Tongtaro was confused by his words. The Japanese samurai had never thought that there were so many conspiracies and tricks, and he admired Qian Taichong even more. [Read full text] However, he was a little curious and asked:
"What are the top ten crimes?"
"As an Anping guard, when the Kun bandits attacked, I ignored the safety of my mistress and young master, and ignored all the family members in the city. I abandoned the city without firing a single shot. It is a major crime!"
"right!"
"The mistress and the young master are in trouble. There is neither a way to defeat the enemy nor a rescue strategy. Sitting back and doing nothing is the two biggest sins!"
"The general was killed in the field. He did not bury his body, hold a mourning ceremony, or take off his auspicious clothes. He drank and had fun every day and played as usual. He was so mad that he was mad. These are the three cardinal sins!"
…
Qian Taichong listed them one by one and read out ten crimes in one breath. Each one was a very serious "crime" in the social environment at that time. If we really want to pursue these charges, Zheng Zhiwan's death will be easy.
"Are we going to kill him?"
"If he has a clear sense of reason, let him be punished and make meritorious service." Qian Taichong was not prepared to kill anyone - especially Zheng Zhilong's clan members. This was a very serious matter in a patriarchal society, not to mention that he was essentially an outsider.
Zheng Zhiwan is insignificant, but once he is killed, the Zheng family members will become resistant and wary, making future affairs even more difficult to carry out. Although the governor supports him, he is the least powerful after all.
"I am going to see the young master now." Qian Taichong said, "I will report these things to him."
Although Zheng Sen is only eight years old, he is already old enough to remember things. Although it is for his own use at the moment, he will one day grow up. The relationship between the powerful ministers he assists and the young master who ascended the throne at a young age has been very delicate since ancient times. If he cannot handle it properly. It will definitely lay the foundation for the future.
However, he did not go to see the young master immediately. Instead, he went to see a servant woman who was currently responsible for taking care of the young master's daily life.
This servant girl is also a distant relative of the Zheng family. She used to work as a servant in the Zheng Mansion and met the young master. So after Tongtaro fled to Jinjiang with Zheng Sen, he was served by this servant girl who also fled here.
"I want to meet the young master later. I wonder how the young master's daily life is lately?"
"My daily life is normal, but I hardly talk on weekdays. I am silent all day long. In addition, the young master has always refused to eat fish. The maid is afraid that his body will not be able to support it." The maid was very anxious.
Saying this, the young master felt very sad, Qian Taichong thought. But because he was in an unexpected situation and didn't want to cause trouble to the people around him, he remained silent. This ability of forbearance is better than that of ordinary children. Not eating fish is to mourn for your father, which is a pity for filial piety. In this way, the young master is a talented person.
"I want to meet the young master."
Zheng Sen is eight years old. Like his father, he has a handsome appearance, but due to repeated changes, he has become very deep at a young age. When he saw Qian Taichong coming to visit him, he knew that this was the "Mr. Qian" who was assisting him. Although Zheng Sen was young, he also knew that this Mr. Qian was now running for his status. He only returned from Japan in 1630. He did not speak Chinese fluently, but he still managed to say something to encourage "Mr. Qian".
After meeting the young master, Qian Taichong became more confident. At present, he and Tongtaro and others are planning a plan to return to Anping.
The core of the plan is suddenness - although Qian Taichong is not willing to kill anyone. But you can also raid when you're not killing people. He decided that on the day before the Winter Clothes Festival, in the name of returning to the ancestral hall to worship his ancestors, he surrounded Zheng Sen and suddenly entered Anping City to disarm Zheng Zhiwan. Capture his tribe.
The plan was not complicated, and there was an element of gambling involved. But Qian Taichong believes that the possibility of success is high. Although Zheng Zhiwan is also one of the Eighteen Zhizhi. But he is mediocre and has no courage - this can be seen from his desperate escape from Anping. Moreover, the news he had received from the spies sent to gather intelligence these days was that Zheng Zhiwan drank and had fun after returning to Anping and rarely interfered with government affairs. From this point of view, he is a person without much ambition.
In terms of strength, Zheng Zhiwan was also the weakest - he only had more than 400 personal soldiers and servants. As for the more than a thousand bankers who were hastily armed, Tongtaro believed that they did not have much combat power.
As long as our side acts decisively, Zheng Zhiwan's will can be easily destroyed, and Anping can be recaptured without any bloodshed.
A few days before the operation, in order to paralyze the opponent, Qian Taichong sent people to Anping to express the young master's wish to return to Anping to worship his ancestors on the Cold Food Festival. Of course, he was rejected because the ancestral hall was seriously damaged and was still being repaired. , the young master may not have a place to live when he comes back.
"In this case, can the young master be allowed to send someone to bring some sacrifices to show filial piety?" The person who was sent discussed in a helpless tone.
"Ten people are allowed to come, and no weapons are allowed. Come and return the same day. You are not allowed to stay overnight in the city."
"Yes, thank you sir."
Qian Taichong believes that as a result, Anping will focus its main vigilance on the day of the Cold Food Festival. So early on the morning before the Cold Food Festival, led by Qian Taichong, Tong Tailang led a hundred Japanese mercenaries, Cao Xiangjiao led fifty Fubiao soldiers, surrounded Zheng Sen who was sitting in a sedan, and the government officials sent by the Jinjiang County Magistrate Under the clear path, we suddenly set off from Jinjiang and headed straight for Anping.
In order to ensure the suddenness, all the people and horses did not rest along the way, and the bearers changed people without resting. They walked 30 miles in four hours and arrived at Anping City at noon.
The city walls of Anping have not been repaired and are still in ruins. Due to his limited military strength, Zheng Zhiwan put his main force on guard near his own residence in the city and other key points. The main force was deployed facing Zhangzhou Bay. Facing the mainland, only a simple gatehouse was built at the original city gate, and some soldiers were sent to check passers-by.
Seeing this group of people suddenly appear, the guards were at a loss - they had indeed received an order not to allow people around Zheng Sen to enter Anping, but it was Zheng Sen who came, the general's legitimate son.
"We are returning to the ancestral hall with the young master to prepare for the Winter Clothes Festival to worship our ancestors. Anyone who blocks the young master from worshiping his ancestors is a disloyal and unjust member of the Zheng family," Qian Taichong shouted while riding on his horse, "Who dares to stop? "
The Zheng officers and soldiers on the bayonet looked at each other hesitantly, at a loss. Even the soldiers knew who the general's legitimate son was, not to mention that there were people from the government who came with him. If we really want to take action, no one can bear this responsibility! Besides, there were only twenty or thirty people at the bayonet, and they were no match for the Japanese mercenaries who were armed with sharp swords and looked like wolves and tigers.
Just when everyone was hesitant, Qian Taichong raised his whip and said, "Enter the city with the help of the young master!"
The Japanese mercenaries and the Fubiao Chinese Army unsheathed their swords, forced their way through the checkpoints, entered Anping City, and drove directly to the Zheng Family Ancestral Hall in the city.
Zheng Zhiwan, who received the news in advance, was shocked - he did not expect that Zheng Sen would suddenly arrive in person. I didn't expect him to drive straight to the ancestral hall. He originally thought that even if Zheng Sen entered Anping, he would first rob the original Zheng family residence. Therefore, arrangements were made there and capable confidants were sent. On the contrary, no troops were sent to guard the ancestral hall, only some servants were sent to clean and guard it.
I was at a loss for a while. In terms of military strength, he has more than 2,000 people, so resisting by force is very easy. But he did not dare to attack his nephew. Once he hurt Zheng Sen, not only would it be difficult to explain to the court, but some people within the Zheng Group would also use this as an excuse to attack him.
He gathered his servants and rushed to the ancestral hall in a hurry. The sacrifices had been placed in the courtyard of the ancestral hall. The Japanese Guards and Fubiao soldiers stood in the courtyard, creating a solemn atmosphere.
"This is the Zheng family's ancestral hall. No troops are allowed to enter!" He was stopped at the gate by a brightly-clad Mr. Qian. Zheng Zhiwan could tell at a glance: this was an upright military attache of the imperial court: President Qian of Fubiao Camp.
Zheng Zhiwan hesitated: he is not the kind of bold person who dares to risk the world's disapproval. Now Zheng Sen has arrived at the ancestral hall, not only with his own armed forces but also with officers and soldiers to protect him. The only way to solve it is to rush in and fight for a while before expelling the nephew. This will bring his reputation into ruin.
Besides, his hundreds of servants are probably no match for this group of tigers and wolves, seeing that the servants around him are cowering. Zheng Zhiwan gave in: "Okay."
On the first day of October in the lunar calendar, Zheng Sen, as the eldest son's grandson, presided over the Winter Clothes Festival ceremony at the ancestral hall in Anping. Zheng Zhiwan was disarmed and placed under house arrest. The ships, troops, farms and properties of the Zheng family that were originally under his control also fell into Zheng Sen's hands.
"Sir, you are a true god!" Tongtaro was so impressed that he fell to the ground. Qian Taichong led them to seize Anping City and Zheng Zhiwan's power "without bloodshed".
"We still have a lot to do." Although Qian Taichong was excited about trying his best, he was still very worried. The sudden capture of Anping this time is certainly gratifying, but other forces will also be wary of the young master, and it will be difficult to achieve such a sudden effect by making any plans.
"Please give me your instructions, Mr. Qian!" Tongtaro and the others were very excited.
"The first thing is to mourn the general!" Qian Taichong said, "I have to go to the governor again for this matter. I will leave Anping to you."
Qian Taichong rushed straight to Fuzhou without stopping and reported the news of the successful capture of Anping to Zou Weilian.
"...It all depends on your majesty." Qian Taichong said and presented the gift list.
There are four kinds of expensive gifts on the gift list, all of which are rare foreign goods. Worth a fortune. Zou Weilian nodded slightly: "Mr. Qian is indeed a great talent. I wonder what you are going to do next?"
"I beg you, sir, to give me some guidance when I'm lost!"
"How dare you. If you have anything, please just say it."
"Qian is no more than a green shirt, and there are many things that are very inconvenient..."
Qian Taichong said unabashedly: For the next step of his plan, he needs an official position.
