Feeling his eldest brother's gaze, Zheng Zhibao timidly bowed his head and remained silent.

I know the court is awesome, but I don't know it's so awesome.

Secretly hiding so many warships, what are you going to do? Going fishing?

At this moment, Zheng Zhibao felt like a joke, trying to rebel with the broken boats in his hands, which was tantamount to a fool's dream.

"Yesterday, how did it feel to wander around the city? Compared to your first visit, has there been any change in the capital?" Zhu Youzhen slowly moved forward, smiling, and seemed very satisfied with the reaction of the two.

Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Zhibao followed him stiffly, and under the backdrop of the giant ship in the distance, they seemed to feel even more insignificant.

"Back to Your Majesty, I feel that the people in Beijing are very different from a few years ago."

"What's the difference?"

"I can't say it, but whether it's a street vendor or a restaurant shopkeeper, there is an indescribable feeling."

"Yiguan, what would you do if you had money?"

What happens when you have money?

I've always been rich, huh?

"Cang Liao knows etiquette and knows honor and disgrace when he has enough food and clothing. A person can't even guarantee three meals a day, so where is the spirit? I am accustomed to seeing officials who beg for the people's lives all day long, but behind their backs, greedily sucking the people's fat and people's ointment. They often quote scriptures to educate the people and make them understand. It's as if if if we didn't, the world would be in chaos.

When I first ascended the throne, there were Jiannu outside, and disasters continued to occur in the interior, and displaced people were everywhere. But now, is there still one? I don't dare to call myself a saint of the ages, but I am also committed to ensuring that every Ming citizen will not go hungry. , occupy Luzon, level cross, are all working for such a goal.

If you want to rebel, for the sake of your eldest brother's face, I will spare your life for the time being! But my patience is limited, and I dare to stumble on my way! I'm going to kill your whole family!"

As he spoke, Zhu Youzhen's momentum suddenly became fierce.

In the end, after being the emperor for seven or eight years, a kind of murderous intent emanated invisibly, and the two of them were so frightened that they hurriedly knelt on the ground and didn't dare to shout.

The emperor in front of him has the ability and courage to kill their entire family.

Next, Zhu Youzhen took them to visit various places.

Knowing that it was ten o'clock at noon, the group came out of the shipyard.

And Zheng Zhilong was even more shocked.

It turned out that the shipyard here produced not only warships for war, but also various other ships. For example, transport vessels, fishing vessels and passenger boats. All kinds of boats, large and small, have started here and will eventually ride the waves in their own territory.

At this point, whether it is Zheng Zhibao or Zheng Zhilong, there is no trace of contempt for the court in their hearts.

Although I don't know why, Da Ming seems to have become unprecedentedly strong again.

"You two will dine with me."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

It was a great honor to be able to eat with the emperor, and the two naturally had no reason not to agree.

The place of the meal is in a high ground overlooking the sea, Zhu Youzhen ordered the people to build a pavilion here, basically every time they come here, they will take a look at the scenery here, and occasionally they will eat and rest here.

Before he got to the place, Zheng Zhilong had already seen many people busy preparing before and after. And the figure of one of them made him frown.

As he got closer, he gradually determined his judgment.

Standing outside the pavilion and waiting, it was his former worshipper brother.

The enemy who turned against him later.

The current Matsue Maritime Commander-in-Chief.

Liu Xiang.

How did he end up here?

"Minister, Liu Xiang knocks to see Your Majesty."

As soon as he approached, Liu Xiang knelt on the ground and sang loudly.

"Liu Qing get up, how long has it been?"

"Back to Your Majesty, it's just a quarter of an hour."

"Okay, just in time for dinner, sit down and eat together

。」

After that, he glanced at Zheng Zhilong and sat down on his own. "Zheng Qing, you two also sit down."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The three of them sat down as ordered, but only a little bit on the buttocks.

"Liu Xiang was transporting a batch of supplies to Liaodong, and happened to pass by Tianjin to replenish supplies, so I called him over. Speaking of which, you're old acquaintances, too. After all these years, there has been no contact?"

"Back to Your Majesty, there is some misunderstanding between the minister and General Liu." Zheng Zhilong didn't know what Zhu Youzhen meant, so he could only answer stubbornly.

"Misunderstandings can be solved. At present, you are officials in the same dynasty, and you still have to live in harmony. Although Liu Qing defected to the imperial court a little late, he was indeed loyal to me, and he had made many meritorious contributions over the years, and I was planning to crown him as Hua Tingbo, and be optimistic about the sea gateway of Songjiang for me."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

As soon as Zhu Youzhen's words fell, Liu Xiang hurriedly jumped down from the stool, knelt on the ground and thanked him loudly.

He was overjoyed.

Over the years, seeing Zheng Zhilong get promoted and make a fortune, he has made one great achievement after another, and it is false to say that he is not greedy.

Although relying on global commerce and trade, he is also a leader on the eastern coast of Daming, but compared to Zheng Zhilong, he always feels that he is missing something.

He thought about it, and when he finally learned that Zheng Zhilong had sent troops to fight again, he figured it out.

Trust.

Although he was also very curious about the same pirate who surrendered to Chengcheng, why His Majesty trusted Zheng Zhilong so much. But it didn't prevent him from coveting Zheng Zhilong's great achievements.

He knows what has happened at sea over the years through various channels.

With the current strength of the imperial court, not to mention Zheng Zhilong, even Zhang Zhilong and Wang Zhilong can make such great contributions.

Why?

Because Zheng Zhilong is just a flagpole raised by His Majesty the Emperor. In the early stage, it may have been to control the sea trade with his power, but now, his role has become smaller and smaller.

How can you make meritorious service! How can you make meritorious service?

He pondered and couldn't find an answer.

But he was not in a hurry, because he was a very smart man, and he never complained to anyone about it. Even if a discordant voice reached his ears below, he immediately suppressed and reprimanded him.

Because slowly, he realized a truth.

Do well what His Majesty has ordered you.

The road is simple, who would bury a down-to-earth and very capable subordinate?

Zhu Youzhen will not either.

He actually monitored Liu Xiang very strictly, but over the past few years, Liu Xiang gave him many surprises.

If we talk about one thing, it can be divided into the difference between doing it and doing it well. That Liu Xiang often gets things done.

However, if it comes to merit, it seems that he is not qualified to have no military merits.

But now Zhu Youzhen wants to knight someone, do you have to consider what qualifications are not qualified?

The answer is definitely no.

On the one hand, such a knighthood is an affirmation of his past few years.

On the other hand, in front of Zheng Zhilong, it was also to beat him.

It's like recruiting both of them at the same time.

If you can't, I'll replace you.