Chapter 868 Magistrate Qu’s wishes
This is not the first time He Xiao has come to Liuheng Island for business. In fact, since the end of the year before last, he has come here on average every three to four months to handle some secret affairs for Qu Yutong, the prefect of Ningbo. Among the staff around Qu Yutong, He Xiao is considered the most trusted. After Qu Yutong took office as the prefect of Ningbo, He Xiao came to collect the first amount of money sent by the Sanlin Gang. After that He was naturally responsible for the daily communication and money transactions between Ningbo Mansion and the Sanlin Gang.
During this process, the Sanlin Gang also gave He Xiao a lot of money, and he gained a lot every time he came here. Therefore, He Xiao has always been willing to accept being arranged to go on business trips to Liuheng Island. After all, this kind of salary is Luxurious jobs are not always available. However, after being sent to Liuheng Island this time, He Xiao's mood was a bit complicated, and he even felt a little resistant.
The news of the accident on Liuheng Island reached Ningbo Prefecture five days ago. After hearing the news, Magistrate Qu's first reaction was naturally to worry about the safety of the industries he had entrusted to the Sanlin Gang to "manage on his behalf" on the island. However, further news soon came. It was not the Sanlin Gang that had trouble on Liuheng Island, but its rival Haisha Gang. Those who attacked him were actually the Sanlin Gang, the Shipu Guards under Changguo Guards, and the Haihan people from the south.
This situation is undoubtedly beyond Qu Yutong's expectation, because logically and logically, the Sanlin Gang should have warned him before doing such a thing. After all, he is the biggest backer of the Sanlin Gang in Ningbo's official circles, and The Haisha Gang that the Sanlin Gang dealt with also had an official background. The Lin brothers took care of things in such silence, and it was easy for them to fall into passivity. The cooperation between these three parties also made Qu Yutong completely unable to understand the drawings.
As far as he knew, the Sanlin Gang had no contact with the Haihan people in the south, and it had no contact with the Ming Dynasty military. After all, the rival Haisha Gang was backed by people from the Ming Dynasty military, and it was impossible for the Sanlin Gang to win over them. support from this camp. It is indeed a rare thing for these three forces to unite to take action against the Haisha Gang.
However, the Sanlin Gang's attitude was indeed much better than Ma Qianhu's attitude towards his superiors. They then sent people to Ningbo Mansion to explain the general situation to Qu Yutong. Of course, in order to unify the external caliber, what happened was basically what Ma Ling wrote in the report. Different from the report Ma Ling submitted to Chang Guowei, the focus of the Sanlin Gang's report to Qu Yutong was not how the Haisha Gang provoked these three parties and ended up being destroyed, but what the Haihan people were planning to do now. Go north and settle down in Zhejiang. Through unremitting efforts, the Sanlin Gang has secured the opportunity to conduct business cooperation with the Haihan people. As for whether to seize this opportunity, it is up to Qu Yutong to make a decision.
Qu Yutong should know more and more deeply about the benefits of cooperating with the Haihan people than the Sanlin Gang, because in neighboring Fujian there is Xu Xinsu, who held Haihan's thigh and climbed all the way to the position of general soldier. Xu Xinsu has had a double success in the officialdom and shopping malls in recent years. The achievements she has achieved make people jealous, but at the same time they also make people fear Haihan's power. After all, while Xu Xinsu climbed up, she also stepped down on countless people. His stepping stone.
Everyone wants to be Xu Xinsu, but no one can guarantee whether they will become a stepping stone for others. Rather than taking this risk, it is better to develop slowly and in accordance with the existing official rules. Therefore, no one in Zhejiang official circles has been willing to take the initiative to cooperate with Haihan. People who have such intentions were suppressed by others as soon as they showed signs of doing so.
But today is different from the past. The Haihan people have appeared in Ningbo and made a big move as soon as they appeared on the stage. They brought down the Haisha Gang on Liuheng Island in two days and one night, fully demonstrating their extraordinary ability. force. The Sanlin Gang made it very clear in their report to Qu Yutong that Shipu Guards Station and the Sanlin Gang acted as helpers in this process. The Haihan Militia was actually responsible for the frontal combat mission, and it was basically in the form of crushing The battle was resolved quickly. Not only the Haisha Gang, but also the entire armed forces in the East China Sea are unable to find a rival.
With the matter being so big, Qu Yutong must send someone to Liuheng Island to take a look, so this task was naturally handed over to He Xiao. Although He Xiao likes silver, there is no peace on Liuheng Island at this time, and the people he wants to meet are Haihan people who have never dealt with before. There are too many variables, and He Xiao doesn't like to deal with such things. The situation was just that the boss had already called his name, so he had to bite the bullet and make this trip.
The last time He Xiao came to Liuheng Island was two months ago, but when he came to Liuheng Island again this time, he noticed some subtle changes in this place from the moment he got off the boat. Although the sailors working at the dock on the island were still familiar faces, he saw a lot more men in gray clothes and carrying muskets on the shore. Before disembarking, people from the Sanlin Gang boarded the ship with several men in gray and conducted a careful search inside and outside. This was the first time in He Xiao's history that he had been treated like this.
"Mr. He, don't be surprised. There are still remnants of the Haisha Gang on the island recently. In order to prevent someone from colluding with these fugitive gangsters, we are conducting such a strict investigation." Lin Xing, who came to pick him up at the pier in person, explained. , only to calm down He Xiao's unhappiness a little.
"Then the Haihan people are grabbing the Haisha Gang's territory. Why did they also take over your Sanlin Gang's territory?" He Xiao asked softly.
Lin Xing responded: "It's not a takeover, it's just that we don't have enough manpower, so the Haihan people allocated some manpower to help."
He Xiao was noncommittal after hearing this explanation and continued to ask: "When will we meet the Haihan people?"
Lin Xingdao: "It's getting late today. Mr. He will stay one night. I will accompany Mr. He to the south to meet with the Haihan people tomorrow."
He Xiao snorted and said: "This Haihan man is so arrogant!"
Lin Xing didn't answer his words, thinking that if you go to the southern port tomorrow and see the Haihan warship docked there, you will naturally understand how this air is set up. Having said that, if the Haihan people didn't have any useful information, how could the Sanlin Gang be so willing to take refuge with them.
Since He Xiao was here to discuss business, of course he would not really wait until the next day to start work. During dinner, he began to ask Lin Xing about what happened on Liuheng Island.
Lin Xing knew that the Haihan people had other subsequent actions. In order to keep it confidential, there were many situations that he could not elaborate on, so he just went around and around without giving a direct answer. After He Xiao asked twice more, he became angry: "It seems that Boss Lin is planning to change his employer! Forget it, I will go back to Ningbo tomorrow and tell Mr. Qu the truth."
Lin Xing thought to himself: This is not a plan to change it, but it has already been changed, okay? But he couldn't say these words. After all, the Haihan people specifically promised to continue to maintain the official relationship with Ningbo Mansion. He Xiao couldn't offend him casually for the time being. "Mr. He, if you just go back like this, you still won't be able to reply when Master Qu asks about the situation on the island! In my opinion, it's better to go and talk first. If we can't reach an agreement, we'll talk later." What Lin Xing can do now Just kind words and advice.
Of course, He Xiao was just making a gesture. He came here specifically to inquire about information. If he didn't bring back any useful information, he really couldn't explain it to Qu Yutong. The Liuheng Island incident is not just a private fight between civilian armed forces. To put it more seriously, it will involve the interests of many people in Zhejiang officialdom. If it is not handled well, Qu Yutong is likely to become the target of public criticism. When the time comes, there will be no eggs in the nest. He Xiao is just a member of Qu Yutong's staff. If Qu Yutong falls, he will naturally lose his job. He Xiao can still clearly distinguish the priorities of things and will not really act out of emotion.
He Xiao didn't get any useful information from Lin Xing, and he was not in the mood to enjoy the food and wine slowly. After filling his stomach, he left and went back to his room to rest. Early the next morning, Lin Xing sent someone to pick up He Xiao, and then they took a boat from Xinshuangyu Port to the south.
It only takes three hours to sail from Xinshuangyu Port to the southern part of Liuheng Island, which is directly controlled by Haihan, and we have already arrived before lunch time. After sailing into the harbor, He Xiao's expression changed immediately - no one with normal vision could turn a blind eye to the large number of Haihan warships docked on the shore, with their tall hulls and intimidating side gun windows. , will have a great visual impact on anyone who sees them for the first time.
Lin Xing was secretly amused when he saw He Xiao's shocked expression, completely forgetting that he had almost the same reaction as him when he went to Shipu Port to discuss with the Haihan people.
He Xiao is not just a poor and down-and-out scholar. He works as an errand next to the prefect and has naturally seen a lot of the world. At first sight, it is not difficult to see that the strength of this fleet is far superior to the civilian armed forces in the East China Sea, and even even The Zhejiang Navy does not seem to have such a comprehensive combat fleet. It is no wonder that the report sent by the Sanlin Gang to Qu Yutong claimed that the Haihan fleet was unparalleled in combat power.
The port here has been completely taken over by Haihan. Wherever He Xiao could see, there were Haihan soldiers wearing gray short shirts. He immediately asked Lin Xing: "Where are these people who originally lived on the Haisha Gang's territory?" ? All killed by the Haihan people? ”
"That's not true." Lin Xing shook his head and said: "The Haihan people did not kill indiscriminately. They were extremely concerned about manpower, so they shipped all the captives away. It is said that they were shipped to the south for mining."
"Using prisoners to mine?" He Xiao frowned and said, "He is indeed a businessman who must pay every penny he has!"
Lin Xingxin said that the Haihan people had to transport hundreds of war refugees back from the Jiaodong Peninsula in the north every month, which cost a lot of money. The captives on Liuheng Island were free labor for them, and of course they would not give them up easily. . There were thousands of people living in the areas previously controlled by the Haisha Gang. Apart from the armed personnel, there were at least two to three thousand civilians. If so many people were immigrated to the Haihan people's territory in the south, at least one or two towns could be formed. .
Besides, most of these people are family members or related personnel of the Haisha Gang. If they are allowed to stay, it will undoubtedly be a huge hidden danger. Moving them away from Liuheng Island and dispersing them can be regarded as an extremely safe solution. However, He Xiao didn't know the hidden meaning, so in the eyes of outsiders, this method of Haihan people was just a reflection of business habits. But if you just treat them as businessmen, you may be in trouble.
He Xiao once followed Qu Yutong to inspect the local military camp. At this time, he felt as if he was not a trading port, but a naval port. It was only then that He Xiao remembered that apart from being good at business, this Haihan man was also famous for his military training. Not only did he train himself, but he even helped the government train troops. It is said that the elite soldiers under Fujian Commander-in-Chief Xu Xinsu were trained by Haihan people. The Haihan people traveled all the way to Zhejiang, and yet they were able to use force without fear. They indeed had the confidence to do such a thing.
Under the leadership of Lin Xing, He Xiao finally met the leader of the Haihan people. Although Lin Xing introduced this person as Boss Qian very tactfully, He Xiao could still tell at a glance that Boss Qian Tiandun was not a businessman. Fake soldiers.
The two parties exchanged greetings and took their seats. He Xiao was still thinking about how to tactfully express his intention to make the Haihan people realize that his behavior had attracted the attention of the Ningbo government. Qian Tiandun, who was sitting in the main seat, spoke first: "We Haihan have always been He respects the laws of the Ming Dynasty and is willing to help the government stabilize the place and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. Whether it is money or effort, Haihan has always been actively cooperative and has a good reputation in Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian. When he first arrived in Zhejiang, he had the opportunity to assist the government in suppressing bandits. , it’s really my honor.”
Qian Tiandun has been dealing with various officials of this era for more than a day or two, so he naturally knows the importance of controlling the right to speak. No matter how Ningbo officials plan to characterize the Liuheng Island incident, Haihan will not let go of the idea that the bandits must be killed. On the one hand, this is to ensure the legality of Haihan's operation, even if it is only on the surface; on the other hand, it is also to dispel the doubts of maritime merchants in Zhejiang's business circle and even other countries in Northeast Asia, lest they think that Haihan is a massacre. The behavior of the Haisha Gang is simply to fight against others, which makes them scrupulous about the prospect of cooperation with Haihan.
He Xiao didn't expect that the Haihan officer was so slick, and he took the advantage as soon as he came up. He Xiao didn't want to lose the initiative, and he definitely couldn't follow what the other party said at the moment, so he shook his head and said: "Boss Qian's statement needs to be verified. The news I heard is not that simple. This place is under the jurisdiction of Ningbo Prefecture, and the bandits are suppressed. The matter should be officially presided over by your side to attack Liuheng Island. This matter is not decided by Boss Qian alone. "
Qian Tiandun said: "It's easy to say. I have witnesses. Ma Ling and Ma Qianhu from Shipu Health Center can prove that what I just said is true. Ma Qianhu is on the island now. Does Mr. He need to invite him to come and confront him? ?”
(End of chapter)