Lu Ming

Cao's tribe that appeared out of nowhere stood in front of them like a crouching tiger.Now let’s not talk about competing with Zheng Zhilong and intervening in the grand strategic concept of Sino-Japanese trade. Liu Xiang’s hometown Chaoshan is not safe now: there is only a 200-mile sea route between Xiamen and Cao’s Clippers. Being able to come and meet him kept him up at night.

So shopkeeper Liu frantically sent spies to investigate everywhere, and at the same time sent many batches of messengers to contact friends including the Portuguese, hoping that the situation would change.

The turning point of the matter appeared at the end of December: Song Asheng, the spy sent earlier, returned to Chaoshan.

……

Song Asheng is from Jieyang, and he is also an old brother from Chaoshan.This man had never been a spy before, he was just the captain of a certain bird ship.

The reason why Song Asheng was sent to Xiamen was not because he was smart, but according to the spies who came back last time, they saw that Song Asheng’s nephew was working at Kunren’s—so Song Asheng was sent to Xiamen after being encouraged by Liu Xiang. Xiamen.

Unexpectedly, Song Asheng came back in less than half a month this time.

In a row of dilapidated wooden houses on the shore of Dahao Island, Liu Xiang, who had just had lunch, summoned Song Asheng immediately after receiving the notification.

After pouring a cup of narcissus tea, Liu Xiang, who is short, dark-skinned, and angular, has no manners. After Song Asheng took a sip of the tea, he immediately asked: "Old Song, come back soon, when is it time for you?" Any news?"

"Yes, yes!" Song Asheng nodded again and again at this moment: "This time I was lucky, I took a merchant ship to go, and within two days I met my nephew in the restaurant run by the Kunren."

Liu Xiang nodded slowly when she heard this: "It's good luck!"

Song Asheng then said a little excitedly: "Boss shopkeeper, that Kunren can stop the brothers on the ocean every time, so it's not because of the large number of boats, but because of the magic weapon!"

When Liu Xiang heard this, she leaned forward slightly: "Oh!? How do you say it?"

"The Kun people built a three-foot-high pier in the middle left city. On the top of the pier, there is a magic vessel in the shape of a silver pot. It turns endlessly every day, and its name is 'Lord Lei'."

Song Asheng said excitedly at this time: "Master Lei was invited by Kunren from a person who has achieved Taoism. He has supernatural powers and can see ships within 200 miles on the ocean, day or night!"

"Really!?" When Liu Xiang heard this, her eyes widened, her legs turned up, and she jumped off the chair.

"Don't dare to lie to the shopkeeper!" Song Asheng hurriedly explained at this time: "My nephew is walking on the Liangtai, and he is a good friend with the apprentice Kunren who manipulates the magic weapon. According to him, every time the brothers' boat has not passed In Futou Bay, people have already passed the news to Pao Chuan using the method of sound transmission for thousands of miles!"

"Hey, I think there is a way to transmit sound across thousands of miles. It seems that merchants are spending money to buy news recently."

Liu Xiang is worthy of being someone who came here in the wind and waves. After a brief gaffe, he folded his hands behind his back and sighed: "At first I thought it was all legends, but now it seems that these outsiders really have some overseas esoteric techniques!"

At this moment, Liu Xiang shook her head, and made a tsk-tsk sound: "I can't blame a few ships for blocking the 600-mile sea area, so it is so, hehe, so it is..."

Song Asheng finally added at this time: "Master Lei is said to be a son-mother connection. The central left office, Penghu, and the big officials have deployed it. A nest of male and female magical artifacts has sealed the strait tightly."

"Old Song, this news is important, thank you for your hard work this time." Liu Xiang reached out and patted Song Asheng's shoulder at this moment: "Go to the Liangtai to receive three rewards, and tomorrow I will send two more boats for you."

"Thank you big shopkeeper!"

"You should be rewarded for your meritorious deeds. What should my brothers thank you for? Maybe I will ask you to go to Zhongzuo Institute again in the future."

"Needless to say, all you need is a word from the shopkeeper!"

……

After dismissing Song Asheng, Liu Xiang waved away the others, and walked up and down the room silently.

Although the mystery of the fleet being intercepted many times has been revealed, Liu Xiang does not relax at all now, and her thoughts are even heavier.

If what Song Asheng said was true, and Kunren was really using a weapon to monitor the ocean surface, then Liu Xiang's last hope would be extinguished.

Originally, he returned to the Chaoshan area at the risk of being raided by the Cao family, just to wait for his opponent to be exhausted.However, the reality gave him a heavy blow: Cao's was patrolling with those gunboats from the beginning to the end, and he was very relaxed...

In this way, it seems that Liu Xiang's gang has only one way to go: go south to Guangdong and never come back. Even if they take a break in the future, they can only go to Vietnam and Siam.

Thinking of this, Liu Xiang, who was usually decisive, was extremely irritable at the moment, walking back and forth in the room in a hurry, with a look of anxiety and helplessness on his face.

However, at the next moment, Liu Xiang suddenly stood still, and after muttering for a while, he shouted loudly to the door: "Come here, please come to see me, the military division."

Naturally, there are military advisers in front of Liu Xiang's tent, and there are more than one.But there is only one military adviser without a surname in the title, and that is Yu Xianke, the chief military adviser who died in battle with Liu Xiang in history.

Chapter 331 Liu Xiang's Coping

As the name suggests, Yu Xian's guest has an extraordinary demeanor.This gentleman is about 40 years old, wearing a scholar's robe, with a long beard, a clear face, and the appearance of a noble man.

In fact, Yu Xianke, as Liu Xiang's chief military adviser, did not make much strategic achievements, and it can even be said to have failed.Of course, he can't be blamed for this. After all, he was born as a wandering Taoist priest and has never read history books carefully.

In history, in the seventh year (1635) after Zheng Zhilong was recruited, the reputation of the Liuxiang Group, which kept looting the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong, reached its peak, causing Chongzhen to be shocked. The imperial court had to start the recruitment plan again, planning to bring Zheng Zhilong second.

Xiong Wencan, who was the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi at the time and also caressed Fujian, immediately ordered Hong Yunzheng, who was then the governor of Huizhou Prefecture, to preside over the matter, and went to the sea together with Guangzhou general Xia Zhilin, Chaozhou coastal defense Huang Zong, and Huizhou judge Yao Xizhe. Feng recruits Liu Xiang.

And who represented Liu Xiang to Haifeng to negotiate the recruitment matters?It was Yu Xianke, the military adviser.

And what about the outcome of the negotiation?

On April [-]th of that year, the government set up five factory sheds on the banks of the Haifeng River and held a ceremony of appeasement.Then Liu Xiang led forty or fifty wooden boats to the foot of the mountain, and went ashore to see Hong Yunzheng.

Just after the consolation, Liu Xiang suddenly accused Hong Yunzheng of being a fake governor, so he hijacked Hong Yunzheng and a group of officials on board.There was a sudden chaos on the shore, and countless tramples were trampled on.In the end, Liu Xiang imprisoned Hong Yunzheng and others in Mozi Gorge in Huidong County.

The occurrence of this hijacking incident can be said to be a watershed that led to Liu Xiang's prosperity and decline: from then on, the government stopped thinking about recruiting security and began to concentrate on mobilizing troops and horses to destroy Liu Xiang.

So after just one year, Liu Xiang was killed in Tianweiyang by Zheng Zhilong and the government coalition forces in seven battles and seven victories... Military advisor Yu Xianke died on the same day.

In this matter, Yu Xianke, the military adviser who served as the negotiating representative at the beginning, had to bear a great deal of responsibility. Well, Liu Xiang shouldn't be smart enough to take away a bunch of officials.What is the court most?The most officials!If you grab a truckload today, you can fill it up tomorrow!

Of course, for a pirate group that has no great political ambitions and only knows how to plunder everywhere, it is normal that the level of staff is low, because there will be no regular literati to join this kind of group.

After Li Zicheng grew up, he didn't get a Niu Jinxing until 1640, the eve of entering Beijing, and he was still a reform-through-labour prisoner who was punished by the Ming Dynasty.However, as if Li Post had obtained a treasure, he worshiped Niu Jinxing as a scholar (prime minister) in Xi'an-it can be seen that in ancient times, if the system had not completely collapsed, most literati would rather be poor than find a job outside the system.

In the same way, who would ignore Zheng Zhilong before recruiting him?However, once he puts on the official skin, even if he is a funny "five tiger guerrilla generals", a large number of literati will come, and all kinds of counselors, literati, Qingke and masters will fill the account... There is too much difference between inside and outside the system.

……

Although Yu Xianke's level is not high, but he is still Liu Xiang's more important person: because there are some things that only he can do are reasonable, and other illiterate pirates with rusty faces can't do it... such as talking about recruiting.Yes, after Liu Xiang thought about it, under heavy pressure, he thought of the chamber pot again, so he planned to talk to the officials in the government about recruiting security.

"I don't know if my boss will meet the call, but the student is late, atonement, atonement." After entering the door, Yu Xianke was not a scholar, but he had learned a lot of the sour words of a scholar.

However, Liu Xiang insisted on this way: "Sir, you don't have to be polite. There is a troublesome matter that needs to be discussed. Maybe you need to go out for a while."

"It's easy to say, I don't know what the boss is talking about?"

"Alas..." Liu Xiang sighed at this moment: "Regard me."

Speaking of recruiting security, it is not so easy to recruit.If you can enter the system by admitting your defeat and kowtow, why is Zheng Zhilong the only one who succeeds among so many big pirates?

First of all, because of impure motives, Liu Xiang is the same as Li Kuiqi and his ilk, that is, it is very difficult for small pirate leaders like them to be recruited.

Hurt the government, reconcile the government, and then give the government face, do things in a high-profile manner, and behave in a low-key manner, deal with big officials and small officials, and also bear a large amount of early-stage venture capital, including but not limited to money and your own wealth and life...

The real recruitment has very high requirements for the performer, and there are a lot of technical actions. Every link must be in place. The difficulty is no less than that of the rubbish companies in the later generations.

With Zheng Zhilong's dominance, layout, sincerity, slickness and flexibility, after many twists and turns at the beginning, he took personal risks many times, and was able to recruit after gaining the trust of the big boss.So for someone like Liu Xiang who is rebellious and half-hearted, the probability of success is actually negligible.

Of course Liu Xiang knew this very well, so Zhao An was a chamber pot—only when she was in a hurry to urinate would she think of it.

Now he has a urgency to pee.

When Liu Xiang told Yu Xianke all about the current situation of the gang, the latter was silent for a while, and then he asked slowly: "I don't know who the boss wants to vote for?"

"Ah." Liu Xiang sighed: "It's just that he's indecisive here."

"Since it's a fictional story, why should you care about the next family?" Yu Xianke didn't understand at this moment.

"Sir, I don't know something. This recruitment is a false one, so it's hard to be perfunctory." Liu Xiang shook his head and sighed again when he said this, and then he explained his analysis of the recruitment in detail.

……

In view of the current situation, for Liu Xiang, the most ideal state is to wear an official skin, so that he can be a minister with the Cao family and avoid future conflicts.

So now he has three options: talk to Cao about recruiting to become a second-line marshal, talk to Governor Xiong Wencan of Fujian about recruiting, and talk to Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi Wang Zunde about recruiting.

However, no matter which mountain to worship, it is obvious that under the huge strategic pressure of a certain force, he can no longer play with the government.

This awkward situation is extremely uncomfortable for Liu Xiang, who wants to put on official clothes and doesn't want to take responsibility.In other words, his ideal idea of ​​being a pirate while being an official and not conflicting with the Cao family is now impossible to realize.

Needless to say, the Cao family, who possesses powerful force, the half-hearted so-called recruiting security is just looking for trouble, attracting the opponent's gunboats to the door.

As for Xiong Wencan, the reason is the same: to come to the door to talk about recruiting security, it is bound to be inferior.Even a three-year-old child knows that murder and arson are prosecuted. If you didn't beat the government, can they treat you like a green onion?

We must know that the current situation is completely different from the history.

First of all, the most important point is that Liu Xiang can't threaten the coast of Fujian at all.

Secondly, Xiong Wencan not only has a strong family, but also has a gold medal fighter who is "completely different from Zheng Zhilong and seems quite obedient".At this time, Xiong Da has two sleeves of golden wind and praise from the court, which is the time when the spring breeze is inflated indiscriminately, so with his feet, he can imagine what Xiong Wencan will look like once Liu Xiang comes to the door.

In other words, shopkeeper Liu's bargaining power is now reduced, and Xiong Wencan's conditions will definitely be very harsh.

However, Lao Liu didn’t dare to walk away, because Lao Xiong didn’t care if the talk broke down, maybe Lao Xiong would still be happy to talk about it: let Liu Xiang go to Guangdong to slap Wang Zunde in the face, and it’s a good thing for him to watch the fun One thing... You can't have too high a moral standard for an official.

So on the surface, the best option is Lord Governor of Guangdong.

However, Liu Xiang personally is the least optimistic about Wang Zunde.

One: Crazy looting and doing things in Guangdong, and then a series of battles with the official army, finally defeated the official army, got the government's intention to recruit peace, and then came to the door with money to settle the big and small officials, slavishly flattering, kneeling in the matter... really want If you copy Zheng Zhilong's difficult route, to be honest, Liu Xiang has no confidence in himself.

Second: Liu Xiang has no commercial base.In history, Zheng Zhilong was the son-in-law of Japan and controlled the Japanese raw silk trade.Moreover, he occupies Xiamen's old nest and has a commercial base and channels, so businessman Zheng Zhilong urgently needs to recruit security.

And what about Liu Xiang?He is a rogue, with neither commercial channels nor bases.Now Xiamen has been occupied by the Cao family, and there are Portuguese at the mouth of the Pearl River, so Liu Xiang lacks the motivation to recruit security.

This is the most fundamental reason for Liu Xiang's half-heartedness and repeated reluctance to recruit security in history: If Zheng Zhilong can't get it right, if he can't get Xiamen, what's the use of recruiting security?Except for the name, the government will not give it to them, except for the name.

Without commercial channels and bases, even if he was given the title of General Liu Laoxiang, he still had to take his brothers out to rob, otherwise, his men would run away in a short time.

The current situation is actually the same as in history, so Liu Xiang is very confused now: Even if he followed Wang Zunde's way to recruit security, but if he wants to go out to rob soon, why bother?

As for Liu Xiang's last concern, it was purely a premonition of his own: once he made things big in Guangdong, the Cao's soldiers and horses entrenched in Xiamen would come from behind to help Guangdong officials.

The Cao family is different from the traditional military leaders who live behind closed doors—for no reason, Liu Xiang just had this strange premonition.

……

After listening to the various concerns of the boss, even Yu Xianke, who is a gentleman, also has a strong sense of crisis at this moment.Yu Xianke couldn't help thinking that he was able to force his boss, who was always ruthless and straightforward, into such a situation.

After a cup of tea, after Yu Xianke had settled his thoughts, he stroked his long beard and said to Liu Xiang: "I am fully aware of Dong Weng's concerns. From the looks of it now, it is still necessary to find out the true and false thoughts of several schools." , so I can make a decision. So, I will set off tomorrow and take a trip to Xiamen and Fuzhou, and the owner will wait for my news."

Seeing Liu Xiang hesitated to speak, Yu Xianke, who knew his concerns, chuckled, raised his hand and pressed down: "My boss, don't worry, Yu will be courteous when he goes here, so that he won't offend his enemies and ruin him." situation."

"So I'm relieved." Seeing that the military division understood what she meant, Liu Xiang immediately nodded, "I'll see the military division off tomorrow!"

Chapter 332 Recruiting Journey ([-])

On January 1629, 1, the lucky ship "Qingde" that Yu Xianke was on slowly moored on the trestle of Xiamen Port.

"Qingde" is a 400 material blessing boat that is probably new and in good condition.Since Yu Xianke planned to go to both Dayuan and Fuzhou for this voyage, he must have a good boat.

That day, after he and Liu Xiang made up their minds, they packed some gold and silver jewelry, rare gifts, and various groceries on the Qingde ship, and then picked out a few pirate attendants who seemed to be in good condition, and then set off to the north. Row.

As for Guangzhou in the south, Hu Shishi, the deputy military adviser, was responsible for finding a way out.

Yu Xianke set off from Chaoshan 10 days ago. He didn't want to encounter strong winds on the way, so he had to delay for a few days before arriving in Xiamen.

Fuchuan was not questioned along the way, because the ships going to Xiamen now have a fixed coastal route.All ships on this route will eventually be inspected at Xiamen Port, so Kunren's patrol boats often just pass by.So the Qingde followed a merchant ship far behind, and swaggered to Xiamen.

For traditional Ming people like Yu Xianke, this time point is just an ordinary day on the eve of the Lunar New Year.But for a certain force, the spirit of the conference has just been conveyed to the grassroots, and the whole country is in an atmosphere of opening a new chapter and flourishing.

So when the Fuchuan docked at the port, what I saw was a more prosperous scene than before.

The original Zhongzuosuo Wharf has changed drastically at this moment: the dilapidated wooden trestle has disappeared, replaced by several wide and long stone trestles that penetrate deep into the sea.

These trestles are all high-end trapezoidal structures, and the neat rectangular large rocks are piled up into geometric shapes, with gray and white cement colors revealed in the gaps, which can ensure three-sided parking and passengers can get on and off at the same time.

Smoking black smoke and shining with metallic luster, the big orange is busy hoisting the cargo in the cabin onto the flatbed truck.

Accompanied by the roar of the machines, there are laborers pushing carts with bare arms in the cold northern monsoon, shouting and pushing.

Since the Qingde was not here for trading, it didn't have much cargo to unload.And when Yu Xianke faced a few port officers who came on board to check in blue jackets and training caps, he generously showed his identity, and took out the silver and tried to give them to each other, " Please also send a message to your superiors, there is an envoy from shopkeeper Liu Xiangliu to come to visit."

Yu Xianke was forced to do so: since Li Kuiqi lost the battle that day and the Cao family occupied Xiamen, not long after, the semi-public "consulates" left by shopkeepers in Fuzhou City were all destroyed. .

After Xiong Wencan inspected the real achievements of the cross-travelers, he immediately ordered that all the people in Fuzhou City be arrested for the crime of banditry, all the title deeds of the shops were seized, and all the goods were confiscated to the government.So the big and small officials and subordinates in Fuzhou City made a fortune again - due to the sudden incident, the money that the pirates sold the order flags in these shops did not have time to transfer.

This trend quickly spread throughout Fujian: anyway, Wu was supported by Cao's soldiers and horses, and Wen was supported by old bears, so they were arrogant and domineering in the past, almost openly sitting in the shop to sell the group of people They were taken down overnight by the local governments and thrown into prisons.

Now half a year has passed, and the local governments, who were still holding a wait-and-see attitude, discovered that General Cao was really not the one who built it: even a small group of pirates along the coast of Fujian have been strangled by dragnets.So everyone didn't hesitate any longer, and all the people who were imprisoned were pulled out and had their heads chopped off.

From this moment on, the pirates who had been arrogant for many years were completely interrupted.No one dared to claim that he was under a certain shopkeeper anymore, and a "strike hard" atmosphere had formed in the whole of Fujian, and all the activities of the pirates on the shore had been transferred underground.

In this situation, there was no need for Yu Xianke to contact the local spies: anyway, he would go to Kunren's door, why not be aboveboard?

So today, after Yu Xianke revealed his identity, he handed over the money.

However, these "gentlemen" in front of him brought him a different customer experience: when the leader saw the hand stretched out, he smiled and pushed Yu Xianke's hand back: "If you don't need money, I will do it too." There is no need to notify you."

Having said that, the port officer turned around and pointed to the center left city in the distance: "If it's business, you can go to the city to see the general yourself."

Seeing Yu Xianke nodding stupidly, several officials checked the cabin as usual, and did not tamper with the belongings during the period.

After the inspection, since the Qingde did not need to unload the cargo, after asking about the berthing time, the port officer simply issued a bill for the diversion fee and the berthing fee, and then pointed out the payment point on the shore.