In Fuzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, where the governor's yamen is located, the left governor Xiong Wencan sat in the backyard hall of the governor's yamen breathing heavily.

In front of him was the pirate leader Zheng Zhilong, who was sitting with his legs raised.

Xiong Wencan attaches great importance to the enlistment of Zheng Zhilong this time. The Fujian Governor has not been established for almost two years. If Xiong Wencan can accomplish this, he will solve the problem of the border in one fell swoop. In the future, he can become the next Fujian Governor in one fell swoop in terms of his merits and the political qualifications of the Left Governor.

Although he was also a chief official in the border area, the governor of Fujian was a Beijing official, and he also had the title of the Censorate and the Ministry of War. He had great power and military power. However, the governor was only a local official in charge of civil affairs, and he also had a right governor to him. Sometimes he had to be governed by the inspector and censor.

So Xiong Wencan dreamed of becoming a scoundrel, playing the king's flag and showing off his power.

Although he was a literati from a Jinshi, he was very good at dealing with all kinds of religions and other literati. Otherwise, he would not have contacted Zheng Zhilong, nor did he take a hostile state against these pirates like other paranoid literati.

Even he and Zheng Zhilong became almost all-you-can-talk friends, and became the master of Zheng Zhilong's son Zheng Chenggong.

Note: According to the original historical trajectory, Qian Qianyi should have become Zheng Chenggong's master, but now Qian Qianyi has entered Beijing in advance to become a cabinet assistant by castrating himself. However, this is not Jin Yong's martial arts world, so he cannot practice the Evil-repelling Sword Score or Sunflower Book.

But what Xiong Wencan didn't expect was that Zheng Zhilong would actually send his younger brother Zheng Zhihu to attack the fleet of the imperial court's envoy to the Ryukyu Kingdom while negotiating with him.

Although Xiong Wencan is just a local governor, he has been performing his duties in Fujian for a long time and has his own news channels. When he learned the news, he was extremely shocked and angry, so he was anxious to invite Zheng Zhilong.

Looking at Zheng Zhilong's casual movements, Xiong Wencan felt arrogance and arrogance at this moment, rather than the chivalrous and heroic spirit she thought in the past.

"Mr., please use tea!"

However, seeing this young man named Zheng Chenggong who had been staying in his yamen and being taught by him first brewed a cup of tea for himself, Xiong Wencan's expression was a little slow, and he couldn't help but suppress his anger. He handed a letter to Zheng Zhilong, and asked Zheng Zhilong, "It's so yellow, tell me what's going on. Why did your people suddenly attack the fleet of my Ming Dynasty? This is not the duty of a minister!"

When Zheng Chenggong heard Xiong Wencan say this, he couldn't help but feel shocked and hurriedly looked at Zheng Zhilong: "Father!"

"There is no business for you here, go ahead first!" Zheng Zhilong knew that his son was very simple-minded and full of loyalty and righteousness. He left him here and it was difficult to say something, so he scolded Zheng Chenggong for a few words without any consideration. This was in the yamen of the governor, and the left governor Xiong Wencan was still sitting here, making it look like he was in his own home.

Xiong Wencan was a little unhappy because of this, but he did feel that Zheng Chenggong was not suitable here, so he put down the teacup and said, "Mingyan, you go down first, and say a few words to your father alone for your teacher."

Zheng Chenggong also took a break.

And here, as soon as Zheng Chenggong left, Zheng Zhilong laughed first: "Look at what Brother Yun Jin said, Xiaomin is just a person who makes a living on the sea. How could he have the courage to go against the court? It's just that Xiaomin inherited the entrusted by the coastal people and could not let some sluts disturb the tranquility of this sea area. Recently, he heard that Japanese pirates were in rebellion at the sea, so Xiaomin asked Yudi to lead a fleet to encircle and suppress. If he accidentally bumped into the people of the court, it would be a misunderstanding and was not what the people wanted."

Although Zheng Zhilong's words seem to dare not oppose the court on the surface, the meaning in his words is very obvious. He does not deny that he will offend the court, but your court cannot do anything to me except treating this as a misunderstanding.

Although Xiong Wencan has a good temper, he suddenly became a little angry about it: "Do you still want to accept the court's envoy?"

"Think of it!"

Zheng Zhilong answered without thinking: "To be honest, Xiaomin is old and I have long wanted to return to my hometown to retire. It is best to return to my roots as soon as possible. Now I can only rely on you, the elders, to help Xiaomin."

"Then you dare to attack the imperial fleet. Don't say whether this is a misunderstanding or not, you can't afford to be guilty even if it is a misunderstanding!"

Seeing that he was still intending to surrender, Xiong Wencan looked a little slow, but his tone did not diminish slightly. He could not let the pirate leader get more aggressive, otherwise he would not be able to explain to the court.

Seeing Xiong Wencan so excited, Zheng Zhilong naturally knew that he was deliberately performing for him to show him. In fact, he really wanted to submit to the court through him. This would only benefit but not harm him. So Zheng Zhilong was not angry at all. He still said proudly and unscrupulously: "Brother Yun Jin, you may say that, a group of robbers suddenly broke into your backyard. If it were you, wouldn't you fight out? It makes no sense!"

"The fallacy is pure fallacy!"

The angry Xiong Wencan slapped the table a few times, stood up and shouted angrily: "When did this sea area become your Zheng family's backyard, and the imperial fleet became robbers?"

"Brother Yunjin, this is the case. You can ask the entire South Asian countries, including the shogunate of the Japanese pirates, whether they know the court or our Zheng family. It is not to be hindered. As long as Brother Yunjin is willing, I can let you marry a princess Hu Ji now. It tastes absolutely good." Zheng Zhilong said and laughed.

However, Xiong Wencan was even more angry and looked even more purple. He didn't expect that Zheng Zhilong was so domineering. He said without any concealment that the sea area was the world of his Zheng family! This obviously did not take the court seriously. Even if Xiong Wencan wanted to seek the credit for helping Zheng Zhilong, he would not dare to sell the interests of the court to cater to the pirate leader Zheng Zhilong, so that he would die ugly.

Zheng Zhilong was very proud. Seeing Xiong Wencan's defeated and angry look, he felt a very comfortable feeling in his heart.

In order to be able to surrender to the court and become a vassal that is truly recognized by the court, just like the Guanning Army of Wu in Liaodong before, Zheng Zhilong bent a lot of waists in front of Xiong Wencan and said a lot of good things in a low voice. Otherwise, his son would not have recognized him as his teacher. He even deliberately called Xiong Wencan the elder brother, and even gave one of his favorite concubines to Xiong Wencan.

But what Zheng Zhilong didn't expect was that Xiong Wencan's butt finally sat on the side of the court, actually caught his own fleet's attention, and even wanted to cut off his own path to sea wealth, but only gave himself a false reputation!

Zheng Zhilong felt that he was not so stupid, and watched helplessly as the court sent a fleet to challenge his bottom line.

So, Zheng Zhilong took action very decisively and looked at Xiong Wencan very directly. The meaning was very obvious. I just wanted to see your court that wanted to eat me but was helpless to me.

Xiong Wencan is indeed unable to deal with Zheng Zhilong now. Although he is the left governor of Fujian, he has no military power, so he cannot intimidate the arrogant Zheng Zhilong.

However, just when Zheng Zhilong was proud, Xiong Wencan's aide, Master Hou of Shaoxing, came.

Xiong Wencan, who was in an embarrassing state and was silent, saw this and turned his attention to Master Hou: "What's the matter? Don't you tell you that you must come in rashly unless it's urgent?"

"Forgive me, I have to worry about it. It's because the Fourth Master of the Zheng family is in a hurry to see his elder brother. Please come over." As Master Hou said this, Xiong Wencan couldn't help but snorted angrily, thinking: "Come on, my own master has also been bribed by others. He is a good slave."

After his anger returned, Xiong Wencan had no confidence to rely on now, so he could only endure it and generously asked Zheng Zhilong to go out to see his fourth brother.

The so-called Fourth Master of the Zheng family is Zheng Hongkui. This person is the fourth among the brothers of Zheng Zhilong, so he is named the Fourth Master of the Zheng family.

Compared with the other brothers, Zheng Zhilong has not had a good relationship with his fourth brother, but his fourth brother is a strategic person and gets along well with his son Zheng Chenggong, so he has to pay attention to his fourth brother.

When he saw Zheng Hongkui paced anxiously outside the door, he couldn't help but ask, "Second, what's wrong?"

"Oh, brother, you finally figured it out. The second brother brought news, we were defeated!"

Zheng Hongkui hurriedly walked towards Zheng Zhilong, then pulled Zheng Zhilong forward and said, "Our people came back and said that the strength of the fleet of the imperial court's mission to Ryukyu Kingdom was not as weak as we imagined, and was stronger than we imagined, especially since there was an iron-armored ship that could sail on the sea, which was simply incredible! The fleet we went to this time came back less than ten, and they said that it seemed that my second brother had been captured by the imperial court!"

"What! The second brother was caught by the court!"

Zheng Zhilong suddenly seemed to have a gauge on his head. The news made him confused. He was just now in Fujian's left governor Xiong Wencan, and even deliberately angered Xiong Wencan. He relied on his strong maritime strength in the Zheng family, and could not be afraid of any opponents. But he did not expect that his fleet would be defeated by the court, and he was still a fleet of Ryukyu Kingdom. He also sent his second brother Zheng Zhihu, the most powerful battle in the Zheng family!

Zheng Zhilong never expected that this would be the result. Even if he was really defeated, he still had room for reversal. At worst, he could add more strength and fight the fleet again. But now his second brother Zheng Zhihu was captured alive by the court. This is simply the biggest shame that the Zheng family pirates have dominated the sea!

Zheng Zhilong had to send people to continue to inquire about the truth and did not dare to act rashly anymore, nor was even embarrassed to come to see Xiong Wencan, the left governor of Fujian.

Xiong Wencan didn't want to pay attention to Zheng Zhilong recently. He was indeed very disappointed with Zheng Zhilong. He didn't expect that such a person would be so arrogant and domineering, and he had lost confidence in urging Zheng Zhilong.

In addition, he also received a quick report that the court wanted to send the cabinet assistant Li Mingrui and Li Ge to Fujian to preside over the reunion. This was clearly because the court also learned that Zheng Zhilong rashly attacked the imperial fleet and asked Li Mingrui to come and question him Xiong Wencan.

Xiong Wencan was also very anxious at this time and had to draw a clear line with Zheng Zhilong first, so as not to make the court mistakenly think that he was turning to Zheng Zhilong's side.

At the same time, he had to prepare for the welcome of Li Mingrui and Master Li. Sometimes what he thought was from above was how the imperial envoy responded.

Xiong Wencan dare not be careless, not to mention that Li Mingrui is a celebrity around His Majesty!

Later, Zheng Zhilong also learned about Li Mingrui's coming, and his mood was also complicated. He guessed that after he attacked the imperial fleet, the Emperor Zhu Youxiao of the Ming Dynasty would definitely no longer trust Xiong Wencan, the left governor of Fujian, and sent his trusted imperial officials to Fujian to investigate as the imperial envoy.

Zheng Zhilong originally wanted to take advantage of the victory of the attack on the imperial fleet and teach the left governor of Fujian to put pressure on the imperial envoy who came, and thus revealed the true strength of his Zheng family in front of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Youxiao.

But what Zheng Zhilong didn't expect now was that his second brother did not successfully attack the court's fleet and was sent to prison, which meant that he took the initiative to the court.

...

Li Mingrui is in a good mood now. Once he arrives in Lingnan, he will lose a hint of chill, which makes him much more refreshed. Of course, the more the reason is that the First Fleet of the Beihai of the court defeated the Zheng pirates, giving him confidence.

This is the reason why you have money in your hands and don’t panic in your heart.

As soon as Li Mingrui arrived in Fuzhou City, he was very arrogant and arrogant, and asked Xiong Wencan: "Brother Yunjin, what about Zheng Zhilong? Could it be that he would ask me to invite him in person?"

Li Mingrui's words were filled with anger, and there was no fear of Zheng Zhilong. It seemed that as long as Zheng Zhilong dragged on for a moment, he would directly kill Zheng Zhilong.

But not long after Li Mingrui asked, a report came from the front saying that the maritime merchant Zheng Zhilong was asking for a meeting.

Li Mingrui naturally did not stop him, so he asked someone to summon Zheng Zhilong in, instead of Xiong Wencan's previous attempt to invite Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong became very wise this time, knowing that although he was rich in the world, he was just a white shirt at present. Therefore, he didn't expect that Xiong Wencan would wear a gorgeous dress that only scholars and officials or princes and nobles were qualified to wear. Instead, he just wore a half-old cotton dress and walked in in a hurry. As soon as he came in, he bowed to Li Mingrui's head: "Zheng Zhilong, a grass man, has seen Mr. Li, please pay tribute to Mr. Li!"

"Get up, stand there. I will wait for His Majesty to ask you a few words?"

Li Mingrui said.

But this surprised others. Why didn't Zheng Zhilong sit down, but let him stand? This old man Li Ge seemed to be quite big.

At this time, Xiong Wencan on the side felt quite uncomfortable and puzzled. He clearly remembered Zheng Zhilong's power in front of him that day, but why was he so humble in front of Li Mingrui today? Is it because Li Mingrui's official position is bigger than him?

However, what Xiong Wencan didn't expect was that Li Mingrui suddenly slapped the arbor here, changed his tone, and said very sternly: "Come on! Take Zheng Zhilong down for me!"
Chapter completed!