Chapter 457

Otherwise, with such a tiny, broken official, could he possibly recruit and pacify them?

Stop making a scene!

"Oh, so you are General Zheng Zhilong. Although I have only just arrived at Quanzhou Prefecture, your name has reached my ears like thunder!"

As soon as Su Qiao spoke these words, it sounded as if he were mocking Zheng Zhilong for being a pirate.

The faces of Zheng Zhihu and Zheng Zhibao, standing behind Zheng Zhilong, both revealed expressions of anger.

Fortunately, after Zheng Zhilong turned and glared at them, they temporarily suppressed it.

Seeing the reaction of Zheng Zhihu and the others, Su Qiao was also stunned, then suddenly realized.

He quickly smiled and explained: "General Zheng, this official holds no ill will. I have heard of General Zheng's capabilities and truly admire them. At the very least, if someone like me were in General Zheng's former position, I probably could not have built such a vast estate."

Sensing the sincerity in Su Qiao's words, the Zheng family's impression of him improved instantly.

Zheng Zhilong was equally very happy.

Finally, a high-ranking court official was praising him.

You tell me: if a beggar praises your ability, do you feel pride, or if the head of a wealthy, powerful family praises your ability, do you feel pride?

It was obvious that Zheng Zhilong, who had always been looked down upon by his colleagues in the court,

had finally met a "kindred spirit," and his goodwill toward Su Qiao exploded.

Even Zheng Zhibao, whose temper was slightly fiery, could not help but interject: "It is still Lord Su who has good judgment; all those other poor, pedantic scholars look down on us!"

"Ah Bao!"

Zheng Zhilong turned his head and glared at his younger brother.

They were still out on the main street; could such things be said casually?

If it were to spread later and reach the ears of the officials in Quanzhou Prefecture, would that not bring trouble to the Zheng family?

The authority of the eldest brother, Zheng Zhilong, was very strong; Zheng Zhibao quickly shrank his head, closed his mouth, and dared not interrupt again.

At this moment, Zheng Zhilong decisively changed the subject and asked Su Qiao: "Why has my lord come here? Are you looking for this humble official?"

"Haha, actually not. The matters of the Maritime Trade Office have been temporarily resolved, so I am free just now. This is my first time in Quanzhou Prefecture, so naturally I came to experience the local customs and culture."

Su Qiao explained with a smile.

"Oh, Lord Su, then this humble official could be considered the host. Why not give this humble official a chance to invite you into the residence for a gathering?"

With a sincere expression on his face, Zheng Zhilong invited Su Qiao.

"Will it not disturb General Zheng? Just now, I saw that General Zheng was about to lead people out?"

"No problem; I can leave it to my two younger brothers."

"Very well, since General Zheng invites me with such sincerity, then this official must accept!"

"Good, good, good! Please, come quickly!"

From the outside, the Zheng Fu had looked large, judging roughly by the surrounding walls.

But after entering, they discovered that the Zheng family's residence was truly very large!

Even some gardens in Suzhou could not compare.

Extending from Xidai in the west to Xigang, reaching Xian Tou in the north, bordering Anping Bridge Head in the south, and connecting directly to the Five Ports harbor, it covered an area of 138 mu!

It was simply too enormous!

Even though Su Qiao had been prepared, he was still greatly shocked!

"Wow, General Zheng, I am even jealous of this mansion," Su Qiao said to him jokingly.

Hearing this, Zheng Zhilong chuckled and said: "If Lord Su wishes, I can have someone build one for you as well."

"No, this official does not need it. There are only two of us in the household; building such a large mansion would make it too empty. I cannot accept that. I prefer a more cozy dwelling. Besides, I have always been in the capital."

312, the Dutch have come again!

Su Qiao quickly refused Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong chuckled and did not take it to heart, leading Su Qiao through rockeries, pavilions, small bridges, private chambers, and strange flowers and rare grasses.

It simply opened Su Qiao and the others' eyes wide.

Finally, the group arrived at the central hall, Xiaosi Hall, and sat down.

"Someone, bring tea!"

After the tea was served, Su Qiao lifted the cup and gently sniffed it.

Having been here for such a long time, even though he could not drink tea before, over this period he had gained some understanding of tea.

Without even looking at the tea, just by a slight sniff, Su Qiao judged it to be fine tea leaves.

"Fine tea! Is it Longjing picked before the Ming festival?"

"Haha, my lord is a person who understands tea!"

Zheng Zhilong smiled slightly.

Afterwards, Su Qiao and Zheng Zhilong began to chat casually.

Mostly, Su Qiao asked about the current situation of maritime powers in Southeast Asia.

After all, the Great Ming's new warships and new cannons had already been produced.

The Mashangjiu Society would soon expand its maritime power, and it might contend with the Dutch, the Portuguese, plus Japan, and others.

Naturally, Su Qiao wanted to understand the situation more thoroughly.

But as they spoke, Zheng Zhilong suddenly seemed to think of something, and the smile on his face withdrew.

"My lord, you have arrived at just the right time. If you had not come, this humble official might have had to go find you."

"Oh? What matter is troubling General Zheng?"

With such a vast power as Zheng Zhilong, not to say he could summon wind and rain, but at least in Fujian, he could be said to carry great weight.

Even if those in the officialdom looked down on him, it was merely exclusion based on status.

But no one could ignore Zheng Zhilong's maritime power.

Seeing Su Qiao's expression of implicit disbelief, Zheng Zhilong immediately explained, "My lord Su, this humble official is not lying. Does my lord Su still remember the Dutch?"

"Of course I do. During the Tianqi reign, Great Ming fought the Dutch and drove them fleeing in panic. How so? Have they come again?"

Although Su Qiao did not recall the exact time, he remembered that the Dutch had come three times, fighting Great Ming all three times.

And even when Great Ming reached the late Chongzhen period, extremely weak, it still defeated the Dutch.

Of course, Zheng Zhilong contributed the most effort.

It was also known as the Chongzhen Ming-Dutch Naval Battle, the Kinmen Naval Battle, and so on!

Could Zheng Zhilong be referring to this timely matter?

Did the Dutch, unwilling to give up, send another fleet?

As expected!

Zheng Zhilong then said, "Yes, my lord guessed correctly. They have come again. This humble official received news that the Dutch, unwilling to give up, have sent another fleet this time. Their main warships number eleven, commanded by a General named Putmans, plus over fifty warships from the pirate Liu Xiang. They intend to take up arms against Great Ming once more."

"General Zheng, are you saying they have united and are preparing to strike Great Ming?"

Su Qiao asked, very surprised.

Although he was almost certain Great Ming and the Dutch would fight another battle, he had not expected such coincidence.

He had only just arrived in Quanzhou, and the Dutch had come again.

It was simply too coincidental!

Zheng Zheng Chenggong nodded at Su Qiao and said very affirmatively, "My lord, this humble official is not speaking nonsense. They are indeed preparing to strike Great Ming. However, they are not yet ready. But in Taiwan, our people have discovered traces of their fleet."

They were not ready, and Great Ming was equally unprepared.

Su Qiao took a deep breath. Although Su Qiao knew little about naval warfare, he had Zheng Zhilong, an expert in naval warfare, by his side.

Furthermore, the shipyard at Tianjin Wei had already built new-style warships, and the Ministry of Works had developed new cannons.

They only needed to be equipped to be fully deployed for battle.

The new-style cannons and warships were far superior to the Dutch warships. If this still wasn't enough, one might as well slit one's throat and commit suicide!

Thinking of this, Su Qiao's originally rather solemn expression eased considerably.

Zheng Zhilong felt somewhat strange, wondering why Su Qiao, who had been so startled and worried just moments ago, had regained his composure so quickly.

Was this the so-called "a mountain collapses before one's eyes, yet one's countenance remains unchanged"?

Or did my lord already have a plan?

Zheng Zhilong said nothing, quietly waiting for Su Qiao's decision.

At this moment, Su Qiao spoke, "General Zheng, I wonder, comparing Great Ming's navy with the Dutch fleet, what are the odds of victory?"