Chapter 473: When choosing, fight

On the sixth day of the eighth month of the 17th year of Chongzhen, the Duke of Qi and the whole Shandong were busy. The inner house and civil affairs were busy in the Mid-Autumn Festival inventory and settlement, while the army was carefully mobilized. However, to outsiders, the waterways in Shandong were still as busy as ever, and nothing else was special.

This kind of busyness began in July, and it has been a habit for the whole country. The reason why the sixth day of the eighth month was mentioned separately because the Duke of Qi made an appointment on this day, and it was immediately spread throughout the territory controlled by messengers. The eldest son of Duke of Qi, Li Hong, was appointed as the guard of the Duke's Mansion.

Everyone in Jiaozhouying is a part of the Jiaozhouying machine. They only need to operate according to the rules and do not need to think too much about themselves.

The appointment of Li Hong gave this boring life a little interesting. The guards of the Duke's Mansion were garrisoned, and this official title was definitely not in line with the rules. His subordinates even had no soldiers to manage. Of course, it was not realistic to expect a child over five to lead troops.

But this official position has its own special significance, which may be related to some conventional rules from the Middle Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms periods. For example, the Jiedu appointed his son as the leader of his personal guard, the commander of Yanedu, which clarified the inheritance rights of this son.

Suddenly, Li Hong was appointed as the guard guard. It was impossible to understand that Li Meng's heir had already been confirmed and was the eldest son Li Hong.

That's all the fun that adds to everyone. Compared with Yan Ruoran's worry about gains and losses, Shandong has long known that Li Hong is the natural heir. With Li Meng's character, there will basically be no major changes.

For Li Meng's inner house, perhaps Li Meng did not notice it, but the old eunuch Liu Fulai discovered the subtle changes. The relationship between several women suddenly became much closer.

Before announcing this news, Mu Yunyao dared to let his son Li Wu play with Li Hong, and dared to let Li Wu be by Yan Ruoran's side, but he would never dare to bring Li Hong with him. In any case where Li Hong is there, Mu Yunyao would definitely invite Yan Ruoran over.

Mu Yunyao has been in the royal palace for a long time, so he naturally knows what kind of vicious means would be used between them in order to fight for the legitimate power.

Although Mu Yunyao can't use it. Moreover, there will be no such thing in the Duke of Qi's Mansion, she still has to be cautious and not to make others feel dissatisfied or suspicious, because the two women Gu Hengbo and Liu Rushi have always followed her to do things, and Mu Yunyao even strictly prohibits these two girls from contacting them, so as not to be suspicious.

Relatively speaking, although Yan Ruoran was worried about gains and losses, she did not expect this. The high sect of the royal palace was the most intense and bloody place where the inner servants fought. The trajectory of the sect changed constantly, and Yan Ruoran, who was a jassic young family, could not have imagined these things.

Li Hong's status is clear, which represents the children born to Li Wu and the next few women. None of them have any hope of a high position, but this wealth and peace can be guaranteed. In this case, there is no conflict between them with any interests. Of course, everyone has regained the harmonious and friendly situation of sisters in the past.

However, it is ridiculous. Perhaps what is common in the eyes of others is that after determining this position, there are self-recommendations and other people's recommendations everywhere in Shandong. Some famous scholars, officials from the place of retirement, and some famous martial artists all took the initiative to come over to be the civil and military teachers who guarded Lord Xiao Li in the inner house.

Even the female relatives had their own ideas. Not to mention the high-ranking officials and noble families outside the country who had close relationships and high status.

But Li Meng's arrangement was very simple. Li Hong's personal servant was Su Anqi. This 14-year-old boy, known as the future pillar of Shandong, was warned only one thing, that is, to work for Shandong and try to downplay his religious beliefs. When he was in the outer house, Su Anqi was responsible for Li Hong's enlightenment education, while Yan Ruoran came to teach in the inner house.

Exercise in terms of physical aspects. Li Hong formally learns the methods of physical exercise and some simple fighting skills with his personal soldiers.

Compared with other children, Li Hong enjoys this, which saves a lot of the energy of parents to discipline. Also known as "there are few dragons and tigers, and the resources to achieve great things." After Li Hong was confirmed to his status, the popular Duke's Mansion and School even made the local children break the scramble. The sooner he approached the next generation, the more secure the wealth and honor were. This is a consensus.

Mu Yunyao, Gu and Liu are busy every day. They thought that they would lose their three obediences and four virtues by doing this, but Mu Yunyao said that you and I do such things for the sake of future status. The husband's actions have always been based on their achievements.

Besides, everyone must know what kind of institution the Inquiry Department is. As long as you keep this institution firmly in your hands, are you afraid that you will have no status in the mansion in the future?

This is a stern truth. The position of the Inquiry Department is vaguely the role of the Ming Jinyiwei and the Dongchang. Although it is not as powerful and arrogant as it is, it can be responsible for the information on Shandong's control of territory and the private matters everywhere. The interests and powers that can be involved can be imagined.

Mu Yunyao and the three girls were busy, and even Li Meng couldn't stand it anymore. He just felt that such a big deal was too inappropriate to press on such a few delicate girls.

But it was not without effect when so busy, and a few news was quickly found...

Since that day, Shandong Governor Yan Jizu and Shandong Governor Liu Qingsong visited Li Meng. Yan Jizu saw Liu Qingsong handling so many confidential matters for Li Meng, and knew that if he did not take any action, his status in the future would be far inferior to that of the other party.

Since he has already sold himself to his position, he has no choice but to do it to the end. Yan Jizu was a minister of the Ministry of Personnel back then, and this position is also a job that has been handed over to the world and has a wide connection. He has his own connections in Jiangnan and Jiangbei.

On the second day of August, Shandong Governor Yan Jizu brought Li Meng a message, which was written by a disciple of his Jiangnan who secretly told him.

This news was as heavy as Mount Tai in Yan Jizu's heart. When he went to the Duke's mansion, he still solemnly asked for a separate secret talk with Duke Qi.

Li Meng, who was busy allocating the army, thought it was a military and national event. He also found time to talk to each other alone. The news about Yan Jizu was indeed very surprising. According to a cousin of Liu Zongzhou, the former right-level censor Liu Zongzhou, now the prince of the Ming Dynasty, the son of Emperor Chongzhen, and the prince Zhu Cilang is in the imperial city of Nanjing.

The reason why this news was spread was not because someone leaked the secret, but under the plan of the cabinet ministers in the capital. Crown Prince Zhu Cixuan also wanted to establish a backup civil and military team in Nanjing City.

Although Nanjing City has six ministries, these six ministries are all officials who failed political disputes or returned to the south to support their elderly care, and they have no ability to do anything. The military generals are only tens of thousands of soldiers with Lu Jiude as the commander, Huang Degong and Liu Liangzuo as the commander, and they must recruit new blood.

It is easy for the generals to fall. Zuo Liangyu is in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and the permanent military officers in various provinces in Jiangnan have a complete team. The only strange place is the Governor of Fengyang and the Censor of Caojiang, Ma Shiying. He always keeps his troops in motion and keeps saying that there is such a stable situation in Jiangnan and north, and is willing to defend this ancestral tomb for the court and does not want to cause trouble again. What a person Ma Shiying is? He doesn't say that he has soldiers in his hands, but he is also a famous scholar in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. He will say that many respected people will come out to help. The public opinion of Shilin can also grasp a lot, but of course it is impossible to touch.

However, it is also a relief to ensure that the ancestral tombs are not lost, so we will not force Ma Shiying's mistakes, but this civil servant team is in trouble.

There are many famous scholars, but there are too few things to be suppressed. One in Nanzhili is Ruan Dacheng. The other is Qian Qianyi. Although the two have high reputation and support each other, they have major stains on both sides. If they really argue, they will definitely be caught by another faction.

Another one is Chen Zilong, a famous scholar in Songjiang Prefecture. He is said to be familiar with literary affairs and knowledgeable about military tactics. But he was consciously or unintentionally ignored due to historical reasons.

The only person who can be a civil servant leader. There is really one who is lectured in Hangzhou. Liu Zongzhou, the clan of contemporary Confucianism.

Since he fought hard in the court, he was deprived of his official position by Emperor Chongzhen and ordered to return to his hometown to retire, Liu Zongzhou opened academy in Hangzhou to give lectures and recruit disciples. He had a great influence among the literati of the Southern Scholars. Some people often say that if Liu Zongzhou was the prime minister in the world, he would have been peaceful and happy, and there would be so many right and wrong there.

Of course, the opposition people do not have to bear the responsibility for their words. It is unknown whether they can be implemented, but this public opinion has been promoted.

If Zhu Cixuan wanted to establish a team, he naturally had to consider Liu Zongzhou. However, Liu Zongzhou was repeatedly hit by the court because of his straightforwardness and courage to advise. He was a little discouraged and was no longer willing to enter the court to become an official. At the beginning, Zhu Cixuan wanted to keep the facts of his in Nanjing secret.

As a result, no matter whether it was the eunuch Lu Jiude, the eunuch in Nanjing, the Duke of Wei, or the Minister of War in Nanjing, who wrote a letter to Liu Zongzhou, he would politely refuse.

As a result, since the beginning of the 17th year of Chongzhen, this has become a landscape in Jiangnan. Every time there is a letter in Nanjing asking Mr. Liu to come out to be an official, it is rejected by Liu Zongzhou as usual. Liu Zongzhou's reputation as a great sage in the wild must follow.

Every time the recruitment was rejected, Liu Zongzhou's friends and disciples would clamor everywhere to promote momentum, saying that Mr. Liu was worried about the political situation of the Ming Dynasty. If Mr. Liu didn't come out, what could he do in the world?

Everyone knows why these people want to build momentum for Liu Zongzhou. Judging from the situation in Nanjing, they want to invite Liu Zongzhou to take charge of the overall situation. They vaguely mean to enter the cabinet and become ministers. This person is a man who has attained enlightenment and can ascend to heaven. If Liu Zongzhou enters the cabinet and becomes prime minister, then wouldn’t everyone follow him to the court and become officials, and be rich and prosperous.

Originally, the situation in the Ming Dynasty was at stake, and Crown Prince Zhu Cilang was also cautious. No one expected that the situation would change suddenly in June and July.

The commander Hou Xun led the troops to win victories. The Ming Dynasty was about to revive. Zhu Cilang was a child, but he didn't know who was instigated. He thought that it would be of great benefit to him to establish his own team as soon as possible. Since the nobles from Nanjing City wrote to Liu Zongzhou, he would not come. If the Ming Dynasty prince wrote to him, his status would probably not be rejected.

He has always been arrogant or has resentment in his heart. Liu Zongzhou, who was unwilling to enter the court, he hesitated for two days after receiving the order of Prince Zhu Cilang, and announced that he would go to Nanjing. The position prepared for him in Nanjing was the Minister of Rites in Nanjing. According to the usual rules, the Minister of Rites in name was the head of the minister of various departments. When Nanjing opened a cabinet, the position of chief minister could not escape.

But the time was wrong. According to his disciples, how could there be another letter to ask Mr. Liu to come out of the mountain? Only then would he make his reputation reach the highest peak. After going out, he would be clearly expected to be the situation.

Liu Zongzhou also knew that he should keep it secret, but after all, he had to explain to his relatives and children, so he told him about this matter with two confidants.

But since ancient times, as long as you tell someone, that person will spread the rumor, and in the end it will be a situation that everyone knows.

Of course, when Yan Jizu learned the news, there were not many people who knew this private. The heirs of the Ming Dynasty were in Nanjing. How would such a major event help the cause of Duke Qi? Yan Jizu knew this important news and immediately felt as if he had found a treasure. He rushed to report.

During this time, Li Meng's face was always smiling. Shandong Governor Yan Jizu really felt flattered. The Duke of Qi not only listened carefully, but also made many promises to praise and reuse before leaving. This really made Yan Jizu very happy.

Originally, Yan Jizu was also a famous scholar in the court, but now he is looking like a Ding Ge. He naturally lost his calm attitude to plan for his future wealth.

In fact, Li Meng knew the news three days earlier than Yan Jizu. As the richest man in Yangzhou, the Fang family, a salt merchant, had been more than a hundred years old. The forces in the Jiangnan area were mixed, and countless people were inquiring about it. The news was extremely sensible. This news. The Fang family was also very treasured.

Fang Laosan personally delivered it to the officials of the Inquiry Department in Shanyang, Huai'an Prefecture. On that day, Li Meng also wrote a letter of encouragement from Feng Duo and went back. Fang Yingxiao had already sat at the position of Tongzhi of Huai'an Prefecture, and was promoted rapidly and was very grateful.

Although Li Meng and these two made very solemn thanks and promises, for Li Meng, he did not value this news very much. It was just a child. If the army crossed the river and defeated the army around them, what could he do if he had any more status?

Regarding this news, the Inquiry Department learned about this through the Lingshan Trading Company and the capital's semicolon. At the end of June, the Zheng family sent people to Beijing with gold, silver and treasures. It is said that Zheng Zhilong had set his sights on the position of the Fujian General and wanted to make an appointment from the Ministry of War.

When Li Meng heard this news, he just smiled bitterly. A person has the ability to do things but has no vision to look at things, which means such a person is.

Zheng Zhilong finally managed to transport troops to North Korea to clear the grudges of the past and established an intimate relationship between the two sides. He was almost recognized by Li Meng as a sideline and subordinate, but because of the victory of the Ming Dynasty, he hurriedly went to camp again. It is true that the Zheng family's power in Fujian is almost too many than the officers and soldiers in Fujian and Guangdong, and there is no need to mention the ships, but these strengths will not be more than the general on land unless they are rafting on the sea.

What's more, what kind of storms can be caused by a barren land like Fujian? It's completely vulnerable. As the situation becomes more and more bright, it's time to let individuals take sides.

Among the various territories controlled by Jiaozhou Camp, those who originally had the positions of Jiaozhou Camp and Daming resigned their official positions in the Ming Dynasty, but the Zheng family went against the trend. Apart from being confused, they really couldn't say anything.

According to the conversation between Li Meng and Sun Chuanting, Li Meng smiled and said:

"The situation is now in such a situation. Even if the Ming Dynasty destroys the thief, what can he do? It is obvious that the big tree is about to fall, but there are still money holding it on it."

However, this smile was almost sneering. Sun Chuanting was quite open about this matter and joked with a smile:

"The Zheng family claims to be the overlord of the sea, and they must be self-reliant. Perhaps he felt that it was the position of Fang Guozhen at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, but he did not expect that he had missed Mu Ying's position."

Fang Guozhen was one of the great warlords who started his business in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. He was known as the maritime overlord in the seas of Fujian and Zhejiang. During the period when Zhu Yuanzhang gradually gained the world, his attitude was always close and distant, thinking that he could constantly speculate among all forces in the world to obtain the greatest benefits.

But in the end, he could only surrender to the Ming Dynasty and be named a marquis by Zhu Yuanzhang. It was a good ending, and Mu Ying was Zhu Yuanzhang's adopted son. He was loyal from beginning to end. As a result, he obtained the Duke of Qian and guarded Yunnan for generations, which was equivalent to the status of a vassal king. Their importance and degree of each other are really clear at a glance.

Zheng Zhilong could do such a thing. It was really the saying "Maybe he has the ability to do big things, but he has no vision to look at the overall situation." In the history without Li Meng, he surrendered to the Qing army and took his family to the capital with millions of taels of silver, but was imprisoned and killed...

Li Meng really doesn't take Zheng Jiadi seriously. Zheng Zhilong did something like this once or twice. Now it is nothing more than to lower his reserved status in the Shandong system and be more careful when transporting troops and grain to North Korea in Dengzhou.

During this period, there was an anecdote that Sun Chuanting later remembered the notes. After the two of them finished talking about the Zheng family in a very relaxed tone, Li Meng patted his thighs with emotion and said with a smile:

"I stayed at home for too long, and my hair was resurrected!"

When Liu Bei was in Jiangdong, he lived a peaceful and comfortable life for too long, and the flesh on his thighs became more and it was inconvenient to ride a horse. He expressed such feelings. Of course, Li Meng was not Liu Bei's mentality in the cage at that time. He was just too peaceful and wanted to lead the troops to fight in person.

Sun Chuanting's answer was also quite clever. He smiled and joked:

"The Duke of the State is too humble. How could the situation in the future be one-third of the world?"

At noon on July 25, 17th year of Chongzhen, Northern Zhili, Yongping Prefecture. Luanzhou City, above the city.

"Is it the soldiers of General Zhang, Hebei? Everyone is a soldier of the Ming Dynasty. Why do you need to meet like this and hurt each other's harmony?"

Tao Dayong, the Luanzhou Dusi, who was standing behind the battlements at the entrance of the Luanzhou city, shouted at the top of his lungs, no one dared to poke his head out of the back of the battlements to see the situation under the city. Who among the people on Yongping Mansion knew that Shandong's firearms were extremely sharp.

This place shouted loudly, but the city was under the command of the troops and the various sounds made during the mobilization. No one paid attention to the shouting at the top of the city. Tao Dayong looked at the trembling soldiers around him, and felt even more panic. He lowered his waist and rubbed each other with his hands, not knowing what to do.

"Master, why don't we set up the three generals' cannons first? If something goes wrong, we will also be prepared."

While Tao Dayong was thinking about it, he heard a servant beside him ask cautiously. Tao Dayong hesitated a little and turned around and slapped the servant. Although he was slapped, the action was extremely smooth. After the slap in the face, it was another kick. The Tao Dusi, the Luanzhou City, cursed fiercely:

"Bastard, what are the two holes in your head? Are you blind? You can't see the cannons under the city. Even if we set up the cannons, the cannons below will be bombarded immediately. By then, we will die here to pieces. Come and shout with me."

This Tao Dusi was able to gather 3,000 troops, but when the Hebei general Zhang Jiang led his men to the city, less than 500 people could gather, and the remaining soldiers were all in the city, but Tao Dusi did not dare to catch them. There were so many people who escaped, and if the accident aroused, he would not be able to deal with it.

What’s even more annoying is that the governor of Luanzhou, the old god ignored it at all and said nothing, "We are all soldiers from the Ming Dynasty, how could there be such evil things like fire? Don’t hurt the harmony, etc.

Damn, I saw the caravans from the Liu family in Jinzhou go to the prefecture to give gifts. It turns out that they colluded with each other and were not good things.

Tao Dusi cursed in his heart, and felt extremely wronged, thinking that I had never done anything wrong, but why did I find me today?

Although the Hebei General Zhang Jiang only occupied the city of Kaiping Zhongtunwei in Yongping Prefecture, he belonged to the Jiaozhou Camp or the various teams protected by the Jiaozhou Camp were rampant in the west of Yongping Prefecture, walking everywhere, the Luan River and Qinglong River flowed through the inside and outside the Great Wall.

There are often a large number of materials distributed from the sea and transported to the grassland along the river. This behavior is like a blatant enemy, but who dares to take care of it?

It is said that the Shandong soldiers sold this large amount of military capital to the Tumote tribe on the grassland, and I don’t know how much money and benefits it had been made, but when these soldiers walked down the city, who would dare to say anything? Taodusi used to encounter such caravans, but they would have tried to make some benefits. However, if any Shandong caravans were polite, they would have to pave the soil and build roads and beat drums.

This head was already on the ground, but the other party still didn't appreciate it. Is there any law of the Heavenly Li King? But there are more than 4,000 people under the city. More than 2,000 horses and ten cannons. It is obvious that the caliber of the other party is much larger than that of the city, so I can't beat it no matter how I think about it.
To be continued...