Chapter 156 Arrogant
It can be said that Xiong Wencan and Zheng Zhilong have an inseparable interest relationship, and he is the person that Zheng Zhilong needs to curry favor with.

Therefore, it is not surprising that when Xiong Wencan arrived in Nan'an, Zheng Zhilong personally dismounted to greet him.

After the two entered Zheng's house, they immediately looked for a secret room under Xiong Wencan's instructions.

Although Xiong Wencan had informed Zheng Zhilong in advance, he did not ask Zheng Zhilong to immediately prepare the incense table and three sacrificial animals for offering, or to bathe and change clothes in preparation for receiving the order.

Because the official position offered by Chongzhen was not very high, Xiong Wencan, who came to accept the emperor's offer of amnesty, felt a little embarrassed. He was even more worried that if Zheng Zhilong despised the low position and refused in public, it would make subsequent amnesty more difficult.

Therefore, although Zheng Zhilong was informed of the Ming Emperor's decree, the content was not told in advance.

At this time, the two of them were sitting in a secret room. Zheng Zhilong also had a premonition about the Ming Emperor's will, and his face showed uncontrollable excitement.

In fact, Zheng Zhilong himself was a pragmatist. After he became powerful, he had repeatedly expressed his desire to submit to the court to the officials who came to him for surrender. He once said that as long as the court was willing to give him an official position or a title, he would be willing to serve the court.

In fact, Zheng Zhilong himself was not greedy for this title, nor did he want to bring honor to his family.

They just wanted to use the Ming Dynasty's endorsement to conduct overseas trade more conveniently.

And this is indeed the case. Zheng Zhilong's wife, Tianchuan Song, had been held hostage by Japan on the Wa Island.

However, in the 13th year of Chongzhen, after Zheng Zhilong was promoted to the commander-in-chief of Chaozhang and the deputy governor, the Japanese saw his great power and immediately sent his wife back.

Looking at the entire Chongzhen period, with the whole world in such a chaotic situation, Zheng Zhilong never took the initiative to help the court, or to help Chongzhen solve problems.

They were only focused on monopolizing maritime trade and fighting to the death with the red-haired devils for power and profit.

Zheng Zhilong looked at Xiong Wencan excitedly and said, "Sir, what good news did you bring to me this time?"

Xiong Wencan touched his nose awkwardly, and did not immediately tell Chongzhen's order. Instead, he blamed him, "Last year, when Shen Dilong recruited you to be a guerrilla fighter in Wutong, you should never have rebelled again because you despised the low position!"

"They also ruthlessly defeated Yu Zigao (son of Yu Dayou, a hero who fought against the Japanese invaders), greatly undermining the reputation of the imperial court!"

"Not only was Shen Dilong convicted for this, but even the current emperor heard about it and was critical of you."

Zheng Zhilong didn't care and laughed shamelessly, "Your Excellency is wronging me by saying that. If I hadn't surrendered and then rebelled again, causing Shen Dilong to be convicted and give up his position, how could your Excellency have accepted the post of Governor of Fujian?"

"As for Yu Zigao, he came to attack me, and I only did it to protect myself. I didn't kill him because of the court's face!"

After being complacent for a while, Zheng Zhilong said with a smile: "Sir, please stop teasing me. Tell me what position the Ming Dynasty Emperor has promised me."

Xiong Wencan's face froze when he heard this, and he had no choice but to disrespectfully place Chongzhen's edict on the table and push it over.

"See for yourself!"

Zheng Zhilong immediately took it up happily, but when he saw the official position that was promised to him, his face immediately turned ugly. After a long time, he slammed Chongzhen's imperial edict on the table and cursed: "Bah, is this little emperor bullying me for being incompetent? He wants to get rid of me with a small guerrilla. When Emperor Tianqi was in power, he only promised me a guerrilla. What happened?"

Xiong Wencan sighed and said, "This time, it's different!"

"What's the difference? This kid from the Zhu family looks down on me. Could it be that he thinks that I, Zheng Zhilong, am not as brutal as the Jian Nu and cannot cause any trouble?" Zheng Zhilong said angrily.

Zheng Zhilong had traveled to many countries since he was a child and did not have much affection for the Ming Dynasty court. Therefore, he instinctively lacked awe and respect for both Tianqi and Chongzhen.

Although Xiong Wencan had known Zheng Zhilong for a long time, and they were in a secret room, he was still shocked when he heard Zheng Zhilong's disrespectful and even treasonous words, and hurriedly said softly to comfort him:
"Nicholas Mo Nu!" Xiong Wencan called out Zheng Zhilong's Catholic name, trying to use the religion he believed in to awaken the humanity in his heart.

However, it was obvious that he had failed, and Zheng Zhilong still had an attitude of "if God doesn't give me something, I will take it myself".

Xiong Wencan hurriedly said, "Nicholas, haven't you read the emperor's edict?"

"What's there to see? It's just a bunch of nonsense!" Zheng Zhilong said angrily.

Xiong Wencan shook his head and said, "That's where the difference lies!"

After hearing this, Zheng Zhilong picked up the imperial edict again with doubt and continued reading it.

After a moment, Zheng Zhilong raised his face suspiciously and asked, "This little emperor wants to recruit me to Beijing?"

"Could it be that you think you can't do anything to me at sea, so you want to trick me into the capital and then deal with me there?"

Xiong Wencan rolled his eyes and said speechlessly: "Your Majesty has no such intention. Why are you so suspicious, Nicholas?"

"Although Nicola has thousands of ships and a large number of soldiers under his command, you are not the real headache for the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. If he wants to kill you, he doesn't need to personally issue an imperial decree to summon you. If he uses this method to lure you to death, does that mean he doesn't care about his reputation?"

Zheng Zhilong nodded in agreement and said to himself, "That's true. If I die, the coastal areas of Fujian will be in chaos!"

"This little emperor doesn't have the courage to do this. Even if he really wants to do this, the governor should know the seriousness of it and should persuade him!"

Witnessing Zhilong's eyes looking at him, shining brightly and revealing a hint of cruelty, Xiong Wencan couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine, and tried his best to persuade him: "Your Majesty has a deal with you in the imperial edict, but this matter is extremely confidential and cannot be known to a third party, so you are invited to Beijing, so don't think too much about it."

Zheng Zhilong laughed with interest and said, "This is really strange. Could it be true that evil will always come when a country is about to fall? Even the emperor knows how to do business with pirates. This is really a strange story!"

Xiong Wencan had long been numbed by Zheng Zhilong's disrespectful remarks, and said helplessly: "Nicholas, don't you like doing business the most? Whether it's the red-haired devils or the Japanese pirates, as long as the price is right, you can do it. Now why not do business with His Majesty?"

"That's true!" Zheng Zhilong nodded. However, before Xiong Wencan could show his joy, Zheng Zhilong suddenly approached Xiong Wencan and asked, "But people's hearts are different. If the emperor really wants to trick me into killing him, then wouldn't I die unjustly?"

Xiong Wencan was shocked, but then forced himself to calm down.

(End of this chapter)