Songjiang Prefecture.

Zheng Chenggong and several followers dressed up as ordinary people, wandered on the street, or sat in a teahouse next to him to drink tea, feeling the peaceful years. There were many soldiers wearing iron armor and holding guns and spears coming and going in Zhenjiang City. The city gate was also under martial law, but there were few acts of disturbing the people.

The storm that the capital of Nanjing has passed. For the people of Songjiang, Zuo just changed his clothes and kept his hair. He was not robbed because of the war. The old tea chefs and storytellers in the teahouse were also willing to praise the kindness of the Ming Emperor. Qian Qianyi, as the chief minister, was also called the Living Bodhisattva, and the people also agreed.

"After a mutiny and a northern expedition, Jiangnan still had such a peaceful scene. It seems that his master is promising in governance, and my orthodox Ming Dynasty is the most popular among the people." Zheng Jing said in Zheng Chenggong's ear, not without excitement.

Zheng Fan's troops set out half a month ago, but they went directly from the Jinshanwei of Songjiang Prefecture, which was for Zhejiang's Dongfan. They passed by in front of Zhejiang's Dongfan soldiers. According to the plan, they traveled to Suzhou on land, took a boat from the canal to Zhenjiang, and then waited for the army led by the emperor in Zhenjiang.

The reason why they did not go to Nanjing was that time was indeed urgent, and Zheng Chenggong was unwilling to see Qian Qianyi. Their names of masters and apprentices had long been cut off. When Jiangnan collapsed and Li Mingxun was witnessing it, Zheng Chenggong cut off his robe and had no intention of reunion. On the contrary, Zheng Jing, for the future of Zheng Fan, had always been in close contact with Qian Qianyi.

"What happened to what you prepared?" Zheng Chenggong asked.

Zheng Jing said: "It's already done. If the father is unwilling to show up, my son will take you a trip."

"Forget it, go for my father, wait for the priest in the military camp." Zheng Chenggong said.

Zheng Chenggong was going to Hongdouzhuang, Baimaogang, Songjiang, where there was a Taoist in Jiushan. It was Qian Qianyi's wife Liu Rushi. However, when Zheng Chenggong led his army to counterattack Jiangnan, Liu Rushi personally advised Qian Qianyi, who was living in seclusion, to stand up and support Zheng Chenggong. Qian Qianyi was afraid of death and did not come forward. The two also broke up their relationship. Later, Qian Qianyi ran around for the restoration of Nanjing, regardless of his life, and was not forgiven in the end. However, Liu Rushi moved into Hongdouzhuang and lived in this place where the two were heartless and despaired.

In the Hongdou Village, Zheng Chenggong put down the box prepared for Liu Rushi, which was filled with valuable items such as gold, silver and jade. Liu Rushi opened it and looked at it, pointed to Jian Su's study with a smile, and said, "Da Mu, I'm in a submissive cultivation here. I really don't have much money, so I don't need these."

"What my master's wife said is, but when I was given great kindness from my master's wife in Nanjing, I always had to repay her. I went north to Shandong, and my future was uncertain. I don't know if I still have a chance to respect my master's wife in the future, so I had to do this." If someone called Zheng Chenggong Damu again, Zheng Chenggong would definitely be angry, and he would not be angry with Liu Rushi. After all, this is a kind and respectable woman.

Liu Rushi closed the box and said, "Is there something wrong with Damu coming this time?"

"I have always had a doubt. The only one who can solve the doubts is the only one who can solve the doubts, so I have to come." Zheng Chenggong stood up and accused him of the crime, and then said: "Mr. Muzhai surrendered to the captives, and I saw with my own eyes that he had cut off the relationship between the master and the disciple. He did not regret it. Later, Mr. Muzhai went north to serve the captives and served in the Qing Dynasty. Soon after, he made an excuse to go south to return to his hometown. He was actually a reversal of his attitude and resolutely opposed the Qing Dynasty. I want to know why Mr. Muzhai first firmly surrendered to the captives and then resolutely opposed the Qing Dynasty."

"What do you think is the reason?" Liu Rushi asked back with a sad look.

Zheng Chenggong shook his head: "I just guessed that maybe it was the master's wife who persuaded her to let Mr. Muzhai return to his good deeds."

Liu Rushi shook his head slightly.

Zheng Chenggong also said: "That is the barbarians who are not righteous and bullied Mr. Muzhai."

"If you have any humiliation, it will not be like this." Liu Rushi said lightly.

Zheng Chenggong asked directly: "How did sir explain to you?"

"Treat gentry and disrespect sages..." Liu Rushi said, a tear fell. After she wiped it away, she said, "After all, it is all the words of the Qing Dynasty's barbarians. In fact, Damu is the same as me, how do you believe it? I think Damu has made a judgment after many years of experience."

Zheng Chenggong sat there, but his hands were clenched, and he finally said, "I just wanted to know that if the Qing Dynasty granted Mr. Muzhai a high-ranking official position and generous gifts, he would still be against the Qing Dynasty and not against the Qing Dynasty!"

Liu Rushi said: "I only know that Qian Muzhai is hypocritical and is accustomed to deceive others. If Damu goes to ask in person, he should be more careful."

"If you say so, then it would be a mistake for me to cut off the relationship between master and disciple in the past." Zheng Chenggong said happily.

Liu Rushi shook his head slightly: "The relationship between you two was in Nanjing, but he was famous but not real, but he was interested in the strength of your Zheng family in the local area. After you broke up, you were nameless but not real, and had few cooperation and contacts. It was also for the sake of the great righteousness of the Qing Dynasty, but now, you are real but not real."

"It's true but not famous, why do you say this?" Zheng Chenggong was shocked.

"Now Damu is serving under the command of Shoufu Qian, and the master and apprentice are not subordinate to the subordinate relationship. This time, the northward journey is called the Northern Expedition, but it actually forces the Dongfan to recognize the Nanjing court. If it succeeds, it means that the Dongfan is sacrificed in front of you and your master and apprentice are profitable. If it fails, I think it is necessary to unite the Qing Dynasty to fight against the Dongfan. At that time, a traitor teacher and a traitor student, you broke off the relationship, just like not breaking. Don't forget Damu, why did you cut off your relationship with him back then? Wasn't it just to not be a traitor?" Liu Rushi said.

"I will never let the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty join forces!" Zheng Chenggong punched the table.

"You...?Do you are the King of Yanping or the surname Zheng?" Liu Rushi smiled. She stood up and brought the dishes sent by farmers nearby, and placed them on the table. Then she said: "Damu has been free and idly, hardworking, rebelling, conspiring, and desperately. Let's not talk about his achievements. In the future, the four words "anti-Qing heroes" will be left in history books. But if you take a wrong step, you will lose all your life."

Zheng Chenggong did not expect that Liu Rushi was so determined to Qian Qianyi. At this time, there was no need to ask anymore. Liu Rushi poured a glass of wine for Zheng Chenggong and said, "I still have a bottle of wine. If I get drunk, I will have no worries."

Zheng Chenggong drank it all in one go. When he thought of Qian Qianyi, he was even more distressed and simply drank another cup. Liu Rushi was like this. After a while, Liu Rushi became drunk. When Zheng Chenggong saw her lying on the table, he thought that there was not even a serving person in the Red Bean Village, and suddenly felt that it was inappropriate. He took the clothes from the hanger, covered it on Liu Rushi, staggered out, turned over and returned to Songjiang with the servant.

After returning to Songjiang City, the troops and horse points were checked, Zheng Chenggong led his team to Suzhou on a boat. The gentry and officials from Songjiang came to see him off. After leaving Songjiang, he traveled to Suzhou and took a boat to Zhenjiang. In Zhenjiang, Zheng Chenggong visited Emperor Yongli. Yongli also, in accordance with Hong Chengchou's requirements, transferred some cavalry to join Zheng Chenggong's command, and increased the troops under Zheng Chenggong to 25,000. He was the vanguard and took the lead in crossing the river. He also went to Huai'an and entered Shandong first.

When crossing the Yangtze River, Zheng Fanjun was riding a ship under the command of the Yangtze River Navy Admiral. It was also an old acquaintance of Zheng Chenggong. Shi Lang and the two met and looked at each other speechlessly. Shi Lang didn't even sarcastically and directly asked him to cross the river.

Zheng Chenggong ignored Shi Lang and did not bother with him. He focused on doing his own things. He knew very well why the emperor appointed himself as the vanguard. Among this army of personal expeditions, except for himself, the rest of the people were once Tartar officials and generals. Even the soldiers were all green camp soldiers who surrendered to the Qing court. Only he had been fighting against the Qing Dynasty in the southeast, which was considered to be a good leader. Such a vanguard army entered Shandong, which proved that the army went north to resist the Qing Dynasty. Although Zheng Fan had many disagreements with the Eastern Front, he still belonged to the same alliance.

Zheng Fanjun set out from Zhenjiang and took a boat to Huai'an Prefecture, which was the base camp and logistics base of the Nanjing court to the north. Here, Zheng Chenggong received the cavalry, military pay and food that he had already arrived in the local army and asked about the military information obtained by the army that had arrived in the local area. He learned that the Eastern Foreign Army was still gathering in Jiaodong, and there was no large-scale military operation in southern Shandong, especially the only way north.

Zheng Chenggong originally wanted to send scouts into southern Shandong for investigation, but he never thought that the emperor was still in Yangzhou, so he sent an imperial edict to urge Zheng Chenggong to enter Shandong immediately. In winter, the grass and trees in northern Jiangsu withered, the water level of rivers decreased, and the solid land was conducive to the march. As a pioneer, Zheng Chenggong's army received enough winter supplies, especially the patrons. Under the urging of the emperor's destiny, he had to take the lead in entering Shandong to fulfill his duties and be a bait to test the power of the Dongfan!

The Dongfan army did not conflict with Zheng Fan, which means that the Dongfan might still recognize the Nanjing court. If there was a conflict, Nanjing could also accuse Dongfan of betraying the alliance and attacking and killing the allies.

After crossing the Huai River, it was the north. It was already the end of December. The north wind was as bitter as a knife, and the exposed skin was painful. It was still frozen rain south of the Huai River. After entering Shandong, there were snowflakes everywhere. Looking around, it was covered with white areas. After Zheng Fanjun crossed the river, he advanced along the canal and entered Shandong in Pizhou. He did not hide his whereabouts and went directly to Yizhou Prefecture along the Yihe River.

However, wherever Zheng Fanjun went, there was no festive atmosphere of the New Year approaching. Instead, he investigated a hundred miles without seeing people. This was the case until Yizhou Prefecture City. Except for a few remote villages, all the towns and cities along the way were empty. When he arrived in Yizhou City, he saw the eastern notices posted on the streets and the city gates, requiring all the people to evacuate to Jiaodong for winter, strengthen the walls and clear the fields, take away all livestock, grain and population, burn off firewood for heating, except for the lack of burning the city and demolishing houses, all the measures that could be used were used. Zheng Fanjun, who was determined to be the king's army, demolished the houses, burned beams and wood, and kept warmed the doors and windows.

There was no one in the four fields, and Zheng Chenggong dared not advance lightly. He sent elite cavalry to search everywhere. However, the news brought by these people was impossible to find. Most of the cavalry under his command were former green camps. Zheng Chenggong was honest, but he asked his son Zheng Jing to lead the cavalry to search north. If he wanted to go north to the Linqu camp, which was directly connected to the east, he would not have no contact.

Zheng Jing ordered more than a hundred cavalry, and after receiving the order, he went north and entered Yishui County. It snowed heavily here earlier, and the ground was covered with a thick layer, blocking all traces. After a day and night, he entered the hilly area, and no traces of the army were found. Soon, the scout team returned several cavalry, saying that they had seen more than ten cavalry of the East Fan cavalry in the Muling Pass area entering Qingzhou, and asked Zheng Jing to meet and negotiate.

Finally found the traces. Zheng Jing was delighted and led his troops to the direction of Muling Pass. Under the leadership of the scout, he passed through the vast valley and turned a corner. He found that all the people left by the scout team had been killed. Several Eastern Foreigners were checking the bodies. Zheng Jing was furious and ordered the whole team to rush forward and catch the arrogant people.

However, in the valley, the cavalry could not disperse and formed a team of guards who had been following Zheng Jing and said, "Criminal, the situation is wrong. There are mountains and forests on both sides, and there are probably ambushing in front."

Zheng Jing was pulled and wanted to scold him for a moment, but he heard an arrow passing by his face, with a sharp sound, making his ears hurt. When he looked back, the guard behind him was hit by an arrow on his neck, and most of his neck had been cut open. Blood was rushing between the white bones and flesh, and he fell heavily to the ground. Then he saw the arrow through his neck, and the arrow was flat, which was a duck-billed arrow.

After this arrow, with a sharp bone whistle, footsteps continued to come from the woods on both sides. Soon, dozens of people rushed out, bent their bows and arrows, and a long snake in the valley was suddenly attacked. With the sound of puffing, the people and horses were caught in the arrows. The arrows used by the enemy were extremely powerful, and the people and horses could not stand it. They fell to the ground without calling.

Zheng Jing leaned over the horse, ran back, regardless of the rain of arrows, and ran away from the valley. When he looked back, he saw that there were only four people left after him. The sound of horse hooves came from the valley, and dozens of cavalry chased him out. Zheng Jing was also old in the army. Although he liked firearms, he had some skills in archery cavalry. At this moment, his life was at stake. How could he not do his best? He and his guards were in front of him, turned around from time to time, pulled the bow and shot arrows, and whenever he released the string, he hit the target. Zheng Jing did not dare to urge him to shoot people, but just shot the horse. His guard was also good, protecting Zheng Jing to escape south.

After escaping for more than ten miles, I asked to pursue him. Zheng Jing looked down and there was no arrow in the arrow bag, and there was only one guard left beside him. Zheng Jing breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, God helped me, and I did not die at the hands of the Dongfan thief!"

"Criminal, what should I do this?" asked the only guard.

Zheng Jing sighed: "There is no choice but to go back to Yizhou first. This time the island barbarians ambush you and me is already provoking a dispute. I want to see how the court lets them go!"
Chapter completed!