My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

He then bowed and said:

"Your Highness's wisdom and foresight are truly admirable! While I am in Fujian, I will certainly strengthen our troops, prepare our ships and cannons, and await Your Highness's command!"

Zhu Cilang nodded, his gaze returning to the window. The fleet was cutting through the blue waves, heading towards Fujian.

And in the distance, the dark coastline still stretches silently between the sea and the sky, as if silently telling the story of the past and awaiting its future destiny.

"Speed ​​up and head straight for Fujian."

Zhu Cilang gave the order.

"I obey!"

Zheng Zhilong responded loudly, turned around and walked out of the cabin to relay the order to the helmsman.

The massive fleet adjusted its sails, filled with wind, and carved a white trail across the vast East China Sea, heading towards the land that was about to stir up a new wave of turmoil.

After half a day's sailing, the outline of the distant land was becoming increasingly clear.

It wasn't an endless horizon, but rather rolling, dark green mountains and the faint outlines of city walls.

Zheng Zhilong pointed ahead, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of excitement and pride:

"Your Highness, the largest harbor ahead is 'Shijing'ao' outside Anping Town in Quanzhou Prefecture, which is also the ancestral home of my Zheng family. The dock is located at the east end of the town."

Zhu Cilang gazed into the distance and nodded.

Unlike the grand official welcoming scene in Nanjing, where banners covered the sun and crowds thronged the streets, the scene at Anping Town Wharf, though still filled with a dense crowd and fluttering colorful flags, was much smaller in scale and had a more local feel.

This is understandable, as the scale of the Crown Prince's tour and the Emperor's southern tour are vastly different.

Moreover, Fujian is far from the political center, so this trip was more of a "family visit," and the pomp and circumstance naturally did not need to be as extravagant as that in Nanjing.

The ship slowly sailed into the bay, and the scenery on the shore gradually became clear.

The dock and surrounding open space were already crowded with people.

At the very front stood local Fujian officials dressed in various official robes, from the Fujian Provincial Administration Commissioner, Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, and Provincial Military Commander to local officials such as the Prefect of Quanzhou, Assistant Prefect, and Magistrate of Jinjiang County, all standing solemnly according to their rank.

They were already extremely honored to be qualified to greet the emperor here, since most people did not have the opportunity to go to Nanjing to pay homage to the emperor.

At this moment, everyone looked respectful and repeatedly adjusted their clothes.

Following the officials were prominent local gentry, elders, and business representatives.

Next came the largest and most excited group of people, namely the members of the Zheng clan.

From elderly clan members with white hair to young children, almost all members of the Zheng clan in Anping Town and the surrounding area who could come came out in droves.

The men, dressed neatly, tried to stand up straight, while the women and children crowded behind them, craning their necks in anticipation.

For them, the Crown Prince's arrival was not only a favor from the court, but also a tremendous honor for the Zheng family! Although the Emperor's absence was somewhat regrettable, the arrival of the future emperor was of equal significance. Moreover, the Crown Prince's trip also had the intention of "returning home to his parents' home," so both in terms of etiquette and propriety, the entire Zheng family had to show the highest level of courtesy to welcome this incomparably noble "son-in-law."

Standing on the ship's side, Zheng Xiaomei could no longer contain her excitement and homesickness.

She gripped Qiqige's hand tightly, pointing to the approaching docks, familiar streets and houses, her voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Qiqige, look! That's my home!"

She recounted every detail of her hometown to this sister from the grasslands as if reciting a familiar story, her eyes sparkling with the unique light of a wanderer returning home.

Qiqige looked in the direction she was pointing, a gentle smile on her face, and softly praised:

"It is indeed a good place, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and a dense population. It is a different landscape from the northern grasslands."

However, deep within her clear and bright eyes, a trace of indescribable loneliness and homesickness flickered.

The gentle water town in the south before her eyes, with its exquisite buildings, bustling markets, and soft waves, was so different from the vast and boundless Mongolian grasslands she remembered.

Although she had witnessed unprecedented scenery and experienced the prosperity and civilization of Jiangnan in the past few months, what haunted her most deep in her heart was still that homeland where she could ride horses, gaze at the starry sky, and was full of freedom and wildness.

However, seeing Zheng Xiaomei so happy, she buried her homesickness deep inside, her smile remaining unchanged.

"Prepare to dock!"

Zheng Zhilong's loud voice rang out, and the sailors began to busily lower the sails and throw the mooring lines.

Zhu Cilang, surrounded by Zheng Zhilong and a group of Eastern Palace guards, walked to the gangway. Today, he was dressed in an apricot-yellow four-clawed python robe and a winged crown. Although he was only fifteen years old, he had long held a high position and had experienced many storms. He had a calm, composed, and authoritative demeanor that was quite different from his age, making him someone not to be underestimated.

The ship finally came to a smooth stop. After the gangplank was set up, the Imperial Guards and the Crown Prince's guards disembarked first, quickly clearing a passageway on the dock and setting up a perimeter.

Everything was ready, and the accompanying eunuchs began to sing:

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

In an instant, all the people waiting on the dock knelt down in unison, like waves of wheat blown down by the wind. Officials were in front, gentry in the middle, and commoners and clansmen behind, a dark mass of people.

"Your subject respectfully welcomes Your Highness the Crown Prince! Long live Your Highness! Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!"

"This humble subject respectfully welcomes Your Highness the Crown Prince! Long live Your Highness! Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!"

The shouts, though not as deafening and resounding as those at the Nanjing docks, were still orderly and loud, filled with the local enthusiasm and awe tinged with the smell of the sea.

Countless eyes secretly rose, scrutinizing the legendary Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty who stepped out of the imperial carriage with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

He had a handsome face and a commanding presence. Although he was young, he walked with a steady gait, and his gaze was so intense that it made people feel awe and dare not look him in the eye.

Indeed, he is of noble birth, with the bearing of a dragon and a phoenix!

Zhu Cilang wore a gentle yet dignified smile, raised his right hand slightly, and spoke in a clear, melodious voice:

"Everyone is safe."

"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

After everyone bowed again, they gradually stood up, but most of them still kept their hands at their sides and bowed.

Zhu Cilang first received a group of Ming Dynasty officials. Then, at Zheng Zhilong's signal, a group of men dressed in brocade robes and with extraordinary bearing quickly walked out from the crowd and came forward to bow deeply to Zhu Cilang once again.

Leading the group were several elderly men over fifty years old, including Zheng Zhilong's uncles Zheng Mao and Zheng Jing. Following them were Zheng Zhilong's brothers, such as Zheng Zhihu, Zheng Zhibao, and Zheng Zhipeng. Behind them were Zheng Zhilong's cousins ​​and prominent nephews. Almost all the prominent male members of the Zheng family were present.

As for the female relatives, most of them avoided the household according to etiquette and did not show up.

Zheng Zhilong quietly introduced each member of the Zheng clan to Zhu Cilang. Zhu Cilang nodded slightly to each of them and offered words of encouragement, such as "Minister Zheng has guarded the coastal frontier with great merit and hard work" and "The loyalty and bravery of the Zheng family are known to all in the court." These members of the Zheng clan, who were meeting the imperial family for the first time, were flattered and repeatedly said that they did not dare to accept such praise.

After the formalities were completed, Zheng Zhilong invited Zhu Cilang to board the ceremonial carriage of the Crown Prince that had come to greet him.

The carriage was accompanied by elite guards, with members of the Zheng clan and local officials following closely behind, forming a sizable procession. They left the dock and headed towards the most magnificent mansion in Anping Town.

The streets along the way had already been sprinkled with clean water, and the people were blocked by the soldiers on both sides of the street, all craning their necks to watch and discussing.

After Zheng Zhilong was granted the title of Marquis, the Zheng family carried out a large-scale expansion and renovation of this ancestral home. Today, the mansion covers a vast area, with pavilions, towers, carved beams and painted rafters, and is exceptionally grand.

However, upon closer inspection, its regulations, colors, and decorations, though extremely exquisite, strictly adhered to the boundaries of a marquis's residence, without any transgressions such as dragon and phoenix patterns or bright yellow glazed tiles that could only be used by princes or the imperial palace.

Zheng Zhilong was well aware of the treacherous nature of officialdom. He used to be able to act without restraint at sea, but now that he had submitted to the court, reached the highest position of the court, and was related to the imperial family by marriage, he was extremely careful to walk on the red line of "rites and regulations" and dared not give anyone a handle to use against him.

The imperial procession went directly to the main gate of the mansion.

Zhu Cilang, surrounded by Zheng Zhilong and his clansmen, entered the mansion, passed through many courtyards, and arrived at the main hall, "Haiyan Hall," which was used to receive distinguished guests.

At this time, the women of the household, dressed in full regalia according to their rank, were waiting quietly in the hall, led by Zheng Zhilong's several wives, such as Tian Chuanshi (Zheng Chenggong's birth mother) and Yanshi.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince enter, the women, introduced by Zheng Zhilong, all bowed respectfully, displaying impeccable manners and etiquette.

Zhu Cilang also treated him with courtesy and greeted him warmly.

Although from a kinship perspective, his mother-in-law was among these women, from the perspective of national etiquette, the proper order of ruler and subject must not be disrupted.

Zhu Cilang remained seated in the main seat throughout, receiving all their greetings without ever overstepping the bounds. The Zheng family women also understood this principle well, and in their behavior and speech, they dared not act as elders in the slightest.

The elaborate greeting rituals lasted for about an hour.

Subsequently, a grand welcoming banquet was held in the largest garden in the mansion, "Shequ Garden." The Zheng family went to great lengths and spared no effort for this banquet.

The park was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and a stage was erected. Famous chefs from Fuzhou and Quanzhou prepared a banquet featuring delicacies from land and sea.

Those invited to the banquet included accompanying officials, important local officials, all male members of the Zheng clan, prominent relatives and friends, as well as many wealthy merchants who had business dealings with the Zheng family or who were influential in Fujian.

The banquet was set up with hundreds of tables, and the number of guests reached two or three thousand! The sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, toasts and greetings rose and fell, and the atmosphere was lively and extraordinary.

Although this scene lacked the solemnity and grandeur of a royal banquet, it possessed a unique luxury and hustle characteristic of wealthy merchants and magnates in the southeastern coastal region, full of worldly vitality and ostentatious flair.

Zhu Cilang sat in the main seat with a smile on his face, accepting the toasts and praises from everyone. In his heart, however, he was calmly observing the various people at the table and assessing the true influence and foundation of the Zheng family in Fujian.

Meanwhile, the camera shifts to Liaodong, outside the Great Wall.

It's early summer, but the mornings in Liaodong are still chilly.

Half a year has passed since Hong Chengchou successfully instigated a fierce conflict between Regent Dorgon and Prince Su Hauge last autumn and winter.

Over the past six months, the internal situation of the Qing Dynasty has, on the surface, presented an unusual "calm".

Since that day when Hauge angrily led his elite troops away from Shengjing, he had been stationed in a border town near the Ming army's defense line and had never set foot in Shengjing again.

He publicly claimed that he was "strengthening the army and preparing for the Ming army," but in reality, he maintained a tacit and cold distance from Dorgon.

Meanwhile, Regent Dorgon, who held immense power in the Shengjing Imperial Palace, also displayed an extraordinary degree of "magnanimity" and "prudence" towards Hauge and his family during these six months.

He never issued any official decree summoning Hauge back to the capital, nor did he deliberately make things difficult for Hauge and his subordinates in terms of food and salary supplies, or official promotions.

Dorgon took extra care of Hauge's family members who remained in Shengjing, providing them with more supplies than before, frequently giving them gifts, and always sending greetings during festivals, fully demonstrating his attitude of "brotherly love and respect" and "considering the overall situation."

This was not because Dorgon had changed his mind, but rather due to the circumstances.

Hong Chengchou's clumsy yet vicious scheme to sow discord served as a mirror, reflecting the deep-seated rifts and suspicions within the hearts of the uncle and nephew, and indeed the entire Manchu nobility.

After calming down, Dorgon, Hauge, and other princes and beile such as Daišan, Jirgalang, and Ajige, who were watching from the sidelines, all knew perfectly well that this was clearly a trick by the Ming people!

Tragically, even knowing it's a trap, once the thorn has been planted, how easy is it to completely remove it without leaving a scar?

If Dorgon had knowingly attacked Hauge or his family despite knowing it was a Ming army counter-espionage plot, it would have been tantamount to telling everyone that he was narrow-minded and intolerant, and would have even confirmed the suspicion that he had something to hide.

What would other members of the royal family who already harbored doubts about the regent's authority think? Wouldn't they all feel insecure? With powerful enemies surrounding them and internal stability urgently needed, Dorgon could not afford such a risk of division.

Therefore, he could only adopt a "high-handed" approach, elevating the Hauge family to demonstrate his "fairness" and "magnanimity" and to appease the other members of the royal family.

As for Hauge, although he still harbored deep resentment towards Dorgon after this incident, he also knew that turning against him now would be of no benefit to either himself or the country.

He held two large armies and commanded troops in the field, which was, to some extent, a form of self-protection.

Since Dorgon had put on a show of not pressuring him, he was happy to keep his military power and observe the situation.

Thus, a delicate balance was formed among the Qing Dynasty's high-ranking officials.

On the surface, all was calm, and government and military affairs were running as usual. Although there were constant small-scale frictions on the border with Ming, no major war broke out.

However, beneath this calm surface, the undercurrents of suspicion and estrangement have never subsided; they have only been temporarily suppressed.

An atmosphere of "mutual respect as cold as ice" permeated the palaces of Shengjing and the military camps on the border.

West of Shengjing City, at the firing range of the Firearms Manufacturing Office.

This place was originally a secluded training ground, but now it is surrounded by fences and has been filled with targets and bunkers. The air is filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder and rust.

On one side of the firing range, there was a simple shed with a roaring fire inside and constant clanging sounds. It was a workshop for imitating the flintlock muskets of the Ming Dynasty army.

At this moment, on the firing range, several carefully selected Manchurian soldiers in white armor are conducting firearms drills with serious expressions.

The weapons they carried were not the bows and arrows or the old-fashioned matchlock guns commonly used by the Jurchens, but a uniquely designed firearm. It was a product of Jurchen craftsmen's imitation of the standard flintlock guns of the Ming army, which they had painstakingly acquired from the Ming army's defenses at great cost.

In other words, the Jurchens also had flintlock muskets! (End of Chapter)