You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Feng Xifan took a deep breath and tried his best to organize his thoughts.

“King Yanping, the soldiers support and respect you, and are willing to go through fire and water for you, but you can’t lead your brothers to jump into the fire pit.”

"You're saying we're bound to lose before the battle has even started?"

"Yes! We can't win against the entire empire with the tiny territory of Fujian!!"

"According to you, why did we raise an army to resist the tyrannical Qing in the first place? Wouldn't it have been better to just surrender?"

"How can that be the same? The Qing Dynasty is a foreign power, while the United Empire is Han Chinese. Regardless of victory or defeat, at least the spoils will remain within our own borders. Your Highness, you must at least have a place where you rose to power, right? Dayuan is that place. It's a place where we can advance or retreat, where we can go north to contend for hegemony or go south to establish a foothold in the South Seas. Dayuan must be taken."

"Get out! Get out of here!"

Zheng Sen hit and kicked repeatedly.

Feng Xifan, looking disheveled, had just stepped out of the backyard when he happened to run into Liu Rushi, who was entering.

When the two passed each other.

"Madam, please stay."

"Lord Feng, what brings you here?"

"So that Madam may know that we, the 30 soldiers, are of one mind with Madam, supporting the Prince of Yanping's expedition across the sea to the east, and absolutely not supporting the Prince of Yanping's war against the central government. We hope that Madam will whisper some words in his ear."

Liu Rushi blushed slightly.

"Lord Feng, what is the Prince's own opinion?"

"Your Highness is indecisive. Another year has passed, and Batavia has once again reinforced its troops in Chihkan City. If we wait any longer, Dayuan may become an impregnable fortress."

Why don't you all offer some advice?

"I can't persuade them."

"Lord Feng, the sage said that there are five methods for ministers to advise the monarch: cunning advice, blunt advice, reprimanding advice, direct advice, and satirical advice. The sage believed that advice should be given according to the ruler's wishes."

"Then, Madam, which kind of advice do you think is appropriate?"

Liu Rushi then changed the subject.

"Lord Feng, you must know that I have served as a lady-in-waiting to the Grand Secretary for a long time and know a bit about military and national affairs. There are quite a few people in Fujian who are planning to defect to the court."

"Madam, is this true?"

"It's true."

Feng Xifan's face darkened. The Zheng Group was a complex entity, a profit-driven merchant-armed group. Under immense pressure, internal discord was inevitable.

"Madam, may I be taught?"

"Since you eat the king's food and share his worries, you subordinates may have to take on some of the blame. What do you think, Lord Feng?"

Feng Xifan took a deep breath, clasped his hands in greeting, and left.

……

That night~
Zheng Jing's residence.

"Your Highness, Lord Feng requests an audience."

"Is he alone?"

"Yes, Lord Feng came alone, and he didn't go through the main gate."

"Where is he?"

"At the back door."

Zheng Jing instantly realized what was happening, and in his haste, he didn't even have time to put on his boots, running barefoot out of the house.

back door.

"Greetings, Prince."

"Brother Feng, there's no need for such formalities. Please come in."

After entering the house~
With the help of the lights, Feng Xifan realized that Zheng Jing had come out barefoot to greet him, and he was instantly relieved.

Politics is ruthless!

Born into the imperial family, father and son were both allies and political enemies.

After dismissing all servants.

Zheng Jing bowed:

"Brother Feng, what brings you here so late at night?"

"Your Highness, the Prince is seriously ill and unable to attend to state affairs. However, the war is imminent and must be launched. I am very anxious and have come to ask Your Highness to take charge of the situation."

"no no!"

Zheng Jing quickly waved his hand.

“I am my father’s son. My father is still alive. How can I seize power and take his place? This would be disloyal and unfilial. No, no!”

Feng Xifan understood perfectly.

He rose from his seat and knelt down.

"Your Highness, there is only one month a year when the Taiwan Strait is calm and free of strong winds and waves. If we miss it, we will have to wait another year. The best time to cross the sea is right before us, and 30 soldiers are eagerly awaiting our arrival."

"Your Highness, you cannot stand by and watch 30 soldiers perish at sea."

"Your Highness, please don't be so rigid."

Zheng Jing turned away in anguish.

"Lord Feng, I'm afraid I'll be remembered with a bad reputation for generations to come."

"Your Highness should prioritize the greater cause; history is impartial."

……

After a long silence.

Zheng Jing sighed, turned around, helped Feng Xifan up, and said resolutely, "Lord Feng, my father is seriously ill, and I am young. I will have to rely on you a lot in the future."

"Your Highness, rest assured, the Feng family has been loyal to the Zheng family for generations, and we would go through fire and water and die without hesitation."

The two held hands and faced each other.

The alliance was formally concluded.

Zheng Jing, who was punished and nearly lost his life for having an affair with his father's concubine, coincidentally shared the same views as Feng Xifan, a key member of the Zheng Group.

From then on, the two contacted key figures such as Liu Guoxuan, Zhou Quanbin, Gan Hui, and Feng Xin, and decided to act first and inform them later, thus sidelining Zheng Sen.

If this is not possible, then the sixth form of remonstrance—military remonstrance—will be implemented, in addition to the other forms of remonstrance, such as cunning remonstrance, blunt remonstrance, remonstrance of surrender, remonstrance of directness, and remonstrance of satire.

……

Haicheng.

High security.

On the city wall, the garrison commander Huang Wu stared at a flock of seagulls circling overhead, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

A sound of armor plates rubbing together came from behind me.

Lieutenant Su Mao bowed slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "This humble general greets the Commander-in-Chief."

The words have not yet fallen.

Huang Wu suddenly turned around, drew his knife and slashed fiercely. Su Mao was caught off guard and his neck was cleaved open, blood gushing out immediately.

Su Mao wanted to run away.

He was stopped by several guards and hacked to death on the spot.

Huang Wu wiped his sword with the crook of his arm and said in a low voice, "Arrest people according to the list and take control of the city's defenses."

"As ordered."

The 500 armored soldiers who had been prepared beforehand acted swiftly, killing more than 30 of Zheng Sen's loyal subordinates within half an hour. Huang Wu finally took control of Haicheng.

The Zheng flag, which had been flying atop the city wall for years, fell, and a brand new black and red dragon flag rose.

Huang Wusheng ascended the tent.

Inform all subordinate officers.

“Brothers, the Prince of Yanping intends to rebel. He is courting death, but we will not die with him. Half a year ago, I sent someone to contact the capital. I hereby declare that from this day forward, Haicheng submits to the court.”

"From this moment forward, anyone who dares to approach Haicheng will be killed without mercy."

"Quickly send someone to Guangzhou to request reinforcements, asking them to send troops north to coordinate with Haicheng from afar."

The biggest impact of Huang Wu's surrender was that all the military rations, 150,000 suits of armor, and 300,000 catties of gunpowder stored in Haicheng City were handed over to Chiang Kai-shek.

It was two days later when the Zhangzhou government realized something was wrong.

……

Fuzhou.

Feng Xifan hurriedly went to find Zheng Jing.

"Your Highness, it's terrible! Huang Wu has rebelled!"

"what?"

Zheng Jing was so frightened that he trembled.

Unlike other places, Haicheng Fortress is the stronghold and key location of the Zheng Group.

"Damn it!"

"Does Father know?"

"Don't know yet."

"This is a matter of great importance, and Father King needs to make the decision himself."

"As ordered."

At Zheng Jing's instruction, a guard from the royal tent brought the military report sent by Zhangzhou Prefecture into the house.

Soon, Zheng Sen's voice came from inside.

"Huang Wu! You scoundrel!"

Then the guards stumbled out.

"Quickly summon a doctor, the prince has vomited blood again."

Overwhelmed by anger, Zheng Sen vomited blood, his face turning ashen.

……

Inside and outside the governor's office, sentry posts were everywhere, and the security was tight.

"stop!"

"Get out of the way!"

Zheng Jing roared, and the guards quickly retreated.

The next second, Zheng Jing and Feng Xifan led a group of civil and military officials into the house in a valiant manner.

They all knelt down in unison.

"Father, please give the order. 30 soldiers are ready to cross the sea, drive out the foreign barbarians, and recover Da Yuan."

Zheng Sen was initially taken aback, then his expression changed drastically. He struggled to his feet and looked around at everyone present.

"you?"

Everyone lowered their heads in silence.

Zheng Jing crawled forward on his knees.

"Father, attacking the commander is the popular choice. The sailors have already boarded the ships, the warships have weighed anchor, everything is ready, and we are just waiting for your order."

Zheng Sen burst into uncontrollable laughter, vomiting blood as he laughed.

"Okay, okay."

Zheng Jing stood up.

"The Prince of Yanping has ordered that the plan remain unchanged and the attack on Dayuan proceed." "Yes, sir."

Everyone readily accepted the order and left.

Zheng Jing leaned down and lowered his voice: "Father, please take good care of yourself. The generals will take care of the crossing."

Zheng Sen closed his eyes and remained silent.

Zheng Jing left sheepishly.

Anyone with eyes to see clearly knows that from this moment on, the power of the Zheng Group has fallen from Zheng Sen's hands to his son Zheng Jing and his confidants led by Feng Xifan.

Even if Zheng Sen recovers, he will not be able to regain power.

In fact, Zheng Sen can no longer fully recover.

……

Half a mile away from the governor's office, there is a small building.

Liu Rushi was shocked upon hearing the news.

The maid suddenly knocked on the door.

"Miss, there is a Lord Feng Xifan outside who requests an audience."

"please come in."

A quarter of an hour later.

Feng Xifan met the dignified yet nervous Liu Rushi.

"Madam, before his departure, the Prince of Yanping bestowed upon you 2000 taels of gold. The Prince of Yanping has given an oral decree that, from this moment on, you may go wherever you wish."

"Omuta?"

"The Prince of Yanping will lead the expedition despite his illness."

Liu Rushi's expression changed slightly.

Feng Xifan was adept at reading people's expressions and demeanor.

"Madam, I have another request."

"Please speak, Lord Feng."

"May I ask my wife to write a letter to the Grand Secretary in the capital to inform him that there was a misunderstanding before. My Zheng army is about to cross the sea to attack Dayuan. I hope the central government can give us enough time to move our families in Fujian."

"Don't worry, Lord Feng. The Grand Secretary is Liu Bang. He may be cunning, but he is never despicable."

"This humble official kowtows to express his gratitude to the Grand Secretary for his imperial grace."

Feng Xifan knelt and bowed respectfully to Liu Rushi, performing the three kowtows and nine prostrations meticulously.

……

The Zheng Group has changed course.

Those who were connecting in various places could not turn back; they continued to act according to plan.

February 22nd.

The snowstorm in the south is gradually stopping.

With ample funding and incited by officials and gentry, tens of thousands of people embarked on the journey to the provincial capital, including local ruffians,江湖人士 (jianghu figures), and ordinary people who were unaware of the truth.

A large and impressive group of people~
The journey was smooth.

In fact, since last year, local governments have been standing idly by, and this ambiguous attitude has fueled everyone's ambitions and caused many onlookers to give up their respect for the government.

The team continued to grow larger along the way.

The thugs and ruffians mixed in with the group requisitioned grain everywhere, seized pigs and slaughtered sheep, and humiliated women with no restraint.

Zhangshu Town, Jiangxi Province.

A village.

"Sir, you can't lead him."

"You audacious scoundrel! We, the righteous people, defend Confucius and Mencius, yet you won't even offer a pig as a sacrifice?"

A group of thugs wielding sticks beat the pleading farmer, and before leaving, they stripped the clothes off the women in the house as souvenirs.

……

Nanchang!

Wuchang!

Jiangning!

Hangzhou!

Kunming!

The same scene was observed everywhere.

Only Chengdu and Changsha were very quiet.

Last year~
The memory of Li Guoying and Meng Qiaomei's violent suppression was still fresh in their minds, causing officials and gentry in Sichuan and Hunan provinces to feel lingering fear, and they turned to the neighboring province instead.

Urgent dispatches from all over the country poured into the capital like snowflakes.

It's understandable that the governors and viceroys had concerns; such matters concerning the national system were simply not something that mere regional officials could comment on.

……

March 1st.

After indulging in wine and women for a long time, Chief Minister Chiang suddenly awoke from his hibernation, as if he had become a completely different person.

"The Grand Secretary has ordered us to march south and quell the rebellion."

Wherever the scouts went, the inner city was in an uproar, and the Banner Guards were sharpening their swords, eager to respond.

The barbarian guards will always be loyal to Rome!

Barbarian guards are born to kill!
Baoding Prefecture.

The New Army and the Zhili Green Standard Army are also making preparations before their departure.

Considering the long distance of the southern expedition, the New Army consisted entirely of musketeers and the Green Standard Army consisted entirely of lancers.

……

Yuquanshan Imperial Palace.

Jiang Qingyun was trying on a newly made chainmail when his mother, Wen, rushed in.

"All of you, step back."

"Yes."

The group of female guards left the house.

Wen got straight to the point: "Yun'er, I heard you're going to personally lead troops south?"

"Yes, we will set off tomorrow."

"How do you plan to deal with those people?"

"Forceful suppression".

"Yun'er, aren't you afraid of leaving a bad reputation?"

“Mother, you are wrong. For a monarch, cruelty is not the original sin; cowardice and weakness are. What I’m saying may go against the natural order, but it’s absolutely true to reality. I’m taking this opportunity to inflict enough devastation on my opponents in one fell swoop, so that they will be powerless to resist for 30 years.”

Ms. Wen felt a chill rising from the soles of her feet.

"What about 30 years from now?"

Jiang Qingyun burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, if I'm still alive 30 years from now, those cowards won't dare to make a move. If I'm dead, it won't be my turn to think about it. Each generation can only do the things of its own generation."

……

March 8th.

Jiangning.

The city gates are closed.

Outside the city, tents and shacks lined up one after another, stretching all the way to the horizon.

The words of a sage cannot be altered.

Scholars are the backbone of the nation.

"Punishment does not apply to high-ranking officials, and etiquette does not apply to commoners."

"Impeach the Grand Secretary and uphold justice."

Long live the Ming Dynasty!

"Confucian classics are an unchanging doctrine for all ages; not a single word can be altered!"

"As long as Chiang Kai-shek remains in power, the empire will not be at peace."

All sorts of random notices were posted everywhere.

……

On the city wall.

The two officers whispered to each other.

"I don't quite understand how these rioters outside are being fed and paid?"

"They are probably gentry and gentlemen."

"How much will this cost?"

"That's a lot."

"How long do we have to wait?"

"I think it'll be soon, all it takes is one more order from above!"

The two officers exchanged a glance, and saw joy in each other's eyes.

"Hey, you keep an eye on things for a bit, I'm going downstairs for a bit."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to feed the horses and sharpen the knife."

"Hehehe, let me tell you, you'd better sharpen your knife a few more times, otherwise your knife will become dull and you'll just be staring at heads helplessly."

at this time.

The officer looked again at the shadowy crowd outside the city and saw that they were all handsome and accomplished, with distinguished features.

……

outside the city.

A passenger ship is floating on the Yangtze River.

In the cabin.

Some of the leaders who organized the operation gathered together.

The boat is full of righteous people.

To uphold the orthodox tradition.

An elderly man stood up, signaling for silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news and bad news."

"First, the good news! More than half of the civil officials and clerks in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hubei and Shandong provinces support us. Although they haven't done anything openly, they have provided us with a lot of convenience behind the scenes."

Everyone nodded.

If it weren't for the civil officials turning a blind eye, such a massive operation, including the procurement of grain and the migration across borders, would not have gone so smoothly.

"And the bad news?" (End of Chapter)