Chongzhen stayed at Ding's house until very late before leaving.
The plaque "One Loyalty" is the highest honor of the Ding family, but at the same time, it is like a pair of eyes placed by Chongzhen on the Ding family, staring at it.
As soon as New Year's Eve passed, Ding Yunyi was ready to return to Taiwan, where so many brothers and his family were waiting for him to return.
Taiwan is the headquarters of Ding Yunyi Group, but for Ding Yunyi, it is still his other home.
On the first day of the first lunar month, Lu Xiangsheng, the Minister of War and the Prime Minister of the Military Affairs Bureau of the seven provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi, met with the generals in Fengyang to prepare for launching a large-scale attack against the rogue bandits.
On the same day, soldiers stationed in Ningxia during the Ming Dynasty mutinied because they were unable to pay their troops. The hungry soldiers gathered together and besieged the government office. Wang Ji, the governor of Youqiandu and the censor of the capital, because he could not pay his troops and the hungry soldiers had no pay, made noise and killed them.
On this day, urgent reports came from Shanxi and other places. After the continuous locust plague and drought, a new round of famine was coming, and they begged the court to immediately provide relief to the victims.
Gao Yingxiang was killed and the new year arrived, but the situation in Ming Dynasty did not seem to improve.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Ding Yunyi went to the palace to see Chongzhen. Chongzhen looked very tired and haggard. Maybe it was because the happy new year had not yet passed, and the memorials that made him irritable were coming again?
When he heard that Ding Yunyi was about to leave the capital and return to Taiwan, Chongzhen nodded: "Go back, go back. Ding Yunyi, give me a good plan for Taiwan. If the situation changes in the future, I will still use you. I still say the same thing.
, don’t let down my expectations for you.”
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When leaving, Ding Yunyi heard the conversation between Chongzhen and Wang Chengen:
"Your Majesty, Wen Tiren has requested to resign due to illness."
"Huh, do you want to use this to blackmail me again? He wants to resign? Okay, then let him resign. Let him stay in the capital and not allowed to go anywhere...
Ding Yunyi knew that another cabinet minister had fallen. But no matter how many ministers were removed and how many heads were killed, could the situation be saved? Can the collapse of the Ming Dynasty be saved?
After coming out of the palace, he visited Yang Sichang again. Yang Sichang seemed very happy about Ding Yunyi's arrival. He chatted with him for a long time, and it was not until Ding Yunyi got up to say goodbye for the third time that he let him go.
During these few days in the capital, except for Yang Sichang, Ding Yunyi visited almost all the homes of powerful ministers. The gold and jewelry he brought with him were also spent like water. Later, Ding Yunyi even
I borrowed 10,000 taels of silver from my father as an excuse to prepare gifts for the Taiwanese soldiers, which was barely enough.
Not only that, Ding Yunyi has decided to go to the capital every year to deposit a sum of money to bribe officials. He must build a huge network of relationships for himself in the capital to ensure that his position in Taiwan will not be shaken.
.
These gold, silver, and jewelry did play a big role. For a time, everyone in the court said that Ding Yunyi was good.
And this is exactly what Ding Yunyi wants to see...
The night before leaving, Ding Chen Wanhe and Ding Biwei were reluctant to leave. Ding Chen Wanhe's eyes were also red. His son finally came back once, but he had to leave after only staying for a few days?
He is an only son in the Ding family, but he is either fighting there or fighting here all the year round. He is surrounded by swords and swords all day long. He does not cherish his own life. He must take the lead in every battle. What if something happens to him?
Come on?
But as the child grows older, he no longer listens to himself.
Ding Yuanzhao scolded his wife a few words, saying that since he was receiving a salary from the imperial court, he should naturally do his best for the imperial court.
Then he encouraged his son to fulfill his duties faithfully in Taiwan and never let down the words "loyalty".
Loyalty? Many times, a few words given by the emperor can make ministers like Ding Yuanzhao so heartbroken that they would not dare to complain at all against the emperor even if they die at the hands of the emperor.
"I just received an urgent report from Liaodong that the Jinlu are showing signs of using troops against Xifengkou and other places." Ding Yuanzhao sighed: "I'm afraid there will be no peace again."
"No." Ding Yunyi shook his head: "Jin Lu is just setting up an attack. As long as everyone is allowed to defend the pass, Jin Lu will definitely not attack with all his strength."
"Oh?" Ding Yuanzhao was a little curious: "What does Jin Lu mean?"
Ding Yunyi was silent for a moment, and then said slowly: "We are preparing to capture the chief Taiji and proclaim himself emperor."
"Calling yourself emperor? How dare the captive chief to claim to be emperor?" Ding Yuanzhao was shocked: "How dare they?"
"It's not that you have the courage, but that you have already done it there." Ding Yunyi smiled bitterly: "When I was at the border, I already discovered that Jin Lu had this intention. I originally wanted to tell the emperor, but I was afraid that I was too worried.
, arousing the emperor’s anger..."
Ding Yuanzhao's face was filled with anger.
Like most of the ministers, he looked down on the Jinlu from the bottom of his heart. He thought that although the Jinlu had posed a great threat to the Ming Dynasty in recent years, they were uncivilized barbarians after all. How could they compete with the Ming Dynasty?
How can we compare it to the Ming Dynasty? As long as the rogue bandits are put down and the whole country mobilizes the strength, it will only be a matter of time to destroy the Jin bandits.
But who would have thought that now that Jinlu has not been destroyed, they will actually become emperor?
Ding Yuanzhao was angry and a little doubtful. He didn't know whether his son's judgment was correct. There was also a difficulty in this. Even if his son's words were completely correct, Ding Yuanzhao did not have the courage to tell the emperor the news...
...
"Xiang Wen..." Ding Yuanzhao seemed a little hesitant: "A few days ago at the court meeting, the emperor talked about the Lianghuai Salt Course. He said that the Lianghuai Salt Course was not only missing, but also not collected in full. He looked worried.
.We ministers all know that the emperor is worried about money. I heard you say that Taiwan and Penghu are both supported by maritime trade and make a lot of profits. Xiang Wen, it is very rare for the court now, and this also requires money, then
I also want money, can you do that..."
Ding Yunyi understood what he meant as soon as he heard it. His father wanted him to get a batch of money for Chongzhen to meet his urgent needs, but he was also short of money in Taiwan!
He smiled bitterly: "Father, maritime merchants can indeed gain a lot of benefits. But it is also extremely difficult. Moreover, Taiwan also needs silver everywhere. When the imperial court sent me to Taiwan, they did not give me even one tael of silver. The Central Plains University
Disasters are also happening in Taiwan and Penghu. Not only that, but victims from Shandong and other places are moving to Taiwan in large numbers. Hundreds of thousands of people, father. These hundreds of thousands of people have arrived in Taiwan. They want food and food.
We have something to wear and a place to stay. Where can I get all this money? To be honest with my father, I was ready to ask the Holy Father when I came to the capital this time, but in the end I held back."
He was silent for a while and then said: "To tell you the truth from my father, I once had a big quarrel with Zhang Kentang, the governor of Fujian, over tax matters. The argument was nothing more than money! I would not hesitate to fall out with Zhang Fushuai. There is only one
Yes, Taiwan really can’t afford a tael of silver!”
"Oh, that's it, then forget it, then forget it." Ding Yuanzhao murmured.
Ding Yunyi quietly looked at his father and found that his father was no longer as strict as when he was in Fujian. Standing in front of him now was an old father who asked him to do something, but he couldn't do it.
Ding Yunyi felt sour in his heart. It was really hard to be a Beijing official, especially a loyal one.
Although Taiwan is indeed difficult, the situation is much better than that of the imperial court. Relying on the sea, we can still persevere. What can we do later? I have to think about the future.
He was so cruel that he swallowed back the words that were almost on his lips, "I will find a way to bring a batch of money to the capital"...
Ding Yuanzhao cheered up and said, "Since it's so difficult for you, let's forget it. We will always find a solution. Xiang Wen, you are older now and have a higher official position. As a father, you can't take care of it anymore. It's just that
As a lieutenant general, you must guard one side and remember the emperor's kindness at all times, and do your best without slacking off at all."
"Yes, father." Ding Yunyi rolled his eyes and suddenly said: "Father, although the capital city is prosperous, you will get bored if you live for a long time. Although Taiwan is wild, it has its own unique charm. My son thought, why not put my mother, eldest sister and me together
How many years will your nephew be brought to Taiwan to live there?"
Ding Yuanzhao didn't react at all. He had no idea what Ding Yunyi meant. He wanted his wife and daughter to go to Taiwan?
But he couldn't imagine his son's painstaking efforts.
Ding Yunyi is already preparing for a few years. In the future, if the bandits break through the capital, how will the old, weak, women and children escape? It will be convenient to pick up these women first, and then try to take out the father.
He has been in this era for a long time and has long regarded the Ding family as his real family...
"I am an official in the imperial court, how will my family members be brought out?" Ding Yuanzhao shook his head: "I know your filial piety, let's talk about it in a few years. Besides, if you bring all your family members to your territory,
I'm afraid there will be some discussion in the court."
Ding Yunyi nodded silently. Although his father refused this time, he had to find a way to pick up his mother, sister, and nephew.
"Okay, you will set off early tomorrow morning. Go and get some rest early." A smile appeared on Ding Yuanzhao's face: "Xiang Wen, you have done very well in the past two years. Very good. I am very happy."
After his father left, Ding Yunyi sat there silently, holding his chin and saying nothing.
Jiang Qi and Xiaotu walked in. Seeing Ding Yunyi like this, no one dared to speak. After a while, Ding Yunyi raised his head, saw them, and called them to his side: "Jiang Qi, I'm leaving tomorrow.
, I see that the master is worried all day long, you must take good care of him."
"Yes, Master." Jiang Qi blinked: "Master, you also took me to Taiwan. I also want to fight with you to kill the enemy."
"You?" Ding Yunyi smiled: "You should stay in the capital honestly. In the next two years, I will definitely let you go to Taiwan."
Jiang Qi was a little sad. He had been with the young master since he was a child, but who would have thought that we would be so far apart now. Without the young master in the family, he always felt like something was missing.
"Xiaotu, what about you? Are you staying in the capital or coming back to Taiwan with me?" Ding Yunyi turned his head to Xiaotu.
"Of course I'm going back to Taiwan." Xiaotu didn't even think about it, and then took out a piece of paper, with a bit of shyness on his face: "Brother, look, I can write my own name."
Ding Yunyi took the paper and took a look at it. When he saw the three characters "Shao Luchun" crookedly written on it, he couldn't help laughing and said: "Who taught you to write it?"
"Sister and Jiang Qi." Xiaotu suddenly became proud: "They also taught me how to speak Mandarin. I have learned a lot better."
"Okay, our little fellow is smart." Ding Yunyi said with a smile: "When we return to Taiwan, I will ask my husband to teach you how to read and teach you martial arts. In the future, our little fellow will become a female general with both civil and military skills."
Xiaotu clapped his hands and smiled, but Jiang Qi looked unhappy. The young master took Xiaotu with him, but he refused to take him to Taiwan...
...
When they got up early in the morning, brothers Huangfu Yunjie and Deng Changgui had already arrived at Ding's house and were waiting there.
Ding Chen Wanhe and Ding Biwei were reluctant to leave. Qian Dingzhu and Wan told their sons and younger brothers to take good care of themselves when they arrived in Taiwan, and not to be so desperate when they saw a war in the future.
Slowly walking out of the house, I glanced at the brothers who had been waiting for a long time. Just as I was about to get on my horse, I saw Wang Chengen arriving with a few people.
"Eunuch Wang." Ding Yunyi was a little surprised: "Why are you here?"
"The Holy One asked me to come and see you off." Wang Chengen's spirit seemed not to be very good: "The Holy One was going to come in person, but in the middle of the night yesterday, he received an urgent report from Shanxi, and he came to ask for money again. The Holy One sighed.
One night, I squinted for a while at dawn and was not in good spirits. I remembered that you were leaving, so I asked me to see you off."
"Thank you, father-in-law."
"My father-in-law is not tired." Wang Chengen shook his head: "My father-in-law is serving the emperor. No matter how tired he is, he is not as tired as you soldiers. It is rare for you to come to the capital, so it is appropriate to see you off. Let's go, let's go."
The two of them were silent all the way, as if no one knew what to say. When they were approaching the city gate, Wang Chengen suddenly said: "Xiang Wen, remember what my father-in-law said, loyalty and betrayal are only in a thought. We must learn from Qi Jiguang,
Don’t imitate Yuan Chonghuan!”
Ding Yunyi was startled. Wang Chengen's words didn't seem to have much to do with loyalty and traitor.
He suddenly remembered what Ye Yuan had said to him before. Why did Qi Jiguang die a good death? Because in order to achieve his goals, he could endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens and do things that others looked down upon.
That's why he was able to accomplish things.
Ding Yunyi nodded: "Father, I know what to do, and I will never let down the emperor and you."
He looked outside the city and said: "Eunuch, I have sent you off after a long journey, but you will eventually see me farewell. Eunuch, please stay. If you come to Taiwan in the future, Ding Yunyi will definitely come out of Fujian to greet you."
"Okay, okay, my father-in-law remembers what you said, he will always go to Taiwan in the future." Wang Chengen smiled and said: "Ding Xiangwen, see you later!"
"See you later!" Ding Yunyi turned around and said loudly: "Brothers, let's go back to Taiwan!"