The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 272 Seven Heroes Go to Dengzhou
Yang Hao woke up just as the sky was getting light. The old man slept little, and the sky was clear and bright, so he could even see the last few dim stars on the sea.

The sea breeze blew across the deck, and Yang Jinglie's old body creaked like the sunken Fu ship.

"Another narrow escape."

He was wrapped in a woolen blanket, gazing into the distance on the deck of the Weiyuan battleship.

Looking back on my military career, I can't help but sigh.

Including Pyongyang and Sarhu in North Korea, he has survived three major disasters.

Yang Hao believed that this was the blessing of Ping Liaohou.

His son-in-law is the chosen one and will ascend the throne to become emperor in the future.

The father-in-law of a true dragon should naturally be blessed by the gods.

Yang Hao secretly made up his mind that when he returned to Liaodong, he would assist Liu Zhaosun and drive away Kang Yingqian, Qiao Yiqi and their gang.

On February 18th of the first year of Chongzhen's reign, the subordinates of the Chosen Son suffered heavy casualties. They disembarked from Weihaiwei, bid farewell to the Weiyuan, and boarded the Yingzui Port.

The captain of the Weiyuan ship was named Meng. He was originally a porter on the Yalu River. In the second year of Taichang, he was selected by Ping Liaohou and trained the navy in Pi Island with Wu Aheng. Now he has become a capable general under Wu Aheng.

Captain Meng sent everyone to Weihaiwei and sent six Korean soldiers on the warship to escort Yang Hao to Wendeng County.

Most of the soldiers on the Weiyuan battleship were Korean. The sailors were surprised to hear that the old man who was rescued from the sea was the famous Yang Hao.

Yang Hao is very famous in North Korea.

After Wanli came to Korea to aid it, Yang Hao and Liu Jing stayed in Korea to train troops to resist Japanese pirates. They made great contributions to the vassal state, and many Koreans worshipped Yang Jinglie as a god.

This time, Jin Yinghe followed Wu Aheng to reinforce southern Liaoning. Hearing that Jin Yuji was still in Wendeng, the Korean general also went ashore with the sailors.

The short Meng Jinbao stood on the lookout and watched Yang Hao and his party disappear on the official road of the port before he commanded the warship to leave Yingzui Port.

Taking advantage of the good weather, Yang Hao and his men hurried towards Wendeng Camp.

There were now ten of them left; the others had sunk to the bottom of the sea. Including Jin Yinghe and the Korean soldiers, the team now totaled sixteen, including a crazy woman.

Three days ago, they encountered the Japanese pirates' red seal ships at sea, and a boarding battle broke out between the two sides.

In that duel, which was considered fair and just by the Japanese samurai, Miyamoto Musashi used a musket to sneak attack his opponent, killing Shen Lian's beloved woman and his most loyal younger brother on the spot.

The Annan woman was already pregnant with Shen Lian's child.

Miyamoto's father killed Shen Lian's mother with a cannon. When Shen Lian saw his mother for the last time, the old lady's body was torn into pieces.

This duel would remain in Shen Lian's memory for the rest of his life, even until he set foot on Japanese soil several years later...

In addition to Shen Lian's family, others also suffered heavy losses in the boarding battle.

Most of Yang Jinglie's servants were killed, leaving only Wei Zhao and the men Pei Dahu brought from Kaiyuan. The last one left was Wu Xiao.

Shen Lian, Wu Xiao, Pei Dahu, Wei Zhao, Zhao Yuanzhi, Han Chao, Yang Hao, Zuo Miaoqing, Xu Guangqi, and missionaries.

When the Fu ship capsized, these people were covered in the bottom of the cabin and survived by relying on the remaining oxygen in the cabin.

When they were rescued by the Liaodong Navy passing by, the Japanese red seal ship that caused the accident had already escaped.

From then on, Shen Lian and the Miyamoto family began a life-and-death feud.

The dead have no remains left, and the living are still in shock.

Everyone was distraught.

The wealth that Yang Hao had accumulated over three years sank into the blue waves. He lost his appetite and stared at the sea in silence.

Shen Lian wants revenge.

Wu Xiao climbed up the lookout pole and looked out at the vast sea eagerly, searching for Lin Yu, his best brother who had been missing for many days.

The leader of this group, Pei Dahu, began to quarrel with Yang Hao and Wu Aheng.

He insisted on not going to Liaodong.

He wants to go back to Dengzhou.

"Four months ago, Marquis Ping Liao said that after the mission was accomplished, we would return to Dengzhou. These were Lord Liu's exact words."

"But Ping Liaohou is now in Liaoxi, fighting a decisive battle with Zu Dashou. Kaiyuan's main force has already retreated to Liaodong. What are you doing in Shandong?"

"I can't control that. The master's order was to let me return to Dengzhou. He must have his reasons for saying that."

Wu Aheng knew that Pei Dahu had a stubborn temper, and seeing this, he could do nothing but part ways with Pei Dahu and the others.

He ordered the Weiyuan to escort Pei Dahu back to Dengzhou.

When the Weiyuan ship parted ways with the fleet, Shen Lian once again ran to Wu Aheng and begged the lieutenant general to lead the fleet back to Nagasaki, Japan.

The escaped old Japanese pirate was in Nagasaki. He wanted to take revenge on him and skin Miyamoto Tokunari alive.

Wu Aheng was very willing to help Captain Shen avenge his mother's death, but now he had to rush to southern Liaoning.

The Battle of Southern Liaoning concerns the life and death of more people, and dealing with Japan will not be a matter of a day or two.

Shen Lian learned from Wu Aheng that Ping Liaohou intended to conquer Japan.

He immediately gave up all thoughts of retiring and returned to work under Liu Zhaosun.

"A young man is teachable, and a gentleman's revenge is never too late. That old thief is in Japan, and he can't escape. You can kill him with your own hands in the future. When I return to Liaodong, I will make sure that Ping Liaohou promotes you to the rank of Lord of the East Factory."

Yang Hao patted Shen Lian on the shoulder and added:

"It's the East Factory in Kaiyuan." Yang Hao originally wanted to return to southern Liaoning with Wu Aheng, but finally chose to go to Wendeng with Pei Dahu.

After these near-death experiences, Yang Hao and Pei Dahu and the others had formed a life-or-death bond, inseparable for a while. As the oldest and most experienced of the group, he was often relied upon for decision-making.

Of course, the most important reason was that the old man wanted to go to the county government office to meet General Anyuan, who beat the drum in Hunhe River.

Yang Qing'er is now the wife of Marquis Ping Liao and the queen of Liaodong. If she can maintain her status as the wife, when Marquis Ping Liao enters the pass and occupies the world, Yang Qing'er will definitely be the empress, and Yang Hao will be promoted to the father-in-law of the new dynasty and become a true royal relative.

This is what is meant by the saying "a father is honored by his daughter".

In Yang Hao's view, the only person who could threaten his future position as the emperor's father-in-law was the Korean woman from Wendeng County.

In recent years, Yang Hao has heard many stories about Jin Yuji in the Tianjin Canal, and he feels more and more that this Korean enchantress is extraordinary.

If the evil woman is allowed to continue like this, it is not impossible for her to replace Yang Qing'er's position as the main wife in the future.

I heard that Yang Qing'er and this Korean concubine got along very well and were as close as sisters.

The Marquis of Ping Liao was extremely fond of this woman and married her to him in a formal ceremony with three letters and six ceremonies.

Yang Hao felt a little uneasy.

What makes Mr. Yang most worried is that he heard that this evil woman is now pregnant.

If Jin Yuji gave birth to a son successfully, she would surely be favored by Ping Liaohou. By then, my daughter would probably be...
Although according to Ming Dynasty law, illegitimate children had no right to inherit titles or clan names (Note 1), Ping Liaohou behaved differently from ordinary people and was not bound by etiquette and morality.

It is still questionable how long the Ming Dynasty can survive. It is ridiculous to use Ming Dynasty laws to restrain a rebellious hero.

Yang Hao heard from Pei Dahu that this Korean woman admired the etiquette of the Celestial Empire and she was always reading when she was in the military camp with Liu Zhaosun.

"Ruzi can be taught."

Yang Hao stroked his beard and decided to take this opportunity to teach this girl a lesson. He wanted to teach her about the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues, about being gentle, kind, and respectful. He wanted to make this little girl from the Eastern Frontier understand the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children, between noble and humble. It would be best if she behaved more properly in the future and not act in a way that would usurp the throne.

No one mentioned returning to Liaodong anymore and headed straight towards Wendeng County.

The biting sea breeze passed over the low rolling hills and blew on people's faces like a knife.

They set out from Yingzui Port and headed south along the official road.

On the official road, sentinels with small flags on their backs galloped past the crowd from time to time, looking at Pei Dahu and others with ill intentions.

The cavalrymen galloped on their horses, and several times their hooves almost stepped on Zuo Miaoqing, frightening the crazy woman so much that she screamed loudly.

Shen Lian raised his bow, took out a large arrow and aimed it at a sentry horse that had just flown away. Just as he was about to release the bowstring, Yang Hao called out to him:
"Brother Shen, wait a minute. We can't get away with killing people here. Your life is precious now. Keep it to avenge your family. Don't act rashly."

After hearing this, Shen Lian immediately put down his bow and looked at the cavalry soldiers going away with murderous intent.

Without waiting for Jin Yinghe to ask, Pei Dahu explained that these were the troops preparing for war with Japan in Denglai Prefecture.

These Japanese-prepared troops will not be easily mobilized unless war breaks out.

"I'm afraid there's been a change in Wendeng, and the Marquis of Ping Liao is attacking Liaoxi. The imperial court won't sit idly by and watch Zu Dashou perish. They should react. However, the Kaiyuan army is unparalleled in combat power, and the Shandong troops are powerless."

As soon as Yang Hao said this, everyone felt as if they were facing a great enemy. They stopped resting and hurriedly ate some steamed buns and fried noodles before setting off quickly.

After walking for another hour, they were still fifty miles away from Wendeng County, and the sun was setting.

Yang Hao and Zuo Miaoqing were too weak to walk anymore.

Pei Dahu discovered that Balipu was not far ahead. Balipu was a small post station south of Dengzhou.

Since the middle and late Wanli period, the Ming Dynasty has deliberately reduced the supply of post stations.

The prefects and county magistrates at various places were unwilling to spend precious local resources to maintain the operation of this national service system, and chose to let the post stations in their jurisdictions decline.

As Gu Yanwu said, by the late Ming Dynasty, post stations had become "all useless." (Note 2)

Later, as the Ming court's finances deteriorated, more postmen were laid off - like the later rebel leader Li Zicheng - and countless laid-off postmen began to rob passengers passing by on the official roads where they had previously served.

In the second year of Taichang, Deng, Lai, Qing and other places in Shandong were ravaged by the Wenxiang Sect. The people fled, people's livelihood was in decline, the post stations were all dilapidated, and the postmen's wages were often in arrears. Balipu was no exception.

Pei Dahu brought Shen Lian and Wu Xiao into the post station.

A skinny, dark-skinned shop soldier was leaning against the shop door, basking in the sun. On the ground lay a splint, a bell, and a tasseled spear.

These guys who were the soldiers' breadwinners were actually abandoned like this.

The deliveryman (the delivery staff of the express delivery shop were called deliverymen) heard the footsteps and waved at Wu Xiao without even opening his eyes.

"A horse is not idle, and it is not delivering a message."

Yang Jinglue's million taels of silver and southern goods sank into the sea, and Pei Dahu and his men didn't have a single tael of silver. When they got off the boat, Meng Jinbao gave them eighty taels.

It only costs one tael and five cents of silver to hire a carriage from Weihaiwei to Wendeng, so eighty taels is a huge sum of money.

The three of them looked at each other, and Wu Xiao took a step forward, took out a black card from his waist, and waved it at the soldiers.

"We have a post station pass! Quickly prepare the horses! We need two!"

The dark and thin shopkeeper stood up and took a look at the three men. Since they were dressed in unusual clothes, he thought they were passing officials and said with a smile:

"Don't blame me, gentlemen. Unfortunately, all the horses were transferred away by Lord Song a few days ago. Now there are no horses in the entire Dengzhou Prefecture Post Station. There are still two mules in Balipu. Would you like them?"

Note:
1. "Great Ming Code": All legitimate and illegitimate sons, except the eldest legitimate son who has inherited an official position, shall be divided equally among the family property and land, regardless of whether they have wives, concubines or maids, and shall be divided according to the number of sons.

2. Gu Yanwu: Jizhilu Jishi, vol. 12, p. 18

(End of this chapter)