A month ago, Zheng Haizhu, Wu Bondang, Xu San and other partners landed at Lushunkou.
The value of the Hang brocade, cotton, tea, etc. that were brought to Liaodong during this trip had doubled compared to the previous time. Mao Wenlong was very careful and sent his two adopted sons and Liao people to guard the Port of Lushun in advance to support them. From their mouths, Zheng Haizhu learned that Mao Wenlong had been transferred from Aiyang Fort to the west, received orders to station in Liaoyang City at the end of autumn, and was promoted to guerrilla.
Going north from Lushun, passing through Jinzhouwei, Fuzhouwei, Gaizhouwei, and Haizhouwei, Zheng Haizhu asked Xu San to sell goods and Wu Bangdang to draw maps.
When they arrived at Liaoyang City, she and Wu Bangdang basically knew the defense lines and terrain of the garrison near Liaodong Bay in southern Liaoning.
The shipment also caught up with the opportunity for Liao people in various counties to buy new year's goods, and all the middle and low-quality goods were exchanged for silver and copper coins. The finest brocades and tea leaves were brought to Liaoyang in batches and showed to Mao Wenlong first to see which ones should be given as filial piety (for free) to the governor of Liaodong and the commander-in-chief of the army, and the rest were sold to wealthy families.
From then on, Mao Wenlong regarded this "eldest niece" whom God rewarded by the smelly river in the south of the Yangtze River as one of his own. Therefore, when Zhang Chengyin, the commander-in-chief of Liaodong stationed in Guangning, inspected the Liaoyang city defense, Mao Wenlong immediately asked Zheng Haizhu to bring Hang brocade and banknotes to visit together, and promised to commander-in-chief Zhang that Haoming Trading Company could follow the rules higher than those in Shanxi and Shanxi. The Hebei businessman paid 10% of the price to buy the mink skins from members of Zhang Zongbing's family.
Zhang Chengyin was so happy that he looked so happy.
Not long after Zhang Chengyin returned to Guangning, Mao Wenlong told Zheng Haizhu that the imperial court seemed to be quite worried about the situation in Liaodong and sent Zhang Quan, the Minister of War, to inspect the defense lines adjacent to Liaodong and Jianzhou Jurchen.
Thanks to the butterfly wings of Zheng Haizhu's Jinyuan diplomacy more than a year ago, Mao Wenlong is no longer the cash-strapped little military leader in history. He has some financial resources to make Zhang Chengyin comfortable. Zhang Zongbing naturally intends to support Mao Wenlong and let him show his face in front of the officials of the Ministry of War.
General Zhang then recommended Zhang Quan to be stationed in Liaoyang, with the guard general Mao Wenlong accompanying him on patrol.
Mao Wenlong, who was quick-witted, reciprocated the favor and immediately came to ask Zheng Haizhu if he wanted to meet Zhang Quan if he wanted to do business in Songjiang cotton armor military uniforms.
Of course Zheng Haizhu couldn't ask for it.
Not only because Zhang Quan and Ma Xianglin were already son-in-law, which helped him sell military uniforms, but also because Zhang Quan was a civil servant with backbone against the Jin Dynasty recorded in history.
In real history, in the Liaoyang defense battle a few years later, the Ming army was defeated. Zhang Quan vowed not to surrender to the slaves, and when the city was destroyed, he cleaned up his clothes and committed suicide.
Zheng Haizhu learned from the rumors after entering the Liao Dynasty that Li Weihan, the governor of Liaodong at this time, was a useless guard. If he wanted to try to counterattack the Jiannu Tatars in Fushun in the next spring, he would have to influence Zhang Chengyin through Mao Wenlong. In addition, it is also very important to brainwash Zhang Quan while he is in Liaoyang.
What's even more gratifying is that this time, Wu Bondang can also come forward to thank Zhang Quan for his righteous deeds of defending Qi Jin to the court a few years ago.
Zhang Quan did not expect to see the adopted son of General Qi in Liaoyang City, nor did he expect that the simple, gentle but clear-eyed woman next to Wu Bondang was Zheng Haizhu.
"Miss Zheng, even if General Mao and Bond don't recommend you, I have already heard your name from my mother-in-law. General Qin and Xianglin showed me the dark armor you woven with Songjiang cotton and Jiading yellow grass. It’s really good.”
When Zhang Quan said this, Mao Wenlong wanted to rush to pick up the topic and complained that the cotton armor of the Liaodong frontier army was now made of rags and rusty iron, so as to promote Zheng Haizhu's business. However, he had just handed over a piece of hot and fragrant rice. Stuff goose meat into your mouth.
Just as he was about to chew it and swallow it quickly, Zheng Haizhu over there smiled and spoke, but changed the subject.
"Sir Zhang, we in Songjiang are good at weaving and embroidery. The gift that Miss Han and I gave to Miss Fengyi is not bad, right?"
"Oh, yes, yes, my little girl likes it very much. Speaking of which, our Fengyi is about the same age as you. However, she can't get rid of her own female celebrities. That girl, like her grandfather, likes to dance with guns and clubs, Horseback riding and archery, I have said since I was a child that I would be Mulan.”
Zheng Haizhu said hurriedly: "That's great. It's really harmonious with General Xiao Ma. If Miss Fengyi also carries a gun and goes into battle in the future, we will make her battle robe."
As she spoke, she glanced at Wu Bond calmly.
Before going to the banquet, the two of them had already discussed how to cooperate and bring the topic to more serious matters.
Wu Bangde then made an expression that was not presumptuous and only concerned about national affairs, and sighed: "Wu said something without fear of offending General Mao. This time when he entered Liao Dynasty, he saw the scenes of poorly prepared guards and disgruntled soldiers along the way. Jianzhou Tatars Once we come over, I'm afraid it won't be enough to just rely on General Mao's elite troops. We really need our Zhejiang troops, as well as General Qin's Sichuan troops, to come together."
Mao Wenlong swallowed the goose meat and now had his mouth empty.
Although he had just been wondering why Zheng Haizhu didn't take advantage of this great opportunity to offer business to Zhang Quan, he immediately became more energetic when he heard Wu Bondang talking about the situation in Liaodong.
"Mr. Wu compared the boys led by Mao with Qi's army and General Qin's white-armed army. Rather than offending him, he was clearly trying to flatter me. However, in front of the superior officer of the Ministry of War, I have to say something to our Liaodong soldiers. Sentence. When you come from Lushun, you have seen the Jinzhou, Fuzhou and other guard posts. There has been no fighting for a long time. The guards often fail to pay for them. It is reasonable for the sergeants to be a little slack."
Zheng Haizhu was afraid that Mao Wenlong would start complaining about the court's lack of pay, which would delay him from getting down to business, so he nodded quickly and said, "Actually, I told Bond this as well. The defenders at Qinghe Fort and Crow Falcon Pass must be elite soldiers and strong generals."
Hearing this, Zhang Quan's eyes flashed: "Miss Zheng is so familiar with the Liaodong border defense? She even knows about Qinghe Fort and Crow Falcon Pass?"
Zheng Haizhu said calmly: "Secretary Zhang, after Nurhaci, the chief of the founding of the state, unified all the Jurchen tribes and established himself as Khan, many knowledgeable people inside and outside the court were worried. Whether we are in the south of the Yangtze River or Shandong, where we crossed the sea and set out, we have no choice but to talk about it. It is not uncommon to hear voices talking about the Liao Dynasty. And I already had the support of Xu Hanlin and the old parents of Songjiang Prefecture. I funded the development of artillery by myself. While guarding the Songjiang coastal defense, of course I would also think about the Liaodong border defense. I asked Mao for advice. Uncle, what are the nearest forts to Hetuala of the Tartars, and what are their firearms?"
Mao Wenlong chuckled and nodded: "Ah, yes, I told this girl about Sarhu, Fushun Pass, Qinghe Fort, and Crow Falcon Pass. When it comes to elite soldiers, the men and horses led by General Zou of Qinghe Fort are nothing. Said. But the firearms are really not that good. The ones I used when I helped Li Chao fight the Japanese were distributed to the guards of each fort after I came back. They were not made well and kept exploding, so I didn’t dare to use them during training. , forget about fighting the Tartars.”
Zhang Quan's face darkened as he listened.
These are actually the truths he wants to hear, but the truth often makes a pure minister like him worried.
Zheng Haizhu glanced at Zhang Quan's face and said to Mao Wenlong: "Uncle Mao, firearms are indeed important. Whether it is the machine gun of the infantry array, or the artillery of different sizes, large, medium and small, for city defense and field battle, I believe it will be my future weapon." It is necessary for Ming soldiers to attack and defend. But sometimes, you don’t need muskets for hunting, you can also use traps, as long as you bet on which way the wild beasts will take.”
Mao Wenlong took a sip of wine and said, "Girl, what do you mean?"
Zhang Quan put down his wine glass and looked at the business woman who was the same age as his daughter.
Zheng Haizhu then respectfully stated his and Wu Bond's judgments.
"Will the Tatars rob Fushun?" Mao Wenlong frowned, thoughtfully.
Zhang Quan asked him: "General Mao, will the horse market in Fushun be opened every year?"
"Yes. When Gao Huai, the mining tax eunuch, was here, our Liao general was afraid that he would lead people to extort money, so he stopped it. It opened again a few years ago."
Zhang Quan looked solemn and asked: "Nurhaci established himself as Khan in the first month of last year. So, in the horse market last spring and this spring, did many Jurchens enter the city?"
Mao Wenlong thought for a moment, showed caution, and said to the soldiers beside him: "Go and call Kong Youde in."
