This situation also made Qingdu King Zheng Zhi realize that the Ming Emperor's personal expedition this time would be more difficult to handle than imagined.
After reaching this conclusion, his idea of establishing a joint anti-Ming army became more urgent and important.
In the end, the result of their discussions between the emperor and his ministers was to strictly control domestic public opinion. Anyone who dared to discuss matters related to the Ming Dynasty would be arrested and imprisoned, and in the worst case, be executed for collaborating with the enemy. Control is also carried out in the army. Anyone found to be talking about the Ming army, especially those who say good things about the army, will be beaten to death with military sticks in public!
In addition, Zheng Jie urgently sent an envoy to Nanruan to communicate about the joint fight against the Ming army. To show sincerity, the messenger was none other than his son, the forty-year-old Zheng Zha, who was his successor.
As for the Mo family in Gaoping in the north, he looked down upon it and only sent a civilian official.
Later, Zheng Zhi communicated with the Dutch and promised benefits after defeating the Ming army.
The Dutch who happened to be in Taiwan were completely wiped out by the Ming army. The news had spread throughout Southeast Asia. Therefore, when the Dutch in Annan saw the opportunity to attack the Ming Dynasty together, they would not miss it. They immediately hit it off and even urgently reported to Batavia, hoping that Batavia could send some reinforcements.
…………
At the same time, on the Ruan family's side in the south, the Ruan leader is Ruan Fulan, who is seriously ill and has been recovering from his illness.
However, the news returned from the investigation in the north said that the King of Qingdu was actively preparing for war and was likely to launch a major offensive in the near future.
In this regard, Ruan Fulan was very worried and worried about the upcoming war.
Fortunately, the eldest son Ruan Phuc Bin was already twenty-six years old, and his usual behavior also won his favor. Therefore, on this day, he summoned his close civil and military officials and his son to discuss how to deal with it.
Compared to the old Ruan Fulan, Ruan Fulin, who was standing before everyone below, looked heroic, forming a sharp contrast.
At this time, hearing Ruan Fulan's worries, Ruan Fulin immediately said without hesitation: "Father, there is no need to worry about this matter. I have trained hundreds of war elephants. First, fake defeat and lure Zheng's army to the Changde area. I will lead a hundred war elephants to fight out, and at the same time attack from the waterway, I will definitely defeat the Zheng army!"
Then, he talked in detail about the detailed arrangements for the war that he had planned.
For a moment, Ruan Phuc Lin was the only person who could be heard talking in the main hall.
Whether it was his father Ruan Fulan or other close ministers, they all nodded their heads. Ruan Fulan looked at him with relief, while other close ministers looked at him with admiration.
If the original historical development is followed, Zheng Jie's biggest defeat was when he was defeated by Ruan Phuc Bin. At the end of the war, Nguyen Phuc Lan also died of illness, so Ruan Phuc Bin became the leader of the country. According to their own statement, it was the coming of a generation of heroes.
At this time, Ruan Phuc Bin's imperial strategy was highly recognized by others. Just listen to Ruan Fulan say: "Yes, very good. Gu is not in good health. It is up to you to deal with Zheng Thief with all your heart. Don't relax!"
"Yes, father!" After hearing this, Ruan Fulin immediately agreed with joy and respect.
But after answering, he hesitated a little, as if he didn't know whether to say or not.
When Ruan Fulan saw it, he couldn't help but frown and said, "What worries do you have? Just say it!"
Hearing this, Ruan Phuc Bin did not hesitate and immediately reported respectfully: "Father, there is news that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is going to lead an army to attack Annan. I thought that the Zheng thief must bear the brunt, and now he is afraid of protecting himself. If you don’t have time yet, I’m afraid they won’t come to attack us.”
After hearing this, Ruan Fulan asked in surprise: "Is there still such a thing?"
He has been ill for a long time and no longer deals with government affairs much. If it hadn't been for the big thing that Zheng Thief wanted to attack him, he might have been able to recuperate in the palace. Therefore, the rumors about the north are not very clear.
Of course Ruan Fulin knew this, and when he was about to report it, suddenly, there were rapid footsteps outside the hall. When they turned to look over, a chamberlain appeared at the door of the palace with a look of shock.
I saw this chamberlain entering the palace gate in small steps, and then reported quickly: "Your Highness, the Zheng bandits from the north have sent an envoy, saying that they have urgent matters to discuss."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall couldn't help but be surprised.
You know, the Zheng thief in the north has been holding the emperor to order the princes, accusing the Ruan family of being thieves, and has tried to destroy the Ruan family many times. It can be said that the hatred between the two countries is irreconcilable, and there is no possibility of peace. Why did you come here to discuss something?
Except for Ruan Fulan who has not yet woken up, everyone else has come to their senses.
The eldest son, Ruan Phuc Bin, was the first to report to Ruan Phuc Lan: "Father, this must be the Zheng thief who is under pressure from the Ming army, so he wants to sue for peace!"
"Yes, what the prince said is absolutely true!" Another civil servant immediately agreed, "Wei minister suggested that we should sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight. It is better for them to both lose!"
"Yes, Wei Chen seconded the proposal!"
"The last general thinks that after fighting for so many years, they are all sworn enemies. How can they see him whenever they want? According to the last general's opinion, it would be better to cut off his nose and humiliate him!"
"..."
In the midst of their discussion, the chamberlain who came to report couldn't bear it anymore, so he had to raise his voice a little, interrupted them and said: "Your Highness, the envoy of Zheng Thief is the Crown Prince of Qingdu!"
"What? Who is the messenger?"
"Tell me again, who is here?"
"..."
For a moment, there were voices of doubt in the hall, which was beyond their expectation. They thought they had heard wrongly.
But so many people got it wrong, and it seems impossible.
At this time, even Ruan Fulan, who was lying on the dragon chair due to illness, sat up, stared at the chamberlain and asked, "Is the Prince of Qingdu here?"
No wonder they all think they heard wrong. The prince of Qingdu, in other words, is the future ruler of northern Annan. He is older than Ruan Phuc Bin and is already the right-hand man of King Thanh Du. If such an important person comes to them, aren't they afraid that they will kill him after so many years of hatred?
"Go back to Your Highness, that's right!" The chamberlain quickly reported again, "He said that the situation was urgent and our country was in danger of subjugation and there was no need to delay, so he came with the people who reported the news at the border. Now he is waiting outside the palace gate. "
The situation was confirmed again, and everyone couldn't help but be surprised. At the same time, they also had admiration on their faces. Just because the prince of Qingdu dares to come as an envoy, his courage is at least beyond words.
If King Qingdu just sent an ordinary envoy, even if he was an important minister, maybe the Ruan family would give him a try, or even make him look bad in return for the hatred he had suffered for so many years.
However, the person coming now is the future northern monarch, which in itself shows that the matter is really serious.
In addition, neither Ruan Fulan nor Ruan Fulin was a mediocre master. Knowing that this was not the time to put selfish desires first, he immediately summoned Zheng Zha, the prince of Qingdu.
This Zheng Zha is also a capable person.
In the original history, his father died of illness shortly after he was defeated by Ruan Phuc Bin. Subsequently, Nguyen Phuc Bin launched a counterattack and successively captured the territory of the Trinh family. But in the end, it was Zheng Zha who led the troops and defeated the Ruan army, and finally recovered the lost territory.
When he led his troops south to fight the Ruan family, Mo Jingyu from Gaoping in the north saw that Zheng's land was empty, so he sent troops to make a sneak attack. But in the end, it was Zheng Zha who sent his troops north and not only defeated Mo Jingyu, but also defeated his hometown Gaoping, forcing Mo Jingyu to flee to the Qing Dynasty.
Such a person came when he was facing the danger of national subjugation. Needless to say, he clearly explained all the details of the Ming Emperor's coming to Annan to quell the rebellion, and he also analyzed the reason why the lips were dying and the teeth were cold to the Ruan family on the spot.
After he kept talking for more than an hour, he finally said everything he wanted to say. Finally, after looking at Ruan Fulin, he turned to stare at Ruan Fulan on the throne and said sincerely: "The imperial court is willing to grant the title Wang Yidai, from now on, the two families will stop fighting and make a truce, and will never attack each other. Otherwise, once the court cannot withstand the attack of the Ming Emperor, then it will be your turn. I am not being alarmist, you can go and find out clearly. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty has made it clear in his decree that we are all listed as rebels against the Ming Dynasty!"
After he finished speaking, Ruan Fulan and his son, as well as the civil and military officials in the palace, did not speak immediately. There was shock on all their faces.
Because they were a little far away from the Ming Dynasty, and they were always hostile to the Zheng family in the north on the eve of the war, and they were blocked from each other, so they didn't know much about the Ming Emperor's personal conquest of Annan.
At this time, Zheng Zha explained it in such detail, and they realized the seriousness of the matter. At least these people present understand this truth.
Although they wanted each other to die before, now, under strong external pressure, they finally chose to cooperate.
Of course, after all, the two sides have been hostile for many years, and things that need to be verified still need to be verified clearly.
Zheng Zha stayed here as a hostage, while Ruan Fulan sent people to go north as quickly as possible to verify the situation. At the same time, let Nguyen Phuc prepare to reorganize his army and prepare to enter the north and join forces with the Zheng army to fight against the Ming Dynasty.
Just like the Zheng family, the Ruan family also knew the advantages of the Ming army, and inevitably turned to their allies, the Portuguese who helped them fight.
When the flying cavalry arrived in Hoi'an, Ruan Phuc Bin immediately arrived outside the Portuguese business building and rushed inside without waiting for notification.
His rude behavior frightened the Portuguese guards to stop him quickly, but they all knew his identity, and they couldn't hold their guns to prevent him from entering. If nothing can be done to stop it, we have no choice but to report it inside.
After a while, Ruan Phuc Bin saw the Portuguese Governor Anders who hurried out of the lobby. This meeting made him feel a little confused, because Anders' look seemed a little panicked!
