Daming Yinghua

Chapter 161 Business and Revenge

Zheng Haizhu said: "This is black tea. Xianglin knows that last year, after my hometown Yan Siqi helped the imperial court drive away the Dutch from Taiwan, the imperial court intended to make him the chieftain of Taiwan, so he married the female chief of Tainan with all his heart, and married The local wild tea makes a fresh product."

Entering the city this evening, Zheng Haizhu had already greeted Ma Xianglin and asked him to praise her black tea products.

At this moment, Ma Xianglin twisted out a few pinches of dry tea, and said unhurriedly: "Yes, this tea is somewhat similar to our black tea from Sichuan. It is more difficult to make than simple roasted and dried green tea. What is rolled and fermented? They are all new words taught by Ms. Zheng, after all, they are the unique skills that she and her fellow villagers came up with."

Zou Chuxian, general of Qinghe, said: "Good green tea, why do you make it like this?"

Zheng Haizhu knew that the military generals in the Northern Cyprus could not eat fresh vegetables during the battle, so like the sailors, they would bring green tea to chew, which is better than supplementing vitamins without land.

So she asked the cook for hot water to drink from the earthenware bowls and make black tea.

A mellow aroma immediately rose and permeated the air.

Everyone present was a little surprised. Few tea aromas could overwhelm the aroma of stewed chicken and mushrooms.

Zheng Haizhu took a sip first.There is no problem, Yan Siqi's brother-in-law Wen Apeng, who was once taken as a slave by the Frankies, has indeed learned the skill of making tinware while undergoing hardships.The Taiwanese black tea packaged in a tin can has no taste at all.

Zheng Haizhu said with a smile: "Seniors, because of the different production methods, black tea not only has a strong aroma, but also a strong taste. Green tea is fresh and fragrant, while black tea is warm and strong. After eating mutton and chicken with a lot of oil, a cup of black tea is the best. It helps to break down fat."

Zou Chuxian fought Manggurtai again, and drove another ten miles. He was very hungry just now, ate the most fat chicken, and drank a few spoonfuls of spicy chicken oil.

At this moment, after taking a few sips of black tea, I only felt the taste of bitterness first and then sweetness, which relieved a lot of the greasy feeling that almost reached the throat. I couldn't help smacking my lips, and stretched out my hand to touch the disheveled beard covered in chicken fat. Zan said: "This is the first time this old man knows that tea can produce this taste, like wine, and it is very good to eat with meat."

Zhang Quan, who is opposite him, is a civil servant after all, and he is much more delicate in the way of sipping. After a slow tasting, he commented with Sun Yuanhua, who is also a literati: "It is a bit astringent at the beginning, and it does not have the fragrance of tea juice. When you taste it again, it does have a mellow flavor."

When Master Sun Yuanhua studied Western learning from Xu Guangqi, he naturally had a close relationship with the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci, so he said respectfully: "Mr. Minister, the Taixi monk gave us a soup called coffee in his hometown, which is better than this black tea. It is fragrant, but the last drop is still bitter, unlike our teas, which have a sweet aftertaste."

Zheng Haizhu hurriedly answered Sun Yuanhua's criticism: "Master Sun's words are very true. When Xianglin and I were in Taiwan, we met Hongyi people from the Dutch East India Company. They also mentioned coffee. They are used to the taste of coffee. Burning bitterness, I like our fermented tea for the first time. After all, our tea has a little more sweetness, and the tea soup is bright red, which is warm and nourishing to the stomach. Moreover, Hongyi people also like to add Milk is like Mongolian milk tea."

She threw out this feather, how could Mao Wenlong, who owns shares in Haoming Trading Company and his son is also the shopkeeper, not know how to pick it up.

Mao Wenlong's military achievements this time are obvious to all, and he and the two generals of Liaodong have become increasingly ignorant.

"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Po, what Mrs. Zheng said, we can also sell black tea to the Mongolians. Their stomachs are full of sheep fat, and it really depends on black tea to melt it."

Zhang Chengyin, the commander-in-chief of Liaodong, thought for a while, and wanted to take this opportunity to cry to Zhang Quan for being poor, lamenting that the imperial court owed his salary for too long, forcing Liaodong soldiers to carry goods like camels to the tea-horse market on the border for barter thing.

Just as he was about to speak, some soldiers brought in a few merchants.

The merchants' faces were covered with blood, but their hands and feet were not injured.

They tremblingly took out the scrolls and reported sadly: "Shangguan, you guys came to the horse market from Shanxi to do business. Today, we ran into the rout of the Jurchen Tartars. The leader of the Tartars robbed us of our goods." , but saved my life, let us deliver this scroll to the generals in Fushun."

Zhang Quan, Zhang Chengyin and other literate people took it and looked at it. On the paper was written in Chinese characters "Seven Great Hate to Heaven and Ming".

Zhang Quan raised his head and said to Zheng Haizhu: "Sure enough, it's the seven major hatreds you found out before. This time it's all over, come and have a look."

Zheng Haizhu took a closer look, and saw the seven reasons for the invasion that Nurhachi found out from the historical materials. Except for the first one, he accused the Ming court of killing his grandfather and father (it was a manslaughter). It is extremely far-fetched for Ye He's old daughter to be jealous and so on.

The illiterate Zou Chuxian and others listened to Zhang Zongbing read and cursed "Fart, Tartars talking nonsense".

Zheng Haizhu frowned, and said to Zhang Quan: "Master, when the Tartars are defeated, they still have to throw the book of war over. It can be seen that the old chief Nurhachi has become determined to defeat the Ming. The state Jurchens are going crazy, and they will definitely make a comeback."

Zou Chuxian snorted: "Then I will continue to stop them from fighting. Miss Zheng, are your cannons for eagles and birds expensive? I also ask you to buy a few and put them in Qinghe Fort."

Zheng Haizhu's face became more and more serious: "Of course firearms are good things. But please think about it, superiors. When the Frankies used firearms to attack us at the mouth of the Pearl River, it didn't take long before the method of mother-in-law blunderbuss was adopted by my general in Guangdong. The official school is coming. Going back 500 years ago, the Song Dynasty made a magic arm crossbow, which was gradually imitated by the Jin and Xia people. War is not a conspiracy. Everyone is doing it with open swords and guns. If you fight a few more times, you will see clearly that no matter how hot or cold your weapons are, you will eventually be imitated by the enemy. As for Jianzhou, you must fight and defend, but you must also try to divert this disaster to other places, even like water control. , make the best use of the situation.”

Zhang Quan rubbed the paper scroll filled with "Seven Great Hatreds" and asked, "How to make the best use of the situation."

Zheng Haizhu then reported to Nurhachi about the Russians sending Cossacks eastward in Hetuala.

In the end, he said convincingly: "To deal with the border troubles of Jianzhou, um, there are also various Mongolian ministries. We should take several strategies simultaneously. Naturally, the frontier soldiers must be strong, and their armaments must be sufficient. Of course, military intelligence cannot be neglected, but at the same time, they must be forced to turn around. Further north and more east, use their brute strength to fight Cossacks and Raksha people. Let them defend the territory of their own tribe, win a few times, and teach the Raksha people to be more honest. Our Ming Dynasty can let Mongolia and The Jianzhou Jurchens are Erdao dealers, selling our products to the Raksha people. For example, this black tea, which warms the stomach with oil, doesn’t make sense that the Frankie and Hongyi people like it, but the Raksha people don’t like it.”

When she said this, she paused for a moment, sighed, and then said: "Nurhachi's criminal heart can be punished, but I visited Hetuala last year, and I did see with my own eyes that many places in Jianzhou are full of water, potholes, and wasteland. Difficulties, as their population increases, if they don’t solve the food problem, even if they know they are flying to the fire, they will keep coming to snatch us.”

Zheng Haizhu was spitting all over the place, but everyone at the banquet didn't find it annoying, let alone childish and ridiculous.

I only heard Qi Jin take a sip of tea, and said lightly: "Zheng girl is right. Back then, Qi Shaobao led us to fight against Japanese pirates or Mongols. In some battles where it is impossible to wipe out the enemy soldiers, we fought almost the same. When he knows that he hates it, Qi Shaobao will leave a gap for the remnant soldiers to get out through that gap, lest the trapped beasts fight fiercely and damage my strength."

Zhang Quan stared thoughtfully at the boiling pot of the red waves, before speaking in a short while: "There is no one way to solve the border troubles of any dynasty or generation. But this time, everyone is working together, with real knives, real guns and real cannons." I will report to the Holy Majesty and the elders in detail for the military achievements I have made when I return to the capital. Come, eat vegetables and drink tea."

Hearing this, Zheng Haizhu understands that enough is enough to offer advice and suggestions. Looking back, he talked about selling black tea to the Mongols and Jurchens through Zongbing in Liaodong, about encouraging Mao Wenlong to go to Phi Island to develop a base for border trade with North Korea and Japan, and about asking Zhang Quan to play the imperial court The matter of agreeing to pay the Songjiang Artillery Factory does not need to be discussed in detail at the dinner table, it can be discussed during a separate visit.

Everyone ate for a while, Zhang Chengyin suddenly asked Qi Jin: "Qi Zongbing, where is your godson? He accompanied Miss Zheng to break the water alone in Magen, which is also a great achievement. Why don't you call him to eat meat?"

Qi Jin's mouth flashed an imperceptible strange color, and immediately, he pretended to be helpless and said: "Wu Weizhong is an only seedling, with a cold temper and afraid of socializing, let him go."

……

Kong Youde led Wu Bangde through the darkness and came to the cell.

Mao Wenlong's family member opened the prison door, and Li Yongfang, a prisoner who had been locked up for three or four days, rushed forward and angrily repeated his questioning in recent days: "I am a majestic Fushun guerrilla, which Ming army are you from? Why did you lock me up?" Is there a war outside? Where are Lao Tzu's people? Where is the seal of King Qian Zong?"

Kong Youde sneered: "Mr. Wang Qian is now a guerrilla in Fushun, fighting Tartars and protecting Fushun. Of course, he has to rely on a man like Wang Qianzong. Do you rely on you, the traitor who welcomes Tartars and lives in Fushun Confucian Temple?"

Li Yongfang was startled, but quickly argued angrily: "Nonsense! When did I collaborate with the enemy? The Jurchens come to Mashi every year. When did the court blame me? I want to see Zongbing Zhang!"

Kong Youde said "hehe": "We are Zongbing Zhang's people, otherwise, who do you think has such great power, can enter Fushun City to discharge your military power, and drag you here from the hot kang?"

Wu Bangde gently pushed Kong Youde away.

He stared at Li Yongfang.

Li Yongfang also looked at this strange face that appeared in the shadows.

"who are you?"

Wu Bangde said calmly, "You said you didn't cooperate with the enemy, so do you know which generals in Liaodong are friendly with Nurhachi?"

Li Yongfang weighed it up and asked: "Are you from Zongbing Zhang?"

Wu Bangde pouted noncommittally.

Li Yongfang dreamed of biting someone to survive, and hurriedly said: "Yes! Li Chengliang's son Li Rubai, his concubine is Nurhachi's niece, and he went back to Hetuala in the twelfth lunar month. He must have gone to discuss plots with Nurhachi for him."

Wu Bangde said: "Li Rubai is in Liaoyang, and his concubine must have gone to the south when he returned to Jianzhou. How did you know that in Fushun?"

Li Yongfang was taken aback, but quickly said in a foolish way: "In the first month, a Jurchen came to Fushun to sell ginseng and talked about it."

Wu Bangde took two steps closer to him and shook his head: "Li Yongfang, you are a moron. When you die, the most capable thing is to frame and frame."

"Ah?" Before Li Yongfang could continue to argue, Kong Youde blocked her mouth with a cloth.

Then, there was a dull "woo hoo" sound in the cell, and then it gradually fell silent.

The servant guarding the cell, seeing Wu Bangde come out and disappear into the night, looked back at Li Yongfang, who was hanging from the beam of the room and was no longer moving, and looked at Kong Youde.

"What are you doing in a daze," Kong Youde shrugged, "Go to the military office and tell Li Gueran that he committed suicide."

……

When Zheng Haizhu walked out of the military office, he almost bumped into Mao Wenlong's servant who came in a hurry.

A moment later, she heard an announcement about Li Yongfang's death from behind her.

She didn't stop, and continued to walk towards the city gate to the north.

I don't know if it's Fushun Qianzong Wang Mingyin's department or Mao Wenlong's city pawns. Seeing Zheng Haizhu's waist badge, he was a little surprised, but let her out of the city.

Qi Jin's Zhejiang Army and Ma Xianglin's Sichuan Army camped next to each other.

The big households and wealthy merchants in the city sent a lot of meat and vegetables and white buns to the soldiers.

Zheng Haizhu stopped under the starry sky, watching the warriors on both sides who were bloody and killing the enemy in the daytime, gorging themselves around the steaming cauldron.

There was a strong Sichuan-flavored mandarin behind him: "Brother, here you are, this is the local medicine from Yunnan, the best Jinchuang medicine in Ming Dynasty."

Zheng Haizhu looked back and saw the Zhejiang soldiers under Qi Jin's department receiving the medicine, expressing his gratitude.

Historically, two years later, the year Wanli Emperor died, Sichuan soldiers and Zhejiang soldiers who assisted Liao had a fight in Tongzhou outside the capital.

Zheng Haizhu didn't think about whether these two most capable fighters of Ming Dynasty would still be at odds after two years. She only knew that tonight, the two friendly troops who fought side by side could sleep in the tent under Fushun City. sleep well.

Zheng Haizhu continued to walk, and came to the river beach where Wu Bangde brought her here in the first month.

She found Wu Bangde.

"Is everything resolved?"

Wu Bangde looked up at her, pointed to not far away and said: "It's almost there, just wait for the wild dogs to come and eat the hearts and livers of Li Yongfang's soldiers who bullied Ah Mei."

Zheng Haizhu sat down beside him.

Wu Bangde suddenly smiled and said: "Look, the human fight was too fierce, and the wild dogs were scared away. I sat down for half an hour, and I didn't see a single wild dog."

Zheng Haizhu said: "Bond, in human life, there are indeed not only wild dogs."

But Wu Bangde said to himself: "Avenged my father-in-law and Amei, I will be able to sleep well tonight. In the days to come, I will often dream of Amei, smile at me, and tell me that she is living in heaven. Not bad, even climbing trees is the best among fairies."

Zheng Haizhu didn't make a sound.

She remembered a song many years later: Although the flowers will wither, they will bloom again, and the love of my life is faintly outside the white clouds.

(End of the fifth volume)
(End of this chapter)