Jingming

Chapter 370
"Shopkeeper Wang is so elegant."

Regarding Wang Zhi's words, Tan Yuancai, a small manager of the sea trade company, commented with a smile.

"Let Brother Tan laugh." Wang Zhi's eyes were still sizing up Qinghua City, and then he asked, "Wang has something to puzzle about. Since Brother Tan can easily bring us to Qinghua City, how can the business world be so easy? What's the difficulty?"

"Shopkeeper Wang knows one thing but not the other." Tan Yuancai said leisurely, "There are many descendants of Fujian and Guangdong in Jiaozhi. Even the ancestors of the Li family and the Mo family also migrated from the south. Business exchanges are only in this country. There is not much inconvenience in entering and exiting Qinghua City on the coast. What’s more, the important civil and military ministers who are currently guarding Qinghua have done business with the sea trade house in recent years. "

Wang Zhi thought thoughtfully: "So, it's easy to go into the city to buy things, but if you want to leave the city and go west, you have to think of some ways?"

"That's right. Whether the method mentioned by shopkeeper Wang can work or not, I can only try it first."

When we entered Thanh Hoa City during this trip, we had to go to a local business house to inspect and purchase goods as a cover.

How prominent was the Emperor Ming Ji in the Ming Dynasty?But in Thanh Hoa, Cochin, the Sea Trade Bank also needs to go through the Bank of Communications to do business.Tan Yuancai is currently in charge of these matters, and Wang Zhi and others seem to be just accompanying personnel.

But Wang Zhi, the entourage, is dressed very strangely: he is now wearing a Taoist priest's uniform, not the kind that literati wear every day. He is really dressed as a Taoist priest, and he is holding an insect repellent whisk in his hand.

When they arrived at the place, they still just inspected the goods first, and Tan Yuancai started talking to the other party about another matter in fluent local language.

Wang Zhi hasn't been learning "bird language" for a long time, so he wouldn't be able to understand it.But the two have discussed it before, so now in addition to the words "prince", "elephant" and "gum tree", they are also trying to see their expressions at normal speaking speed.

At first, the other party was very happy, but when it came to the gum tree, he seemed helpless.

Tan Yuancai frowned and looked embarrassed.

After a while, he seemed unwilling to give in and asked the other party for something, which made the other party very embarrassed. Finally he shook his head and said something.

Wang Zhi understood this sentence clearly: This matter is not possible, they can continue to search, but the west is very dangerous now.

At this time, Tan Yuan looked at Wang Zhi, looking hesitant to speak and helpless.

This action was noticed by the other party, and he looked at Wang Zhi more seriously, even though he was a little surprised by Wang Zhi's dress before.

Wang Zhi knew it was time for him to appear, and said to Tan Yuancai a little arrogantly: "Manager Tan, can your sea trade company handle this matter?"

Tan Yuancai actually stood up and replied in Ming Dynasty Mandarin: "Master Wang, our sea trade company has been looking for this gum tree in Nanyang for seven or eight years, and it turns out there is none."

When the other party saw this scene, he couldn't help but stood up and asked Tan Yuancai doubtfully.

At this time, Tan Yuan quickly explained Wang Zhi's "identity", and the man looked at Wang Zhi with a little surprise and a little respect.

Wang Zhi showed a very heroic attitude: "Tell him, I went to sea with my junior brothers this time, and I issued a military order to the master. If you can find this spiritual tree wine and present it to the crown prince ceremony next year, Your Majesty will be honored. If your heart is overjoyed, you will definitely consider it auspicious!"

Tan Yuancai immediately repeated it to the other party, and then added a lot.

Wang Zhi knew that he was telling the other party again: The reason why they couldn't find the gum tree in Jiaozhi must be because they didn't know that kind of tree. Now someone who knows that kind of tree has come.

This time, the other party was much more cautious. They first asked them to go back and wait for news, and then hurriedly went to ask for instructions.

After returning to the hotel where we were temporarily staying, Tan Yuancai asked with some uncertainty: "If we do this, will they really allow us to go west?"

Wang Zhi chuckled: "Don't worry. His Majesty has indeed invited Tao Zhenren to enter the palace, right? There will be a ceremony to establish the crown prince next year, isn't it true? Brother Tan has been looking for the gum tree in Nanyang, isn't it true? Now that Mr. Mo has sent an envoy to Beijing, if he finally meets someone like me who has a master who can speak something in front of His Majesty, I will definitely give it a try."

Tan Yuancai's eyes moved slightly: "What if they send someone as a guide to follow them all the way?"

"It doesn't matter. We lost two or three people when we went to the west mountain. What does it matter? But we don't have to go to the Ailao in person." Wang Zhi looked at him, "Actually, Brother Tan doesn't tell me, I guess What happened here? If Brother Tan can trust me, you might as well let my brother do this. If you have any tokens, just give them to Wang."

Tan Yuancai remained silent.

Over in Ailao, the news that Ruan Gan had asked the descendants of the Li family to honor him as emperor had actually spread to Qinghua, not far from there.In this way, the original task to be completed became more difficult, because Ailao was more tightly surrounded and defended.

Mo Dengyong is now both respectful and wary of the people of the Ming Dynasty.Tian Xuanjiao's move to retreat to Cat Ba Island according to the order will naturally make Mo Dengyong want more.

At present, Ming Dynasty is really not sure which of the people who have surrendered to Mo Dengyong in Jiaozhi are loyal to the Li family.

As Peng Yue's confidant, Tan Yuan knew that the imperial court wanted to secretly support Ruan Gan through sea trade.However, this kind of support could not make Mo Dengyong aware of Ming's overly clear attitude, and henceforth expelled Ming and Haimao.

The naval division has just started training not long ago, and it needs to drag out this period of time. It needs Ruan Gan to be at least a little stronger and involve more of Mo Dengyong's energy and troops.

After thinking about it for a while, Tan Yuan said: "You and I really don't have to go to Ailao in person. As long as the other side knows the situation, it will be easier for them to send people to the sea than for us. From then on, it is just that the sea trade house has one more business person It’s just a local business.”

"That's the reason!" Wang Zhi grinned, "If I want to handle this matter more beautifully, Wang has a way!"

"Oh? In what way?"

Wang Zhi smiled and said: "I heard that they wanted to capture Qinghua last year, but they didn't have the ability. I wonder if Brother Tan can talk to Eunuch Peng and lend Wang some warships? Wang can go south first. First, we are looking for the isolated island with struvite stones, and secondly, we are going to change our appearance and pretend to be Nanyang pirates. Make an appointment and we can help them attack Qingyuan City first."

Tan Yuancai stared at Wang Zhi dumbfounded.

This kid, I heard, is only going to sea for the first time.

Do you think warships are so easy to maneuver?

But... he had a vague feeling that there was a possibility of something happening... if the officers and soldiers of the escort warships of the sea trade company were just pretending to be his men...

……

The civil servants who guarded Qinghua after receiving the news, just as Wang Zhi expected, they had a premonition that this was an opportunity.

Now he and his staff are discussing.

"The year before last in Thang Long, you were also present at the banquet for the Ming Dynasty envoy. What do you think?"

The staff member said: "When it comes to culture, he did mention that some people in the Ming Dynasty believed in Buddhism and some believed in Taoism. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty seemed to believe in Taoism more. He sealed a real person and lived in the emperor's forbidden palace."

"That's like a state advisor!" The civil servant paced back and forth, "His Majesty sent an envoy to the Ming Dynasty, but the envoy's credentials were given to the Li family. Now he has retreated outside Yuntun Port and his attitude is unclear. Listening to what he said, what the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty means is that Li Shi was very respectful in the past, but now whether his strength has run out, and whether His Majesty will pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, we must first see and decide."

The staff nodded in agreement: "We defended Qinghua last year. I'm afraid that the imperial envoy and the Ming Dynasty maritime merchants also heard about this battle. The remaining evil has not been eliminated, and Ruan Gan even found someone from nowhere to lie about the Li clan. If this news reaches the imperial envoy of the Ming Dynasty, doesn't it mean that the Li family's energy is not exhausted, and there may still be changes in the new dynasty?"

Since we want to send envoys to stay permanently, wouldn't it be a joke if Jiaozhi changed to a new dynasty?

Mo Dengyong can't say anything about what Ming Dynasty is doing now.After all, his Mo Dynasty has just been established. It is normal for Ming Dynasty to observe for several years whether it can win over the people and secure its position.

"I think the Imperial Envoy of the Ming Dynasty was also devoted to His Majesty the year before last. Now, he is stuck on Cat Ba Island. He can neither handle the mission well nor return to the Ming Dynasty to be promoted. He must be miserable." The civil servant said, "If he is found, They have been looking for that magical gum tree that can ooze milky white nectar, and with the help of the national master to speak, and the help of the imperial envoy to speak kindly, I will definitely make great achievements in front of His Majesty!"

"It should be that the Imperial Master wants to refine the elixir, right?" The staff member is a qualified staff member with a relatively wide range of knowledge. "Unlike the Buddhists, the Taoist priests of the Ming Dynasty seek immortality. They are looking for the spiritual tree here to find seven It has been eight years. If you calculate the time, it is consistent with what the imperial envoy of the Ming Dynasty said. I heard that seven years ago, His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty asked Taoist priests from all over the country who are good at alchemy to come to Beijing. "

The civil servant nodded: "Then send a few guides to take them there. As long as they don't get close to where Ruan Thief is. Ruan Thief found someone to lie about being a remnant of the Li Dynasty. The news has spread. Is it a secret? I can’t help it. If this matter is completed and the Ming Emperor is overjoyed and agrees to His Majesty’s request, then it will be a big deal!"

"Do you want to report this matter to Your Majesty first?"

"No!" Na Wenchen said flatly, "Find this thing first! If I find it, I will be ready to present it properly. If more people know about it first, can I still leave Thanh Hoa with this credit? If I had done it last year If I had barely managed to defend Thanh Hoa, I would have been charged!"

Wang Zhi and Tan Yuancai were not disappointed. Before it got dark, the shopkeeper of Wenchen's family sent a message back, saying that they could go search after everything was ready, but they had to go with them.

In this regard, Wang Zhi expressed his attitude in front of him that he was very happy, and said that it would be safer to go with knowledgeable locals.

On the second day, the group left Qinghua City and headed west to look for an unknown rubber tree.

Wang Zhi didn't know either, but he had stayed in the mountains for a long time, and there were many things that would come out when he cut the bark of trees.

When the time comes, if you fool around with it, it will just become one of the goods traded between Haimao Bank and Ruan Gan in the future.

What if what he finds is actually useless... Daming didn't do this to make money from Ruan Gan.

They are moving in the direction of Ailao. Although they have not gone deep, they are still making plans.

The atmosphere in Ava City is quite tense now.

Gao Shangxian had to be tougher, and asked coldly to the pale-faced Mang Buxin and the frowning Silun, Hanlie, Sizhen and others: "What's going on?"

Silun looked at the three people being escorted over by Commander Naqu's subordinates, without looking at the two wounded Ming army veterans next to him.

I was just cursing in my heart.

Mingren only sent ten people to deliver the order to Mangrui Ti, but he arranged for a full 50 people to attack them secretly, but he didn't capture them.

After a moment, he suddenly cursed: "Master Gao, didn't you ask about the thieves who robbed the inn the year before last? I have been searching for so long, and now I finally caught them! Look carefully, and the people who saw them at that time Same as what you said!" Gao Shangxian looked at him without speaking.

Silun looked at Hanlie and Sizhen: "You guys also come over and take a look, right?"

"...Yes, it's this person!" Han Lie came over to take a look. Although he was itching with hatred in his heart, he could only say this.

Sizhen's reaction was the same.

Qu Zhinan's eyes were cold, and he walked up to the three prisoners and asked, "The year before last, it was you who burned down the inn and killed Cao Qianhu?"

Facing Qu Zhinan, one of the three people looked around Silun and the others, then gritted his teeth and said, "Yes! They are our brothers!"

"Since he is a murderer, I, the commander, will take him back to be punished and to comfort the souls of the dead."

Qu Zhinan turned to look at Silun and others.

Silun looked at the three prisoners with sharp eyes, and then said: "It should be so. These thieves are so bold, I'm afraid they still have accomplices and family members. Don't worry, your Majesty, we will definitely track down and completely eliminate this group of bold thieves." "

Gao Shangxian listened, but he still didn't understand what was going on.

It was said that they were going to be completely annihilated, but in fact they were just threatening their families to prevent these three people from telling the truth.

He opened his mouth and said: "I know the whole story about the incident in Myanmar. Since they fulfilled their mission and conveyed my intention to Mang Ruiti and brought back the news, I will set off now. Return to Kunming and resume your duties. Regarding the attack on the feudal clan, wait until each of your families has sent people to Kunming, and then the governor will clarify the true situation and report to His Majesty the Emperor for a decision."

Seeing that he was eager to go back, Silun hesitated for a moment, but in the end he still let Mang Buxin lead a few of them and sent Mingren north first.

After the group of figures had gone away, Han Lie said with cold eyes: "Si Lun, you have bribed many people in our two countries!"

Sizhen's face was also as dark as water.

"I would like to ask you, what is going on?" Silun said without giving in, "Even if Mingren wants to contact Mangrui Ti, why are you anxious? You actually send people to rob and kill. Since you want to do it, It's not clean! Not only did people send the news to Mang Ruiti, but they also found out that it was not Mang Ruiti, and they also brought back the news! 50 people robbed and killed ten people, only two were killed and four were injured. Three people were captured, what a waste!”

"You!" Han Lie was furious.

"Could it be that you saw Hong Fa become the King of Ava? Do you think that even if Ming people find out, they will only deal with us, Meng Yang first? Don't forget, it was the troops from our three families who captured Ava City. Meng Mi It’s the closest to Mingren and the hardest to guard!”

Silun's words made Hanlie and Sizhen look even more ugly.

"I don't know what Mang Ruiti said." Silun softened his tone, "The chieftain had thousands of households slaughtered the year before last, and now this has happened again. Our three families are all in the same boat. No matter what, Mang Rui If you want to send people to Kunming, you have to pass through our territory. This time, we must not let his people reach Kunming!"

"What should those three losers do if they can't stand it?"

Hanlie and Sizhen now had nothing nice to say about their subordinates who had been bribed by Silun, and instead asked worried questions.

Silun looked a bit heroic: "If the Ming people really want to go to war, killing Cao Yi in the past can be used as a reason. They can't stand it, it's just random slander. Their families are still there, and for their children, they You know what to do. No matter what, the Mang Rui Ti must be destroyed, and Ming Dynasty may send troops, so we must be prepared. Haven't we already discussed these things? "

"...The man named Qu and the people he brought don't seem to be easy to deal with."

"This is Myanmar after all!" Silun said sternly, "We have already agreed to become vassal and pay tribute. For the sake of gold and silver, wouldn't they be more worried about that boy Mang Ruiti? He knows how to win people's hearts at such a young age. , he is the more terrifying person, we cannot allow him to continue to grow! Use our power to destroy him and deepen the hatred between the various ethnic groups. People in the Ming Dynasty will only be happy to see Myanmar still divided!"

Silun's judgment was this. Qu Zhinan tortured the three prisoners on his way back and then came to Gao Shangxian.

"No words were spoken."

"That's of course." Gao Shangxian said, "However, Magistrate Yan was also there the year before last. We just need to find out if it's them."

"So what if you recognize him or not?" Qu Zhinan said bitterly, "I killed two brothers! They didn't die in Huguang, they didn't die in Xuanfu, they died here for no apparent reason!"

"Don't worry, since Brother Qu has been transferred to Tengchong, isn't it only a matter of time before he avenges them?"

After a trip to Yunnan, I learned the latest news and saw that Na Silun and Mang Ruiti were equally ambitious, and Gao Shangxian also had some changes.

He said quietly: "Eunuch-in-law has gone to transfer. Before sending out troops, you must make some preparations first. Autumn grain collection and transfer, and by the time winter comes, the rainy season here has passed. The chieftain generals and soldiers under Brother Qu's command , haven’t you admitted it yet? You have to make some preparations first.”

Qu Zhinan looked back at the land with deep eyes.

"Then wait until I come back!"

Just as Gao Shangxian judged, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou are now making preparations.

Mu Shaoxun relied on the prestige he had established among the new generation of chieftains when he quelled the rebellions in Xundian and Wuding, and began to mobilize the power of the inner Dian chieftains.

Some new-generation generals like Qu Zhinan were transferred to Yunnan at the same time as Ji Weimin under the first fire of Xia Yan's new official appointment, each with dozens to one or two hundred personal guards.

In Chengdu, Yang Tinghe was finally buried after several months of rest.

At this time, it was already the end of October.

By this time, the new decree had reached Chengdu.

In the capital, the preliminary procedures for establishing the crown prince have been completed.Also decided at the same time was the canonization of Zhu Zaiyao to the throne.

"His Royal Highness the King of Yue has an imperial mandate. After I return to Beijing, I will wait for the King of Yue to return to the court before conducting the canonization ceremony."

The young Zhu Zaiyang saluted meticulously: "My condolences to you, Master Situ. Xiao Wang has benefited a lot from these days. It's a pity that I can't ask for advice more often."

Yang Shen looked at him, said modestly that he didn't dare, and then looked at Yang Bo.

"Wei made an appointment to return to Kunming and tell Wu Dutai that Sichuan will not miss the plan of him and Duke Qian."

"Your subordinate must bring the words with you."

Yang Bo also looked at Yang Shen: He is Bo Jingning, a bachelor of Zuo Chunfang.Now that the appointment of the crown prince has been confirmed, Yang Shen is already a well-known minister of the prince - although when the prince grows up, it will be almost time for Yang Shen to become an official.

But he, Yang Bo, was ordered by the emperor to accompany the newly crowned King of Yue all the way.

This title is a bit special.The land of Susong and Zhejiang is Yue.Lingnan is Baiyue.That Cochin Myanmar can also be called Yue.

In this way, I am afraid that my future will not be in the northwest where I was born, but in the southwest of the Ming Dynasty.

During these days in Chengdu, the secret order from the imperial court arrived here just as Wu Wending expected.

Pinghu Bo Ji Weimin has already been selecting elites and is preparing to set off with Lingbi Bo to escort His Royal Highness the King of Yue south to Yunnan.

As for Sichuan's grain tax this year, it has been determined that it will not need to be transported to Beijing.

There used to be a King of Shu in Sichuan, but now all the land under the name of the King of Shu is owned by the grain reserve.This year's output, as well as the grain purchased through the Sichuan Chief Envoy, will be transferred to Yunnan as soon as possible through the transfer line and Tongyi Bureau.

Other ordnance, Sichuan, Huguang, and Guizhou are relatively stable, and some will be transferred first.

They happened to be getting new ones - I heard that the War Bureau and the Ordnance Supervision had finalized a new batch of guns, artillery, swords, guns, shields, etc., and the Baojin Bureau's factory in the Heavy Industry Park had improved the quality of iron and steel.

In short, before winter, through those enterprises, the Ming Dynasty was transferring grain, grass and military supplies to Yunnan in a more secretive and efficient manner.

For the upcoming action, Yunnan has an additional Cheng Guohou sitting in charge, and now there will be an additional Yue King watching over it, and there will be an additional Pinghu Bo and Lingbi Bo staying there.

After seeing off the King of Yue and setting off again to Yunnan, Yang Shen also wanted to bid farewell to his late father again.

In front of Yang Tinghe's tomb, Yang Shenchang knelt there and said: "The child is unfilial. Even though it was his father's death, he never kept his filial piety."

Yang Tingzhong stood aside and whispered: "Yong Xiu, you have been away from the capital for several months. Now set off for the capital. Letters are coming in like snow these days. I guess there are many things that need to be dealt with in the Ministry of Household Affairs. After the New Year, the crown prince's inauguration ceremony will be held. You He is the prince's master, so he cannot be absent."

"Uncle, don't worry, my nephew knows."

Yang Shen solemnly saluted, and then stood up: "Here in Sichuan, my nephew has to make more arrangements. My nephew has just left Beijing, and His Majesty actually wants to send troops to the south again. How can we enrich the country by using troops for consecutive years? It's not just that. , the emperor's eldest son was named the King of Yue, and he used it to supervise the Yunnan army, and even meant to make him the master of the newly opened territory! After establishing the prince, he restored the vassal king with both military and land. The nephew cannot ignore it! Needless to say, uncle, My nephew will also come to Beijing as soon as possible to advise him!"

Although he will do things that have already been done, he will do it carefully and not hold back, but it does not mean that he has no objections.

Yang Tingzhong had already heard about Yang Shen's repeated quarrels with the emperor. At this time, he couldn't help but look at his brother's tomb sadly.

Why are you telling this kind of thing to your uncle, who is not very promising?
My brother is no longer here. Will my nephew really not offend His Majesty one day?

(End of this chapter)