Lu Ming

This location is not only in the downstream of Guangzhou, it is convenient for the treatment and discharge of industrial waste in the future, but also convenient for undertaking the industrial population of Guangzhou and Foshan. It is an ideal plot to be developed.

Foshan Town in the Ming Dynasty was a famous capital of iron smelting. All the upstream and downstream industrial chains of metal smelting can be found in Foshan. There are many original industrial workers, and it is the best personnel supplement base for future industrial zones.

Guangzhou is where the future capital of the Traveling Kingdom is located. All kinds of resources, industries, including the large number of Traveling people stationed here are all strengths.In addition, powerful monitoring, infiltration, and even force will also enter this land one after another.Therefore, in terms of power balance, the strength of the Ming government and the local gentry will be surpassed and crushed by the new forces in a short time.

In this situation, inviting local "progressive" forces to jointly develop the new area has become an optional path: unlike Shanghai Port, which hangs alone in the south of the Yangtze River, it is difficult to cross the crowd and need to do things secretly.In the Guangzhou New District, the pace of reform can be stepped up a bit, because any possible backlash will be easily suppressed.

Hence, in today's plenary meeting, Ding Liqiu brought out a top-secret information for the first time: a high-scale topographic map of the surrounding area of ​​Guangzhou.Then he told several big businessmen about the idea of ​​the new district.Of course, here Ding Chunqiu only introduced the industrial area, he would not talk about the administrative area equivalent to a small capital.

After several big businessmen heard this idea, they were very interested: to clear out a piece of land specially used to set up a workshop, and then each of them would invest in the workshop, so that they could directly control the source of goods in the future.

"This is an act of consolidating the foundation and cultivating the talents. It is a good thing. As long as Mr. Ding gives an order, we will definitely go to the grand event together!"

After listening to Ding Liqiu's plans for three links and one leveling, shared power, transportation tracks, etc., which are necessary for the industrial zone, the few present immediately realized the huge benefits, so they immediately nodded in agreement.

After talking about this core issue, today's meeting can be regarded as a complete success.Afterwards, the host and guest held a simple reception, and everyone stayed at Tiandao Temple by the way... mainly because the city gate was closed.

After this day passed, it was time to receive those second-rate businessmen.A large number of businessmen quickly filled the front yard of Tiandao Temple, each holding a number plate, sitting there anxiously waiting for Mr. Ding Da to turn over the number, just like licking a dog waiting for a seat in Haidilao.

For these people, Comrade Ding Liqiu often let them go with a few words-many products now have Guangdong general agents, and it is OK to send someone to find their respective general agents.

While Ding Liqiu was in a hurry, the fast fleet set off again in a murderous manner.The fleet has two tasks this time: one is to go to Lamma Island to demonstrate and put pressure on Liu Xiang, and the other is to meet the support fleet and escort the other party to Guangzhou.

Soon, on the third day after the fleet set off, ten new lock ships with Chinese-style hard sails, but with a slightly weird style, followed the fast fleet back to Baietan.

As the business of the cross-country gets bigger and bigger, the displacement of the new lock ship, which is the main transport ship, is getting higher and higher.The latest standard has been raised to a displacement of [-] tons, which is already a big ship of more than [-] materials in the eyes of the wise.

Then, a total of nearly [-] tons of goods were unloaded from the Guangzhou wharf one after another.After seeing so many in-demand products, the entire Guangdong business community was shocked. The merchants who were still hesitating before finally made up their minds to become agents at this moment, and the sea-like silver was then pulled to Tiandao Temple in a carriage. Cars even lined up outside the mountain gate.

Things that surprised everyone across the world came one after another: on the second night after the fleet came back, a special envoy came: Liu Xiang, the confidant of shopkeeper Liu, Yu Xianke, was actually sitting in a small boat. He came to Tiandao Temple with two servants and asked to see General Cao himself by name.

Of course, General Cao didn't mind seeing Master Yu on his own territory, but when Master Yu entered the door, he turned sideways, revealing the short follower wearing a bamboo hat behind him.

"I'm Liu Xiang, and I pay my respects to General Cao."

Chapter 382

Zhang Dongdong, who was seated at the top, was a little surprised when he heard the person reporting his family name.He let out a prolonged "Oh" before he realized that the black dwarf in front of him was actually Liu Xiang himself.

In the previous report on Liu Xiang, the evaluation of this person was more of a "pirate attribute".That is to say, Liu Xiang is more inclined to be cunning, violent, untrustworthy and other behaviors that focus on short-term interests.

Liu Xiang's starting point and Zheng Zhilong's thinking are completely different.In history, in order to achieve strategic goals, Zheng Zhilong did not hesitate to take risks many times, including with the Dutch and the Ming court.

But Liu Xiang has never had this kind of thinking.Usually, when shopkeeper Liu goes ashore in person to meet his "good friends", it basically means that something is going to happen: in history, shopkeeper Liu not only kidnapped officials of the Ming Dynasty under the pretext of recruiting security, but also used the opportunity of visiting the Dutch to lead his troops to attack officials at night. The store...if the red-haired sentinel hadn't been vigilant, shopkeeper Liu would have almost succeeded.

Therefore, after combining the comprehensive evaluation of history, the people across the time have a clear understanding of Liu Xiang: this kind of person usually doesn't believe anyone, and is a standard Machiavellian.

Some time ago, the first contact between the two parties also explained this problem: as soon as the envoy heard that the cross-travelers wanted Liu Xiang to come for an interview in person, there was no further news.

However, the world is unpredictable, today shopkeeper Liu suddenly came to the door in person, and really caught the people in charge of the reception by surprise.

"...It seems that despair changes people really strongly. Even shopkeeper Liu started to be put to death and reborn!" Zhang Dongdong, who was sitting at the head in an official robe, had already figured out the situation at this time, so he said "Oh Huh" smiled, and then opened his mouth to ask with great interest: "Shopkeeper Liu, have you figured it out today?"

"Don't dare. My lord is pressing harder and harder, Liu Xiang has nowhere to go, now I have to come to ask for advice and ask for a way out for my brothers."

After listening to Liu Xiang's mandarin with a strong Cantonese accent, Zhang Dongdong couldn't help smiling: It seems that this guy is still full of resentment.

Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Ma Yue, the deputy director of the Intelligence Bureau, who was sitting beside him, turned to whisper a few words.

After listening to the whisper, Zhang Dongdong nodded slightly, and then he immediately got up and said to Liu Xiang: "Shopkeeper Liu, don't worry, no matter what the outcome of the negotiation today, you can go back safely, I can guarantee this!"

After Zhang Dongdong finished speaking, he nodded slightly, and then left.

Since they didn't know that Liu Xiang was coming, the cross-travelers didn't take the messenger Yu Xianke seriously. Zhang Dongdong and the others originally planned to drive him away with one word: tell Liu Xiang to come in person.

As a result, Liu Xiang really came here, so Zhang Dongdong, as the nominal top decision-maker, is not suitable for the back-and-forth negotiation between you and me-the two sides are not at the same level.So Ma Yue, who reacted in time, quickly sent Zhang Dongdong out.

After that, everyone moved to a conference room with a relatively large area.Ma Yue took this opportunity to order someone to invite Sha Zhengming and Wang Bo over. After a lot of tossing, when everyone was present, the two parties sat on both sides of a long table and began to introduce themselves more formally. .

Coming with Liu Xiang were his military advisor Yu Xianke and his deputy military advisor Hu Shishi.And when shopkeeper Liu heard the titles of the three people opposite him, his originally uneasy mood settled down a lot: since the famous "monk general" Sha Zhengming himself is sitting here, at least the other party is still willing to talk, and It's not that he came to kill him.

……

Speaking of shopkeeper Liu's psychological changes in the past few days, it is also full of bitterness.

In fact, when the Fast Fleet visited Causeway Bay that day, shopkeeper Liu knew that the enemy was coming—joke, Lamma Island and Hong Kong Island were within sight, how could the thousands of pirates entrenched around not see the string of hanging Bai Fan's old acquaintance?

After receiving the letter, shopkeeper Liu, who was on the verge of a formidable enemy, immediately dispatched a number of sentinel boats and disguised fishing boats to hang far behind his old opponent.Then it didn't take long before the sound of rumbling guns, which foreshadowed an ominous omen, began to float in the sky over the Pearl River Estuary...

At the same time that the fast fleet that was destroying the stability and unity of the Pearl River Estuary was leaving, shopkeeper Liu had already begun to interrogate Comrade Hullfish, a diving athlete who was soaked in water and had seaweed on his head.

The group-headed fish brought back by the disguised fishing boat broke the fluke mentality of everyone in the big tent with just a few words: it was indeed a "short-haired gunboat".Respect is directly proportional to strength. By this time, few pirates used the word "kun thief" to describe a certain army.

After spending the night with a lot of worries, from the next day, Liu Xiang received a steady stream of news from Guangzhou City.

Now Guangzhou has not experienced the kind of pirate extermination in Fujian that first suppressed the bandits, then dragged the net to strangle them, and finally created a triple attack of pirate extermination. Therefore, there are many related households in the city who are related to bandits, and shopkeeper Liu can receive them in time. First hand news.

Then when the news continued to gather, Liu Xiang knew that the one who should come was finally here: Since these short-haired people want to do business in Guangzhou City University, they must first suppress the bandits and open up business routes... Fujian's set It's about to happen again.

But this time Liu Xiang didn't know where to retreat.Shopkeeper Liu is very confused now, is he really going to take his hands to Nanyang where there are savages everywhere?Or turn around and fight the shorthair to the death?

Either option is the right of two evils or...suicide.Liu Xiang is sure that a large number of his subordinates will leave him as soon as he said it, and the gang will fall apart... Those little shopkeepers actually have a third way to go, which is to buy out their working years earn a living.

In fact, someone is already planning to run away, Liu Xiang knows this very well.Countless confrontations along the coast of Fujian have broken the backs of the pirates. There is a gang of several thousand people, but no one can come up with an idea to defeat those strange ships.

At this time, shopkeeper Liu's last hope: the Macau envoy arrived.

When the fast fleet appeared at the Pearl River estuary, apart from Liu Xiang, the Franji entrenched in Macau were also facing an enemy: the bad political and business relations with the Xiamen General's Mansion made the Portuguese extremely sensitive to this fleet.

Afterwards, while Liu Xiang was collecting intelligence on Guangzhou, the Portuguese were actually also collecting intelligence.Then this pair of suffering brothers and sisters also came to the same conclusion: a certain force is going to enter Guangzhou on a large scale and never leave again.

Therefore, in just a few days, not only did the cross-travelers collude with the local aborigines in Guangzhou, but Macau and Lamma Island, which are located at the mouth of the Pearl River, were also closely connected, and envoys frequently went back and forth.

Just the day before the fast fleet set off from Guangzhou City to pick up the support fleet, the envoys from Macau brought two important pieces of news to Liu Xiang.

The first is bad news: Manila has made it clear that Liu Xiang is not allowed to lead his troops south to seek refuge.

There is no doubt about the Spaniard's statement: the Spaniards in this plane are now fighting with a certain force because of the slave trade, so they will definitely not allow Liu Xiang to seek refuge in the south.

Furthermore, the main force of the Spaniards at this moment is devoted to the sacred activity of purifying the heretics, so the big pie faces really don't know what is the use of taking in a pirate team that may rebel at any time?

In short, no matter what the benefits are, the effect of taking in Liu Xiang is greater than the harm of offending the people who travel through.So the Spaniards explicitly rejected Liu Xiang's idea.

The second message brought by the Portuguese envoy is: Thirty high-quality bronze cannons of various calibers produced by the best Macau Bucarao Cannon Foundry in East Asia are ready. Liu Xiang only needs to send someone to pull them out. You can equip it and use it when you come back... Most importantly, these artillery are completely free.

At the same time, the Macao envoy also brought the latest attitude of the Macao Parliament: the warships of Liu and Macao do not match in speed and firepower, so in possible future battles, the two sides will not fight together.

After that, the envoy also secretly told Liu Xiang the real reason why the two sides could not further cooperate: the Portuguese were afraid of the Ming country's offensive from the land... You must know that the Ming country has endless manpower, and those fortresses in Macau can block the Dutch and the British Dude, you can't stop the Ming people.Therefore, the Portuguese can only secretly support Liu Xiang with a large amount of free arms, so that shopkeeper Liu can have the confidence to fight through the crowd.

While laughing loudly, Liu Xiang patted his chest, said that he must kill the transversal people, and sent the envoy out of the big tent in person.

After that, the boss locked himself in the back tent, and no one saw him.

The next day, the boss went out of the tent: he stood on the hill behind the big tent and witnessed the imperialist act of the fast fleet swaggering around Lamma Island, sinking many pirate ships, and killing and wounding many pirates.

So, under the pressure of "coming to betray relatives" and "looking around the world but having nowhere to go", Liu Xiang finally boarded a small boat and, accompanied by several cronies, embarked on the road to Guangzhou.

……

Although the people who traveled through the time did not know about the violent psychological activities that Liu Xiang experienced in just a few days, they understood everything at the moment when Chief Liu was sitting in the Tiandao Temple—it was not that he was desperate, and that shopkeeper Liu would not run away. Come.

So Ma Yue and the others appeared on the negotiating table as victors at the moment, and what they said also carried the toughness and pride that victors should have:

"It's impossible to keep the series. Shopkeeper Liu, you should give up your heart. If you want to command thousands of troops again, the only way is to start again from the army, and then climb up step by step. The general will give you this opportunity .”

"It's even easier to be a rich man. Any ship that you personally own shares, we can count it as silver for you at the current price. These, together with your privately accumulated property, should be enough to buy one or two best-selling products... …After going through the familiar channels, I will buy upstream factories in the future, hehe, shopkeeper Liu, you can get rich in just one thought!"

"The General's Mansion protects the lives and property of all defectors. You have also planted many spies in Dayuan. You should know that those pirate shopkeepers who defected are living a good life now. You don't deny this, do you?"

Intense negotiations between the two sides lasted all night.

Chapter 383

After "blending" with the crossing people for a whole night, before the dawn of the next day, Liu Xiang safely boarded the boat when he came, and returned to Lamma Island quietly.

Standing on the bow of the boat in front of the rising sun, looking at the two sides of the Pearl River falling backward like a flying shuttle, recalling everything that happened last night, shopkeeper Liu is in a very complicated mood at the moment.The sense of relaxation and fear of the future are intertwined, making him at a loss as to what to do.

From the beginning to the end of this trip to the White Swan Lake, Liu Xiang's emotions were quite ups and downs.

At the beginning, he set out with a gloomy mood such as "let him die and live", "throw himself in the net" and so on.

Then when he saw the crossing crowd, shopkeeper Liu felt the opponent's "reality": Although he was a little surprised when he suddenly saw him in person, the staff from the general down quickly put on a formal negotiation posture, and did not Use the methods commonly used by pirates to deal with negotiating envoys, such as "dismounting power", "closing the slogan", and "seducing words".

Liu Xiang, who has been kidnapped countless times in her life and negotiated with intermediaries for many years, soon sensed the truth from some clues and the casual habits of her opponents: I really didn't intend to cheat, and the original words were counted..." If you want to negotiate, let Liu Xiang come in person."

From this moment on, Shopkeeper Liu secretly heaved a sigh of relief—the Cao family is not Xiong Wencan, but a general who was ordered to suppress thieves.Even if Liu Xiang's head was chopped off on the spot yesterday, it was the general's plan to defeat the thief, and he had no moral scruples in this regard.

However, after the formal negotiation, shopkeeper Liu's relaxed mood became tense again: the cross-travelers clearly told Liu Xiang that all his plays must lay down their arms and accept screening and adaptation. This cannot be changed.

The first article of the negotiation shattered all Liu Xiang's thoughts about the core military power.Liu Xiang was puzzled by the other party's undisguised arrogance: Shouldn't he be a corporal?At least you should coax the wolf into the circle and then "picture it slowly". Are you really afraid that you will die and be caught?

Perhaps because of the four pot-bellied glazed kerosene lamps, the conference room was extremely bright.So the "Master Ma" with a bun sitting directly opposite Liu Xiang could see what Gang Leader Liu was thinking from his eyes.

So he smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Liu, you probably haven't even figured out why we have to negotiate with you, anyway, I'll let you know what strength is today."

Having said that, Master Ma turned a shiny iron plate in front of him and pushed it to the middle of the long table.Then Liu Xiang's trio opened their mouths wide: On that iron plate, shopkeeper Liu actually sat in the big tent on Lamma Island a few days ago and discussed with his bosses!Not only were there images, but also the voice of Gang Leader Liu giving orders at that time was simultaneously transmitted from the iron plate one by one.

The candid shots are very clear, and the angles are tricky. They were taken from the direction of a bunch of small shopkeepers standing in the corner. The language of the camera is clearly Japanese style.The photographer has obviously received certain professional training: it may be troublesome to find a few chemical engineers across the crowd, but there are quite a few people who were inspired by Guan Xige and determined to improve their photography skills.

The next moment, Liu Xiang stood up abruptly and said profusely in sweat, "Where is this sorcery?"

"Haha." Master Ma stretched out his hand and pressed down, signaling shopkeeper Liu to be calm and calm: "It's just some small tricks to keep pictures, not sorcery. Shopkeeper Liu, you know, there are many skilled craftsmen in the general's mansion."

After staring palely at the strange iron plate for a while, the three of Liu Xiang finally understood the reason why they were asked to see these photos: the opponent was telling him the details, appearances and appearances of all the bosses in his family. They are all under the control of the general's mansion.

"Unpredictable..." Shopkeeper Liu remembered now: the first time he announced his family name, why did Master Ma, who was sitting under the general, lower his head to fiddle with this iron plate - there was him in it My voice and appearance, people are checking the authenticity of the visitor!

……

After giving shopkeeper Liu a small new concept to get off his horse, the next step is to take the hard work: the people who traveled through found that it is very difficult to persuade people like shopkeeper Liu with their mouths, so let's use some oil and water .

So the crossing people got up immediately, and politely asked Liu Xiang's trio to move—everyone boarded the frigate Green Island in the dead of night.

Standing on the deck of the Green Island, even though she couldn't see anything in the dark, Liu Xiang was still a little excited. After all, this is the fast ship that made all the pirates flee.

At this time, Mr. Ma beside him handed over a strange thing.Following his instructions, he put his eyes on the lens of the night vision device with a little trepidation, and a green world appeared in Liu's eyes.

The city pawns who were hunched over, holding spears in their arms, patrolling the shore, wearing soft-footed headbands, and lying on the railing of the distant painting boat, the son-in-law, who was also holding night vision goggles, kept watching in the bucket above his head. The short-haired sentry looking around...all of this is clearly presented on Liu Xiang's retina.

"This is a divine object. Could it be that it was also made by the skilled craftsmen of your department?" Shopkeeper Liu immediately understood the strategic value of the night vision device: a sharp weapon for night attack, with this object in hand, a strong enemy's stronghold can be broken by breathing.

"Of course." Mr. Ma nodded and led shopkeeper Liu into the bridge.

On the bridge, Liu Xiang saw short-haired officers and soldiers who were completely different from the court and his brothers.These soldiers wearing double-breasted short jackets can tell at a glance that they are elites. After the short-haired general who did not say a word during the negotiation gave the order, with a series of short and powerful commanding voices and slight mechanical sounds, the Green Island was launched. Leaving the trestle bridge slowly, raised the sails, and started gliding in the White Swan Lake without a sound.

After that, Master Ma introduced the function of the sonar display to shopkeeper Liu in detail.At the same time, the Green Island also took a lap along the reefs along the river bank, fully demonstrating the effectiveness of sonar + night vision devices for sailing at night.

At this time, the continuous artillery and the speed of the boat are not important anymore.Liu Xiang, who is proficient in naval warfare, now finally knows what happened when Li Kuiqi's gang was burned down in the middle of the night.

And tonight's negotiations will automatically come to an end.Liu Xiang didn't want to humiliate herself anymore.Because he didn't know how many more weird and unpredictable mechanisms than Lianzhu Kuaipao were waiting for him.

At the same time, he also understood why his opponent had indicated that he wanted to reorganize his series from the very beginning—because he was too powerful, and he didn't even bother to lie to himself.

After the Green Island made a light turn in the White Swan Pool, it turned around and returned to the trestle bridge.Returning to the representatives of both parties at Tiandao Temple, this time the topic was much lighter: the two parties mainly began to talk about the future resettlement of Liu Xiang and his brothers.

In terms of placement, going through the crowd is usually a good condition: the rich and powerful have always had a lot of confidence.Regardless of whether shopkeeper Liu wants to stay in the army, become a civil servant in the government, or become a rich man or a plutocratic capitalist, the negotiating team has given a clear roadmap.

Liu Xiang knew about these paths, and the spies he had placed in Dayuan had already passed on the endings of many defected pirates.These people are indeed as the opponent said, either become rich or continue to work hard in the ranks.Just now he saw Cao Hu, a former treasurer, on the bridge of the Green Island.

So Liu Xiang needs to go back and think about the current problem: is he really going to surrender?If so, should we start from the beginning and look forward to continuing to command thousands of troops one day, or stop here and become a rich man without soldiers and horses?

……

In the early morning, before the three of Liu Xiang were sent to the boat, on the trestle bridge, Ma Yue told Liu Xiang the last words.

In fact, the General's Mansion can kill Liu Xiang himself or eliminate his gang at any time.The reason why they are willing to negotiate with him now is that the General's Mansion does not want a large number of scattered pirates to harass the coastal areas.

And this reason will slowly dissipate over time: the support fleet has arrived, and in a few days, when the miscellaneous sailors in Guangdong are also unified, the Liu Xiang Group, which is still waiting to die there, will encounter The catastrophe.

Therefore, no matter whether it is death or surrender, or going to Nanyang to eat coconuts, shopkeeper Liu needs to make a timely decision, and the worst thing is to wait.

After saying these words, Ma Yue stretched out his arm and patted Shopkeeper Liu on the shoulder, then turned and went back.

And when Liu Xiang returned to Lamma Island with a full heart, the news spread in the big gang that day that shopkeeper Liu was negotiating with the general's mansion to recruit security.

Unexpectedly, if there is such news, there will definitely be some scattered pirates who will part ways. The difference is just a matter of how much.

And after the news of Zhaoan was released this time, except for a group of local gangsters who joined Liu Xiang only when he came to Guangdong, none of the other leaders who followed from Fujian took anyone away.

The strange state suddenly strengthened someone's confidence: It seems that everyone is afraid of the scene of dragging the net and killing people in Fujian!

Ever since, in the days after Liu Xiang went to Baietan to negotiate, there were constant small boats carrying his confidants and military divisions back and forth between the two ends of the Pearl River, delivering news back and forth.

While constantly blending with Liu Xiang, the fast fleet was not idle.After unloading all the goods sent by the support fleet, this side also began to contact the generals of the Guangdong navy through He Rubin, preparing to mobilize a group of auxiliary soldiers and ships to form a joint fleet to eat a certain group of pirates at once. power.