Zhaoqing, Governor's Palace.

The sky was just bright, and Shen Youlong was wearing his clothes and pacing in the garden.

It was still early, the morning light smeared a layer of reddish halo on the courtyard wall, and the flowers, trees, mountains and rocks in the courtyard were still hidden in the mist that had not completely dissipated, and they were quiet, making Shen Youlong, who was originally happy and quiet, feel some sadness.

The flowers, grasses, fish and insects in the garden were still sleeping soundly, but Shen Youlong couldn't sleep anymore.

Many of the flowers and plants in the flower beds are yellow, and a thin layer of frost appears in the leaves. He remembered the things mentioned in the newspaper during this time, and all kinds of thoughts came to his heart, and touching the layer of frost in his hand, Shen Youlong sighed and said to himself: "This is still the case in October in the southern country, I don't know what the Central Plains is like." ”

"Master, why did you get up so early?" Song Bao's voice woke Shen Youlong up, he put the hand stove in Shen Youlong's arms, and asked softly.

"The rule is not quiet, the world is uneasy, as a minister, how can you sleep?" Shen Youlong sighed, glanced at Songbao, shook his head slightly, and said in his heart that he couldn't say anything to a servant.

Song Bao said softly: "Only Mr. Zhao can solve the old man's sorrows." ”

"Yes, he went to Dongfandi, and he still doesn't know how."

Song Bao said: "Master, Mr. Zhao is back, the boat arrived in Zhaoqing yesterday evening, you have already rested, the little one listened to Mr. Zhao's entourage, Mr. has not had a good rest for three or four days, so he did not call you, send him back to rest." ”

"Oh good, well arranged. It's dawn now, hurry up and invite Mr. Zhao here. Shen Yulong said to Song Bao.

After a while, Zhao Wenji entered Shen Youlong's study, and Shen Youlong asked eagerly: "Sir, how is the harvest of Dongfan and his party?" ”

Zhao Wenji shook his head slightly, glanced at Songbao, and Shen Youlong said: "Songbao, you go to the back kitchen and look at the bird's nest porridge, it's ready, bring a bowl to Mr. too." ”

After Song Bao retreated, Zhao Wenji said: "Then Li Zhaoji promised to assist the imperial court in exterminating the pirates, but the students looked at that guy, and the plot was not small." ”

"Can he embarrass you and Chen Ping?"

Zhao Wenji shook his head: "Not really, but I want to embarrass you." ”

"How so?" Shen Youlong put down the teacup and asked.

Zhao Wenji said: "On this trip, the gift sent by Chen Ping was accepted by Li Zhaoji, but the two did not reconcile, but they were not hostile to each other. And Li Zhaoji still remembers the grievances and grievances with the chief soldier Lin Cha, and the grudge between the severed fingers can not be easily passed.

What Lee Siu Kee means is to see how you arrange these two people first. ”

"Arrogant, arrogant!" Shen Youlong stood up angrily, turned around the study a few times, and said viciously: "Who does he think he is, the court employs people, but he has a beak." These four pirates are chaotic in Yuehai, and they are inseparable from him.

Since the Cantonese Rebellion, he Li Zhaoji has benefited the most. It seems that he is complacent with his current situation and is about to raise a coward.

The old man still doesn't believe it, and without him Li Zhaoji, these four surnames can't be exterminated! ”

Shen Youlong coughed angrily, Zhao Wenji stepped forward, stroked his back, and said, "Dong Weng, you should be relieved." If you're all emotionally swayed, you can't do it anymore. ”

"Sir, this time is different from the past, these days, the old man sent people to Guangzhou and other places to investigate and inquire, and found that the four surnamed pirates are not as strong as before, and there is endless infighting. Some time ago, Lin Cha came and claimed that Wang Shi and Tuan Lian could suppress the four surnames. Shen Youlong's eyes had more light and said to Zhao Wenji.

When the four surnamed pirates were the strongest, it was still when they were united, when Li Zhaoji led the fleet to attack its anchorage, annihilating the large fleet of four surnamed pirates, causing its strength to plummet, followed by a round of infighting, although later in order to survive, the four surnames divided the sphere of influence and no longer fought inwardly, but there was no original concerted effort.

Moreover, the number of pirates under its command has also decreased.

This is because, since the Oriental Trading Company and the Cantonese gentry started trading together, there were far fewer ships on the Lingding Ocean, and most of them entered Macao by land or via the Xijiang waterway, and then the goods were escorted from Macao by the gunboats of the Oriental Trading Company to Tamsui, or sail directly to Manila.

The pirates didn't have many ships to rob, and with the large-scale recruitment of people to pan for gold in Tamsui, not only the displaced people in Guangdong heard the news, but even many pirates threw their weapons, pretended to be homeless, and went to Tamsui.

Zhao Wenji said: "What Dong Weng said, the students also know it, but did you suppress the four surnames and the five surnames?" ”

"Five surnames?" Shen Youlong was puzzled and asked, but he instantly understood, and his eyes widened: "You said that Li Zhaoji will fall into the grass and be a thief and oppose the court?" ”

"Why not?" Zhao Wenji said: "Dong Weng, as you said, this time is different from the past.

In the past, Li Zhaoji broke with you and did not dare to make trouble at the mouth of the Pearl River, because he offended not only the governor's palace but also the Guangdong gentry. But with the Guangdong gentry and Li Zhaoji partnering to trade abroad, everything changed. Yes, the trade to Nagasaki failed, but Lee Siu Kee won the gold and silver mountains overseas and became rich for a while.

Moreover, trade to Manila could go on forever, and in these days, the gentry also wanted to partner with it and trade in the South Seas.

Even if he became a pirate and partnered with the four surnames, he was an enemy of the court and a friend of the gentry. What will happen to you then? Taking people's money is like killing your parents, and when that time comes, you will be the enemy of the Guangdong gentry, are you still doing it in this position? ”

"Without you, the imperial court is still the same imperial court, but if you insist on going your own way, let alone Guangdong, can the whole Guangdong be quiet? You can't even calm down under your rule, so isn't the ambition to kill thieves for the court a passing day? Zhao Wenji didn't save face for Shen Youlong, he said directly.

Shen Youlong said: "As far as you can see, you can only make peace with Li Zhaoji, not fight!" But isn't he going to become the second Zheng Zhilong? ”

"There is Zheng Zhilong in Fujian, but the sea is quiet, and there are few thieves." Zhao Wenji said; "Moreover, he Li Zhaoji is not Zheng Zhilong after all, Yuehai has not fallen into his hands, you are the governor of Liangguang, you cooperate with him, it is he who begs you.

Dong Weng, you have never wanted a Zheng Zhilong to appear in Liangguang, not because you are worried that Zheng Zhilong will rebel against the imperial court, but because you are annoyed that he is selfish and does not contribute to the imperial court to quell the thief, isn't it? ”

Shen Youlong nodded slightly, since Zheng Zhilong was appeased, although he has engaged in foreign trade, it will not bring any taxes to the imperial court, and it will not damage the imperial court, and because of Zheng Zhilong's existence, there are no thieves and pirates in Fujian, regardless of the coastal and inland areas.

The only dissatisfaction of the imperial court is that now the Central Plains is in turmoil, thieves are everywhere, and the imperial court is in danger, but Zheng Zhilong did not send troops to destroy the thieves for the imperial court, and was only willing to give some artillery armor, which is really hateful.

Zhao Wenji struck while the iron was hot and continued: "What Li Zhaoji wants is to dominate the Guangdong Sea, and as far as I can see, he has no intention of taking advantage of the chaos to plunder the imperial court. And this hegemony in the Guangdong Sea, disturbed by the pirates with the four surnames, is to exterminate the four surnames and reject Li Zhaoji, what can this Guangdong trade bring to the imperial court? Zuo is just that little bit of ship income, because the imperial court sailors are useless, and the gentry devote themselves to maritime trade by virtue of their authority, and the ship income is pitiful.

You might as well use this useless sea to exchange something useful from Li Zhaoji. ”

Shen Youlong asked, "What is the useful thing that Mr. said?" ”

"Students think that one can be exchanged for finance and taxes, and the other can be exchanged for swords." Zhao Wenji said.

Shen Youlong sat back in the chair and nodded slightly: "Please tell me in detail, sir." ”

Zhao Wenji coughed lightly, took a sip of tea, and said: "When Li Zhaoji kills the four surnames, you can follow Xiong Wencan's example and let him raise troops with the proceeds of the boat." The Fujian ship was in the hands of the imperial court, and the income was small, but in the hands of Zheng Zhilong, it turned into a water flag, but it received a huge amount of money, and the highest one, a boat could be sold for 3,000 taels of silver.

In this way, the customs tax of Fujian of the imperial court belongs to Zheng Zhilong, but the customs tax of Guangdong Province, you can agree with Li Zhaoji in advance, whether it is a quota or a share, as long as there is a charter, it is much more than that point of ship.

And this is another one, in exchange for sword soldiers. This time, the students and General Chen went to Dongfandi and saw with their own eyes that Li Zhaoji led his troops and horses to attack the barbarians, although the barbarians were ignorant, the armor was incomplete, and the combat power was not strong. But the strength of the army is not only above the battle array.

The students looked at the land division under the command of Li Zhaoji, the order was forbidden, quite military, well-armed, and sharp, and the students said something ugly, that is, your governor's standard battalion, it is not enough. Most of its land divisions are from barbarian backgrounds, with a fierce temperament, brave and fearless, and they are soldiers who can fight and are good at fighting. ”

Shen Youlong listened carefully, personally added tea to Zhao Wenhe, and asked: "The old man heard that Li Zhaoji fought against the Wa Kingdom in the Northland, and the gold and silver mountain belonged to the Wa Kingdom. And the Wa Kingdom plundered the dynasty back then, Xian, although he was defeated by the imperial court, but his strength was not bad, he Li Zhaoji had such a big enemy, can he still send soldiers and horses to serve the imperial court? ”

Zhao Wenji laughed and said: "The strength of the Japanese country is well known. The island seized by Li Zhaoji is in the north of the Japanese state, far away from its core, and there is a sea barrier, so to prevent the Japanese counterattack, the naval division should be the mainstay.

If the naval battle is defeated, and the Japanese state sends tens of thousands of troops, how can Li Zhaoji be the enemy?

The soldiers and horses required by the imperial court are land divisions, and there is no contradiction between the two. On the contrary, the students felt that it was better for Li Zhaoji to lose to the Japanese people, when he lost the gold and silver mountains, he was more dependent on the Ming Dynasty, and he didn't let you handle it?

In Tamsui City, the students saw Dutch ships, Fujian ships, and even Zheng's ships trading back and forth, which shows that Li Zhaoji has become friendly with the Netherlands and the Zheng family. Previously, he broke the barbarians in the mountains, and there was no threat on land, so he could transfer Lu Shi to serve the imperial court.

Li Zhaoji is just a businessman, and there is no need to place much hope, but if he has three or five warships, hundreds of elite soldiers, goes north to the Liaohai, occupies an island, follows the old affairs of Dongjiang Town, and attacks Liaodong back and forth, he can contain thousands of captives in the east, and it will be of great benefit to the Ming Dynasty. ”

Shen Youlong bowed his head slightly and said, "What Mr. said is reasonable and quite sure. Is it in the eastern area, and the matter of being cared for has achieved results? ”

Zhao Wenji shook his head again and again: "Li Zhaoji is willing to send troops, but he is definitely unwilling to be appeased, and he will not be allowed to talk." ”

Shen Youlong was suddenly extremely disappointed, and said: "What Mr. said, how to count the number of people who went north to fight against Yunyun?" ”

"Dong Weng, fighting with the Dongyu, may not be the only one in my Ming court, the Francois had sent gunners north to resist the captives, although they did not make any contributions, but there are precedents. The key is not in what name, but how to persuade Lee to go. ”

"Are you sure you can convince then?"

Zhao Wenji said: "Naturally, there is, the students of Tamsui City have seen it, but they never expected that there would be such a grand occasion in just one year." But officially because of prosperity, the population is more needed, and if Li Zhaoji goes north to resist the captives, whether it is recruiting displaced people or sweeping the Liaohai, he can get manpower.

Compared with recruiting in Guangdong Province, the cost is much less, to put it bluntly, Guangdong Province is coarse, and people are determined. Those who have the courage to go to freshwater to pan for gold are mostly proletarian and unemployed, how many of these people are there? ”

Shen Youlong nodded slowly: "In this way, the old man has some ideas in his heart, it depends on whether he Li Zhaoji is sincere." ”

"The student advised Dong Weng to make a decision as soon as possible, if Li Zhaoji sent troops by himself and killed the four surnames, then you would have no hole cards in your hand."

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