Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

On November [-]th of the first year of Taishun, Zheng Kezang took the flagship of the Western Fleet [Yandang] and arrived at the military port of Nan'ao Island, Chaozhou.

Chaozhou, in the Qin and Han Dynasties belonged to Jiaozhou Nanhai County.In the sixth year of Xianhe in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 331), Dongguan County was established in the eastern part of Nanhai County. In the ninth year of Yixi in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 413), the territory of Dongguan County was divided into Yi'an County. This Yi'an County was the predecessor of Chaozhou. .

Since then, the name Ngee’an County has been used for more than 260 years. It was not until the tenth year of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty (590) that the country was withdrawn from the county and established a prefecture. Because Ngee’an was adjacent to the South China Sea, it was officially named Chaozhou. .Later generations also have a poem saying: "The state of Chaozhou, the sea is to the south".

During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Chaozhou was still a place of extreme fear and suffering in the eyes of people in the Central Plains. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, with the chaos of war, border defense, exile and ethnic migration, a large number of Central Plains Han people came south and brought advanced Central Plains culture. For several generations, the humanities have gradually prospered, and famous sages have emerged in large numbers, and Chaozhou has gradually been known as "Zoulu on the Seashore".

Although Chaozhou belongs to Guangdong in terms of administrative system, its connection with Zhangquan in southern Fujian is far closer than that of Guanghui in the province. Even the Chaozhou dialect that is being formed is different from the vernacular popular in Guangdong, but it is different from the popular Zhangquan and other dialects. The local Xinghua (Putian) words want to be similar.The reason for this situation is on the one hand because of the historical origin, on the other hand there is also the geographical distance.Considering that the connection between Chaozhou and Guangdong is not very close, and Chaozhou is adjacent to Guangdong, Fujian, and the newly established three provinces of Gannan, its geographical location is very important, so Zheng Kezang deliberately listed it separately, along with Jingzhou Prefecture, Taiping Prefecture, Qiongzhou Prefecture also became a sub-provincial left-behind government directly under the central government.In terms of defense, the Chaozhou waters are no longer within the cruising range of the Western Fleet, and are stationed by the Nanyang Fleet instead.

"The ministers are waiting to welcome the king." Zheng Kezang stepped onto the wharf of Nan'ao Island amidst the sound of gun salutes. Dozens of civil and military officials present prostrated themselves to the ground one after another, bowing three times and knocking nine times in unison. "The king is a thousand years old, a thousand years old, a thousand years old."

"Everyone get up." Zheng Kezang nodded slightly, and the servant next to him immediately spoke on his behalf. "The king is exhausted on the journey, and all the ministers are separated." The waiting officials looked at each other, but the servants had already conveyed Zheng Kezang's will, and no one dared to disturb Zheng Kezang's rest, so they had to make way for Zheng Kezang. Zang's frame went to the palace. "Where is Master Gong Tiangong, Admiral of the Western Fleet?" The rolling car driver had already started to move, and a guard suddenly came over to preach. "Your Majesty, Lord Li is following me. Please follow me, Lord Li." A group of officials looked at the young admiral jogging to keep up with the convoy with envious eyes. At this time, another guard came over. "Li Cang, who stayed behind in Chaozhou, received the order." Li Cang, who was transferred from the Minister of Jibu to stay behind in Chaozhou, hurried out and knelt down. "Wang Shang ordered Li Cang to entertain the Western Fleet."

Zheng Kezang's palace is naturally the best military headquarters on the island. Speaking of which, this military residence has been around for a long time. From the third year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1575), the island set up a deputy stationed in Nan'ao, such as "Xie Shou Zhang Chao". From the beginning of "Zongbing", the Zongbing Mansion existed.In the Ming Dynasty, Zheng Kezang's grandfather, Zheng Chenggong, recruited troops to fight against the Qing Dynasty. Since then, the Qing government's Nan'ao Town General Army Yamen and Zheng Fan's Nan'ao Guardian Envoy Yamen have also been used in turn.This time, in order to welcome Zheng Kezang's arrival, repairs were specially made.

"Is this the recruiting tree left by my grandfather?" Zheng Kezang, who came to the palace, did not rest immediately, but walked around to look up at the remains left by Zheng Chenggong. "Thinking back in the past, I really don't sigh."

"Although it was difficult for King Chaowu to conquer all kinds of difficulties in those years, his accomplishments are far inferior to yours, King Shang."

"Changzui Xianshou." Zheng Kezang looked coldly at the flattering servant. "Grandfather's achievements can also be evaluated by you."

The startled servant immediately fell to his knees and pulled his face. Amidst the crackling slaps, Zheng Kezang looked thoughtfully at the block built by Fujian and Guangdong officials at the street entrance to commend Zheng Zhilong for his military achievements. Dashifang.In fact, what the servant said is correct. Zheng Chenggong's personality is indeed flawed, and his selfishness is so selfish that the campaign against the Qing Dynasty failed, but this is by no means a reason to belittle this national hero. Kezang was also unable to achieve his current success.However, the real purpose of elevating Zheng Chenggong is not because he is a tragic hero, but because of Zheng Chenggong's father, Zheng Jing's grandfather, Zheng Kezang's great-grandfather, the pirate who was born in Baoming but surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, surrendered to the Qing Dynasty but was killed Zheng Zhilong.

Since becoming an emperor requires posthumous titles of three generations of ancestors, Zheng Zhilong is an unavoidable figure.Of course, it is not impossible to write off the spring and autumn and turn a blind eye to its past. The slander of the Ming Dynasty by the Manchus is the best reference for Zheng Kezang, but justice lies in the hearts of the people, and history cannot be obliterated, no matter what kind of decorations Free Zheng Zhilong from the shame of the traitor.Therefore, once Zheng Zhilong is crowned emperor, it will inevitably become a major stain on the Zheng dynasty.However, if Zheng Zhilong, the great-grandfather, is not recognized, the normal life will be disordered, and he will be infamous for forgetting his ancestors and not being able to hide his family, which will also become a reason for scholar-bureaucrats to disapprove of the new dynasty.Therefore, Zheng Kezang repeatedly discussed with many counselors and wise ministers how to solve it, and in the end he could only use the method of elevating Zheng Chenggong to reduce the influence of Zheng Zhilong's surrender to the Qing Dynasty.

"Come on, drag this talkative slave down." Zheng Kezang came back to his senses, saw the servant still slapping himself in the face, and immediately became agitated, waved his hand and made a decision that made all the servants tremble . "Throw any pimple, I don't want to see this guy again"

After a small episode, Zheng Kezang, who was not interested, called Gong Tian in. The size of the Nanyang Fleet is similar to that of the Western Fleet, but the number of cruisers is slightly smaller. There are only four cruisers in a team, but two of these four are [-] A first-class cruiser with more than a thousand materials, so its combat power is not inferior to that of the Western side.

"Now the main force of the fleet has been moved from Tagou Port to Sanduao, Funing Zhili Prefecture. In Tagou Port and Nan'ao, only one team of notification ships and one fleet of cruise ships are left, while Keelung Port only retains one team of notification ships. Ships are used to travel to and from the Ryukyu waters”

Zheng Kezang, who was listening with squinted eyes, suddenly asked, "How is the situation on Chen Long's side?"

"Chen Long? Marquis of Mina?" Gong Tian thought for a while before reporting. "After several years of continuous population importation, there are now about [-] Han people on Minna Island, and more than [-] people from Li, Miao, and Shanha. Based on this, the Marquis of Minna has formed a guard of more than [-] people. There are four boats and blessing boats, and more than a dozen other fishing boats, basically realizing self-protection."

"Will the business houses of the feudal clan in Fujian and Brunei benefit from it?" Gong Tian couldn't answer this question at all. After all, this is a matter for the government offices of foreign countries. . "Forget it." Seeing Gong Tian's embarrassment, Zheng Kezang knew he was asking the wrong person, so he skipped talking and asked instead. "How is the defense situation of Dongshan Island and Nan'ao Island today? Both are military ports, how is the Nanyang Fleet stationed?"

"Western Fleet's main berthing ships are still concentrated in Nan'ao Island. Dongshan Island is only a backup military port, and it is only when the sea is rough and the cruise ships have no time to retreat to Nan'ao Island." Gong Tian reported. "As for the Nan'ao Guarding Envoy's Yamen, there is also a garrison on Dongshan Island. As far as I know, it is about the strength of an infantry and a sentry army."

"The island is lonely, and there is a lack of supervision. How do you ensure that the soldiers on the island do not degenerate like the former Mingwei?"

Gong Tian shook his body, and immediately responded: "I am stupid, I understand, I will arrange it after I go back, and it is clearly stipulated that every cruise in the future, those spare military ports will be visited, as long as there is something to do, the ministries will not be there. Falling into combat power while doing nothing.”

"Just figure it out for yourself." Zheng Kezang nodded, as if he accepted Gong Tian's conjecture, just when Gong Tian felt that he had passed the test, he heard Zheng Kezang's words. "Wait a minute, go talk to Maying." Gong Tian was taken aback, and Zheng Kezang waved his hand. "Don't think about it, this time you are asked to take over the Western Fleet. As for the Nanyang, Gu has already notified Chu Jin to come, Ma Ying," Zheng Kezang pondered for a moment. "It will be transferred to the East."

After Gong Tian retired, Zheng Kezang ate lunch and took a nap, and around the time of application, he called Li Cang again.

Li Cang was nearly fifty years old at this time, but no one knew that ten years ago he was just a small official in the Department of Appeasement, and now he was able to climb to the position of deputy provincial level, of course because of the extreme expansion of Ming Zheng's power Officials at all levels are not enough, but it must be said that he still has some real materials.

"Li Qing, in the eleven counties of Chaozhou, there are all four characters. It's hard for you to stay behind." Zheng Kezang looked at Li Cang with a smile on his face. "I just want to know how Qing will proceed."

Li Cang frowned bitterly and replied: "The king has decided to send the government to the countryside in Guangdong and Chaozhou, so I think that if we still only rely on land tax, Chaozhou may not be able to support it alone, so we have to ask the Ministry of Quanzhou for adjustment."

Seeing Zheng Kezang's downcast face, Li Cang suddenly changed the subject: "But now there is an opportunity."

Zheng Kezang suddenly became interested: "Tell me, what kind of opportunity is it?"

"The minister thought that the establishment of a province in southern Jiangxi would inevitably require an outlet to the sea. This may be an opportunity for Chaozhou."

"Gannan needs an outlet to the sea?" Zheng Kezang narrowed his eyes and thought about it. "Maybe so, but southern Jiangxi is adjacent to Fujian and Guangdong, so why do you have to go to sea from Chaozhou? Is it possible that you can't leave from the two provinces?"

"The land in southern Jiangxi is mostly divided from the two provinces of Fujian and Guangdong. I dare not discuss it rashly. I speculate privately that the two provinces may be unwilling." This statement is not impossible, so Zheng Kezang nodded in agreement despite his sullen face. up. "Secondly, from southern Jiangxi to southern Fujian, all the way across the Wuyi mountains, and from southern Jiangxi via Jiaying to Chaozhou, you only need to climb a lotus mountain."

"Jiaying can also cross Luofu and enter Huiguang."

"There is no port in Huizhou. Although hundreds of merchants gather in Guangzhou, it is precisely because of the large number of merchants that Jiangxi merchants can only eat leftovers."

"Huizhou has no ports, and Chaozhou seems to have no ports either."

"So please open the Shantou Port."

"Shantou Port Opening"