Haisheng Mingdi

Chapter 7 Ascension
Zhang Guojun walked in a hurry, and broke into Zhu Yihai's study with wind all the way.

"Your Highness wants to give Wang Chuangzi 2 taels of silver?"

"Well, the rebuilding of the Bravery Camp is no joke. I hope that the Bravery Camp can be rebuilt as soon as possible and recruit 2 warriors. Raising soldiers is very expensive. You need to eat and drink, and you have to pay for housing, not to mention purchasing weapons, food and equipment. Wait, everything costs money. In fact, [-] taels of silver can't do anything, and I'm planning to ask you to borrow some money first."

While talking, Zhu Yihai stopped the pen in his hand, picked up a newly written IOU and handed it to Zhang Guojun.

Zhang Guojun took it, his eyes swept over, his face changed slightly.

Borrow 2 taels of silver, with a monthly profit of three cents.

"I know that Zhang's in Ningbo also operates a pawn shop. The monthly interest is three cents, and the loan is ten taels. Lu Wang Zhu Yihai's credit guarantee. 2 taels of three-year interest, 600 taels, plus the principal of 2 taels, then the principal and interest will give you 600 taels."

Looking at this IOU, Zhang Guojun felt a little speechless.

The Zhang family in Ningbo is a powerful place, not only engaged in maritime merchant ship trade, but also engaged in businesses such as gold and silver shops, money bank pawnshops, etc. It is true that the monthly three points are true, but generally it is a short-term job. Although it is simple interest, the actual interest It's still quite high, after all, it's secured by mortgages, so it's naturally lower than ordinary private usury loans.

Under normal circumstances, for large long-term loans, the interest rate is definitely not so high, but the conditions are also high, and it will not be easy to lend you a large amount of money.

Zhu Yihai asked to borrow 2 taels, which made Zhang Guojun not know how to answer.

"I know that your Zhang family has a lot of money, let alone 2 taels, even 20 taels can be easily obtained."

Zhang Guojun was helpless, and handed back the IOU, "If the prince is short of money, just ask directly, and our Zhang family will send it, so why bother to ask for a loan."

"It's different. If it's 800 taels, I won't borrow it, but it's 2 taels. Your Zhang family's money didn't come from the wind, so one yard is worth one yard."

Zhang Guojun thought to himself, if this is the case, why should I lend you 2 taels of silver, and you turn around to practice bravery for Wang Chuangzi?
"My lord is determined to stay here and fight the Qing Dynasty!"

"What else?" Zhu Yihai chuckled, "Not only do I want to stay, but I have also decided to ascend the throne and supervise the country, leading the army and people of the Ming Dynasty to fight against the Qing Dynasty together!"

"My lord, why don't you think about it again."

"I've thought about it very clearly."

There was a moment of silence in the study.

After a long time, Zhang Guojun saw that King Lu's eyes were firm, and he was unable to persuade him. He just said in a roundabout way, "Does the lord want to rely on Wang Chuangzi? But has the lord ever thought about it? Wang Chuangzi now has only a few dozen soldiers from the brave guard battalion. The prince is rebuilding the brave guard camp, but what is the use of the thousands of newly recruited troops?"

"Wang Chuangzi's adoptive father, Huang Chuangzi, couldn't beat the Qing army, nor could the four towns in Jiangbei with a combined 10,000+ troops. Even when Wang Chuangzi was still in Liaodong outside the pass, the imperial court supplied the Guanning army with all its power. The Guan Ning line of defense built can't defeat the Tartars..."

Zhu Yihai shook his head, "Some things, even if you know that the road ahead will be difficult, you still have to try."

"Those warriors may not be trustworthy. The Yongwei Battalion is known as the No. [-] Imperial Forest Army, but there are also traitors like Tian Xiong and Ma Degong?"

"Guojun, I'm from the south, and your Zhang family has been so helpful to me. I keep these in my heart. Before, I asked you to be appointed as a hundred households of Jinyiwei. Now I have to do big things. I need more trusted people to help me around. I plan to appoint you as the commander of the Jinyiwei, and you will help me rebuild the Jinyiwei and lead the emperor's army for me, how about it?"

Jin Yiwei Commander.

This is a very famous official position in the Ming Dynasty, not only a rank official, but more importantly, the Jinyiwei is very powerful, and the commander of the Jinyiwei has always been the emperor's confidant and has a high position.

Last year, he was just an arty rich son in the Jiangnan Poetry Club. Zhang Guojun was a little dazed when he was suddenly given the title of Commander of Jinyiwei.

"Wang Chuangzi will rebuild the brave guard camp for me, with the guards outside, and you will form the brocade guards for me, with the guards inside, how about?"

Zhang Guojun's face was flushed with excitement, and he couldn't calm down in front of the huge hat of Commander Jinyiwei. Although he felt that the Ming Dynasty was coming to an end and that Taizhou had become a dangerous place, the title of Commander Jinyiwei was too tempting.

Seeing his appearance, Zhu Yihai knew he had succeeded.

Smiling, he stretched out the IOU again, "For this 2 taels loan, Yongweiying and Jinyiwei will each draw 1 taels."

Zhang Guojun couldn't refuse any more, and reached out to take the IOU, "I'll arrange for the money to be delivered right now."

Coming in a hurry, leaving in a hurry.

Liu Chao came in to report.

"Ke Fengcheng and Eunuch Li are asking to see His Highness."

Zhu Yihai borrowed 2 taels of silver from Zhang Guojun with an IOU, and he was very happy. After hearing this, he said to Liu Chao, "These two must be here for the position of admiral of the Yongwei Battalion."

Li Guofu was originally the admiral of the Yongwei Battalion. He was the adopted son of the former Nanjing garrison eunuch Han Zanzhou. The admiral of the battalion.

However, later Han Zanzhou clashed with the chief assistant Ma Shiying, and persuaded Hongguang several times not to neglect political affairs, but he fell out of favor. Then Ma Shiying took the opportunity to make his son the admiral of the Yongwei Camp.

As for Ke Fengyi, he is the director of the flattery department of the eunuch organization of Lu Wangfu, the first chief eunuch of the Wangfu, and like Gu Wenguang in the past, he was extremely trusted by Lu Wang, and he can be called the crouching dragon and phoenix of Lu Wangfu.

Some future historical trajectories of these two people appeared in Zhu Yihai's mind. Later, Li Fuguo fought against the Qing with all his heart at the King of Lu. Later, after King Lu was defeated, he still fought against the Qing in the south of the Yangtze River. However, Ke Fengyi has been in charge of the internal affairs of King Lu's palace, but like Gu Wenguang, he surrendered to the Qing army immediately after his defeat.

"Liu Chao, I want you to go to the Yongwei Battalion to supervise military affairs, would you like to?"

Zhu Yihai said suddenly.

Liu Chao was stunned, he ranked fourth in the flattery department, his status was far inferior to Ke Fengyi, and there were several eunuchs with higher qualifications and rank than him.

The admiral of the Yongwei camp is usually served concurrently by the eunuch of the imperial horse supervisor. For example, Cao Huachun was the first admiral of the Yongwei camp in the Chongzhen Dynasty. During the Hongguang Dynasty, Li Guofu was the admiral of the Yongwei camp.

"Slave, slave... incompetent..."

"Liu Chao, you are also an old man in Lu Wangfu."

Liu Chao nodded, "It was my adoptive father back then. Mrs. Liu of the Wang Mansion flattered me who was abandoned there in the alley outside the Wang Mansion on a cold winter morning. Dead. I grew up in the palace, and the palace has given me the grace to rebuild..."

Although Prince Lu's mansion saved Liu Chao's life, he also took away his treasure. Zhu Yihai didn't know whether it was a favor or what.

However, Liu Chao has been in Lu Wangfu for many years, and he is as loyal as a family slave, and he has the memory of Liu Chao's future in his mind. Wang Zheng led his troops to the Northern Expedition, but unexpectedly his hometown was destroyed.

Concubine Lu and other concubines committed suicide by jumping into the well, while Liu Chao helped to bury the well, then drew his sword and committed suicide for the country.

Because of this, Zhu Yihai trusted Liu Chao very much.

There is nothing more trustworthy than a person who can give his life for you.

"Liu Chao, I know that you have always been loyal and cautious, so I specially asked you to go to the Yongwei Camp to supervise military affairs. With you here, I can rest assured."

"Your Highness, Eunuch Li, the eunuch of the Royal Horse Supervisor, has a high rank and high qualifications, and he has also served as an admiral of the Yongwei Camp before. He is more suitable than a servant girl."

Zhu Yihai shook his head.

"Eunuch Li, I have another important role. I plan to let him be the admiral of the East Factory, and work together with Zhang Guojun's Jinyiwei."

Zhu Yihai is not familiar with Li Guofu, and he is not completely at ease with this former horse eunuch and admiral of the Yongwei Battalion who came to defect to him. Even though he knew that he insisted on resisting the Qing Dynasty and did not surrender, but after thinking about it, he decided to change his position. , He cannot be allowed to continue to supervise the Yongwei Battalion.

Jinyiwei and Dongchang, although their reputations were not very good in the Ming Dynasty, especially in the late Ming Dynasty, they even smelled a bit stinky.However, Zhu Yihai felt that a special intelligence agency like Factory Guard was actually very necessary.

This is like the eyes and ears of the emperor. In this situation, the eyes and ears must be clear.

"I'm of great use to the Valiant Guards, you have to take care of me."

When Liu Chao heard this, he gritted his teeth and responded, "This servant will definitely guard the camp bravely on behalf of His Highness."

"Your Highness, Zhu Ren and others have been waiting for a long time. In addition, many respected gentry and elders in Taizhou have already invited many, and they are waiting in the front hall." Liu Chao hurriedly reported another important matter.

"Well, I see, let's go."

On the alley leading to the front hall, Zhu Yihai took one step at a time, his steps became more and more firm and steady.

When he appeared at the entrance of the front hall, a group of people who had been waiting for a long time stood up to greet him.

"Hearing that His Highness is brave enough to take on the important task, and wants to restore the country and rejuvenate the Ming Dynasty, Chen is very excited, and specially writes a document on the Northern Expedition for His Highness!" Chen Hanhui was the first to rush to Zhu Yihai holding a thousand-character battle, and said loudly.

Zhu Yihai took it and nodded.

At this time, another person crowded up, "I heard that Your Highness wants to supervise the country?"

Zhu Yihai looked up and recognized that this was Song Zhipu, an old friend from Shandong. His ancestral home was Linyi, Shandong. It's a good story, Song Zhipu was the magistrate of Taizhou before, Chongzhen was recuperating at home due to illness, and finally broke into the capital, and then Wu Sangui led the Qing army into the customs, the north fell, Song Zhipu had to go south.

On the way, Zhu Yihai, who followed Yanzhou to the south, went on the same road, and had a good relationship along the way. Later, Zhu Yihai was sent to Taizhou by Hongguang, so he also invited Song Zhipu to come with him.

Facing this Shandong fellow who escaped together, Zhu Yihai nodded without hesitation.

"That's right, the two capitals have fallen, China has no master, and people are in panic. I am duty-bound. I invite you here to discuss this matter. Only by establishing a new imperial court can we better command the people of the world to fight against the Tartars and rejuvenate the Ming Dynasty." .”

"Brother Zefu, would you like to join us in this important matter?"

Song Zhipu paid homage, "I will stick to my wish, but I dare not ask for it!"

At this time, another Taizhou gentry, Ke Xiaqing, told Zhu Yihai that he and Song Zhipu were both on the edge of the Lingjiang River just now, and that he had gone down the river to commit suicide, and was told the exciting news that King Lu killed the North Envoy and was determined to resist the Qing Dynasty, so he planned not to die. up.

"Leave this half of the broken body, and run for His Highness, and rejuvenate the Ming Dynasty together."

Chen Hanhui raised his arms and shouted, "It is better to hit the sun than to choose the day. At this moment, set up a table and burn incense. Please hang the portrait of Emperor Taizu Gao in the main hall. We will wait for the soldiers and civilians of Taizhou to support His Royal Highness King Lu to supervise the country, and lead us to fight together." Tartars, rejuvenate Ming Dynasty!"

Song Zhipu and Ke Xiaqing, two comrades who died in Linghe just now, their clothes were still wet at this time, they both raised their arms and shouted passionately, supporting the King of Lu and supervising the country together.

The portrait of Zhu Yuanzhang was invited to hang in the main hall, and everyone embraced Zhu Yihai and sat under the painting, facing south.

Chen Hanhui, Song Zhipu, Ke Xiaqing, Zhang Guojun, Li Guofu, Wang Xiang, Liu Chao and others all paid homage to Fushan and called Jian Guo a thousand years old.

Behind them, the restless fellow-prefect Zhu Ren and the former leading party's capitulation faction were even more body-folded at this time, with their heads on the ground, their buttocks pouted higher than anyone else, and their shouts louder than anyone else.

Whether they want it or not, they are all engulfed by this sudden wave.

"Northern expedition to the Central Plains, drive out the Tartars, restore China, rejuvenate the Ming Dynasty!"

The sound of the mountain call continued to spread outside the courtyard wall of the palace. Outside the mansion, more and more people from Taizhou City gathered. Hearing the mountain call, many people were fascinated, their faces flushed with excitement, and they raised their arms. Shan Hu, many people bowed directly to the north of the palace, saying long live!
The real dragon is born!

The emperor ascends the throne!

(End of this chapter)