Zheng Haizhu said: "This is black tea. Xianglin knows it. Last year, after my fellow countryman Yan Siqi helped the court drive away the Dutch from Taiwan, the court wanted to make him chieftain of Taiwan, so he decided to marry the female chieftain of Tainan, and then Local wild teas make fresh creations.”
When he entered the city this evening, Zheng Haizhu had already greeted Ma Xianglin and asked him to praise his black tea products.
At this time, Ma Xianglin twisted out a few handfuls of dry tea leaves and said calmly: "Yes, this tea is somewhat similar to the black tea we have in Sichuan. It is more difficult to make than simply frying and roasting green tea. It is rolled and fermented. These are all new words taught by Miss Zheng, after all, they are unique skills developed by her and her fellow villagers."
Qinghe Ginseng General Zou Chuxian said: "How can such good green tea be made like this?"
Zheng Haizhu knew that the generals in Beisei could not eat fresh vegetables during the war and march, so like the sailors, they would bring green tea to chew, which was better than having no place to supplement vitamins.
She then asked the cook for hot water to drink from an earthenware bowl and make black tea.
A mellow aroma immediately rose and filled the air.
Everyone present was a little surprised. Very few tea aromas could outweigh the strong aroma of chicken and mushroom stew.
Zheng Haizhu took a sip first. There is no problem. Wen Apeng, Yan Siqi's brother-in-law who was once taken as a slave by the Frankie people, did learn the skill of making tinware while enduring hardship. The Taiwanese black tea packaged in tin cans has no off-flavor at all.
Zheng Haizhu said with a smile: "Seniors, because of the different production methods, black tea not only has a strong aroma, but also a strong taste. The green tea tastes fresh and fragrant, while the black tea tastes warm and strong. After eating oily mutton and chicken, a cup of black tea is the best choice. It helps break down fat."
Zou Chuxian beat Mang Gurtai again and drove for more than ten miles. He was very hungry just now. He ate the most fat chicken and drank several spoonfuls of spicy chicken fat.
At this moment, I drank a few sips of black tea, and I felt that the taste was bitter at first and then sweet, which relieved the greasy feeling that almost reached my throat. I couldn't help but smacked my lips and reached out to touch my unkempt beard that was soaked in chicken fat. He praised: "This is the first time I know that tea can taste like wine. It is very good to eat it with meat."
Zhang Quan, who was opposite him, was actually a civil servant, and he was much more delicate in his sipping. After tasting it slowly, he commented with Sun Yuanhua, who was also a scholar, "It was a bit astringent when I first entered the mouth, without the fresh and fragrant feeling of tea juice. When I taste it again, it does have a mellow flavor.”
When Sun Yuanhua was studying Western learning under Xu Guangqi, he was naturally very close to the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci, so he respectfully said: "Servant, the Thai monk gave us a taste of a soup called coffee in his hometown, which is better than this black tea." It’s fragrant, but it’s still bitter to the last drop, unlike our teas, which have a sweet aftertaste.”
Zheng Haizhu hurriedly picked up what Sun Yuanhua said: "What Mr. Sun said is true. When Xianglin and I were in Taiwan, we met the Hongyi people from the Netherlands East India Company. They also mentioned coffee. They were used to coffee. Jiao Bitter. When I first tasted our fermented tea, I quite liked it. After all, our tea has a little more sweetness, and the tea soup is bright red, which warms and nourishes the stomach just by looking at it. Moreover, the Hongyi people also like to add Milk is like Mongolian milk tea.”
She threw this feather. How could Mao Wenlong, who had shares in Haoming Trading Company and whose son was the shopkeeper, not know how to pick up the slack?
Mao Wenlong's military achievements were obvious to all, and he became increasingly invisible to the two commander-in-chiefs of Liaodong.
"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Po, and Miss Zheng, we can also sell black tea to the Mongols. Their stomachs are full of mutton fat, and they really need black tea to melt it."
Zhang Chengyin, the commander-in-chief of Liaodong, thought for a while and wanted to take this opportunity to cry to Zhang Quan about his poverty. He lamented that the court had been in arrears with pay for too long, forcing Liaodong soldiers to carry goods like camels to the tea horse market on the border to exchange for goods. things.
Just as he was about to speak, some businessmen were brought in by soldiers.
The merchants' faces were covered in blood, but their hands and feet were not injured.
They trembled and took out the scrolls, and reported sadly: "Shangguan, we came from Shanxi to do business in Ma Market. Today we bumped into the defeated Jurchen Tatar troops. The Tatar leader robbed our goods. , but I have spared my life, let us deliver this scroll to the generals in Fushun."
Zhang Quan, Zhang Chengyin and other literate people took it and looked at it. On the paper, there were written in Chinese characters "Seven Great Hatreds to the Heaven and the Ming Dynasty".
Zhang Quan raised his head and said to Zheng Haizhu: "It is indeed the Seven Great Hatreds you found before. This time they are all gone. Come and take a look."
Zheng Haizhu took a closer look and saw the seven reasons for the invasion that Nurhaci found out from historical data. In addition to the first one accusing the Ming court of killing his grandfather and father (actually a manslaughter), there were other reasons for treating envoys harshly, affecting crops, and Mongolia. It is extremely far-fetched that Ye He, the old girl, is jealous.
The illiterate Zou Chuxian and others listened to Zhang Zongbing's recitation and cursed, "Fart, Tatar nonsense."
Zheng Haizhu frowned and said to Zhang Quan: "Servant, when the Tatars were defeated, they still threw the war letter over. It can be seen that the old chief Nurhachi has become determined to defeat the Ming Dynasty. Even if he is beaten severely this time, with Jian The State Women’s Realm has crazy momentum and will definitely make a comeback.”
Zou Chuxian snorted: "Then I will continue to block them and fight. Miss Zheng, are those eagle and bird cannons of yours expensive? I am selling iron, and I want to ask you to buy a few and put them in Qinghe Fort."
Zheng Haizhu's face became more solemn: "Firearms are of course a good thing. But please think about it, gentlemen, when the French people used firearms to attack us at the mouth of the Pearl River, it didn't take long for the French-style muskets to be used by my Ming generals in Guangdong. Official learning is here. Five hundred years ago, the Song Dynasty made the divine arm crossbow, which was gradually imitated by the Jin people and the Xia people. Fighting is not a conspiracy, everyone is fighting with open swords and guns, and what is there to see on the other side? If you fight a few times, you will be able to see clearly what you are capable of. Regardless of whether you are armed with cold or hot weapons, they will eventually be learned by the enemy. As for Jianzhou, we must attack and defend, but we must also find ways to divert this disaster elsewhere, even like Just like water control, make the best use of the situation.”
Zhang Quan rubbed the scroll filled with "Seven Hatreds" and asked, "How to take advantage of the situation."
Zheng Haizhu then told Nurhaci about the Russians sending Cossacks eastward in Hetuala and reported it.
At the end, he said with certainty: "To deal with the border troubles caused by Jianzhou, um, and the various Mongolian ministries, we should adopt multiple strategies. The border troops must be strong, the armaments must be sufficient, and the collection of military intelligence must not be neglected. But at the same time, we must force them to turn around and face the enemy." Further north and east, use their brute force to fight the Cossacks and Rakshasa people. Let them defend the territory of their tribes, win a few battles, and teach the Rakshasa people a lesson. Our Ming Dynasty can let Mongolia and The Jurchens in Jianzhou work as second-level traders and sell our goods to the Rakshasa people. For example, this black tea is made into oil and warms the stomach. It makes no sense that the Frankie and Hongyi people like it, but the Rakshasa people don't like it."
When she said this, she paused for a moment, sighed, and then said: "Nurhachi's unscrupulous intentions are worthy of punishment, but in the twelfth year of last year, I visited Hetuala, and I saw with my own eyes that many places in Jianzhou were filled with puddles, puddles, and wasteland. Difficulties, as their population increases, and if the problem of food is not solved, they will keep coming to rob us even if they know that moths are attracted to the flame."
Zheng Haizhu's words made him salivate, but everyone at the table didn't feel bored, let alone childish and ridiculous.
Qi Jin took a sip of tea and said calmly: "Girl Zheng is right. Back then, Qi Shaobao led us to fight the Japanese pirates and the Mongols. In some battle formations where it was impossible to annihilate all the enemy soldiers, the fighting was about the same. When the opponent knows that he hates him, Qi Shaobao will leave a crack for the remaining soldiers to slip through, so as to prevent the trapped beasts from fighting fiercely and further damaging our troops."
Zhang Quan stared thoughtfully at the red-roaming stew pot, and after a while he said: "The border troubles of any dynasty or generation cannot be solved by one method. But this time, you all work together and use real swords, real guns, and real artillery." When I return to the capital, I will report your military exploits in detail to your Majesty and the Pavilion Master. Come, eat food and drink tea."
Hearing this, Zheng Haizhu knew that his suggestions should be limited. He turned back to selling black tea to the Mongols and Jurchens through the general army in Liaodong, encouraging Mao Wenlong to develop the Phi Island into a base for border trade with North Korea and Japan, and asking Zhang Quan to report to the court. There is no need to discuss the expenses promised to the Songjiang Artillery Factory in detail at the dinner table. It can be discussed during a separate visit.
Everyone ate for a while, and Zhang Chengyin suddenly asked Qi Jin: "General Qi, where is your godson? He accompanied Miss Zheng in the Magendan water battle, which was also a great achievement. Why don't you call him to eat meat?"
There was a hint of strangeness on Qi Jin's lips, and immediately he said helplessly: "Wu Weizhong is an only child. He has a cold temperament and is afraid of socializing. Let him be."
…
Kong Youde took Wu Bond through the darkness and came to the cell.
Mao Wenlong's servant opened the cell door, and Li Yongfang, a prisoner who had been imprisoned for three or four days, rushed forward and angrily repeated the questions he had asked over the past few days: "I am a guerrilla in Fushun, which Ming army are you? Why are you imprisoning me?" Is there a war outside? Where are my people? Where is Mr. Qian’s life seal?"
Kong Youde sneered: "President Wang Qian is now a guerrilla in Fushun. To defeat the Tatars and protect Fushun, of course it depends on a man like Mr. Wang Qian. How about you, a traitor who welcomes the Tatars and lives in Fushun Confucian Temple?"
Li Yongfang was startled, but quickly defended angrily: "Nonsense! When did I collaborate with the enemy? The Jurchens come to Ma Market every year, when did the court blame me? I want to see General Zhang!"
Kong Youde said "hehe": "We are General Zhang's people. Otherwise, who do you think has such great power to go into Fushun City to relinquish your military power and drag you from the hot bed to here?"
Wu Bond gently opened Kong Youde's mouth.
He stared at Li Yongfang.
Li Yongfang also looked at the strange face appearing in the shadows.
"and who are you?"
Wu Bangde said calmly: "You said you didn't collaborate with the enemy, but do you know which border generals in Liaodong are on good terms with Nurhachi?"
Li Yongfang weighed it and asked, "Are you Mr. Zhang's man?"
Wu Bond curled his lips in disbelief.
Li Yongfang fantasized about biting someone to survive, and said hurriedly: "Yes! Li Chengliang's son Li Rubai, his concubine is Nurhaci's niece. He returned to Hetuala in the twelfth lunar month, and must have gone to discuss the conspiracy with Nurhaci on his behalf."
Wu Bangde said: "Li Rubai is in Liaoyang. His concubine must have gone south when she returned to Jianzhou. How did you know about it in Fushun?"
Li Yongfang was stunned for a moment, but soon Hu Nong said: "In the first month of the first month, a Jurchen came to Fushun to sell ginseng and mentioned this matter."
Wu Bondang took two steps towards him and shook his head: "Li Yongfang, you are just a rat. When the end of your life comes, you will still be able to frame and frame others."
"Huh?" Before Li Yongfang could continue to argue, Kong Youde blocked his mouth with a cloth.
Then, a dull "wuwu" sound came from the cell, and then gradually fell into silence.
The servant guarding the cell saw Wu Bangde coming out and disappearing into the dark night. He then looked back at Li Yongfang, who was hanging on the beam and had stopped moving, and then looked at Kong Youde.
"What are you doing standing there in a daze?" Kong Youde shrugged and said, "Go to the military office quickly and tell me that Li Guerba committed suicide."
…
When Zheng Haizhu walked out of the military office, he almost ran into Mao Wenlong's servant who was coming in a hurry.
A moment later, she heard a report behind her that Li Yongfang had been hanged.
She didn't stop and continued walking to the north gate.
I don't know if it was the soldiers from Fushun Qianzong Wang Mingyin Division or Mao Wenlong's division who were a little surprised when they saw Zheng Haizhu's waistband, but they still let her out of the city.
Qi Jin's Zhejiang army and Ma Xianglin's Sichuan army camped next to each other.
The big families and wealthy merchants in the city sent a lot of meat, vegetables and steamed buns to the labor force.
Zheng Haizhu stopped under the starry sky and watched the warriors on both sides who had fought bloody battles during the day, wolfing down the steaming cauldron.
Mandarin with a strong Sichuan flavor came from behind: "Brother, here you go, this is a native medicine from Yunnan, the best gold-creating medicine in the Ming Dynasty."
Zheng Haizhu turned around and saw the Zhejiang soldiers under Qi Jin taking the medicine and expressing his gratitude.
Historically, two years later, in the year when Emperor Wanli died, Sichuan soldiers and Zhejiang soldiers who were aiding Liao had an armed fight in Tongzhou outside the capital.
Zheng Haizhu did not think about whether the two most capable soldiers of the Ming Dynasty would still be at odds two years later. She only knew that tonight, the two friendly troops fighting side by side could sleep in a tent under Fushun City. Good sleep.
Zheng Haizhu continued to walk forward and reached the river beach where Wu Bond took her to in the first month of the year.
She found Bond Wu.
"Is everything settled?"
Wu Bondang looked up at her, pointed not far away and said: "It's almost done, just wait for the wild dogs to come and eat the heart of Li Yongfang's soldiers who bullied Amei."
Zheng Haizhu sat down next to him.
Wu Bondang suddenly laughed and said: "Look, the fighting between humans was so fierce that it scared away the wild dogs. I have been sitting down for half an hour, and I haven't seen a single wild dog."
Zheng Haizhu said: "Bond, in human life, there are indeed more than just wild dogs."
Wu Bondang said to himself: "I have avenged my father-in-law and Amei. I will sleep well tonight. In the days to come, I will often dream about Amei, smiling at me and telling me that she is living in heaven. Not bad, even climbing trees is the best among fairies."
Zheng Haizhu said nothing.
She remembered a song written many years later: Although flowers will wither, they will bloom again. The love of your life is vague, outside the white clouds.
(End of Volume 5)
