On May 15, 1646, March 30 of the second year of Longwu in the Ming Empire.

Fuzhou Mansion in Fujian Province was renamed Tianxing Mansion by the Longwu Imperial Court, while Fuzhou City was renamed Fujing, symbolizing the orthodoxy of the Ming Dynasty and the continuation of the political appeal after the fall of the northern and southern capitals.

However, at this time, the state affairs of the Longwu court were running very strangely, and Emperor Longwu himself took a group of old ministers to Jianning Mansion in the northwest of Fuzhou most of the time. Jianning is close to the northern defense line of Fujian, and its beautiful name is called the Son of Heaven guarding the country.

Zheng Zhilong stayed in Fuzhou City most of the time, and built war defense facilities in the west and north directions, placed artillery, stored grain, grass and gunpowder, and deployed heavy troops, as if building the second nest after Xiamen.

In less than a year, the contradiction between the Longwu court and the ****** of the eastern Lu Dynasty in the northeast deepened to the point of fighting each other. Not only did they not recognize each other's political legitimacy, but they also killed each other's envoys and snatched the counties and towns of the border states.

Just a few months ago, the Longwu Imperial Court took advantage of the farce of King Lu concentrating the main force to cross the river (Qiantang River) and invade Hangzhou in the north.

Now, the second southern expedition of the Manchu Qing Dynasty has been unsheathed, and more than 100,000 troops are approaching Jiangxi and Zhejiang respectively.

Even if there are still Jiangxi and Zhejiang in the north for the time being, Fuzhou City at this time is already a bit of a rumor, and every day there are local gentry and big families running to various yamen to inquire about the news.

Although Fuzhou was far from the war, it was affected by the current situation, and the Zheng family strengthened coastal control, not only did coastal trade become colder than in previous years, but also the repeated floods in various parts of Fujian in the past year also caused the price of grain in Fuzhou to soar.

The South Seas rice business from Luzon and Dayuan was almost cut off. However, the rice harvest in the interior of Jiangxi and Fujian has been seriously failed due to flooding, and the people in various localities who cannot survive this year's harvest have fled one after another, and the large landlords in various prefectures and counties have even increased their grain to protect themselves, and now a stone of old brown rice with bran costs more than five taels of silver.

……

……

Fuzhou City, Pingguo Mansion.

Zheng Zhilong, who was only in his forties, had already grown a beautiful long beard at this time. I'm writing in my study. The first-class official uniform is on his body, his eyes are like gods, and the demeanor of a generation of Confucian generals and ministers can be seen at a glance.

The surface is still as steady as Mount Tai, but the pen is slightly sluggish, and there is a faint hint of restlessness.

In the past year or two, Zheng Jiaru has experienced a huge impact like a giant boat in the stormy seas, and has opened an unimagined situation in the chaos and thrill. It seems to be so beautiful, but Zheng Zhilong knows that he has pressed all the gambling money he has saved for half his life, but the result of winning or losing is delayed. Now we are in a dilemma.

Zheng Zhilong even thought that once the signs were wrong, he would simply revert to his former identity as a pirate group, and continue to become a marginal force that all parties had to win over and not offend.

From the previous state of waiting for the price to sell, advancing and retreating from me to becoming an insider, Zheng Zhilong felt more and more that the more he invested, the smaller the room for maneuver seemed to be.

There was a sound of hurried footsteps in the corridor outside the study, Zheng Zhilong's wrist was suddenly raised, the tip of the pen was away from the paper, and he raised his head a little unhappily.

"Big brother...... The messenger from the north is gone. ”

Entering the door was the fourth brother of the Zheng family, Cheng Jibo and Zheng Zhibao. Seeing that the eldest brother's expression was different. Zheng Zhibao hurriedly lowered his head and bowed his hand, looking very careful.

Zheng Zhilong's slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed. Putting his gaze back on the rice paper on the table, he said in a lukewarm tone, "Well, it's good to go." In today's turbulent situation, it is important to deal with it carefully and not to cause any trouble. ”

Zheng Zhibao hurriedly lowered his head: "What the eldest brother said is true." However, this time, Jiangnan Jingluo asked for a letter from the university scholar and gave a heavy promise, as long as the brother is willing to belong to the North Court. Can be awarded the king of the three provinces in the south of the Yangtze River! ”

The Jiangnan Jingluo in Zheng Zhibao's mouth is Hong Chengchou, who is now sent to Nanjing by the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

Hong Chengchou has been sending messengers to lobby certain officials in Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Fujian in the past few months to help the Manchu Qing expedition to the south. Now the officials of several prefectures and counties in the northernmost part of Jiangxi have surrendered one after another, if it were not for the fact that Wan Yuanji, the governor of Jiangxi, was a hard bone, and stationed heavy troops in Huizhou and Guangxin to strictly defend it. Otherwise, the Jiangxi defense line would have collapsed long ago at this time.

Zheng Zhilong's pen tip shook slightly, and then he let out a long sigh: "I, the Zheng family, have been blessed by the first emperor, and I have to have today...... Now it is even more gracious, everyone is an official, and the whole family is knighted, if he betrays his righteousness and abandons the country at this time, will he not be scolded by all the people? ”

"The pillar of the big brother country, loyalty and righteousness, Lord Hong is also praised. The younger brother talked with the messenger for two days, and the letter written by Scholar Hong did not dare to open it. ”

As he spoke, Zheng Zhibao took out a letter with fire paint from his body and presented it with both hands.

Zheng Zhilong hesitated slightly, but still opened the letter in front of Zheng Zhibao.

“…… Today, the thief is the head, the west thief is running out, so the revenge of the lord has been avenged, and loyalty to the new dynasty is the general trend of the world. Therefore, it will be immoral to accumulate danger for decades. The Qing Dynasty is new, obeying the mandate of heaven, all the people seek peace, and then there is a fight, which is a move against the people...... Zheng Gong is a famous minister in the world, and he has been lonely in the southeast for more than 20 years, and he has been loyal and righteous to the extreme. Today, I return to my Qing Dynasty according to the destiny of heaven, not against it, but for the hope of the people and the hope of the world......"

sprinkled hundreds of words, all of which praised Zheng Zhilong's loyalty to the Ming Dynasty has reached the limit, and it is meaningless to insist in the face of the general trend of the world, otherwise it will be a departure from the will of the people. As long as Zheng Zhilong was willing to submit to the Qing court, the Zheng family could still retain its status in the southeast, and the Qing court would also grant the Zheng family a title far higher than that of the Ming Dynasty.

Hong Chengchou chose to persuade Zheng Zhilong to surrender through Zheng Zhibao as an intermediary, because Zheng Zhibao was the person in charge of the Zheng family's Liaodong smuggling trade back then, and he had secretly traded with the Manchus many times, and was once exposed internally. Now it is naturally the breaking point for Hong Chengchou to surrender the Zheng family, and this is the third time since the beginning of spring that he has secretly sent someone to surrender.

"Big brother, I heard that today is recruiting troops and building a camp in Jianning Mansion, and wants to go to Jiangxi to drive a personal expedition, not long ago, the letters of the Qing court and court officials were intercepted, and Cao Wei, who is going to school today, burned those letters in front of the Manchu Dynasty civil and military, saying that he is not to blame for the past." Zheng Zhibao came closer, and his voice was very low. Such means seem to be sagely, but I don't know how many people in the court will appreciate it. Today, I suspect that my Zheng family is not a day or two, and I privately reprimand my Zheng family's military defense negligence...... If I can really reverse the situation, what can my Zheng family do at that time? ”

"Is this your words?" Zheng Zhilong's brows furrowed, and his tone gradually became stern.

"Big brother, there are early signs of alienating my Zheng family today. The king of a country is not in Fujing, but he lives in Jianning, claiming to move to Jiangxi, clearly wanting to leave my Zheng family and merge with the Jiangxi governor Wan Yuan Ji and Huguang governor He Tengjiao! Now Zhejiang and Liangguang are eyeing us, if we lose Fujian again, where can my Zheng family stay? ! ”

Zheng Zhibao's expression became very indignant, as if he couldn't stand this grievance for a long time.

"Report! There is an urgent secret! ”

As he spoke, a small colonel rushed into the study with a stack of military intelligence, interrupting the conversation between the brothers.

Zheng Zhilong just glanced at the special mark on the letter. I quickly grabbed it.

“…… The chaos of the big men is peaceful, and the Miyi soldiers and ships are gradually decreasing. Yan Sicheng was awarded the post of Minister's Propaganda and Comfort Division, and was in charge of the rebellion case of the Commander, killing more than 300 people from the Tamsui Camp Garrison, the Dongshe Camp Garrison, and the Anping Water Battalion Staff......"

“…… On the twenty-first day of February, Miyi and Furang machine ships passed through Penghu, and the chicken coop stationed in the army replenished water and food... On the twenty-ninth day of February, he entered the Ryukyus. With the Yan clan as the guide, he met with the lord of the Ryukyus. Talking about opening the port and opening trade, signing a mutual market...... Departed on March 17. Going to the northeast, it is suspected that the collusion of Zhuyi with the navigation of Japan is true. ”

“…… Miyi official envoys and Xiyi Zhuguo, Liu Xiang, Li Guozhu and others, four ships called to congratulate the east of Zhejiang, and they will arrive in a few days...... In Hong Kong, Mi Yi has refused to sell seafood for more than a month, citing shipwrecks. I'm afraid there are other plans. ”

After reading the secret letters one by one, the color on Zheng Zhilong's face also changed in turns, and he was already angry in the end.

"It's really a good means to not show the battle formation, but to tear down the walls and expose the tiles everywhere!" Zheng Zhilong threw all the letters in his hand to the ground. Hurried away in the study.

"Big brother, my Zheng family is making money every day, and it all depends on the sea trade of Fujian, Ryukyu and Japan! Now that my Zheng family is lacking in skills, if the Ryukyu trade route is cut off by Dayuan and Miyi, then the Japanese trade route is worried. Now that the army is sent to Japan, I am afraid that it is fighting for the source of wealth after me. Nanyang seafood put aside my Zheng family to pass through the southeast, and in time, Fujian merchants will be cast into another door! ”

Zheng Zhibao didn't care how confidential the content was, and after quickly picking it up and looking at it a few times, he was also so anxious that he was sweating profusely.

"Hey......" After half a pillar of incense, Zheng Zhilong sat back on the chair tiredly, and his expression slowly calmed down, "My Zheng family has been helping Your Majesty for a year, and I have done my best. Now, except for you and the fifth brother Zhipeng, the second brother and the third brother are all at odds with me...... Sen'er was given the surname of the country, trained the new army, and disregarded the family business, which was also a big deal...... Zheng Cai and Zheng Lian are wolf ambitions, and they are mavericks by the hand of His Majesty, and they are against me...... The hearts of the people and the army are scattered, and I am tired of my brother......"

"Big Brother ......"

Seeing that his brother was depressed, Zheng Zhibao couldn't say anything.

"Pass on my password, Zhipeng immediately led the army to Xiamen and Kinmen, and ordered the Penghu troops to strictly guard and not slack off. Let Sen'er not quarrel with Guangdong, return to the army to guard Anhai, and send people to fill the shortage of grain, grass and ordnance for it...... Zhihu and Zhifeng (Zheng Hongkui) withdrew the armies of Lead Mountain, Gukou, and Xianxialing, returned to Fujing, and let His Majesty drive the expedition in person......"

"Besides, I will write a letter to-morrow, and you will send someone to the north. Remember, you do it yourself, and don't give it away! ”

After speaking, Zheng Zhilong closed his eyes tightly and seemed to be asleep.

……

……

Just as Zheng Zhilong was sending messengers to various parts of Fujian, hundreds of kilometers away in the East China Sea, a combined fleet of mixed ships was slowly sailing northeast in the midst of strong winds and high waves.

This combined fleet is a "Japanese Switch Negotiation Combined Fleet" composed of Huamei, the Dutch East India Company, and Portugal, with a total of 13 ships. The fleet consisted of slender steam warships and old-fashioned fat sail galen warships, and three different styles of national flags fluttered on the masts.

The ships of the Chinese and American Navy were at the front of the formation, the light cruiser Princess Kaneshiro was followed by the frigates Black Crystal and Turquoise, and the transport ship Horned Whale carried two infantry companies of the Eastern Brigade and a large number of supplies at the end of the formation.

The fall of Muscat, an armed stronghold in the Arabian Peninsula in the Indian Ocean, caused the Kingdom of Portugal to lose control of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, and the morale of the Far East was greatly damaged, and some deployments were disrupted, and the Portuguese warships sent from Malacca were dragged for a long time. Even when the Portuguese arrived on Hong Kong Island, they discovered a small-scale malaria infection on board, and in a hurry, the Combined Fleet, which was supposed to sail in mid-March, was delayed until early April.

Sadly, even though the East China Sea was a tailwind this season, the old sail Galen warships were still slow enough to vomit blood, whether it was the Dutch East India Company or the Portuguese.

In order to take care of the speed of the allies, the four warships of the Huamei Asian Fleet also reduced the power output to a minimum, which happened to greatly save coal.

After sailing, the combined fleet of the three countries first stopped at the port of Jilong, north of Dayuan, where it met with representatives of the Yan family, and then arrived in the Ryukyus in mid-April.

For this kind of country the size of a sesame mung bean but with extremely high strategic significance, Huamei still unhurriedly followed the established strategic rhythm, and only made contact with it lightly: through the introduction of the Yan family, the Huamei Navy sent an envoy to enter the Ryukyu royal palace with gifts, and after nearly half a month of negotiations, a simple maritime security cooperation agreement was signed with the Ryukyus.

There are only two core elements of the agreement:

1. Huamei recognizes the status of the Ryukyu Kingdom as an independent state, and the two countries make joint efforts to maintain friendly relations.

2. The U.S. Navy may freely anchor in the ports of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus while conducting anti-piracy patrols in the East China Sea.

Although it was the first time that the Ryukyu people had appeared in the Ryukyus, the Ryukyu goods were already the most popular thing for the Ryukyuan people. The Huamei were not as ambitious as the Satsuma Domain had been in the beginning, treating the Ryukyus as vassals that could be annexed at any time, or economically exploiting them to the fullest, and they were more "polite" than the high-spirited Zheng and Yan families. Therefore, based on the self-knowledge of the weak country without diplomacy, the Ryukyu Kingdom accepted this diplomatic agreement with extremely pure content within half a month.

As long as the Ryukyu Kingdom can continue to exist, it doesn't matter who is more active in doing business here and who has the most powerful military, this is probably the way to survive in the Ryukyus.

And Huamei's trip to the Ryukyus with great fanfare was also deliberately done for some forces. In the Ryukyu Kingdom, there were a large number of Fujian, Zhejiang and Zhejiang maritime merchants and even pirates who were attached to the Zheng family's wings, and it is believed that someone would soon pass on the news.

After that, the Combined Fleet left the Ryukyu Islands and set out on its true destination, Edo Bay, Honshu, Japan. (To be continued.) )