Chapter 509

"I'll go right now!"

Zheng Sen had not been following the Zheng family carriage; instead, he had been following Su Qiao.

He had been deliberately sent by Zheng Zhilong to build a relationship with Su Qiao.

Not long after Zheng Sen rode away, he quickly rode back again.

"Mr., my father says there are simply too many family members and servants in the Zheng household; staying at Su Fu would certainly disturb you. It would be better to stay outside and find an inn to settle in temporarily, then move into a separate courtyard after we have an audience with the Emperor."

Zheng Sen relayed Zheng Zhilong's words.

Su Qiao nodded without pressing further. "Very well. Since General Zheng insists, let it be so. If anything happens in Jingcheng, you can come to me."

He had merely been polite to the Zheng family.

Zheng Zhilong was also very measured; he did not take advantage of the offer to move into Su Fu.

At the entrance of an inn, Su Qiao parted ways with the Zheng Zhilong family.

Zheng Sen was also temporarily sent away by Su Qiao to help settle his own family.

Back home, Su Qiao finally felt himself relax completely.

The servants of Su Fu were overjoyed to see their Master return.

They first gathered to welcome him and offer greetings, then hurriedly reported on the situation during Su Qiao's absence.

After Su Qiao and Liu Rushi comfortably took a hot bath and enjoyed a lavish dinner at home, they retired early.

However, news of his and Zheng Zhilong's return to the capital could not be kept hidden from the people of Jingcheng.

Upon receiving Luo Yangxing's report, Zhu Youjian immediately thought of summoning Su Qiao to the palace to ask for specifics.

But after a moment's thought, Su Qiao had just returned after a long journey and might well need rest.

Summoning him now would only seem lacking in human warmth.

Thus, Zhu Youjian could only temporarily suppress his curiosity and wait for Su Qiao to come to him of his own accord tomorrow.

After resting well at home all night, Su Qiao rose the next day under Liu Rushi's care, washed, ate, and changed into more formal attire.

Only then did he leave home to prepare for entering the palace.

However, just as he stepped out the door and intended to board the carriage,

he saw Zheng Sen approaching from not far away.

"Mr.!"

Zheng Sen also spotted Su Qiao and hurriedly quickened his steps.

Su Qiao stopped and turned to look at him. "Why are you here instead of staying home to help your family?"

"Mr., my father sent me to ask you when you plan to enter the palace for an audience with the Emperor."

Zheng Sen said this while standing respectfully before Su Qiao.

Hearing this, Su Qiao was momentarily stunned; he was truly surprised that Zheng Zhilong would ask him such a trivial matter.

That's right!

It was a trivial matter!

Normally, when an official dispatched to a prefecture or county returns, he must first report to the Ministry of Personnel, and any request for an audience with the Emperor must be submitted in advance.

But for a general like Zheng Zhilong who has Achieved great merit,

the report goes to the Ministry of War, which then automatically submits it on his behalf.

Then, whenever the Emperor has time and wishes to see him, he is summoned; there is absolutely no need to inform Su Qiao.

Yet now Zheng Zhilong had sent Zheng Sen, specifically to ask him.

After a moment's thought, Su Qiao guessed Zheng Zhilong's intention.

Was he trying to treat Su Qiao as a patron, showing favor and indicating that he would follow Su Qiao's lead?

Zheng Zhilong was not the type to willingly submit to others.

Exactly why, or what other thoughts Zheng Zhilong might have, Su Qiao could not guess for now.

He could only find out after leaving the palace and speaking with him.

"I am entering the palace now; I will speak with your father when I return."

"Yes!"

Upon receiving Su Qiao's reply, Zheng Sen stepped aside to clear the path.

Su Qiao boarded the carriage and headed straight for the palace.

"Your humble subject pays homage to Your Majesty!"

"My dear minister, please rise. Yesterday, the Embroidered Uniform Guard reported your return. I originally intended to summon you immediately to inquire about the situation in the southeast, but I considered that you had endured a long journey and, having finally returned to Jingcheng, must be exhausted. So I did not summon you. Today, you must tell me the details in full."

Seeing Su Qiao arrive, Zhu Youjian was, needless to say, extremely pleased.

Had they not been in the main hall of the palace, he would very likely have pulled him down to sit on the ground and chat.

Knowing that Zhu Youjian had never left Jingcheng and was curious, Su Qiao did not mind the trouble.

He recounted in detail every experience from the moment he left Jingcheng until his return to the capital.

And Zhu Youjian listened with great interest.

Indeed, as Su Qiao described encountering storms at sea, jumping into the ocean, and being stranded on a deserted island struggling to survive, Zhu Youjian could not help but exclaim in shock.

When Su Qiao mentioned encountering venomous snakes, giant crocodiles, and signs of pirates, Zhu Youjian's expression turned fearful and worried.

When Su Qiao described finding food, fresh water, and other resources to sustain life, Zhu Youjian felt happy for him.

This left Wang Chengen and Luo Yangxing watching from the side with very complex expressions.

If they did not know it was all true, Luo Yangxing and Wang Chengen would have thought Su Qiao was trying to deceive people like a storyteller.

Stirred to great emotional peaks and valleys by Su Qiao's words, Zhu Youjian asked in detail about the naval battles between the Great Ming navy and the Dutch.

A face-to-face account is certainly different from the text of a memorial.

Besides, if Zhu Youjian had any doubts, he could ask Su Qiao directly.

From Su Qiao's mouth, Zhu Youjian also came to understand the current combat strength of the Great Ming navy.

"So, does this mean the Dutch are no longer to be feared, and the Great Ming navy far surpasses that of other nations?"

Zhu Youjian stared at Su Qiao with eyes shining as he pressed on.

Hearing this, Su Qiao immediately understood that Zhu Youjian wanted to strike at the Japanese.

Wu Xiuyue, who had returned with him, must have already reported his stance to Zhu Youjian.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian was neither testing him nor hiding anything.

"Does Your Majesty wish to sweep away Japan?"

"Exactly. I sent Wu Xiuyue to find you because I wanted to ask if it was suitable. With Su Qing not in the capital, I truly have no confidence in the new alliance."

Zhu Youjian nodded without hesitation.

"I believe it is safe and feasible! Those little dwarves in Japan have never known gratitude. Now that the Great Ming's national strength is gradually rising, if we continue to weaken, they will certainly not abandon their covetous thoughts on the Central Plains!"

363, we can have pirates too!

Hearing Su Qiao's unhesitating words, Zhu Youjian stood up in delight: "So Su Qing also supports me, I knew it! Su Qing is different from other officials; in the court, some even say Japan is a non-expedition country, a vassal state, and that force should not be used, but I do not think so!"

"In the past, Emperor Chengzu could launch an expedition to Annan. The Japanese pirates created by Japan have repeatedly massacred our Great Ming's coastal borders. Previously, there were the Jurchen Tatars, and I had no hands free; now that the Tatars are gone, how can we let them continue to run wild?!"

The more Zhu Youjian spoke, the more agitated he became, and he punched the table with a fist.

Bang!

The more he listened, the more Su Qiao became convinced that Zhu Youjian had absolutely been brainwashed by Zhu Di; otherwise, he would not have changed so suddenly and been able to say such things.

"Then does Your Majesty truly intend to go to war with Japan?"

Su Qiao asked tentatively.

"Yes, exactly. I will destroy Japan and all Japanese pirates; if the Kingdom of Korea is not honest, I will destroy them too! Relying on the Great Ming's current combat strength, we should not lose, right?"

At first, he was fierce and aggressive, but as he spoke on, suddenly his confidence wavered.

Su Qiao stated very firmly: "If we go to war, the Great Ming will surely win! However, if Your Majesty wants to go to war, preparations must be made well in advance."

"I understand these matters; what I am more concerned about is the obstruction by those ministers in the court."

Hearing Zhu Youjian's words, Su Qiao felt that was indeed the case.

As for the rest, Su Qiao was not worried at all, and he analyzed it for Zhu Youjian.

The re-equipment of the Great Ming navy is complete; the most important weapons, such as cannons, have all been updated.

What remains is the need for troops and generals to land; Su Qiao does not understand these matters, but leaving them to Lan Yu is absolutely no problem.