Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 177 Seizing the throne
North of Anping City, Zheng Cai's Mansion

Zheng Cai sat at the top, and on the right side below sat a man who looked 60% like Zheng Cai. This man was Zheng Cai's younger brother, Zheng Lian, who was also a general in the Zheng family army.

Zheng Cai picked up the tea bowl, drank the tea in the bowl in one gulp, threw the tea bowl back on the table with a bang, and then sneered and said

"Zheng Zhilong is really crazy. He is actually planning to surrender to the Qing Dynasty!"

"Furthermore, five days later, he actually wanted to go to Fuzhou in person to meet that Tartar prince. He was really courting his own death."

Zheng Lian was also shocked when he heard this. He knew about the rumors in the army before, but when he heard the news, he was still shocked. However, Zheng Cai ignored Zheng Lian's expression and continued to speak.

"Zheng Zhilong has been a local tyrant for too long, and he actually thinks that we have to do whatever he says."

"Surrender to the Qing? Does he think surrendering to the Qing is surrendering to the Ming? What's the point of the public opinion? He really doesn't know what he is talking about!"

Zheng Cai sneered. If Zheng Zhilong had voted for other forces in the Ming court this time, or if Zheng Zhilong decided to appoint another regent, they would have no choice but to do as he said.

Zheng Zhilong's prestige over the past decade was not gained in vain. Moreover, during the Longwu Dynasty, Zheng Zhilong was promoted to Duke of the State. With his righteousness, his power grew day by day.
It can be said that as long as Zheng Zhilong firmly holds on to justice, no one in the Zheng family can challenge Zheng Zhilong's position.

But Zheng Zhilong had no choice but to choose to surrender to the Qing Dynasty. This was his chance!
Zheng Zhilong thought that with his prestige, he could lead everyone to surrender to the Qing Dynasty again, just like he accepted the amnesty from the Ming court when he was a pirate.
But recruiting and surrendering to the Qing Dynasty are two different things. If Zheng Zhilong thought that everyone would still be as loyal to him as before, he was very wrong.
What were they before? A group of pirates, wandering on the sea all day, living in fear of their fate. After accepting the amnesty, everyone can return to their hometown to live a decent life and purchase property. Naturally, most people are happy to support them.

But what are their identities at this time? This one is a general, that one is a marquis. If it is from the time when Zheng Zhilong accepted the amnesty, everyone has been an official of the Ming Dynasty for more than ten years.
The brothers of the past are now all in Fujian Province, some are going to school, some are joining the army. Do you really think that they have no gratitude towards the Ming court?
During the Longwu Dynasty, everyone was awarded an official position. Now, all of these Zheng-style core members have a large family and a large army.

Did Zheng Zhilong really think that these people were still the same pirates and bandits as before, who would get excited and follow him to fight for their lives when he shouted?

Zheng Zhilong thought that since he had obtained these positions from the imperial court, everyone would be loyal to him. If Zheng Zhilong still supported the Ming court, then it would not be wrong.
But once he abandons Ming, that's another story.
Although they got their positions thanks to Zheng Zhilong, they were given official positions by the imperial court, and the imperial edicts were stamped with the seal of the Ming Dynasty, not Zheng Zhilong's.

Even if these people still appreciate the old times and are loyal to Zheng Zhilong, will their subordinates also be loyal to Zheng Zhilong?
Many of them were already generals of the imperial court when they joined the army. They obeyed Zheng Zhilong because he was the general of the Ming court, not because he was the former pirate leader.
Once Zheng Zhilong rebelled against the Ming court, why did they continue to be loyal to Zheng Zhilong?
Surrendering to the Qing Dynasty and surrendering to the Ming Dynasty are two completely different things. If you surrender to the Ming Dynasty, not only will everything remain the same, but you can also get an official position.

But surrendering to the Qing meant shaving one's head. They were in charge of the army and knew better than anyone else how much the soldiers were against this. Or, in other words, who among the common people today was not against shaving their heads?
They were born with their hair crowned, they were born like this, why should they be shaved now?

In addition, the gentry in Jiangnan fled to Fujian Province. As the Qing government's various deeds against the Han people in Jiangnan spread, the common people instinctively developed various resistance and disgust towards the Qing government.

The advocacy of scholars, the tradition of wearing a crown for generations, the background of the invasion and slaughter of Han people by foreigners, and the fact that Fujian Province is a region with a strong ancestral atmosphere, the common people are increasingly resistant to things like shaving their heads.

Zheng Zhilong completely underestimated the impact of shaving his head and surrendering to the Qing Dynasty on the military and the people.

Zheng Zhilong thought that just by shaving some hair, he could keep his territory and wealth, which was a very cost-effective deal. However, he thought it was a good deal, but the ordinary soldiers in the army did not think it was a good deal.

The money was still the same as before, but they were suddenly asked to shave their heads and have their backs stabbed. They didn't think they got a good deal.

As long as the news of Zheng Zhilong's surrender to the Qing Dynasty spread among the army, there would be criticism and the morale of the army would be shaken.
When Zheng Cai thought of this, a gleam of brilliance flashed in his eyes. He looked at Zheng Lian below and said

"Once Zheng Zhilong surrenders to the Qing Dynasty, he will surely lose the support of the people. This will be our brother's opportunity."

Zheng Lian's eyes lit up immediately when he heard this, but then a look of hesitation flashed across his face.
"Zheng Zhilong's surrender to the Qing Dynasty is certainly disappointing, but Shi Fu and Huang Ting have been Zheng Zhilong's confidants for many years. Although Yang Geng has a good relationship with us, these people are now in high positions and have great power. Even if they don't like to surrender to the Qing Dynasty, I'm afraid they may not be willing to obey us."

Zheng Cai heard this, but her expression remained unchanged. She said

"We, Shi Fu and others are all generals under Zheng Zhilong. They will naturally not obey us. But what if they submit to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty instead of me?"

A shrewd look flashed across Zheng Cai's face. Zheng Zhilong relied on welcoming Emperor Longwu to the throne, which made him powerful in the court. Zheng Zhilong's relatives were all dukes and marquises.

In this case, Zheng Cai could also establish a regent emperor, gather all the generals under Zheng Zhilong and replace Zheng Zhilong.

It's just an emperor, who can't do it! Once the new emperor is established, he can recruit Shi Fu and other generals in the name of the Ming Dynasty's orthodoxy. Once the generals surrender, he can control the rest of the Zheng generals by controlling the new emperor, and swallow up all of Zheng Zhilong's power.

Zheng Cai couldn't help but tremble slightly when she thought of this.

Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers of different species? Zheng Zhilong can be the head of the Zheng family, and so can Zheng Cai!
Zheng Cai thought of this and stopped hesitating and asked directly

"Have you found out the news about Nalu Regent?"

Yes, the Ming emperor that Zheng Cai was going to support was Lu Jianguo.

The dispute between Tang and Lu was a hot topic at the time. Naturally, they supported Emperor Longwu. However, it was also because of this dispute that people in Fujian Province knew that in addition to Emperor Longwu, the Zhu family also had a regent named Lu, who was also the legitimate lineage of the Zhu family.

Now that Emperor Longwu has been killed by the Qing army, the people of the two provinces are now in panic. Which royal family member can be more suitable to be the next emperor of the Ming Dynasty than Lu Jianguo, who once competed with Emperor Longwu for the legal succession?

Upon hearing this, Zheng Lian immediately replied

"When I heard my brother's instructions that day, I immediately sent people to Zhejiang Province to investigate, and now we have confirmed the whereabouts of Lu Jianguo."

"After Fang Guoan and others were defeated by the Qing army in Zhejiang Province, Lu Jianguo fled to Zhoushan by sea."

"Zhoushan is now Huang Binqing's territory. After Lu Jianguo and others arrived in Zhoushan, Huang Binqing refused to let Lu Jianguo and others enter the city in the name of being a minister of Longwu."

"Now Lu Jianguo and his entourage are living on an island near Zhoushan. They are now relying on Huang Binqing for food and clothing, and are in a very difficult situation."

Zheng Cai was overjoyed when he heard this. He clapped his hands and said:

"Okay, good job on rejecting it."

"Huang Binqing is really a dog who keeps his house shut. He refused to take the rare treasure of Lu Jianguo and refused to let him in. Lu Jianguo should be taken by me."

Zheng Cai paced back and forth in the hall, and after a moment's thought, he immediately looked down at Zheng Lian.

"Take fifty boats and go to Zhoushan immediately under the pretext of going to Suzhou to buy silk. Then tell them that Emperor Longwu has been annihilated and that the officials of Fujian Province have discussed and wish to welcome and establish Lu as the Regent to continue the Ming Dynasty. Bring Lu back to Zhongzuo as soon as possible."

"Tang and Lu have always had a feud. After all, we were once Tang vassal. If Lu Jianguo and others are unwilling to come, what should we do?" Zheng Lian asked.

"If the Lu Regent is really ignorant, then tie him up. Otherwise, what are you doing with fifty boats?"

Zheng Cai snorted coldly, and then spoke again

"But after all, Lu Jianguo will be the emperor in the future, so it is better not to do this if possible."

"At this time, Lu Jianguo and his people are living under someone else's roof. When they heard that Fujian Province wanted to support him to ascend the throne, as long as Lu Jianguo and his people are not crazy, they will definitely follow you back."

Zheng Lian nodded slightly when he heard this. At this time, Lu Jianguo and his group had to rely on Huang Binqing for food. Suddenly, they heard that Fujian Province wanted to support them. How could they not come? Even if Lu Jianguo didn't want to come, his ministers would force him to come.
Zheng Cai stared at one sentence and then continued to speak

"Zheng Zhilong will leave for Fuzhou in five days, which is the tenth day of the lunar month. You must bring Lu Jianguo back to Fujian Province as soon as possible."

"The day Zheng Zhilong sets out to surrender to the Qing Dynasty is the day for us to launch our movement. As long as Zheng Zhilong has left Anping, I will take action immediately and recruit Zheng's generals to surrender in the name of Lu Jianguo. As long as this can be accomplished, we brothers will be the new masters of the Zheng family."

Zheng Cai's eyes were full of spirit, and Zheng Xiang thought of the power of Zheng Zhilong, Zheng Hongkui and others in Fujian Province, and a trace of heat flashed in his eyes.

Zheng Lian's expression brightened, and he nodded heavily to Zheng Cai, then hurried out of the room and began to prepare to go to Zhoushan to welcome back Lu Jianguo.
(End of this chapter)