Liu Jun and Zheng Zhifeng were sitting alone in the study. Liu Jun did not rush to speak. He slowly savored the hot tea. ≤≤Xiao≤ said that although Zheng Zhifeng was young, he seemed to be a powerful character. If Liu Jun didn't speak, he wouldn't speak. The two sat there and tasted the Fujian Wuyishan tea that Zheng Zhifeng gave to Xiong Wencan.

After a long time, Liu Jun broke the silence first.

"Brother Zheng, you have come to Beijing this time and you know that the court has now wiped out the bandits who have been in trouble for many years, right?"

Zheng Zhifeng nodded, "The Marquis was wise and powerful. He captured Zhang Xianzhong and defeated Luo Rucai to kill the five thieves of Ge Zuo. These giant bandits who had been scattered in the Central Plains for more than ten years met the Marquis, but they were like ice and snow thrown into the hot soup, and the ice melted."

Liu Jun smiled, picked up the tea and took a sip, and then said lightly, "I heard that since Governor Zheng was recruited in the first year of Chongzhen, he swept across the South China Sea. With the banner of the court, all pirate gangs such as Li Kuiqi and Liu Xiang have been eliminated in recent years. Even in the sixth year of Chongzhen, he defeated the Dutch, and this year he defeated the Dutch who was provoking trouble. I heard that on the southeast coast, the common businessmen all called Zheng Yiguan the King of Min Hai, and even the red barbarians such as the Netherlands only knew that there was the Zheng family, but not the Ming Dynasty."

At first, Zheng Zhifeng's face looked a little proud, but gradually, the pride on his face gradually changed to fear.

What Liu Jun said are all facts, but these facts are also quite taboo facts. Especially if the court lets the emperor know, he would never be happy. Zheng Zhifeng was surprised at Liu Jun's detailed knowledge of the Southeast Sea. He not only knew the Zheng family's actions over the years, but also knew about the Zheng family's war with the Dutch this year.

"I also heard that ships running sea trade in the southeastern sea must buy Zheng's flags, otherwise they will be sunk or plundered when they go to sea. Zheng's ship harvests 2,000 gold per ship, earning ten million a year. Zheng's ship pays 10 taels of tax to the court, and Zheng's class negotiates with the Dutch without the consent of the court."

"Brother Zheng, do you say that what I said are all facts?"

Zheng Zhifeng's face was already sweating, and he didn't know what Liu Jun wanted to do when he mentioned this.

"Brother Zheng. Do you know that today the emperor summoned me and said that the bandits in the Central Plains have been pacified. More than 100,000 new troops trained in the Central Plains are invincible. Someone suggested to His Majesty that the southeastern land has lost control and suggested that more than 100,000 well-equipped and well-trained and brave soldiers in the Central Plains be transferred to the southeast."

"Since my Zheng family was recruited, they have always been loyal to the court and have no other intentions. Heaven and earth can be seen!" Zheng Zhifeng shouted quickly. Although the Zheng family is strong, it was because the court was in troubles internally and externally and unable to control the Southeast over the years that they were able to grow rapidly.

But although the Zheng family has become much stronger, they dare not turn against the court. Until now, the Zheng family has not had any ambition to separatist and dominate the king. What they want is to monopolize the benefits of maritime trade, and what they want is to be a maritime businessman.

"Brother Zheng, do you know? Today, Your Majesty summoned me to the palace. I asked me something. Your Majesty asked me if I want to be the General of Zhenhai or the General of the Envoy? If I want to be the General of Zhenhai, I will transfer me to Fujian and govern the coastal defense of Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Guangxi. If I are willing to be the General of the Envoy, I will transfer me to lead my troops to attack the coastal areas of Liaodong."

"Do you know, if I take over as General Zhenhai and go to Fujian and other places, what will be the first task?"

“What is it?”

"Eliminate all pirates and bandits, especially those who dare to call themselves kings, such as Minhaiwang and others."

"Mr. Marquis, our Zheng family is loyal to the court. Heaven and earth can be seen. The King of Minhai is nothing more than nonsense."

"Oh. Is it? How can I prove it? If the court recruits the communistence, you are really willing to obey the imperial edict? As far as I know, the court has summoned the Zheng fleet to the north several times before, but you all used the excuse to shirk it away?" Liu Jun sneered a few times, "Do you Zheng's compulsory or not?"

"This is absolutely nothing." Zheng Zhifeng was really afraid that the court would send a large army to Fujian. Zheng Jiaqiang was the sea. No matter how strong the maritime group was, it would be difficult to move forward without a stable port base. In particular, the Zheng family wanted to continue the current monopoly of maritime trade. If there was a conflict with the court and the two sides fought, the Zheng family might be able to return to be pirates again. But without the banner of the court, they would not think about maintaining the hegemony of maritime trade in the future, which would definitely be a loss.

"Is that true? I believe you, but you have to show some sincerity. If every time the court summons you, you will find various reasons to shirk your words, will anyone believe you?"

"There is a chance to prove yourself now, it depends on whether you care."

"I wonder what opportunity the Marquis said?" Zheng Zhifeng said.

Liu Jun smiled. He knew that what he said just now would not really scare the Zheng family. It was just a strategy for conversation. Let the matter be more serious first so that the Zheng family can pay attention to it. The final negotiation still has to be discussed with Zheng Zhilong. If it is just a threat and no benefit, it will be difficult for the Prime Minister to scare the Minhai King.

There must be enough benefits to make Zheng Zhilong excited.

The general of Zheng Zhilong, who was appointed as the general of Taiwan, issued some more threats to make Zheng Zhilong pay attention to it.

"I hope to meet and discuss with Zheng Yiguan before the New Year, preferably one month later. If possible, I hope to meet and discuss with Zheng Yiguan in Nanjing in January."

"I have a handwritten letter to Zheng Yiguan here, you can forward it to him for me." After that, Liu Jun got up and left.

Zheng Zhifeng can't make the decision. If she really wants to talk about things, she still has to talk to Zheng Yiguan.

When leaving Xiong Mansion, Xiong Wencan personally sent Liu Jun to the door. At this time, Xiong Wencan already knew the emperor's intention to let him come out. "I will have a good talk with Zheng Yiguan, and I will definitely let him listen to the order of the Hou court."

Liu Jun smiled without saying a word and said goodbye. It would not be so simple to ask Zheng Yiguan to send troops.

After leaving Xiong Mansion, Liu Jun went to the Huguang Guild Hall. This guild was built by Huguang merchants in Beijing. It covers a large area and is decorated very grandly. Whether it is Huguang merchants who come to Beijing, scholars who come to Beijing for each subject to take the exam, or even some officials who come to Beijing to Beijing, they sometimes stay here.

Chongzhen gave Liu Jun a set of mansions, which was considered to be the Zhennan Marquis Mansion in Beijing. However, it has not been cleaned up yet, and Liu Jun still lives in the military camp outside the city. He came to the guild hall to see Li Chunjiang, his brother Liu Jian, and the fourth young master of Fushe and others.

As soon as Liu Jun arrived, Li Chunjiang and his group came out to greet him, and Fu Shan and Liu Yunsheng, who had been working in Beijing, were also there.

The merchants and scholars in the Huguang Guild Hall heard that Zhennan Hou was coming, so they had been respectful for a long time. Recently, the people of Huguang in Beijing were quite proud. The people of Huguang were valued by the imperial court and have reached their peak.

The chief ministers of the dynasty were all from Huguang, and there was even a cabinet elder Yao Minggong, who was also from Huguang. Six Grand Secretarys of the cabinet, half of them were from Huguang. In addition, Liu Jun, the young marquis and commander of the Jinyiwei, Liu Qiao, was also from Huguang.

Nowadays, people from Huguang in the capital are much more high-profile when walking on the streets.

When Liu Jun arrived at the guild hall, he had to meet a group of business people first. After chatting with them for a long time, he was able to meet with Li Chunjiang and other friends alone.

"I heard that the court was going to fight the Tartars again, and even heard that His Majesty was going to transfer the Nine-Headed Bird to Jinzhou to join the war?" Li Chunjiang asked Liu Jun. Although he had withdrawn from the Nine-Headed Birds early, he was still very concerned about this army.

Liu Jun smiled and asked his old friend, "What does the public album think about this matter? From the tone, you seem to oppose the decisive battle with the Tartars outside the pass?"

"Of course, it is indeed worthy of congratulations to the new imperial court's bandits in the Central Plains. But this does not mean that we can ignore the ability of the Tartars. It is quite reckless to blindly mobilize the army out of seclusion to fight the decisive battle."

"What do you think you should do?"

Li Chunjiang is different from ordinary scholars. His perspective on problems is often very special. At this moment, "I thought the court should give up the eight cities including Ning Jin outside the pass and retreat to Shanhaiguan."

"Give up the place outside the pass? There was a long debate at that time. I am afraid that once it is proposed, it will be flooded by the mouths of the censors of the Kedao. Especially now, the court has just pacified the bandits in the Central Plains. Now the confidence of the whole court has increased greatly. Many people even shouted the slogan of counterattacking the Liao Dynasty. At this time, some people dared to give up the retreat outside the pass to defend the mountains and seas. Isn't this unpleasant?" Liu Jun shook his head and sighed. In fact, retreating to Shanhaiguan was still a good strategy.

The Ming army was defensive to the Ningjin line outside the pass, and it was still difficult to defend it. Instead, it was extremely exhausted by the long supply line, and it was particularly easy to besiege the Qing army to attack the city and aid. If the troops retreated to Shanhaiguan and then sent troops out of the pass to sweep the western Liaoning from time to time, the Qing army could not establish military farms in western Liaoning and became a strategic buffer zone, it would be of great help to the Ming army to accumulate strength again.

After all, if the Qing army could not establish a military stronghold in western Liaoning, then every time they wanted to attack the gate, they would have to pull a long supply line. Moreover, even if the Qing army wanted to invade the gate from other parts of the Great Wall, such as Xuanda and other places, the defenders of Shanhaiguan could quickly support and defend the capital. And they would no longer be as before. As before, the Qing army circled around, and Ningyuan's defenders would be quite embarrassed and could only enter the gate from thousands of miles away.
Chapter completed!