"I'm not the only one saying this. Many people below are talking about the demise of the Ming Dynasty." Zu Dabi rolled his eyes.
After the fall of Shandong, many generals in Liaodong were speculating when the Ming Dynasty would fall, and many generals began to think about finding a new home.
Few people are willing to accompany the Ming Dynasty to its demise.
Zu Dashou scolded: "I don't care what others say, but such words must never come out of your mouth. My ancestors have been favored by the emperor for generations and will never do anything to disgrace the court."
"Brother, you can't be so rigid. If the imperial court is really in trouble, we have to make plans early. We can't be buried with the Ming Dynasty! Even if you don't think about yourself, you have to think about the rest of our ancestral family." Zu Dabi persuaded.
After hearing this, Zu Dashou's eyes suddenly sharpened. He looked at Zu Dabi and asked seriously: "Who sent you here?"
"No one sent me here." Zu Dabi said, "The Ming Dynasty will be destroyed sooner or later. If you don't think so, brother, how could you refuse the imperial court's call and not go to the capital."
Since the Li family's complete decline, the generals in Liaodong are now headed by the ancestral family.
Hearing this, Zu Dashou shook his head gently and said: "It's different. The reason why I don't want to go to the capital is not because of the tiger thieves, but because I'm afraid that I won't end up with a good ending despite saving the capital."
Asking for payment from the court was just an excuse for him. He didn't have any good impressions of the turbans in the court, and was afraid that he would be tricked to death by those turbans when he went to the capital.
"It would be better not to go to the capital. The Ming Dynasty is about to die. There is no need for us to go to the capital to die. Only by staying in Liaodong can we wait for the price." Zu Dabi said.
Zu Dashou glanced at Zu Dabi in front of him.
He knew that Zu Dabi's words represented the attitude of many people in Liaodong. The righteousness of the country was far less important than the actual interests.
Zu Dabi said: "Brother, you have to think carefully. Once the capital falls into the hands of the tiger thieves, they will definitely come after us, as well as Huang Taiji, who has been looking forward to your coming. We must always have someone on both sides." A choice.”
He did not mention the Ming Dynasty, because he believed that the Ming Dynasty would definitely perish. Even if the Ming Dynasty did not perish, it would be difficult to defend the capital. Once Shandong was lost, the capital of the Ming Dynasty would be an isolated city, with life and death in the hands of others.
"Who gave you these words?" Zu Dashou stared at Zu Dabi's face.
He knew that his younger brother would never say such a thing, and there must be someone behind his back.
Zu Dabi's mouth squirmed before he said: "No one taught me, I thought of it myself. Not only did I say so, but other people also said so."
"To be honest, don't hide it from me if someone is taking care of you." Zu Dashou stared at Zu Dabi motionlessly.
Zu Dabi's gaze shifted slightly and he did not dare to look at Zu Dashou.
Seeing this, Zu Dashou immediately knew that he had guessed correctly. Someone must have approached Zu Dabi, and said, "Tell me, whether it's Huang Taiji's people or Tiger Thief's people, I don't blame you."
After hearing this, Zu Dabi hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "To be honest with you, brother, someone did come looking for me, but it was not a tiger thief, but someone sent by Huang Taiji. But don't worry, brother, I didn't agree to anything." .”
"You work as a lobbyist for Huang Taiji. What benefits does he promise to give you?" Zu Dashou asked.
Zu Dabi hesitated for a moment and said: "Huang Taiji promised to serve as the commander-in-chief of the army for me. If the eldest brother goes, he will directly give me the title. He is also willing to marry his daughter to Zehong."
The Zehong he mentioned was Zu Zehong, the son of Zu Dashou.
"Huang Taiji is really determined. He also wants to be my son and daughter's in-laws. He really made a good calculation." Zu Dashou said contemptuously.
In exchange for a daughter for the Ningjin Defense Line and the Liaodong Ming Army, this deal seemed to him to be a huge profit for Huang Taiji.
Zu Dabi said: "Brother, don't worry, I didn't agree. I told him that I will listen to you, brother."
"If you had listened to me, you wouldn't have persuaded me, but you should have told me that Huang Taiji had contacted you." Zu Dashou glanced at Zu Dabi.
Although I wasn't happy about Zu Dabi's concealment, I didn't really blame Zu Dabi.
Now that Ming Dynasty is about to die, it is normal for the generals here in Liaodong to start looking for a home for themselves, and even he can't stop it.
Zu Dabi scratched the back of his head with his hand and said, "I just think the price offered by Huang Taiji is okay, but there is no movement from the tiger thief. He obviously has no intention of recruiting us."
Tiger Flag didn't come to solicit, so he didn't even have the chance to wait for a price.
"Tiger thieves are not ordinary rebel thieves. I haven't figured it out yet." Zu Dashou frowned when he mentioned the tiger flag.
The Tiger-Charactered Banner caused such a big commotion within the Ming Dynasty. As a general of the Ming Army in Liaodong, he also learned about the Tiger-Charactered Banner through some channels.
After getting to know it more and more, he felt that the Tiger-Character Flag was very unusual, but the Tiger-Character Flag was very unfriendly to wealthy squire families. This was what he couldn't understand the most.
"Actually, there is nothing easy to understand. We will go to whichever side offers the higher price. We cannot suffer losses." Zu Dabi said with an indifferent expression.
Zu Dashou's face sank and he said: "Don't talk nonsense. You and I are both generals of the Ming Dynasty. Don't mention the matter of betraying the Ming Dynasty in front of anyone in the future."
Although he is not optimistic about Ming Dynasty, he still hopes that Ming Dynasty can continue to exist.
As long as the Ming Dynasty continues to exist, he can continue to benefit from Liao's salary. Such benefits cannot be brought to him by joining Huang Taiji or Tiger Flag.
"Brother, you have to make plans early. If others have a choice, others will take away all the benefits." Zu Dabi advised again.
Hearing this, Zu Dashou waved his hand impatiently and said, "Okay, I understand. Just stay on your own and don't mess around. I will take care of other things."
He himself had not thought about whether he would seek refuge with Huang Taiji or Tiger Flag when that day came.
There are visible benefits to joining Huang Taiji, but it requires abandoning one's ancestors. However, the Tiger Flag is not very friendly to big business owners. He is not sure if he can keep the things and identity of his ancestors if he joins the Tiger Flag. .
Seeing Zu Dashou's impatient look, Zu Dabi knew that if he continued to persuade him, it might be counterproductive, so he took the initiative to say goodbye and leave.
If he hadn't seen Daming dying, he wouldn't have agreed to contact Huang Taiji.
Zu Dashou had not made up his mind on which side he would join.
In other words, he is still waiting for someone from Tiger Character Flag to contact him.
Although no one from Hu Zi Banner has contacted him now, he believes that given the status of his ancestral family in Liaodong, Tiger Zi Banner will contact him sooner or later as long as he is interested in the world.
(End of chapter)
