Chapter 479: Finally Filled with Anger

Bohai Bay, Tianjin Port.

Since the Ming Dynasty opened the sea, the Beijing-Tianjin Canal was specially built and Korean rice was introduced. Now this dock is very lively and has become an important window for the Ming Dynasty to the outside world.

The sea breeze of Tianjin Port is a little salty and astringent, blowing on the faces of everyone present, but it cannot blow away the solemnity and expectation in the air.

Jingguogong Zhao Chengqing is over 40 years old, with a standard square face and an unusually tall figure. He is standing at the front of the dock and waiting quietly.

At this moment, his face looks very solemn, and he is looking at the estuary very seriously, and his eyes are slowly getting used to the dryness brought by the sea breeze.

Although he is deeply favored by the emperor and was canonized as a duke just because of a few military merits, he has always been confused about the treasure seed, and even felt that the two million taels were wasted.

It’s just that Liu Zhang, who disappeared for two years, returned, and claimed to have brought back the treasure seed from the American continent, which made him feel a little ashamed and more expectant.

Although he was not born a farmer, he saw the earth-shaking changes in the Northeast Prefecture and knew the significance of a high-yield crop and the benefits it brought to the nation.

That's why he came to welcome the hero on behalf of the emperor and tens of millions of Chinese people.

Behind Jingguo Gong Zhao Chengqing, officials from the Ministry of Rites and Tianjin local officials have stood in a row. Their expressions are different, but their eyes show the importance of this welcome.

As long as they are officials or generals who really understand agriculture, they know what the treasure seeds mean, and Liu Zhang, who brought the treasure seeds back, is undoubtedly a national hero.

Today is a gray and cloudy day without sun, but also without rain.

As time goes by, the outline of a sailing ship finally appears on the horizon.

This ship slowly presents a proud posture of three masts and is slowly coming over, as if it feels the solemnity and expectation and dares not be negligent.

Liu Zhang, wearing an official uniform, stood on the bow of the ship, and also looked at his homeland from a distance, and when he saw the officials welcoming them at the dock, tears welled up in his eyes.

He had gone through many dangers on this trip to America, and he thought many times that he would not be able to return to his homeland.

Now seeing this dock again, and seeing the familiar yet unfamiliar official uniform team on the dock, a feeling of sadness and happiness surged into his heart.

It was just that the past was unbearable to look back on, but now he finally returned smoothly, back to his homeland that he missed, and it is very likely that he will usher in his glorious moment.

The ship stopped at the dock, and Liu Zhang walked down the ladder step by step, his steps steady and powerful.

Every step he took seemed to be having an affectionate conversation with this land. When he finally set foot on his homeland, an indescribable excitement surged into his heart, making his eyes wet again.

Not to mention that the American continent is actually a wild land that has only been roughly developed, and he has a strong hometown complex, how can that foreign land be compared with China?

Jingguogong Zhao Chengqing took the initiative to step forward and said enthusiastically: "Governor Liu, I am here to greet you on the orders of His Majesty. You have worked hard!"

"Your Majesty is so gracious, I am grateful!" Liu Zhang learned that the emperor actually sent the dignified Lord Jingyuan to greet him, and immediately expressed his loyalty to Beijing.

The officials and generals behind him also stepped forward to greet Liu Zhang when they saw him return.

Liu Zhang had stayed in Tianjin Shipyard for a long time. He greeted the officials or generals he was familiar with, and then said politely to Zhao Chengqing: "Thank you for coming..."

"Lord Liu, you are wrong. The Marquis has been promoted to Jingguogong!" Before he finished speaking, an official hurriedly corrected him.

Liu Zhang had been away for two years after all, and the Hongzhi court had been in great turmoil in the past two years. Not to mention the dignitaries who were executed one after another, there were also the officials and gentry in Jiangnan, and even the former Prime Minister Liu Ji had his house confiscated.

"Congratulations to Jingguogong for his promotion!" Liu Zhang was stunned at first, and then said more respectfully.

Although he knew that the Hongzhi Dynasty had changed a lot, and he also learned from Zhang Sui that the emperor had a southern tour and that the emperor had a son, he did not know more about the personnel situation.

Jingguogong Zhao Chengqing did not boast, and said very humbly: "My country's duke has only made a small contribution, and this is the emperor's great grace! Governor Liu, your majesty has been thinking about the treasure seed for two years. I wonder if you can let my country's duke see it first?"

"Of course!" Liu Zhang knew that the newly promoted duke in front of him must be a popular person around the emperor, and he said very straightforwardly.

Since it is something to be presented to the emperor, it must be verified in advance. Moreover, whether the treasure seed is really brought back cannot be just one-sided by Liu Zhang, but also needs to be verified.

Because there is "Taizu's dream" as a basis, the image of the treasure seed has been drawn, and it is very difficult for Liu Zhang to forge it.

Liu Zhang's mission is not to bring back the treasure seed to satisfy the emperor's curiosity, but to bring the treasure seed back to China and then promote it on the land of China.

Although precious seeds are worth a fortune in China, they are only food in the Americas, so the precious seeds carried by Liu Zhang's Mingyuan treasure ship are counted in baskets and are piled in the cabin.

After receiving the order, the crew also carried the precious seeds brought back from all dangers to the deck.

"This is sweet potato!"

"Are there really sweet potatoes?"

"It looks delicious?"

...

A group of officials followed Zhao Chengqing to the deck. When they saw the full basket of sweet potatoes being carried, someone immediately took out a picture of sweet potato and said excitedly.

"This is corn!"

"Every grain is like gold!"

"I just hope I can taste it in my lifetime!"

…

When they saw another basket of corn being carried out, it looked exactly like the one depicted in the portrait, and some elderly officials even cried excitedly.

The crew on the deck also felt a sense of pride as they watched the officials' excited scene.

After going through thousands of difficulties and dangers, they brought back the precious species from that land. This is probably a feat that will go down in history.

Just as everyone was cheering for joy, another basket of treasure seeds was carried out.

"This is?"

"It seems like potatoes?"

"Is it too small?"

…

The officials present took the drawings for comparison and just looked at the small thing in front of them. Although they had already guessed that it was a potato, they were still a little confused.

Liu Zhang seemed to have guessed everyone's reaction, so he looked at Duke Zhao Chengqing: "My lord, there are many varieties of potatoes in America, and this... this is the best variety I have found!"

"Your Majesty has already made it clear that there may be deviations in the treasure seed, but with this treasure seed, China will surely prosper!" Zhao Chengqing was not a picky character, but also expressed his attitude seriously.

Although the potatoes were not quite up to his expectations, he had finally brought them back, and the sweet potatoes and corn gave him a very powerful feeling. This was considered a great achievement for Liu Zhang.

As for how the emperor wants to comment on rewards, I am afraid only the emperor knows this.

Looking at what the emperor has done over the years, although he has indeed killed many powerful people, he is also famous for never being stingy with rewards for meritorious ministers.

Liu Zhang has made such a great contribution this time. Regardless of how many ranks he has been promoted to, I am afraid he will be knighted.

"With this precious seed, China will prosper!" The officials present all said with great enthusiasm as they tried to eliminate the shortcomings of potatoes.

Zhao Chengqing immediately asked people to archive and seal the treasures, and these treasures had to be submitted to the emperor. Naturally, not a single particle could be lost.

Liu Zhang hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help but ask: "Your Excellency, where are my family members and Su Can's family members?"

After disappearing for two full years, he had to worry about changes in his family.

When he said this, he also carefully observed the reactions of the officials present, but suddenly found that the atmosphere was suddenly silent.

Things in this world are always unpredictable.

Ji Town is located in the north of Beizhili, with Xuanfu on the west and Liaodong on the east.

It is said that the Mongolian cavalry has always harassed Datong or Xuanfu, while the Jurchen cavalry visited Liaodong, and Jizhen was a place of peace.

Just when Ji Town was striving for development and planting crops peacefully, disaster still befell this harmonious land without any warning.

A group of nearly 10,000 Mongolian cavalry took advantage of the laxity of the defenders, and under the cover of night, they entered from a breached wall in the west and swept across the land of Ji Town like a violent storm.

"kill!"

"Whoever grabs it will get it!"

"There are all fat sheep here, no one can be spared!"

…

The iron hoofs of this Mongolian cavalry trampled the stone slabs, stirring up a cloud of dust, like a ghost emerging from hell, baring its fangs and shouting.

An earthen fort named Dilian Fort had no time to defend itself, or could not withstand this large number of cavalry, but it was looted.

The Mongolian cavalry rushed into the gate of the earthen fort, their eyes flashing with greed and cruelty, and their eyes scanned the streets, looking for property that could be plundered.

Whenever they find something of value, they will pounce on it without hesitation and violently take it for themselves.

Due to the lack of supplies, they would take away even ordinary dirty boards. At this moment, they could not hide the darkness in their hearts.

The nomadic people follow the code of banditry, and they regard the people of the Ming Dynasty as no different from the mountain deer on the hunting ground. They must distinguish them because the people of the Ming Dynasty are richer.

If the emperor of the Ming Dynasty hadn't been a powerful monarch, they would have come down to loot every year, instead of just finding the opportunity now.

The hooves of the Mongol cavalry echoed through the narrow streets, accompanied by screams and cries.

The people in the earthen fort were frightened out of their wits and fled in all directions, but they often could not escape the fate of being chased by the cavalry. These Mongolian cavalry took pleasure in torturing people and even deliberately played a game of cat and mouse.

puff!

A cavalryman did not rush into the houses and loot the property like others, but set fires everywhere, then drew out his sword and harvested the lives of the people who escaped from the houses.

No matter it was a young man, a woman holding a baby, or some old people, none of them could escape the butcher knife in his hand.

In this sacking, the Mongolian cavalry showed their ruthless side.

They not only plundered property, but also treated human life with indifference. The people in the bunker groaned and fell under their knives, and the streets and houses were dyed red with blood.

When they left, the earthen fort where hundreds of people lived was blazing with flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky, as if it was shrouded in a doomsday-like scene.

"Tatar, I and you are sworn in!" Chen Ji, the governor of Jizhen, who came after hearing the news, saw the scene in front of him and shouted loudly with eyes split open.

Due to the sudden intrusion of nearly 10,000 Mongolian elites, the entire Ji Town immediately entered a high alert state, and an army was organized to surround and kill the Mongolian cavalry.

Just wanting to do this and intercept and kill nearly 10,000 Mongolian cavalry is actually not an easy task.

Since the Ming Dynasty developed the Northeast, part of the army numbers in Ji Town and Liaodong have been transferred away, resulting in a decline in the garrison in Ji Town.

This time, the Mongolian cavalry suddenly came from the broken wall and caught Ji Zhen by surprise.

The roads in the pass extend in all directions. Without more than ten times the strength of the troops, it would be difficult to contain the cavalry. What's more, the mobility of the Mongolian cavalry is indeed stronger than that of the Ming Dynasty.

After Chen Ji, the governor of Jizhen, finished observing his filial piety, he was unusually appointed as the governor of Jizhen by Emperor Hongzhi. During his tenure, he also attached great importance to border defense construction.

He personally mobilized 30,000 troops to encircle the intruding Mongolian cavalry, but the effect was very similar to that of Dilianbao, and the result was always half a step slower.

Unfortunately, Ji Town is the northern gateway to Beijing, and he has to beware of the Mongolian cavalry going south, thus directly threatening Emperor Hongzhi in Beijing.

Chen Ji naturally did not dare to conceal such important military information, but sent it to the Forbidden City immediately.

The February night sky is deep and mysterious, like a huge piece of black silk covering the endless universe.

Qianqing Palace and Dongnuan Pavilion are brightly lit.

After Zhu Youtang took a bath, he came here as usual to read information from all over the country and learn about the latest developments in the empire.

In fact, when the palace gate had just closed, they already knew that an urgent message had been sent from the Military Aircraft Department.

The authority of this Military Aircraft Department was different from that of the later dynasties. Ordinary government affairs still fell to the cabinet, but important military affairs were transferred to the Military Aircraft Department.

Wang Yue's military talent has been proven, and he is the most prestigious official in the entire Ming Dynasty. Now that he is in charge of the military aircraft department, no one can find fault.

It is worth mentioning that the members of the Military Aircraft Department are no longer limited to civilian officials, but Wu Xun will also join them. In the future, Wu Xun may even be in charge of the Military Aircraft Department to compete with the civilian cabinet.

After reviewing the military situation of Xuanfu, Zhu Youtang originally swore that there was nothing worth being angry about in the world, but now his anger was instantly ignited.

Although he could not witness the tragic situation of Dilian Fort with his own eyes, after seeing the description of the intelligence above, he knew that these Mongolian cavalry were simply a bunch of beasts.

There were veins on Zhu Youtang's forehead, and he said with a bit of self-blame: "If I had known that these people were so ambitious, I really shouldn't have made hasty peace back then. If I didn't kill them all, it would be difficult to eliminate the hatred in my heart!" (End of Chapter)