Deng Ming felt that he had already said it to Zhu Shenglang, the king of Dong'an County, anyway, and he didn't mind repeating it again to Li Dingguo, the king of Jin. Deng Ming resolutely refused to admit that he was a clan, and said the same things that he had said to Zhu Shenglang again: he was born in the north, and he was attacked by bandits on the way south, and he lost his memory. Of course, this set of rhetoric is completely different from when Deng Ming first met Yuan Zongdi, and for two years, Deng Ming continued to add details, removing the chaff from the story, making it more and more full and believable.

However, Deng Ming's revised story still failed to deceive Zhu Shenglang, and in the letter to Wang Guangxing, the king of Dong'an County insisted that Deng Ming was the king of Chu. Li Dingguo's attitude is not as firm as Zhu Shenglang, if Deng Ming is not a clan, then of course it is best, so that Deng Ming's threat to Yongli and Xiying will be much smaller. It's just that from Zhao Tianba's report, it seems that Deng Ming is not a member of the clan is very small, and now Deng Ming firmly denies it, and even makes up a story for this (King Jin doesn't believe it), in Li Dingguo's opinion, it is just a statement from the other party.

"Those rumors are all rumors," Deng Ming, after recounting his tortuous experience of throwing himself into Sichuan, assured Li Dingguo again: "Except for the first battle of Wanxian to boost morale, I have never pretended to be a clan to anyone." After the battle in Wanxian, I immediately explained to the soldiers and asked the Inspector Wen for his guilt. ”

Li Dingguo also heard Zhao Tianba's careful description of the First Battle of Wanxian, and knew that Deng Ming adopted the little-known Zhu Di's strategy, and also let Zhao Tianba undertake the most important and critical tasks.

"I didn't mean to ask King Han, that King Han is fake, Wen Anzhi has already reported it to the imperial court, and the Son of Heaven also knows." Li Dingguo didn't speak, only pondered in his heart: "But what's the matter with the Young Tang King?" But he didn't say anything! ”

Of course, Deng Ming would not mention it, because the King of Shaotang, like the third prince, was certified by others without his knowledge.

"So, this king has mentioned that he wants to ask for the knighthood of Admiral Deng, there should be no problem, right?" Li Dingguo felt that Deng Ming was continuing to say that he would never engage in infighting, and not recognizing the identity of the clan was obviously the most effective way to put an end to infighting. If someone draped the yellow robe over Deng Ming's shoulders, then the shape would become the same as when Sun Kewang usurped the throne, and Li Dingguo had no choice if he didn't want to fight among himself.

"Of course not." Deng Ming did not hesitate in the slightest. Although he didn't know what Li Dingguo was thinking in his heart, he knew very well that this mention was an issue that could never be ambiguous, and if he wanted to eliminate the estrangement between Chengdu and Kunming, he must accept it. Even if Deng Ming is really a clan, for the sake of the alliance of the Ming army, he must accept it completely. Besides, Deng Ming is obviously not a clan, what is there to be wronged about.

Deng Ming found that he seemed to have symptoms of schizophrenia again, and hurriedly dispelled the inexplicable feeling that had risen, and bowed his hand to Li Dingguo: "Thank you, King." ”

"It's a matter of duty." Li Dingguo supervised the country on behalf of the emperor, and it was part of his work to promote merit and use energy. Today's negotiations with Deng Ming were even smoother than expected. Li Dingguo called everyone back, and as soon as he saw everyone, he said: "This king wants to ask the court for the governor of the Yangtze River, and Governor Deng is very humble......"

Li Dingguo glanced at Deng Ming, and made sure that the other party had no intention of objecting, so he made the agreement reached by the two just now public, and Chen Zuocai, Bai Wenxuan and others all showed different surprised looks on their faces. Since Deng Ming accepted the title, at least in the short term, he will not be able to regret it, even if he turns out his clan identity in the future, he will be much more passive.

"Went to Jiangnan twice and killed Emperor Tartar, Hong Chengchou and Hu Quancai (about the battle of Zhong Xiang, Zhao Tianba also reported to Li Dingguo, of course, nominally it still belongs to Deng Ming's credit), even if it is not an exaggeration to pay the prince. became a prince before he was twenty-two years old......" Li Dingguo pondered in his heart, and his eyes swept over Deng Ming's face: "It's all because of martial arts." Even if he really doesn't have a clan identity, this matter is not great, what will he do if he makes meritorious contributions in the future? I had to ask for the title of county king, and I didn't know how many years I could wait. ”

Li Dingguo had already made up his mind to send an envoy to Chengdu, which was a necessary reward for Deng Mingbiao's gesture, and it did have practical benefits against the Qing alliance. He only pretended not to see the committee in Fengjie. In Li Dingguo's view, the role of the committee is only to postpone the time when the contradictions erupt. Sooner or later, with the collapse of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, the life of the committee will come to an end, and at that time, everyone will have to decide who is the real master of China.

"But at least the Tartars were defeated at that time, and it was better than fighting a mess now, and finally being wiped out by the Tartars." Thinking of the inevitable future, Li Dingguo also felt a little regretful, but he was also secretly glad that he could at least fight side by side with Deng Ming for a few days: "Chen Zuocai is just a small boss under Mu Tianbo, Deng Ming does not bully others, but seriously reasoned with him; Then he will definitely be reasonable in Fengjie, whether it is Jianchang or the generals of Yudong

, but their status is much higher than Chen Zuocai; It's rare to be so measured at such a young age, but it's a pity that there is no other day. Li Dingguo didn't want to think too deep and too far, but he knew that this was the rule of unification, the fate of all heroes.

"Well, King Jin mentioned just now that there are some rumors." Seeing the eyes of everyone, Deng Ming knew that they were also affected by the rumors, and it was necessary to emphasize it again to completely dispel the concerns of the officers and soldiers in Kunming: "I am not a clan, that time in order to defeat Tan Yi and Tan Hong, I had to do it as a last resort, and I have never claimed to be a clan, and I don't know how these rumors spread." ”

The story of amnesia failed to convince Zhu Shenglang and Li Dingguo, and it also couldn't convince Bai Wenxuan to them, but the generals in Kunming were the same as Li Dingguo, and no one would really want to break through this matter. Only Chen Zuo sneered: "Admiral has amnesia, this is exactly a convenient way to say." I accepted the title of the imperial court today, and I can remember it when I should remember it in the future. ”

He Jiuyi and Ma Bao both glared at Chen Zuocai angrily, who doesn't know the truth here, don't you even understand the exchange of etiquette as a scholar? Deng Ming has already made it clear that he will not provoke trouble and cause infighting at this critical juncture, so why should Kunming be aggressive?

"Although I can't remember some things clearly, my surname is Deng and not Zhu, there is no doubt about that!" Deng Ming was still not angry, he said categorically: "It's true, there will be no fake!" Throughout my life, I will never pretend to be a clan, if there is a little lie, heaven and earth will not tolerate it! You are all witnesses, and I ask you to help spread these words in order to dispel the rumors. ”

Bai Wenxuan and other generals were speechless in surprise, Deng Ming swore never to compete with Yongli for the throne, what a terrible oath for a young clan with world-class martial arts.

Even Chen Zuocai, who was most unaccustomed to Deng Ming, was also stunned at this moment, and an indescribable excitement surged in his chest. Such a clan that regards power like dung and is dedicated to serving the country made Chen Zuocai so moved that he almost cried. But after a while, Chen Zuocai put away his emotion, and thought: "No, he didn't mean it." If so, then why did he set up that committee? ”

Deng Ming's oath also surprised Li Dingguo, but soon Li Dingguo realized that this was still a gesture, in order to unite the anti-Qing alliance as much as possible. Of course, Deng Ming's heart is very remarkable, but the throne, since ancient times, no one can refuse its temptation - not only temptation, but also threat, if your enemies are allowed to sit on it, it is a dead end. Even if Deng Ming didn't fully realize this now, he would realize it sooner or later. Even if Deng Ming couldn't see it clearly, his subordinates would help him see it clearly. No matter what the character, mind, measure, and temperament, in the end it is still life and death, which is the fate that all heroes such as Liu Futong and Zhang Shicheng cannot escape - if someone can escape, it is not fate.

"After all, it's been years, even decades." Thinking of this, Li Dingguo put his worries about the future behind him, and told his subordinates that he immediately asked the imperial court for Deng Ming, and at the same time sent envoys to Chengdu and Fengjie. Li Dingguo looked at the sky, it was time for dinner, so he asked Deng Mingdao with a smile: "Is Admiral Deng hungry?" ”

"I'm a little hungry, indeed." Deng Ming smiled and touched his stomach: "Before coming to Yunnan, I heard that there is a mushroom called chicken brown that is very famous, I don't know if the king has it here." ”

Deng Ming had a cousin in Chuxiong in his previous life, according to him, Yunnan people are ** brown, and the aroma can be smelled in the three streets, Deng Ming has been admiring for a long time but has not had time to go to Yunnan, but he has the opportunity to come to Kunming after crossing. The last time I came to Kunming, I only cared about setting fires everywhere and pretending to pass orders, and I was so busy that I didn't find a chance to ask Wu Sangui or Zhao Liangdong for some.

"Admiral Deng is so knowledgeable." Li Dingguo gave a thumbs up and said with a smile: "I originally wanted to recommend it to Admiral Deng, but I didn't need it at all." Let's go to dinner first, and we'll talk about it tomorrow. ”

"There's nothing else," Deng Ming smiled, "I've said everything I need to say." It's not easy to come to Kunming, if you don't finish talking about business, you won't be able to eat. ”

"How long will Admiral Deng stay in Kunming?" Ma Bao asked, he didn't know if Deng Ming's subtext was going to leave immediately.

"Stay longer," Deng Ming replied, "There were too many things when I came to Kunming last time, and I didn't have a chance to go around here in Kunming." ”

Last time, Deng Ming also answered with Ma Bao Yaoyao, but he didn't have the opportunity to talk face-to-face, this time he just talked about the thrill of that night, and sighed that he didn't know each other at that time.

The dinner was very happy, and the atmosphere was always very harmonious, until Deng Ming said casually: "I have set up some academies in Chengdu. ”

After these words came out, the air in the room suddenly became cold, but Deng Ming didn't notice it at all, and continued to speak: "I invited some gentlemen to teach the children in Chengdu to read." ”