I was living at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and I dealt a brutal blow to the Eight Banners!

"You're saying I surrendered to the Qing!?"

Zhang Jingchuan suddenly stood up from the head seat, staring at Tian Hongyu with both eyes.

"Damn it, who threw mud at me?"

Tian Hongyu felt ashamed and lowered his head without saying a word.

“Lord,” Huang Fei began, “rumors are circulating both inside and outside the Great Wall that you have surrendered to the Qing. Even the Qing army is using this to persuade the Ming army in Guangning to surrender!”

"Hehehehe,"

Zhang Jingchuan was so angry he laughed.

He was angry, but that didn't stop him from calmly thinking about the reasons behind it.

First of all

According to Tian Hongyu,

The rumor that he surrendered to the Qing dynasty originated from within the palace.

There is only one possibility.

It was because of his disobedience to the imperial decree that some people in the court suspected him and tried to smear him.

Minister of War Chen Xinjia and Director of Ceremonial Affairs Wang Dehua sent Tian Hongyu, who had some old acquaintance with Li Ruolian, on this trip in order to verify the authenticity of the matter.

As for the Qing army using this incident to persuade the Ming army in Guangning to surrender, their purpose was quite clear.

first,

To destroy the morale and will to resist of the Ming army in Guangning City.

Secondly,

They tacitly approved of the surrender of the Earl of Pinglu to the Qing Dynasty and even encouraged it.

In this way, even if you're not actually shit, you'll still be shit, like mud falling into your pants.

Moreover, his own act of defying orders in the first place only further confirms this point.

As long as the imperial court believes that it has surrendered to the Qing, it will inevitably cut off the supply to Liaodong and Guam.

Killing two birds with one stone, the Qing army really pulled off a brilliant open strategy!

but,

The Qing army overlooked one point.

That was the moment he defied the imperial decree; the court had already cut off supplies to Liaodong and Guam.

Zhang Jingchuan, on the other hand, had long since achieved self-sufficiency.

For Zhang Jingchuan, the only impact was on his newly established reputation.

But this reputation is also the easiest thing for him to earn back.

After understanding this point,

Zhang Jingchuan turned his gaze to Tian Hongyu and asked with a smile:

"Lord Tian has come across the sea not just to verify the rumors that Benbo surrendered to the Qing, right?"

“Your Majesty naturally does not believe the rumors that you have surrendered to the Qing,” Tian Hongyu said with a smile. “However, the situation in Guangning is dire, and Your Majesty would like to know how you can send troops to relieve the siege of Guangning.”

“Hiss—” Zhang Jingchuan said with feigned regret, “Liaodong is a place with a vast land and sparse population. Foreign invaders are rampant. If there had been a strong vassal state to suppress this place, how could the Qing invaders have become so powerful?”

Tian Hongyu frowned.

Having spent many years in officialdom, how could he not understand the meaning behind Pinglubo's words?

The implication is that,

He ordered the imperial court to establish a vassal state in Liaodong, and appointed Pinglubo as the governor-general of Liaodong.

What worries Tian Hongyu is that once Liaodong is established as a vassal state, the current strength of the Earl of Pinglu means that he could achieve full autonomy for the vassal state.

To know,

At the beginning of the founding of the country, Emperor Taizu also established regional military governorships in various places.

However, the territories of the various vassal kings were simply unable to support the troops under their command, and they were almost entirely supported by the imperial court.

Anyone who can achieve self-sufficiency...

Tian Hongyu's heart skipped a beat, because he thought of Emperor Chengzu.

Thinking of this, a look of horror flashed in Tian Hongyu's eyes.

Could it be that

What did Pinglubo want to do...?

If I could get close to the powerful Duke Pinglu, wouldn't I be a meritorious official who helped the emperor rise to power once things were successful?

Zhang Jingchuan was naturally unaware of the various scenarios that Tian Hongyu was conjuring up in his mind.

Seeing the glint in his eyes and the smugness on his lips, Zhang Jingchuan frowned and asked, "Lord Tian?"

"what?"

Zhang Jingchuan's soft call pulled Tian Hongyu back from his daydreams of wealth and luxury.

"Oh," Tian Hongyu lowered his head, quietly wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth, and said respectfully, "This subordinate understands!"

"Understood?" Zhang Jingchuan was slightly surprised, as he hadn't said anything yet.

"Understood!" Tian Hongyu's face showed a reassured expression, as if to say, "I understand you."

At this moment, Tian Hongyu was in an extremely happy mood.

He felt a sense of joy and exhilaration, as if his own exceptional talent had finally found its discerning owner.

Having served as an official for many years with little success, he never expected that today he would finally find a wise ruler!

and,

He felt that the Earl of Pinglu had already hinted at him, implying that he should help persuade the court to establish a vassal state in Liaodong... He, the Earl of Pinglu, wanted to become the master of Liaodong, the king of Liaodong!

and,

One day, Zhang Jingchuan will rule the world and create a great legacy for all time!

Suddenly,

Tian Hongyu felt a significant weight on his shoulders.

Because on his shoulders lay the imperial ambition of the Earl of Pinglu, and he bore an incomparably glorious and arduous responsibility.

Tian Hongyu looked up at Pinglu Bo, his eyes suddenly welling up with tears...

Because he knows,

Throughout history, every aspiring emperor faced hardship, misunderstanding, and walking on thin ice before ascending to the throne.

but,

Tian Hongyu understands Lord Bo's ambition!

Tian Hongyu understood the loneliness of the old man!

Tian Hongyu understood what was in the Earl's heart!

Like a high mountain and flowing water seeking a kindred spirit, Tian Hongyu is willing to be the Earl's Zhong Ziqi!

At this very moment,

Tian Hongyu suddenly felt the meaning of his existence in the world and found the direction for realizing his life's value.

He, Tian Hongyu, will help Lord Pinglu achieve a great feat that will last for ages!

Seeing Tian Hongyu's eyes welling up with tears, and his gaze burning like a volcanic eruption, Zhang Jingchuan frowned and asked with concern, "Is Lord Tian feeling unwell?"

"Oh," Tian Hongyu suppressed his surging emotions, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, and said, "I might be a little seasick..."

Zhang Jingchuan nodded and said with concern, "Lord Tian, ​​you must be tired from your journey. Why don't you go and rest first? There's a welcome banquet tonight, or perhaps..."

“My lord, there is no need to worry,” Tian Hongyu said respectfully. “This humble servant will present a gift to you at the welcoming banquet.”

finished,

Tian Hongyu bowed to Zhang Jingchuan and then withdrew.

Tian Hongyu's actions surprised everyone in the hall, because the final bow was an extremely solemn ceremony.

"Lord Tian, ​​what is this...?" Zhang Jingchuan looked at Huang Fei, who had come with him, with a puzzled expression.

"Uh..." Huang Fei had no idea what Tian Hongyu was thinking, so he could only casually say, "Maybe he caught a bit of a breeze at sea..."

Zhang Jingchuan nodded, then sat back down in his chair and said:

"I hope the court will agree to establish a vassal state in Liaodong, then we will have no worries about the future."

Wu Guozhong, Huang Fei, and You Dai all nodded in agreement.

Once the imperial court establishes a vassal state in Liaodong, the Earl of Pinglu will be able to govern autonomously in Liaodong. In this way, they will not have to worry about being purged by the imperial court after the Liaodong war is quelled.

After all, the three of them are now generals under Pinglubo, and if Pinglubo falls, they will inevitably be implicated.

at this time,

The guards waiting outside came in to report:

"Lord, Tong Puhan requests an audience."

"Hehe," Zhang Jingchuan chuckled and said, "Our God of Wealth has arrived again!"

……