Chapter 607 The Chosen One
"Master Xu, when things have reached this point, I think it's time for us to let down our guard and have a frank talk." After handling the assassination case, Ning Qi, who had just returned to Xu Xinsu's mansion, made a request to the other party.
Originally, Xu Xinsu arranged a nearby house for the Haihan delegation as a residence during this visit. However, after the assassination, Xu Xinsu was not sure how many assassins were still in the city. In order to ensure that everything was safe, she asked Ning Qi and others moved back to Xu Mansion. Ning Qi also wanted to take this opportunity to encourage Xu Xinsu, so he agreed.
Xu Xinsu nodded and said: "No matter what, I am responsible for what happened in Zhangzhou. Please rest assured, Mr. Ning, I will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation about this assassination case."
Ning Qi shook his head and said: "Master Xu, what I want to talk to you now is not the investigation of the assassination, but the Fujian government's attitude towards Shiba Zhi."
The expression on Xu Xinsu's face visibly froze for a moment before she responded: "Okay, as Mr. Ning wishes. If Mr. Ning wants to ask me anything, you might as well say it."
Ningqi Surong said: "Then let me tell you the truth, we Haihan have always regarded Shibazhi as a formidable enemy, and even do not hesitate to spend a large amount of resources to provide military assistance to the Fujian government every year. After the elimination, Regarding the goal of piracy, I think we both have common interests, but why has the Fujian side always been submissive and suppressed the bandits while allowing the Shibazhi to continue to deploy their commercial institutions in various places along the coast of Fujian? Don't you know, Mr. Xu? Doing this is actually feeding a tiger into danger?”
Xu Xinsu smiled bitterly and said: "How can I not know that raising tigers can lead to disaster? I also have many difficulties in turning a blind eye to these merchants and shipping companies that work for Shibazhi. When I first interviewed Mr. Ning, I I just wanted to mention it, but I was afraid that Mr. Ning wouldn’t like to hear this kind of topic, and he was just taking a chance... Alas, if I had been more decisive, I wouldn’t have had such a bad thing happen today.”
Ning Qi said: "Master Xu, you might as well talk and listen first. If there are any difficulties, we can solve them together through negotiation."
Xu Xinsu sighed: "In fact, in the final analysis, it is nothing more than a word of profit. Mr. Ning, do you know how many years it took me to rise from the commander of the small navy to the commander of the province today?"
Before Ning Qi could answer, Xu Xinsu asked and answered: "Zheng Zhilong robbed my friend Li Dan's property, and he also wanted to take away my share too. In order to survive, I spent tens of thousands of dollars in the sixth year of Tianqi." Jin, bought a naval officer position from the then Commander-in-Chief Yu. At that time, he had no long-term plans. He just wanted to continue the power of the government and let Zheng Zhilong retreat in the face of difficulties. This year was the fourth year of Chongzhen. Unexpectedly. In just five years, I was promoted from a down-and-out maritime merchant to the commander-in-chief of a province. People outside probably thought that I got the promotion reward from the imperial court because of my merits in killing pirates and protecting the place in the past few years. But things are never that simple!”
Xu Xinsu picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then continued: "The former commander-in-chief also used troops against Shibazhi many times, but the repeated attacks resulted in the officers and soldiers suffering successive defeats. In addition to the extremely weak combat power of the Ming army, In addition, there are many people in the government who take advantage of Shibazhi and inform them, which is also one of the reasons. If I want to fight Shibazhi, it will inevitably affect the interests of many people. Although these people have nothing to do on the surface. There are many ways to deal with me, but it is impossible to prevent secret tricks. If I want to secure my official position and protect my own interests, I must make compromises in other minor areas."
Ning Qi understood a little bit after hearing this, and interrupted and asked: "What Mr. Xu means is that the interests entangled behind these agencies in coastal cities in Fujian are actually very complicated, so you have to choose to compromise. Default to their existence? ”
"That's roughly it." Xu Xinsu nodded and confirmed Ning Qi's guess: "These shipping companies often have more than just Shibazhi family backgrounds. For example, the 'Zhengfeng House' that I previously ordered Yang Lu to seal up, its shareholders One of them is a certain adult in Nanjing City. It is easy to seize it, but it will be very troublesome to deal with the closing matters afterwards. It is a trivial matter to use some money to fill the holes, but these human relationships are troubles that are irreparable. Situations like this are common along the coast of Fujian. Although I have military power, I still have to take orders from the court, and there are many inconveniences. Mr. Wang Ning can understand my difficulty. "
"I see." Ning Qi thought to himself that this explanation was reasonable, and it could also explain why Xu Xinsu tolerated Shibazhi deploying organizations that were clearly trading companies but were actually hidden under his nose. Xu Xinsu's acquaintance was to show Haihan what he was thinking - it wasn't that I was ineffective in suppressing the bandits, but that the bandits were too cunning and had found connections that I couldn't control to support them.
Xu Xinsu continued: "I have planned several big operations in the past few years, hoping to annihilate the main force of Shibazhi in one fell swoop, but every time before I could take action, the news was already leaked. Although I have the intention to fight decisively with them, , but there are always people holding us back..."
Ning Qi couldn't help but interject after hearing this: "If Master Xu has any taboos, you might as well make a list first. Maybe we can give some suggestions to Master Xu."
Xu Xinsu's eyes lit up slightly when he heard this. There were many rumors among the people about the prophecy technique of Haihan people that could seek good fortune and avoid disaster. Naturally, Xu Xinsu had heard of it a lot. It is said that the recent alternation of the two governors of Guangdong and Guangdong, as well as the rise of many new wealthy businessmen in Guangdong, are closely related to the prophecies provided by the Haihan people. If the Haihan people are willing to use this magical ability to guide themselves, it can really be regarded as a reference method.
And the purpose of Ning Qi's words is indeed this. If it is a famous figure in the officialdom, then the relevant information can be found in Haihan's large database, and it may be able to provide some help to Xu Xinsu.
However, Xu Xinsuxuan shook his head resolutely and said: "In fact, there is no need to use these methods. As long as Shibazhi is destroyed in an upright manner, the forces behind them will immediately change their stance and come to our side."
Ning Qi thought to himself that although Xu Xinsu came from a grassroots background, she did not reach her current position simply by luck. It is obvious that he believes more in the reliability of using force to solve problems than relying on some mysterious means. And Ning Qi also agrees with his view. The forces behind Shibazhi supporting them are just looking at the huge benefits in maritime trade. But if there is no Shibazhi along the coast of Fujian, then Xu Xinsu will become A person like the Sea Dragon King will have to stand on the same front as Xu Xinsu if he wants to get a share of the Southeast Sea Trade, unless he has the ability of Haihan to create an army on his own. A powerful maritime fleet came to defeat dissidents.
"If Mr. Xu has such determination, then I will try my best to persuade the Executive Committee after I return to provide more and stronger military assistance to the Fujian military in the near future." Now that Xu Xinsu has made her stance clear, then Ning Qi also wants to give some sweetness to encourage the other party to make such a choice.
"Thank you, Mr. Ning!" Xu Xinsu clasped her fists and bowed, "But I also have some questions in my mind. Can you ask Mr. Ning to clear up my doubts in person?" "Master Xu, please tell me!" Ning Qi nodded.
"As far as I know, your personnel arrived from overseas where the Victory Port is now on Qiongzhou Island only seven years after the Apocalypse. Is this true?" The question Xu Xinsu raised at the beginning had nothing to do with the Shibazhi incident. .
But Ning Qi still answered him exactly: "Yes, we landed on Qiongzhou Island at the beginning of the seventh year of Tianqi."
Xu Xinsu continued: "If I remember correctly, Shibazhi's troops only went as far as the Qiongzhou Strait and never reached the southern end of Qiongzhou Island. However, it was in the seventh year of Tianqi that you started to contact me. What happened in the second half of the year. I have always been curious about how the Eighteen Zhi offended you so much that you even provided military assistance to me thousands of miles away to fight against the Eighteen Zhi’s expansion.”
Ning Qi couldn't help but be a little stunned when he heard this question. He couldn't remember the reason the envoy sent at that time used to explain the relationship to the Fujian side. After a few years, he couldn't remember it. But he didn't expect that Xu Xinsu would still remember this detail a few years later. It was obvious that this issue had been buried in his heart for too long.
Seeing Ning Qi's silence, Xu Xinsu continued, "When I went to Guangzhou last time, I also discussed this matter with Director Ma."
Ning Qi said: "Malik? What did he say at that time?"
Xu Xinsu said: "His reaction at that time was exactly the same as Mr. Ning's. So I was thinking, is there some secret in this that is not suitable for outsiders to know?"
Ning Qi couldn't help but laugh and said: "Secret? Actually, it's not much of a secret. Since Mr. Xu wants to know so much, I'll tell you."
Maliko's reaction showed that he must have forgotten the explanation he gave to Fujian at that time, but Xu Xinsu's question was not difficult for Ning Qi to answer. In just a moment, he had already come up with a reasonable explanation: "Xu Xinsu's question is not difficult for Ning Qi to answer." You probably also know that we Haihan people have a strong ability to predict certain things that have not happened yet.”
Xu Xinsu nodded and said that she knew. Just now Ning Qi asked him to provide a list of Ming officials who supported Shiba Zhi, and Xu Xinsu had already sensed that Ning Qi's purpose was related to the magical ability of the Haihan people.
Ning Qi continued: "Master Xu may not believe what I say next, just think of it as my idiotic talk. The prediction we made about the changes in the situation in Fujian at that time, Shibazhi will be in The main strongholds along the coast of Fujian were captured within a year, causing a devastating blow to the Fujian Navy. Later, Zheng Zhilong accepted the recruitment of the Governor of Fujian, Mr. Xiong, and became a military commander of the imperial court. From then on, he began to occupy the stretch of land between Fujian and Dayu Island. The Golden Channel levied high protection fees on merchant ships traveling here, and used this to accumulate wealth. In a few years, he became the most powerful maritime tycoon along the Fuguang coast. Even the imperial court would not take advantage of him. method.”
After hearing this, Xu Xinsu asked curiously: "Why didn't Mr. Ning mention my whereabouts?"
Ning Qi was silent for a moment before saying: "To be honest, according to our speculation, if the situation continues on the original track, Mr. Xu will die in the sea near Zhangzhou in the first year of Chongzhen."
Xu Xinsu's face turned a bit ugly after hearing this. Anyone who hears others predicting his own fate like this may not feel much better. Xu Xinsu said: "Mr. Ning means that if Haihan did not provide military assistance to me, then there would be no such person as me in the world now?"
"Although this will make Master Xu find it difficult to accept, this is the conclusion we have inferred." Ning Qi nodded and acknowledged Xu Xinsu's view: "Half a year after we landed, we have not yet established a foothold in Yazhou. At that time, we hurriedly provided military assistance to Mr. Xu thousands of miles away to assist the Fujian Ming Army in fighting the Eighteen Zhizhi. Before this, we had never had contact with the Eighteenth Zhi, and there was no talk of any grudges. We were so The reason for doing this was to prevent the Shibazhi from ruling the coastal areas of Fujian. The person we know who could stop Zheng Zhilong was not the then Fujian commander-in-chief Yu Zigao, nor the Fujian governor Xiong Wencan, but someone who had just bought the official position. Mr. Xu, who is starting to learn to lead troops! This is the reason you have always wanted to know. I wonder if my explanation satisfies you?”
After Xu Xinsu was silent for a long time, she responded: "This seems to be the only reasonable explanation. But I also want to know, if you had chosen to support Zheng Zhilong and the Eighteen Zhi led by him, wouldn't it be easier to get twice the result with half the effort? Effect? And with your methods, it doesn’t seem to be a problem to get Zheng Zhilong to provide special treatment to Haihan after occupying the important coastal areas of Fujian, right? Why did you choose this old man instead of the young and strong Zheng Zhilong and his men? The mighty Shiba Zhi? ”
Ning Qi responded to this question calmly: "According to the information we know, Zheng Zhilong has a vicious personality and a volatile temper. He lacks trust in the people around him, especially his partners. Even if he is willing to take the initiative to join us, , we will not choose to cooperate with him. No matter how powerful he is, in fact, in our eyes, he is just like a chicken and a dog. When the time comes, we will naturally take action to deal with him. But before that, we need to. To develop and grow over time, there must be reliable people to stand up to Zheng Zhilong on the front line in Fujian, and we believe that Mr. Xu is the best candidate. Mr. Xu does not need to belittle himself. The person we choose is the one with real strength. ! ”
(End of chapter)