I

The sails faced the scorching sun, and the fleet cut through the waves.

Hu Dinggui took out his telescope and saw a large island connected to the land in the distance, so he asked: "Is that the island where the old Dongjiang Town is located?"

A merchant explained with a smile: "General, Pi Island is still further north."

"How is Pidao doing now?" Hu Dinggui asked again.

The merchant replied: "There are only a few places on Pi Island where food can be grown, and it cannot support too many people. After the Tatars captured Pi Island, they sent troops to garrison it for a while, but soon gave up. North Korea took the opportunity to take back Pi Island."

The merchant's surname was Meng, and his name was Meng Huaien.

This guy was selling cotton from Shandong to Zhenjiang. Due to the uprising of the Northern Cao soldiers, Meng Huaien was temporarily unable to return to his hometown, so he was hired by Hu Dinggui to be his translator and guide.

"Have you often gone to Pi Island before?" Hu Dinggui asked.

Meng Huai'en explained: "When Mao Zongzhen (Mao Wenlong) was here, Pi Island was full of business travelers. Ming merchants brought silks and green cloth, and North Korean merchants brought ginseng, leather goods, and rice grains. After the two parties traded on Pi Island, North Korean merchants Transport the goods to Zhongjiang, and the Tatars will buy Ming goods from North Korea."

"What now?" Hu Dinggui asked again.

Meng Huaien said: "Business can no longer be done now. Since the North Korean leader surrendered to the Tatars, North Korea has been erratic, and there are often interceptions and killings of merchants from the Ming Dynasty. I used to come to Pi Island to trade, but now I can only make a living at home. , I’m afraid I won’t be able to do domestic business in the future.”

While the two were talking, billowing smoke rose as a warning from Ganghwa Island in the distance.

The Zheng family's fleet sailed for a while, and the North Korean navy came from behind Ganghwa Island.

The Zheng family fleet has six warships and ten armed merchant ships.

The North Korean Navy has a total of more than 30 warships, most of which are turtle ships and wooden house ships.

The turtle ship put a small boat over and shouted in Korean: "Which country's fleet is this coming?"

Meng Huaien replied: "King Zhao Tian of the Ming Dynasty!"

"The Ming Dynasty fleet cannot come to North Korea for business!" The North Korean kept making small movements, putting his hand on his chest and pointing south, probably wanting the Chinese fleet to do business further south.

They did not dare to offend the Manchus, but they wanted to do business with the Ming Dynasty, so they smuggled quietly in the southern port of Hanyang (Seoul).

Meng Huaien understood and turned around to explain to Zheng Sen, Hong Xu and Hu Dinggui.

As the leader of the fleet, Hong Xu sneered and said: "These Koreans are so worthless that they don't dare to buy or sell goods in their own capital."

The Zheng family's fleet turned around and the North Korean Navy immediately followed.

A little far away from Ganghwa Island, the small boat rowed over and was hoisted onto the battleship by ropes.

The North Korean envoy said: "Brothers from the Tang Dynasty, please go to Dafu Island. I will guide you. Please also fire a few cannons into the sea to make the sound of a naval battle, all for the sake of the Jinnu (Manchu Qing Dynasty). "

Hong Xu laughed dumbly and ordered: "Fire a few shots at the sea!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The Zheng family's fleet fired randomly, and the North Korean navy also fired. The shells fell on the sea and splashed a lot of water.

Before reaching Daebu Island, the Korean asked to turn around and sail to an estuary on the shore.

At the same time, he asked the Zheng family what goods they had brought and asked for a detailed list. Then he took a boat to the shore to contact the merchants.

The next morning, countless offshore fishing boats came to buy the goods shipped by the Zheng family.

Some merchants did not have enough money, so they simply bartered for goods, mostly ginseng and leather goods. They also asked the Zheng family if they needed grain and copper ingots.

Hu Dinggui said to Hong Xu: "General Hong, you can have as much grain and copper ingots as you want. Transport them to the Jiangnan government and purchase them."

Immediately, someone asked about medicinal materials, especially fragrant medicines, which are not produced in North Korea.

After half a month of tossing, the goods were emptied, food and fresh water were replenished, and then they headed south loaded with North Korean goods.

These North Korean naval forces seem pitiful and do not even dare to engage in serious trade.

In fact, it is very hateful. If the Zheng family fleet does not have enough force, it will be robbed by the North Korean navy.

Before leaving, Hu Dinggui asked for information: "I heard that you can buy horses in Jeju Island?"

The merchant replied: "The horses and cattle on Jeju Island are tribute. The Jeju pastoral envoy has no right to sell them and must obtain the permission of the king."

The tribute was not to the Ming Dynasty, nor to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, but to the King of Korea from Jeju Island.

It was a place where prisoners were exiled. The former king of North Korea was raising horses on Jeju Island.

Hu Dinggui asked again: "How many cattle and horses can Jeju Island pay tribute to every year?"

The North Korean merchant replied: "The annual tribute is 200 horses, the annual tribute is 60 oxen, and the annual tribute is 700 horses."

Shi Nian is the Zi, Wu, Mao and You years, once every three years.

Calculated, Jeju Island contributes 433 horses and 60 cattle to the King of Korea every year.

The North Korean merchant said: "If you want to buy horses, I will go back and report to the king."

With permission from the King of Korea, merchants could choose horses from time to time and directly conduct business transactions on cattle and horses.

Hu Dinggui had a suspicion in mind. It seemed that Jeju Island had a large number of horses. Hundreds of them were paid as tribute a year, but some were still left to be sold to merchants.

Three days later, the fleet arrived near Jeju Island.

There are three cities in Jeju Island, Jeju Muchong in the south, Daejong County in the east, and Jeongui County in the west.

The highest official on the island, his official title is "Jeju Soldiers, Horses and Navy Military Envoy and Jeju Pastoral Envoy".

"Let's start the fight directly?" Hong Xu asked.

Hu Dinggui said: "Fight directly and destroy the Jeju Navy first."

...

The pastoral envoy to Jeju must have the surname Li and be held by a member of the Joseon clan. This shows that this island was highly valued by North Korea.

In broad daylight, Li Hengzhong was drinking for fun.

Other than that, there wasn't much else to do, and there was no other fun to be had on the broken island.

Concubine Ji was dancing, Li Heng clapped her hands in praise, and took another sip in a daze.

A soldier rushed in, knelt down and shouted: "Master Mushi, there is a fleet of Ming Dynasty coming, and there are many warships!"

"roll!"

Li Heng was very angry, he was disturbed.

In Jeju Port, more than a dozen North Korean warships did not dare to sail out at all, for fear of being attacked by foreign fleets.

These guys also eat soft and fear hard.

More than 20 years ago, a fleet of merchants from Daming and Annan drifted to Jeju Island due to a storm.

At the beginning, the pastor of Jeju warmly received them, and soon found that the ships were full of goods. As a result, hundreds of Han and Vietnamese were ordered to be killed by the pastor of Jeju, and reported to the King of Korea that the Japanese pirates had been beheaded.

This incident was revealed, and there was a lot of trouble at the time.

"fire!"

"Boom boom boom boom!"

Six warships and ten armed merchant ships bombarded the North Korean navy in the port.

The main ship of the Jeju Island Navy is a wooden boat, which is slow, slow and fragile, and it will be a hole if it is shot.

Dozens of Zheng's fleet fired out, and the North Korean sailors jumped into the sea one after another, without any resistance.

In this way, all the ships of the Jeju Island Navy were captured. This thing is useless, the Zheng family doesn't like it at all, even if it sails to Shandong, there is a risk of sinking.

"But Jin Guo is calling?"

When Li Hengzhong heard the sound of the rumbling cannon, he suddenly woke up most of his drunkenness.

This guy doesn't care about concubine Ji, so he gets up and runs away. He rushed to the stables, asked his servant to help him get on the horse, and then galloped away from Jeju Pastoral City, driving drunk all the way without accident.

Seeing that the shepherds had all fled, the North Korean soldiers fled one after another, and the officials also fled.

In a side hall, the soldiers in charge of guarding went home in panic, took away their belongings, and ran away with their wives and children.

Hearing the chaotic shouts outside, Li Hun said to himself happily: "Could it be that King Qin's army has come?"

This guy is the former king of North Korea, who once sent 13,000 troops to help Ming Dynasty fight the Empress Jin Tartars. As for the combat power, it is no different from the troops of the Daming Guards.

Li Hun eavesdropped behind the door, and the shouts became farther and farther away. He was sure that the soldiers guarding him had really left.

Li Hun walked out of the place of house arrest carefully, but saw the people running around in the city.

In fact, there are not many people. Most of the islands are herdsmen, and the urban area is very small. There is not even a serious city wall, just a wooden fence, the main purpose is to guard against wild animals.

"Where is King Qin's army?"

Li Hun was puzzled, he thought it was his son who led the soldiers to rescue him.

His son is currently under house arrest on Ganghwa Island.

Seeing a group of soldiers rushing towards him, Li Hun hurried up and shouted: "I am the lord of Korea, I am the lord of Korea!"

Meng Huai'en was advancing with the army. Hearing this shout, he immediately rejoiced and said, "General, the deposed lord of North Korea is on the island. You can use this person as a puppet to recruit the enemy army and herdsmen."

"Bring him here!" Hu Dinggui was also overjoyed.

Li Hui was dragged in front of Meng Huai'en by two soldiers, and he asked in confusion, "Aren't you North Korean soldiers?"

Meng Huai'en said: "This is Zhao Tianwang, General Hu Dinggui Hu!"

"Who is King Zhao?" Li Hui was even more confused.

Meng Huaien said: "Zhao Tianwang has already occupied half of the Ming Dynasty."

Daming rebels?

Li Hui suddenly trembled in fear, knelt down and said, "Meet the general!"

Hu Dinggui said: "Tell this person that he wants to go back to be the king of the country, and he will be obedient. I just want Jeju Island to raise horses, and I don't care who is the king of North Korea."

Meng Huai'en translated: "His Royal Highness, General Hu said that he wants Jeju Island as a land for raising horses. If the Lord can appease the army and herdsmen on the island, he will help the Lord return to the country and restore the country after Zhao Tianwang wins the Great Ming Dynasty."

"Thank you, General." Li Hui was ecstatic, knelt on the ground and said, "Can the General lead the troops to Jianghua Island to save the son?"

Li Hun is over sixty years old and has been exiled and under house arrest for many years. His physical condition has not been good. He wants to bring his son over as a puppet.

Hu Dinggui said ambiguously: "As long as you do things for me with all your heart, I will consider saving the son of the king of North Korea."

Li Hun was so excited that tears filled his eyes, and kowtowed to Hu Dinggui on the spot.

This old man didn't like Daming very much. When he was established as the heir, Wanli was considering abolishing the elders and establishing the younger ones, and was somehow involved in the battle for the crown prince of Ming Dynasty.

It's just because Li Hun is not the eldest son.

North Korea asked Daming for the establishment of an eldest son three times in a row, but was rejected by the civil officials of Ming Dynasty, and insisted that North Korea establish an eldest son.

From the son of Joseon to the king of Joseon, within 14 years, Daming refused to be canonized five times, and finally got permission by bribing the Ministry of Rites with a lot of money. For North Korea, this is unprecedented; for Li Hui, it is a great shame and humiliation.

Li Hui was afraid that Daming would change his mind, so he could only imprison his mother and slaughter his brothers, so that he could be king with peace of mind.

Daming deserved its subjugation, this Zhao Tianwang is not bad.

Li Hun hoped that Zhao Tianwang would quickly aspire to the Central Plains, and then send troops to escort him to Hanyang (Seoul) to become king.

...

(I have something to do during the day, only two more.)

(In addition, to reply to the question of book friends. Shandong horse breeding started in the fourth year of Xuande, and it was mainly raised by ordinary people. The entire Shandong, plus Henan, only has more than 200 hectares of pastures. How many horses can be raised on this pasture? Horse politics in the north forced the ruins of countless people’s families. The chaos of Liuliu and Liuqi in the Zhengde Dynasty was caused by horse politics. Wang Shizhen’s rectification of horse politics only lasted for more than ten years, and then it completely collapsed. There were no horse farms in Shandong during Chongzhen.)