Xie Ming

Snow-covered boats welcome guests. North of Nanjing, within the water fortress camp on the shore, Xiao Lang, clad in a robe, greets Zheng Sen, son of Zheng Zhilong, the Fujian General.

When the person boarded the ship, Xiao acted as if he were very enthusiastic.

Seeing the situation, Zheng Sen also looked quite frightened and stunned, as this was a scene he had not expected.

However, since the Duke of Jingguo treated him so respectfully, he had no choice but to follow suit and put on a show of deference.

"Haha, get up quickly."

Why is my brother so formal?

"How was the journey? Was it smooth sailing?" Xiao asked with a smile, his words quite pleasant.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Sen bowed respectfully in response.

"With the Duke's military might, the Yangtze River flows smoothly and the journey is safe."

"And I have heard that in the recent battles in Huaibei, our Ming army is mighty and has already moved north again, recapturing Chuzhou, Fengyang, Shouchun and many other places."

"Okay, okay."

"This humble general is deeply impressed."

As he spoke, Xiao Jingchuan led the way, and they strolled to the left and right on the deck of Xiao Jun's main ship, gazing northwards.

"The Duke is a master strategist, a pillar of our Great Ming Dynasty, whose might shakes the northern frontier."

With the Duke of Deguo in charge, it seems that the Northern Expedition, the restoration of our country, and the return to the old capital are just around the corner.

Zheng Sengong offered empty words, which sounded pleasant, but it was hard to tell how much of it was genuine.

"Hahaha, my dear brother, you flatter me."

"What merit or ability do I, Xiao, have to accept such an unparalleled achievement?"

"The reason we are in this situation today is solely due to the bravery and dedication of the soldiers."

"By the blessing of the late emperor, the Ming Dynasty will endure forever."

"We are simply following the will of the people."

They came together with official documents, but Xiao didn't rush to discuss serious matters.

"Hehe, Your Excellency is too modest." Zheng Sen said.

“My dear brother, you and I… uh, of course, including your father, are both generals of the Ming Dynasty. As subjects, it is our duty to share the burdens of the court when things happen, huh?!”

Using the words he had just spoken, Xiao Jingchuan intentionally pointed the finger at Zheng Zhilong, observing him closely to gauge Zheng Sen's importance.

"Yes, the Duke is right."

Unexpectedly, it was hard to tell whether this child was overly cautious or simply a blockhead; in any case, he failed to respond to the first question.

Seeing this, Xiao had no choice but to pause and try to probe further, delivering his message a second time.

"Ugh"

"You don't know the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt until you're in charge of the household."

"Come, my brother, take a look."

"Is this water fortress still usable?"

"Everyone knows that when it comes to naval warfare, the Fujian Navy is unparalleled in the world and reigns supreme at sea."

"Give me some pointers and see if there's anything wrong with it."

Xiao's words were laced with hidden sharpness.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Sen knew that he was in a difficult position to answer. He took a deep breath and racked his brains to weigh the pros and cons.

"Ah, Your Excellency is too kind."

"While Fujian does indeed have some ships, they are only capable of maintaining stability in a small area; their combat capabilities still need to be assessed."

"On the way here, I have seen the Duke's naval warships, which are magnificent and imposing like a city wall. They are truly a model of a navy." It is always good to start with flattery and humble oneself.

Follow-up
"Uh"

"And there's more! Just now, when I entered the village gate, I saw that they had dug a moat to divert water, which stretched for several miles. The village gate was made of stone and cast in iron, and it was extremely sturdy."

"Multiple structures were set up, including barbicans, horse tracks, beacon towers, and watchtowers, to quickly monitor the river surface and transmit alarms."

"Well, hehe, this humble general has broadened his horizons and is greatly shocked. The coastal defense of Fujian is truly incomparable."

Upon hearing Zheng Sen's words, Xiao Jingchuan was not surprised. Instead, he remained cheerful and responded with a hearty laugh.

"Ha ha ha ha."

"Haha, my dear brother, you're not telling the truth!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Sen's forehead was already beaded with sweat.

"The five major strongholds in Fujian are Fenghuomen in Fuzhou, Xiaocheng in Fuzhou, Nanrishan in Xinghua, Wuyu in Quanzhou, and Tongshan in Zhangzhou." "Although I, Xiao, have not had the honor of visiting them in person, it is said that the extent of their jurisdiction and the strength of their construction far surpasses my temporary project."

These words clearly indicate that Xiao Lang was prepared and had conducted an investigation.

Startled, Zheng Sen found himself unable to refute, stammering and hesitating, revealing his fear.

"Uh, this... Your Excellency is truly a man of great talent, Duke. This humble...this humble general..."

Know when to stop, intimidate him for a while and then leave it at that, don't expose his true intentions, and seize the initiative.

"Hehe, okay, okay."

"This is our first meeting, I won't make things difficult for you."

"Oh, right."

"I've recently heard that your father has been unwell. How is he?"

"Are you feeling any better now?"

The conversation suddenly shifted, turning to Zheng Zhilong and using empty words to express concern and offer condolences.

"Ah, I am grateful for the Duke's concern. My father is getting old and has many old ailments from the pacification of the sea in his early years."

"This time, I caught a cold, which triggered an old ailment, and I have been bedridden for more than half a month."

"Before I left, my father said that he must apologize to you, the Duke, on his behalf."

"It was only right that His Majesty commanded him to personally lead the navy to assist in the battle, but..."

The words were carefully chosen and phrased, and the way they came out was very smooth.

After saying that, Zheng Sen seemed to realize that something was wrong. He looked up at Xiao Chu and stared at him, looking even more flustered. His expression was evasive, and he seemed to be ashamed.

"Hehe, it's alright, it's alright."

Seeing the situation, Xiao Jingchuan remained unmoved, his expression unchanged, his words cold and indifferent, showing no sign of emotion.

They just stood there, waiting for Zheng Sen to come up with a solution.

Embarrassed and embarrassed, Zheng Sen had no choice but to continue speaking.

"Uh"

"Lord Duke, previously, our Fujian army, misled and bewitched by Ma Fanshiying, rashly sent troops to Qianjiang Estuary, which led to some misunderstandings with your troops."

"On the way back to camp, my father, thinking of his own foolish and stupid behavior, would often sigh with regret and feel ashamed."

"What I fear is that this will provoke the Duke's wrath. This Fujian town, to put it bluntly, is nothing more than a small town with troops guarding a remote corner."

"It's not a big deal for the Duke to get involved in the editing and reorganization."

"I fear that because of us, the grand plan of the Northern Expedition and the major policies of the court will be disrupted."

“That would truly be a sin.”

"I hope the Duke will forgive me."

Having finally received this remark, Xiao Jingchuan's eyes gleamed, and he seized the opportunity to elaborate.

"Oh, my dear brother, what are you saying?"

"The events in Hangzhou that day were all the work of Ma Shiying, a traitor who colluded with the enemy."

"This boy is guilty of heinous crimes. He colluded with the Jurchens and attempted to overthrow the court."

“Your father, acting on a false imperial edict, led his troops here.”

"Although there was a mistake in oversight, those who are unaware of it will not be blamed."

"I, Xiao, still trust the reputation of loyalty and bravery of the Zheng family."

"This time, inviting the Fujian navy to sail into the Yangtze River to reinforce the Yangtze River defense line is indeed a national policy discussed by the court, and not a decision made by me on a whim."

"Oh, right, and hehe."

"Five days ago, just five days ago, I received your report from the north."

“I have already submitted a memorial to Hangzhou, requesting that your father be granted the title of Marquis of Pinghai.”

"My worthy brother is General Zhaoyong Jin, a third-rank official."

"how?"

"Is this arrangement appropriate?"

As a temporary expedient, given the current need for military force and personnel, rather than remaining silent and isolated in the southeast, it would be better to offer some favors and summon the Fujian navy by imperial decree.

Use them if they can, and even if they can't be used properly, it's still better than letting them become mercenaries in a strong place.

Thus, Xiao Lang, employing his strategic brilliance, took advantage of the winter cold and the lull in fighting between the north and south to orchestrate a deployment to probe their strengths and weaknesses. (End of Chapter)