Daming: Stealing Chen Yuanyuan at the beginning

Chapter 209

Zhoushan Islands, the moon is in the middle of the sky, and there are thousands of silver spots on the sea.

Zheng Zhilong stood at the bow of the boat, admiring the magnificent and vast seascape under the moon, his mind was like the sea at this moment, and there was a turbulent undercurrent in the calm.

"Brother, everything is ready." Zheng Zhibao came, holding a jug and two wine glasses in his hand.

Zheng Zhilong nodded slightly, but didn't look back, still looking far into the distance, as if he wanted to see the end of the sea and sky.

"Fifth Brother, I have spent most of my life at sea. Every night when I sleep and close my eyes, the first thing that comes to my mind is the ocean. Sometimes it is calm, sometimes it is magnificent, sometimes it is stormy, sometimes it is stormy, and sometimes it is thundering and lightning... There are all kinds of seascapes. , has been deeply imprinted in my bone marrow, and I even think that I am a part of the ocean."

Zheng Zhibao smiled and said, "That's right, big brother, you are the reincarnation of the Dragon King!"

Zheng Zhilong smiled and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? How dare you insult the Lord Dragon? Hurry up and make amends!"

There are many taboos on the sea, especially dare not mention the name of Lord Dragon easily.Zheng Zhibao made a slip of the tongue, hurriedly poured a glass of wine into the sea, and bowed politely.

"Fifth brother, you have always listened to me, and I am very happy to be an elder brother. As the saying goes, brothers working together can break through metal. Our Zheng family can be where we are today, all because we all think in the same place and work hard in the same place." Zheng Zhilong said .

"It's all elder brother who taught well and led wisely!" Zheng Zhibao said, he admired his elder brother from the bottom of his heart.

After holding a family banquet at the mansion in Anping Town, Zheng Zhilong went to Haojingao, and bought thirty Hongyi cannons and hundreds of shells from Bujialuo Cannon Factory, and secretly transported them to the north to do business with the Manchu Qing court.

Zheng Hongkui stayed in Jinjiang, and Zheng Zhibao went north with him.After arriving in Zhoushan, Zheng Zhilong decided to lead the fleet to Tianjin alone, and tonight is to bid farewell to Zheng Zhibao.

Zheng Zhibao repeated the old saying: "Brother, are you really not going to take me to the north? I am a little worried, because I am afraid that something will happen. With me here, at least I have someone to take care of me..."

Zheng Zhilong said: "Fifth brother, I have talked to you a lot during the day, why haven't you understood my intention? I went north this time just to see the attitude of the Qing court. Besides, what dangers can there be in doing business?" What? Besides, we are living a life of licking blood, seeking wealth and wealth has always been the creed of my generation!"

"Besides, this operation must be kept secret, and there should be no fanfare. Therefore, the ships going north should be as streamlined as possible to avoid attracting the attention of Nanjing."

Zheng Zhibao said: "Brother, do you really want to surrender to Manqing?"

"Then let's see what price the Qing court can offer!" Zheng Zhilong narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "I'm a pirate, but I'm not an idiot. Don't let me go. When the imperial court eats, their waists are straight and they are entitled to bargain. If it is not for the sake of future generations, who would want to flirt with the Tartars?"

"However, I think Fan Wencheng's sincerity is still full. His envoy brought a secret letter, saying that as long as I surrender, the courtesy and rewards will be based on Sun Kewang. When Sun Kewang surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, he was already a polished commander, and he was still named King of Yi. Our soldiers With many generals and wide range, he is invincible in the sea, and I predict that Man Qing will never neglect him."

"I hope so!" Zheng Zhibao poured a glass of wine and handed it to Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong gulped it down, patted Zheng Zhibao on the shoulder and said, "Brother Sen, that stubborn donkey has gone to Dongfan. Our base camp is guarded by Hongkui and Zheng Cai. You will contact us in Zhoushan. It may be five months later, or sooner." I'll be back in three months, don't worry!"

"Brother, take care!" Zheng Zhibao saluted and walked off the boat.

He stood in the port and watched the fleet set off.The moonlight was bright, and the tall ship dragged a long shadow in the sea, like a sea monster lurking in the water.

……

In mid-July, the fleet arrived in Tianjin Wei.

The Manchu Qing court sent Prince Heshuo Jian Jidu to meet Zheng Zhilong. Zheng Zhilong was very cautious and did not disembark and asked for a meeting on board.

Ji Du didn't object at all, and boarded the boat to meet with him in person, and his attitude was very friendly and cordial.

After inspecting the cannons and ammunition, Ji Du smiled and said, "Brother Zheng, you are a timely help, and you have solved our urgent need! When the king left the capital, the regent specially ordered that all these cannons and ammunition be paid three times the price." ,what do you think?"

"Thank you!" Zheng Zhilong laughed.

Ji Du said: "It's just that this king came to see my elder brother in a hurry and didn't bring any money. I also invite my elder brother to stay for a few days. Master Fan Wencheng will come to Tianjin soon."

"Fan Wencheng wants to come in person?" Zheng Zhilong was a little surprised.

"Yes, Mr. Fan has always admired you very much. He said that no matter how busy his official duties are, he must see you. Brother Zheng, am I very sincere?"

"Yes, it's touching!"

Zheng Zhilong knew in his heart that Fan Wencheng had great status in the Manchu court, and if he wanted to find out Manqing's attitude, he still had to meet Fan Wencheng, so he waited patiently.

Five days later, Fan Wencheng arrived in Tianjin and invited Zheng Zhilong and his crew to come ashore for a banquet.

Zheng Zhilong thought for a long time, brought hundreds of people with him, and the rest of his men stayed on the boat, and told him: "If something unexpected happens, you must guard the boat and be ready to go to sea at all times, understand?"

Taking a few small boats, I went upstream along the Haihe River to the outside of Tianjin.

Fan Wencheng came to greet him with many officials, firing cannons, beating gongs and drums, and the etiquette was grand.Zheng Zhilong didn't see the soldiers, and his tense heartstrings relaxed a little.

"I'm lucky to see Mr. Zheng!" Fan Wencheng laughed loudly, holding Zheng Zhilong's hand, and got into the carriage side by side.

A quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of a luxurious restaurant.Fan Wencheng was still holding Zheng Zhilong's hand, smiling all over his face, and they entered the restaurant together.

Zheng Zhilong's men were having a banquet in the lobby, while he was taken to a private room upstairs.

The drinks and food were already on the table, Fan Wencheng said with a smile: "The delicacies in the world are, in a word, two kinds of delicacies from mountains and seas. Mr. Zheng has been at sea all year round, so he is naturally used to eating delicacies from the sea. Today, I specially prepared a table of delicacies from mountains and seas for you. Please enjoy .”

On the table were stewed pheasant and mushrooms, braised bear paws, braised wild boar with green onions, and some wild vegetables from outside the customs.

One of the dishes seemed to be fried locusts. Zheng Zhilong asked in surprise, "Can locusts eat it too?"

A Tianjin official said: "Mr. Zheng didn't know something. In the 43rd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, there were frequent locust plagues in the north. Tianjin people preyed on them and created the custom of eating grasshoppers. This dish does not use locusts, but ants from rice fields. Grasshoppers are much more delicious and cleaner than locusts.”

"One side raises one side, each place has its own customs, and each place has its own delicacies." Zheng Zhilong said, picked up a grasshopper and chewed it in his mouth, and said with a smile, "It's delicious, crisp but not greasy, and has a special taste. !"

Everyone laughed, Fan Wencheng raised his glass and said: "Mr. Zheng came all the way through the wind and waves, and helped me a lot. I will naturally treat you well. Come, I will toast you!"

During the banquet, Fan Wencheng talked eloquently from all over the world, and asked many questions about the sea, but not a single sentence involved the surrender.

Zheng Zhilong also kept his composure, and told a lot of anecdotes about the sea, as well as the customs and habits of Dongying, Dongfan and other places, and people listened with great interest.

After drinking until it got dark, Zheng Zhilong became drunk and stood up to say goodbye: "Mr. Fan, I'm too drunk to drink. Please say goodbye first!"

"Hey, it's rare to get together, why bother to come and go?" Fan Wencheng said.

"I really can't drink anymore. Farewell, farewell..." Zheng Zhilong staggered to the door of the private room, opened the door, but saw that the outside of the room was full of Qing soldiers, with their knives out of their sheaths.

Zheng Zhilong said in shock: "Master Fan, what is the meaning of this?"

As he said that, he wanted to run out of the house, but was held hostage by two soldiers and dragged back.

Fan Wencheng smiled and said, "Mr. Zheng, since you are here, you should go to Beijing to meet the emperor and the regent."

"But...but we haven't settled yet..."

"It's okay, let's talk slowly!" Fan Wencheng said.

Zheng Zhilong knew that he had been duped, and shouted: "Those cannons and ammunition are still on board, without my order, the crew will not hand them over to you. Mr. Fan, don't you want the artillery ammunition?"

Fan Wencheng said: "Mr. Zheng alone is better than a thousand cannons and tens of thousands of shells. What more can I ask for! Mr. Zheng, don't refuse. Those people in the lobby downstairs have been captured. The city of Tianjin is under martial law. And There are thirty thousand soldiers, and the men you left on the ship cannot save you."

Zheng Zhilong frowned, and suddenly realized: "It turns out that all of this is a scam from the beginning to the end. It is false that you did business with me, and it is true that you lied to me to go north! Fan Wencheng, your intentions are so insidious. Is this the so-called sincerity?"

"Mr. Zheng, you have misunderstood. This official is bringing you great glory and wealth. How can I lie to you?"

"But you can't force it! Aren't you afraid that the news will spread to the south and the Zheng family will be angry? My Zheng family has been operating in the East China Sea for decades, with countless warships and a large number of people. You Manchus may not be able to take advantage! "

"Mr. Zheng, you fell into the hands of our court, are you still thinking of becoming an enemy of our court?" Fan Wencheng said.

Zheng Zhilong heard the huge threat and was speechless for a moment. He broke free from the hold of the two soldiers, sat down at the wine table dejectedly, and drank.

"Although a good man makes his home all over the world, Mr. Zheng has spent his whole life on the sea, going through the wind and rain. At this age, he should enjoy his life in peace. Once he comes, he will be at ease. This is my hometown!"

As Fan Wencheng said, he poured wine for Zheng Zhilong and laughed loudly.

(End of this chapter)