Nanjing, Yamen, Governor of Liangjiang.

"This is a letter sent by the Governor of Shandong Zu to this official," Jiang Guozhu handed a letter to Zhou Peigong, the political envoy of the five provinces who had just arrived in Nanjing: "He asked this official for help, and he asked you to go to Shandong to support him with illness." ”

Zhou Peigong read the letter carefully, raised his head and said to Jiang Guozhu: "Xiaguan understood, so he packed his luggage and went to Yangzhou, and when he saw Admiral Deng, he led the reinforcements of Liangjiang into Shandong. ”

Zhou Peigong's entry into Shandong was just a pretense, and until now, Zu Zepu still claimed that Deng Ming had left an elite army in Jiaodong, so he needed the outstanding Zhou Peigong to participate in the extermination. Even if Zhou Peigong brought not many descendant troops, at least he could use his rich combat experience against Deng to guide the Shandong Green Battalion.

"Obviously, where is Jiaodong going to recruit An?" In addition to the justifiable reasons, Zu Zepu also had a secret letter, clearly stating that he intended to recruit the Ming army instigated by Deng Ming, so as to cut off Deng Ming's hand stretched out to Shandong in one fell swoop: "Are you sure about this matter?" ”

"Since we already have a tacit understanding with Admiral Deng, there should be no big deal in this matter, just look at Admiral Deng's offer, right?" Zhou Peigong said without thinking.

People in the world will think that Zhou Peigong's martial arts are world-famous, defeating Deng Ming's troops left in Shandong, and persuading the terrified local armed forces to surrender, which will definitely become the unified narrative of the Qing court's external propaganda; And within the Qing court, it will be known that this is actually a compromise, and in order to deal with Deng Ming, the biggest threat, the governor of Shandong had to compromise with the seven; Only the most core participants, Jiang Guozhu, Zhou Peigong, and Zu Zepu, knew that this was Deng Ming's will, and they were fulfilling Deng Ming's instructions.

"What did the Chongming thief say? Deng Ming fought a war by dressing up as officers and soldiers, and then attacked officers and soldiers while they were eating and sleeping. Jiang Guozhu laughed: "Now Admiral Deng's art of war has gone one step further, becoming a self-proclaimed officer and soldier, and then going to eliminate the officers and soldiers, and then forcing us to admit that he is the real officer and soldier." Hmph, how can things be so simple? ”

After making this cold snort, Jiang Guozhu said coldly: "However, I estimate that Admiral Deng will instruct you to fail to persuade you to surrender. ”

"Why?" Zhou Peigong was taken aback: "Isn't Zhao'an what Admiral Deng meant?" ”

"This is what Admiral Deng wants Zu Zepu to think." Jiang Guozhu shook his head: "It is in the best interest of Admiral Deng that the war in Shandong continues. If Admiral Deng did everything to recruit An, and even reached an agreement with Zu Zepu in front of the stupid gentry in Jiaodong, once the negotiation broke down, those stupid people in Jiaodong would definitely think that Zu Zepu had rebelled and would definitely kill them, hum, then they would not have to fight with Zu Zepu to the end? ”

Zhou Peigong felt a chill down his spine, he thought about it carefully, and found that Jiang Guozhu was very reasonable, Shandong chaos was the best situation for Deng Ming. But when I thought about it deeper, beads of sweat began to ooze from my forehead. Since Jiang Guozhu broke it in person, it means that Jiang Guozhu also has other calculations, otherwise this conversation would be unnecessary.

"I don't know what you mean?" Zhou Peigong honestly asked.

Jiang Guozhu is one of the people who Zhou Peigong conspired to replace, because of the support of Deng Ming behind him, Zhou Peigong has also faintly played with the southeast governor in the palm of his hand in the past two years, so he also despises Jiang Guozhu in private. But when he was startled, he immediately realized that the other party's city government was still far above his fledgling young official.

Jiang Guozhu didn't answer immediately, but stared at Zhou Peigong and fell into deep thought, and kept looking at Zhou Peigong in his heart, and then he said slowly: "Brother Zhou, you have helped me a lot, I will not forget your loyalty." ”

"Your Excellency is serious." Zhou Peigong hurriedly showed his loyalty, until the person opposite nodded slightly, and he didn't know if he really believed him.

"If Admiral Deng raids Wuchang, which side will you be on?" Jiang Guozhu made up his mind and asked seriously.

Zhou Peigong paused for a moment, and after a while, he suddenly realized that a greater fear struck, making him feel his heart contract, and he also made a decision at this time: "Xiaguan is the only one who looks forward." ”

Jiang Guozhu's face relaxed a little, and he sighed: "I have a daughter, who is ten years old, is it okay to give it to Ling Lang?" ”

"Xiaguan ......" Zhou Peigong did not shirk: "Thank you for your cultivation." ”

"Old man." Jiang Guozhu changed his title, took Zhou Peigong's hand and said: "On this trip to Shandong, the old relatives should act when they see the opportunity." ”

……

Yangzhou.

Zhou Peigong and Deng Ming sat in a tent and privately discussed the strategy of their trip to Shandong.

"Jiang Guozhu said that Gong Shangshu is scheming and will definitely suggest that the Admiral stir up the matter of Jiaodong's peace negotiation," Zhou Peigong was quite surprised after listening to Deng Ming's true opinion: "What? Didn't Gong Shangshu have this idea? ”

"Gong Shangshu does mean this, but Jiang Guozhu should think that this is my ploy, right?" Deng Ming asked rhetorically.

Gong Yan believes that Jiaodong must fight hard, in addition to containing the Qing court, but also let everyone in the world understand that even accepting Zhao'an is a dead end; On the other hand, if the Jiaodong Rebels were really forgiven by the Qing court, then the gentry would have illusions about the Qing court in the future.

"Yes, Jiang Guozhu also thinks that the Admiral will definitely let me go to Shandong to cause sabotage." Zhou Peigong replied honestly.

"And what does Jiang Guozhu mean?"

"Let me make sure to promote Zhao'an." When Jiang Guozhu mentioned Deng Ming's raid on Wuchang, Zhou Peigong realized that Jiang Guozhu was considering publicly planting a flag in support of Deng Ming.

If Deng Ming pondered that he was going to attack Zhang Changgeng, it would mean that Deng Ming had already planned a showdown with the Qing court, separating the north and the south from the Qing court for a strategic decisive battle. If this happens, then Jiang Guozhu is determined to rebel and put the treasure on Deng Ming to win his vassal king's future.

If Deng Ming had no intention of attacking Zhang Changgeng, then Jiang Guozhu would naturally not jump out to bear the main attack of the Qing court, so he would continue to endure it, accumulate strength, and wait for a better opportunity to go to Deng Ming's side anyway.

Therefore, Jiang Guozhu hoped that Zhou Peigong would take the initiative to suggest that Deng Ming join forces with him to attack Zhang Changgeng and suppress Zhang Chao, so as to test whether Deng Ming had the intention of launching a decisive battle.

But Zhou Peigong had no such intention, he didn't plan to test Deng Ming at all, but insisted that Jiang Guozhu ordered him to promote Jiaodong Zhao'an.

"I see, Jiang Guozhu still wants to yin me." Deng Ming sneered. He pondered for a while, and also figured out Jiang Guozhu's intention, as long as the Jiaodong peace was promoted, the main attention of the Qing court would still be on Deng Ming, so that the pressure on Jiangnan would be relatively light.

"Zhang Changgeng also sent a letter to the lower officials, asking them to find a way to solve the chaos in Shandong." Zhou Peigong did not hesitate to betray Zhang Changgeng again. Now Zhang Changgeng felt that Deng Ming's threat to him was no longer under the Qing court, and he knew the truth of the Huaiyang War through the suppression of Premier Deng's yamen, so Zhang Changgeng hoped that the Qing court could solve the Shandong problem with the least loss and the fastest time. Zhang Changgeng did not have as much ambition as Jiang Guozhu, and he did not have any intention of separating Huguang, so he hoped that the Qing court would be able to free up his hands from Shandong and fight with Deng Ming to lose both.

Deng Ming nodded again: "Sure enough, they are each pregnant with ghosts, thank you Brother Zhou for telling me." ”

"The Admiral won't trouble Governor Zhang because of this, will he?" Zhou Peigong asked cautiously, and as this question came out, his heart also hung up.

"Of course not, of course I have to abide by the agreement with Wuchang, Brother Zhou, don't worry." Deng Ming thought that Zhou Peigong was worried about the safety of his benefactor, so he assured: "All the agreements between me and Governor Zhang are still valid. ”

"Thank you, Admiral." Zhou Peigong stood up and gave Deng Ming a deep look.

"On this trip to Shandong, there will be political envoys from Lao Zhoubu." Deng Ming asked Zhou Peigong to promote the recruitment of Jiaodong.

"Wrap it up on me." Zhou Peigong and Jiang Guozhu had the same idea, and also hoped that when Deng Ming swept the Yangtze River, he would openly rebel and stand on Deng Ming's side. However, now is not a good time for the chaos in Shandong, because Jiang Guozhu has the bargaining chip of the Liangjiang army, and Zhou Peigong's anti-Deng corps has just begun to build. Zhou Peigong hoped that he could delay for a while, at least not let Jiang Guozhu seize the opportunity before he was ready, so no matter what, Zhou Peigong had to let Jiaodong settle down - even if it was to betray Jiang Guozhu for this. If Deng Ming asks him to stir up the peace, he will also secretly sabotage it.

Now Deng Ming asked him to go to Zhao'an, of course, it was the best for Zhou Peigong, and Deng Ming would not attack Zhang Changgeng, so he also had an explanation for Jiang Guozhu.

"It seems that Deng Ming thinks that the time is not yet ripe for a decisive battle." Zhou Peigong made a judgment in his heart, and then he talked about the literary prison that Jiang Guozhu was planning.

This matter has nothing to do with Zhou Peigong, but he knows that the rise of the prison will bring Jiang Guozhu an amazing income, Jiang Guozhu plans to use about half of the income to curry favor with Deng Ming, and also plans to use the rest of the money to cultivate an army loyal to him, and Zhou Peigong's army to suppress Deng can also benefit at that time.

"I won't support Jiang Guozhu to do this." Deng Ming said lightly.

"What?" Zhou Pei almost thought that he had heard it wrong, in his opinion, this matter was more beneficial to Deng Mingming than harmful, not only did he really buy a large amount of silver, but also collected a lot of scholars by the way. These people will not only be able to expand the talent pool in western Sichuan, but they will also help Deng Ming when he counterattacks Jiangnan, not to mention their network. The only possible drawback was that the gentry felt that Deng Ming was also involved in the division of their property, but this resentment was nothing compared to the Qing court.

"Because it's not right." Deng Ming replied casually.

"yes, they're all readers." Zhou Peigong felt as if he understood, although the competition for the world should not consider strategy from right or wrong, but when he first heard that there would be many unlucky readers, he also had a sense of sadness that the rabbit died and the fox died.

"No, that's not what I meant," Deng Ming corrected: "Whether it is a penniless Shandong peasant or a Jiangnan gentry with a lot of wealth, it is not right to take everything from them and cause their families to be ruined and their wives to be separated." ”

Zhou Peigong froze, and only after a moment did he ask again, "Does the Admiral plan to stop this?" Could it be that Gong Shangshu also thinks that this is wrong? ”

"Gong Shangshu and Hu Shuai don't think about whether it's right or not, they sympathize with those peasants, but they don't sympathize with the gentry."

"How does the Admiral plan to stop this?" Zhou Peigong felt that if Deng Ming wanted to threaten Jiang Guozhu and Zhao Guozuo by force, it would most likely be able to achieve his goal, but it would not be of any benefit to Deng Ming. Now Zhou Peigong's future is closely related to Deng Ming, and he can't help but want to consult Deng Ming - although it is incredible for Deng Ming to use right and wrong to guide his behavior, Zhou Peigong still has to help him reduce his losses as much as possible.