Since Zheng Zhibao was killed last time, Emperor Longwu has issued a secret order to Zhao Ming, making the conflict between Zheng Zhilong and Longwu even more intense.

Zheng Zhilong gradually realized that Emperor Longwu was not Emperor Xian, and was not so easy to be merciless. He was not Cao Cao, and he did not have the ambition to support the country and unify the world. He just hoped to strengthen the power of the Zheng family and allow the entire family to continue for a long time.

In the southeast of Fujing City, there is a natural Tamsui Port, which is more than 20 miles from the mouth of the Minjiang River.

Surrounded by mountains and steep terrain, it is a rare port, and Zheng Zhilong's water village is here.

At this time, in the Zheng family's water village, Zheng Zhilong stood on a gunship, followed by Zheng Hongkui, Zheng Sen, Zheng Cai, Zheng Lian and other Zheng clan members.

Zheng Zhilong stood on the boat building, holding the guardrail with both hands, staring at the harbor, hundreds of sea boats shuttled through, and many sea boats parked on the shore.

Zheng Zhilong sighed, "My Zheng family is based in the sea and has been able to have a foundation by controlling maritime trade. However, since the Ming and Qing dynasties and the southeast supply has been affected, the benefits my Zheng family has earned are less than 30% of the previous years!"

Zheng Zhilong earns a lot every year, but he has to maintain the 100,000 Zheng army and the other navy, which consumes a lot.

Zheng Sen heard this and said, "Father, Your Majesty the Emperor told me several times that he wanted to fight the Northern Expedition and recover the lost territory. My Zheng family earned a lot of money every year, and was also strong in military and horses. Why didn't my father help Your Majesty recover Nanjing? If Your Majesty regained Jiangnan, our Zheng family's trade would naturally be restored."

Zheng Zhilong frowned and looked at Zheng Sen, and sneered, "Damu! Do you think that Fujian can succeed in the Northern Expedition? The Hongguang Dynasty is separated by the Yangtze River and is surrounded by the vast chasm of the Yangtze River. Five powerful soldiers in the towns cannot resist the enemy. How can we talk about restoration in a corner of Fujian now?"

Seeing that Zheng Zhilong had no desire to recover, Zheng Sen had already determined that the Ming Dynasty would fail, so he couldn't help but hurriedly said: "Father, Jiannu did things against others and was unpopular. Now he is wise and has always had the ambition to restore his throne. If the king and his ministers are united in the court, there is still something to do. Isn't my father supporting Your Majesty to restore the mountains and rivers and become the revival minister of the Ming Dynasty? Since my father is so pessimistic, why should he support Your Majesty again?"

Zheng Zhilong said coldly: "I support Emperor Longwu, but it is just a rare commodity. I use him to command the princes and use the name of the Ming Dynasty to expand the power of my Zheng family to Guangdong, Guangxi and Zhejiang. I will help me. I will use the emperor to order the princes to create a foundation. If I fail, I can use this as a bargaining chip in exchange for favorable conditions. In short, my Zheng family will be invincible!"

Zheng Sen was stunned when he heard the words. He had long realized Zheng Zhilong's intention, but there was always a trace of fantasy in his heart. He hoped that Zheng Zhilong would still have the Ming Dynasty. But now Zheng Zhilong said it in person, which surprised him, "Father, you are the Grand Master of the Ming Dynasty, and you are favored by Your Majesty. My Zheng family~"

"Okay, don't say your kind words of loyalty to the emperor!" Zheng Zhilong waved his hand and interrupted Zheng Sen and said impatiently: "The Zheng family can have today, not relying on loyalty to the emperor. Qian Muzhai, who taught you, has been surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. Do you still have to persist? It is not easy for the Zheng family to have today, and it is not given by the Ming court, but earned by the Zheng family itself. I can't take advantage of the Zheng family for the sake of the Zhu family!"

Zheng Zhilong was talking when Zheng's general Shi Fu hurried to the bow of the boat and saluted: "Trial Master, Your Majesty sends an eunuch here to invite the Taishi to come to the palace to pay homage!"

In the palace, Longwu sat upright above the treasure, and several ministers stood on both sides, talking and anxious on their faces.

At this time, the eunuch entered the hall and whispered a few words to Longwu. Emperor Longwu immediately sat upright, "Let him enter the hall!"

When the ministers on both sides heard the sound, they knew that Zheng Zhilong had arrived, and their expressions became serious in an instant.

At this time, the eunuch sang loudly outside the hall: "Tishi Xuan~"

Before the eunuch's voice fell, Zheng Zhilong had already walked into the hall. He was arrogant and domineering, which made the ministers frown, but they didn't dare to speak out.

Zheng Zhilong walked in and bowed casually, "Your Majesty asked me to enter the palace, what's wrong?"

Emperor Longwu was unhappy, but he smiled on his face and said, "Give him a seat to the Grand Master!"

After Zheng Zhilong sat down, Long Wu said worriedly: "Trial Master, today I am urgently summoning the Taishi, Zhejiang Province is in critical condition!" Long Wu turned his head to look at Zhang Huangyan, "Your family, tell me about the situation in eastern Zhejiang!"

Zhang Huangyan hurriedly bowed to Zheng Zhilong and said earnestly, "The Grand Tutor, the Northern Barbarians' army, crossed Qiantang and occupied eastern Zhejiang. Now the troops are overwhelming the two prefectures of Wentai, and I will also ask the Grand Tutor to send troops to reinforce!"

Zheng Zhilong was shocked, "Where is the defeat in eastern Zhejiang?"

Although Zheng Zhilong did not want to unite Tang and Lu, he actually didn't want to see the defeat of Zhejiang East.

Eastern Zhejiang is the barrier to Fujian. He still knew this truth. If Eastern Zhejiang loses, Fujian will need to face the Qing army directly, so he will have no room for maneuver and cannot set a price.

Zhang Huangyan hurriedly said, "The lips were dead and the teeth were cold. If the Northern Barbarians were not blocked, Fujian would be in danger. The Grand Master held heavy troops and asked the Grand Master to send troops to reinforce. The two prefectures of Wentai were mountainous, and the terrain was not conducive to the Northern Barbarians' combat. As long as the Grand Master sent troops, it would be able to block the Northern Barbarians and resolve this crisis!"

Zheng Zhilong felt a little confused for a moment. The Qing soldiers were already at Wentai and were forcing them to Fujian. The Zheng army might not be able to resist.

Seeing Zheng Zhilong's expression, Zhang Huangyan continued, "Taishou, the Prince's Highness is now fighting to the death in Taizhou, and another partial army goes straight into the Yangtze River to threaten Nanjing. Your Majesty has also long ordered Huguang and southern Ganzhou to send troops to restrain the Qing army. As long as the Grand Tutor sends troops to help the Prince's Highness stabilize Wentai, as long as it persists until June, the southern heat will be hot and the northern soldiers will be unbearable, and the northern enemy will inevitably withdraw."

Zhang Huangyan knew that Zheng Zhilong was a businessman, so he told him that the situation was not without a turning point, and as long as he sent troops, he could maintain the situation.

Zheng Zhilong suddenly said coldly, "I know that Zhejiang East is in danger, but there is a saying that the troops and horses have not moved, and food will come first. I am willing to help each other. However, the court has no food and food, so I am afraid that the troops will not be able to be sent for the time being!"

Emperor Longwu suppressed his anger when he heard this and said in anger: "Fujian's taxes have not been paid to the Ministry of Revenue this year. Fujian has the benefits of maritime trade. The Taishi made a lot of profits, so how can there be no silver?"

Emperor Longwu knew that Zheng Zhilong was roaming the sea and that all the merchant ships passed by had to pay taxes to him. The annual tax amount was as many as millions, which was rich enough to rival a country. Longwu was immediately angry when he heard Zheng Zhilong say that there was no salary or food.

After pondering for a while, Zheng Zhilong said, "Your Majesty doesn't know that the sea is not as bad as before. The situation in the court is worsening, and Fujian is becoming increasingly difficult. Not only does it lose the supply of goods in Jiangnan, but the red-haired barbarians at the sea have also taken advantage of the situation. The Zheng family wants to maintain the sea border and spend a huge amount of money, so how can they still take out money!"

In the current situation, I sent troops to eastern Zhejiang and won. I saved Emperor Longwu and divided the Zheng family's power, which was not good for Zheng Zhilong. After being defeated, the Qing army entered Fujian and the Zheng family was over. Zheng Zhilong was unwilling to take such a risk.

The Qing army was about to occupy Zhejiang, and the next one was Fujian. Emperor Longwu saw that the Ming Dynasty was in danger, so he couldn't help but say to Zheng Zhilong with grief and anger: "Laoqing family! Since ascending the throne, I have always thought about national affairs. Thinking of the founding of the Ming Dynasty for more than 270 years, now that the people are dispersed, the country is in turmoil, and the ancestral temple is not protected, so I feel sad. Thinking about it again, the country has lost half of the country, both capitals are trapped, and the people fall into the hands of the Northern Captains, shaved their hair and reform, and no longer have Chinese clothes and hats, the ancestors' temples and the Taizu Mausoleum, all of them are trapped in the hands of the enemy, and I feel deeply ashamed! I tried to recover, but stopped in the eight Fujian. Do I have to throw away even this southeast corner now?"

Emperor Longwu's words already had a plea. The ministers in the palace were moved when they heard this. They felt the torment in the emperor's heart. They were determined to pacify the barbarians and restore the rivers and mountains, but they were not strong enough. They couldn't help feeling sad and helpless.

At this time, Emperor Longwu stood up, walked down the hall, and looked at Zheng Zhilong, "Lao Qing's family, wasn't it to restore the Ming Dynasty in their hearts? Now that the northern troops are approaching, if the Qing's family does not send troops to resist, why support me?"

Zheng Zhilong heard Longwu's plea, but was still unmoved and replied coldly: "Your Majesty, let's discuss the matter of sending troops in the future. The land of Fujian is surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sea. It is better to defend rather than attack. I will defend Fujian and guard this place for Your Majesty!"

After saying that, Zheng Zhilong clasped his fists and turned around and left the hall in front of everyone.

Emperor Longwu's face was depressed, and the ministers were stunned. Grand Secretary Su Guan trembled with anger and said angrily: "Zheng Zhilong's eyes were without a prince and father, and he was arrogant and domineering. He did everything better than Cao Cao. He was not as good as Cao Cao, but he was not as good as Cao Cao. Those who ruined the affairs of the world must be this thief!"

Zhang Huangyan did not expect that this was the situation within the Longwu court. When he thought of the situation in eastern Zhejiang, he couldn't help but worry: "In this way, Zhejiang is in danger, and Fujian is afraid it will be difficult to protect!"

After hearing this, Emperor Longwu, who was depressed, was forced to cheer up, "I can't sit still and wait for death, go and invite Zheng Sen!"

A few months ago, Zheng Zhilong wanted to destroy the Tang and Lu alliance, and wanted to continue to control the Longwu court, and designed to lead Zhao Ming to his mansion.

He was going to kill Zhao Ming in the mansion, and then falsely accused Zhao Ming of being the assassin sent by Zhu Yihai to assassin him, thus disrupting the alliance between Huang Tang and Lu, and allowing Emperor Longwu to continue to isolate him so that the Zheng family can control the court.

However, Zheng Zhilong did not investigate Zhao Ming's background clearly, but knew that he had some relationship with Zheng Sen. He did not expect that Zhao Ming was extremely brave. Not only was he not killed, he also asked him to kill Zheng Zhibao and burned Zheng Zhilong's mansion.

This incident made Zheng Zhilong extremely angry. He sent troops into the city to capture Zhao Ming, and insisted that Zhao Ming assassinated Zheng Zhibao.

Emperor Longwu keenly noticed the conspiracy. On the surface, he sent Jinyiwei to help arrest Zhao Ming, but in fact he wanted to find Zhao Ming and cover Zhao Ming to escape.

After Yang Wencong passed the Jinyiwei and informed Emperor Longwu of the truth, Emperor Longwu immediately wrote an imperial edict, asking Gao Huan, a thousand households of the Jinyiwei, to give the decree to Zhao Ming and take it away from Fujian.

After Zhao Ming took away the imperial edict and passed it to Zhu Yihai, Zheng Zhilong could only accept the fact that Tang Lu reconciliation, but this incident completely intensified the conflict between Zheng Zhilong and Emperor Longwu.

Zheng Zhilong's intention to support Longwu was to use the emperor to command the princes to strengthen the power of the Zheng family.

Although the decree sent by Emperor Longwu was not a robbery, it was still a very bad signal for Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong knew in his heart that Emperor Longwu was favored to him on the surface, but in fact he was not a person willing to be controlled. Once Emperor Longwu regained his power, the Zheng family would definitely not have good results.

In this case, the Zheng family must always be strong, either continue to use the emperor to command the princes, always firmly control Longwu, grasp the absolute power in the court, and not give Longwu a chance to seize power and liquidate it, or take advantage of the Longwu court's approaching to fall, and take advantage of the Longwu court's faction, and take action immediately.

There were 100,000 soldiers in eastern Zhejiang, and only 100,000 soldiers in Fujian. Zheng Zhilong knew in his heart that his advantage was at sea and was not a match for the Qing soldiers on land, so he was no longer optimistic about the Longwu court.

In addition, Longwu was too restless and contacted eastern Zhejiang, Huguang, and southern Jiangxi to cultivate his own power to compete with the Zheng family. Zheng Zhilong felt that Longwu was no longer in control. Sending troops to eastern Zhejiang to help eastern Zhejiang overcome difficulties was equivalent to helping Longwu, which was not what Zheng Zhilong was willing to see.

After leaving the palace and returning to the mansion, Zheng Zhilong leaned on the seat worriedly, and was swaying between holding the emperor to order the princes and selling the Longwu court.

At this time, the door was suddenly pushed open, and the confidant housekeeper suddenly said, "Tai Shi, the messenger from the north has arrived!"

Zheng Zhilong was excited when he heard the words and said hurriedly: "Please come in!"
Chapter completed!