My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 82 I, Zhu Cilang, will definitely be Zheng Zhilong’s son-in-law!

So, Zhu Cilang continued:
"As for Zheng Zhilong, I'm here to try to find a solution. I want to ask you, if Zheng Zhilong is willing to cooperate, can the Ming Dynasty wipe out all the Jiannu navy in the Liaodong Sea in one fell swoop?"

Huang Fei heard this, and although he still had doubts in his heart, he nodded.

"If that is true, I can guarantee that within three months, all the Jiannu navy in the Liaodong Sea will be wiped out!"

In Huang Fei's opinion, if Zheng Zhilong was really willing to cooperate, even if he only provided half of his troops and ships, plus the navy he led, the Ming Dynasty would have nearly 2000 warships and 15 troops!
He just didn't believe that with so many troops they couldn't defeat the Jiannu navy of only tens of thousands of people!
Just as Zhu Cilang was about to discuss the matter further with Huang Fei, Ma Bao suddenly knocked on the door.

"what's up?"

Zhu Cilang asked with a frown.

At this time, he really hated being disturbed by others.

Outside the door, Ma Bao reported in a low voice:
"Your Highness, the Imperial Guards have reported that Zheng Zhilong, the Fujian General, has arrived and is waiting at the door! When do you want to see him?"

what?
Hearing this, not only Zhu Cilang, but even Huang Fei beside him was a little stunned.

He never expected that Zheng Zhilong would come as soon as the prince mentioned him!
But the next second, Zhu Cilang suddenly laughed.

He couldn't help but think of it in his heart.

Is this the legendary coincidence?

We had just been talking about Zheng Zhilong when he actually showed up.

Then, Zhu Cilang ordered:
"Invite him in!"

Huang Fei finally reacted at this moment, and immediately bowed and said:
"Your Highness, may I step aside for a moment?"

Zhu Cilang waved his hand.

"No need to avoid it. This matter was originally meant to be handled by Zheng Zhilong. Isn't it just right that he's here? We can discuss it now."

Upon hearing this, Huang Fei could only nod in agreement.

Not long after, a middle-aged man in his forties with a rather tall figure walked in. It was Zheng Zhilong!
"I, Zheng Zhilong, the General of Fujian, pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

As soon as Zheng Zhilong entered the door, he hurriedly bowed to Zhu Cilang.

Although he did not know Zhu Cilang, he recognized the dragon robe Zhu Cilang was wearing!

"General Zheng, there's no need to be so polite. Stand up!"

Zhu Cilang smiled and nodded.

Zheng Zhilong then stood up and saw Huang Fei standing beside him with a surprised look on his face.

"Isn't this General Huang Fei? Why are you here too?"

As generals of the Fujian Navy and the Liaodong Navy, Zheng Zhilong and Huang Fei naturally knew each other.

But Zheng Zhilong didn't expect that he would meet Huang Fei here.

Of course, Huang Fei was thinking the same thing as Zheng Zhilong.
But then, Huang Fei still bowed and said:

"I just arrived as well. I hope General Zheng is well."

After the two of them greeted each other, Zhu Cilang smiled and said:
"General Zheng, you've arrived just in time. I was just discussing something with General Huang. Why don't we discuss it together?"

Zheng Zhilong was not a fool. The first thing he saw when he entered the room was the map of the sea area next to Zhu Cilang and Huang Fei, and he roughly guessed the purpose of his visit.

But to be honest, he really doesn't care much about this kind of thing.

Zheng Zhilong made a lot of money when he was a pirate. When people have money, they will start to pursue other things, and Zheng Zhilong was no exception.

He began to feel dissatisfied with being just a pirate, and began to pursue political status.

He first helped the people along the coast to drive out Japanese pirates and other pirates to maintain peace in the area.

Later, even if some soldiers attacked them, he simply captured them and released them without killing anyone.

Over time, this indeed attracted the attention of the court.

The imperial court saw that this pirate seemed different from other pirates, so they recruited him and made him one of the Five Tiger Guerrillas General, and later he worked his way up to become the general of Fujian.

However, in Zheng Zhilong's view, he could only be a general of Fujian in his lifetime.

After all, the Ming Dynasty did not trust him much, and the officials in Fujian did not regard him as a general, but rather as a pirate.

Therefore, Zheng Zhilong had no intention of working for the Ming Dynasty. He just wanted to guard Fujian and do his trade well.

However, Zheng Zhilong only dared to think about these words in his heart; he did not dare to say them in front of Zhu Cilang.

After coming to his senses, he hurried forward and stood there respectfully.

Zhu Cilang pointed at the map and asked directly:

"General Zheng, I intend to completely annihilate the Jiannu navy in Liaodong. General Huang currently has 6 men, and I need you to send 10 men and 1000 ships to help. What do you think?"

When Zheng Zhilong heard this, he secretly felt amused. Just by opening his mouth, he wanted him to provide 10 people and 1000 ships. Isn't this prince dreaming too much?
After all, this world belongs to his Zhu family, not his Zheng family. Why should he work for the Zhu family?

Although he thought so in his heart, Zheng Zhilong remained calm and replied with a folded hand:
"Your Highness, I also want to help the court destroy the Jiannu navy, but Fujian has been in turmoil recently. The Japanese pirates have repeatedly invaded our Ming Dynasty waters. I really can't leave."

"Besides, where would I get so many men and ships? I only have 3 men at most, and less than 1000 ships."

Zhu Cilang was not angry when he heard this, because he probably knew what Zheng Zhilong was worried about. But Huang Fei on the side could not help but sneered and said:
"Master Zheng, others may not understand your strength, but I do. Do I need to tell you exactly how many men and ships you have?"

Zheng Zhilong pretended not to understand and said to Huang Fei:

"Master Huang, we haven't seen each other for a long time. It's normal that you don't understand the situation."

"Since I surrendered to the Ming, many of my brothers have left their pirate roots and moved inland to do business, so I don't have that many soldiers and ships."

"However, since the imperial court has decided to attack the Jiannu navy, as a subject, I will not stand idly by. I am willing to provide 1 men and 300 ships!"

Although Zheng Zhilong spoke sincerely, Huang Fei did not believe a word he said.

As the commander-in-chief of the navy, how could he not understand Zheng Zhilong's specific strength?
This guy obviously doesn't want to put in any effort!

Seeing that Huang Fei was about to say something unpleasant again, Zhu Cilang hurriedly stopped him.

"General Huang, you must have been exhausted from traveling all the way. Go to the side hall and have a cup of tea and rest. We can discuss this matter later."

When Huang Fei heard this, he knew that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince must have something to talk to Zheng Zhilong in private, so he could only bow and say:
"I obey!"

After saying this, he walked out.

A eunuch at the door took him to the side hall.

Soon after, only Zhu Cilang and Zheng Zhilong were left here.

A hint of tension began to fill the air, but Zheng Zhilong remained silent.

Anyway, he had made up his mind and would never admit that he had so many ships and men.

At most, he could send out 1 people and 300 ships, which was considered his loyalty to the Ming Dynasty!
If you really push him too far, the worst that can happen is that he'll just go out and become a pirate again.

After all, in recent years, the imperial court has been getting worse day by day, and the military pay promised to him every year has not been paid in full, not even half of it.

Although he is not short of money, from this point of view, the Ming Dynasty is really at the end of the road.

He should also consider his future. He can't just hang himself on the big tree of the Ming Dynasty, right?

Anyway, the Ming Dynasty can’t give him anything else!

Just as Zheng Zhilong was secretly calculating in his heart, Zhu Cilang's voice suddenly rang out:

"General Zheng, you are a smart man."

"I know what you're thinking. You're just thinking that the Ming Dynasty is about to be destroyed, so you want to preserve your strength, right?"

When Zheng Zhilong heard this, a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

He never imagined that the prince, who was only thirteen or fourteen years old, could guess what he was thinking at once!
But then he hurriedly bowed and said:
"Your Highness, I dare not even think of this. I am telling the truth. I really do not have that many ships and men!"

"And I do need to guard against attacks by Japanese pirates and foreign ships to protect the safety of Fujian's coast."

In short, Zheng Zhilong refused to admit that he had so many troops.

Zhu Cilang was not angry when he heard this, because he knew that for a businessman like Zheng Zhilong, he had to be offered big enough benefits before he could be tempted.

Apart from that, everything else is useless.

Zheng Zhilong is not Zuo Liangyu, it is useless to paint a rosy picture for him!

The next second, Zhu Cilang asked:
"General Zheng, do you have a daughter?"

When Zheng Zhilong heard this, his expression suddenly froze, as if he had not expected Zhu Cilang's words to be so far-reaching.

But the next second, he nodded and replied:
"Your Highness, I have three daughters."

Forehead.
Now it was Zhu Cilang's turn to be stunned, because according to historical records, Zheng Zhilong seemed to have only six sons and one illegitimate daughter, but he didn't expect that he actually had three daughters.

After reacting, Zhu Cilang continued to ask:

"Are any of these three daughters Han Chinese?"

Zheng Zhilong was even more confused, but still nodded.

"My eldest daughter was born in Japan, but my second and third daughters were born to wives I married in Fujian after I became wealthy. They are both Han Chinese."

Zhu Cilang said again:
"How old are you? Are you engaged?"

That’s right, at this moment, Zhu Cilang finally revealed his “true face”!
As the strongest navy, pirate leader and smuggler of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng Zhilong had no shortage of money, men or ships.

Not to mention power, the position of General of Fujian is enough for him. Even if you give him a higher position, it will be of no use to him.

So in order to win over Zheng Zhilong, Zhu Cilang decided to sacrifice his own "looks" and marry Zheng Zhilong's daughter!
After all, in ancient times, there was nothing better than marriage to win people's hearts!

Especially the marriage between the future heir to the country!

Even if Zheng Zhilong said just now that he has no daughter, it doesn’t matter, because Zheng Zhilong has many brothers, and his brothers should have daughters, right?

Even if several brothers don't have daughters, brothers from the same clan should at least have daughters, right?

If he adopts one of them, won’t she be his daughter?
In short, Zhu Cilang is destined to be Zheng Zhilong's son-in-law!

(End of this chapter)