Li Hong smiled bitterly and said: "I would rather they come with clear swords and guns, and start fighting without saying a word. Now... alas!"
"Many Japanese people speak Chinese. They wear Han clothes and speak fluent Chinese. It's hard for you to tell them apart. Even... they even speak the Fujian dialect more authentically than I do. It's really... It’s so difficult!” Li Hong had a headache.
Li Qing said with a smile: "They can't beat them with open swords and clear spears."
After a pause, he said, "Okay, don't worry about this. In the face of huge interests, it is impossible for someone to take risks. This is inevitable. No one else can do it perfectly. It is not your responsibility."
Li Hong sighed, raised his glass and said, "My dear godfather."
"Yes." Li Qing clinked glasses with him, drank the wine, and said, "Eat the food, eat the food, and try your godfather's cooking."
"Hey, good." Li Hong picked up a piece of meat and as soon as he put it into his mouth, he praised: "My godfather's craftsmanship is as good as ever."
Li Qingle said: "If it's delicious, eat more. Let's have a good year this year."
"Hehe... That's good." Li Hong smiled and asked, "Godfather, will you stop being busy before the end of the year?"
"Not busy, not busy."
Hearing this, Li Hong relaxed and poured another drink...
We haven't seen each other for a long time, and we have endless things to talk about. We eat food, drink wine, and reminisce about the past... Before we know it, night falls.
Today's small courtyard was rebuilt by Zhu Jianshen under the leadership of the Ministry of Works. It is much better than before.
Furniture, beds, bedding...all available, there is no need to buy anything else.
Li Hong had been traveling all the way, drank some more wine, and went to bed early.
The next day, early in the morning.
As soon as he got up, he saw his godfather come in carrying a bag of charcoal, making himself dirty.
Li Hong hurriedly stepped forward to take it and blamed himself: "Godfather, how can you do this? Why do you want a son?"
"Raising a child to prevent old age, but I won't grow old." Li Qing smiled carelessly, "It's cold at night, and it's unbearable to put on the stove without burning it. You can withstand it, but Wanqing can't."
After a pause, he said, "Since you have come to the capital, you'd better go to the palace. You haven't met the new emperor since he ascended the throne. After all, he is the chief military officer of the Navy. It is necessary to become familiar with the emperor. And this is the proper etiquette.”
"What the godfather said is that the child is also preparing to visit the emperor and report on the blessing and construction matters." Li Hong nodded and said: "Godfather, please stop cooking and let the child do it."
"Okay, you do it." Li Qing nodded with a smile, "Go quickly, leave early and come back early."
…
The weather is sunny today and there is no wind. Li Qing is in a good mood.
He moved a small maza and sat under the eaves, basking in the sun and humming a tune, feeling happy and comfortable.
They say it's not cold when it snows, but it's cold when it turns into snow. Li Qing felt... it's not cold when it turns into snow.
At the end of Chenshi, Wang Shouren came.
He was also carrying a lamb leg and asked as soon as he entered the door: "Sir, how about drinking lamb bone soup and eating mutton steamed buns today?"
"Not so good." Li Qing crossed his legs, bounced and hummed, "I won't cook today."
"...I'll do the rough work, you can adjust the flavor and watch the heat."
"I told you, I don't cook." Li Qing flipped the pages happily without raising his head.
"..." Wang Shouren said helplessly, "Okay then, I will take the leg of lamb away later."
"You still want to take him away?" Li Qing raised his head with a dissatisfied look on his face.
Wang Shouren said speechlessly: "If you don't cook it, what I cook doesn't taste good either. It's just a leg of lamb for nothing."
"Let it go to the east kitchen, it won't be a waste." Li Qing snorted, "For the sake of this leg of lamb, I will let you have another meal today."
"This is a public statement, isn't it?" Wang Shouren was quite thick-skinned, "Which of us is following which one? What's mine is yours..."
"What's mine is still mine." Li Qing interrupted him.
Wang Shouren touched his nose and went to the wing to get a bow and arrow. When he came out, he looked surprised:
"Sir, is there a visitor at home?"
"Not a guest."
"That is……?"
"my son."
"Your son... Mr. Li?" Wang Shouren's eyes lit up, "This is really great, then I have to learn from him."
Li Qing curled his lips, "Make it seem like he is willing to teach."
"Others don't teach me, but who am I? I am his godfather's best friend." Wang Shouren chuckled and said, "In terms of seniority, I am still a generation older than him."
Li Qing: "...Stop being poor and practice shooting with your bow."
"Then it's settled."
With that said, Wang Shouren started today's bow shooting practice.
Now, he shoots a three-stone bow, and at the same time, the target has been reduced several times to the size of a palm to improve his accuracy.
The courtyard is not big, and bow shooting cannot be practiced on the street, so we can only use this method.
'Whoosh whoosh whoosh...'
Wang Shouren's arm strength was astonishing. The three-stone bow was able to fire five arrows in a row with very high accuracy. All five arrows hit the target, and two arrows hit the bull's-eye.
You know, the shrunken bullseye is only the size of two copper coins. Even though it is only thirty steps away, it still shows Wang Shouren's high shooting skills.
Even Li Qing had to admit that Wang Shouren was really talented.
In time, becoming a marksman will be a sure thing.
Wang Shouren was also very satisfied with his progress, tilted his head and asked: "Sir, how are you doing?"
"It's just so-so." Li Qing said lazily, "It's barely even three-quarters of my style."
Who can compete with you... Wang Shouren cursed, shook his arms, and continued practicing.
With Li Qing's prescription for external application and his correct archery skills, Wang Shouren's archery level is something that few others can match.
It stands to reason that he can graduate.
The reason why Wang Shouren came every day was not just to practice archery, but also to chat and eat with Li Qing. As they got along, he really regarded Li Qing as a confidant.
Even though the age difference between the two is huge.
In the middle of the afternoon, Li Hong came back.
When he saw Wang Shouren, he couldn't help but be surprised, and swallowed the "godfather" on his lips.
Wang Shouren stayed out of sight, looking familiar as he stepped forward and stretched out his right hand, "Hello, Mr. Li, my name is Wang Shouren, and I am your godfather's friend."
Everyone in Li Hong was dumbfounded.
Damn it, the godfather’s secret has been exposed!
What shocked Li Hong was not the handshake or the godfather friend, but the words 'your godfather'.
This shows that the other party knows the godfather’s secret.
Li Hong was shocked. Who is this young man?
Could it be... that he and his godfather are the same kind of people?
Li Hong looked at his godfather with a questioning look.
Li Qing explained: "He guessed it. No one else knows except him."
Wang Shouren smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will never tell anyone."
He said this to Li Hong.
Li Hong nodded slightly and extended his hand, "Hello, my name is Li Hong."
After a simple courtesy, Li Hong said: "Godfather, I heard from the emperor that your current identity is Divine Doctor Li, and you live here for the convenience of diagnosing and treating the Emperor's Dragon Body, right?"
"Well, I forgot to tell you yesterday." Li Qing said, "From now on, when we are outside, we will talk about our own affairs. You call me Divine Doctor Li, and I will call you Commander Li."
"Well, okay." Li Hong nodded, "Then the kid is going to cook."
"Xiaoyun, go and do something." Li Qing called.
Wang Shouren didn't think anything of it, "Okay, General Li can cook mutton, right?"
"know a bit."
"That's good, I'll help you, and you can be the chef..." Wang Shouren didn't regard himself as an outsider at all, so he hooked up with Li Hong and entered the East Kitchen together...
~
night.
Father and son having a drink.
Li Hong asked: "Godfather, will Wang Shouren... be okay?"
"Don't worry, my godfather still has a good eye for people. He's not a big talker." Li Qing smiled and said, "What do you think of him?"
"We've only been together for half a day, so I can't tell." Li Hong said truthfully, "However, this guy's conversational skills are extraordinary. He can handle me calmly when facing me, the chief naval officer, but he's not ordinary."
Li Qing nodded and said: "He is very good. My godfather has been in the Ming Dynasty for so long, and he is the most intelligent person I have ever seen."
Li Hong was suddenly enlightened and said with a smile: "It turns out that my godfather has cherished talents."
"I cherished my talent, but he did guess my secret, and that was on the premise that I didn't reveal it at all," Li Qing said.
Li Hong was surprised: "Then this guy is truly a genius."
After a pause, "What is his background?"
"Very clean, from a scholarly family. His father was the number one scholar in Chenghua in the 17th year. I have met him several times. He is a humble gentleman, gentle and elegant." Li Qing said with a smile, "Did he ask you for advice on the art of war?"
Li Hong nodded: "Yes, but I couldn't figure out his situation, so I didn't say anything."
"We can teach him a little bit. When it comes to the core, it should be kept secret." Li Qing said, "He has excellent character and is a talent who can become the pillar of the country."
"The kid knows." Li Hong said, "If he comes back another day and asks about military affairs, I will give him some advice."
After a pause, "Godfather, will you be busy after the new year?"
"Yes," Li Qing nodded, "From the winter of the 23rd year of Chenghua to now, I've been playing around and it's time to do something."
Li Hong sighed and said, "Godfather, don't bear everything on yourself."
"These godfathers are open-minded." Li Qing smiled and asked, "From now on, you will be the Marquis of Yongqing. Don't lose the reputation of godfather."
"Godfather..."
"You can take it as long as I give it to you. A big man doesn't care about mother-in-law and mother-in-law."
"Yes!" Li Hong nodded, and then sighed again: "Godfather, today the Ming Dynasty is peaceful and the people are at peace. There are almost no border wars, and the same goes for the navy. This is a good thing, but..."
"For the same reason, the necessity of the navy is not that great." Li Hong said, "Water battles are different from land battles. Battles are mostly based on artillery, muskets, and arrows... and warships also cost a lot of money. Water battles are also very expensive. The master has spent money, and the court is like this, and the reward is not proportional to the effort!"
"Are you worried that the imperial court will impose reductions on the navy?"
"This is inevitable. I'm not worried, I just... feel it's a pity." Li Hong lamented, "The navy finally became stronger, but in the end... Alas, it's not a pity. The benefits are limited, so it will naturally be reduced. expenditure."
"No, you are wrong." Li Qing said: "In the future, the Navy will be the protagonist. Not only will the Navy not shrink, but it will also expand as time goes by!"
