Chapter 352: Before the Last Savage Dies, the Ming Will Never Stop Attacking

Whether the party strife in the Ming court is fierce can be completely seen from the miscellaneous newspapers. Just like the many "demon books" in the Ming, when the court party strife is fierce, the miscellaneous newspapers are also firing on all cylinders. When the party strife reaches the point of white-hot intensity, the miscellaneous newspapers will stop their drums and wait quietly for the result of the party strife.

Now, the Ming's miscellaneous newspapers did not focus too much on San San Niangzi's entry into the capital, nor did they focus too much on the infighting among the Northern Barbarians. The Ming's miscellaneous newspapers were all tracking and reporting on the shipping tickets of the Yanxinglou Trading House, with high enthusiasm.

In April and May, fifty three-masted clipper ships and five five-masted ocean-crossing ships were subscribed to each month, and they were still sold out on the same day. The Yanxinglou Trading House, except for being extremely lively during the monthly subscription, was cold and clear on weekdays. Everyone was unwilling to take out the tickets for trading. There was a price but no market, which did not affect the demand for shipping tickets.

The price of shipping tickets rose with the tide. Even if they were sold as soon as they were in hand, one could make money, making people even more enthusiastic about shipping tickets.

In the sixth month of the seventh year of Emperor Wanli, a new batch of shipping tickets was subscribed to again. At the same time, the shipping tickets subscribed to in April also ushered in their first dividend. According to the Ministry of Revenue's plan, the dividend should be calculated by year. This was also a common phenomenon in the Ming, and Wang Wang Chonggu's plan was also planned this way.

But at the beginning, the Ming Emperor, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, Wang Wang Chonggu, Tan Lun, and others underestimated the enthusiasm of the wealthy households for shipping tickets and the plan of "everyone being a shipowner." After repeated discussions, they decided that in this year, the seventh year of Emperor Wanli, dividends would be calculated based on a single voyage to stimulate people to buy shipping tickets.

The development of things does not always follow the Emperor's expectations. Even Zhang Zhang Juzheng, Tan Lun, and others, who were dragons and phoenixes among men, had times when they estimated incorrectly. However, the system had already been formulated, so they could only continue to make mistakes.

"So much! A shipping ticket can actually pay a dividend of three taels of silver! This, this, this!" A Jin merchant looked at the receipt in his hand, and he was stunned. According to the expectations agreed upon by the Jin merchants at the beginning, it would take three years to break even, and everything after that would be profit. Moreover, one could subscribe to multiple ships, thus reducing risk. Calculated based on the return rate of more than 80% of Ming ships, it would be pure profit after about five years.

Making money while lying down—this was the greatest charm of the "everyone being a shipowner" plan.

But this time, the dividend per ticket was as high as three taels of silver, which meant it would take a year and a half to break even. Even counting the damage to the ships, it would take two years to break even. This immediately made the Jin merchant who received the dividend excited to the point of a flushed face. For Wang Wang Chonggu, the Vice Minister who secretly told them the news and let them get their first pot of gold, the Jin merchants only had gratitude in their hearts.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was at Yanxinglou. This was an important project for financial affairs this year, and a business completely controlled by the Emperor and the Inner Treasury.

"If they knew that this was the result after deducting taxes, deducting the 30% profit retention of the Songjiang Ocean Trading House, and deducting the profit sharing of the State Treasury and Inner Treasury, I'm afraid they would rebel tomorrow, bring knives to see the Emperor, and blame Chen Shan," Zhu Zhu Yijun said, clicking his tongue in wonder as he looked at the shouting crowd.

The Songjiang Ocean Trading House was a trading house organized by the Ming court. Among the official ships, that is, the ships subscribed to by the Ming court, all profits, in addition to the 30% profit retention, had another 30% directly turned over to the State Treasury and Inner Treasury, and only then was the dividend given to them.

But even so, the return on shipping tickets completely exceeded their expectations.

"Merchants are all profit-seeking. They will anticipate the possibility of success. Bringing knives to see the Emperor and blaming Chen Shan? That's just asking for the Emperor to confiscate their families. It fits His Majesty's wishes perfectly," Feng Bao said respectfully from the side. With 100,000 elite soldiers of the Ming Capital Battalion guarding, even if the Jin merchants were given the heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard, they wouldn't dare to do such a thing. His Majesty was always sharpening his knife, waiting to confiscate families.

"That's true," Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "This business can be considered a success."

Zhu Zhu Yijun did not adjust the dividend strategy for the seventh year of Emperor Wanli. It was still based on the ship, with dividends paid after each return voyage. Starting from the eighth year of Emperor Wanli, dividends would be paid on a yearly basis.

Because adjusting policies is a matter that affects the whole body. The court's government decrees had to be changed, the time for the Songjiang Prefecture Shipping Commissioner's account auditing had to be changed, the Songjiang Ocean Trading House's accounts had to be changed, the Yanxinglou Trading House's accounting had to be changed, and the Ministry of Revenue's Treasure Note Bureau, the Ministry of Works' Treasure Source Bureau, and the Inner Palace's Weaponry Bureau all had to be changed.

Dividends at the counter were mainly in the form of accepted bills of exchange, not cash silver given to people. It required the Treasure Note Bureau to issue accepted bills of exchange, required the Treasure Source Bureau to withdraw, and required the Inner Palace's Weaponry Bureau to press silver coins. It was extremely cumbersome.

This was also the reason why the merchants, wealthy households, and local gentry who subscribed were not afraid of the court embezzling silver. It seemed that everything was traded and sold at the Yanxinglou Trading House, but behind it were countless joints. To get through all these joints required someone with eyes and hands reaching the sky. In the Ming Dynasty, only two people could do it: the Ming Emperor and the Grand Secretary Grand Tutor.

If the Ming Emperor and the Grand Secretary Grand Tutor really wanted to deal with them, where would they need to be so cumbersome? If they wanted to do it cleanly, let the Tax Inspection Court issue a few tax collection notices for arrears. If they failed to pay on time, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would break into their homes and confiscate everything. Who didn't have some unpaid taxes? If they were really in a hurry, they could just let the Embroidered Uniform Guard put a hat of treason on them and confiscate their families directly, bypassing the intermediate links, which would be faster.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Night Scouts are, in themselves, an agency between the Outer Court and the Inner Court. They are a secret service organization, a ruthless blade in the Emperor's hand. It is just that His Majesty is unwilling to be ruthless and unwilling to lose the Great Ming's credibility, so he has never done so.

"Is that San San Niangzi's *Keshie* guard?" Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned. He saw someone wearing left-lapel clothing. After a slight look, he recognized the person.

Feng Bao looked carefully and bowed his head: "Your Majesty's eyes are like torches; it is indeed."

"Go and ask what they are doing at Yanxinglou." Zhu Zhu Yijun asked with some suspicion.

Feng Bao left for a while and came back. He said with a strange expression: "Reporting to Your Majesty, they came to subscribe to shipping tickets."

"Ah?" Zhu Zhu Yijun was stunned. Zhang Hong, Zhao Zhao Mengyou, and others who were following were also full of surprise. This "everyone being a shipowner" plan actually attracted grassland people too?

Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head and said: "It's not the day for subscription, they missed the bus. Let the Inner Treasury eunuchs bestow some, with 1,000 certificates as the number."

The unit price and dividend of a shipping ticket were roughly the same, both 50 taels of silver for subscription, and the dividend was also the same. Zhu Zhu Yijun was the manipulator, so he naturally had a pile of tickets in his hand. Since San San Niangzi wanted to buy this thing before leaving and participate in the "everyone being a shipowner" plan, Zhu Zhu Yijun was also happy to make it convenient for her.

"Remember, it's a sale, not a gift. Otherwise, the Inner Treasury's accounts won't be able to be done. It's a sale! This is 50,000 taels of silver." Zhu Zhu Yijun gave another careful instruction. It was not a reward, it was a sale. One thing is one thing; even brothers must settle accounts clearly.

Zhu Zhu Yijun kept shipping tickets in his hand. If the Quanchu, Quanjin, and Quanzhe guild halls needed them, they could ask for a share of imperial favor from Zhu Zhu Yijun. This could also be considered a means to restrain the major guild halls of the court officials. As the actual controller of the Ming's gold, San San Niangzi was an important force for the Ming to divide and rule on the grassland.

After entering summer, the rainfall in the capital gradually increased, and there were often days of continuous overcast rain. San San Niangzi stayed in the capital for a few more days because it rained, and the roads were slippery and difficult to walk. After the sky cleared, before San San Niangzi left, she suddenly received the Emperor's favor and was quite happy. Even if it was sold to her, this shipping ticket was not something just anyone could buy.

The capital was extremely keen on the Ming's shipping tickets, and a steady stream of funds was continuously injected into the thirteen prefectures of the Southern Capital. The matter of opening the seas was in full swing.

And in the ten-thousand-mile sea pond, the Ming navy recovered three more plantations. The Ming navy divided into three routes, launching attacks in Java, Poluozhou, and the Strait of Ma Liujia respectively.

"In the first four months of this year, we have recovered a total of eighteen plantations, and there are fifty-four plantations left. The hardest bone to chew here is near the Strait of Ma Liujia. The Kingdom of Ma Liujia has effectively perished, and the Strait of Ma Liujia is under the direct control of the Goa Viceroy Menezes, with the Diu Viceroy Barreto as assistance. Wanting to attack is extremely difficult." Deng Deng Zilong kept drawing on the topographical map.

In the directions of Poluozhou and Java, the Ming's progress was very smooth, but in the direction of the Strait of Ma Liujia, the Ming's resistance was extremely great, and it could even be said that they had achieved no merit and taken no land.

It was almost a matter of course that such a thing happened, because the Red-Haired Barbarians had ruled the local area for over sixty years.

In the fourth year of During Zhengde, the Red-Haired Barbarians, who had already occupied the important port of Cochin in western India, set their sights on Ma Liujia, the capital of the Kingdom of Ma Liujia.

This city was a prosperous city, with a circumference of over forty *li*. Even in the Ming Dynasty, it could be considered a super-large city. This city gathered local Malaccans and Persians, as well as a large number of Tamils, Bengalis, Gujaratis, and Ottomans and Western Armenians from the West.

It was a city of all nations in the true sense.

During the During Chenghua years, the Kingdom of Ma Liujia converted from Buddhism to Islam. The purpose was to unite the people of different skin colors, languages, and cultures in Ma Liujia City to the greatest extent.

In the fifth year of During Zhengde, the Red-Haired Barbarian colonial fleet, the Sequeira fleet, returned in defeat before the city of Ma Liujia. The following year, the Great Conqueror Albuquerque led eleven carrack sailing ships, three light sailing ships, and two galleass warships to attack Manila City. There were only 600 Red-Haired Barbarians on these sixteen warships.

In the eighth month of the sixth year of During Zhengde, Albuquerque conquered Ma Liujia City. The King of Ma Liujia and two princes fled, and Ma Liujia announced its demise.

Since the sixth year of During Zhengde, the Red-Haired Barbarians had ruled the Strait of Ma Liujia for over sixty years. In these sixty years of operation, it could not be said to be impregnable, but it could be said to be an iron wall.

Almost all ports capable of docking ships had been occupied by the Red-Haired Barbarians and had solid fortresses built. The remaining forces of the Kingdom of Ma Liujia had also been wiped out, and those forces that did not submit to the Red-Haired Barbarian colonial rule had also gradually perished in the sixty-year-long struggle. The people here had long been accustomed to the rule of the Red-Haired Barbarians and would even help the Red-Haired Barbarians resist the Ming's attack.

The Ming fleet really had no way to start.

"Difficult." Guo Xing Governor Yin Zhengmao was also quite troubled by the attack on the Strait of Ma Liujia.

The most critical point was that the Red-Haired Barbarians were shrinking their lines. When the Ming army came, under the control of Goa Viceroy Menezes, the Red-Haired Barbarians abandoned all colonial points and plantations on the ten-thousand-mile sea pond, concentrated all their strength to defend near the Strait of Ma Liujia, formed a local advantage, and then negotiated with the Ming.

This retreat created a turtle shell that could not be bitten.

The ten-thousand-mile sea pond was closer to the Ming, so the Ming's support would be faster. After the Ming announced the attack, Menezes immediately abandoned all colonial points and plantations on the ten-thousand-mile sea pond, concentrated all his strength to defend near the Strait of Ma Liujia, formed a local advantage, and then negotiated with the Ming.

Menezes's conditions, in summary, were to occupy the magpie's nest—the Goa Viceroy's Office, in the name of the Kingdom of Ma Liujia, continuing to rule.

"We attack the Strait of Ma Liujia, and we will inevitably attract the support of the Goa Viceroy's Office and the Diu Viceroy's Office. Either we win in one fierce battle, or we advance inch by inch, day by day. But in this way, our Ming's losses will be very large, and it can even be said that the gains will not make up for the losses." Zhang Zhang Yuanxun leaned back in his chair, his expression extremely solemn.

The conditions proposed by Goa Viceroy Menezes were intended to make the Ming feel it was not worth it, increasing the Ming's decision-making costs, and thus giving up the conquest of the Strait of Ma Liujia.

"What does His Majesty say?" Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao looked at Deng Deng Zilong. He had returned to Songjiang Prefecture with a five-masted ocean-crossing ship and took a ship to the capital for an audience.

"His Majesty said, Luzon is thousands of miles away. His Majesty resides in the capital and does not know the details of Luzon, but leaves it to the discretion of Si Shui Earl Guo Xing Governor Yin Zhengmao and Eagle-Raising Earl General Zhang. If the strength is not enough, one can ask for support from the court." Deng Deng Zilong repeated the Emperor's words like a parrot, and even took out the imperial edict.

"His Majesty says that Luzon is thousands of miles away, and His Majesty, residing in the capital, does not know the details of Luzon. He leaves it to the discretion of the Earl of Marquis Sishui, Guo Xingzhengmao, and the Earl of Marquis Yingyang, Regional Commander Zhang. If their strength is insufficient, they may request reinforcements from the Imperial Court." Deng Deng Zilong parroted His Majesty's words, even producing the Imperial Edict.

Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao had received a total of three imperial edicts of "acting at discretion." The first was in the fifth year of Emperor Longqing, when he went to Guangzhou to pacify the Japanese pirates; the second was in the first year of Emperor Wanli, when His Majesty expressed his support for Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao, during the vicious incident where Lin Lin Afeng surrendered and the powerful gentry opposed Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao's "dismantling doors and moving beds"; the third was now.

In general, since the fifth year of Emperor Longqing, Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao had always been in a state of "acting at discretion" with imperial authorization, meaning he had the power of autonomous decision-making, and then reported to the court afterward.

However, Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao could not kill Eagle-Raising Earl Zhang Zhang Yuanxun; that was a military noble of the court. When Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao and Zhang Zhang Yuanxun really clashed, Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao could capture Zhang Zhang Yuanxun and send him to the capital.

Military nobles were "super-grade," and only the Emperor could judge them.

"Acting at discretion... I don't know what to do either. This is not an idea, I want to hear His Majesty's opinion, but His Majesty told us to act at discretion." Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao finished reading the imperial edict, looking slightly helpless. His Majesty gave him the greatest support, but he did not quite dare to exercise this power.

"Anyway, it can't be taken down for a while. Report to the court. Anyway, from Luzon to the capital, it's only a fifteen-day sea voyage. If it really doesn't work, I'll run another trip." Deng Deng Zilong thought for a moment and said so.

Zhang Zhang Yuanxun immediately nodded and said: "Report to the court! Such a big matter, how can a Viceroy, a General, and a Commissioner decide?"

"Good." Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao approved Deng Deng Zilong's proposal. He sat up straight and said: "My idea is to fight. No matter how difficult it is, it must be taken down. Otherwise, these Red-Haired Barbarians can enter and exit our ten-thousand-mile sea pond at will, from any place, harassing our Ming's merchant ships, plantations, ports, villages, and directly threatening our Ming's long coastline."

"No matter how difficult, it must be taken down. Once taken down, it must be held. It cannot be like when the Old Port Regional Military Commission was abandoned, just abandoned."

The Ming's rule over the Strait of Ma Liujia lasted from the third year of Yongle until the fifth year of Zhengton. The control over the Strait of Ma Liujia declined completely after that. In the ninth year of Zhengton, the Ming Yingzong issued an edict to build Fuchuan ships to go to the Western Oceans again. That year, the Fuchuan ships were burned by civil unrest.

In Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao's view, the Strait of Ma Liujia is the Ming's first majestic pass on the sea. If the Great Wall is the first majestic pass on land, then the Strait of Ma Liujia is the first majestic pass on the sea. The Strait of Ma Liujia must be in the hands of the Ming for the Ming to sleep peacefully. Otherwise, the extremely cruel Red-Haired Barbarians will definitely not give up, and will harass the Ming at any time.

To make the ten-thousand-mile sea pond the Ming's backyard, the Strait of Ma Liujia must be in the Ming's hands.

No matter how difficult, could it be more difficult than when the Ming court's expenditure was only enough for three months when building the imperial tomb and owing 110,000?

"I think reporting to the court, the edict we receive will only be to fight. His Majesty is indeed loving to his soldiers as if they were his own children, and does not want the soldiers to take risks, giving the soldiers military pay, but when it is time to be cruel and not command troops, His Majesty will absolutely not hesitate." Deng Deng Zilong said very firmly.

When Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao saw the Emperor, His Majesty was only twelve years old. At that time, His Majesty was still young, and all the affairs of the Ming were actually on Zhang Zhang Juzheng's shoulders. Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao only saw a His Majesty hiding under Zhang Zhang Juzheng's wings. But when Deng Deng Zilong met the Emperor, the feeling was completely different. His Majesty had grown up, and the feeling His Majesty gave Deng Deng Zilong was like a sword out of its sheath. When it should be out of its sheath, it was absolutely sharp.

Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao believed Deng Deng Zilong's words, but from the court gazette, the Ming now had a taste of "promoting literature and suppressing martial arts" and "hanging up the bows and horses." After all, the overall strategy toward the Northern Barbarians was reconciliation. He thought for a long time and said: "We must make two preparations."

"As for how to fight, I have an idea. We must hire a large number of local savages, train them slightly, and put them into the battlefield. When attacking strongholds, in order to minimize casualties, we will use these savages."

"In summary, before the last savage dies, we will never stop attacking."

Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao was a *Ming Jinshi*, a scholar. As a scholar, some of his ideas were different from those of military generals. The Ming could not quite accept the huge loss of maritime power, because the Ming's power on the ocean was still weak, far from the Yongle years. And the Red-Haired Barbarians occupying Ma Liujia now were not the sea pirates Chen Chen Zuyi, but well-trained Red-Haired Barbarians.

While the enemy was powerful, the Ming's maritime power was still very weak. Huge casualties were something the Ming court could not accept no matter what. So how to fight to minimize losses?

Use hired servant armies. Before the last monkey dies, the Ming will never stop attacking—this was Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao's plan.

This plan could be described as cruel to the extreme, with no morality to speak of. But Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao was a scholar, which made things reasonable.

"Is Guo Xingye afraid that he won't be scolded enough? Tsk tsk, by then, the Spring and Autumn judgment will probably give Guo Xingye the nickname of butcher." Deng Deng Zilong seriously tasted Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao's words, and the corners of his mouth twitched. This move would inevitably lead to infamy, and it would be infamy for thousands of years.

Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao said with a very strange expression: "When I was dismantling doors and moving beds in Liangguang, my infamy had already piled up like a mountain. Am I still afraid of this? Speaking of which, I have to thank Ling Governor Ling Yunyi. He killed people in Liangguang, and the wealthy households in Liangguang instead praised me."

"Hahaha!" Zhang Zhang Yuanxun and Deng Deng Zilong immediately laughed loudly. The Luzon Viceroy's Office was filled with a happy atmosphere.

Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao dismantled doors and moved beds, but as long as they cooperated with donations, Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao would not kill people. But Ling Governor Ling Yunyi would, and he would kill people at every turn. Ling Governor Ling Yunyi was the Viceroy of Liangguang for three years, and Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao's reputation rose in a straight line, approaching the ranks of great philanthropists.

Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao wrote the memorial, and Zhang Zhang Yuanxun and Deng Deng Zilong signed their names and stamped their seals. This memorial was handed over to the Manila Sea Defense Inspection Office, and would be sent to the capital by the "water-flying" sea defense inspectors. A total of five copies were written to prevent the memorial from being lost on the way.

Manila at this time was completely different from the Manila occupied by the Red-Haired Barbarians.

Manila was built at the mouth of the Pasig River, which divided Manila into the north and south banks. When the Red-Haired Barbarians occupied it, there was a huge difference between the two banks, with only the south bank being prosperous. But now, standing on a ship and looking toward Manila, the gap between the two banks was extremely small. Rows of large houses stretched as far as the eye could see.

The port's jetties had increased from five to twenty-five. And to prevent seawater tides, long breakwaters extended from the mouth of the Pasig River to both sides. The waves hit the bluestone of the breakwaters, splashing waves. The waves sprinkled on the bluestone road, startling the running children and causing bursts of laughter, which were blown far away by the sea breeze.

These children wore bamboo hats, because the coconut trees by the sea would always drop coconuts, hitting pedestrians.

And behind the rows of large houses along the port were countless handicraft factories. 60% of these factories belonged to the Luzon Viceroy's Office, 30% belonged to Ming merchants, and 10% belonged to local commoners. These factories included sugar refining, oil pressing, rice milling, textiles, printing, pharmaceuticals, rubber, copper smelting, etc. Even in the north bank, not far from Tongxiang Town, there was a steel official factory under construction.

The ship slowly entered the Pasig River. Less than five *li* along the river, one could see a school. This was originally a church. After Manila was captured by Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao, it became a school. The sound of reading could be heard even on the ship.

Continuing dozens of *li* along the river, one would see official roads and post stations extending from Manila to the distance. These were the official roads and post stations that Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao had built over the past few years, covering the entire Luzon Island. One was to defend against the Red-Haired Barbarians' counterattack and prevent sea pirates from harassing, so the Viceroy's Office could react quickly. The second was to facilitate the department stores of Luzon Island to reach Manila for shipment to the Ming.

The Red-Haired Barbarians entrenched on Mindanao Island had long since given up the idea of a counterattack. Counterattack? Who would go? Because their ships were told by fishermen before they even left the port, and before they even approached Luzon Island, the Ming navy's ships had already come with the wind.

Compared to the previous Viceroy Francisco Sande, everyone in Luzon, whether it was the local uncivilized natives, Ming merchants, or Red-Haired Barbarians, liked the current Viceroy Yin Governor Yin Zhengmao more, and liked the Ming's rule more, because the Ming not only had plunder, but also "King Transformation." The Luzon that had not changed for thousands of years was now full of vitality.

"Compared to the Ming being praised by everyone in Luzon, Francisco is hated by everyone, even the Red-Haired Barbarians are no exception." Luo Jin Lian wore a bamboo hat, stood on the sea embankment, ignored the eyes of others, lazily leaned in Deng Deng Zilong's arms, and stretched her hand toward the scorching sun. The sunlight sprinkled on her through her fingers.

"You are a Red-Haired Barbarian yourself, how can you call yourself that?" Deng Deng Zilong sneered. The Ming's official name for Red-Haired Barbarians was "Folangji people," but Luo Jin Lian was not resistant to the term "Red-Haired Barbarian."

Luo Jin Lian smiled and said: "Aren't you the one who likes my red hair the most?"

"Cough, cough, we are outside!" Deng Deng Zilong and Luo Jin Lian had been together for six years, but Deng Deng Zilong still couldn't handle Luo Jin Lian's loose talk, saying everything that came to mind.

"Tell you some good news." Luo Jin Lian left Deng Deng Zilong's arms, turned around in the sea breeze, looked at Deng Deng Zilong, and whispered: "Deng Deng Zilong! You are going to be a father. I have your child."

"I also have some good news." Deng Deng Zilong leaned over. He actually already knew. When he just returned to the Luzon Viceroy's Office, someone had already congratulated him.

Guo Xing Governor Yin Zhengmao, the Viceroy of the Luzon Viceroy's Office, always felt that this Western woman Luo Jin Lian was too dissolute, fearing that his subordinate and brother would be deceived by this beautiful woman, so he got a few reliable women to be servants in the Barbarian Regional Commander's mansion. Luo Jin Lian was pregnant, and the Viceroy's Office knew the news first.

"His Majesty agreed to let me marry you." Deng Deng Zilong had long since married Luo Jin Lian, but he had never applied for a title from the court. Only with a title could one be a "noble wife."

The Ming Dynasty had to confer titles on the legal wives of civil and military officials of the fourth rank and above. Before, Deng Deng Zilong had never applied, and the Ministry of Rites could not possibly approve it. Luo Jin Lian was a Westerner; how could a Westerner be a noble wife of the Ming?

This time, when Deng Deng Zilong went to the capital for an audience, he begged for an imperial edict. Luo Jin Lian was Deng Deng Zilong's second wife, and his child was not a bastard, let alone a half-breed.

"Husband, do you know why the Ming is so strong? Rome has perished, but China is still here." Luo Jin Lian was extremely surprised. She stared with wide eyes, looking blankly at Deng Deng Zilong, shocked beyond measure. The Ming court was an extremely conservative court—conservative to the point of being more conservative than conservative. Luo Jin Lian had never thought that there would be a day for a title. This was of course the imperial favor of the Ming Emperor, but wasn't it also the persistence of her husband?

Deng Deng Zilong could have married another. Luo Jin Lian had also asked for helpers in bed to deal with Deng Deng Zilong. According to Luo Jin Lian's self-positioning, according to the Ming's saying, she was a concubine who entertained with beauty; according to the Western saying, she was a mistress who could not see the light.

As a result, Deng Deng Zilong now told her that the title had been brought back. From now on, Luo Jin Lian could call herself a "Lady."

When Deng Deng Zilong was a pawn and went to Manila to investigate, he provoked Luo Jin Lian, and he had been responsible ever since.

Luo Jin Lian did not know how to express her surprise, but instead asked a question. Rome had perished, but the Ming civilization was still continuing. As a Westerner, Rome was the civilization with the longest duration and widest influence in Luo Jin Lian's cognitive world.

But Rome perished, completely. The orthodoxy of the Central Plains, China, and the Ming were still here. This "China" is: "The Emperor of Heaven has given the people of China their territory to the former kings." The Zhou Dynasty received the mandate of heaven to rule the people of all directions; "Middle" is the mandate of heaven; the Emperor's capital is the "Middle," so it is called China; "Middle" is the Emperor; "I reside in this China, from here to rule the people," it is the center of the world, and China is the center of the world. Ask for monthly tickets, Awoo!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 353 =====

"Why?" Deng Deng Zilong had no idea why Luo Li'an had brought this up.

Luo Li'an said sincerely: "Because the sons of the Great Ming are all men."

In ancient times, since the Zhou Dynasty, people have called themselves "Zhongguo" (Middle Kingdom). Qin was Zhongguo, Han was Zhongguo, Tang was Zhongguo, Song was Zhongguo, and Ming is also Zhongguo. This "Zhongguo" means: "The August Heaven has bestowed the people of Zhongguo and their territory upon the former kings." The Zhou Dynasty received the Mandate of Heaven to rule the people of the four directions; "Zhong" (Middle) is the Mandate of Heaven. It is where the Emperor resides, hence it is called Zhongguo; "Zhong" is the Emperor. It is "I dwell in this Zhongguo, and from here govern the people." It is the center of the world; Zhongguo is the center of the world. Begging for monthly votes! Awoo!!!!!

(End of chapter)