Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Zheng Zhilong's letter this time was just as sarcastic as Zhang Shikang's last reply.

They did not really fall out, but they just disagreed with Zhang Shikang's approach. At the same time, they explained that there was a problem with the Zheng family's shipyard, which might cause the delivery of the 60 auxiliary warships previously ordered by Zhang Shikang to be delayed.

In addition, he also stated that there has been instability in the East Ocean recently, and several groups of pirates have appeared in the sea area, so the court should be careful and not let the Japanese pirates get the opportunity to harass the Ming Dynasty.

His words sounded warm and kind, but there was a hint of threat in what he said.

There was a problem at the shipyard, but they didn't say what the problem was. Anyway, there was a problem, and the remaining batch of orders may be delayed.

It’s not clear how long the extension will be. Didn’t I just say that there is a problem at the shipyard?

There are Japanese people in the East who went to sea to become pirates. As to whether it is true or not, and whether they are Japanese, no one knows.

After reading the letter, Zhang Shikang threw it directly into the brazier and his face turned ugly.

"I'll talk and you write." Zhang Shikang said to the captain.

The thousand-household official quickly fetched paper and pen.

“Hai Qingbo, you were born a pirate, but now you are a noble of the Ming Dynasty and a maritime merchant. This is the kindness of the court to the Zheng family.

Your letter is quite sarcastic and I don't like it. Please think about the consequences of such words and actions.

The orders from the court have formal signed documents. If they cannot be delivered on time, the court should be held accountable, the ministers should impeach them, and the emperor should be displeased.

As for the Japanese pirates in the East, you are the Earl of Haiqing, and the court allows you to have 200,000 soldiers and more than 2,000 ships of various types. You are responsible for the coastal defense of the Ming Dynasty.

If you still allow the Japanese to harass the coast of our Ming Dynasty, you will be derelict in your duty and the court will hold you accountable.

I have one last reminder for you.

The mad beast has awakened.

Hope you take care of yourself.

that's all. "

As Zhang Shikang was speaking, the officer began writing furiously, and in a short while, he had finished polishing Zhang Shikang's words.

Zhang Shikang took the letter, glanced at it briefly, and then stamped it with the seal of the Marshal of Army that he carried with him.

"Ask a good man to deliver the message, and be arrogant. Some people are like this. If you don't teach them a lesson, they won't know who they are." Zhang Shikang reminded.

The Zheng family's affairs are not small, after all, they own two to three thousand ships of various types and nearly two hundred thousand soldiers on land and sea.

It can be said that it is not too big.

If it were the imperial court three years ago, I think it would certainly not be able to bear it. After all, at that time the imperial treasury was in tatters, the border troops were seriously owed wages, and there were also bandits and natural disasters.

But now it is different. As he said, the wild beast of Ming Dynasty has awakened.

I have been sharpening my sword for three years, but the blade has never been tested. Do you, Zheng Zhilong, want to see whether the sword in my hand, Zhang Shikang, is sharp?

This is of course an overt warning.

If the warships cannot be delivered on time, it will be a breach of contract. Are you sure you want to break your promise to the court?

The Japanese were able to break through your Zheng family navy and harass the Ming Dynasty's coast because of your incompetence, Zheng Zhilong. The imperial court does not support incompetent people.

In fact, Zhang Shikang had already given face to Zheng Zhilong. In the past two years, he had asked the Jinyiwei to secretly investigate Zheng Zhilong's background and obtained a lot of information about Zheng Zhilong's past.

They committed many murders and robberies, and even engaged in the slave trade in the South Pacific islands. They also forced women of good families into prostitution. The things they did were innumerable.

What's more, the Jinyiwei also found out in Japan that Zheng Zhilong's rise to power was mainly due to the support of two people, one named Yan Siqi and the other named Li Dan.

It was even discovered that Zheng Zhilong had started out by selling his buttocks.

Naturally, Zheng Zhilong did not want to mention these things. Although Zhang Shikang was angry, he ultimately did not expose their shortcomings.

If he had been in the same temper as he was two years ago, he would have scolded Zheng Zhilong to the point of breaking his defense.

The reason why it was just a warning was that it still gave Zheng Zhilong an opportunity. He was concerned about not wanting to engage in internal strife. Of course, there were other reasons as well.

For example, Zheng Zhilong’s legitimate son Zheng Sen, the young man should be eighteen years old this year and should have begun to take charge of some of the Zheng family’s affairs.

Zheng Sen, of course, was the famous Zheng Chenggong, the national hero who fought against the Qing Dynasty.

At that time, Brother Chongzhen hanged himself, the Ming Dynasty fell, and the Zheng family supported the small Southern Ming court.

Later, when Dorgon entered the pass and invaded the south, Zheng Zhilong spared no effort at first, but when he found that the Southern Ming was in a hopeless situation, he resolutely surrendered to the Qing Dynasty despite Zheng Sen's opposition.

However, Zheng Sen did not surrender. He persuaded several uncles and the main backbones of the Zheng family to continue the anti-Qing struggle. Later, he recovered Dongfan Island for the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Shikang still remembered that Zheng Sen’s teacher was Qian Qianyi, and he forced Qian Qianyi to death. He wondered if Zheng Sen would resent him for this.

But even so, Zhang Shikang still felt that if the matter could be resolved peacefully, it would be best to resolve it peacefully, giving the Zheng family a chance, and also giving Zheng Sen a chance.

With his position, he can change the fate of so many people with just a thought.

The days passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was the tenth day of March.

During this period, everyone in the Duke of England's mansion was extremely busy, and the reason was very simple.

In a few days, Zhang Shikang will get married.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Emperor Chongzhen issued an edict to formally grant marriage to Zhang Shikang, the Duke of Zhenguo, and Ma Lingqi, the daughter of Marquis Polu, and the wedding date was set for March 16.

For Zhang Zhiji and his wife, who have been almost unemployed at home, this is undoubtedly something that can finally give them something to do.

Zhang Zhiji doesn't even fish anymore.

Fishing friend Xincheng Hou Wang Guoxing also often comes to help.

In addition, a group of nobles including He Liansheng often came to the Duke of England's mansion to pay their respects, hoping for help.

But the Duke of England's family is wealthy and powerful, so there is no need for them to help.

A group of uncles and old men came to eat and make friends, making the house very lively.

In comparison, Zhang Shikang, as the protagonist, is quite free.

Both Zhang Zhiji and his father-in-law Ma Xianglin knew Zhang Shikang's temperament, so they tried to avoid many cumbersome rituals.

Apart from the fact that Sun often asked him to try on clothes to wear to various weddings, he was also happy to have some free time.

Originally, Zhang Zhiji had discussed with his son and asked whether he should hold the wedding in his own house, implying whether he should set up his own household after getting married.

After all, Zhang Shikang was already an adult and had a family.

He was not the eldest son of the Zhang family, but a hereditary duke. According to etiquette, he should have set up his own family and separated from the Duke of Yingguo Mansion long ago.

But Zhang Shikang only replied that he wanted to eat dry rice for a few more days, which made Zhang Zhiji happy like a 200-pound fat man.

The older people get, the more they like to be lively.

Elders are naturally happy to see their children and grandchildren around them, and the Duke of England's mansion is not short of money.

As the wedding date approaches, the whole capital is filled with a festive atmosphere.

There was no other reason. In addition to approving the marriage, the emperor also ordered the Ministry of Rites to inform the people of the capital of the news, and ordered the cancellation of the three-day curfew on the day before, the day of, and the day after Zhang Shikang's wedding, in order to share the joy with the people.

The common people in the capital city naturally benefited from the kindness of the Duke of Zhenguo. Who wouldn't be happy that their benefactor was getting married and the court was giving him such face?

So on March 15th, the red lanterns that were only seen during the Chinese New Year appeared again on the streets of Beijing.

It was also on this day that the Ming Emperor Zhu Youjian finally could not bear Zhang Shikang's nagging and agreed to Zhang Shikang's two requests.

……