Chapter 610
Zheng Chenggong, who was afraid of his great achievements!
Just as the atmosphere was warm and filled with laughter, the curtain of the warm pavilion was gently lifted a crack, and Zhu Cilang's personal eunuch, Ma Bao, cautiously poked half his body in, his face beaming with undisguised joy, and whispered:
"Your Highness, a document has been handed in from the front. It is an urgent report from Fujian, sent by His Majesty."
"Urgent report from Fujian?"
Zhu Cilang raised an eyebrow, his relaxed expression quickly vanishing as he put down his silver chopsticks.
"Bring it in."
"Yes."
Ma Bao immediately bowed and entered, holding a document in both hands, and respectfully presented it to Zhu Cilang.
Zhu Cilang took it and quickly scanned the paper.
The document contained Zheng Zhilong's report on the recapture of Dongfan. As he read the lines about "sinking enemy ships," "killing, wounding, and capturing enemy soldiers," "recapturing the entire island," and "the barbarian chieftain surrendering," Zhu Cilang's lips involuntarily curled upwards, and a bright and sharp light burst forth from the depths of his eyes. It was the heartfelt joy of a chess player seeing a key piece perfectly placed and a strategic layout progressing smoothly.
"Good! Good! Haha!"
He couldn't help but mutter a couple of words of praise, then handed the report in his hand directly to Zheng Chenggong opposite him, his voice filled with pleasure and a hint of relief:
"Brother-in-law, look! Father-in-law has indeed lived up to his mission, keeping his word! A thunderous strike, sweeping away all obstacles! From this day forward, the Eastern Barbarians are firmly established territory of our Great Ming! No longer some uncivilized land, much less a paradise for the Western barbarians to covet! Hahaha!"
Seeing the Crown Prince's expression, Zheng Chenggong had already guessed what was going on. He quickly took the report with both hands and read it carefully.
As his gaze moved across the lines of the paper, the expression on his face changed rapidly.
At first came anticipation, then surprise, and then overwhelming excitement and pride. The fingers gripping the paper even turned slightly white from the force.
When he read the line "The entire island of Dongfan has been planted with the dragon flag of the Ming Dynasty," he suddenly raised his head, his eyes gleaming, and his face flushed slightly with excitement.
"When my father commands troops, he always plans carefully before he acts. If he doesn't act, he doesn't act at all; but when he does, it's as powerful as thunder!"
Zheng Chenggong's voice trembled slightly with excitement, but every word he uttered was resolute, filled with admiration for his father and pride in victory.
"This battle has brought glory to our nation overseas, subdued the barbarians, enhanced the prestige of our Great Ming Dynasty, and expanded the territory of our China. It is truly an unparalleled achievement! Your Majesty, I congratulate you! And I congratulate you even more so, Your Highness the Crown Prince! If it weren't for Your Highness's trust and support, and your strategic planning, how could Father have accomplished such a great feat? This is all thanks to Your Highness's ability to recognize and appoint capable people, and to Father's boundless blessings!"
Although Zheng Xiaomei had not seen the full text of the victory report, seeing her brother's excitement and hearing the conversation between the Crown Prince and her brother, she already understood that her father had won a great victory and recovered important territory.
Overjoyed, she quickly rose and gave Zhu Cilang a graceful bow, her voice clear and melodious, brimming with barely suppressed delight:
"I congratulate my father, I congratulate the Ming Dynasty, and I congratulate Your Highness! My father's achievement is entirely due to Your Highness's trust and support!"
"Haha, please sit down! We're family, no need for such formalities!"
Zhu Cilang laughed and waved his hand, indicating that Zheng Xiaomei did not need to be so polite; he was clearly in a very good mood.
He personally picked up the wine pot, refilled Zheng Chenggong's half-empty cup, then added some for himself, and raised his cup:
"Come, brother-in-law, sister, let's drink a toast to our father-in-law's victory in this battle and to the eternal security of our Ming Dynasty's maritime borders!"
"Your Highness!"
Zheng Chenggong quickly raised his cup.
"Your Highness!"
Zheng Xiaomei also covered her lips with her sleeve and took a small sip.
The warm, fragrant wine slid down my throat, and a warm sensation rose from my stomach, quickly spreading to every part of my body.
However, after putting down his wine glass, the pure excitement and pride on Zheng Chenggong's face gradually subsided, and a faint but not completely concealed worry quietly appeared between his brows.
He paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words.
The atmosphere inside the room froze for a moment because of his silence, with only the charcoal fire still burning quietly.
Finally, Zheng Chenggong raised his head, his gaze meeting Zhu Cilang's smiling eyes. His tone became cautious and serious, even carrying a hint of probing:
"Your Highness, my father has performed such an extraordinary feat that the imperial court's reward will surely be exceptionally grand. On behalf of my father, I would like to express my gratitude to His Majesty and Your Highness for your divine favor."
He paused, lowered his voice, and continued:
"However... Your Highness, I have been reading lately and often think about what the ancients said: 'The moon wanes when it is full, and water overflows when it is full.' I have also heard that historical records show that those who achieve great merit and threaten the emperor, and relatives of the empress who control the army, have always been... a great taboo for monarchs and a path to disaster."
He raised his eyes, looking at Zhu Cilang with a complex expression, and carefully revealed the worries that had been simmering in his heart for so long:
"My father is now a Duke, the governor of the Southeast Navy, and a powerful military commander; my sister is fortunate to have been chosen by His Highness to serve in the Eastern Palace; I am also fortunate to have been promoted by His Highness and hold the title of Earl. Now my father has accomplished this great feat of expanding territory and making his name known in history... The Zheng family is enjoying the highest honors and benefits, and can be described as extremely prosperous."
Your Majesty… I often think of this, feeling both gratitude for Your Majesty's boundless grace and the glory of my family, yet also… I cannot help but feel trembling with fear, as if walking on thin ice. I fear that my reputation is undeserved; even more so… that… the tallest tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind. Your Highness… with your profound wisdom, I wonder… if you have any instructions on this matter?”
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning couldn't be clearer.
The rise and fall of powerful relatives of the emperor, and the growing influence of maternal relatives, were a nightmare and inescapable problem for almost all feudal dynasties.
The Zheng family's power has reached an astonishing height. Now, with the added achievement of conquering Dongfan, there is nothing left to reward them with. What awaits them next? Will they receive even greater honors, or... the suspicion of being discarded after their usefulness is over?
Zheng Chenggong didn't distrust the Crown Prince, but he was well aware of the ruthlessness of politics and the lessons of history. He had to sound out the Crown Prince's intentions beforehand for the sake of his family's future, even if it made him seem somewhat "uncooperative." Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaomei, who was standing nearby, paused almost imperceptibly in her hand holding the teapot. The relaxed smile on her face faded, and her eyes revealed concern and a hint of tension as she looked at Zhu Cilang.
Zhu Cilang was an extremely perceptive and insightful person. He instantly understood the profound meaning behind Zheng Chenggong's hesitant expression and carefully chosen words.
He didn't answer immediately, but slowly put down his wine glass, leaned back slightly on the soft cushion, and the relaxed smile on his face didn't disappear. Instead, it became even more profound. He looked intently at Zheng Chenggong, and there was no displeasure of being offended in his eyes. Instead, there was a sense of understanding that "you finally said it," as well as a bit of appreciation.
"Brother-in-law, oh brother-in-law."
Zhu Cilang suddenly laughed, his hearty laughter breaking the momentary silence. He picked up the wine pot and personally refilled Zheng Chenggong's cup before sitting up straight, his gaze piercing as he looked directly at Zheng Chenggong, his tone more sincere and fervent than ever before.
"What you say might make some sense in front of other monarchs. But in my case, it's a huge overreaction!"
He said it with absolute certainty, then his tone shifted, becoming passionate and full of hope:
"My father-in-law has made such an unparalleled contribution. I am filled with joy and excitement. How could I possibly have any suspicion?! Brother-in-law, do you know that in my eyes, in the blueprint for the future of our Great Ming Dynasty, your Zheng family is not a powerful minister or maternal relative that we need to be wary of, but rather a pillar that supports the sky and a golden beam that spans the sea!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Chenggong abruptly raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but more so a shock from being struck by the powerful words.
Zhu Cilang leaned forward, his hands resting on the low table. His voice was soft, yet each word carried immense weight, as if he were depicting a magnificent and sweeping painting:
"Brother-in-law, your vision cannot be limited to this land beneath your feet, or to the gains and losses of power and position in the imperial court. You must broaden your horizons, to the vast ocean and the stars!"
His gaze was intense, and his tone carried an undeniable resolve and grand ambition:
"The future of our Great Ming Dynasty lies not in the inland, but in the ocean! The land territory has its limits; but the vast ocean is the true source of wealth, the foundation of strength, and the boundless stage for the future of our Chinese descendants!"
“Father-in-law and you are me, the future of the Great Ming Dynasty, the vanguard that will roam the vast seas, the Great Wall that will protect the sea routes! Without a powerful and unparalleled navy, without a group of maritime heroes like you and your father-in-law who are proficient in maritime affairs and dare to explore new frontiers, how can our Great Ming Dynasty truly control the ocean, how can we compete with the Western barbarian nations for supremacy in the four seas?”
At this point, a sharp glint flashed in Zhu Cilang's eyes, and his voice lowered, yet became even more solemn:
"Brother-in-law, you should know that Father and I have reached a consensus that when the time is right, we will follow the ancient story of the Duke of Zhou enfeoffing princes and enfeoff our Ming Dynasty princes to overseas territories thousands of miles away! Let them spread our Chinese civilization and guard the four directions for the Ming Dynasty!"
He looked at Zheng Chenggong and continued:
"Just think about it, what kind of powerful naval fleet would be needed to escort them? How many capable people, familiar with the wind and waves, skilled in naval warfare, and adept at management, would be needed to assist those vassal kings and manage those newly conquered territories? The opportunities and achievements involved are far beyond what can be compared to the achievements of a mere inland city or fortress?"
"I would love for your Zheng family, and for you and your father-in-law, to make ten or a hundred more great contributions to the Ming Dynasty, like the reconquest of Dongfan! Your merits are too great to threaten the emperor? In my eyes, your merits are not high enough, not numerous enough! Your rewards are too heavy? Hehe, I'm afraid that when you see the rewards I give you in the future, you will be shocked and feel unworthy of them!"
Because what I wish to bestow is not merely gold, silver, and land, nor empty titles and ranks, but rather a substantial and tangible power and opportunity to establish a foothold and build a business across the vast seas, a power that can be passed down to my descendants!
These words, like a resounding bell, thundered in Zheng Chenggong's ears, completely dispelling the gloom in his heart that he felt "his achievements were too great to overshadow his master," and opening for him an unprecedented, vast, and breathtaking door!
He had only worried that the family's excessive power would arouse suspicion, but he never expected that in His Highness the Crown Prince's grand plan, the Zheng family's power and ability would not be a burden, but rather an indispensable cornerstone and a powerful tool for opening up the future! What the Crown Prince wanted was not a dog that could maintain the status quo, but a dragon that could conquer the seas for him and for the Ming Dynasty!
After the immense shock came an indescribable excitement, emotion, and a surge of exhilaration that was completely ignited!
The Crown Prince not only showed no suspicion, but also openly shared such trust and such a grand plan with him! What a profound act of kindness and recognition! What a magnanimous spirit!
Zheng Chenggong suddenly stood up, his body even trembling slightly with excitement.
He took a step back, and before the warm kang (heated brick bed), facing Zhu Cilang, he bowed deeply to the ground with utmost solemnity, as if overturning a mountain of gold and a jade pillar. His voice was choked with emotion, yet exceptionally clear and firm:
"Your Highness! Your Highness has the world in your heart and ambitions for eternity, which are beyond the comprehension of us frogs at the bottom of a well! Your words today are like the sun breaking through the clouds, enlightening me and making my blood boil. I wish I could set sail immediately to expand the territory for Your Highness and for my Great Ming Dynasty, even at the cost of my life!"
He straightened up, tears welling in his eyes—the emotion of dying for a friend, and the excitement of finding the ultimate goal in life.
"Your subject Zheng Chenggong hereby swears! The entire Zheng family will, generation after generation, be loyal to Your Highness and to the Great Ming! We are willing to be Your Highness's sharp sword, cutting through the waves! We are willing to be the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty's seas, protecting thousands of miles! We will open up the sea frontiers and spread the king's civilization, even if we die nine times, we will not regret it!"
"Good! Good! Brother-in-law, please rise!"
Zhu Cilang also stood up, walked around the low table, personally helped Zheng Chenggong up, patted his arm hard, and his face was full of satisfaction and admiration.
"With my father-in-law, with you, and with the sons of the Zheng family, what worries do we have about the security of our Ming Dynasty's coastal borders? What worries do we have about the future prosperity? Come, let's drink another cup!"
"Your Highness!"
Zheng Chenggong raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. This time, the wine, once it entered his heart, transformed into boundless loyalty, courage, and ambition.
Standing to the side, Zheng Xiaomei watched her brother and husband clasp their hands tightly, their eyes burning with passion, listening to them talk about their magnificent future. Her eyes were already brimming with tears of joy and pride.
She knew that from this moment on, the Zheng family, the Crown Prince, and the Ming Dynasty had truly become a community of shared destiny.
The charcoal crackled softly, the delicate fragrance of daffodils wafted through the air, and the warm wine flowed gently down the throat, spreading a sense of comfort.
Within this small, warm pavilion, a blueprint for the ocean, the future, and limitless possibilities has already been drawn up.
The three of them wore relaxed, trusting, and hopeful smiles, creating a stark yet warm contrast with the harsh, icy world outside the window.
Ten days later.
The heavy snow that had lasted for more than ten days finally stopped.
The sky looked as if it had been wiped clean with a huge, wet gray cloth. Although it hadn't cleared up, the clouds had thinned considerably, allowing some hazy light to filter through.
The wind was still cold, but it lacked its biting chill.
The snow-covered official road had been cleared overnight, revealing the frozen, hard yellow earth beneath. The fields, woods, and villages on both sides of the road remained a blanket of white, reflecting a cold light in the dim sunlight.
However, this bleak winter scene did nothing to cool the fervent, summer-like atmosphere outside Beijing.
At the "Reception Pavilion," about five li from the city gate, banners already blotted out the sun, and armor gleamed brightly. (End of Chapter)