When the Ming fleet approached Chongqing, the merchants of western Sichuan, who were buying scrap products and selling tobacco and dried meat around Chongqing, stood on the river bank and waved their arms enthusiastically to the fleet and shouted in support of their own army, just like Tong Xiucai from Xuzhou and Qijiang.

"A touching scene, the law-abiding gentleman is the mainstay of the country all over the world." After seeing this scene, the British businessman commented again. The businessman who was already able to communicate in Chinese, although it was not his native language and was a bit stiff, Deng Ming could already find it funny. If it weren't for their own pride, it would have been hard for Deng Ming to associate the murderous pirates, the criminal slave traders, and the kidnappers of their own fishermen with these two British gentlemen.

In addition to these talents from western Sichuan, there were also a large number of Qing soldiers in Chongqing who met the Ming fleet on the shore. Song Liang is also one of them. The above explained that it is necessary to leave a good impression on Deng Ming who is passing by, because everyone can see that Deng Ming is in a hurry this time, if he touches Deng Ming's moldy head at this time, it will definitely be impatient.

Therefore, Gao Mingzhan and others asked a large number of Qing troops to welcome the Ming Baoguo Gong to Chongqing on the bank of the Jialing River, and when he left happily, they sent him to Wuchang with songs and dances. Now Chongqing has only the army and no people, so there is no civilian system to deal with local government affairs, Li Guoying went back to Beijing to report on his work, and Gao Mingzhan, as the governor of Sichuan who supervised the military generals, organized a welcome and farewell party unscrupulously.

The only thing that can counterbalance Gao Mingzhan may be to garrison the Eight Banners and Sun Sike, Yuan Jiawenbi, and a few people. But now everyone is a grasshopper tied to a rope, not only do they do jade trading together, but no one in Chongqing wants to live, so the garrison of Eight Banners and Sun Sike will not hinder Gao Mingzhan, but just follow him to make suggestions to please Deng Ming.

When the fleet of the Ming army sailed past Chongqing City, Deng Ming saw a colorful flag from afar, Shaanxi Green Camp and Shanxi Green Camp, as well as Zhang Jing and Niu Lu, who were stationed in the Eight Banners and Han Eight Banners. Gao Mingzhan was surrounded by this group of people, and put up a big banner:

"Gao Mingzhan, the governor of Sichuan in the Qing Dynasty, congratulates the Ming Dynasty on its invincible and victorious return."

There are also countless banners similar to congratulatory speeches on the back, writing the official titles of "Sichuan General Soldier of the Qing Dynasty", "Commander of the Forward Battalion", and "Deputy Commander of the Eight Banners of the Han Dynasty".

"Stop for a moment, I'll go talk to them." Seeing this, Deng Ming ordered the ship to stop and wait.

After the flagship leaned on the shore, Gao Mingzhan and others came to board the ship to meet the Ming Baoguo Gong.

Deng Ming first expressed his appreciation for their enthusiastic purchase of the Ming War bonds.

"Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors." Gao Mingzhan didn't dare to take credit, nodded and said: "Guogong's hands are a little tight, how dare the officials not help?" In the past six months, haven't we been taking care of Guogong? ”

Deng Ming was very satisfied with this statement, and kindly asked what the attitude of the Industrial Bank was when it was selling bonds, and whether there was any phenomenon of forced buying and selling. After hearing this question, Yuan Jiawenbi was about to step forward to shout grievances as soon as his spirits lifted, but he was kicked to the ground by Sun Sike, who was quick-eyed.

"What's wrong?" Deng Ming heard the movement and swept his gaze.

"I rarely get on the boat, I'm not used to it, I sway on the water, and I don't stand firm." Sun Sike gritted his teeth and smiled desperately at Deng Ming, the corners of his mouth almost cracking to the root of his ears.

"Where is this talk?" Gao Mingzhan immediately drew Deng Ming's attention, and he patted his chest to ensure that the Qing army in Chongqing was willing to buy the war bonds of the Ming Dynasty, completely out of sincerity in repaying his kindness.

The commander of the Eight Banners stationed in the Eight Banners made even more bold statements: "Actually, we still have about 100,000 taels of silver in our hands, and we only hate that Guogong's bonds are too small, otherwise we really want to buy more." ”

Originally, everyone listened with a smile, but as soon as the Manchurian Taijun said this, many people's smiles suddenly froze on their faces, and even Gao Mingzhan's face turned pale.

"Oh?" Deng Ming smiled, his gaze slowly sweeping over the faces of these people.

Deng Ming's eyes were everywhere, everyone grinned again, and gave a smile to Bao Guogong, Gao Mingzhan also tried his best to hide his uneasiness, and echoed loudly: "Exactly, exactly, the lower officials still have 100,000 taels of silver, if Guogong still has public debts, we still have to buy it - lending money to Guogong not only helps Guogong, but also earns interest, isn't this a win-win situation advocated by Guogong?" ”

"Thank you, thank you." Deng Ming arched his hand to them: "But you can't leave some money in your hands, otherwise the business of jadeite will be troublesome." ”

At this end of the reception, Deng Ming invited them to have a light meal on the boat, and let the Ming soldiers who had been on the boat for a few days also go to the shore in batches for a while, and wait for Deng Ming to send the guests back to the city before boarding the ship to continue the journey.

"Brothers of the Sichuan Army, will you come and eat a bowl of noodles?"

Around Song Liang, many Qing soldiers in Chongqing set up their small stalls again, wanting to do some small business.

There were also a few big men who played tricks to relieve the boredom of the Ming soldiers who went ashore to take a break. After attracting bursts of applause with their amazing acrobatics, these Qing soldiers clasped their fists and saluted the Ming soldiers: "Brothers, there is money to hold a money field, and someone to hold a personal field." ”

Seeing that someone from the Ming army really took out an IOU, Song Liang also felt hot in his heart, took off his shirt, and revealed the splendid embroidery on his body. As he danced his arms, the tattooed beasts seemed to come to life, causing a burst of shouts.

Although he was an old soldier, half of the military salary paid by his boss to Song Liang was paid off by Sichuan's war debts. Moreover, the chief said that he would do the same in the future, and that he would not be able to resume paying in silver until Deng Ming's triumphant return to redeem the bonds. At that time, the bonds in the hands of the soldiers could also be cashed out. Looking at the bonds in their hands, Song Liang and the others could only hope that Deng Ming would make a fortune and then come back to redeem his bonds. But this is not all bad, at least the long officers who used bonds to pay their salaries did not deduct as much as they did with silver, and even the auxiliary soldiers also got their share - in the past, the military salaries of the auxiliary soldiers were almost gone, but this time, from the generals to the officers, they were not interested in bonds, so they were basically issued in full. That is, the difference between half silver and half bond for soldiers, and two percent silver and eighty percent bonds for auxiliary soldiers.

"We must win."

"Whoever refuses to accept will be beaten severely, and his house will be burned if he does not pay the money!"

When the Ming army finished resting and boarded the ship to prepare for departure, the Qing army in Chongqing was still reluctantly waving vigorously on the shore.

With the ardent hope of the Qing army, all the Ming troops returned safely to the ship, and Deng Ming also sent a small boat to send the distinguished guests back to shore.

After watching the Ming fleet sail towards the direction of Causeway Gorge, Sun Sike had time to reproach Yuan Jiawenbi: "What 'forced selling'? Absolutely, absolutely not. Why was Yu Youming's bastard able to sell us bonds, not because Admiral Deng said he would beat us if he didn't buy it! He asked casually, and we just followed his casual words, and we could show our loyalty, save ourselves from being beaten, and collect debts in the future. If you tell the truth, will Admiral Deng pay back the money immediately? made his old man unhappy in vain. ”

"That is, our lives and silver are in the hands of others," Gao Mingzhan also glared at Yuan Jiawenbi dissatisfiedly: "Fortunately, thanks to Sun Dutong's speed." ”

"But what you said just now scared us to death," Gao Mingzhan turned around, bent down and said to the Manchurian Taijun: "You said that there are still 100,000 taels of silver, if Admiral Deng gets off the donkey down the slope......"

Seeing the unfathomable smile on the face of the Manchurian Taijun, Gao Mingzhan's voice was stunned, and suddenly changed to a tone of surprise and joy, as if he had just suddenly realized: "Could it be ...... Not bad, not bad...... Admiral Deng has always had leeway to do things, we only have thirty percent of the silver left, and he will not force us to be cornered; And let Admiral Deng know that we really don't have any money. ”

"High, high, really high!" Gao Mingzhan raised his thumb and admired in front of the Manchurian Taijun, looking happy and convinced: "It's too high!" ”

……

Because of the urgency of the situation, Deng Ming only stayed in Fengjie for less than an hour, and he left Fengjie immediately after visiting Wen Anzhi in the city, and Wen Anzhi did not stay. Gong Yan was sitting in Wen Anzhi's yamen, and it seemed that the two were talking happily. When Deng Ming left, Gong Yan also smiled and nodded again and again to show encouragement.

After entering Hubei, Deng Ming had no time to visit the generals of Kuidong along the way, but asked the envoy to send his greetings to the people of Kuidong, and told them that if they intended to send troops together, they could take the other fleets that came one after another.

After crossing Jingmen without stopping, Deng Ming entered Zhang Changgeng's sphere of influence. In front of it is Yuezhou, an important town in Hubei, and in the past, Deng Ming would notify Zhang Changgeng and the prefect of Yuezhou in advance every time he passed, and then arrive at the appointed time without hurrying, so as not to cause misunderstanding and cause something unpleasant to happen.

But this time, Deng Ming didn't have time to wait for the envoy to come and go slowly, and only when he was close to Yuezhou, he sent the envoy to inform the prefect of Yuezhou on a fast horse.

"Did Yuezhou buy our bonds?" Deng Ming asked left and right.

"I guess I bought it." Left and right replied that they felt that if the prefect of Yuezhou refused the bond promoter's request, then the front would have sent someone back to report and ask Deng Ming to prepare for the attack.

"I think so too." Deng Ming's opinion was similar, but he didn't have time to slowly verify it, so he asked the army to prepare for battle. By the time his fleet arrived in front of Yuezhou City, it was almost time for the envoy he had just sent to return, and then Deng Ming would be able to understand Yuezhou's true attitude.

Getting closer and closer to Yuezhou, Deng Ming saw that there were many people gathered on the shore, and it seemed that there were still many flags.

"What do you see that?" Deng Ming couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"It's like a lion dance team." A few of the three walls and the Rangers around them spoke their opinions as they watched carefully.

When Deng Ming's flagship came to the side of Yuezhou City first, with the order of the Yuezhou prefect, the sound of gongs and drums on the shore was suddenly loud, and the soldiers of the Green Battalion and the artists urgently recruited danced dragons and lions on the shore, and also desperately set off firecrackers, just like the New Year.

As Deng Ming expected, Huguang received the news of Zheng Chenggong's death before Sichuan. However, before the prefect of Yuezhou could figure out how much impact this would have on the situation in the southeast, the murderous West Sichuan Commercial Bank sent people to Yuezhou. In the past, the bosses of these private banks and commercial banks were all kind and pleasant, and they were very polite to the Yamen of the Yuezhou Prefect.

But this time the situation was completely different, the person claiming to be the Sichuan Minsheng Bank carried a box directly into the prefect's court, revealing the 20 million yuan Ming War public debt inside, and ordered the prefect to immediately take out 250,000 taels of silver to buy it, and give a reply within one hour. Seeing that the Sichuan people were already red-eyed, the prefect of Yuezhou was unwilling to seek his own death, so he reported to Zhang Changgeng on the one hand, and mobilized the gentry in the city on the other hand, and took out all the silver.

As the prefect expected, there were batches of Sichuan people coming one after another, and after entering the city, they asked the prefect to pay for the silver without saying a word. A few Sichuan people were in a hurry, and when they heard the prefect say nothing, they shouted loudly and let out cruel words, wanting to summon the western Sichuan army behind to attack, and when they saw the prefect carrying out a large box of war bonds, they reluctantly muttered and left.

Seeing that the Sichuan people completely lowered their faces and changed their previous gentle faces, the prefect secretly congratulated himself on making the right decision at the beginning, and on the other hand, he was ready to welcome Deng Ming's army - Yuezhou, which is located at the junction of the Ming and Qing forces, the prefect is of course Zhang Changgeng's henchman, not only is the comparison of the strength of the two sides clear, but also knows the benefactor's mind very well, and knows that Huguang will never go to challenge the anxious Deng list.

Today, the envoy sent by Deng Ming was even more unusual, not giving Yuezhou the slightest time to prepare, and bluntly told the Yuezhou prefect that the Sichuan army had approached, and he should not make any hostile moves at the acquaintance point, otherwise Hugh blamed the Sichuan army for turning his face and not recognizing people. The envoy's cold face made the Yuezhou prefect even more frightened, and he hurriedly ordered that the party that had been prepared for a long time should go to the river to welcome the Ming Baoguo Gong.

Next to the dragon and snake flying procession, the prefect of Yuezhou stood on a high platform with a group of confidant officials and officials, and in front of him was a large box full of war debts. The group of officials in Yuezhou each held a bundle of bonds in their hands, and together they raised their arms and danced rhythmically towards the flagship of the Ming army.

While waving their arms neatly, everyone also chanted in unison under the command of the prefect of Yuezhou in the Great Qing Dynasty, sending their sincere blessings to Deng Ming:

"Victory!"

"Victory!"

"Victory!"

……