Xu Wenjue saw Zhu Guobi cursing him, but smiled and said nothing. Xu Wenjue knew Zhu Guobi very well. This guy was not loyal to the Ming Dynasty and could do anything to protect his property.

Duke of Wei has lived in Nanjing for more than 200 years, and his deep foundation is not comparable to Zhu Guobi, a cross-river dragon. Although Zhu Guobi may have more property on the surface, secretly, Duke of Wei's property is several times more property than Zhu Guobi.

These days, Ma Cheng has been collecting grain in the city. Every family in the city has suffered. It is better for the great cause of the Wei Duke, but Zhu Guobi can't afford it when crossing the river. According to the information collected, Ma Cheng has extorted tens of thousands of stones of grain, other salt, silk, etc. in Zhu Guobi's home in the past few days. It is estimated that Zhu Guobi's losses are between 50,000 and 60,000 silver.

It is precisely because of this information that Xu Wenjue can feel at ease to persuade Zhu Guobi. Although Zhu Guobi just scolded Xu Wenjue for being unfaithful and unfilial, Xu Wenjue knew that this old guy was completely harsh and weak on the inside.

Zhu Guobi's situation was guessed by Xu Wenjue. The facts were even more serious than Xu Wenjue estimated. This time, Ma Cheng's collection of surplus grains caused Zhu Guobi to lose nearly 100,000 taels of silver. You should know that Zhu Guobi is not the Duke of Wei with deep roots. Zhu Guobi's foundation is weak in Nanjing. Only the property in his hands can bring a sense of security to Zhu Guobi.

Of course, losing some property did not make Zhu Guobi ruthlessly follow the path of treason. After Ma Cheng supported the new emperor and ascended the throne, the new emperor Zhu Lunkui rewarded all the meritorious ministers, but they forgot these nobles. However, this was not because Zhu Lunkui really forgot, but because the situation was urgent at that time, the Qing army besieged the city outside the city, and the situation in the city was unstable. Naturally, the general trend was to reward the Ma family father and son. As for the nobles, they had to wait until later.

However, Zhu Guobi was completely unacceptable to the emperor's actions. Zhu Guobi was once a garrison in Nanjing. In April of the first year of Hongguang, Emperor Hongguang Zhu Yousong issued an imperial edict and handed over to Ma Cheng to serve as an official. Afterwards, Zhu Guobi learned through his own channels that it was not an imperial edict issued by Zhu Yousong at all, but Ma Shiying made a reckless edict for his own interests. However, now Ma Shiying is a cabinet assistant and a minister of government affairs, and his son is still a commander-in-chief with military power. Zhu Guobi dared not say anything.

Political oppression and economic destruction made Zhu Guobi feel unjust, but he was weak and dared not do anything.

Today, Xu Wenjue came to him to discuss the surrender of the Qing Dynasty. Zhu Guobi had already agreed in his heart, but he was not sure whether Xu Wenjue was sincere, so he scolded Xu Wenjue for testing.

Xu Wenjue put down his wine glass and smiled: "Since my uncle is so loyal to Zhu Lunkui, please ask my uncle to tie up my nephew and hand it over to the bastard Ma Cheng!"

Zhu Guobi's big eyes turned twice, looked at Xu Wenjue for a long time, then sat down and said, "Today, for your father's sake, your father had a close relationship with me when he was alive, and I can't watch his successor be killed. Don't say such conspiracy again in the future!"

Seeing Zhu Guobi say this, Xu Wenjue didn't know what the old guy was thinking, Xu Wenjue whispered: "Uncle, what's wrong with the new emperor ascending the throne this time? Ma Cheng is still the guard of Nandu. I heard that Zhu Lunkui also wants to give Ma Cheng the position of governor, but I don't know that uncle has to do it.

What real job?"

Zhu Guobi was silent when he heard Xu Wenjue say this. Xu Wenjue knew that he had gone to Zhu Guobi's heart, so he encouraged even more: "Uncle, since the Nandu City cannot be defended, why should we still stick to it? Even if we can last for a year, we still have to pay our honors for money and food. In the end, we will make contributions to the Ma family. You and my nobles really compensated the wife and the soldiers! Since this is not as good as our nobles joining the army together, opening a city gate, and letting the Northern Guards in, then your property can be preserved, and you can also use the military merits of the city to seek a position in the Xin Dynasty. Isn't this much better than waiting to die in this Nandu City?"

Xu Wenjue said something similar to what Zhu Guobi thought. Since this city cannot be defended, it is better to surrender, at least your life can be preserved. Thinking of this, Zhu Guobi asked in a low voice: "It's easy to say, but now all the gates of the Nandu are in the hands of Ma Cheng, and they are heavily guarded. It's not easy to operate in practice! In addition to these, there are also things that have contact with the Northern Lu. You and I are both nobles of the Ming Dynasty. Can the Northern Lu believe it easily?"

Xu Wenjue heard Zhu Guobi say this and said, "Don't worry, uncle, my nephew is ready. Ma Cheng has a gang general named Chen Hongfan. His relatives are all officials in Beidu, especially Chen Hongfan's son-in-law Tang Qilong, who is the general of the Beilu. We can use this matter to threaten him and let Chen Hongfan convey the message to us! As for the matter of the city gate, we need the help of uncle. After all, uncle has served as a guard of Nandu, and there should be a few confidants in the army!"

Zhu Guobi also recognized Chen Hongfan. When Chen Hongfan and Zuo Maodi went north to negotiate, Chen Hongfan came back alone. At that time, the entire Nanjing officialdom suspected that Chen Hongfan had become a spy. However, in the end, Zuo Maodi, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, really surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. This proved what Chen Hongfan said. In addition, Chen Hongfan bribed Ma Cheng and became an official again.

Zhu Guobi nodded when he heard Xu Wenjue say this: "Okay, I'll solve it here at the city gate, but Chen Hongfan needs a nephew! There is also this matter, nephew should be careful about safety and never leak information!"

"Please rest assured about this. My nephew only found Anyuan Hou and several Dingyuan Hou families. Anyuan Hou Liu Zuochang is my elder brother's father-in-law, and Dingyuan Hou Deng Wenyu is my uncle. Both of these families are very reliable!"

Zhu Guobi knew that the Duke of Wei had been operating in Nanjing for more than 200 years and still had some strength.

"Okay, since that's the case, let's go separately. But be careful, that Ma Cheng is very cunning, don't let him get the news!"

Xu Wenjue nodded, stood up and said goodbye, and went home to prepare gifts to convince Chen Hongfan.

In fact, there is no need for Xu Wenjue to convince Chen Hongfan. At this time, Chen Hongfan was more anxious than anyone else. After Chen Hongfan came back from the north, although Ma Cheng took him in as a registered general, he did not give him any rights. What Chen Hongfan needs to do every day is to report to the yamen and sit in the yamen for a day. Even the ambassador in charge of the warehouse in the yamen had more power than him.

Although this is the case, Chen Hongfan did not dare to complain, because Chen Hongfan's sixth sense told him that Ma Cheng had begun to doubt him. In order not to reveal his strength, Chen Hongfan could only go to and from get off work on time every day, and strive to leave a good impression on Ma Cheng.

After sunset that day, Chen Hongfan got off work at normal times. As soon as he returned home, someone came to visit him. Please wait.

After entering the house, I found out that the person who came was Xu Wenjue, Duke of Wei. Duke of Wei held a banquet in the mansion tonight and invited General Chen Shen to enjoy his face.

Although Chen Hongfan used to be the rank of admiral, he is now only a third-rank general, and has been 108,000 miles away from the Wei State. Chen Hongfan also asked the family, but the family was very crowded. Chen Hongfan didn't find out any news, so there was no way Chen Hongfan had to pack up and change into ordinary clothes and follow the family to the Xu family.

Chen Hongfan only found out when he arrived at the Duke of Wei's mansion. He was the only guest he invited today, and the only ones to accompany the Xu brothers.

After the host and the guest and the host sat down, the three of them drank a few rounds of wine. When Xu Wenjue saw that the heat was almost done, he asked his family to go out, leaving only three people in the room. Xu Wenjue smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, can it be smooth to be a servant under the command of the guard?"

Chen Hongfan couldn't figure out what Xu Wenjue meant, so he had to say without any pain: "Where is Lord Ma's demands on his subordinates!"

Xu Jiujue looked at his younger brother and asked, "Mr. Chen, don't you know that your son-in-law is Tang Qilong? We have heard that this Tang Qilong is the son of Tang Shunshi, the general of Juyongguan who surrendered to the Northern Territory!"

Chen Hongfan was originally a general of Liaodong, but later followed Zuo Liangyu to the pass to suppress bandits. Many people know this experience. Chen Hongfan was born in Liaodong and naturally had many relationships with the Qing Dynasty. Many people in the court also knew this relationship, so Chen Hongfan didn't take it seriously when he heard Xu Jiujue's question.

"Yes, the son-in-law of the lower official is Tang Qilong, but does this matter have anything to do with the lower official?" Chen Hongfan frowned and asked after hearing Xu Jiujue's words.

"Since that's the case, Lord Chen isn't afraid that Ma Cheng will know about this relationship?"

Xu Jiujue originally wanted to use this incident to threaten Chen Hongfan, but then Chen Hongfan sneered: "Haha, you really underestimate Ma Cheng. Ma Cheng knows all these relationships."

Xu Jiujue was stunned when he heard Chen Hongfan say this, and waited for a while and continued, "Aren't Lord Chen afraid that we will go to Ma Cheng to accus you of wanting to surrender to the Qing Dynasty?"

Chen Hongfan despised Xu Jiujue when he heard this. No wonder Xu Jiujue was a defeated general under Ma Cheng. Do you think Ma Cheng can believe this conspiracy that can be seen through at a glance?

At this time, Chen Hongfan had already felt that the Xu brothers had some thoughts. In addition, although Chen Hongfan was not in charge of the affairs of the Admiral's yamen, he still knew that Ma Cheng had made the whole city mess in the past few days for food. He heard that he had also confiscated the Duke of Wei's house. After two certifications, Chen Hongfan knew that the two brothers were rebellious.

Chen Hongfan has been suffering from not finding supporters in the city these days. Now that the Xu brothers are coming, Chen Hongfan is naturally very happy.

"You two want to surrender to the Qing Dynasty?" Chen Hongfan knew the filthiness of the Xu family and Ma Cheng, so he was very relieved of the Xu brothers and was not prepared to hide anything. It would be better to say it openly.

Chen Hongfan said this to scare the Xu brothers. They originally wanted to threaten Chen Hongfan to submit, but they didn't expect that Chen Hongfan was from the Qing Dynasty. Now Chen Hongfan is telling the truth that the Xu brothers are uneasy.
Chapter completed!