Chapter 001: Amnesia

If indeed a scholarly gentleman were to come to seek an audience, I would certainly treat him with courtesy. Before the visitor was brought in, Yuan Zongdi had already made up his mind.

After a brief contemplation, Yuan Zongdi used this piece of clothing to cushion his palm and grasped the sword at his waist—completely unaware of the sword's icy chill

However, Yuan Zongdi appeared very magnanimous, seemingly not at all affected by Deng Ming's arrogance, and instead smiled as he said, "Mr. Deng, please take a seat"

Fifteen years have passed since the Manchu forces entered the pass, and by this time, most regions of China have fallen under the control of the Qing troops. The Yongli Emperor has fled to Kunming, where he is under the protection of Li Dingguo, who controls Yunnan and Guizhou. The Ming army, which continues to resist in Sichuan, Huguang, Fujian, and Guangxi, also recognizes the Yongli Emperor as the legitimate ruler and persists in engaging in battles with the Qing forces

Where is the Third Prince? Yuan Zongdi persisted relentlessly

Zhou Kaihuang admitted that he did not recognize him, and Zhao Tianba thought for a moment before shaking his head and saying: "I would appreciate the Duke's guidance."

Isn't Li Dingguo's title that of the Prince of Jin? Deng Ming thought to himself, the prospects for the Ming army do not look promising; this large-scale military operation by the Ming army is likely to end in failure. Historically, it was Wu Sangui's attack that led to the downfall of the Yongli court. To test his hypothesis, he insincerely echoed Yuan Zongdi, saying: "Prince Li of Jin is divine in martial prowess and will surely defeat the traitor Wu!"

This is a pearl, Yuan Zongdi murmured

The two young men could not provide an answer

Zhou Kaihuang exclaimed in surprise, and although Zhao Tianba was able to remain calm, the astonishment on his face was hard to conceal

Where is the Second Prince

Yuan Zongdi cast a glance at Zhao Tianba, knowing that he would eventually report to the court and the Yongli Emperor. Therefore, it was meaningless to keep it from him. Moreover, he needed Zhao Tianba to serve as a witness: "Have you noticed his teeth and appearance?"

Imperial Family

A pearl is formed from a grain of sand that enters the shell of an oyster. The oyster, feeling discomfort, continuously secretes a substance to layer around the grain of sand. Over time, this process results in the formation of a lustrous pearl. Most naturally occurring pearls are not perfectly round and may have slight protrusions, which are due to the grain of sand. Therefore, large and perfectly round pearls are rarely seen, and a single one can be regarded as a treasure.

Upon seeing this string of beads, Yuan Zongdi felt a tightness in his throat and involuntarily swallowed a large mouthful of saliva

This afternoon, Yuan Zongdi, the Duke of Jingguo of the Ming Dynasty, hurriedly led his troops to the outskirts of Chongqing, joining forces with the Ming general Tan Wen, who had arrived earlier. Yuan Zongdi was once a subordinate of Li Zicheng, while Tan Wen had always been part of the government army of the Ming Dynasty and is now conferred the title of Marquis of Fuling by the Yongli Emperor.

Things that even the Prince's residence had never seen before... At this thought, Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba exchanged glances, each seeing the same shock reflected in the other's eyes as they felt in their own hearts

The court's decree? Deng Ming's face could not conceal his bewilderment. He never expected to encounter the Ming army in the Sichuan region during the Shunzhi period of the Qing dynasty; this alone was enough to astonish him. How could the Ming court still be issuing orders? He did not dare to probe into the details of the other party, merely muttering to himself: they are most likely referring to the Yongli court, right? I wonder how many more years this court can last? It should not have long to live!

"No wonder Brother Zhao does not value it," Zhou Kaihuang remarked upon hearing that it was a gift from the current emperor, and he naturally continued, "It must be a hundred times more splendid than this pearl"

A person of unknown origin? Yuan Zongdi was quite puzzled upon hearing this. If someone is of unknown origin, they should just ask. If they do not speak, then punishment awaits. If every little matter requires him to be consulted, Yuan Zongdi felt that he would definitely be overwhelmed.

Yuan Zongdi took over Deng Ming's outer garment and shook it a bit. It appeared to be a cotton jacket, with both the inside and outside smooth to the touch. It had several pockets sewn onto it, but unlike ordinary cotton jackets, it also had a cotton hat sewn on. He was taken aback again, thinking: "It looks quite thick, yet it is so light and soft"

His teeth were very neat, without the slightest irregularity. Yuan Zongdi sighed slightly in his heart; although the young man Zhou Kaihuang was intelligent, he had never traveled far and had seen too few kinds of people, so his observational skills had not been honed. Just after Deng Ming entered, Yuan Zongdi exchanged only a few words with him and noticed that the other man's teeth were not only neat but also very white, without any missing teeth, and without any irregularities, completely unlike an ordinary person: "You are right; this Mr. Deng, at first glance, looks well-fed and well-clothed, lacking nothing. Do you know how such teeth and facial features are acquired?"

What is this? Zhou Kaihuang does not recognize this object at all

Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba remained silent. Their expressions indicated that Yuan Zongdi was certainly correct, yet they were quite puzzled as to why there was such tolerance towards a stranger today

At this moment, it is indeed the scholars who are favored. The joy of having escaped death left Deng Ming feeling a wave of dizziness. As he followed the guards to bathe and eat, he couldn't help but ponder: "Fortunately, I had a moment of inspiration, pretending to be a scholar, a licentiate. In the Ming Dynasty, people respected teachers and valued the way. They see me speaking in a refined manner and notice that I do not bow to officials; they probably think I am a licentiate... Moreover, who says the ancients did not value hygiene? They regard bathing and eating as equally important, don't they? I never expected they would even arrange for me to bathe!"

What kind of fabric is this? It feels like silk to the touch, yet it is not; it is much lighter than cotton clothing but quite warm, truly something unheard of. Yuan Zongdi handed the garment to Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba, inviting them to take a look as well. The two young men were naturally even more perplexed; they touched it a few times and squeezed it a few times, their minds filled with uncertainty. Little did they know that in the era when Deng Ming lived, this was merely an ordinary down jacket.

Having just finished the tasks of setting up camp, someone came to report the discovery of an unidentified individual. The subordinates are unsure how to handle the situation, so I ask for your decision, Duke Jingguo

"Come here, please invite Mr. Deng to the back room for a meal." Duke Yuan Zongdi of the Ming Dynasty called out loudly to the guard. Without waiting for Mr. Deng to express his gratitude, Yuan Zongdi glanced at the peculiar attire worn by Mr. Deng and added, "Before dining, it would be advisable for you to take a bath."

Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba frowned simultaneously, finding the ceremony to be quite inappropriate, and Deng Ming also did not report any self-designation.

It must undoubtedly be from the royal family. After seeing these exquisite garments, Zhou Kaihuang also agreed with Yuan Zongdi's assessment: "But I do not know which prince's heir it is."

This is certainly the case; Deng Ming has been starving for two days. This afternoon, he has been attempting to learn to identify edible mushrooms on his own, but unfortunately, he has not succeeded, or rather, he has not yet reached the point of hunger where he dares to eat those mushrooms

Deng Ming, seeing that his guess was accurate and that his words had pleased the other party, was pleasantly surprised and completely unaware that Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba, who were beside Yuan Zongdi, were slightly frowning: a commoner of unknown origin actually dared to add a surname before the title of a prince.

The soldier also brought along Deng Ming's sneakers. While speaking with Deng Ming, Yuan Zongdi was secretly speculating about the type of boots the other party was wearing, but ultimately could not discern them clearly. At this moment, the Duke of Jingguo of the Ming Dynasty and his two close guard officers were examining Deng Ming's pair of foul-smelling shoes, but after a long study, they could not make sense of the peculiarities of the shoe's upper and sole.

Yuan Zongdi was a prominent general under Li Zicheng. He was by the side of the rebel leader during the capture of Luoyang, where King Fu was taken, and during the conquest of Xi'an, where King Qin was captured. After the establishment of the Dashun regime, he became a well-known general. Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba both understood that Yuan Zongdi was well-read and experienced, and he might recognize that this was an item used by royal relatives.

Indeed, as that officer mentioned, whenever it involves background, parents, or family, Deng Ming would completely respond with amnesia. Yuan Zongdi did not delve deeper into the matter but instead shifted the conversation: "Today, I am here on the imperial decree to suppress the bandits in Chongqing. Does Mr. Deng have any good strategies to advise me?"

In fact, Zhao Tianba's family also possesses a string of beads. His father was an old general from the Western Camp, and when he was young, he saw his father with a string of beads that he never showed to others easily. His father mysteriously told him that they were obtained from the Shu royal palace. The string of beads was somewhat yellowed, uneven in size, and not very round. His father said this was quite normal, as they were already a rare treasure. When the Crown Prince of Jin was married, he flaunted the string of precious beads bestowed by the emperor, and Zhao Tianba happened to catch a glimpse of them. Although they were slightly larger and whiter than the string his father had treasured, the beads were also not perfectly round.

Although Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, who rebelled against the Ming Dynasty, have long since passed away, the regular army of the Ming court is now quite limited. Therefore, the remnants of Zhang Xianzhong's Western Camp and Li Zicheng's Chuang Camp have become the two major military forces supporting the Ming court. In comparison, the direct forces of the Ming court appear to be significantly weaker than the two major systems of the Chuang Camp and the Western Camp. The current commander of the Western Camp is Li Dingguo, who is stationed in Yunnan to protect the Yongli Emperor and has been granted the title of Prince of Jin by Yongli. Meanwhile, the main forces in Sichuan and Hubei are former officers and soldiers of the Chuang Camp, who have also accepted titles and official positions from the Ming court.

By the time of Deng Ming's birth, the technology for artificially cultivating pearls had been developed, as well as the technology for creating synthetic pearls. Synthetic pearls are made by mixing several materials such as resin and fillers to form a semi-solid molding material, which is then heated, coated with a layer of metallic film, subjected to pressure, and finally coated with pearl powder and painted, resulting in synthetic pearls that possess the luster of natural pearls. The string of synthetic pearls in Deng Ming's pocket is exactly such a creation, featuring large beads, pure colors, and no flaws. This string of pearls was prepared by Deng Ming as a prop for painting.

Thus, the Ming army leaders believed that an effective strategy was to capture Chongqing, as only the port of Chongqing could accommodate such a large number of ships, and it also had sufficiently large warehouses and good roads. In July, the Ming army attempted an attack on Chongqing, but Wu Sangui, who had reached Zunyi upon hearing the news, returned to repel the Ming forces. After learning that Wu Sangui had launched an attack on Yunnan through Zunyi last month, the Ming armies from Sichuan and Hubei mobilized once again, planning to launch another strong assault on Chongqing. Yuan Zongdi and Tan Wen were the vanguards of this attack on Chongqing, while Li Laiheng, Liu Tichun, and Hao Yaoqi were also on their way to Chongqing.

"I indeed recognize this item. When the Crown Prince of Jin was married, His Majesty bestowed upon him a string of precious pearls, and I had the fortune to see it once."

"It seems that..." Zhao Tianba and Zhou Kaihuang both felt that even if he were the third son of Emperor Chongzhen, he should now be around thirty years old. However, Deng Ming appeared to be at most in his early twenties. After seeing the pearl, both of them were at a loss for what to think. Zhao Tianba said uncertainly, "The royal family lives in luxury and comfort, so it is possible for them to appear youthful. Perhaps the third prince was only four or five years old during the Jia Shen year? In the midst of chaos, it is hard to remember clearly."

"Could it be that this young prince originally had loyal servants following and protecting him, but now all his companions have scattered, leaving only this young prince to escape alone?" Yuan Zongdi speculated for a moment, and finally reached into the pocket of his down jacket to see if there were any unexpected gains.

After Deng Ming was brought into the tent, he felt a wave of helplessness. Being completely unaware of the current political situation, he could only respond to the questioning from the Ming army officer with "I have forgotten everything." Now, looking at the three individuals across from him, Deng Ming's heart raced, and he felt that he might not be able to get through this ordeal.

Deng Ming always felt that his attire was too conspicuous in this era, so he happily changed into the new clothes provided by the Ming army, wrapping his old clothes into a bundle

"Such precious pearls are carelessly placed in this pouch, without any wrapping at all." Yuan Zongdi carefully placed the string of pearls back into the pocket of his down jacket

Zhou Kaihuang confirmed that Yuan Zongdi's mood today was indeed unprecedentedly good, as he unexpectedly began to share military intelligence with this mysterious individual. Last year, Sun Kewang, a former member of the Western Camp, surrendered to the Qing court. After learning about the situation in Yunnan and Guizhou from Sun Kewang, the Qing court decided to launch a full-scale attack on Yunnan, appointing the surrendered Wu Sangui as the commander of the army, which marched out of Hanzhong, crossed Chongqing, and advanced directly towards Yunnan and Guizhou. Meanwhile, the Qing forces from Hunan and Jiangxi, under the leadership of Hong Chengchou, also advanced westward to support Wu Sangui.

Yuan Zongdi summoned the guards and first instructed them to prepare a meal for the newcomers today. After a moment's thought, he added, "Prepare some meat for Mr. Deng; just chop off a piece of pork leg. However, remember to remove most of the meat, leaving only a little on the bone."

Meanwhile, Yuan Zongdi was inspecting the bone that his subordinates had brought him, which was leftover from Deng Ming's meal. Looking at the smooth yet intact hind leg bone, Yuan Zongdi let out a dissatisfied and regretful hum, saying, "Still putting on airs! What time is it, and yet still putting on airs, not even breaking open the marrow to eat it. What a pity, what a pity"

As this winter approaches, the Yongli court is already in a precarious situation. Wu Sangui's army is advancing southward through Sichuan, intending to swiftly destroy the Southern Ming regime in Kunming. In order to support Prince Jin, Li Dingguo's resistance, the Ming forces in the Sichuan region are fully mobilized, exerting all efforts to attack Chongqing, attempting to alleviate the pressure on Yunnan

Although Yuan Zongdi did not accompany Li Zicheng in the attack on Beijing, he had seen the treasures within the imperial palace. Li Zicheng had once solemnly presented him with a string of pearls from the palace. Yuan Zongdi intended to pass that string of precious pearls down as a family heirloom for generations. However, compared to the string of pearls before him, Yuan Zongdi's string seemed insignificant.

In the era before the advent of artificial pearls, it was rare to find large pearls. Historically, the Russian Tsar devoted great efforts to searching the globe and acquired several perfectly spherical, pure white pearls of similar size, which were crafted into a pearl crown that was regarded as a priceless treasure by various nations at the time. Now, a string of treasures of the same caliber lies before Yuan Zongdi.

A soldier entered to report that hot water had been prepared for Deng Ming, who had already gone to take a bath. The soldiers, following Yuan Zongdi's orders, took the opportunity to remove Deng Ming's clothes.

"What could be in his pockets?" Zhao Tianba suggested rummaging through Deng Ming's clothing pockets

After exchanging a few more words, Yuan Zongdi suddenly asked with a pleasant expression, "Mr. Deng, you must not have had your meal yet, right?"

The accompanying Ming army soldier patiently waited for Deng Ming to finish eating and informed him that the Duke of Jingguo was busy with official duties tonight, advising him to rest early Deng Ming felt a weight lift from his heart upon hearing this, as he believed that if their conversations were too frequent, he would likely reveal his true identity Following the Ming army soldier to the tent prepared for him, Deng Ming lay down and began to ponder deeply, recalling the stories of Ming scholars he had read and contemplating how to conduct himself in future interactions with the Ming army generals

"What Mr. Deng said is absolutely correct." Yuan Zongdi laughed heartily, seemingly quite satisfied with Deng Ming's response

Yuan Zongdi noticed that Zhao Tianba was silent, so he turned around and handed him the pearl, saying, "This is the pearl."

This age seems incorrect, Zhao Tianba said hesitantly

After careful consideration, Yuan Zongdi concluded that when Deng Minggang escaped from the palace, he was accompanied by a group of loyal guards and eunuchs. Therefore, he had not suffered hardships over the years, as these devoted subordinates brought along a considerable amount of treasure, ensuring that Deng Minggang was always free from worries about food and clothing. However, recently, some unforeseen circumstances arose, with the greatest likelihood being that the Qing court had detected him, leading to the dispersal of his guards. Near Chongqing, he ultimately lost contact with his last remaining attendants or they perished.

Individuals like Yuan Zongdi, who come from a background of military adventurism, are filled with anxiety about the future. Even if the Tatars are expelled and the Ming dynasty is revitalized, it remains uncertain how the emperor will treat these former military adventurers. For instance, Hao Yaoqi found an Eastern An King and treated him like a precious treasure, akin to how one would venerate a Bodhisattva, hoping that if the Ming dynasty were to be restored, a member of the Zhu family might speak a few good words on his behalf. Similarly, the Han King, who fled from Shanxi to Huguang, along with the Eastern troops (all former military adventurers, including Yuan Zongdi), began to flatter and curry favor, even collectively petitioning the court to request that the Han King remain within the Ming army in Sichuan and Hubei. What Yuan Zongdi and his peers hope for is to establish a good relationship with the esteemed princes, so that when the Ming court eventually settles accounts, they will not be left without anyone to speak for them.

Zhao Tianba came precisely for this purpose. He disguised himself and arrived in Badong to contact the remaining forces of the former Dashun army that were resisting here, urging them to find a way to cut off the shipping along the Yangtze River, thereby preventing the Qing court from transporting grain and supplies to Wu Sangui via the river. However, this objective was not easily achievable, as the Qing court had requisitioned a large number of ships from Southern Zhili, Jiangxi, and other regions, with each grain transport fleet heavily guarded. Although the small Sichuan Ming navy had the advantage of being on home turf, it was very difficult to completely sever the shipping routes.

"This is a pearl!" Zhou Kaihuang exclaimed with great excitement, rushing over in astonishment, "I must take a good look!"

Indeed, the Wu bandits have raised troops to invade the capital, and the King of Jin wants me to secure Chongqing in order to cut off the retreat of the Wu bandits

Indeed, there was an unexpected gain; Yuan Zongdi reached out and immediately pulled out a string of beads

Silence lingered in the camp for a long time, and then the voice of Yuan Zongdi was heard again: "I have heard that the whereabouts of the Crown Prince Lie are unknown"

"Wu the Traitor, Wu Sangui." After Deng Ming tentatively spoke this name, he noticed that the expression of the person opposite him remained normal, which confirmed that he had not guessed wrong. He then suddenly recalled the renowned Li Dingguo; although he was not very familiar with the history of the Ming Dynasty, he still knew that this great hero was the last defender of the Ming court.

"If it were someone else, of course!" Although the visitor was no longer in the tent, Yuan Zongdi still used a respectful title: "But this Deng... Mr. Deng, I believe he might be a member of the royal family"

It seems a bit small still

"Since the invasion of the Jurchens, most of the royal family members of the Ming Dynasty have hidden their identities. In such chaotic times, no one dares to roam about freely, so it is almost impossible for us to encounter a member of the royal family." Yuan Zongdi expressed the doubts in Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba's minds, and he too had a similar confusion: "However, do either of you recognize what kind of fabric his clothing is made of?"

Over the years, Yuan Zongdi's relationship with King Han cannot be described as particularly close. He has also sought a member of the royal family to serve as his talisman, but has been unable to find one. Now, suddenly, a figure named Deng has emerged. Not to mention that the Duke of Dong'an, protected by Hao Yaoqi, is far inferior; even the Han Prince, who is fervently flattered by the generals of Dongzhong, seems to pale in comparison. This is nothing short of a tremendous joy for Yuan Zongdi

Yuan Zongdi also shook his head and said, "I do not recognize it either; even in the residences of the Prince of Fu and the Prince of Qin, I have never seen such exquisite fabric."

"There will be nothing; in such chaotic times, who would carry anything that reveals their identity?" Yuan Zongdi, based on his own experience, believed that no clues would be found. Since the Qing court began hunting down and killing the close relatives of the Ming dynasty, the royal family members have all hidden their identities and scattered to avoid detection, and Deng Ming would naturally be no exception. However, as soon as he spoke, Yuan Zongdi became uncertain again; the impression Deng Ming had given him did not resemble that of someone who knew how to conceal themselves, as his expressions and movements revealed the naivety of youth.

Emperor Chongzhen's Empress Zhou gave birth to three sons. Yuan Zongdi heard that these three princes had all gone missing, and upon seeing the pearl, he recalled this legend and began to harbor suspicions regarding it. Having encountered someone like Deng Ming, he was certain to report this to the Yongli Emperor and the court, as there must be a justification for such actions

"There is no rush; we can take our time to inquire after we capture Chongqing." Since he judged the other party to be of royal blood, Yuan Zongdi did not intend to press: "This young prince Deng... is not ignorant of the hierarchy of respect, nor is he lacking in manners; perhaps he believes in his heart that he is the one who deserves the highest respect"

Deng Ming was completely ignorant of how to pay respects in the Ming Dynasty. He speculated that in China's feudal dynasties, common people might need to kneel and bow before generals, but he had no understanding of the specific customs or rules regarding how many bows were appropriate. Deng Ming recalled having read somewhere that in the Ming Dynasty, scholars could meet officials without bowing. When the military officer had asked him if he was a scholar, Deng Ming had answered vaguely. Now, he decided to play along completely, hoping to pass unnoticed, and he performed a deep bow to Yuan Zong, saying, "I pay my respects to the Duke."

As the military situation of the Ming army deteriorated, it had been many days since any common people dared to defect from the rule of the Qing army to join the Ming forces. Yuan Zongdi and the officer who interrogated Deng Ming shared similar thoughts: if the other party truly was a rare and righteous person willing to join the army, using torture to extract information would ultimately be inappropriate; it would be better to inquire in a friendly and pleasant manner. Yuan Zongdi thought to himself: "There are too few literate individuals here, and it has been many years since anyone has been willing to come and join me."

Deng Ming emerged from Yuan Zongdi's main camp, feeling immensely relieved that he had managed to evade detection. Earlier, when questioned by a Ming army officer to the point of being tongue-tied, Deng Ming had feared for his life. If the other party had used coarse language, he would have been utterly unable to withstand it. Even if Deng Ming revealed the true circumstances from hundreds of years in the future, the other party would still consider him to be speaking nonsense, and might even treat him as a spy for the Qing court and torture him to death

He then fell into deep thought: "Why does the Third Prince have this name? Deng Ming, Deng Ming? Deng Ming Zhi Da Bao? Or perhaps: Ming Deng? Ascending to the throne tomorrow? Clearly ascending to the throne? Or is it Ming Deng? The light of the Great Ming, a bright lamp for the world? What profound meaning does this name hold?"

Deng Ming was given a piece of multigrain flatbread and a bone. He had been starving for a long time, and in no time at all, he stuffed the flatbread into his stomach. The meat bone was even more tempting, and he gnawed the meat off it until it was completely clean, leaving not a single strand of meat behind, before reluctantly putting it down.

"Such an impudent ruffian." As Yuan Zongdi's personal guard, Zhou Kaihuang finally spoke up after waiting for a while, asking, "Why does the Duke not impose severe punishment?"

After listening to the officer explain the background and details, Yuan Zongdi couldn't help but feel a bit curious and said, "Since this person can casually utter the words 'Great Ming' and has grown his hair on his own, he most likely wants to join our army. But why does he claim to have amnesia?"

"You scoundrel, how utterly rude!" The four individuals in the tent exchanged glances for a long time, and Zhou Kaihuang, unable to contain himself, shouted angrily, "How dare you not pay your respects to the Duke of Jingguo?"

"It is not an exaggeration," Yuan Zongdi said softly, "What Zhao Qianhu said is indeed correct; I too cannot believe that this object actually exists in the human world"

Zhou Kaihuang chuckled, "Isn't this a bit too exaggerated?"

At this moment, there were two young guards beside Yuan Zongdi. One was named Zhou Kaihuang, whose father had followed Yuan Zongdi for many years before dying in battle against the Qing army. The other was named Zhao Tianba, originally from Zhang Xianzhong's Western Camp, who had come to Sichuan as an envoy of Prince Jin, Li Dingguo. Yuan Zongdi held Zhao Tianba in high regard, finding the young man to be very humble. Additionally, Yuan Zongdi needed to foster good relations with the court in Yunnan, which is why he always kept Zhao Tianba by his side

"The state grants leniency; this person truly exudes an air of mystery from every aspect." The reporting officer stated that the individual of unknown origin claimed to be named Deng Ming. When questioned, he insisted that he was suffering from amnesia, unable to recall his background or experiences, only remembering his name and that he was from Northern Zhili. The scout who discovered Deng Ming reported that from his words, it was evident that he harbored sentiments for the Ming Dynasty. According to the officer's observations, he did not appear to be a spy for the Tartars, and it was highly likely that he was a scholar or literati, thus the report was made to Yuan Zongdi.

Zhou Kaihuang could not help but clench his fists, waiting for Yuan Zongdi's command to drag this arrogant and disrespectful madman out of the camp and beat him up. However, it seemed that Yuan Zongdi was in an unusually good mood today, turning a blind eye to Deng Ming's various acts of disrespect and engaging in pleasant conversation with him.

"It turns out that pearls can be beautiful to such an extent." Yuan Zongdi said with a low voice, expressing his admiration. He gently turned the pearl over and over, examining it several times, finding not a trace of yellow. Holding it in his hand and facing it towards his own face, he could clearly see his own features.

Deng Ming glanced around the tent and walked over to a nearby chair to sit down: "Thank you... oh, thank you, Your Excellency the Duke."

"From a young age, one has been fed fine grains, only consuming white flour and rice, and when it comes to meat, it is only the flesh without gnawing on the bones, which allows for such a condition." It is likely that only the children of extremely wealthy families, raised in luxury with doctors and servants at their side, could possess such white teeth and such smooth, radiant skin; even the sons of ordinary wealthy families would find it difficult to achieve this. Yuan Zongdi sighed softly, "If it were not for the imperial family, how could one attain such wealth and nobility?"

After listening to Yuan Zongdi for a while, Deng Ming gained a slight understanding of the current situation. He thought that the "Wu thief" mentioned by the other party might refer to Wu Sangui, as this individual was indeed very famous. However, he felt somewhat confused about the repeatedly mentioned "Jin Wang".

After Deng Ming's departure, Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba turned their attention to Yuan Zongdi, who reined in his smile and stroked his beard in contemplation

Zhao Tianba and Zhou Kaihuang exchanged glances once more upon hearing this. The man who had just introduced himself as Deng Ming was undoubtedly a pale-faced scholar, not resembling the emaciated appearance of someone from a poor family. However, when it came to his teeth, the two of them had not paid particular attention.

"Eighty to ninety percent chance," Yuan Zong said, while instructing someone to return Deng Ming's clothing.

"Unruly and defiant, disregarding the hierarchy of respect, showing disrespect to the King of Jin and to me, he ought to be dragged out and beaten to death with clubs," Yuan Zongdi said in a deep voice

At this point, Yuan Zongdi instructed to bring Deng Ming to see him, and the officer complied with the order and left.

Upon hearing Zhou Kaihuang's words, Zhao Tianba shook his head repeatedly, saying, "How could that be? Each of these beads is round and smooth, simply not of this world. The string belonging to the Crown Prince of Jin is absolutely incomparable. Not only are these beads large and bright, but what is remarkable is that they are all of uniform size, as if they were made from the same mold. If I had not seen it with my own eyes, how could I believe that such a thing exists in this world?"