On the deck, Zhu Zhanzhen and Zheng He stood side by side. After sorting out the cause and effect, both of them became somewhat silent.
Wang Baoyu and Yamamoto Rokuji joined forces for some unknown reason in order to achieve something, but relying solely on their own current strength, although they have good military strength, the overall combat is still not enough to compare with an organized army.
Not to mention the Ming army, even compared with the Japanese army, the fighting was still a level lower.
In order to find a place to station, they wanted to attack Zhoushan Island by force. After all, Zhoushan Island was close to the Ming Dynasty and was currently lacking in strength. They could defeat it by force.
But in fact, after defeating it, he had no way to hold it. He just wanted to see if Ming Dynasty would give up Zhoushan Island.
Some of them should at least understand Ming Dynasty's coastal defense policy.
Without support, Chen Baiyue, a Qianhu of Zhoushan Island, had no choice but to do the next best thing in order to protect the people on the island. He surrendered to them and gave them garrison on the small islands around Zhoushan Island. At the same time, he also reached a verbal condition that they must not
Landed on Zhoushan Island.
Zhu Zhanzhen and Zheng He analyzed that part of Chen Baiyue's surrender was due to his strength, part of it was probably his resentment towards the Ming Dynasty, and part of it might even be his own ambition. People's hearts are unpredictable and they can't say exactly why.
From the brief contact, this person looks simple and honest, but his acting skills are excellent, and he is also thoughtful. If Ying Tianfu had not captured the Japanese delegation, there really would be no flaws in his performance in the past few days.
.
I don’t know whether it was before or after the alliance was reached, but they encountered a team of Japanese envoys visiting the Ming Dynasty and robbed the ship. The life and death of the Japanese envoys is now unknown.
Yamamoto Rokuji was an ambitious man, and he had a plan in his mind. He sent dead men to pretend to be Japanese envoys to assassinate Zhu Gaochi. Of course, it didn’t mean that it had to be Zhu Gaochi, but other high-ranking officials or members of the royal family would do. As long as he stirred up trouble between Japan and the Ming Dynasty.
In the flames of war, they have a chance.
Their real first target is actually not the Ming Dynasty, but Japan. Compared with the powerful Ming Dynasty, Japan is obviously easier, and many of Yamamoto Rokuji's team are people who failed in the Southern and Northern Dynasties of Japan.
Compared with Wang Baoyu, he is more like a careerist. He is a noble and tries to restore his own nobility.
Once the assassination is successful, they will attack Zhoushan Island, Ningbo Port or Xiangshan and other places, adding fuel to the fire in the name of Japan, and it is impossible for Ming Dynasty not to take action.
If the Ming Dynasty went to war with Japan, they could take the opportunity to take over Japan's land to develop and expand themselves.
Zhoushan Island is just a springboard for them to invade the Ming Dynasty coast.
"This group should not be the same group as the Japanese who sent spies in the imperial city before." Zhu Zhanzhen made his own judgment.
"Why is Your Highness so sure?" Zheng He asked.
"That group of people are very thoughtful, and it takes a certain amount of strength to unite the Jurchens. This group of people is not careful enough in doing things, and they are not capable of uniting with the Jurchens. They are ambitious and arrogant. Chen Baiyue is a little smarter, and he also knows to have a backup plan to prevent it.
Let’s check, a little bit, but not much..."
He continued: "Furthermore, since the spies have been hiding in the city for many years, this pirate alliance should not have been established for a long time."
Zheng He heard that Zhu Zhanzhen did not think highly of this group of people.
There are many careerists, but not many are capable, and most of them are ambitious but not talented.
After figuring out the cause and effect, the two of them sighed involuntarily and looked at each other with a smile showing their helplessness.
"Japanese pirates and pirates are all near Zhoushan Island. We have to turn back and clear out the pirates."
Zheng He shook his head: "If what that person said is true, the number of pirates stationed nearby and the Zhoushan Guards at this time is nearly two thousand. Our numerical disadvantage is too great, and we have no geographical advantage to attack rashly."
I am afraid that the island will suffer heavy losses. The first battle of steam warships cannot lose warships and lose their prestige."
The two of them thought about it, and Zheng He said: "Your Highness, please dock at Xiangshan first, take a rest for a while, and invite troops like His Highness the Crown Prince to lead the Xiangshan Guards on an expedition. What do you think?"
Zhu Zhanzhen thought of the Xiangshan Guardhouse that the man mentioned just now, and understood what Zheng He meant: "Let's arrange it this way first. When we dock, we will give a copy of the news to my father."
The distance between Xiangshan Port and Zhoushan Island is actually not that far, which is why the Ming Dynasty reduced its defense line to Xiangshan and the rest of the interior.
Zhoushan Island is easy to attack and difficult to defend. If the Japanese pirates dare to occupy it, they can just fight back. Extending the defense line to Zhoushan Island means that there must be constant supplies from the sea, which consumes a lot of money year after year.
This strategy is to put resources on the mainland and abandon such small islands. Originally, this was not a big problem, but then the Ming Dynasty will go to the sea. This strategy must be adjusted to expand the defense line to various islands and expand outward.
Ensure smooth navigation.
When I saw the Ming Dynasty's warships at the Xiangshan port, someone came to greet them. After notifying my family, I found out that it was Zheng He's fleet. All the three thousand households in the Xiangshan Guard Station came out to greet them. They also notified the magistrate of Xiangshan County.
.
After being welcomed off the warship, three thousand households prepared a banquet to welcome Zheng He, but for some reason Zheng He let the child sit at the main table.
The magistrate of Xiangshan County also rushed over after hearing the news.
The county magistrate Chen Youshan is a young man, less than thirty years old. He was a Jinshi in the eighth year of Yongle and was a magistrate of the imperial court.
"Chen Youshan, the magistrate of Xiangshan County, met Lord Zheng He."
Chen Youshan has a scholarly demeanor and a gentle appearance. His mother-in-law likes him the most.
After eating a little something, Zheng He asked, "What did Master Zheng He do?"
"Lead the troops to fight against the Japanese pirates. I have ordered people to quickly respond to the sky with a letter. Please ask the prince's order to lead the soldiers of the Xiangshan Guard to clear the sea of Japanese pirates."
Chen Youshan and the three Qianhu were stunned. Zheng He himself had brought 500 elite soldiers and had to mobilize troops from Xiangshan. How many people should this group of Japanese pirates have?
"I wonder how many soldiers are needed?"
"About a thousand people."
None of them dared to ask any more questions, because they knew that Zheng He wouldn't say anything if asked, and he would say it himself. This was not an issue that ordinary soldiers should deal with.
After chatting for a while, Zheng He asked: "President Chen, how does the imperial court treat the two thousand households on Zhoushan Island?"
Chen Youshan's heart skipped a beat. Since he asked out loud, he must still know some news.
"The imperial court's treatment of grain and grass for thousands of households in Zhoushan is half of what it is for thousands of households in Xiangshan."
"Half? What does the court mean? Or who does it mean?" Zheng He's face darkened.
At this time, a dark-skinned Qianhuti Chen Youshan came to the rescue: "Lord Zheng He doesn't know something. It is indeed half the order given by the superiors. The county magistrate has always been fair and caressed me and other military households. Even last year when he fought against pirates, he was still
The magistrate is in command. Even if the magistrate is a scholar, we all admire him for his good military skills."
The thousands of households in the guard office have a very high opinion of the county magistrate. Generally speaking, military households and county government offices in various places have many problems. The military households think that the county government embezzles money and delays in doing things, and the county government thinks that the military households are troublesome and often cause trouble.
Such harmony is rare.
Zheng He looked displeased: "I will verify this matter when I get back. If what I said is true and I have deducted supplies from the Zhoushan Guards, His Highness the Crown Prince will punish me."
Chen Youshan sighed and said: "Mr. Zheng, you don't know. We have sent many messages in the past two years to ask the military households and civilians on Zhoushan Island to move to the coast, but they just refused. The superiors have reduced the control to force them."
I came back, but I didn’t expect them to be so stubborn.”
"We arranged a place to live and property, but they just didn't want to."
Chen Youshan's words also received the nods of three thousand households: "Yes, they are all the best land and the best housing. They are better than us. The military households in Xiangshan Guards Station were dissatisfied when they saw their treatment."
, but they don’t want to come back, so they have to stay on Zhoushan Island.”
They all followed the court's policy, but the people on Zhoushan Island just didn't want to leave their hometown. This is the root culture of the Chinese people, and no one was willing to give up their hometown.
A golden nest and a silver nest are not as good as one's own doghouse. It's hard to tell who is right and who is wrong. As long as they don't intentionally deduct, then Chen Youshan and others are indeed right. They are just acting in accordance with the court's policy.
The problem will look different from different angles.
When several military households sighed, Zhu Zhanchen spoke up: "The three thousand households should organize their troops first. It is expected that news will come back in two days, and we will send troops to Zhoushan Island."
"Who is this?" Several people couldn't help but have doubts when they saw Zhu Zhanzhen speaking.
"Master Zhu." Zheng He said respectfully.
For a young master named Zhu to be so respectful to Zheng He, who else but the royal highnesses must be at least the heirs of Prince Han to be respectfully called Mr. Zhu by Zheng He.
These people have all seen the world, and they can roughly guess that there are only a few candidates. Chen Youshan even vaguely felt that the person in front of him was His Highness the Fifth.
The previous newspaper said that His Highness the Second and His Highness the Fifth were assisting the Supervisor. The child in front of me is roughly the same age as His Highness the Fifth, so there is a high probability that he is.
"What Mr. Zhu said is absolutely true. I will listen to Mr. Zhu's orders." Who would miss such a good opportunity to flatter him? He is just a magistrate who has been sent out. If he is just pretending, he would be too ignorant.
"We will arrange Mr. Zhu's accommodation tonight."
"No, I live on the boat."
Rejecting their arrangement, Zhu Zhanzhen returned to the ship and whispered to Zheng He: "Don't tell them about the situation of Chen Baiyue in Qianhushuo on Zhoushan Island. Just say that we are going to clean up Japanese pirates."
"Your Highness, this matter cannot be hidden. Although I can understand Chen Baiyue's actions logically, in fact he led the Zhoushan Island people to rebel, surrendered to the Japanese pirates and pirates, and cooperated with them in their attempt to assassinate His Highness the Crown Prince.
Do you think he really has no personal emotions involved?"
Sometimes mistakes don't appear suddenly, but over many years, a combination of circumstances leads to an irreversible point. Who is at fault, is it the world?
No, it is always the person who is wrong.
Only people can do wrong things, because there is no right or wrong in this world.
"Hey, let's keep it a secret for now and explain it to the people on the ship."
