When Deng Ming was stationed in Jiujiang, Zhang Chao, the governor of Jiangxi, did not go to meet with him, but handed over everything to his deputy, Dong Weiguo, because he had more important things to do, that is, to talk secretly with Jiang Guozhu, the governor of Jiangning.

This kind of private collusion of the feudal officials was very taboo in the imperial court, but Jiang Guozhu and Zhang Chao were both worried that the imperial court would turn around and launch a southern expedition, since this possibility could not be ruled out 100%, then it was necessary for them to formulate an offensive and defensive alliance. This kind of alliance talks are related to the future of the two people, and they are not worried about using envoys to communicate, so Jiang Guozhu secretly went to Anqing Mansion to negotiate with Zhang Chao, who came in disguise.

In addition to Zhou Peigong, there was no fourth person present in this negotiation, that is, the confidants of the two were excluded, and the two sides agreed that open source training was a top priority, and they needed troops to resist the imperial court in the north and reject Deng Ming in the east. During the negotiations on this day, Jiang Guozhu and Zhang Chao reached many agreements on commerce and taxation, during which the two had several disputes, but they were resolved by the slick Zhou Peigong's kind words.

Now Zhou Peigong is a hot figure in Liangjiang, and his full responsibility for the maritime trade issue was given great hope by Jiang Guozhu, making it possible for the governor of Jiangning to train more loyal troops, and now Zhou Peigong is close to the second person in Jiangnan who deserves his name; And Zhang Chao also hoped to use the relationship between Zhou Peigong and Deng Ming to make the unified purchase and sale of porcelain go smoothly. Originally, giving Zhou Peigong the title of Jiangxi political envoy was just a means to win over, and a large part of it was because of the face of Zhang Changgeng behind him, but now Zhang Chao is willing to give Zhou Peigong more power and make him his own deputy second only to Dong Weiguo.

Zhou Peigong, who is also the political envoy of the two provinces of Liangjiang, was able to look at the problem from the perspective of the two rivers, and if the meeting between the two governors lacked this lubricant, it would almost certainly fail.

At this meeting, Zhou Peigong put forward the concept of "economic integration of the two rivers" from a strategic position, in which Nanjing and Nanchang would not block the goods of the other side, would not impose additional taxes, eliminate trade barriers internally, and share the profits of maritime trade and Yangtze River trade. Of course, this is all for businessmen with official backgrounds, and as for those small and medium-sized merchants, the Liangjiang Yamen had to levy centigold to enrich the treasury of Nanjing and Nanchang. This strategy would not only further increase the revenues of the two provinces, but also discourage competitors and gain a strong position in trade negotiations with the Ming army.

Since officials and businessmen have many privileges, neither Nanjing nor Nanchang will unilaterally issue licenses to merchants, and all privileges must be granted with the consent of the other party in advance. In the end, Jiang Guozhu and Zhang Chao agreed to set up a special yamen to engage in this matter, and they planned to jointly go to the imperial court and apply for the establishment of the "Liangjiang Suppression of Premier Deng Yamen", whose functions on the surface were to be responsible for intelligence gathering, investigating the details of Tong Deng's work, bribing Mu Tan and similar money-hungry and lustful people to break into the Ming army, formulating the Yangtze River trade audit rules to prevent them from being used by the Ming army, and shouldering a part of the responsibility of raising funds for the Liangjiang Domain; Secretly, he is naturally fully responsible for Tongdeng and issuing this kind of official license that is jointly recognized by Nanjing and Nanchang.

Zhou Peigong was jointly promoted by the two governors as the first minister of the Supervision of Premier Deng, and hung the title of political envoy of the two provinces. The Yamen of Premier Deng of Liangjiang will be set up in Anqing, referred to as the Yamen of the General Suppression, and it will set up offices in Nanchang and Nanjing, referred to as the General Administration of Nanjing and the General Administration of Nanchang. At this time, the two governors thought that this would be a yamen with simple functions responsible for collecting money, and the rights of Premier Zhou Peigong were also very limited, whether it was Jiang Guozhu or Zhang Chao, or even Zhou Peigong himself, they did not think that this yamen of Premier Deng would develop into what kind of monster would develop into in the future, and how powerful Premier Zhou Peigong would become one day.

In addition to economic cooperation, the two governors were more concerned with the division of political power. Under the mediation of the future Prime Minister Deng, Zhang Chao pledged to withdraw from the competition for governor of Liangjiang and fully supported Chiang Guozhu in obtaining this position; Jiang Guozhu, on the other hand, promised that after obtaining the post of governor, he would not interfere in Jiangxi's personnel and financial rights, would not interfere in Jiangxi's internal affairs, and did his best to maintain the position of the Zhang Dynasty in Jiangxi.

Since the chief yamen was determined to be in Anqing, neither governor could build a palace to the imperial court and relocate it to another place.

After the division of political powers, Zhang Chao and Jiang Guozhu discussed economic issues again. But Zhang Chao is almost always speaking today, and Jiang Guozhu received a letter from Lin Qilong yesterday, and has been a little absent-minded ever since.

"If for any reason in the future, Premier Deng's yamen will not be able to stay in Anqing, I will also choose a new site on the border between Jiangxi and Jiangnan as a station." In any case, Jiangnan's strength was still above Jiangxi's, and Zhang Chaosheng was afraid that the Suppression of the General Yamen would eventually be completely absorbed by the Liangjiang Governor's Yamen and become a subordinate organ of it, so he made a precautionary request: "Under no circumstances, the station of the Suppression of the General Yamen cannot be located in Jiangning or Nanchang, nor can it be located within a hundred miles of Jiangning or Nanchang." ”

"I have no objection." Jiang Guozhu's mental state today was obviously not good, and he seemed to be preoccupied, and Zhang Chao's mention of yì he agreed without any bargaining.

Seeing this scene, Zhou Peigong, who accompanied him, also showed some surprise. Yesterday, Jiang Guozhu had been in a trance after reading Lin Qilong's letter, but when Zhang Chao and Zhou Peigong asked about the content of the letter, Jiang Guozhu smiled and said that he was fine, and the imperial court did not have any special actions. Since Jiang Guozhu said this, Zhang Chao and Zhou Peigong could not force the governor of Jiangning to share the personal letters given to him by the governor of Caoyun.

At this moment, a guard standing guard shouted outside the door, and after entering the room, the guard brought by Zhang Chao said: "Three adults of Qiqi, the political envoy of Dong Bu is here. ”

"What is he doing here?" Zhang Chao screamed unhappily. As the deputy of the governor of Jiangxi, Dong Weiguo certainly knew about his boss's secret talks in Anqing, but when Dong Weiguo came, wouldn't Jiangxi be singing an empty city plan?

"The envoy has asked to see the governor immediately." There was also a look of doubt on the guard's face: "The envoy said that it was a hundred thousand urgent things, well, and said that it was about the year name." ”

"Isn't it just to change the yuan Kangxi next year? What's the big deal? Zhang Chao was angry, but since Dong Weiguo came, he couldn't help but see: "Let him come in." ”

"That's not good." Although Jiang Guozhu did not object, Zhou Peigong couldn't stand it. Before the talks, the two sides had already agreed that except for Zhou Peigong, a neutral person, they would not allow the subordinates and staff members of either side to participate, which was both for the sake of secrecy and balance. Now that the governor of Jiangning is obviously not in a state, Zhou Peigong feels that it is necessary for him to come out and say a fair word to ensure that there will be no more contradictions between the two sides of the negotiation: "The lower officials feel that the meeting can be temporarily adjourned, and the governor can ...... privately."

"What should come is always coming." After hearing the word "Kangxi" just now, Jiang Guozhu's whole body trembled again, he interrupted Zhou Peigong, and took out the letter from Lin Qilong from his arms: "Let Master Dong come in, if the official expects it to be true, it is for the content of this letter." ”

……

Zhongxiang North.

A group of cavalrymen dressed in Qing army uniforms drove to the barracks with red flags, and the officers headed by them turned over and dismounted, walked slowly to the front of the Ming army barracks, and unhurriedly took out a letter and handed it to the guards of the Ming army, introducing themselves: "Below is the Admiral of the Wuchang Horse Army, who came on the orders of the Governor of Huguang. ”

"Long up, long back!"

The officers of the Ming army saluted with their fists and led the people into the camp.

This is He Zhen's military camp. After the news of the battle of Gaoyou Lake reached Xiangyang, the Ming army was boiling, and after several correspondence with Hao Shaoqi of Yunyang, He Zhen swore to set off and launched an attack on Wuchang.

Before sending troops, He Zhen and Hao Shaoqi also jointly sent a war letter to Zhang Changgeng, in which they called Zhang Changgeng His Excellency Mr. Governor of Huguang in Daqing. In the past, if He Zhen and Hao Shaoqi attacked the Qing army, they would naturally never issue any war letters, and they would not know when they were killed in the city. Even if a war letter is issued, it will definitely call the other party ugly and Tartar, no matter how ugly it sounds.

But this attack, in essence, was to go to Wuchang to meet Deng Ming, He Zhen and Hao Shaoqi were worried that Deng Ming would not have time to come to the Hanshui Valley, and would only stop by Jingzhou and Yiling to see Li Laiheng and Liu Tichun and return directly to Fengjie. The two politely applied for an entry permit from Zhang Changgeng, and they promised that they would not attack Zhang Changgeng's prefecture and county, and they would leave when they saw Deng Ming, and they would never stay in the other party's territory.

The envoy was brought to He Zhen, who had led his troops to fight with He Zhen in Zhongxiang several times before, and drove He Zhen back to Xiangyang. However, Zhong Xiang is the agreed boundary between Deng Ming and Zhang Changgeng, and the safety of Wuchang after the Huguang soldiers occupied this place was also guaranteed, Zhang Changgeng did not take advantage of the victory to pursue, and He Zhen knew that his strength was too poor and the governor of Huguang was too much, so he did not try to recapture it.

Unfolding Zhang Changgeng's reply, the tone inside was also quite polite, the governor of Huguang in the Qing Dynasty not only replied to the two Ming princes, but also did not scold the rogue and thieves, and also called them Mr., and agreed to the entry requirements of the Ming army. Of course, Zhang Changgeng had already reported to Beijing about the Ming army's invasion of the army, and the commander of the Ma army who delivered the letter was the commander-in-chief of the Huguang governor's suppression of bandits, and was fully responsible for resisting the attacks of He Zhen and Hao Shaoqi.

The letter also explained Deng Ming's itinerary, and Zhang Changgeng said that if it was a qiēshun lì, not only He Zhen, but also Hao Shaoqi, who had not yet arrived in Zhongxiang, would definitely have time to meet Deng Ming under Wuchang City.

In front of the envoy, He Zhen burned the letter according to the requirements in the letter, and instructed his subordinates to take the Admiral of the Wuchang Ma Army to inspect the barracks of the Ming army.

"Thank you, Lord Kokuto." The Admiral of the Ma Army bowed respectfully and retired, and then, accompanied by the Ming officers, inspected the entire camp to confirm that the Ming army did not carry any siege equipment, especially the gunpowder and the large bell used for blasting, which Zhang Changgeng repeatedly emphasized.

"Are you satisfied?" After inspecting the Ming army camp, the Ming army officer asked, "Can I go and see your army's defense?" ”

"Rightfully deserved, rightfully deserved." Admiral Ma did not hesitate to take the Ming officers to inspect the positions of the Qing army to prove that the Qing army did not ambush, collect grain and grass, or gather troops.

"Why hasn't Hao Guogong arrived yet?" After accompanying the inspection, Admiral Ma Jun asked again.

"Oh, that's right, King Anton is also going to Wuchang." The officer of the Ming army replied that King Anton had always been protected by Hao Shaoqi, and had always stayed behind the safe Zhushan all these years.

Later, Deng Ming's good news came one after another, and King Anton saw that the Huguang Qing army was afraid of Deng Ming like a tiger, and he also regretted it in his heart. This time the news of Gaoyou Lake reached Zhushan, and King Anton couldn't help it, and suddenly he was a hundred times more courageous, and decided to meet this young clan, and by the way, talk about family life, and see if he could climb up to what relationship.

"Ah, a great king is coming. Okay, I know, Wuchang will prepare the best troupe and servants and send them to your army, and the king will definitely return satisfied. "Admiral Ma Jun is knowledgeable, since it is impossible to risk angering Deng Ming to deal with King Anton, then patting on the back is the only option.

"There's Lao Guijun." The Ming officers nodded repeatedly.