I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 468 Hu Zongxian was shocked

Six large Wusong sailing ships were sailing slowly towards Dagu Port against the wind.

Hu Zongxian, Pan Yinglong and others stood at the bow, feeling excited.

Beijing, we are back again.

From afar, you can see flags waving on the shore and faintly hear the sound of gongs and drums, it is noisy and bustling.

what happened?

Wasn't the imperial court's reception held in Tongzhou as per tradition? Why was it moved to Dagu?
This is really grand.

Pan Yinglong and other staff members looked at Hu Zongxian's back with admiration and excitement.

Follow Hu Gong, drink soup and eat meat!
There was also a man in his twenties among the staff, dressed in student clothes and with a handsome appearance. His eyes wandered over Hu Zongxian and Pan Yinglong, revealing the most ardent admiration.

He is Luan Yongfang, the younger brother of Feng Bao’s wife Luan Feng’er.

After receiving Feng Bao's private letter, Hu Zongxian immediately ordered people to search the files in the government offices in Guangdong and Guangxi. He soon found a list of the families of criminal officials who were exiled to Guangdong and Guangxi during the Jiajing period. He checked one by one and found Luan Yongfang.

Hu Zongxian wrote to the Guangdong Censorate, finding an excuse to recruit Luan Yongfang into his staff, and then handed him over to Pan Yinglong, and brought him back to Beijing this time.

Hu Zongxian put down the telescope and laughed: "We all got it wrong. Today Dagu is sending off the soldiers of the Eastern Expedition, and we caught up with them."

"Seeing off the soldiers on their Eastern Expedition?" Luan Yongfang was a newcomer and asked curiously.

"Since the crown prince took power, every time the Ming army and navy soldiers went to war, they would organize a lively farewell party. When Lord Hu led us to the southern expedition, Your Highness personally saw us out of Chaoyang Gate.

The Supervisor of Military Affairs of the Supervisory Office was sent to Tongzhou. The Minister of War was sent to Dagu. There were also loud gongs and drums and flags flying in the sky. "

Pan Yinglong took the telescope handed over by Hu Zongxian and explained casually.

The Ming Dynasty also had farewell and triumphal welcoming ceremonies in the past, but they simply followed old rituals and were old-fashioned and superficial, not as down-to-earth as this one.

According to Zhu Yijun, the most vulgar is the most elegant.

After his staff had seen it clearly, Hu Zongxian said solemnly: "The Regulations on the Official System of the Third Year of Longqing's reign are officially promulgated and will be implemented today.

From now on, no matter whether they are officials in the capital or outside the capital, no matter what their official rank is, they are not allowed to hire private guards. Guards are included in the official system, and guards are guards. You have followed me in the southeast, Shanxi and Nanhai over the years, and have worked hard and made great contributions.

I have already detailed your achievements and recommended you. Xiyuan approved it and sent it to the Ministry of Personnel for preferential treatment. You will be awarded honors according to your merits and be able to hold the position. After returning to Beijing, we will no longer be masters and friends, but colleagues. "

Pan Yinglong and others hurriedly bowed and said, "We thank Mr. Hu for recommending us."

This is undoubtedly a public declaration that we will all remember Hu Zongxian's kindness in promoting and recommending us. From now on, he is our benefactor and we are his former officials.

The large ship that Hu Zongxian was on slowly approached the shore, and he saw a number of large Wusong sailing ships docked at the berths.

There are more than a dozen prince's sailing ships in the distance. Judging from their tonnage and shape, they should be frigates and cruisers.

In the past two years, Hulugang Shipyard and Wusong Shipyard have each built hundreds of large and small sailing ships every year, most of which are armed merchant ships, frigates and cruisers. The total number of battleships, the country's most important weapons, remains between twelve and fifteen per year.

Thousands of people gathered on the shore, cheering non-stop. There were flags and banners everywhere.

"Farewell to the Ming soldiers who are on the Eastern Expedition!"

"Eliminate violence and protect the good, and keep the vassal state forever!"

"Peace and tranquility in the four seas, and peace in the world!"

There were also hundreds of people happily beating gongs and drums. Well, there was no suona, only a few flute accompaniments from time to time.

Teams of officers and soldiers wearing new military uniforms, round-brimmed hats, carrying iron helmets, backpacks and muskets, lined up on the open space at the dock, and then obeyed the orders and boarded the transport ships in rows from the planks.

"It's the Shenwei Army's Musketeer Infantry Regiment." A friend recognized it.

Pan Yinglong smiled and said, "Altan Khan's legs were weak at the last minute. They didn't get a hard fight in Datong, so they had to go to Korea to show their skills."

One fan was puzzled: "It's already September, why are we still sending troops to North Korea? I heard that North Korea is as cold as Liaodong, and people are freezing to death in winter."

"Korea and Japan are both east of Ming Dynasty, and the northwest wind is the most favorable. The northwest wind gradually rises in autumn, but there are frequent hurricanes in the North Sea in July and August, so we must avoid them. So September is the most suitable time to start."

Luan Yongfang looked at his "teacher" Pan Yinglong with great admiration, "My dear teacher, you are really knowledgeable and full of strategies."

Pan Yinglong laughed: "The navy pays the most attention to weather and wind direction. If they are not careful and encounter a hurricane, the ship will be destroyed and people will die. Therefore, the Navy Bureau and the Imperial Astronomical Observatory established the Meteorological Department, set up meteorological observation stations in various places, and invited talents who are familiar with astronomical phenomena and proficient in astronomical calculations to compile weather forecasts for use at sea.

Now the Navy Bureau has been changed to Youjunfu, and the Meteorological Department has become the Meteorological Bureau. "

"I see."

Hu Zongxian added: "The newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Xu Yangzheng also took a fancy to the Meteorological Bureau. He petitioned the Meteorological Bureau to be used not only by the navy, but also to be set up in various places to observe and compile seasonal weather maps in various places to help farmers and benefit the people.

Agriculture is the foundation of the country, Your Highness will definitely agree."

Another staff member was also concerned about North Korea's military deployment and curiously asked: "There are only two or three months until winter. Is that enough time?"

Pan Yinglong and Hu Zongxian looked at each other and answered with a smile.

"Of course it's enough. Wei Duxian, the governor of Pingliao, is stationed in Liaoyang. Zhou Guotai, the Earl of Kaiyuan, Wei Jianping, the Earl of Qingyang, and Gao Ce, the Earl of Huining, are leading 20,000 Sushen troops to the east, first recover Pyongyang, then advance to the Taedong River and recover Lelang Prefecture."

After being appointed King of Joseon, Yi Sun, the Acting Governor of Joseon, first wrote a letter of apology, saying that his ancestors were blinded by greed and took advantage of the magnanimity of their superior country to do mean things and stole all the homeland of China north of the Taedong River. Now he had come to his senses and begged to return all the stolen lands to the Ming Dynasty.

It is absolutely voluntary and I am extremely sincere. I can swear to heaven!

The Ming Dynasty naturally accepted the proposal with a smile, and issued an imperial edict to commend the new Korean King Yi Sun for his self-sacrifice, loyalty and dedication to his country. Then it officially announced that "a hundred thousand land and sea troops" would be mobilized to march east to Korea, quell the rebellion and help Korea restore its government.

The area north of the Taedong River became Lelang Prefecture under the jurisdiction of the Liaoning Provincial Administration, on par with Liaodong and Liaoxi, and its seat of government was Pyongyang County.

Pan Yinglong continued, "Mr. Liu has been appointed as the North Sea Envoy, and will be in charge of the pacification of Korea and Japan. He will occupy Ganghwa Island as a base, first recover the Korean royal city of Hanyang, and then slowly make plans."

To help the vassal states quell the rebellion, they provide money and food, and the Ming Dynasty only needs to send troops. There is no need to rush, just take it slow.

Worried about not being able to provide money and food? Right now, their treasury is full of rats, so they really can't provide it. But just because they can't provide it now doesn't mean they won't be able to provide it in the future.

One hundred thousand strong Ming army by land and sea is marching eastward to suppress the bandits. If you dare not give in, then you will become a bandit.

The Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty said so!

The hull of the sailboat slowly approached a row of straw blocks hanging on the dock and swayed a few times. As the bow and stern ropes were tied securely, the hull slowly stabilized.

When the ship docks, the best cushioning material is rubber. Unfortunately, Li Chao and the Qinglong Navy have not returned yet. Even if they come back, I don't know if they can bring back rubber trees.

So we first adapted to the local conditions and used a pile of wheat straw tied into a roll. This thing has just enough cushioning power, not strong, but cheap, and can be replaced when it breaks, and used as a consumable.

The anchor was dropped, the hull was completely stabilized, and the planks were put up. Hu Zongxian took the lead and went down, where he met an acquaintance.

"Lord Ruzhen, I have been waiting here for a long time."

Hu Zongxian's eyes lit up: "Mr. Daichuan, Mr. Huanzhou, you are waiting here? I am really ashamed, ashamed!"

Standing in the front was Liu Tao, the envoy of Beihai, and Wu Dui, the deputy envoy and governor of the Beihai vassal states, with more than a dozen staff members behind them.

According to Zhu Yijun's deployment, it was the responsibility of the Beihai Xuanwei Mission to march eastward to Korea and deter Japan, and Liu Tao was in charge of the overall situation and served as the naval commander.

Wu Dui was the deputy, responsible for negotiations with North Korea and Japan.

Zhou Guotai was the commander of the army, responsible for land command.

Wei Xuezeng, the governor of Pingliao, was responsible for logistics dispatch.

"Haha, I received the order and knew that Lord Ruzhen and his party would arrive today, so I stayed for two days just to wait for you. Lord Ruzhen, we haven't seen each other for three years."

"Yes, I haven't seen you for three years. Since you and I were summoned to the capital, I have been in Shanxi and Xuanda, and sometimes in the South China Sea, while Daichuan has been busy with the navy.

The closest we've been in these three years was when I was sailing south, off the coast of Weihai Harbor. The sky was high and the sea was flat, our ships crossed and saluted each other.

Liu Tao's eyes sparkled as he sighed, "Yes, we have been running around all these years without a moment's rest. But seeing the Ming Dynasty prospering, I feel so happy!"

Hu Zongxian held Liu Tao's hands, his eyes also shining, "Yes, I feel very happy!"

Liu Tao blinked vigorously, "We can't just chat about the past here and neglect these wise men. Wu Junze, you know him."

Hu Zongxian and Wu Dui bowed and smiled at each other: "We know each other. We have dealt with each other in Shanxi."

"This is Ye Mengxiong, the military advisor of the Beihai Xuanwei Division, and Ye Nanzhao."

Ye Mengxiong stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I have long admired your great reputation. It is a great honor to meet you today."

Hu Zongxian laughed: "You are too polite, Nan Zhao."

"These three are the Eastern Expedition Army's generals Xue Yi and Xue Buyan, deputy generals Xiao Ruxun and Xiao Jiqing, and the garrisons Wang Fengmeng and Wang Huchen."

Hu Zongxian understood as soon as he heard it that these three men were bringing six musket infantry regiments of the Shenwei Army to Korea for actual combat exercises.

Xue Yi was familiar with him. He and his father Xue Lin were promoted when Hu Zongxian was governor of Shanxi.

After greeting, Hu Zongxian stared at the young general Xiao Ruxun, feeling somewhat puzzled, as his name sounded so familiar.

As I get older, my memory becomes a little slack.

Remembering this, Hu Zongxian asked in surprise, "But is it Xiao Ruxun, the young hero who chased the enemy for fourteen days and nights and finally beheaded Tumen Khan on the banks of the Xilingge River (Selengge River) and was named Zhenshuonan?"

"Exactly the students."

Hu Zongxian took Xiao Ruxun's hand and laughed at Liu Tao and Wu Dui, "Duke Daichuan, Mr. Huanzhou, His Highness really sent all the capable ministers and famous generals to you. I am jealous!"

Haha, everyone laughed.

Liu Tao then introduced: "This is the Korean envoy to the Ming Dynasty, Zheng Renhong and Zheng Deyuan, a talented Korean."

The permanent envoy to the Ming Dynasty is the envoy to the Ming Dynasty.

The rulers and their subjects of Korea are now very clear that they must cling tightly to the big legs of the Ming dynasty and not let go for even a moment.

"Hello, Envoy Zheng." Hu Zongxian greeted him indifferently.

Zheng Renhong was very enthusiastic and respectful.

He had stayed in the capital of the Ming Dynasty for such a long time that he was very familiar with the trends in the court and the country. He knew that this man was a close minister of the crown prince and the leader of the southeastern faction of the crown prince's party, so he tried his best to curry favor with him.

After a brief exchange of greetings, everyone got on the carriage and returned to the yamen.

Hu Zongxian and Liu Tao were sitting in a carriage.

Hu Zongxian asked curiously, "What is the origin of the sturdy man next to Xiao Jiqing, named Wang Fengmeng and Wang Huchen, who has an extraordinary bearing?"

"Haha, his original name is Wang Dagui, and he is the elder brother of Wang Xiaofu, who was the first to defeat Thang Long and destroy the Mo family under your command."

"Ah, haha, what a coincidence! No wonder Wang Xiaofu wrote a petition, saying that he wanted to change back to his real name, Wang Fengju Wang Aotu. I didn't think of it at the moment.

Going up the mountain to meet a fierce tiger, going down to the sea to meet a giant turtle, it's interesting, this pair of brothers is interesting. Wang Xiaofu is on another boat, and we will arrange for them to meet later."

"Lord Ruzhen, Wang Huchen has another identity that you would never imagine."

"Oh, what's your identity?"

"He is a disciple of Lord Hai Gangbong."

"What?!" Hu Zongxian was so shocked that he almost pulled out a lock of his beard.

What does it mean that Hai Rui accepted such a powerful disciple? Will the Haimen sect stop talking and start using force from now on?
"Unexpected, really unexpected!"

(End of this chapter)