"My son knows what to do!"
Zhu Cixiang knew that Emperor Chongzhen had bad intentions and wanted to sow discord between the Wu and Zheng families. Zhu Cixiang's marriage to the richest warlord certainly has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that he can draw on their strength, but the disadvantage is of course that the harem struggle intensifies.
Zhu Cixiang's harem route was based on Wu as the leader and Zheng as the auxiliary. This requires Wu Sanmei to give birth to the eldest son, otherwise Zheng Chagu will have no objection, and Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Sen will not do it! Although the Zheng family followed later, their efforts were not small at all.
They gave more than 10,000 fireguns alone, and Zheng Zhilong promised to continue to provide more fireguns when he left Nanjing. He also expressed his willingness to cooperate with the imperial court in recruiting Foshan blacksmiths to go north to "start a business". He also promised to build a centipede warship for the Yangtze River Navy. He also promised to contact the governor of the Dutch East India Company in Batavia for Zhu Cixiang-compared to Japan and Portugal, the Netherlands had more talented people. It is a super supplier that can truly supply Zhu Cixiang's army in large quantities!
If Zhu Cixi hopes to build a European-style army that can sweep the north within a few years, he can only rely on the Dutch, a maritime coachman, to supply supplies. Of course, making is better than buying, but now making guns and cannons is a craft. You may not be able to become a master after three or five years, and a master master cannot lead many apprentices! Even if Zhu Cixiang paid them to teach him skills (teaching apprentices to starve the master to death, and Prince Zhu didn't pay more, they wouldn't teach him), the strengthening effect would not be too obvious. After all, these masters are not professional teachers, and most of the apprentices have not received the necessary basic education.
To form a large amount of production capacity, we have to wait at least ten to eight years, maybe even longer!
In addition, firecrackers and artillery are actually consumables and cannot be used unlimitedly. Bronze cannons have a relatively long service life, and can be used for a long time if battle damage is not considered. Fireguns, especially lightweight fireguns, are easily damaged due to poor manufacturing techniques.
Therefore, in order to support a huge European-style army and conduct high-intensity training and combat, a large number of firecrackers must be purchased.
Thinking about the fact that the Han people in the north were worse off than dead under the iron heel of the Tartars, it might still be worth spending some silver exchanged for porcelain and silk...
Seeing Zhu Cixiang's calm expression, Emperor Chongzhen changed the subject and said with a smile: "Brother Dachun, isn't the good day of Fourth Brother near?"
"Soon, it will be March 27th." Zhu Cixiang replied.
March 27th is a good day for Zhu Cizhao, the king of Chu in the Ming Dynasty - he is going to marry Zuo Mengmei, the adopted daughter of Zuo Liangyu, the Marquis of Wuchang...
This matter was another happy event for Emperor Chongzhen. This means that Zhu Cizhao has the support of his loyal minister Zuo Liangyu. Even if he cannot go down the river to eliminate the prince, who is doing evil on the emperor's side, he can still restrain Zhu Cizhong.
Chongzhen now has Lin'er first and then a filial daughter-in-law. It's really a double happiness!
However, Zhu Cixiang felt better when he thought that Zuo Mengmei had become his sister-in-law.
Because this marriage was basically an underhanded move by Zhu Cixiang... The only purpose was to build another mountain within Zuo Liangyu's group! A mountain leader led by Zuo Mengmei's biological father, Qiu Lei, the commander-in-chief of the Jingzhou garrison.
Although Qiu Lei could not exert much power when Zuo Liangyu was alive, once Zuo Liangyu died, Qiu Lei might become someone who could compete with Zuo Mengeng.
...
Jingzhou Prefecture, Jiangling City.
This rectangular city located on the north bank of the Yangtze River, like most other cities guarded by vassal kings, is solid and majestic, with three floors, inside and outside. The location of Jiangling City is particularly important. It protects the dangers of Bashu and Jianghu, and guards the natural chasm of the Yangtze River. It has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. In today's troubled times, it is also a treasure land that Shun, Ming (Zhu Cihong) and Xi (Zhang Xianzhong) all want to claim as their own.
Before the Ming Dynasty and Dashun negotiated peace, the city was once occupied by Li Zicheng. Later, in order to concentrate troops to fight against the Qing Dynasty, it was given to Zuo Liangyu. Zuo Liangyu assigned it to his good brother Qiu Lei, and recommended Qiu Lei, who originally led troops in Henan, to serve as the chief guard of Jingzhou Prefecture, which gave him a wealthy territory.
Another governor of Huguang, He Tengjiao, who had a close relationship with Zuo Liangyu, recommended a very capable partner to Qiu Lei. Du Yinxi, the former prefect of Changsha and known for his military knowledge, was appointed as the prefect of Jingzhou Prefecture.
With Du Yinxi, a capable man, repairing the city walls, rectifying the countryside, collecting taxes, and raising military pay for him, Qiu Lei's days in Jingzhou Mansion were comfortable and happy... If it could continue like this, It's so beautiful.
But such a good life is always uneasy! Because Zuo Liangyu's body and bones are getting worse day by day, and he doesn't know when he will die.
From the perspective of an expert like Qiu Lei, the combat effectiveness of Zuo Jiajun is really not reassuring! Although there are many battle-hardened veterans supporting them, they are all long-defeated soldiers who have no ability to win battles and no small ability to harm the common people. What's worse is that these people are all ruffians who are not afraid of big trouble!
Last year, after being incited by Huang Shu who came from Nanjing, many people clamored to go east to Qingjunzi. Fortunately, Zuo Liangyu didn't have any brains. He knew how powerful his gang was, and Junzi was Qingjun. No, their real plan is to take advantage of this opportunity to make a fortune. But the prince of Nanjing looks very powerful. If he really wants to go, he may be killed!
So Qiu Lei, who ran to Zuo Liangyu from Henan and knew a little about what Zhu Cihong was doing in Shandong, tried to persuade Zuo Liangyu not to act rashly. Zuo Liangyu, on the other hand, was confused for a while, sober for a while... When he was sober, he was okay, but when he was confused, he shouted that he wanted to eradicate the traitor, and he didn't know who the traitor was?
By the eighteenth year of Chongzhen, Zuo Liangyu's health was getting worse and worse, and he was awake less and less. Just when Qiu Lei didn't know how he would survive after Zuo Liangyu died, something good happened to him inexplicably.
The fourth son of Emperor Chongzhen and the fourth brother of Prince Fujun Zhu Cihong, Prince of Chu Zhu Cizhao, wanted to marry Zuo Mengmei, his biological daughter and adopted daughter of Zuo Liangyu, as his concubine.
Moreover, Hou Xun, who was kind to Zuo Liangyu and Qiu Lei, was sent to Jingzhou Mansion to preside over the wedding of King Chu...
This Hou Xun was Zhu Cixi's official, and he was also the senior minister in the cabinet. He was labeled as Prince Zhu!
He went all the way to Huguang just to host a wedding?
Zuo Liangyu was confused, but Qiu Lei was not confused at all!
"Mr. Hou Ge, there are no outsiders here..."
On the tower of Longshan Gate, which has the best scenery in Jiangling City, General Qiu Da was accompanying Hou Xun, who had come from afar, to climb the city to view the scenery.
"Mr. Qiu," Hou Xun glanced at Qiu Lei, "Did you know that Zuo Hou once said that if the crown prince ascends to the throne, he will make the King of Chu the emperor?"
"This..." Qiu Lei knew this, of course he was listening behind the screen.
"Zuo Hou passed away not long ago," Hou Xun sighed. "My brain is also broken. I am getting more and more confused every day. I am afraid that I will be kidnapped by Xiao Xiao and do something that will be infamy for thousands of years. Chief Rong, what will you do then?"
"I..." Qiu Lei frowned, "To be honest with Mr. Ge, I only have 500 servants who can fight, and the rest are just mobs."
Hou Xun smiled: "Who is not like this? Except for the new army to overcome difficulties... They are in the camp four hours a day, doing exercises three times a day, and they have generous military pay and are given land and houses. The families of the officers and soldiers in the army are now all We live in the eastern area outside Nanjing! General Rong, do you understand?"
"This is the servant!" Qiu Lei had beads of sweat on his forehead.
Hou Xun nodded: "It's good to understand, it's good to understand. The prince has a hundred thousand servants! How many servants does Zuohou have? It's hard to say whether there are three thousand... Jingzhou Prefecture is a fortified city. I will bring him with me this time." There is a lot of silver, which is stored in the palace. In addition, the prefect Du Yinxi is also a capable official with both civil and military skills, and can be completely trusted!"
