Zhu Yuanzhang stood on the bow of the ship, silently looking at the people cleaning the battlefield in front of him. A smile couldn't help but appear on his lips, but his brows were still furrowed.
Because in the battle just now, although they won a complete victory, during the battle, it was also revealed that the Tianjin Navy's combat power was far inferior to the Zheng Navy.
This difference is not only in the performance of the warships or attack skills, but also in morale and courage.
Just like when the merchant ship was about to break through the fire ship, the decisiveness and resignation of the three bird ships made Zhu Yuanzhang's mood difficult to calm down even now.
In fact, he has seen many such scenes. For example, during the Battle of Poyang Lake, the battle was a hundred times more intense and tragic than before. This kind of thing happened often in that battle.
It's just that since he woke up, he has almost never seen such a scene of death, even in the tragic battle to defend the capital.
Of course, this was not the main reason. What really made Zhu Yuanzhang uneasy was his absolute obedience.
Even if there is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire ahead, as long as the general gives an order, the soldiers can rush through the mountain of swords, walk through the sea of fire, and command thousands of troops as easily as moving their arms.
Zhu Yuanzhang had never felt this way since he woke up.
But at this moment, he saw it in Zheng's navy.
Therefore, there was some worry in his heart. Although this worry had always existed, it was just stronger at this moment.
"Your Majesty, the battle has been decided. Can you go back to the cabin and rest for a while?"
Zhang Huangyan saw that the overall situation was decided and the sea breeze became stronger, so he suggested in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head to look at Zhang Huangyan and found that although he had not gone into battle to fight, he had more murderous intent than before, and his eyes were more determined and sharp.
At this moment, facing his own gaze, he looked more calm and calm than before, although his face was still very respectful.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that he had grown a lot after this battle, but generals were easy to come by, but loyal ministers were hard to find, so he tried: "Zhang Qianhu, what do you think is the difference between the Tianjin Navy and the Zheng Navy?"
Zhang Huangyan was stunned when he heard the words, and then bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I feel that the Tianjin Navy and the Zheng Navy are both brave men, but the Zheng Navy is a rough folk, somewhat wild and untamable, and easy to plunder, so Be brave."
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him in surprise and said in a deep voice: "If we hand over the Tianjin Navy to you, can you make them as brave as the Zheng Navy?"
Zhang Huangyan was stunned and said hesitantly: "Your Majesty, the last general is..."
"You don't have to rush to answer us. Wait until you come back from the south and tell us your decision!"
After Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted Zhang Huangyan, he looked at him thoughtfully.
When Zhang Huangyan saw the look in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, he didn't know what the other person's intentions were.
Because he had just euphemistically pointed out that the reason why the Tianjin Navy was inferior to the Zheng Navy was because of its low status, poor treatment, and too many restrictions.
Although he did not say that this situation was caused by the emphasis on literature and the suppression of martial arts and the lack of promotion, he believed that the other party's intelligence would not have thought of this.
But Zhu Yuanzhang still asked him to train a navy like Zheng's navy. Did the other party want to change the old system?
But civil servants have been in control of the government for more than two hundred years. The accumulation and inertia of so many years are like a spider web of interests and an indestructible mountain. Can the man in front of him really have the ability to change?
Just when he was surprised, he saw Zhu Yuanzhang's smiling face again. Although it was a smile, Zhang Huangyan saw from it the aura of looking down on the world and the ambition to give up to others.
He thought the gap between his ability and the other party had narrowed just now, but now he found that it was even wider.
Suddenly, he found that Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be an unreachable mountain. The higher he climbed, the more he found the tallness and majesty of the other party.
So he said respectfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Although there were only three words, Zhang Huangyan felt more relaxed than ever after saying these three words.
At this time, a burst of noisy footsteps came from behind them.
Zhang Huangyan saw the two guards beside Zhu Yuanzhang looking relaxed, and looked back curiously, only to see Zhao Erhu coming over with a dozen or so guards.
"Your Majesty, your incompetence allowed Hong Chengchou to escape when he was in Tianjin Port. Please forgive me!"
After Zhao Erhu saw Zhu Yuanzhang, he quickly stepped forward to apologize.
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly and said: "It is your first time to lead an army. We are very satisfied with this result. There is no need to blame yourself!"
After he finished speaking, he said to the two of the eighteen horsemen beside him: "You have worked hard this day. Call the other guards out and let's go and rest together!"
After the two men heard this and bowed to express their gratitude, one of them shouted: "The dead Tiger and Ben soldiers have returned to the team!"
As his words sounded, seven or eight people emerged from below the deck, from the corners of the cabin, etc., and after bowing and saluting, they left as a team.
Zhang Huangyan couldn't help but be shocked when he saw those people.
Because although he had seen a dozen people following Zhu Yuanzhang on the boat before, they disappeared shortly after boarding.
He also searched intentionally, but did not find it. Unexpectedly, the other party was hiding around him.
If he had evil intentions, he might be dead before he even got close.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with awe in his eyes.
"Let's go, hurry up. Do you think you are still the governor..."
At this time, a sound of scolding came from a distance.
Zhu Yuanzhang followed the sound and saw Huang Ting and several soldiers escorting Hong Chengchou towards this side.
When he saw the neatly dressed Hong Chengchou, a strong murderous intention suddenly surged in his heart.
This murderous intention was not only because Hong Chengchou betrayed the Ming Dynasty and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, but also because Chongzhen was fooled and made a huge joke.
Although this was caused by Chongzhen's ignorance of people, Chongzhen was of Zhu family blood after all, so Zhu Yuanzhang transferred this hatred to Hong Chengchou.
"Your Majesty, the general has brought the traitors!"
Huang Ting reported to Zhu Yuanzhang with some pride.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Hong Chengchou coldly. When he saw a look of surprise flash across the other's face, he seemed to be about to salute but stopped. Then he looked calm and became more angry in his heart. He shouted angrily: "Zhao Erhu, you will kill him." He was taken to Shanhaiguan and skinned alive on the city wall!"
As his words fell, everyone present felt a chill coming over them. Even though they were all lickers of blood, they still felt the chill was unstoppable.
"The last general..."
"Your Majesty, I do not intend to surrender. I just want to be useful to repay Your Majesty. Please give me a chance!"
Hong Chengchou was still calm and composed, but suddenly he heard that he was going to beheaded alive. He immediately interrupted Zhao Erhu and defended loudly.
It turned out that when he first met Zhu Yuanzhang, although he was a little surprised, he thought that Chongzhen was suspicious and motivated, so he pretended to be a noble man to arouse Chongzhen's curiosity and take the opportunity to quibble.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Yuanzhang ignored him at all and directly ordered him to be skinned alive, which scared him so much that he immediately begged for mercy.
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly and said to Zhao Erhu: "Since he is a loyal man, we cannot bury his famous name!"
"We remember that there is one person in the Jinyi Guard who is the best at skinning. You go find him and start skinning from here until you reach Shanhaiguan Pass. You can neither stop nor die. Do you understand?"
Hong Chengchou was a little happy when he heard Zhu Yuanzhang praise him as a loyal man, but when he heard the following words, his face immediately turned pale, and he didn't care about his appearance. He begged for mercy again and again: "Your Majesty, I am really loyal to you... ..I want to imitate...ah!”
But before he finished speaking, several Jin Yiwei captured him at Zhao Erhu's signal, and then a Jin Yiwei with a thin face and cold eyes walked up.
He took out a slender short knife from his waist, walked behind Hong Chengchou, and lightly slashed the back of his neck.
"ah!"
Although there was only one blow, Hong Chengchou let out a shrill scream.
Although most of the people present had never seen the skinning scene, they had heard people talk about it, and they all looked horrified when they thought of the horrific scene.
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand to Zhao Erhu to take Hong Chengchou down, and then ordered him to return to the ship to rest.
Some people died, but not completely...
