The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 487 Zhang Dai Proposes Marriage (Liu Rushi Appears)

Emperor Wuding looked at Zheng Zhilong, the Fujian general who had come to surrender, and said sincerely in front of the Southern Ming envoys:
"General Zheng knows my character. During the Eastern Expedition to Japan, I fought alongside you and defeated the Tokugawa clan. As long as you turn back from your mistakes, even if you have made a terrible mistake, I will forgive you, just like I did to Dudu, the leader of Jianzhou."

When Liu Zhaosun mentioned the word Du Du, his voice changed obviously. He stopped and looked around. His warm, fatherly gaze shifted away from Zheng Zhilong and looked at Zhang Dong, the head of imperial intelligence.

The ferocious expression on Zhang Mazi's face immediately turned into a respectful one. He took a step forward, lowered his head and waited for the order from the emperor.

"How is Dudu now? Is he alive and well?"

Zhang Dong understood and said quickly, "Your Majesty, he's doing very well. Since his last hot air balloon ride, his headaches and back pain are gone, and his old rheumatic legs are also gone. He returned to Shenyang early. The Emperor named him Duke of Anle, allowing him to enjoy a life of wealth and luxury. He now spends his days leisurely in Shenyang, visiting brothels and drinking wine. His life is so comfortable."

Emperor Wu Ding smiled and nodded. Du Du was indeed not dead yet, but being the Duke of Anle was fake, and so was his leisurely life.

The Qing Emperor should still be in a workshop somewhere testing the effectiveness of the empire's new weapons (such as testing the maximum range of Minié bullets, the killing radius of landmines, etc.).

Francesco and Ginigo endorsed the kindness and generosity of the retired emperor, praising him as a king who was more magnanimous and great than Caesar. For a while, all kinds of flattery could be heard in the hall, and Liu Zhaosun was described as the reincarnation of Yao and Shun.

After hearing what everyone said, and seeing the relieved expressions on the faces of Huang Gongfu, Lu Zhenfei and others, Zheng Zhilong knew that he had made the right move by surrendering to Qi.

It is ridiculous to think that when I was about to leave Zhangzhou, Fujian, the young Zheng Sen tried to dissuade me in every way, and even threatened to sever the father-son relationship and prevent me from going to Qi.

"I will definitely teach this brat a lesson when I get back this time. Let him know what it means to be a mature and prudent person and serve the country!"

Zheng Zhilong was certain Liu Zhaosun wouldn't target him, not least because he knew him well. General Zheng considered Liu Zhaosun indecisive and prone to soft-heartedness. Zheng Zhilong was aware of the defeat of Hetuala, the Kaiyuan rebellion, and Song Yingsheng's escape. More importantly, the state of Qi was still in its infancy, and after the devastating disaster, much needed to be done and rebuilt. Millions of people in the capital, the Central Plains, and the Jianghuai region were still waiting for relief from the emperor. Transportation along the North-South Canal had been severed, and maritime transport would play a crucial role in the future.

From this perspective, Qi State cannot do without the Zheng family, because Zheng Zhilong and his family almost monopolized one-third of the sea transportation on the southeast coast.

If nothing unexpected happened, Emperor Wuding would have to rely on the Zheng family. However, two variables made this alliance between the two strongest forces on land and sea in East Asia come to nothing.

First of all, thanks to the vigorous implementation of the Qi Dynasty's land system in various places, the Great Qi was able to seize various resources (food, manpower, public opinion, etc.) in the occupied areas to the maximum extent. After eliminating a sufficient number of local tyrants and middle-level wealthy families, the contradiction between population and land was basically resolved. Commerce in various places was monopolized by chambers of commerce, and the daily needs of the people were all supplied by farmers' associations and chambers of commerce (the "rebels" in remote areas were also eliminated, thereby reducing supply costs). In short, by the second year of Taichu, an internal economic cycle had been formed in Shandong and Liaodong, the core ruling areas of the empire, and the demand for trade with Jiangnan and the southeast was greatly reduced.

Zheng Zhilong was just a pirate. With his values and cognitive level, he certainly could not understand what Emperor Wuding had done in various parts of Da Qi in the past two years (and he could not believe that Liu Zhaosun would be so cruel).

Secondly, after Zheng Zhilong announced his surrender to Qi, the pirate family immediately fell into disunity. Most of Zheng Zhilong's former subordinates dispersed, leaving only a few old pirates by his side, which greatly reduced his role after his surrender.

"I will treat you well and use you to deal with the red-haired barbarians in the future."

The last sentence gave Zheng Zhilong a reassurance, and the huge rock in his heart finally fell to the ground.

Emperor Wuding smiled at Zhang Mazi and said meaningfully, "Zhang Dong, take this old friend down first and entertain him well for me."

Zheng Zhilong kowtowed to express his gratitude.

Emperor Wuding nodded to Ma Shiying. Minister Ma stepped forward and said to Huang Gongfu and others:
"Great Qi is just a new state, and our emperor is eager for talent. You have all come to Great Qi with great difficulty, and the journey is tiring and inconvenient. You do not need to return. Stay in Qi, make achievements, and be promoted to higher positions. It is no problem for you to reach the highest position among the ministers."

"what?"

"What does Qi mean by this?"

"We are only here to exchange the treaty!"

Huang Gongfu and others were stunned by the actions of the King and his ministers of Qi. It had not even been a month since the peace talks began, and both sides had sworn an oath of blood, with the blood at the corners of their mouths not yet dried. Now they were being taken hostage for just a disagreement. How could this make sense?

Emperor Wu Ding said with a pleasant expression, "Everyone, Minister Ma just said that Great Qi is in need of people right now. You guys should stay in Qi and don't need to return!"

Before the emperor finished speaking, Huang Gongfu and the others were enraged. "A gentleman can be killed but not humiliated!"

"As a minister of the Ming Dynasty, how could I surrender to the Qi Kingdom? My life is here, if you want it, take it!"

"We eat the emperor's salary and die for him. In life, we are the people of the Ming Dynasty. In death, we are the ghosts of the Ming Dynasty!"

Seeing the crowd's excitement, Ma Shiying quickly explained, "You have misunderstood. Our emperor is eager to seek talented people, just like Zhou Gong spitting out his food. He is not holding you hostage, but truly intends to offer you high positions and generous salaries. Where else can you find such a good thing!"

Liu Zhaosun was too lazy to talk nonsense with these people. He was about to order Pei Dahu to arrest them all, but he saw a man from the Southern Ming delegation step forward. When he looked closely, it was Zhang Dai, a famous scholar from Jiangnan. He couldn't help but wonder why this guy came again.

Young Master Zhang has fair skin, a handsome face, and is wearing a red horse-faced skirt. At first glance, he looks like a woman.

"Your Majesty."

Zhang Dai extended his orchid finger and looked at Emperor Wuding delicately. His charming demeanor made it difficult to tell whether he was a man or a woman. Dongfang Zhu, who was standing beside him, glared at Master Zhang fiercely and whispered:
"Your Majesty, Zhang Dai is so disrespectful, violating morals and insulting civility. I will expel him from the palace immediately..."

"No need, just listen to what he says."

Emperor Wu Ding was very interested. He leaned forward slightly and said to this famous master of short essays in the history of late Ming literature:
"Mr. Zhang, what do you want?"

Zhang Dai lifted up his horse-faced skirt, looked left and right, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty has long admired the Great Qi. I have heard that all the women in the Great Qi have natural feet (no foot binding). I have also heard that the socks worn by Concubine Mi are so dusty that they make her want to cross the water. I would like to borrow Chang'e's socks to wear. She steps on the moon in the clear autumn. They are straight and round, narrow and slender, steady and light, relaxed and beautiful, graceful and delicate, plump and elegant, soft and vigorous, refreshing and elegant..."

It turns out that Master Zhang is still a foot maniac. Liu Zhaosun waved his hand impatiently.

"Let's get down to business."

"Yes."

"I have come here with no particular wishes, nor any other motives. There is only one matter which remains unresolved, and I ask Your Majesty to explain its cause. I...once visited my aunt Zhang San's home and saw a daughter who could be married, but I regret that I do not have the means to do so. This daughter is called Xiao Nu, seventeen years old, and is about to be married, but not yet married. She is the second daughter of the Minister of Revenue, originally from Nanzhili. I also visited my aunt Liu Wu's home and saw a daughter who could be married, but I regret that I do not have the means to do so. This daughter is called Zhi Shi, and is ten years old. Although not yet married, she is already within the age range of being married. At that time, she was the second daughter of Ruan Dacheng, the Minister of War in Nanjing. If Your Majesty could dispatch an imperial censor, select a sedan chair carried by eight men, and drive to Nanjing as soon as possible, and ask the Hongguang Emperor, "Is there indeed a Zhang Shouxing in Nanzhili?" If so, then the matter would be settled. Then ask, "Does the Minister of War indeed have a daughter named Liu Ru?" If so, then the matter would be settled. If both matters are settled, then my wish would be fulfilled. However, since I have come, I do not know whether Your Majesty will accept my advice, and will you insist on using such matters? I will mention this while I am making this suggestion."

Did Zhang Dai have any malicious intent?
He just wanted the emperor of the Northern Dynasty to act as a matchmaker for him, so that he could marry his two daughters and hold one of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai (Liu Rushi) in his arms.

Unexpectedly, the ending was not very good.

When Emperor Wuding heard that Zhang Dai wanted him to pimp for him and marry Liu Rushi, he was very happy.

Damn it, how dare you steal my woman!
In fact, Liu Zhaosun had no ill will towards Zhang Dai. However, the totalitarian culture of Qi State, which was based on harsh laws and punishments, was incompatible with the lazy and selfish sentiments of the literati in Jiangnan during the late Ming Dynasty. The contradiction between these two cultures was irreconcilable.

Zhang Dai was just a victim.

Emperor Wu Ding waved his hand and said angrily:

"This audacious and unruly man, disguised as a woman, has infiltrated the diplomatic corps, violating public morals. His words and expressions are particularly outrageous. His crime, upon investigation, is even more serious than deceiving the Emperor! Considering that he is a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, I will show him a lighter sentence!"

"Order the Ministry of Justice to send them to Ningguta to serve as auxiliary troops in the Eighth Corps to defend against the Rakshasa demons. Tattoo them and send them out immediately!"

Therefore, Zhang Dai, a talented scholar of his generation, was forced to leave the country alone and become a servant under the tyranny of the Qi Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)