The north wind is biting and the waves are overwhelming.
On the boat going south, Huang Long's mood was just like this early winter. He had no idea what was waiting for him ahead.
Shen Shouyue brought news about Dengzhou. Huanglong did not dare to neglect and immediately summoned the generals to discuss countermeasures.
But the reaction of the generals made him quite frightened.
"Master Shen, how are my family doing?"
Shang Kexi, the commander of Shuangdao Yingdu, asked the question that everyone was most concerned about.
Denglai is in the rear of Liaodong, so the family members of the Ming army in Liaodong are basically settled in Dengzhou.
After Dengzhou was captured by the rebels, Huang Long and others were so anxious to counterattack because they were worried about their families.
At this time, it was learned that Dengzhou had fallen into the hands of another group of rebels, and the Ming army in Liaodong was immediately unstable.
Fortunately, Shen Shouyue brought good news.
"Everyone, please rest assured. Although Zuo Mengeng wanted to rebel, he took good care of your family members and did not murder them. General Zuo has said that if you are still loyal to the imperial court, he will send your family members here."
"Why were you sent here? Are you waiting to die?"
Changshan Island Counselor Li Xiaoxi complained, and many people agreed.
Why did they send their families to Dengzhou?
Isn't it because Liaodong is difficult and precarious?
Hearing the discussions among his generals, Huang Long had no choice but to speak out.
"Now that Zuo Mengeng also wants to betray the imperial court, let's talk about where we should go."
Shen Shikui, who was on equal footing with Huang Long, looked confused and asked Shen Shouyue: "Master Shen, how does Zuo Menggeng compare with Kong Youde and others?"
Shen Shikui is Mao Wenlong's in-law and a veteran of Dongjiang Town, so when the situation came to this point, he was a little embarrassed.
Although he was very hostile to the rebellion of Kong Youde, Li Jiucheng and others, he also had little trust in the court.
Therefore, after the sudden emergence of Zuo Mengeng, Shen Shikui decided to wait and see.
Shen Shouyue told the truth and told the story of the battle in Huang County.
When the Liaodong generals learned that the Dongjiang rebels, who had defeated the Guanning Army, were defeated at the hands of Zuo Mengeng, they were all confused for a moment.
Others were hesitant, but Huang Long's confidant Wei Luan had no worries.
"Headquarters, if we continue to be loyal to the imperial court, can Tianjin Guard provide Yiru Denglai?"
Immediately, everyone's eyes widened, waiting for Huang Long's answer.
For those in Liaodong, Zuo Menggeng's rebellion and occupation of Denglai was nothing. If the imperial court can continue to provide sufficient supplies to Liaodong from Tianjin Wei, they can still fight to the death for the imperial court.
I am afraid that Tianjin Wei will not be able to do this, and the imperial court will not be able to regain Shandong.
At present, it seems that the court is really helpless.
Guerrilla Xiang Zuolin said worriedly: "The Tianjin Navy fell into the trap of the rebels earlier, and all the ships were captured. Even if they want to support us, where will the ships come from?"
Everyone in Liaodong is even more trapped, and they are all pessimistic about the future.
Tianjin Guard is originally far away from the islands in Liaodong, and behind Tianjin Guard is the capital. It has no output of its own, and the required materials have to be transported from various places. What can be done to protect Liaodong?
Therefore, expecting the imperial court to support them through Tianjin Guard is tantamount to wishful thinking.
But the situation in Liaodong has determined that without the support of land, it will be a rootless Ping. You don't even need the money to fight for it, otherwise you will collapse soon.
It cannot be said that there are no loyal people among the Liaodong generals, but the realistic dilemma is before them, and they have to think more.
Shang Keyi received Shang Kexi's signal and spoke hesitantly.
"Headquarters, the situation in Liaodong is like this, and there is really no way we can make a comeback. How about..."
He wanted to surrender.
Not only him, but also many other generals were moved.
Huang Long looked carefully and found that his confidants Wei Luan, Fan Hualong, Tan Yinghua and others all had evasive eyes, obviously quite moved.
The hardships in Liaodong have long worn away the will of these people.
They can still stay here, but it's just their duty and they are afraid of punishment from the court.
But now the imperial court has too much time to take care of itself. Even the rebellion in Dongjiang Town cannot be quelled, which also makes everyone have a deep and clear understanding of the imperial court's weakness.
In troubled times, survival has nothing to do with loyalty and morality.
It's hard to go against the will of the people, Huang Long understands that just having his own way won't change anything. In a hurry, there is no chance that these generals will imitate Dongjiang's rebellion and attack him.
But Huang Long has a strong temperament, how can he be easily surrendered?
In his previous life, his family was imprisoned in Dengzhou by the rebels. He would rather watch his family being killed by the rebels without doing anything, which shows his loyalty.
The difference now is that what they have to face is not the Dongjiang rebels or the Houjin Tartars, so Huang Long understands that the overall situation is more important.
After much thought, he decided to follow Shen Shouyue to Dengzhou and interview Zuo Mengeng in person. Of course, it was also to test Zuo Mengeng’s truth.
Although Zuo Menggeng defeated the rebels, according to his understanding, Zuo Menggeng was no more than a soldier of the Alliance.
If it was discovered that Zuo Mengeng was not strong enough, Huang Long would have no choice but to mobilize all his troops to help the court put down this beast.
Following him southward were Shang Kexi and Shen Shikui.
The journey was not far, and the three of them soon arrived in Dengzhou.
When they entered Shuicheng and saw that it was empty, the three of them understood that Dengzhou would not support Liaodong in the future.
Shen Shouyue led them to the governor's Yamen, and only saw Zhang Jimeng. Moreover, Zhang Jimeng was arguing and bargaining with others, showing no prestige of an official.
"Three years of tax exemption are already very favorable. If you don't even look at it, the poor people here are almost wearing their pants."
The person arguing with him was a young man.
"Four years, no matter how little, is really not enough. We, the Lu family, have invested real money and money. Even if we come to a remote place like yours, we can't do business at a loss."
Huang Long and the other three were led to sit aside, and they all felt strange as they watched Zhang Jimeng discussing business with others.
When will Ming officials do this again?
Then they remembered that this was not the Ming Dynasty, but the territory of the rebels.
The person who bargained with Zhang Jimeng was Lu Hao.
Lu Hao has now fully taken over the Lu family's business. Thanks to Xinjun's aggressive expansion and comprehensive construction, the demand for bricks and stones has been huge. As a result, the Lu family's brick and stone business has grown bigger and bigger.
This time Zhang Jimeng took over Dengzhou, and of course he had to build it well, so he contacted the Lu family and hoped that the Lu family could build a brick and stone factory locally.
Firstly, it can provide bricks and stones for local construction, and secondly, it can provide jobs for people and improve people's livelihood.
Of course, the Lu family was very happy for such an invitation, and Lu Hao went there in person.
However, since it was a business, there was no room for friendship. The two sides were at loggerheads with each other, and the solemn Yamen was turned into a vegetable market.
There was endless debate here, and hearty laughter came from outside the door.
"I said you, Lu Guangyue, are really stingy. Do you have to force Mayor Zhang to death before you give up?"
Zhang Jimeng and Lu Hao did not change their faces, but laughed.
"Zuo Zhongheng is here!"
Huang Long, Shang Kexi, and Shen Shikui, who were next to them, couldn't help but become nervous when they heard this. At the same time, they were also curious about the legendary Zuo Mengeng.
I saw the curtain at the door suddenly opened to the left and right, and then several capable guards filed in and occupied the four corners of the house.
Another young man, as tall and burly as an iron tower, walked in with high spirits. His angular face was full of dust, but he was also like an evil tiger patrolling, a group of beasts fighting for change.
But this man was wearing a blue coarse cloth shirt, and he only had a pair of weird-looking cotton shoes on his feet. He could not see the majesty and splendor that a military commander should have.
If this man hadn't been wearing a big cloak, he wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between him and an ordinary soldier.
Is this Zuo Mengeng?
Zhang Jimeng and Lu Hao's words proved their suspicions.
"Zhongheng, how is the front line?"
Zuo Mengeng took off his felt hat, handed it to Fu Yijian, and said with a smile: "Everything is safe. In another half month, we can leave Laizhou."
His eyes moved and he saw Huang Long and others beside him.
Seeing the opportunity, Shen Shouyue hurriedly introduced: "General Zuo, this is General Huanglong Huangzhen, this is General Shen Shikui and General Shen. This is General Shang Kexi, the Dusi of Shuangdao."
The positions of these three people were clear, but Zuo Mengeng looked at Shang Kexi at first sight.
Bah, you big traitor!
He didn't even think about it, what kind of character did he have in his previous life?
What's more, Shang Kexi is not a traitor now, and if he had not changed history, in the subsequent battles of the Wuqiao Mutiny, Shang Kexi was really active and brave, fighting for the first place, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was a loyal minister and good general.
Shang Kexi was also confused by the complicated and inexplicable look in his eyes. He didn't know what the connection between him and General Zuo was.
Fortunately, Zuo Mengeng remembered the business and said with a smile: "You have come all the way, so you must not be here to have a banquet as guests. I believe you still have many doubts, and some new things have arrived today. Come with me, everyone, I believe that after reading it, You will make your choice later.”
After that, he turned around and left.
This vigorous and resolute style made Huang Long and others quite uncomfortable.
But their future and lives were at stake, and they still had no choice but to keep up.
