The north wind is biting and the waves are turbulent.
On the boat going south, Huang Long's mood was just like this early winter. He had no idea what was waiting for him ahead.
Shen Shouyue brought news about Dengzhou. Huanglong did not dare to neglect and immediately summoned the generals to discuss countermeasures.
But the reaction of the generals made him quite frightened.
"Master Shen, how is my family doing?"
Shuangdao Yingdu Secretary Shang Kexi asked the question that everyone is most concerned about.
Denglai is in the rear of Liaodong, so the family members of the Ming army in Liaodong were basically settled in Dengzhou.
After Dengzhou was captured by the rebels, Huang Long and others were so anxious to counterattack because they were worried about their families.
At this time, it was learned that Dengzhou had fallen into the hands of another group of rebels, and the Ming army in Liaodong was immediately unstable.
Fortunately, Shen Shouyue brought good news.
"Don't worry, everyone. Although Zuo Menggeng wanted to rebel, he took good care of your family members and did not murder them. General Zuo has said that if you are still loyal to the imperial court, he will send your family members here."
"What are you sending here for? To wait for death?"
Changshan Island Counselor Li Xiaoxi complained, and many people agreed.
Why did they send their families to Dengzhou?
Isn't it because Liaodong is difficult and precarious?
Hearing the discussions among his generals, Huang Long had no choice but to speak out.
"Now that Zuo Mengeng also wants to betray the imperial court, let's talk about where we should go."
Shen Shikui, who was on an equal footing with Huang Long, looked confused and asked Shen Shouyue: "Master Shen, how does Zuo Menggeng compare with Kong Youde and others?"
Shen Shikui is Mao Wenlong's in-law and a veteran of Dongjiang Town, so when the situation reached this point, he was a little embarrassed.
Although he was very hostile to the rebellion of Kong Youde, Li Jiucheng and others, he also had little trust in the imperial court.
Therefore, after the sudden emergence of Zuo Mengeng, Shen Shikui decided to wait and see.
Shen Shouyue told the truth and told the story of the battle in Huang County.
When the Liaodong generals learned that the Dongjiang rebels, who had defeated the Guanning Army, were defeated at the hands of Zuo Mengeng, they were all confused for a moment.
Others were hesitant, but Huang Long's confidant Wei Luan had no worries.
"Headquarters, if we continue to be loyal to the imperial court, can Tianjin Guard provide Yi Ru Denglai?"
Immediately, everyone's eyes widened, waiting for Huang Long's answer.
To those in Liaodong, Zuo Menggeng's rebellion and occupation of Denglai was nothing. If the imperial court could continue to provide sufficient supplies to Liaodong from Tianjin Wei, they could still fight to the death for the imperial court.
I am afraid that Tianjin Wei will not be able to do this, and the imperial court will not be able to regain Shandong.
At present, it seems that the court is really helpless.
Guerrilla Xiang Zuolin said worriedly: "The Tianjin Navy fell into the trap of the rebels earlier, and all the ships were captured. Even if they want to support us, where are the ships?"
Everyone in Liaodong was even more troubled, and they were all pessimistic about the future.
Tianjin Guard is originally far away from the islands in Liaodong, and behind Tianjin Guard is the capital. It has no output of its own, and the required materials have to be transported from various places. What can be done to protect Liaodong?
Therefore, expecting the imperial court to support them through the Tianjin Guard is tantamount to wishful thinking.
But the situation in Liaodong has been determined. Without the support of the land, it is a rootless Ping. It doesn’t need the back money to fight, and it will collapse in a short time.
It cannot be said that there are no loyal people among the Liaodong generals, but the realistic dilemma is before them, and they have to think more.
Shang Keyi received Shang Kexi's signal and spoke hesitantly.
"Headquarters, the situation in Liaodong is like this. We really have no way to make a comeback. It's better to..."
He wants to surrender.
Not only him, but also many other generals were moved.
Huang Long looked carefully and found that his confidants Wei Luan, Fan Hualong, Tan Yinghua and others all had evasive eyes, obviously quite moved.
The hardships in Liaodong have long worn away the will of these people.
They can still stay here, but it is just their duty and they are afraid of punishment from the court.
But now the imperial court has too much time to take care of itself, and even the rebellion in Dongjiang Town cannot be quelled, which also makes everyone have a deep and clear understanding of the imperial court's weakness.
In troubled times, survival has nothing to do with loyalty and morality.
It's hard to go against the will of the people, Huang Long understands that just having his own way will not change anything. If he gets anxious, there is no chance that these generals will imitate Dongjiang's rebellion and attack him.
But Huang Long has a strong temperament, how can he be someone who gives in easily?
In his previous life, his family was imprisoned in Dengzhou by the rebels. He would rather watch his family being killed by the rebels without doing anything, which shows his loyalty.
The difference now is that what they have to face is not the Dongjiang rebels or the Houjin Tartars, so Huang Long understands that the overall situation is more important.
After much deliberation, he decided to follow Shen Shouyue to Dengzhou and interview Zuo Mengeng in person. Of course, it was also to test Zuo Mengeng's truth.
Although Zuo Menggeng defeated the rebels, according to his understanding, Zuo Menggeng was no more than a soldier of the Alliance.
If it was discovered that Zuo Menggeng was not strong enough, Huang Long would have no choice but to mobilize all his troops to help the court put down this beast.
Following him southward was Shang Kexi and Shen Shikui.
The journey was not far, and the three of them soon arrived in Dengzhou.
When they entered Shuicheng and saw that it was empty, the three of them understood that Dengzhou would not support Liaodong in the future.
Shen Shouyue led them to the governor's Yamen, and only saw Zhang Jimeng. Moreover, Zhang Jimeng was arguing and bargaining with others, and he did not have the prestige of an official.
"Three years of tax exemption are already very favorable. If you don't even look at it, the poor people here are almost wearing their pants."
The person arguing with him was a young man.
"Four years, no matter how little, is really not enough. We, the Lu family, have invested real money and silver, and even if we come to a remote place like yours, we can't do business at a loss."
Huang Long and the other three were led to sit aside and watched Zhang Jimeng discussing business with others. They all felt strange.
When will Ming officials do this again?
Then they remembered that this was not the Ming Dynasty, but the territory of the rebels.
The person who bargained with Zhang Jimeng was none other than Lu Hao.
Lu Hao has now fully taken over the Lu family's business. Thanks to Xinjun's aggressive expansion and comprehensive construction, the demand for bricks and stones has been huge. As a result, the Lu family's brick and stone business has grown bigger and bigger.
This time Zhang Jimeng took over Dengzhou, and of course he wanted to build it well, so he contacted the Lu family, hoping that the Lu family could build a brick and stone factory locally.
Firstly, it can provide bricks and stones for local construction, and secondly, it can provide jobs for people and improve people's livelihood.
Of course, the Lu family was very happy for such an invitation, and Lu Hao went there in person.
However, since it was a business, there was no room for friendship. The two sides were at loggerheads with each other, and the solemn Yamen was turned into a vegetable market.
There was endless debate here, and hearty laughter came from outside the door.
"I said you, Lu Guangyue, are really stingy. Do you have to force our Mayor Zhang to death before you give up?"
Neither Zhang Jimeng nor Lu Hao changed their faces, but laughed.
"Zuo Zhongheng is here!"
Huang Long next to him was still happy. Shen Shikui and the others couldn't help but become nervous when they heard this. At the same time, they were also curious about the legendary Zuo Mengeng.
I saw the curtain at the door suddenly opened to the left and right, and then several capable guards filed in and occupied the four corners of the house.
Another young man, who was as tall and burly as an iron tower, walked in with high spirits. His angular face was full of dust, but he was also patrolling like an evil tiger and a group of beasts.
But this man was dressed in a blue coarse cloth shirt and only had a pair of strange cotton shoes on his feet. He could not see the majesty and splendor that a military commander should have.
If this man hadn't been wearing a large cloak, he wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between him and an ordinary soldier.
Is this Zuo Mengeng?
Zhang Jimeng and Lu Hao's words proved their suspicions.
"Zhongheng, how is the front line?"
Zuo Mengeng took off his felt hat, handed it to Fu Yijian, and said with a smile: "Everything is safe. In another half month, we can leave Laizhou."
His eyes moved and he saw Huang Long and others beside him.
Seeing the opportunity, Shen Shouyue hurriedly introduced: "General Zuo, this is Huanglong Huangzhen, this is Shen Shikui, Shen Zongrong. This is Shuangdao Dusi General Shang Kexi."
The positions of these three people were clearly defined, but Zuo Mengeng looked at Shang Kexi at first sight.
Bah, you big traitor!
He doesn't even think about what kind of character he was in his previous life.
What's more, Shang Kexi is not a traitor now, and if he had not changed history, in the subsequent battles of the Wuqiao Mutiny, Shang Kexi was really active and brave, fighting for the first place, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was a loyal minister and good general.
Shang Kexi was also confused by this complicated and incomprehensible look. He didn't know what the relationship between him and this general Zuo was.
Fortunately, Zuo Mengeng remembered the business and said with a smile: "You have come all the way, and you must not be here to have a banquet. I believe that you still have many doubts, and some new things have arrived today. Come with me, I believe that after reading it, You will make your choice later."
After that, he turned around and left.
This vigorous and resolute style made Huang Long and others quite uncomfortable.
But their future and lives were at stake, and they still had no choice but to keep up.