Xie Ming

The banners on the four mountains are like rosy clouds in the clear sky, and the hooves of ten thousand horses come like a sudden rain.

After receiving General Xiao's order on the 23rd, Li Huchen's troops immediately set off south.

Banners fluttered wildly, creating an overwhelming force.

By the evening of the 25th, the vanguard of 5,000 light cavalry had passed Chongde, crossed Haining, and arrived at the designated assembly point in Tangzhen District.

It merges with the original work, which is connected to the successor of the original work in this location.

Meanwhile, Yuan Ping's cavalry, scattered throughout many prefectures and counties in Southern Zhili and Zhejiang, also successively rushed to attack.

Thus, the troops of Xu Jizu, Yuan Ping, and Li Huchen gathered in the east of Hangzhou.

After careful planning and deployment, scouts quickly spread throughout Haining, Tangzhen, Hangzhou, Xiaoshan, and Shaoxing, firmly controlling the situation at the head of the Qiantang River.

General Xiao received accurate information about the unusual movements of the Fujian troops on the 24th. The enemy's forces were overwhelming, so he had no choice but to drive his horse into Tangzhen early in the morning to take command of the central army and await the enemy's arrival.

I imagine that the Fujian navy also went to great lengths to mobilize its forces.

Entering the river from the sea, the warships encountered a typhoon at Sanshankou, resulting in significant losses.

The navy was largely under the command of its commanders, and the long sea stretching for more than ten miles made it difficult to keep track of both ends. As a result, the journey was slowed down, which was to be expected.

It wasn't until the early hours of the 26th that the leading warship of the Fujian navy, which had come from the north, finally approached the northeast section of Shaoxing.

At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), thick fog rose from many places along the Qiantang River.

A gentle breeze blew across the river, but the thick fog clung to the river and refused to dissipate.

Fujian warships quietly advanced westward, piercing through the clouds and mist, until the dragon-shaped warship suddenly appeared before their eyes.

On the broad deck, Governor-General Zheng Zhilong stood with his hands behind his back under the command flag.

Its armor was imposing, and after standing for a long time, a layer of water vapor had condensed on the eaves of its shoulders, with occasional drops of dew rolling down.

The banners could not be unfurled in the gentle breeze, hanging half-suspended, and seemed even more silent in the mist.

The entire ship was silent, with only the continuous sound of the pointed hull cutting through the waves.

Crunch, crunch.
"Father!"

Suddenly, a major general stepped out from behind. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. He was Zheng Zhilong's son, Zheng Sen.

Suddenly hearing his son call from behind, Zheng Zhilong was momentarily distracted, snapping out of his reverie and regaining his composure.

He stroked his green beard and turned his gaze back.

"Oh? Sen'er's here." Zheng Zhilong responded with an air of authority despite his lack of anger.

"Father, this morning there was a thick fog on the river, and it was difficult to see the banks on both sides."

"Continuing to sail like this might be unwise; wouldn't it be too risky?"

"Should we gradually bring the fleet to a stop and wait for the fog to dissipate before setting off again?"

His son, Zheng Sen, clasped his hands in a respectful manner and, with the demeanor of an official, devised a plan to assess the military situation.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this cautious advice, Zheng Zhilong was quite dismissive and laughed three times with his head tilted back.

"Well, hahaha, my son, you're overthinking it."

"My Fujian Navy is unparalleled in the world; who can rival it?"

"A little river mist is nothing to worry about."

"It's alright to go at dawn." He spoke with considerable self-confidence.

After a pause, General Zheng glanced sideways at his son, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"Now that the late emperor has just passed away, the country cannot be without a ruler for even a day."

"My return to public life is perfectly timed."

"When the time comes, we will help the young emperor ascend the throne, and we will have the merit of supporting the emperor's ascension."

"Why worry that great things cannot be accomplished?!"

Zheng Zhilong harbored treacherous schemes, believing he had everything under control. He was full of ambition and concealed his true intentions.

However, to his surprise, his son Zheng Sen clearly did not agree with his plans.

The father and son had different temperaments and their ambitions were also at odds.

Seeing his father's arrogant demeanor, Zheng Sen felt conflicted, his worries and anxieties weighing heavily on his mind, difficult to express.

Unable to hide it any longer, he let out a sigh, pouring another bucket of cold water on his father's head.

"Ugh"

"Son, I just think that the prince is too young."

"The ruler is young and the country is in doubt."

"We don't know where we'll end up, so let's just take it one step at a time."

Zheng Sen's disheartening words.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhilong was indeed displeased and immediately turned hostile.

He seemed to be frustrated that his son hadn't achieved his potential. In fact, this wasn't the first time father and son had engaged in such a verbal debate.

Zheng Zhilong was a domineering and conservative man who often considered himself a local tyrant.

This trip north is nothing more than an attempt to expand territory.

They have no real intention to protect the country and its people; they are more interested in militarism and seizing people and territory.

It is lamentable that his son, Zheng Sen, although he had been wandering in Japan for many years and had only recently entered the court as a military advisor, had been well-versed in the classics and history since childhood and harbored the idea of ​​saving the world and the country, as well as the intention of being a loyal minister and a good general.

Therefore, when it came to the political situation and how they planned to secure their livelihoods, the two inevitably found themselves at odds.

Zheng Zhilong has also recently felt that this son has grown too big and is difficult to control.

He then repeatedly suppressed and deliberately kept her in front of him for constant reprimands and guidance, hoping to win her back and change her mind.

"Alas, the young lord must rely on heroes."

"I, Zheng, have spent decades in Fujian, and it wasn't easy to build this business."

"We don't act until we see the rabbit."

"Whether this trip can achieve anything is of great importance."

"Sen'er, I brought you out here so that you can gain experience. Don't be so suspicious and paranoid anymore."

"If it affects the morale of the soldiers, then..."

"Humph!"

"Don't blame your father for not forgiving you then."

Zheng Zhilong intentionally pointed out his meaning, urging him to be mindful of his words.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Sen was unreasonable and stubborn. Even now, he was still obstinate and argumentative, bringing up the very things that were most offensive.

"I regret it."

"Father, to this day I still don't understand why, when the Qing army launched a large-scale southward invasion half a year ago, you insisted on using Mother's serious illness as an excuse to send me back to Fujian?"

"I," Zheng Sen, grumbled.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhilong glared at him with his tiger-like eyes and waved his hand, immediately cutting off any further attempts to pursue the matter.

"Okay!"

"I have already told you about this matter."

"Don't mention it again." Zheng Zhilong was already annoyed.

"But," Zheng Sen said, lacking a sense of proportion, and at this moment still wanted to argue his point.

He was frustrated that his son was not capable of achieving anything, so his father tossed his cloak aside and sneered.

"But what?"

"The Manchu Eight Banners cavalry were all incredibly brave and fierce. As they marched south, they swept away Shandong and Huaibei, like autumn leaves being blown away by the wind."

"If I don't make up a pretext to drag you back, what can you do?"

"To die for the country while shielding that brat Hongguang?!"

"Ridiculous! This is blind loyalty!"

"Impossible."

After sweeping around and finding no one, Zheng Zhilong lowered his voice, pointed, and began to curse.

"Father, how could you slander the late Emperor like this?"

"No matter the circumstances, time or place, you and I are both subjects of the Ming Dynasty."

"You came here today not also with the intention of saving the country and launching a northern expedition, didn't you?"

Zheng Sen upholds righteousness but is not concerned with trivial matters; he is stubborn and argumentative, often getting into trouble.

Hearing that the child had choked him, Zheng Zhilong sighed deeply, his expression becoming even more sinister, a wicked glint in his eyes.

"Heh, heh heh heh"

"The Northern Expedition."

"The Northern Expedition is great!"

"Who wouldn't want to be a hero in troubled times?!"

Yan Dun, clearly not wanting others to hear, tossed his head, took two steps forward, and then began to pose a new question.

"I never expected this, I never expected this."

"We originally thought that the southern court was doomed this time."

"Unexpectedly, the Duke of Jingguo appeared out of nowhere."

Xiao Jingchuan

This statement is tinged with considerable jealousy and resentment. (End of Chapter)