Among the various military horses that Deng Ming had seen, the Fujian army led by Zheng Chenggong was the best equipped, and all 30,000 combat soldiers had good armor. Needless to say, the Iron Man Army could be equipped with half-body scale armor and iron skirts, a large number of bows and arrows, muskets, and a large number of cannons.

Compared with Zheng Chenggong, the Xong Army is mostly similar to the beggar. By trading with Zhang Changgeng, the Xong Army’s troops are now greatly improved. The elite troops are equipped with a lot of armor, metal weapons and warm clothes. However, the quality of armor and weapons is still not comparable to that of the Fujian Army, and artillery is even rarer.

After meeting Zhang Huangyan's Zhejiang Army last time, Deng Ming felt that the Zhoushan Army and the Xong Army were almost poor, and what was worse was the extreme lack of qualified soldiers - not just officers. Therefore, when they broke up, Deng Ming distributed most of the seizures to Zhang Huangyan on the grounds that the Zhejiang Army participated in all the battles under the city of Nanjing. After meeting again in Zhenjiang this time, Deng Ming found that Zhang Huangyan's troops were still very poor. After breaking up with Deng Ming last time, relying on the blasting technology and equipment taught by Deng Ming, Zhang Huangyan broke several prefectures and counties around Ningbo and obtained some seizures, but these materials were quickly consumed because a large number of people poured into Zhoushan.

Ma Fengzhi's elite lost more than half of his troops when attacking Hangzhou, and later he was chased by Dasu and lost a lot of them. When he fled to Zhoushan, he was already greatly damaged. In addition to the people brought by Ma Fengzhi, a large number of volunteers arrived in Zhoushan. The battle in Nanjing also gave a lot of encouragement to several people around who were worried about the Ming Dynasty. Many people who were already discouraged and disappointed ignited hope again. Taking advantage of the destruction of the Jiangnan Navy and the Shandong Navy's transfer to the south to join Zhoushan.

These volunteers have no weapons and equipment, are not trained, but have to eat. Zhang Huangyan's main work in recent months is no different from the previous years, and they are all solving the problem of Zhoushan army's meals.

After discussing the situation in Xiamen of Yanping County Prince yesterday, Deng Ming asked about the recent situation in Zhoushan. Zhang Huangyan clearly told Deng Ming that he hoped Deng Ming could provide him with some military rations. If it weren't for Deng Ming's call this time, Zhang Huangyan would not have dispatched troops to enter the Yangtze River again. After all, such military operations would consume a lot of food and grass. Although at the last Nanjing meeting, Deng Ming asked Zhang Huangyan to harass the Southeast from time to time, and the latter agreed, the Zhoushan army actually found it difficult to complete this task, and Zhang Huangyan's shoulders were almost overwhelmed by the heavy logistics burden.

"How much food does Zhang Shangshu need?" Deng Ming did not expect that after a few months, Zhang Huangyan's Zhoushan Army was about to return to the old road. His Sichuan was only worried about the few people, but Zhang Huangyan could not support tens of thousands of mouths. The only thing that comforted Deng Ming was that the Zhoushan Army had 5,000 troops with both equipment and combat experience. After Li Laiheng's short-term training, and Ma Fengzhi's old subordinates, he had the ability to conquer cities and land by himself.

"We brought 30,000 people, Admiral Deng gave us 30,000 stones of food. We have saved us two months to eat. The army will not let the soldiers endure hunger."

"Thirty thousand?" Zhang Huangyan's request surprised Deng Ming. If he purchased directly from the gentry in the Jiangnan area, 30,000 stones of rice and white flour would cost about 25,000 silver.

"Well, I also know that Admiral Deng has limited food, but our army is really in trouble." Zhang Huangyan brought 20,000 shi of military rations on the expedition this time. If Deng Ming gave him another 30,000 shi, then even if the war lasts for two months, he can basically give the soldiers a full meal.

"I can immediately give Zhang Shangshu and Admiral Ma 50,000 shi of rice and white flour, and give you the same amount of grain in half a month." Deng Ming went on a business trip along the way and had already earned millions of taels of silver. Now the fine grain on the ship is far more than 50,000 shi. This is because there is no profit in making grain in Jiangnan, so Deng Ming did not buy a large amount of money and just wanted to free up the cabin to accommodate the local products that could make a lot of profits: "In a moment, Shangshu can send someone to move out to my ship."

Deng Ming's generousness made Zhang Huangyan and Ma Fengzhi stunned for a while.

Zhang Huangyan couldn't help asking: "Did Admiral Deng bring food from Sichuan? Are you enough to eat?"

"Of course not, they are all grains here in Jiangnan." Deng Ming saw Zhang Huangyan's face change slightly, and hurriedly explained: "Don't worry, Shangshu Zhang, I bought these grains for money."

"I really think I've never seen Admiral Deng short of money." Zhang Huangyan was indeed a little worried just now, because he had heard Deng Ming say that he had not broken several cities along the way. It seemed that he had just set a city in Jiujiang in Jiangxi. The treasury of Jiujiang must not be enough for tens of thousands of Sichuan troops to eat for so long: "Admiral Deng's money... did he sell another city to a Tartar official?"

"Shangshu Zhang is like a god." Deng Ming laughed. He did not hide anything from Zhang Huangyan, and told the other party about Jiujiang, Jiangxi: "...I only sold the porcelain that was sold in Nanjing and Wuchang in Jiangxi, and got 500,000 taels..."

There are also other local specialties along the way, and the contributions of Qing officials from various places, Deng Ming's wallet is very brisk.

Zhang Huangyan cared about the people and strictly prohibited the soldiers from plundering them; while Ma Fengzhi never took his own profits and losses. When he was in the Qing court, he had always been paying military salaries. He was used to living a meal and was not as good as Zhang Huangyan's ability to manage the territory. With such two leaders in the Zhoushan Army, he was naturally poor and destitute.

"What can we sell in Zhoushan?" Ma Fengzhi was fascinated by the time he heard this and immediately started to think of the local products in Zhoushan: "Salted fish? There are also cuttlefish and cuttlefish, which can be sold even if they are marinated."

"I'm already selling it," Zhang Huangyan glared at Ma Fengzhi. Zhoushan could smuggle things to the mainland, except for salted fish and cuttlefish: "How much money can this thing be worth? I can't even exchange coarse grains for much."

"Oh." Ma Fengzhi sighed and became depressed again. He was a martial artist and was completely out of business.

"Salted fish is really not worth it. If you put too little salt, it will smell bad. There are not so many people in Zhoushan who make salt by hand, right?" Deng Ming remembered that Zhoushan only had salt boiling, and the yield was very small, which was basically enough for him to use: "I have already thought about it. I will give you half of the porcelain I want from Jiangxi."

When he heard that Deng Ming wanted to give him half of the porcelain, Zhang Huangyan and Ma Fengzhi were shocked. Deng Ming smiled and popularized some business practices for them: "Don't sell it here, otherwise we will sell so much at once and the price will be reduced. This half of the porcelain is only worth 250,000 taels in Jiangxi, but it is sold slowly in Jiangnan, at least 50,000 or 600,000. Do you know who is the best to sell it to?"

"Who?" Deng Mingcai kept it in hiding, and Ma Fengzhi immediately asked.

"Yanping County Prince." Deng Ming pointed to the southwest: "If you sell Yanping County Prince 800,000 taels, maybe he will do it. If he sells it to Japanese and Westerners, the profit may be greater than ours."

"Is that?" Ma Fengzhi's eyes glowed: "Then why don't we sell them directly to the Japanese and Honghai?"

"Because we don't know who to sell to, does Admiral Ma know the Japanese and Western merchants who bought porcelain?"

Ma Fengzhi bowed his head and said nothing.

"How can we use Admiral Deng so many things?" Zhang Huangyan felt a little embarrassed.

"If you work together, Shangshu Zhang doesn't have to be polite." Deng Ming told Zhang Huangyan that if the Zhoushan army is strong, it will also play a good role in echoing the upstream Sichuan army and the Xong Army.

"Thank you so much for Admiral Deng." Zhang Huangyan did not refuse again and again. The Zhoushan army urgently needed a large sum of money to solve the urgent problem. Because of the shortage of materials, Zhang Huangyan mobilized all the people in Zhoushan to engage in production. After the Battle of Nanjing, Zhang Huangyan wanted to promote the military skills taught by Li Laiheng. However, all training plans could not be carried out because of the consumption of food. In the past, Zhoushan could not train the Volunteer Army, but it still couldn't do it now.

"This is not a one-time transaction. I have agreed with the people of Jiangxi. In the future..." Deng Ming originally wanted to hand over half of the porcelain purchased and sold in Jiangxi to the Zhoushan Army in the future, but when he said that Deng Ming suddenly remembered that he had just reached an agreement with Zhang Huangyan to cut off the canal transportation with all his might.

Seeing that Deng Ming wanted to speak, Zhang Huangyan stopped waiting for a few seconds and saw that the other party still did not continue, he took the initiative to ask: "Is there anything difficult for Admiral Deng to do?"

"I didn't want to break up with the Governor of the Caoyun and the Governor of Jiangning. I planned to follow the Jiangxi method. When we couldn't control Jiangnan, I would knock out some silver from them to subsidize military use. But now this plan may not work..." Deng Ming unknowingly told his original plan. He originally planned to hide it from Zhang Huangyan in case the other party was angry. After talking for a while, Deng Ming suddenly realized that he had made a mistake and revealed the plan that was incompatible with the Han and the Governor of the Han Dynasty: "But when we attack Caoyun, even if we step on the tails of the Governor of the Caoyun and the Governor of Jiangning, they must jump up."

"I think Admiral Deng's original plan was very good," Zhang Huangyan seemed to have no idea that Deng Ming had asked him to send troops in the name of cutting off the canal transportation. Instead, he tried his best to speak for Deng Ming's original plan: "Half of the porcelain from Jiangxi will be shipped to Wuchang and Nanjing for sale, and the remaining half will be sold to the Prince of Yanping. If this is true, we can not cut off the canal transportation for the time being."

"Does Zhang Shangshu think so?" Deng Ming asked in surprise: "But I think if we attack the canal transportation, the Lu Court will inevitably draw troops from the southwest to rescue him, which will be helpful to the King of Jin. If the Lu Court transfers Wu Sangui back to Jiangnan, it will be best. Even if Wu Sangui is not transferred, it will further reduce the food and salary given to him, which will be of great help to the King of Jin."

"Oh, Admiral Deng said this..." Zhang Huangyan frowned and thought for a while, and then said, "It's better to do this. Half of the goods sold to Yanping were sold on behalf of the King of Jin. The silver I got was sent back to the upper reaches. You can buy food and pig iron in Huguang, and then the Admiral Deng transported it to King of Jin. This should also be of great help to King of Jin, right?"

"Um..." Deng Ming's attitude was not very firm at first, and in his heart he was very regretful that he could not continue to operate the trade on this golden waterway. Zhang Huangyan's persuasion made Deng Ming hesitate again, and began to consider whether it was better to attract the attention of the Qing court for Li Dingguo or to give him some supplies - and Deng Ming's feelings made him lean towards the latter more favorable.

"I don't know!"

When Deng Ming refused to say anything, Ma Fengzhi suddenly screamed.

"Hmm? What do you don't know?" Zhang Huangyan and Deng Ming were both shocked by Ma Fengzhi, and they asked in unison.

"I don't know Japanese or red-haired businessman." Ma Fengzhi replied regretfully. When Deng Ming and Zhang Huangyan were talking just now, Ma Fengzhi carefully sorted out his friends, subordinates, acquaintances, and people who had met once, regretfully found that they could not have anything to do with Japanese or Westerners in any case.

...

The next day, Deng Ming learned that the envoy of the Governor of the Valley Transport arrived, and asked the guards to bring the visitor in.

"As the order of Governor Lin, I will pay homage to the Admiral." After the envoy saw Deng Ming, he saluted in a regular manner, as if he was paying a visit to a high-ranking official of the Qing court.

Lin Qilong, the current governor of the grain transport, was a juren of the Ming Dynasty and a juren of the Qing Dynasty. He took office as governor of the grain transport Kang Deshi, and committed suicide after Zheng Chenggong's Zhenjiang victory. The Qing court had wanted to re-enable Kang Deshi's former former Cai Shiying as governor of the grain transport. After learning that Zheng Chenggong was defeated in Nanjing, Cai Shiying once had the intention to take office. But a few days later, Deng Ming defeated Lang Tingzuo in Nanjing. Seeing that Nanjing was about to lose its protection, Cai Shiying was worried that he would die in office. He refused to give up his appointment because he was old and weak, and was unable to compete with heavy military affairs.

The position of the Governor of the Valley Transport was idle until Deng Ming withdrew his troops and the peace in the south of the Yangtze River was restored. Lin Qilong came to take office happily, but who would have thought that he would be in danger of dying again?

After Liang Huafeng led reinforcements to Yangzhou, he tried his best to exaggerate Deng Ming's strength and invincibility to Lin Qilong, and was determined to complete the tasks assigned by Jiang Guozhu, hoping to drag Lin Qilong into the water, so as to avoid being reported by the Governor of the Cao Transportation in the future. Lin Qilong was also willing to be dragged into the water by him. The local officials of Taiping Prefecture had set a good example for Lin Qilong - Zhu Guozhi, who was fighting with Deng Ming, was destroyed, and he still had no idea of ​​life and death. The officials of Tong Deng were all living well. If it weren't for their stupidity, Lin Qilong wouldn't have known the bastard they were doing. Moreover, Lin Qilong was now half a pirate ship, and he detained reports from some officials. If this was stabbed by Jiang Guozhu, although it might not be as serious as Tong Deng, a person who was not loyal to the emperor would still be unable to escape.

Lin Qilong, who was already hesitant and shaken, was scared by Liang Huafeng for several days. After Liang Huafeng, who felt that the temperature was similar, began to suggest that he could trade with Deng Ming, Lin Qilong agreed without hesitation for too long. Today, the person sent by the Governor of the Canal Transport was his most trusted Biaozhang Guard. Last time, he went to Nanjing to carry out negotiations with Jiang Guozhu. This time, Lin Qilong sent him to Zhenjiang again.

It is convenient to travel from Yangzhou to Zhenjiang. You can get there by crossing the Yangtze River. The channels for information exchange are very smooth. Deng Ming feels that with such convenient conditions, the two sides should be able to reach a consensus quickly.

Deng Ming also knew that Lin Qilong's messenger was just coming to throw a stone to ask for directions today. He had no right to agree to any conditions, so Deng Ming did not talk nonsense to him and directly listed his own terms.

"While Governor Lin is responsible for the transportation of the grain, I can not take the initiative to attack the transportation of the grain. As long as the transportation of the grain, the toll for the ships - it is very cheap. I will charge a tax of one tael of silver for every 100 stone of grain, which is very cheap, right? I will not attack and do not intercept the ships." Huguang, Jiangxi ships have paid Deng Ming for their safety colleagues. Although Deng Ming really wants to take advantage of Lin Qilong's knowledge and collect another sum of money, after careful consideration, Deng Ming felt that no one could stand up for no trust. If he was found, he would damage his reputation: "Huguang, Jiangxi ships do not need to pay tolls for the time being. If they need to charge in the future, I will notify Governor Lin in advance."

Deng Ming did not explain why the canal ships in these two provinces were so preferential, so Lin Qilong had to figure it out himself.

"While I maintain restraint and do not attack the canal transport, Governor Lin shall not propose to Beijing to rebuild Susong and Jiangxi Navy; if anyone else has similar suggestions, Governor Lin should find a reason to object." Deng Ming did not mention the issue of the joint rights of the Ming army in the Yangtze River. In the future, the other party will not see that he has urgent demands on this: "In order to show sincerity, Governor Lin proved to me that this talk was not to delay time. I think Governor Lin should express to our army. Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, so we should transport 100,000 stones of grain to us, rice is half the same as white flour. This little grain is not difficult for Governor Lin, right?"

Since the Ye Tianming incident in Wuchang, Deng Ming has been paying attention to improving the quality of the army's diet. After entering Jiangxi, the food expenses allocated to the army by Deng Ming has increased steadily. As the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, Deng Ming plans to provide high-quality holiday meals to the soldiers.

...

Zheng Yaojun and a few comrades were holding rice bowls and waiting to receive today's meals. He just looked around and knew that he would provide braised and noodles again today.

After leaving Wuchang, the food in the army became better and better. After arriving in Jiujiang, the Ming army provided white noodles to the army for the first time. In the past, only during weddings or festivals could there be pure white noodles to eat. When I heard that the white noodles were enough, Zheng Yaojun remembered that he and his colleagues both screamed in happiness and disbelief, and then found the biggest guy to queue up. Although the senior management said that there was enough white noodles, everyone was still worried, afraid that they would be collected by others.

Especially when seeing everyone taking everyone with everyone, Ming soldiers felt that it was too much of a loss to take the bowls. That time, Zheng Yaojun carried the washbasin to queue up, and his comrades around him also brought wooden basins and wooden barrels. Each of them had at least two kilograms of white flour left.

Zheng Yaojun might have asked for more. That night, he couldn't sleep, so he took the sweet sticks to clean the camp. Not only him, but many Ming army comrades spontaneously worked, and they were so full that they couldn't sleep anymore. There was a brother from the regular army who ate a basin and lined up to get it again. The guy didn't sleep all night and swept the floor at the camp gate all night.

After several experiences, Zheng Yaojun will never be so unreliable. Now the Sichuan Army knows that whether you make a basin or a bucket of noodles, you can scoop a spoonful of braised spoonfuls. There are frangipani, minced meat, vegetables and soy sauce in the braised spoonfuls. Zheng Yaojun held the rice bowl in his hand and had already made up his mind: he would ask the chef who served the noodles to make half a bowl of noodles later, and then let the chef who made the braised spoonfuls spoonfuls them, and then queue up after eating this bowl - although it would take a few more queues, it would be much more cost-effective to eat with a basin.

"Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon," Mid-Autumn Festival is an important day second only to the Spring Festival. We have always been to reward the soldiers. In the past, when we were in Zhoushan and Zhang Shangshu, no matter how hard it was, Zhang Shangshu would have to make some delicious food to make the soldiers happy. Zheng Yaojun thought that Deng Ming would not violate this convention and would definitely take out much better food than usual for the soldiers to enjoy in the Mid-Autumn Festival: "It's already twelve today, so I must not eat my stomach badly. There will definitely be fish and meat in the Mid-Autumn Festival, right? I have to save some energy."

"Oh, ah, ah, it's white noodles."

The far-sighted Zheng Yaojun was thinking about the Mid-Autumn Festival plan. Suddenly, a scream of surprise came from behind him. He felt a little familiar with the sound. He turned around and saw a few Zhoushan soldiers shouting at the masters responsible for serving the rice.

Yesterday, Zhang Huangyan and Ma Fengzhi informed the entire Zhoushan army that they would have a comprehensive joint venture with the Sichuan army, and Deng Ming would be fully responsible for the food in the future. The Sichuan army's way of eating is different from the tradition. It is not that a group of soldiers eat their own food around the bonfire, but that there is a special team of soldiers responsible for the diet of the entire army, providing food to the entire army three times a day, and many rows of tables will be set up for the soldiers to line up to collect it. I heard that there will be three meals a day in the future, and the morale of the Zhoushan army will be high, and we will shout long live together.

After completing the joint camp at noon today, supper was the first meal they had in the Sichuan Military Camp.

One of them, Zheng Yaojun, also known as Li Tianyuan, who had said several times when he was in the Zhoushan army. After the last time Nanjing was frustrated, Zheng Yaojun took his family from Huzhou to Anqing and then rushed to Sichuan. Li Tianyuan was one of the four thousand people who followed Ren Tang to try to return to Zhoushan. Zheng Yaojun didn't think Li Tianyuan was anything special, but later he heard that Li Tianyuan made great contributions under the city of Nanjing and captured Lang Tingzuo who was trying to escape alone.

Zheng Yaojun was about to say hello, but several Zhoushan soldiers who came to inquire about the diet of the Sichuan Army suddenly turned around together, and strode away and rushed towards their barracks.

Several waves of Zhoushan soldiers who were inquiring about the truth and reality arrived. They reacted similarly to Li Tianyuan and others. They first made surprise cheers, and then ran back to their tent without looking back.

After serving half a bowl of noodles and scooping a spoonful of braised rice, Zheng Yaojun walked over and quickly ate all the food, and then lined up in the queue.

"You can chew it carefully and swallow it slowly in the next bowl." Zheng Yaojun thought to himself.

At this time, a burst of hearty laughter and excited discussion sounded from behind. Zheng Yaojun seemed to hear Li Tianyun's loud voice. Zheng Yaojun turned around and saw Li Tianyuan strode, holding an extremely large wooden basin under his armpit. Around Li Tianyuan, other Zhoushan soldiers were holding their own wooden basin. Zheng Yaojun also saw a burly Zhoushan soldiers with a bucket on their shoulders and holding one with one hand on their arms. When the soldier walked towards him firmly, he looked at the chef responsible for distributing noodles.
Chapter completed!