Chapter 107: Dismantling Doors and Moving Beds to Recruit Military Pay; Entering the Tiger

The corruption of Governor Yin Zhengmao was done because he needed to pay military wages privately. The reason he refused to explain this to Zhang Juzheng was that once the charge of paying military wages privately was established, it would be far, far, far more serious than corruption!

What kind of crime is raising a private army? That is rebellion! That is separatism.

But Governor Yin Zhengmao, based on the reality of his actions, could only do this, and he could not speak of it. He had originally thought that after the war in the Two Guangs ended, he would be shelved. After all, the bandits had been beheaded, and the phased war had ended. If there were any more wars, that would be a problem for the future Viceroy to worry about.

Regarding his own end, Governor Yin Zhengmao had actually been prepared for a long time. How many times has the drama of the "good bow being put away" been staged on this land?

Having finished the short-term task of saving the times, Governor Yin Zhengmao thought his official career was about to end, when suddenly, the imperial court gave him a new task, and it was a long-term one: Lu Song.

Regarding the matter of the red-haired barbarians using ox hides to carve up a country, Governor Yin Zhengmao was very clear. The imperial court's decision to use troops against Lu Song solved an urgent need: his subordinates, these arrogant and fierce generals, now had a place to be settled.

"Raise the tent!" Governor Yin Zhengmao slapped the table and began to summon the generals to raise the tent, preparing to start the fight!

Killing red-haired barbarians—the Two Guangs flag soldiers were very professional at it!

Guangdong Regional Commander Zhang Yuanxun, Guangxi Regional Commander Li Xi, Vice Envoy Zhao Kehuai, Ling Xi Administration Commissioner Liu Zhiyi, Investigating Censor Shi Pan, Assistant Regional Commander Liang Shouyu, Assistant Regional Commander Deng Zilong, and others arrived at the Viceroy's Mansion one after another.

The doors of Governor Yin Zhengmao's Viceroy's Mansion were exceptionally thick because he had installed all the house doors he had dismantled onto the doors of the Viceroy's Mansion. Every time they were opened or closed, six or seven people had to push together. Every layer of these doors had words written on them. If a powerful and wealthy household had their door dismantled once and still refused to donate, and Governor Yin Zhengmao visited their door again, it wouldn't be as simple as just dismantling the door.

Up to this point, Governor Yin Zhengmao had not yet encountered a second gentry member who refused to donate.

"Minister Yin, you've summoned us in such a hurry—are you going to dismantle someone's house door again?" Deng Zilong, being the youngest, asked with a chuckle.

Governor Yin Zhengmao said quite seriously: "Silence! His Majesty has an imperial decree."

Upon hearing that an imperial decree had arrived, everyone's expression tightened, knowing that the time to "slaughter the donkey after the millstone is put away" had arrived.

In fact, Guangdong Regional Commander Zhang Yuanxun and Guangxi Regional Commander Li Xi had both hinted to varying degrees that Governor Yin Zhengmao could keep some Japanese pirates, so that they could continuously suppress bandits and pacify the Japanese.

For example, Lin Afeng of Nanaodao could be kept to "nurture bandits to maintain one's own importance," so the imperial court would have no way to "slaughter the donkey after the millstone is put away."

Some things are strange in this way: the more one fights earnestly to pacify the Japanese, the more likely one is to fall, be liquidated, or even be attacked. The more one suppresses, the more they multiply; "nurturing bandits to maintain one's own importance" and "relaxing defense to indulge the enemy" can instead lead to longevity, such as with the Jin Party's Wang Chonggu and others.

When the Japanese pirates were causing a ruckus, which of these powerful and wealthy people in the extreme south dared to say that Minister Yin shouldn't force people to donate? Which of them dared to entrust someone to impeach Minister Yin for corruption?

Now that the Japanese pirates had been pacified and Guangdong was peaceful, the wind of impeachment had risen, and the voices calling Minister Yin corrupt grew louder and louder.

Now, only Lin Afeng remained. Regardless of whether the imperial court wanted to suppress him, Lin Afeng had made it clear: he was going to run. If you can't beat them, can't you at least hide?

Eunuch Supervisor Fan Cheng flicked his horsetail whisk and said loudly: "Guangzhou local military generals, receive the decree."

All the officials in the hall immediately knelt down, waiting for the eunuch to announce the decree.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"I am young and inexperienced, having just ascended the throne. The Grand Secretary has always spoken of the Minister's talent and strategy. You have stabilized one side in the extreme south, and it is indeed so. The Minister's reports of victory have arrived one after another, and the gentry of the southeast have submitted memorials of congratulations. The Minister has led the generals and officials to exert all efforts to drive out and suppress them, striving for total annihilation. I am greatly gratified."

"The late Emperor's decisive wisdom and the Grand Secretary's strategy of containment—I dare not violate them. I still command the Minister to preside over the extreme south. All local affairs shall be handled with exceptional measures. Anyone who dares to obstruct or interfere shall be reported and severely punished."

"The officials have no accumulated savings, and the people have no plans for profit. The Minister is appointed to the southeast. You have set up the Guangxi official salt transport, discussed laws and defense, clarified rewards and punishments, calculated costs, built official ships, exercised caution in prevention, limited time and months, banned private trade, clarified duties, and been cautious in starting affairs. Using the interest to cover military pay, the overall management is detailed and dense, and military supplies have not been lacking."

"The Minister upholds justice and discipline, without any partiality or sympathy. You have dismissed the corrupt and tyrannical, suppressed the powerful and wealthy, punished the playful and lax, and rejected personal connections. Those who support you are in the fields, and those who are jealous are in the court. Everyone says the Minister's demands are too heavy. I have discussed the words of the censors with the Grand Secretary, and I do not agree. There must be hidden difficulties. Wait until the Minister returns to the capital, and I will ask you then."

"Now I entrust the Minister with a heavy responsibility. I still hope the Minister will eliminate great threats for the country, achieve great merits, nurture the vitality of the country, and make the extreme south peaceful and well-governed for a long time."

"With strictness and support, together we shall wear the armor of martial arts, together we shall wear the armor of martial arts, to stabilize the kingdom."

"Respect this."

Eunuch Fan Cheng was there to supervise the army. Upon arriving in Guangzhou, he followed the "three no's" principle: do not interfere, do not talk too much, and do not intervene. Fan Cheng knew his own weight very well. Given the situation in the Two Guangs, only Governor Yin Zhengmao could have completely wiped out the Japanese pirates within four short years.

"Generals, discuss your affairs; I will say no more." After handing the imperial decree to Governor Yin Zhengmao, Fan Cheng immediately entered "stealth mode" and did not say another word. Unless Governor Yin Zhengmao rebelled, Fan Cheng would not speak ill of him.

Fan Cheng, at least, could not bring himself to "curse the mother after putting down the bowl."

Li Xi looked at Governor Yin Zhengmao with furrowed brows and said: "His Majesty said a whole bunch of literary jargon—what exactly does it mean?"

Governor Yin Zhengmao was a civil service examination graduate, so of course he could understand. He explained with a smile: "The first paragraph means that His Majesty heard we were very capable as soon as he ascended the throne, and the Grand Secretary said the same. Reports of victory arrived one after another, and His Majesty is very happy. He greatly appreciates that we suppressed the Japanese pirates on schedule without delay."

Governor Yin Zhengmao had thought that his hard work in suppressing the pirates would earn him the same end as Zhu Wan—suicide to prove his innocence—but instead, he received His Majesty's high appreciation.

"And then?" Deng Zilong continued to ask.

Governor Yin Zhengmao said with a complex expression: "The second paragraph reaffirms the late Emperor's decisive wisdom. In the fifth year of Longqing, when I came to Guangdong, didn't the late Emperor give me the power to handle things with exceptional measures and report anyone who obstructed me? His Majesty means that he still wants me to continue handling things with exceptional measures, managing military, political, and financial affairs."

This power was very, very great—great enough to directly intercept the Two Guangs' tax revenue and use it himself instead of giving it to the imperial court. For the sake of suppressing the pirates, Governor Yin Zhengmao had indeed used it. However, he had submitted a memorial last year saying that the major battles were over, and the spring and autumn taxes would still be sent to the imperial court. If there was no military pay, he would find the powerful and wealthy and make them donate. Finding the powerful and wealthy to get money to suppress the pirates was just that.

Assistant Regional Commander Liang Shouyu asked: "And then?"

"The third paragraph says that the salt law reform we carried out is considered good by His Majesty and the Grand Secretary, and we should continue. Moreover, the interest from the salt law reform will still be used for military pay," Governor Yin Zhengmao said with a beaming smile.

Governor Yin Zhengmao was first-rate at suppressing pirates, and he was also a good hand at governing the locality. He was a civil service examination graduate, after all. Even if his style of personally leading troops into battle was a bit off, his primary job was to pacify the land and shepherd the people.

Governor Yin Zhengmao took the Guangdong salt that had been monopolized by powerful and wealthy families and made it official-run and official-sold. The ones moving the salt were military households and flag soldiers. There were three hundred salt ships in total, each with three hundred and fifty bags, of which fifty bags were for military pay, and the remaining three hundred bags belonged to Guangxi. Guangxi could get more than seventy thousand taels of silver every year.

Governor Yin Zhengmao had never taken a single cent of this money; it was given to Guangxi, Guangdong, and the military households. When the local officials of the various prefectures in Guangxi saw Governor Yin Zhengmao, it was like seeing the God of Wealth.

The imperial court was poor, but were the local government offices not poor? The local government offices were even poorer!

"Oh, I thought the imperial court was going to take this money back. Are they giving us money again?" Li Xi said with great surprise.

Vice Envoy Zhao Kehuai asked with worry: "Then what did His Majesty say about the gentry impeaching us for corruption?"

Upon hearing this, Governor Yin Zhengmao was silent for a moment and said: "In the fourth paragraph, His Majesty says that we are doing quite well in the Two Guangs. Those who do the work are outside, and those who are jealous are in the court. His Majesty and the Grand Secretary discussed our affairs, and His Majesty feels we have hidden difficulties. He will ask me again when I return to the capital to report on my duties."

"The Grand Secretary wrote to tell me to be a little less greedy. It seems he won't ask for now and will wait until I return to the capital. It really is His Majesty's intention."

Deng Zilong's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said: "Doesn't that mean we can dismantle doors again?"

Guangdong Regional Commander Zhang Yuanxun looked at Deng Zilong and said angrily: "Always thinking about dismantling doors! Why don't you move their beds back?"

"Good idea! Commander, good idea!" Deng Zilong slapped his thigh when he heard this and said loudly: "The Commander is still the wise one with many methods. Next time, we'll move beds!"

Governor Yin Zhengmao shook his head and said: "His Majesty means just that: keep working for now, and explain clearly after returning to the capital. He wants us to continue suppressing the Japanese pirates and wiping out the bandits."

"The latter part is from a poem in the Book of Songs, meaning: be strict, solemn, and careful, treat the enemy army seriously, and make our country stable."

"Haven't the Japanese pirates all been pacified? Where else are we going to suppress them?" Zhang Yuanxun said helplessly.

In fact, everyone knew in their hearts that after killing the Japanese pirates, they had to find a way to settle these recruited soldiers. Such a large number of arrogant and fierce soldiers were not only expensive to raise, but also prone to causing trouble. If one was not careful, they would become a local threat.

"The imperial court has given us a task. Everyone, look here." Governor Yin Zhengmao pointed to the position of Lu Song on the map and said: "Lu Song is occupied by red-haired barbarians. If we clean them up and station ourselves there, we will not only drive out the red-haired barbarians but also firmly guard this place, which is a thoroughfare for ten thousand miles of sea."

"Because it involves major matters for the Ming Dynasty such as gold, silver, copper, iron, and oil, we must not take it lightly."

"There is a shipyard there. We must bring back the documents inside. This is what the imperial court specifically asked for."

Zhang Yuanxun shook his head and said: "It won't be easy to fight; it's a tough battle. The red-haired barbarians use the Lu Song people as vanguards, at least ten thousand people, and their elite force alone is over a thousand."

Deng Zilong clenched his fist and said: "Are we afraid of tough battles, or are we more afraid of having no battles to fight?"

Governor Yin Zhengmao looked at Deng Zilong and answered definitively: "More afraid of having no battles to fight. We've gotten used to the days of licking blood from the blade. Three thousand arrogant and fierce soldiers cannot be disbanded. If they are disbanded, they will all become sea bandits. Having no battles to fight is the most uncomfortable thing."

"To let us chew on this tough bone, the imperial court wants us to recruit Lin Afeng and let the recruited sea bandits scout the way. If they perform miraculous merits, their crimes will be pardoned, and they will be settled in Lu Song."

When Zhang Yuanxun heard this, the worry on his face immediately dissipated, and he said with a smile: "So the imperial court really intends to conquer Lu Song, not just borrow a knife to kill someone."

Zhang Yuanxun had originally thought that the imperial court asking them to attack Lu Song was just because there was no place to settle the arrogant and fierce soldiers, so they were being exiled overseas. In fact, he was a bit disheartened. To stabilize one side for the country and end up with this fate was truly chilling, but he couldn't say it clearly.

But after listening carefully, the imperial court had even arranged for the people to scout the way. All of Zhang Yuanxun's doubts dissipated. The imperial court really wanted them to go to war and was truly providing policy support, not just empty words, throwing them, these arrogant and fierce soldiers, overseas to fend for themselves.

Vice Envoy Zhao Kehuai said with great emotion: "What has happened to the wise lords in the court? How did they suddenly become enlightened and want to restore the old country of Lu Song?"

"Back then, the red-haired barbarians destroyed Ma Liujia. The prince of Ma Liujia went to the capital to cry and complain, and the imperial court just issued an imperial decree asking the red-haired barbarians to withdraw their troops and return the territory to Ma Liujia, and that was the end of it."

Governor Yin Zhengmao pondered for a while, his brows furrowed, and said: "The imperial court wants to open the seas, and the red-haired barbarians are the opponents. They travel across the oceans and act recklessly. Naturally, we must suppress their power on the sea. By chance, this battle must be won."

Deng Zilong took the initiative to ask for the task: "I will go to Nanaodao first to persuade Lin Afeng to surrender, and then I will personally make a trip to Lu Song to scout the enemy situation!"

Zhang Yuanxun said with a smile: "Why, are you not going to participate in the dismantling of doors and moving of beds?"

It wasn't just Zhang Yuanxun who was laughing; almost everyone had a smile on their face because they had received a long-term task, which meant they would be gathered together for a long time.

Regarding persuading Lin Afeng to surrender, there was already an established procedure, and Deng Zilong was the one who would go personally.

Deng Zilong laughed loudly and said: "If there's a battle to fight, who would still do this kind of low-class thing? The dismantling of doors and moving of beds will be left to you all."

"Then let Assistant Regional Commander Deng make the trip." Governor Yin Zhengmao restrained his smile and said: "This battle is a long way off. From Guangzhou Prefecture to Lu Song is at least two thousand li, and it crosses the vast ocean. We must open a breakthrough point locally, then gain a foothold, and then fight the red-haired barbarians step by step. Every step is difficult."

"Our first dilemma now is that we don't have ships with enough firearms, just like the red-haired barbarians at the beginning."

Governor Yin Zhengmao knew the red-haired barbarians very well. Contrary to the inherent impression, the ships the red-haired barbarians first brought to the Nanyang were not armed to the teeth, full of cannons and muskets, like armed merchant ships or warships like hedgehogs. Instead, they were triangular-sailed four-masted ships. These small sailing ships could not carry cannons if they were loaded with cargo.

At that time, the red-haired barbarians would not easily fight but would use various means—either bribery, deception, or forced occupation—to carve out a piece of land.

Governor Yin Zhengmao said seriously: "At that time, when the red-haired barbarians didn't have strong ships and powerful cannons, what did they do?"

"They controlled ports and trade by building fortresses and camps near trading ports to obtain supplies. We discovered that a camp only needs one hundred to three hundred people to defend against an attack by three thousand to five thousand people."

"Therefore, our first-stage goal is to establish a stronghold. Our cargo ships can go to these places to transport various raw materials and resources back, rotate soldiers, and send supplies."

"When we suppress bandits and pacify the Japanese on land, we have the advantage. We have a steady stream of supplies, experienced veteran soldiers who have fought a hundred battles, and the people provide information on the bandits. We understand the terrain, can formulate tactics in an orderly manner, and can coordinate operations from multiple sides."

"But once we reach the sea, we are strangers. Losing the advantages of time, terrain, and human harmony, the fighting will be extremely difficult."

"This war... we must be prepared to lose."

"Everyone, do not take it lightly. Killing the enemy is the greatest respect for the enemy!"

Governor Yin Zhengmao stood up and said loudly: "The Ming army is mighty!"

"The Ming army is mighty!" All the military generals stood up and shouted loudly.

When the red-haired barbarians first began their great voyages, their combat method was to use defense as offense.

This strategy was specifically embodied as: obtaining land near ports through various means; building camps as quickly as possible; not going more than five li into the interior and always ensuring that troops could retreat to ships or fortresses; due to the trade winds, the time for ships to arrive at port was fixed, so they had to hold the fortress before supplies and rotating soldiers arrived;

Most importantly, they pre-produced everything that might be needed in large quantities, including ballistae, muskets, cannons, bows and arrows, gunpowder, and even window frames, processed stone, and various machinery.

And now, as the red-haired barbarians' armed merchant ships and warships have matured, their tactics have also changed. Due to the trade winds and the fixed arrival time at port, the red-haired barbarians' attacks have changed from the simple "defense as offense" of the past to tidal, wave-like attacks.

And the distance of penetrating into the interior has also gradually expanded from five li to dozens of li with the development of firearms and military construction and the enhancement of combat effectiveness, and "defense as offense" has also turned into "offense as defense."

Therefore, the Japanese pirate troubles in Guangzhou, Fujian, and other places mainly present a characteristic where, shortly after being suppressed and pacified, the next tide surges in again.

Blind defense, setting up maritime defense vice-commissioners, and building camps along the coast can resist the Japanese, but it cannot eradicate them. Without maritime power, maritime defense is a hypocritical proposition.

Governor Yin Zhengmao repeatedly submitted memorials discussing that if we want to eradicate the Japanese pirate troubles in Guangzhou, we must find a way to restore control over Ma Liujia. That is the Ming Dynasty's maritime Jiayu Pass. Only by guarding Ma Liujia can we guard the safety of the Ming Dynasty's maritime borders.

This idea of his was not achieved overnight but was a summary of experience from the long-term war to suppress Japanese pirates. It was also not novel; as early as the Yongle period, Zheng He had proposed such a view.

If a country wants to be rich and strong, it cannot ignore the ocean. Wealth is taken from the ocean, and danger also comes from the sea. Once the monarch of another country seizes the Nanyang, China is in danger.

And now, with the imperial court's overall shift in direction toward opening the seas, Governor Yin Zhengmao saw hope.

"Then, while Deng Zilong goes to Nanaodao to persuade Lin Afeng to surrender, what we need to do is to find help for the military expenses." Governor Yin Zhengmao talked to Zhang Yuanxun about the current main work: recruiting military pay and finding help for military expenses.

Zhang Yuanxun estimated slightly and said: "We need at least three hundred thousand taels of help for military expenses. We all know that the imperial court is so poor it's wearing pants, so we need to find ways for silver, grain, cannons, muskets, gunpowder, and ships ourselves."

"We also need a sum of military funds to arm and train that group of Lin Afeng's sea bandits."

"At least thirty to fifty thousand taels of silver."

Governor Yin Zhengmao said quite helplessly: "It is indeed a lot, but the powerful and wealthy in our extreme south should be very willing to help. Once we really take Lu Song, the battlefield will be concentrated overseas, instead of suppressing Japanese pirates year after year, and the Japanese pirate troubles rising again year after year. If the war doesn't happen in Guangzhou Prefecture, the powerful and wealthy can continue to be their landlords and rich men with peace of mind, and they can even go to Lu Song to earn this silver back."

"What if they don't agree? After all, we've been squeezing them for four years. If the oppression is too heavy and they don't agree?" Zhang Yuanxun said with worry.

"Then we can only dismantle doors and move beds." Governor Yin Zhengmao spread his hands and said: "The imperial court wants me to conquer Lu Song. If I don't take Lu Song, I have no way to explain it to the imperial court. If they don't let me have an easy time, I naturally won't let them have an easy time. If they still don't agree after dismantling doors and moving beds, then I can only flip through old accounts."

Zhang Yuanxun was also amused when he heard this and said with a smile: "Once Minister Yin chooses to flip through old accounts, they will have no choice but to donate."

Zhang Yuanxun knew Governor Yin Zhengmao's methods of flipping through old accounts too well, such as the Two Guangs salt law, private monopolies, etc. There were still many such old accounts. When Governor Yin Zhengmao's demands were not met, as long as Governor Yin Zhengmao took out the old accounts and flipped through them, he would be satisfied.

Governor Yin Zhengmao was never a good person; he was a big bad person, a bad person even worse than the powerful and wealthy.

Governor Yin Zhengmao took out Zhang Juzheng's letter and said with great emotion: "His Majesty specifically issued a decree, and the Grand Secretary's letter also says that His Majesty will reduce the palace's expenses. The tax increase on the red-haired barbarians within five years does not need to be sent to the capital to support the palace and government. This is the help for military expenses that His Majesty can give us."

"His Majesty has given us all the support he can give."

Governor Yin Zhengmao was an extremely mature politician. He knew that this was not entirely Zhang Juzheng's decision; there were many areas that only the Emperor could decide, such as reducing palace expenses to support the army. His Majesty had already given all the support he could give; it just depended on their performance.

"Did the Grand Secretary mention the situation in the court this year?" Zhang Yuanxun asked with some worry: "You know, if the Grand Secretary falls, everything we do is in vain."

"Only this, there is absolutely no need to worry!" Governor Yin Zhengmao said quite confidently: "Originally, the Grand Secretary was already very powerful. Later, His Majesty supported the Grand Secretary with clear words several times, and even the major transgression caused by that fool Gao Qiyu did not make the Grand Secretary fall. The Grand Secretary can be said to be killing in all directions in the court."

"We are not in the court, but the Grand Secretary should have reached some kind of tacit understanding with the palace."

"This is the first aspect. The second aspect is that no one in the court can topple the Grand Secretary."

"In the sixth month of the sixth year of Longqing, Minister of Revenue Wang Guoguang inspected the various treasuries of the capital. The Taicang Treasury held 1,304,652 taels of silver. The annual expenditure for official salaries was over 1,350,000 taels, border provisions were over 2,360,000 taels, and supplementary annual stipends were over 1,820,000 taels. The total expenditure required was over 5,530,000 taels. Calculated against current funds, it was only enough for three months."

"At the end of last year, the Ministry of Revenue actually had over one hundred thousand taels more. This is the confidence of the Grand Secretary governing the country."

Governor Yin Zhengmao's analysis of the court situation was more thorough and clearer. It was not that they didn't want to topple Zhang Juzheng, but that they couldn't do it.

If there was no silver in the court, they would cut the budget, not pay official salaries, owe military pay, not issue annual allowances, and not issue clan allowances to maintain the imperial court's expenses. But last year, without cutting the budget, the imperial court still had over one hundred thousand taels of silver left. This explained the problem.

The censors in the court could loudly question the Grand Secretary, just like people need to eat. If you change someone else to govern the country, what if they can't eat?

Therefore, the situation in the court now was exceptionally strange: we are extremely dissatisfied with the Grand Secretary governing the country, but we cannot change him.

"That's true." Zhang Yuanxun finally felt at ease and planned to continue finding ways to "beg" from the powerful and wealthy families. As for the silver of the powerful and wealthy families, by dismantling doors and moving beds, there would always be some if they squeezed.

Deng Zilong boarded the ship and only used one day to arrive at Nanaodao. The process of persuading surrender required many procedures. Deng Zilong needed to send small boats to communicate with the other side. Before he even got close, he was hit by rockets, so Deng Zilong could only swim back to Haojing.

Lin Afeng was asking to surrender, and Deng Zilong was invited by him. Once something happened to Deng Zilong on Nanaodao, even if Lin Afeng fled to Lu Song, he would not be able to escape the pursuit of the Ming Dynasty.

After Deng Zilong went ashore, after a strict check to ensure he was not carrying weapons, he was stuffed into a sack and carried into the water fortress.

Deng Zilong was not angry. He waited until he reached the Juxian Hall of the water fortress before he was released. The reason he had to be covered was that the sea bandits in the water fortress were also worried that this was a spy sent by the Ming Dynasty to scout the enemy situation.

The Ming Dynasty's Assistant Regional Commander Deng Zilong had just been released from the sack when he heard a fierce roar: "Deng Zilong, you have such great courage! You killed so many of my brothers, and you still dare to come to the island personally!"

As soon as Deng Zilong appeared, the first, second, and third leaders present discovered that it was indeed the Ming Dynasty's Assistant Regional Commander Deng Zilong. Even if this face turned to ash, the sea bandits would still recognize it!

This face was the nightmare of the sea bandits. There was another nightmare named Chen Lin.

Deng Zilong looked around leisurely and said with a smile: "I have no innocent souls under my hands. You colluded with Japanese pirates, red-haired barbarians, and black barbarians to burn, kill, and loot our Ming people. I suppressed the Japanese and killed the enemy for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the Ming people. What am I afraid of? It is you who should be afraid."

Deng Zilong was very arrogant—so arrogant that the second and third leaders stood up abruptly and drew their waist knives, ready to kill! To be this arrogant on the bandit's own turf was simply courting death!

The first leader, Lin Afeng, slapped the table and said angrily: "Sit down! Before, you insisted on invading, and in one battle, more than two hundred ships and over thirty thousand people were wiped out! Say one more word, and I'll send you to sink in the sea immediately!"

Lin Afeng was a young man in his twenties. The profession of sea bandit was very young; few lived past thirty. With one meal and no meal, life was very bitter. Tai A-weng was one of the few long-lived pirates, and he was only forty-two.

Jianghu loyalty, war etiquette, and the like all had expressions similar to "do not kill the envoy." Killing the envoy meant life-and-death enmity; not killing the envoy meant there was still a possibility and channel for communication.

Deng Zilong said with a smile: "This is a sensible person. There is no need to argue about who is right and who is wrong. People should look forward. Let's talk about something useful. First Leader, are you sure you want to surrender? If so, let's sit down and have a good talk."

Lin Afeng was silent for a while and said: "It is a recruitment."

Lin Afeng was not being stubborn; he always had to explain to his subordinates. If he didn't say it this way, the sea bandits under him would easily understand it as the first leader selling them out in exchange for an official seal.

So he could only say the imperial court was recruiting. Whether stealing was theft was a question Deng Zilong did not intend to argue about too much.

There was no need to argue about right and wrong. Most of these large groups of sea bandits were poor people and laborers who had been forced to become bandits because they had nowhere else to go. They had been forced to the end of their rope by straw taxes, grain rents, and private demands from the local government before they became sea bandits.

No one is born a sea bandit.

And standing from the perspective of the Ming Dynasty, suppressing Japanese pirates was something the Ming army had to do. Killing the invading bandits and maintaining peace in one area was their mission as military generals.

Only when the contradictions intensified to an irreconcilable point would they engage in close-quarters combat. They fought a battle last year, and the result of the struggle was a great victory for the Ming Dynasty.

"Good, good, good, recruitment, recruitment." Deng Zilong was not a scholar, so he wouldn't quibble over words. No matter what the wording was, as long as the matter was done, it was fine.

Deng Zilong looked at the second and third leaders and asked Lin Afeng with a smile: "Do all of you agree to be recruited? If you agree, then I can represent the imperial court and Minister Yin to accept you. If anyone disagrees, should you discuss it among yourselves first?"

"I have already arrived here; Minister Yin is very sincere."

Lin Afeng sighed and said: "Naturally, I agree."

The biggest problem for the sea bandits on Nanaodao at this time was that there was no fresh blood, and they were constantly losing people.

With the Ming Dynasty's simultaneous progress in suppressing Japanese pirates and pacifying the people, as long as the poor and laborers had something to eat, they wouldn't become bandits. Moreover, as the Ming Dynasty grew stronger, more and more people chose to flee, and the water fortress also had a tendency to fall apart.

The once-mighty Shenglong Gang had at most over three hundred ships and over forty thousand people, but now it was getting fewer and fewer.

Moreover, they had experienced several internal conflicts. If it were not a last resort, Lin Afeng would not abandon his old lair and run to Lu Song to gamble with his life.

Deng Zilong said with a smile: "Then Minister Yin invites the three leaders to Guangzhou Prefecture for a chat. There should be no problem, right? My arrival here shows the sincerity of the imperial court. You don't need to worry."

"Alright, I'm leaving."

Deng Zilong turned around quite freely, preparing to leave.

Lin Afeng suddenly said: "General Deng, please stay."

"What is it? Don't tell me, don't tell me, you haven't already surrendered to the red-haired barbarians, have you!" Deng Zilong turned around and looked at Lin Afeng with surprise.

"That's not it. General Deng, why did you come personally? Aren't you afraid that we will turn our faces and not recognize you?" Lin Afeng stood up and walked forward a few steps. This was his biggest doubt in his heart. When his subordinates reported it, Lin Afeng didn't believe it at all. Deng Zilong dared to enter the tiger's den alone!

But upon meeting, it was actually Deng Zilong. This scared Lin Afeng directly.

What kind of courage and spirit was this!

Deng Zilong laughed several times and said: "Haha, even if I told you, you wouldn't understand. Once you surrender, you will understand."

"I'm leaving."

This time Deng Zilong really left. When he left, no one dared to put a sack on him again. He walked across the simple plank road of the water fortress, walked past a group of sallow-faced and emaciated sea bandits who looked fierce, walked past the rotting corpses, and walked to his ship.

There was no need to put a sack on him at all.

This was not the first time Deng Zilong had come; he had already come three times. He personally went to the island to scout the enemy situation. Deng Zilong knew the situation of the water fortress better than Lin Afeng. This was for the sake of suppressing bandits and scouting the enemy situation.

Deng Zilong was very brave, but he was not a reckless man. His choice to come personally was not a spur-of-the-moment decision made when his blood boiled during the tent-raising; it was after repeated scouting, confirming that Lin Afeng and the other sea bandits were truly at the end of their rope.

Running to Lu Song was the last desperate gamble of these sea bandits.

Now with the arrogant and fierce soldiers from Guangzhou to help, it was no longer a desperate gamble.

And Deng Zilong did not return directly to Guangzhou Prefecture; he headed straight for Lu Song. He wanted to scout the enemy situation, determine the location of the harbor, determine where to attack, and find out the specific number and distribution of the enemy.

From Nanaodao to Lu Song, it took less than fifteen days.

As the saying goes: Dismantle doors and move beds to recruit military pay; enter the tiger's den alone to persuade the bandits to surrender. To know what happens next, listen to the next chapter. *Slap! * Deng Zilong was such a brave man. At the age of seventy, he led troops to charge into battle and died on the battlefield of the second Wanli aid to Korea to resist the Japanese. Please vote for the monthly ticket, Awoo!!!!

End of chapter.