao Bai can be loyal to Shunzhi. But for Shunzhi's son, who is only eight years old, he can't help but feel contempt. He glanced down and saw Sukh Saha lying on the ground silently, and he couldn't help but hint at him with his eyes.

Ao Bai had already been impatient to hear it, and Sonny was sick, and the person who had always been afraid was not there, so he became bolder, and raised his face to cut off Suo Etu's words: "You just have to read, who told you to speak?" Isn't the emperor as good as you? ”

Suo Etu hurriedly smiled and said: "Back to Zhongtang, this is the original decree of the Empress Dowager. I'm afraid that the emperor won't understand, so I specially asked me to talk about it. ”

Ao Bai didn't wait for him to finish speaking, then continued: "These cannons have already been issued by Tingji, why bother so much!" The emperor is still young, and these political affairs should be implemented according to the legacy of the previous emperor and ruled by the ministers! ”

According to the ancestral system, the emperor who was not in charge of government affairs was given carte blanche to the auxiliary ministers, and the daily recitals were actually official articles, just listen to them.

But today, Xiao Kangxi heard something new, and couldn't help but say in a childish childish voice: "Although I am young and don't know much, I can't even ask if I don't understand?" ”

One sentence made several ministers choke, so they had to bow their heads and remain silent. Ao Bai thought to himself: Taking advantage of Sony's absence, if he doesn't block back this time, he will have to ask everything in the future, so what else is the government? After a pause, he said slowly: "According to the ancestral teachings, the emperor is not yet in power, so he can't ask. But if you don't understand, you can also explain it by the minister. ”

Xiao Kangxi didn't realize the strength of Aobai today, but he was just curious about the performance just now, so he asked: "What's going on with the Crying Temple, is it a local custom?" ”

"Crying Temple" is indeed a long-standing custom in Suzhou. The local economy is developed, the humanities are gathered, the scholars from the solid family, the middle class of scholars have become an important social supervision force, when the government has illegal things and improper behavior, the scholars gather in the Confucian Temple, make "Juan Tang Wen", cry to the ancestor Confucius Sage, but also convene the people to declare to the superior government of Lu, in the Ming Dynasty, the "crying temple" declaration of the large number of people can often make the government dare not underestimate and adopt.

But now it is not so simple to say that the Wailing Temple is mentioned in the recital, and in history it is called the "Three Major Cases in Jiangnan" together with the "Tonghai Case" and the "Jiangnan Sales Case". The Qing court took advantage of this to raise a large prison, which dealt a heavy blow to the power of the Han landlords and gentry in the Jiangnan area.

In the eighteenth year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty, Shunzhi died, and the mourning edict was sent to Wu County on February 1, and the government set up a spirit to mourn and cry for three days. It was at this time that the "anti-grain crying temple" case occurred in Wu County, Suzhou. Originally, it was a local petition organized by the people of Wu County to denounce the cruelty of the county order of Wu County, but they just went to the ancestral tablet in the Confucian Temple to weep bitterly and vent their resentment and complaints. However, the Qing court believed that the actions of the talents were considered to have violated the spiritual position of Emperor Shunzhi and committed the crime of great disrespect. A large number of living beings, including Jin Shengsi, were arrested and "planned to be beheaded without distinction".

Kangxi listened to Suo Etu's explanation, but he didn't say anything, after all, he was young and didn't have his own opinions, so he could only listen to the opinions of the auxiliary ministers.

Next, Suo Etu said that he would postpone the movement of Aixing A Lingjing Division's forbidden brigade to the south, but this was the meaning of Aobai, Sukh Saha glanced at Aobai with some dissatisfaction, but finally endured his anger.

After the recital, Kangxi asked again: "Suo Etu, how is your father's illness?" ”

Hearing the emperor ask about his father's condition, Suo Etu hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed and replied, "Thanks to the master Hongfu, it seems that the phlegm and asthma have improved this morning." ”

"Well, go back and greet him for me."

"Thank you, master." Suo Etu hurriedly kowtowed.

Ao Bai saw that Kangxi had nothing to say, so he said: "If the emperor has no holy edict, allow the servants to retire." ”

Kangxi glanced at Ao Bai a little strangely, and was also a little unhappy that he repeatedly interrupted him today, paused for a long time, got up and left with a displeased face.

As soon as Kangxi and the others left, there was a dead silence in the hall, Ao Bai stood up nonchalantly, and said with a smile: "Don't kneel, retreat, let's go back!" ”

………… (To be continued......)