Anti-corruption, Gao Gong studies corrupt officials, Zhang Juzheng studies the corrupt environment of appeasement, and Wang Qian studies concubines and outer rooms.

I have to say that even Gao Gong, a traditional anti-corruption expert, is a little blindsided when he sees Wang Qian's methods.

With Wang Zhihe's eloquent talk, Gao Gong could only shake his head again and again, these three aunts and six women have a loud voice, and they say anything, there are true and false in these words, but Wang Qian, this guy, uses silver to open the way, these three aunts and six women will naturally spread some specious news when they see the money.

This method has to be guarded against, and it couldn't be simpler, that is, not to raise an outer room and a concubine.

Can you bear it? Gao Gong knows that anyone who is greedy for ink can't help it.

Color-eating sex also, this color and food are juxtaposed, once the greed is opened, this color will naturally follow, and the temptation sent by those seamless and non-drilling luxury households can be endured once or twice, ten times eight times, and naturally can't help it.

Gao Gong and Wang Zhihe chatted for a long time, Tiannan and Haibei, until Gao Gong was a little tired, Wang Zhihe planned to leave.

"Xinzheng Gong take care of his body, let's update Vientiane in the Ming Dynasty, this is a great river and mountain, it's good to take a second look." Wang Zhihe looked at Gao Gong and admonished.

"Old age and sickness, time is running out." Gao Gong waved his hand, he wanted to speak and stopped, in fact, he wanted to invite Zhang Juzheng to come over, but in the end he didn't say it.

The great doctors will come over every fifteen days, in fact, Gao Gong is very clear, the emperor doesn't want him to die, it is for him to watch, watching the Ming Dynasty change with each passing day, watching the emperor take the Ming Revolution and the new, Gao Gong naturally wants to see more.

The emperor didn't pursue the original matter, but Gao Gong is a very stubborn person, he has actually been shaken, no matter from which angle Your Majesty looks at it, at least at this point in time, he is Mingjun, he said to Wang Zhihe that he is not optimistic about the emperor, and he is just hard-mouthed.

The old man can't survive the winter, spring, winter is cold, spring is a lot of diseases, the advice of the great doctors, Gao Gong put it in his heart, at the end of February of the eighth year of Wanli, Gao Gong was seriously ill again, on the second day of the first month of March, Zhang Juzheng, who was in charge of all opportunities, was ordered by the emperor to take the courtiers to Gaofu in Xitucheng.

"Gangneung Gongri has a lot of opportunities, and it is an honor to come and visit." Gao Gong lay on the sickbed, his vitality that had been tormented by the illness was almost cut off.

Zhang Juzheng sat in front of the sickbed and said with great emotion: "Xinzheng Gong is resting." ”

"People live with a lot of energy, and when this heart is gone, the rest of their lives will only survive, and it will be better to die, and it will be a hundred." Gao Gong took out a book from under the pillow, which he wrote intermittently for a year, and then he couldn't write anymore, so he asked his son to write it, and finally finished writing.

"Gong Jiangling, help me transfer it to Your Majesty." Gao Gong's last book is nothing else, but a confession book, called "The Sickbed Chen Sin".

In the sixth year of Longqing, all kinds of disputes after the first emperor dragon drove the guests, all kinds of disputes will come to an abrupt end because of this book and completely qualitative, Gao Gong is very stubborn and very hard-mouthed at the same time, but he claims to be a gentleman, since he is wrong, he admits his mistake.

Your Majesty is long, wise and martial, Gao Gong admitted in the song that he had lost his eyes, admitted that he had done wrong, and admitted that he was to blame, which was regarded as a complete explanation to His Majesty, and an explanation for his life.

Gao Gong leaned on the pillow, looked at Zhang Juzheng, who was already a little blurry, and said with a smile: "I remember that when I celebrated my sixtieth birthday, more than 100 doctors from the Hanlin Academy, as well as 70 or 80 of my protégés, wrote me a life watch, and they also asked Jiangling Gong to write me two prefaces. ”

"It does." Zhang Juzheng remembered this incident, the difference is that the two prefaces of Gao Gong were written by Zhang Juzheng himself.

"That Zhang Siwei also wrote me a longevity order, this guy, the longevity sequence is only 1190 words in total, and he used 333 words to praise his own name, really, angry with me!" Gao Gong even made a little louder when he said this, his face was a little ruddy, obviously angry, in addition to scribbling in the preface of Qi Zhang Siwei, he was also angry Zhang Siwei assassinated the king.

Zhang Juzheng said with a smile: "Okay, okay, it's all over, what to do with him." ”

Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong chatted for a long time, they talked about more state affairs, such as the entrance examination, shipping, the return of the Qing Zhang, the war in the north, etc., Gao Gong also mentioned that Wang Zhihe was still in the prime of life, but Zhang Juzheng refused.

Wang Zhihe is indeed a son and daughter, but Wang Zhihe's initial retreat directly led to Wang Chonggu's return to Beijing from Xuanda, and also made Zhang Juzheng fall into some passivity at that time.

At the beginning, even Wan Shihe stayed.

On the fifth day of the first month of March, Gao Gong died of illness.

Zhu Yijun ordered the official funeral, gave Gao Gong as the Taifu, and gave him the nickname Wenxiang, and then shaded his son Gao Wuguan, who was the secretary of Shangbao Sicheng, regardless of the matter.

Gao Gong's departure was not sudden, he began to fall ill intermittently in the winter of the seventh year of Wanli, in order to relieve the ability of the great medical officer of the hospital, and he could only do his best to heal, during the New Year, it improved slightly, and suddenly worsened at the end of February, and finally died.

The Ministry of Rites has been on the note three times, for the high arch to ask for the official funeral gift official name Enyin, but all failed to be approved, until Zhang Juzheng went to the palace study, it can be regarded as a posthumous honor, even so, Zhu Yijun to the Ministry of Rites Zhu approved is: Gao through shipping, border defense, fixed Yunnan, Pingling table, the control of the western captives, the responsibility of the surrender, the northern captives called the ministers, the merit is indispensable.

In terms of title, Zhu Yijun still called Gao Gong Gao, and did not drop out of the dynasty because of Gao Gong's death, it is obvious that the emperor does not like Gao Gong.

Without Gao Gong, the Jin Party will never develop to this scale, his connivance, directly caused the political pattern in the early years of Wanli and Zhu Yijun's passivity, assassinating the king and killing the driver, burning the palace, it is indeed not Gao Gong's doing, but Gao Gong's connivance of the Jin Party, made many mistakes.

Even if it has been weakened and balanced repeatedly, the Jin Party is still the second largest partisan force in the Ming Dynasty.

Yin Zhengmao stayed in Beijing for more than half a month, and at the grand wedding ceremony, Zhu Xuanchang, the princess of Yingjia, the princess of the Ming Dynasty, married Yin Zongxin, the third son of Yin Zhengmao, with a rich dowry.

Concubine Zhou De, who is already pregnant, cried like a tearful person, on the one hand, she was happy, this daughter who was only seven years younger than her had a good home, and on the other hand, she was sad.

Luzon is far overseas, and Zhu Xuanchang wants to come back, but it is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Zhu Xuanchang is the name changed by the Empress Dowager Li, Zhu Yijun has never seen this cheap daughter until the day she married her daughter, and she has only seen a portrait.

The princess of the Ming Dynasty also has her own name, Emperor Sejong only has one daughter left named Zhu Luyuan, and the four daughters of Emperor Longqing who are still alive are all named after Zhu Yao, the last word, must take the woman next to it, according to the plan of the Empress Dowager Li, Zhu Yijun's daughters are all named after Zhu Xuan, and they also have to take the female character next to it, so there is the name Zhu Xuanchang.

Zhu Yijun bid farewell to the princess he had never met, which can be regarded as a complete confirmation of the identity of Emperor Yin Zhengmao's relatives.

Not long after Yin Zhengmao left, at the end of March, Zhu Yijun received news from the Strait of Malacca again, and the Governor of Goa, Meneses, asked to surrender, hoping to divide the territory according to the current actual control area, and the west side of the Strait of Malacca belonged to them, and the east side belonged to the Ming Dynasty.

Menezes's letter of surrender did not cause a little wave in the imperial court, and the Ming Emperor wrote a sentence that he looked ugly and wanted to be beautiful, which was regarded as a result.

For the importance of the Strait of Malacca, the courtiers already know very well, this throat place, no matter what, can not be in the hands of Taixi, otherwise there will be no peace in the Ming Sea Frontier.

Zhu Yijun was a little puzzled, Menezes's letter of request for surrender was a bit inexplicable, and his question would soon be answered.

The violent waves of the Atlantic Ocean do not affect the noise of Liberty City, the sea breeze blows through this free land, Sin City, under the gentle murmur of the sea breeze, it is the seagulls that spread their wings and soar, the sound of their chirping, echoing the noise of the harbor, the sunset on the seashore paves the sea surface golden and then is broken by the waves.

Xu Fan, who lives near the city hall in the city, is a three-storey castle, which is a converted church, with a stone vaulted roof with some minarets, which is obviously influenced by the Hui people, and the corridor supported by Roman columns, which is both supportive and solemn, and the sunlight shines into the house of the wise through the intricate window flowers, and sprinkles on Xu Fan's body.

(Xu Fan's place of residence - the house of the wise)

Antonio and Marcus broke into this house of the wise, broke into the study in a hurry, and said with a very excited face: "Advisor, the pure one is dead, Felipe II killed King Enrique I of Portugal!" ”

"I have received the news, Your Highness, don't panic, don't be impatient, wait until I finish writing this article." Xu Fan has been writing and painting, he is writing eulogies, his father died, and died in a humiliating way in the prison of the Ming Dynasty, this news, Xu Fan has received.

When Xu Fan received the news, he had some mixed tastes, when he left, he saw Xu Jie, Xu Heng's stubbornness, the wind direction had already changed, but Xu Jie couldn't adapt, and he couldn't adapt to it, he could avoid it, but Xu Jie always stared at those interests and insisted on going his own way.

When Xu Fan left, he thought that there would be today, and he took these four words by himself, Xu Fan, as a son of man, couldn't say it.

Fortunately, Emperor Ming did not punish the Xu family, only Xu Jie and Xu Heng died.

Returning to the Yanwan private market, when the southeast was in turmoil, Xu Jie, as the second assistant, the second assistant for 20 years, can Xu Jiejie not know the horror of the private market?

In the end, for the sake of profit, he died above profit.

Xu Fan did not hate Emperor Daming, Emperor Shizong, Emperor Longqing, and His Majesty all forgave Xu Jie's sins several times, especially Your Majesty, Qingzhang returned to the field and did not kill, the migrating rich did not kill, Zhang Juzheng was worried, the emperor still did not make a move, and took mercy for granted, who can blame him.

Xu Fan put away the eulogy, and when the matter at hand was over, he wanted to burn incense for his father's spiritual position, and Xu Jie's spiritual position was engraved in the Ming Dynasty.

According to Shouxiao, he shouldn't do anything at this time, but people have reached the city of freedom, which is extremely free, so there is no need to abide by the oriental etiquette so much, and follow the customs of the locals.

"Does Your Highness want to go to Lisbon (the capital of Portugal) to inherit the throne?" Xu Fan looked at Antonio and asked.

"This is what I aspire to!" Antonio exclaimed, "Of course! After so many years of hard work, isn't it just for the arrival of this day? ”

"No, you're going to Lisbon now, you're just getting into a trap that has been set up for a long time, and even if you can ascend to the throne, I'm sure you won't last more than a year." Xu Fan said with confidence: "Felipe II can't do anything about you now, because your fleet is elusive and can't catch a trace, once you enter Lisbon, your fleet will inevitably be nearby, so you will fall into his advantage." ”

"Isn't it even seventeen five-masted ships?" Antonio was unwilling, the old king died, but he could not go as the heir, he was unwilling, but the wise man told him the danger.

Xu Fan's intelligence and ruthlessness, Antonio has seen more than once, Antonio is not lacking in force, he lacks wisdom.

"The five-masted ship is invincible at sea, but once he is bound in the harbor, he is trapped in the shallows, and no matter how powerful he is, he will become meat on the board because of the favorable time and place, and he will be slaughtered by others." Xu Fan's perspective has always been from the perspective of a chess viewer.

Antonio is too weak compared to Felipe II's strength.

"I told you from the beginning that the only way you want to get the throne is to make Felipe II feel unworthy." Xu Fan said a little helplessly: "If you have to go, I won't stop you, but I don't recommend doing it." ”

Antonio pondered for a long time and said loudly: "I have decided to go to Lisbon, if I wait any longer, Felipe II will be canonized from the Pope." ”

Xu Fan took a sip of tea and said unhurriedly: "Yes, but have you considered how to repay Your Majesty's war loan?" Of your ships, there are 12 of them, and they are still burdened with war loans of 3.5 million silver, do you think about repaying the indemnity first? ”

"You have probably made up your mind to pay off the debt, or simply pay the debt, but I remind you, Felipe II, is happy to accept this debt, borrowed by the crown prince from the Ming Dynasty, for him, this debt can make it easier for him to rule Portugal, he will get a generous image, and use his financial resources to quell the anger from the east, which means a smoother trade, and will also make Portugal better accept him."

"This is probably the most difficult fact for you to accept, your enemies are more powerful because of you, and when you think about it, they grit their teeth with hatred and are helpless."

Xu Fan's words made Antonio completely calm down, Xu Fan's words, poured cold water on him, he has a five-masted ship, Felipe also owns, when the ship arrived in Liberty City Atlantic, according to the agreement, Felipe II purchased ten five-masted ships, has been delivered.

It is an indisputable fact that Felipe is extremely powerful.

From beginning to end, Xu Fan gave Antonio only one way, and that was to make Felipe II feel that it was not worth it.

If Antonio did not comply with the agreement and detained Felipe II's ten-and-five-masted ship, the enraged Felipe II would have used the god of war, Álvaro de Bazán, first marquis of Santa Cruz, to destroy him.

Diego de Álvaro's father, the myth of undefeated, has still not been broken, Tessie also has a high merit, Felipe II for the sake of domestic stability, has not let Álvaro go on the expedition.

"What do the wise men think? Enrique is dead, there is no king in Portugal! Antonio was so anxious that he stood up and walked around, venting his restlessness.

"I can leave tomorrow to meet the King of France and then England and the King of England, and if I can get the support of the King of France and the King of England, and then you return to Lisbon to inherit the throne, Felipe II will not use force easily, because the King of France and the King of England need an opportunity now, an opportunity to intervene in the Nieland region." Xu Fan pointed out the second way.

The Netherlands was full of war, and even if Don Juan went to suppress it, it was all in vain, but for Felipe, the Netherlands was extremely important, even if the resistance was so active, Spain could still receive more than two million silver and one hundred thousand taels of gold in taxes from this region every year.

If England and France openly intervene in the Netherlands, from covert support to reasonable intervention, I am afraid that Spain will lose the Netherlands forever, and Felipe will really be reluctant.

"Good, good!!" Antonio's eyes lit up, Xu Fan's proposal made him excited, although it will pay a lot of price, but it is always a way out.

"In fact, there is still a road, this road will take a long, long time, but I believe that after you have walked this road, you will become a real king." Xu Fan is still very calm, as a strategist, as a consultant, he naturally wants to inform Antonio of the true king's path.

"What is it?" Antonio sat down and asked curiously.

"You have the support of the common people, but the power of the common people has not been demonstrated, you now back down, let Felipe II inherit the Portuguese king, and then send your men back to Portugal, start a real, belonging to all the Portuguese people, a war against tyranny, until the day of success, you are a veritable Portuguese king, retreat is the best policy." Xu Fan said the third way, the way that can really send Antonio to the throne.

Felipe II's reign was anything but amicable and, to be clear, brutal.

The people of the Netherlands are not old birthday stars who have hanged themselves for a long time, knowing that Spain has an invincible arma and still resisting, the cruel ruling policy has made the people of the Netherlands miserable, and the rise of handicrafts has given them wealth and vision, and the emerging bourgeoisie cannot accept the rule and exploitation of the Inquisition in any case.

The rule of Felipe II in Portugal, too, will not be friendly.

"How long will it take?" Antonio asked, frowning.

"Ten years, or more." Xu Fan said with a smile: "Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, you don't have to worry too much about Your Majesty's war loans, Your Majesty the mercy will definitely understand the primary throne, and Your Highness's difficulties will definitely give Your Highness a suitable number of years to extend and repay these loans." ”

"Your Majesty's decree is very clear, the high interest rate will only be maintained for the duration of the war, and when you win, the interest will be reduced from 24% to 4%, and you will also receive a rollover of twenty, forty, and seventy years."

"Your Majesty is merciful."

For Antonio at this time, of course, this is a gift, and for Antonio in the future, it is a painful peel to the extreme.

"Let me think about giving the wise man another answer." Antonio's face was painful, and there were three paths in front of him.

The next strategy is to go to Lisbon immediately to inherit the throne, which is a sure defeat, even if he can get away with it, he can only rely on others for the rest of his life.

The middle strategy was to send envoys to France and England to gain the support of the King of France and England, and even with this support, Felipe II could brazenly send troops to obtain the throne of Portugal.

As for the best strategy, Antonio is not sure whether he will win, and it will be a really long time, in this long time, he may need to borrow more money, and even if it is extended for a hundred years, it will be extremely stressful to return, and it will take an astronomical amount of money for Portugal to recover.

What does this make Antonio choose? He was caught in an infinite tangle.

Or is it due to weak strength, if Antonio has 10,000, no, only needs 3,000 sharp soldiers like the Great Ming Sailor, he will go to Lisbon fearlessly and obtain the throne, Felipe dares to attack, Antonio is also confident that he will go to the Strait of Gibraltar in person to block the Invincible Armada.

The sharp pawn of the Great Ming Water Division, its strength, Antonio saw with his own eyes.

But Antonio didn't, he only had a group of pirates, and although they were extremely vicious, they didn't have any military discipline at all.

(Topographic map)

"If I were you, I would choose the third option, although high borrowing will make people suffocate, but you will be the real king." Xu Fan's suggestion was very pertinent, and he further explained: "Compared with the promises and support of the King of France and the King of England, His Majesty is more credible, and he has supported you with real money. ”

Xu Fan's sincere suggestion did not convince Antonio, Antonio left with his first mate Marcus, and they had to understand the stakes before making a choice.

And Xu Fan saw it very clearly that Antonio would choose the middle strategy and send an envoy to let Xu Fan go to France and England in the form of an advisor.

It's not short-sightedness, it's not Antonio's indecision, it's that Antonio doesn't believe in the power of the civilians and will win the final victory, the rich Felipe only needs a little bit of wealth from his fingers, no, Felipe just needs to be a little more moderate and plunder less, and the civilian revolt will turn into support.

Antonio is liked and supported by civilians, but Antonio does not believe in the power of civilians.

Xu Fan did not further persuade him, he had already made it very clear that it was Antonio's responsibility to make a choice.

The second way, can Antonio really sit in the king's position? Xu Fan has imagined countless endings, all of which point to defeat, and none of them are spared.

Upper, middle and lower strategies? The weak actually have no choice, and Antonio's life is only a third way, leaving him to die and reborn.

Xu Fan came to Taixi, didn't he put him to death and come back to life? If you don't choose this way, you are doomed to a tragic end.

"I need an identity so that my children and grandchildren can return to Daming openly." Xu Fan looked at the eulogy in his hand, Xu Jie died, Xu Fan didn't plan to go back in this life, but he planned to fight for the rest of his life, get an identity, and let his children and grandchildren go home.

"Special Envoy Xu, there are people outside the door asking to see you." Chen Dazhuang walked in and said very respectfully.

Chen Dazhuang was a guest soldier under Ling Yunyi, Chen Dazhuang killed a dog in the family of the Confucian Dog, his father was forced to send a funeral for the dog, Yanzhou Confucius has fallen, last year, Chen Dazhuang came to Taixi on a galleon, became Xu Fan's bodyguard, and he led three guest soldiers to protect Xu Fan.

Xu Fan is still an official of the imperial court and a special envoy appointed by His Majesty.

"Sent by Felipe II, a priest." Chen Dazhuang explained the person.

"Please come in." Xu Fan nodded and motioned for Chen Dazhuang to bring people in.

Only one man came alone, with a gray pointed hat, a linen cloak, without the disgusting smell of not bathing all year round, a short sword at his waist, and a heavy white beard that almost covered the cross on his chest.

The visitor saluted and said very sincerely: "Guests from the East, your wisdom can be heard as far away as Toledo, and this reckless and rash visit is the guidance of the Lord and the command of the King, and I hope that it will not make your guests feel uncomfortable." ”

"You may be seated." Xu Fan motioned for the pastor to take a seat.

"You are as fluent in Latin as a nobleman, and you can call me Sauron, I am the king's court secretary and court apothecary." Priest Sauron looked at the furnishings in the room and nodded at Chen Dazhuang.

Sauron sat up straight and said, "My king has seen you once, and this time I have brought you some gifts, this one from Nuremberg, I hope your guests will like it." ”

"Thank you for the gift." Xu Fan accepted this Nuremberg egg, the same egg-like watch, the Ming Emperor also had one, which was originally given as a national gift.

Sauron took off his hat and said very sincerely: "The wisdom of the distinguished guest from the East has brought a lot of trouble to my king, Antonio is full of force, if he is rich in wisdom, he will be an extremely difficult opponent, and the facts have proved this matter, the last fiasco has made my king extremely troubled, my king hopes that you can agree to our conditions, compared to Antonio, the Spanish stage, it is easier for your talent to be fully displayed." ”

"We brought a lot of sincerity."

Xu Fan shook his head and said, "I'm from the East, and since I work for Antonio, I won't turn my back easily." ”

"Please also listen to our sincerity." Sauron took out a piece of parchment and said, "If you agree to our terms, this contract will be distributed to every corner of the diocese through the Holy See, and you need not worry that my king will break his promise." ”

"This is a letter from the king."

Xu Fan opened the parchment, and it was indeed Felipe's handwritten letter, and the handwriting he wrote to Daming was almost the same as this one.

Full of sincerity.

When Xu Fan arrived at the summer palace, he could obtain the chief secretary of the court, a fief of more than 5,000 hectares in Castile, the canonization of an earl, and the official position of a Spanish diplomat.

"The Great Travel, the whole of Tessie excludes us in Spain, we lack talent in this area, the most famous in Spain are martial artists, who can only speak with their fists, many wars, in fact, there is no need at all, your suggestions will also be prioritized, we secretaries are actually very incompetent, the king writes at least 4,000 letters a year to communicate with the governors." Sauron chose to tell the truth, Felipe II's diligence was often caused by the incompetence of their secretaries.

"The conditions are very exciting, but I still don't plan to go." Xu Fan finally chose to refuse.

He wants the throne of King of Portugal, and Felipe II will give it too?

"What does it take for your guests to serve my king?" Sauron is not in a hurry, talking about the sale, how can there be no other party to bargain.

"I want the throne of Portugal." Xu Fan said directly.

Sauron took out another piece of parchment and said, "Yes, my king is never stingy, what Antonio can give, a generous king can give you double, and what Antonio can't give, we can also give." ”

Xu Fan was very sure that there was no problem with him, but the other party was abnormal.

How can there be such a trap on people, and which Ming envoy can withstand this kind of test?!

I don't know if I can understand the extension here, it is a watershed at the end of the war, 24% before the end, 4% after the end, and 4% for 40 years, and the interest is also astronomical. This figure is already very modest, and the interest of the money released during the Wanli period even exceeds 50% for a year!!!!!!

(End of chapter)