Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 1127 Similar
Although Zhu Shenzhui was somewhat surprised that Zhu Mincheng specifically asked for Li Dingguo, he had to admit that whether it was Zhu Mincheng's own idea or someone else's idea, asking for Li Dingguo would be of great benefit to his subsequent overseas establishment of a kingdom.

Zhu Shencui was very clear about Li Dingguo's abilities. What was more important was that although Li Dingguo came from a bandit family, he was not lacking in righteousness. Otherwise, he would not have such a great reputation in later generations.

If he went to Zhu Mincheng, he would not only be able to help Zhu Mincheng command the army, but also suppress those unruly Eight Banners soldiers. With Li Dingguo around, Zhu Mincheng would have no worries in the New World.

Thinking of this, Zhu Shenzhui could not help but laugh and curse. In his heart, he was inclined to give Li Dingguo to Zhu Mincheng, and he also agreed to the request of the Eight Banners. After all, this was his son. Once he went overseas, he would not be able to take care of him like in the Ming Dynasty. Without reliable people around him, he, as a father, would not be at ease!

Coincidentally, the memorial (letter) written to Zhu Shenzhu together with Prince of Song Zhu Mincheng also came from Charles II.

The meaning expressed by Charles II in the letter was surprisingly the same as what Zhu Mincheng thought. In the name of the King of England, Charles II first congratulated the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty on his great and glorious military victory in Liaodong. After a lot of flattering words, he changed the subject and requested the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, hoping that Zhu Shenzhu would give some help to him in ascending the throne of Britain in the future for the sake of the friendship between the two countries and individuals.

In fact, the latter issue had been raised during the initial audience, but Zhu Shenzhui did not comment at the time. He did not refuse but did not agree directly either. Instead, he put the issue aside. After all, Charles II would stay in Ming for two or three years, and it was still a long time before he would return. It was too early to discuss this issue now. He had planned to consider this issue when Charles II left Ming, but he did not expect that he would bring up the old issue again.

This time, not only did he bring up the old things again, but he also specifically talked about the great victory of the Ming Dynasty in Liaodong. Then Charles II asked him to allow him to recruit mercenaries from the captured elite Eight Banners, intending to take these people to prepare for his future return to Europe and Britain.

Charles II had a sharp eye. After learning about the Jiannu's uprising during the Wanli period and their achievements against the Ming Dynasty in the thirty years after the Battle of Sarhu, especially the rumor among the people that "if there are less than ten thousand Eight Banners, there will be no enemy, and if there are more than ten thousand, there will be no enemy", he keenly saw an opportunity. This opportunity was to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty's defeat of the Jiannu and capture of the elite Eight Banners and target these capable and battle-hardened Eight Banners soldiers.

In Europe, when two countries go to war, there are rarely any real wars of annihilation, which is somewhat similar to the early Spring and Autumn Period in China.

Although the various vassal states fought against each other, everyone maintained aristocratic etiquette. Whether it was the start of a war or the process of fighting, including the handling after the war, everything was carried out strictly in accordance with the etiquette.

For example, there were several principles of non-war at that time, which can be summarized as "two no fighting" and "three no killing".

The so-called "two no's" means not to fight a war without a reason, and not to fight a war that the other side is not prepared for. The so-called "no reason" means that you cannot attack the other side without any fault, and as for not fighting a war that the other side is not prepared for, it means to notify the other side before the war, for example, "someone, I am coming to fight you, the specific time will be at a certain time the day after tomorrow, and the attack will be launched from a certain place. I will send someone to notify you first, you go and prepare, and then we will compete here, etc."

Some people in later history books mocked Duke Xiang of Song for his benevolence, but this was because those who mocked him for being pedantic did not understand what etiquette was. Duke Xiang of Song's way of fighting and the orders he issued were completely in accordance with etiquette, and although he was defeated, he also won the respect of most people at that time. In the late Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the so-called etiquette was completely destroyed, which is the origin of the so-called "unrighteous war" in history books.

As for the three no-kill rules, they seem even more ridiculous now. The so-called three no-kill rules are not to kill those who surrender, not to chase after the enemy who has exhausted himself, and not to kill the enemy who is injured. These etiquettes are simply inconceivable in the later history of Chinese wars, but at that time they were tacitly accepted and followed by all countries and formed a strict system.

Compared with China, the wars of the Western European countries had some of the war etiquette style of the early Spring and Autumn Period, and the observance of this rule was called "aristocratic demeanor" by Western countries and continued. Therefore, in the conquests of European countries, there were not many cases of actual destruction and annexation of countries. Even if the king of the other party was killed on the battlefield, they would often tacitly allow the other kingdom to re-elect a king, or even invite nobles with blood ties to the former king from abroad to serve as king to continue the country's prosperity.

Although Charles II had lived in the Ming Dynasty for a period of time and had a good understanding of the situation in the Ming Dynasty, and he had also learned a lot of Eastern culture, including political knowledge, in the Imperial Academy, but fundamentally, his thoughts were still Western, so he did not think there was anything wrong with asking the Ming Emperor for the captured Eight Banners elite as mercenaries.

In Charles II's view, since the elite Eight Banners were so good at fighting, and the so-called Qing Dynasty had been destroyed, these people had lost their homeland, and as professional soldiers, the only ability they possessed was to fight.

These people were useless and even a nuisance in the Ming Dynasty, but they were extremely useful to Charles II. If he could recruit hundreds or even thousands of elite soldiers as his guards and make them swear allegiance to him, then Charles II would have a military force that could compete with thousands of troops. This force might not be very useful in a war of tens of thousands of people, but when necessary, such as when changes occurred in Britain and the opportunity for him to return to Britain and ascend the throne came, then this army could protect him and return to Britain, and eventually ascend the throne and become the true King of Britain.

Moreover, with this army that was absolutely loyal to him and could not be won over by others because of their ethnicity, Charles II had enough confidence to reform Britain's political system and official selection system after he ascended the throne. He changed Britain's political situation according to what he had learned in the Ming Dynasty, thereby strengthening the royal power and becoming the greatest king in British history.

After reading the letter from Charles II, Zhu Shenzui had to admit that this guy was indeed quite capable. Not only did he discover this opportunity at the most appropriate time, but he also made the most reasonable request.

For a while, Zhu Shenzhui hesitated about Charles II's request. Should he agree to it or not? It was easy to agree. The court had to solve the problem of the Eight Banners anyway, and giving Charles II a few hundred men from the Eight Banners was nothing, even if there were more. But Zhu Shenzhui felt uncomfortable with the request. After thinking about it, he decided to put it aside for a while, and then meet Charles II in person in a few days to have a good talk with him, and then decide on the matter.

After the Liaodong War ended, the follow-up in Liaodong was still going on, but the captured Jiannu high-ranking officials had been sent to the capital one after another. There was already a plan for how to deal with these people. A group of them had to be killed. Those guys whose hands were stained with the blood of Ming soldiers and civilians could not be killed to appease the public anger. Moreover, the losses suffered by the Ming Dynasty in so many years of war could not be let off in vain.

However, there are also quite a few people who will be spared and let off the hook. These people will grow their hair and change their clothes like other people, and then change their names and settle down separately. Some will be kept in the capital, which is equivalent to house arrest. But there are also some people who are different, such as Hauge, who is an exception. The treatment and arrangement of Hauge's subordinates is a special case.

Hauge came to the capital only after Liaodong was basically pacified and he assisted the Ming army in eliminating the remaining resistance forces in various parts of Liaodong.

It has to be said that Hauge was also a ruthless person. Although he surrendered to the Ming Dynasty out of helplessness, he was also forced by Dorgon. Because of Dorgon, Hauge could no longer gain a foothold in the Qing Dynasty at that time, and there was no way out for him. The eldest son of Huang Taiji, the heir of the Qing emperor, fell to this point. The resentment in Hauge's heart can be imagined.

Faced with the question of survival or destruction, Hauge finally chose to surrender to the Ming Dynasty and use his hands to help the Ming Dynasty destroy the regime established by his grandfather and father. Although Hauge was full of resentment and the idea of ​​breaking the jar at the beginning, as the entire Qing Dynasty was finally destroyed by himself and the Ming army, his old rival Dorgon fled in embarrassment, and Bumbutai and his good brother Fulin were missing, Hauge not only did not feel guilty, but the anger in his heart was released, and he felt extremely happy.

After Liaodong was basically pacified, Wang Jinwu received orders and decrees from the capital, asking Hauge to go to the capital to meet the Ming Emperor Zhu Shenzhui.

Although Hauge had made preparations for going to the capital, he was still a little nervous when he really set out on the journey to the capital.

The last time he came to the capital was during the Ji Yi Rebellion. At that time, Hauge followed Huang Taiji to lead the troops to fight. But now he came to meet the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty as a surrendered minister of the Ming Dynasty. Things have changed. When Hauge arrived in the capital, he had mixed feelings.

The last time he came to the capital, he only led his troops around the capital and saw only the magnificent city walls. But this time he entered the capital and was at the core of the empire.

On the second day after arriving in the capital, Haoge entered the palace. Due to his special status and the fact that he was not brought to the capital as a prisoner, Zhu Shenzui did not meet him at the morning court, but met Haoge in a side hall of the Qianqing Palace.

When Haoge arrived at the Qianqing Palace, looking at the magnificent palace in front of him, and the guards standing upright around him, he felt the solemnity of the palace. At this moment, he had an indescribable feeling in his heart. This is the capital of the Ming Dynasty, this is the palace of the Ming Dynasty! His grandfather and father had dreamed of occupying this place countless times but failed. However, he came here, but he came to meet the emperor as a minister.

(End of this chapter)