Chapter 852 Haisha Gang
Leaving Seokpo Port and about thirty nautical miles to the north, you will find Liuheng Island. Although the average speed of sailboats in this era is only single digits, such a distance is still quite close on the sea. Xu Ke's fishing and cargo sailboat can reach the local area in only half a day with smooth winds and smooth water. Even if the coalition fleet has blocked the waterway on the east side of the harbor, the disturbance in Shipu Port will still spread to Liuheng Island within a few days. This is one of the reasons why Shi Diwen urged him to act quickly, so as to avoid letting the island The armed forces are prepared in advance.
Although Xu Ke has been with the coalition forces for a few days, he has been by Xu Yuzhuo's side most of the time. This is the first time he has gone out on a mission alone with the Haihan people. Originally Xu Ke was a little uneasy about this, but Xu Yuzhuo was full of confidence. Before setting off, he comforted him that he didn’t have to worry about the Haihan people traveling with him showing off their tricks, and there was no need to ask about their mission. The itinerary would follow the normal supply procedures for entering the port. That’s it.
The ship also took time to conduct fishing operations on the way to ensure that there were 700 to 800 kilograms of fresh catch on board, so that when it arrived at Liuheng Island, it could act more like a fisherman and avoid arousing the suspicion of the people on the island.
In order to ensure that the news would not leak out, all the people on the ship except Xu Ke were replaced by Haihan's crew. The leading captain was named Zhao Cheng. He was dark and strong, with an unremarkable appearance, but he was very expert in navigation. This time he went to Liuheng Island. It is he who plays the role of captain. Although they had never operated Xu Ke's ship before, Zhao Cheng and his men got started very quickly after boarding the ship. At first glance, they looked like veterans who had been active at sea all year round.
"Boss Xu, this boat is great!" After setting off, Zhao Cheng was tinkering around on the boat. After sailing for more than an hour, he came out to chat with Xu Ke on the deck: "This should be a new boat that was launched just a few years ago. ?”
"This boat was launched the year before last." Xu Ke nodded and acknowledged Zhao Cheng's guess: "I specifically went to Ningbo to find a familiar boathouse to customize it. I also personally selected the boat materials. The cost is 30% higher than ordinary sailboats on the market."
Zhao Cheng asked: "Does a fishing business like Boss Xu's in the East China Sea also need to pay tolls to pirates in the East China Sea?"
"Of course I want it." Xu Ke talked about this issue and slowly started to talk: "It's not possible without paying! The fishing ground near Zhoushan is the best fishing place in the East China Sea, Shengshan and Langgang , Huangze, Daiqu, Yang'an, Jintang... These large fishing grounds are all in sea areas controlled by pirates. If you don't fly the flag given by them, if you are caught, the ship will be detained and the people will be detained. By then, the extra money will be gone. The several fishing boats I own cost me at least two thousand taels of silver every year depending on their size. In Xiangshan County alone, there are at least twenty or thirty boat owners like me. Do you think? If you think about the entire Ningbo Prefecture, the amount of money that fishermen give to pirates in the East China Sea every year is at least tens of thousands of taels.”
"Then there must be a lot of this money flowing into the officials' pockets, right?" Zhao Cheng asked sharply.
"That's natural." Xu Key responded: "The local government has been conniving with these pirates all year round, not because the benefits obtained from them are enough. If you want to file a pirate case in Ningbo, the petition will never be followed up. Ordinary people , There is no way you can beat them in arm wrestling! If you want to resist, you will only lose your life, and maybe your relatives and friends will be involved. As time goes by, everyone will not dare to speak out. "
Zhao Cheng was silent for a long time before he responded: "This act of justice for heaven has fallen upon our Haihan army!"
Xu Ke was very curious about the strength of the Haihan Army and couldn't help but ask: "I heard that your army swept Shibazhi in Fujian last year. I wonder how many troops were dispatched?"
Zhao Cheng glanced at Xu Ke. Xu Ke's heart trembled when he stared at him, and he quickly explained: "I am not asking for your army's secrets. If there is any inconvenience, just pretend that I have never asked."
Zhao Cheng shook his head and said: "Our army's actions in Fujian last year were not a secret. Everyone in Zhangzhou and Quanzhou knows it. As long as you are interested, it is not difficult to know how many soldiers and horses were dispatched. Last year, the navy was the main force in the battle against Penghu. As you can see, Haihan At that time, two fleets were sent to participate in the battle, and another thousand troops were responsible for the battle to seize the island. In addition, the Fujian Ming Army also sent thousands of troops. The total number of the two armies must have been seven or eight thousand. Although the Shibazhi had many people on board. , but compared with our army, the equipment and tactics are far behind. When fighting at sea, they can only be passively beaten, and there is not much power to fight back. Moreover, the bandit leader Zheng Zhilong knows that compared with the navy, the gap in combat power on land is even greater. , so there was no intention to stick to Penghu, but sent several groups of people to intercept our army at sea, but he ran away with Xiruan. "
Of course, Zheng Zhilong actually took away not only Xinruan, but also some of the elite members of Shibazhi and many pirate family members. Although his muscles and bones were broken, he still preserved a glimmer of hope for a comeback. However, after the war, the Fujian government and Haihan's external propaganda were all consistent, saying that only a handful of people including the bandit leader Zheng Zhilong escaped from Shibazhi, and that the main force had been wiped out by the coalition forces.
Xu Ke sighed: "Back then, the head of the family was persecuted by Shiba Zhi, so he sent us to Zhejiang to lurk, hoping that we could preserve a bloodline for the Xu family. I never thought that only a few years later, the situation would have completely reversed. I can finally return to my hometown, but if your army hadn’t taken action, I’m afraid this moment would have been delayed for several years.”
Zhao Chengxin said that if I, Haihan, had not intervened in Fujian affairs, your Xu family would have been exterminated by Zheng Zhilong long ago, and there would be no chance of a comeback. Although the situation has reversed now, Xu Xinsu's original move was not wrong. At least it can still be put to some practical use. Without Xu Ke as a leading party, the coalition's actions in Ningbo would probably be worse than what they are now. Progress is slower.
Zhao Cheng did not want to talk too much about Shibazhi in front of Xu Ke, and took the initiative to turn the topic to Liuheng Island where he was about to go: "Boss Xu, what do you need about the Haisha Gang's territory we are going to next?" What to pay attention to? ”
Xu Ke thought for a while and said: "The three leaders of the Haisha Gang are rough people, so they are easy to deal with. As long as you don't be too showy when entering the port, just wait for the Haisha Gang's small boat to bring them in. In addition, all military officers Be sure to hide your weapons. People from the Haisha Gang may board the ship to check. If they find something they shouldn't have, it will be great fun. Although you are all good guys, you have entered that robber's den. Son, I'm afraid it won't be easy to escape. Those pirates are vulgar people, and many of them are overseas barbarians who don't know much about etiquette. Mr. Zhao must not lose his temper over trivial matters. General Shi also said so. I came here just to inquire about the information and check the environment, and I am waiting for us to report back.”
Zhao Cheng nodded and responded: "Of course I know this. The leader said that we will obey your command when we get to the ground. We will do whatever you say."
Xu Ke waved his hands repeatedly and said: "How dare I work for you military masters? You should try your best to cooperate."
The group set out in the morning and spent more than two hours fishing on the way. By the time they saw the outline of Liuheng Island on the sea level, it was already dinner time, but at this time they could still see the sea outside Liuheng Island. At least a dozen fishing boats were also active.
"There are all boats from the Haisha Gang in front of us." Seeing Zhao Cheng looking in the direction of Liuheng Island, Xu Ke took the initiative to help him clear up his doubts: "We are keeping sentries at sea to warn, and we also fish for food on the island."
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Zhao Cheng nodded and said nothing. Practices like this were not limited to pirates in the East China Sea. Pirates in Fuzhou and Guangzhou also had such arrangements in the past. Zhao Cheng was a veteran who had joined the army in 1628. He had participated in several battles between Hai and Han to exterminate pirates in Fuzhou and Guangzhou, so he knew all about these tricks. However, the Haihan militia's attacks on pirate dens are often thunderous, leaving no chance for the other side to struggle. Even if this kind of maritime warning method can provide the other side with an hour or two to prepare for war, it is impossible to change both sides. The strength gap and the final battle result. When there were still four or five miles away from the southern end of Liuheng Island, a fishing boat flying the Li flag came directly up. According to Xu Ke, this was the subordinate of Li Luotou, one of the three leaders of the Haisha Gang. .
The boat was still seven or eight feet away, so Xu Ke took the initiative to stand on the side of the boat and waved. After the other party got closer, Xu Ke loudly announced his request to enter the port to replenish fresh water and food. The other party made a few gestures and then began to turn around and sail towards the northern port. Xu Ke told Zhao Cheng that the other party was leading the way into Hong Kong, so just follow him.
There are four parallel islands and reefs extending southward into the sea at the southern end of Liuheng Island, forming two large and three gate-shaped harbors, arranged side by side from east to west. The two ports on the east side are trade ports for external development. The small port on the west side is exclusively for the Haisha Gang, and ships from outside are prohibited from entering. However, to enter the two ports on the east side, a small boat from the Haisha Gang needs to be piloted. Otherwise, it will be regarded as a hostile act and may lead to attacks before entering the port.
"I'm quite wary." Zhao Cheng commented on the behavior of the Haisha Gang.
"In the past two years, other gangs pretended to be merchant ships, and after entering, they set fire to cause trouble. Although they did not cause a big mess, the Haisha Gang still learned their lesson, and then they strictly inspected the ships entering the port." Xu Ke explained: "But in I’ve been here a few times and they all recognize me and I’m easy to talk to.”
Zhao Cheng reminded: "After entering Hong Kong, you must remember not to call me by the wrong name."
Xu Ke shouted "Master Zhao, Master Zhao" along the way. If someone heard this after entering the port, it might arouse suspicion. Xu Ke nodded and said: "I remember this, don't worry."
Zhao Cheng asked his men to lower the sail and slow down, and slowly sailed behind the small boat from the Haisha Gang into the Cangdong Ao Harbor in the middle. The harbor is about one kilometer wide and its longitudinal depth is about two thousand meters. The pier for foreign ships is located at the deepest part of the harbor. Zhao Cheng noticed that there was a small bay on the left and right of the harbor entrance, with several sailboats docked and several houses on the shore. Xu Ke said this was a precautionary measure set up by the Haisha Gang at the entrance and exit of the channel. Once something happens, these ships can block the channel as quickly as possible. Of course, this blockade is aimed at ordinary sailing ships. As for the gunboats of the Haihan Navy, they can only be classified separately.
The pilot ship did not dock, but just circled near the shore, shouted a few words to the people on the shore, and then turned out again. The people on the dock gestured to the boat following, indicating that the people on the boat should dock at the designated dock.
After landing, Zhao Cheng asked his men to build a springboard, but he was not in a hurry to get ashore. This was also a detail that Xu Ke asked him to pay special attention to. After docking, he had to wait for the signal from the Haisha Gang before he could leave the ship and go ashore.
The people on the boat didn't get off, but the people on the shore came up first. A thin, dark man in his thirties got on the boat. His eyes swept over everyone and quickly focused on Xu Ke: "Boss Xu, long time no see. Are you going to sea to make a fortune again?"
Xu Ke cupped his fists and responded: "Brother Qi has always been a good person! I can't say I'm getting rich, I'm just making a living. I didn't catch anything good this time. I passed by Liuheng Island and stopped by to replenish some fresh water and food."
The little leader, who was called Seventh Brother, asked without comment: "Boss Xu always goes to sea with several ships. Why did he go alone today?"
Regarding this detailed issue, Xu Ke and Zhao Cheng had already discussed how to deal with it. Xu Ke responded: "Originally, there was no need to come here alone to replenish supplies, but it was really unlucky. Just a few days after going to sea, I found that two rats had drowned in the water tank of the ship at some time, and they were all soaked to death. Now I can only drain out the water and find another place to resupply. The other ships have gone north first, and I will meet them after my ship is ready.”
The seventh brother laughed twice and asked again: "It seems that the brothers on this boat are not the same people who followed you before?"
Xu Ke responded: "The previous ship boss quit and took his brothers away. I specially invited this boss Zhao from Wenzhou to come and help...Old Zhao, say hello to Seventh Brother!"
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Zhao Cheng responded: "The villain Zhao Cheng has met Brother Seventh!"
Xu Ke's several fishing boats have been collected by the coalition forces and are currently parked in Shipu Port. And his group of people will not leave Shipu Port for the time being, so there is no need to worry about this simple cover being exposed.
Brother Qi looked Zhao Cheng up and down and saw that he had a dark complexion and was standing barefoot on the boat. He looked like an old sea dog. Then he nodded slightly as a greeting. However, his focus was not on Zhao Cheng. He continued to say to Xu Ke: "Then what boss Xu wants to buy, make a list, and I will ask someone to take care of it."
Xu Ke said: "Then Lao Zhao, let's take a trip to see what is missing. We have bought it here. By the way, we can rest here for one night. Brother Qi, if you have nothing else to do, I will host it later. Let's go together." Have a casual meal.”
The seventh brother pretended to decline a few words, but finally agreed. Zhao Cheng took two people and went to buy supplies with the people arranged by Brother Seven.
(End of chapter)