Honglouchun

Temple Island.

Zhao Kui, the general manager of the Miaodao Navy, looked at Yue Zhixiang, who was dressed in a red unicorn brocade and wore a three-mountain wingless gauze hat, and his soul almost flew out.

He never expected that the legendary Embroidered Guard would descend from the sky and appear in front of him.

He thought hard about the crimes he committed over the years, but he deducted some military pay, enslaved some soldiers, and robbed a few daughters-in-law and girls from civilian families...

But with regard to these trivial matters, is it worth being an embroidery guard?

With such a character as Yue Zhixiang, it is natural to see that this generation has a guilty conscience.

However, he also knows that these former naval military officers will be dealt with sooner or later, but at the moment, only the officials above the capital are summoned to Beijing by the Duke of Beijing, and the hyenas are sent out of the lair, and then they will be cruel. clean up.

The Qianzong and Bazong under the capital are ignored for the time being, but it will be a matter of time.

So he didn't need to be in a hurry, he just asked in a deep voice: "Master Zhao, how many soldiers are there on the island now? How many people are there?"

Zhao Kui looked at Yue Zhixiang, then at Yan Sanniang, who was disguised as a man, and Kuai Dalang, who was as burly as a giant sea lion behind him, swallowed his saliva, and said, "Back... If you come back to my lord, Miaodao's soldiers are now Three hundred and eight people, seven hundred and two people, gathered into a village called Miaodao Village, with Wang and Jin as the main surnames."

Yue Zhixiang asked again: "How many ships are there, are there any soldiers and civilians who can repair warships?"

Zhao Kui was stared at by Yue Zhixiang's eyes. He was under great pressure and panic. He couldn't think about anything else. He said truthfully, "My lord, there is only one sand boat on the island, and five or six other small boats. Repair the boat... Warships are not good at repairing, but ordinary fishing boats can be repaired."

Yan Sanniang said softly to Yue Zhixiang: "As long as there are hundreds of laborers who can obey orders, that's enough."

Yue Zhixiang nodded and said: "In that case, then go and pick up your father's fleet into Tangwan, and leave it to me."

Excitement appeared in Yan Sanniang's eyes, she nodded heavily, and left with Kuai Dalang.

After the two left, Yue Zhixiang's gaze changed again, and he asked, "How many soldiers are there on the island?"

Zhao Kui began to sweat, and said: "Return...Return to your lord, the actual number of soldiers is three hundred..."

Before he finished speaking, he shuddered when he heard Yue Zhixiang's "hmm", and he forced a smile on his face and apologized: "My memory is wrong, the actual number of soldiers is one hundred...180 three."

Looking at Zhao Kui, who was sweating profusely, Yue Zhixiang didn't speak for a while, until Zhao Kui's two battles began to shake, Fang asked: "Miao Island is under the jurisdiction of Changdao County, who is the chief executive of Changdao County?"

Zhao Kui hurriedly said: "Mr. Qian is Zheng Darong!"

Yue Zhixiang said again: "How many soldiers does he have?"

Zhao Kui said: "President Qian has 200 soldiers under his command..."

"How much is the real amount?"

"There must be seven to eight hundred people..."

Yue Zhixiang nodded and said: "Take me to see Zheng Darong immediately."

If you don't have enough strength to subdue a group of pirates who roam the sea, it's no joke.

Yue Zhixiang wants to mobilize troops to suppress the formation before the Four Sea Kings fleet arrives!

……

Yangzhou Mansion, Qi Garden.

Cottage.

Although there are plum blossoms in the capital in February, it is still very cold.

As for Yangzhou, although the temperature has not yet reached a comfortable temperature, it can be regarded as the season of spring and flowers blooming.

However, in the thatched cottage, the heating is still burning.

Qi Taizhong was dressed in a thin brocade clothing, eyes closed and sitting on a rattan chair to rest his mind, listening to the endless disputes between the Patriarchs of the eight major surnames and the other three Yangzhou salt merchants.

It was late at night, and there was still no reason to argue.

The head of the Chu family, Chu Lun, walked to the big glass window, looked at Qi Taizhong and said, "Mr. Taizhong, I think you have to make up your mind on this matter!"

Qi Taizhong slowly opened his eyes, sighed and said with a smile: "You too, this matter is all voluntary. The Duke of Jingli also has the same intention, and those who wish will do it, so why force it?"

The Patriarch of Shangguan, who disagreed, said: "Old Qi, it's not a matter of forcing! It's just a matter of facing the court. The nine surnames have always been in the same breath, and we must not allow people to separate them and deal with them one by one. Furthermore , it also involves going to sea..."

Qi Taizhong said with a smile: "Yu Rong, don't you understand this well? Then what's the point of arguing?"

The head of the Shangguan family said seriously: "Old Qi, it's not an argument, it's just that there is no reason for it. We will transport the sea food from overseas to thousands of miles, and we will bear the risk of loss along the way, but the imperial court only Grain at the closing price! How can there be such a reason in this world?"

Patriarch Helian and Patriarch Taishi also nodded in unison, and said: "It's true that there is no such reason. How risky is shipping? There are many casualties of shipwrecks. The risks are all borne by us, but we only collect grain at the liquidation price. It is clear that we will lose money In fact, it doesn't matter if you lose a little money, but it's really not in business."

The Patriarch of the Chu family shook his head and said: "How can it be just a small account? It is true that this sea trade will not make a lot of money, and if you are unlucky, you may even lose some money, but you can't lose too much. What can you get back? You don't even think about it, what kind of errand is on Ning Guogong's shoulders now? The commander-in-chief, Yan Haishi, the governor of the yamen! What does this errand mean? I don't need to say more? As long as you are tied to the same boat as Ning Guogong, what is the point? The matter of money? Don’t blame the old man for calling you short-sighted, if it weren’t for Mr. Tai Zhong, he had done a good deal of favors and opened up the way a few years ago, and you only came to the door yourself, and you are in a hurry to give money to others. See if they want it!”

Patriarch Situ nodded and said, "That's reasonable! Duke Taizhong even sent his eldest grandson to listen to Lord Ning Guo for this line. It took a lot of effort to get today's reward, and you are still talking nonsense , what is the reason for this?"

The Patriarch of Shangguan said with an ugly face: "It's a good idea! When my Shangguan family is empty in the capital? Ning Guogong is naturally full of flowers and cooking oil, but he is young and vigorous, and his actions are too fierce. Nobles, civil and military officials, and scholars who don't hate him? From ancient times to the present, is there any courtier who is so domineering and can still have a good death? Even he knows it well, so he never forgets to go to sea. But he can Going out to sea, slapping his ass and leaving, our nine surnames can also leave without leaving? Besides, whether he can leave or not is a matter of two opinions!"

Patriarch Helian hurriedly asked: "Brother Yurong, what's the reason?"

The Patriarch of Shangguan sneered and said: "Judging from the letters from the palace, today's favor to this hot young dignitary is far less than the rumors say. But the Empress, I don't know what is good about him. En I am extremely favored. But Dayan's harem can't do anything in politics, and several princes have failed. The queen's reputation has also been damaged, and there is hidden discord between the emperor and queen. There are five sons in total, the second and third princes are defeated They all have something to do with Jia Qiang. Do you think the emperor will really love him like a prince? Even the real prince will be abolished when he says he will be abolished. Let him do his best to make money. Wait until the New Deal prevails in the world, and see if the man in the palace will liquidate Jia Qiang! If we really tie up Ning Guogong to death, when the boat capsizes, where will we go? ?”

……

Shenjing West City, Rongguo Mansion.

Honor Hall.

The whole family is making arrangements for Baoyu's marriage tomorrow. Even Jia Huan and Jia Lan have come. Tomorrow, Jia Qiang, Jia Zhu, Jia Yun, and Jia Cong will go to Zhao Guogong's mansion to get married.

Mother Jia, together with Aunt Xue and a few old nuns, taught them manners and manners, and arranged for Jia Lan and Jia Zhu to go to the kitchen of Duke Zhao's mansion to "steal" a pair of "children bowls" back.

Of course, it's not really stealing, the Jiang family will arrange good people in advance, wrap the dishes and chopsticks in red silk, and hand them over to bring them back.

Aunt Xue said with a smile: "Tomorrow will probably have to talk about numbers."

Jia Mu smiled and said, "Of course this is indispensable..." Then she told Jia Qiang, "This is the old and serious rule. When you go tomorrow, don't lose your face and get angry."

Jia Qiang said with a smile: "You always think of me as something. If you want Baoyu to marry a daughter-in-law, what kind of anger should I get?"

But Sister Feng laughed and said: "I don't know for sure. If the Jiang family just closed the gate and didn't let them in, wouldn't you be annoyed? The people inside those gates are very bad!"

Li Wan laughed, and said: "I will let the musicians who came with me play music, and put out some repertoire, such as "Dung Beetle Climbs a Bamboo Pole", "Zhao Kuangyin Beats Dates"..."

Jia Qiang became interested and said, "Dung beetle climbs a bamboo pole, and I know that one section smells like another. What's the story of Zhao Kuangyin beating dates?"

Daiyu laughed and said: "Come on, don't tell people that I am your half-teacher in the future, I really can't afford to lose face."

All the sisters laughed, Li Wan was more gentle, and said to Jia Qiang: "It is said that Zhao Kuangyin was a very bastard loafer before he made a fortune. Fleeing to a foreign country to seek refuge with his uncle. He was hungry all the way and was not full. He saw a jujube tree in a garden, and there were countless dates on the tree. , injured the domestic dog, the hostess heard the movement, and saw someone stealing dates and beating the dog, and reprimanded him sharply. Zhao Kuangyin was furious, and punched him in the head, almost killing him. At this time, the host came out, but recognized the assailant as his nephew. This allusion is also to remind the world that if a married daughter throws water, it is not good for a born nephew to return home, otherwise he will beat his uncle... It is also a provocative play."