Qing Jialu

Meanwhile, in a small cabin on a warship by the sea, two men, back to back, are tied to chairs by thick ropes.Their feet were tied together, and a dead clasp was tied behind their hands, making them unable to move.

And the two people who were tied up by five flowers are exactly Shen Jia and Wei Hanming.

It has been a day since they were arrested by Japanese pirates in Quanzhou.During the period, some people also came to ask questions, but due to the language barrier, the two sides could not communicate, so there was no further torture.The Japanese pirates have no choice but to lock them here first.Fortunately, at present, Shen Jia and Wei Hanming are not in danger of life.

It's just that the two haven't eaten for a long time, and they are so hungry.

"Master Shen, it's all my fault for not protecting you well." Wei Hanming was confessing again, falling into deep self-blame, unable to extricate himself.

Shen Jia didn't blame him, but comforted him: "You could have escaped originally, if it wasn't because I didn't know martial arts and dragged everyone down, you wouldn't have been arrested. And those Jinyiwei brothers wouldn't have...sacrificed .”

Having said that, Shen Jia's expression was gloomy.Although the outside world said that Jin Yiwei was all highly skilled in martial arts, but because there were too many Japanese pirates, they would definitely not be able to beat them with one against ten.

"Our mission is to protect your safety, my lord." Wei Hanming said, "Fortunately, one escaped, and someone can report to His Majesty. It is estimated that His Majesty has received the news by now."

Thinking of Xiao Yi, Shen Jia felt even more depressed, and instead sighed, "I really don't want him to come, this place is so dangerous, I don't want him to get involved."

"Don't worry, my lord. It is estimated that General Xie will follow and will not put His Majesty in danger." Wei Hanming persuaded.

Although General Xie Bi has a navy of [-], Shen Jia dare not have any hope.After all, he had personally experienced a Japanese pirate attack, only to realize that the Japanese pirates were no longer the unorganized and undisciplined maritime thieves he had heard about when he was a child.Those Japanese pirate ships were fully equipped and had leaders, and the number of them had changed from a few hundred to more than a thousand.

Unexpectedly, in just a few years, Japanese pirates have become popular.

"You can see that they suddenly violated the border, and they have a clear goal. They came after us." Shen Jia doubted, "I think they might know our identities."

Wei Hanming regretted, "Master, you didn't keep it secret when you came to Fujian this time. It seems that the Japanese pirates have also heard the news and know that there are important people coming to inspect."

"But my itinerary is kept secret." Shen Jia couldn't agree with this explanation, he frowned and said, "Where to go on the next trip is decided on a temporary basis, how would the pirates know?"

"My lord, do you mean...there are traitors?" Wei Hanming asked in surprise.

Shen Jia's brows were deeply furrowed, it seemed that not only were there moles, but the moles had also sneaked into the yamen.

Shen Jia was not the only one who discovered this problem. As soon as Xiao Yi arrived at General Xie Bi's barracks, he immediately asked people to investigate the traitor.Jin Yiwei stationed in Fujian immediately arrested people and interrogated everyone who had met Shen Jia that day and knew the patrol route from top to bottom.For a while, people were panicked, as if they were facing an enemy.

Jin Yiwei's interrogation method is well-deserved, and within half a day someone confessed that he had passed the news to the pirate leader Wang Er.

Xiao Yi looked at the confession and asked, "Where did Wang Er come from?"

General Xie has always devoted himself to protecting His Majesty, and now he will explain in detail to His Majesty.It turned out that some people had colluded with Japanese pirates long before that, and the most powerful gang was headed by Wang Er.He was originally a poor man in Fujian, who started his career as a smuggler at sea.During the reign of Yongwen, his accomplice was arrested, so Wang Er directly set up a new stove, recruited maritime merchants, and established himself as the owner of the ship.General Xie also encircled and suppressed many times, but without success.

Later, General Xie saw that Wang Er did not harm the people along the coast like other Japanese pirates, so he changed the suppression to Zhao'an.Wang Er also agreed to cooperate with officers and soldiers to help eradicate pirates from other forces.But because of this, Wang Er's power is growing, because the government acquiesced in their "smuggling" and even opened a "private market".

No wonder missionary John was able to enter Daliang, and he also knew many merchants in Daliang.

Xiao Yi asked coldly: "What do you mean by saying such a big deal?"

"I think it's not Wang Er." General Xie analyzed, "I have met Wang Er a few times, and his appeal is very simple. He only wants to open the sea. Instead, it is some coastal gentry and wealthy merchants, and they don't want to open the sea."

"Why?" Xiao Yi asked.

"If you open the sea, our porcelain tea can be sold at a low price, and the rare things outside can also flow into Daliang without any hindrance. And they can be sold at a high price for smuggling. How can they give up such a large piece of fat?"

"So, do you think it was other forces who kidnapped Mr. Shen Ge?" Xiao Yi looked at the confession in his hand, "And these confessions are a hoax?"

"Yes." General Xie said, "I think you can send envoys to talk to Wang Er. If they are, then ask about the conditions and negotiate to release him. If not, maybe through them, you can find out which group of people held Wang Er hostage. Old Shen Ge."

"Okay, I will do as you say." Xiao Yi said, "General Wei will come over soon, and if the negotiation fails, don't blame me for being rude."

Xiao Yi was dubious about General Xie's words, but Wang Er was indeed the key.In any case, someone had to be sent to investigate the situation.

A day and a night passed, Shen Jia was hungry and thirsty, at this time finally a middle-aged man came in.

The man first asked his subordinates to untie Shen Jia, but he ignored Wei Tongzhi.After Shen Jia rubbed her sore arm and got up, the man politely said in Central Plains dialect: "Mr. Shen Ge, you have suffered."

"You know me?" Shen Jia narrowed her eyes, looking at that person vigilantly.

"I have prepared some food and wine, you can eat first." The visitor did not answer the question, but set out food for Shen Jia.

Four dishes and one soup, as well as fish, are considered rich.

But Shen Jia didn't move his chopsticks at all, he sneered and said, "What's your intention, why don't you just say it directly?"

"Are you afraid that I will poison you?" The man smiled, took a pair of bowls and chopsticks, and ate first, "Why wait until now if I want to kill you?"

"Judging from your accent, it must be the people of Daliang. The crime of kidnapping the imperial court official should be very clear."

"I was just hired by someone to come here to chat with Mr. Ge." The man took a sip of his wine and said, "We don't want to embarrass you, but we just hope that you will give up Kaihai."

"Why? Who is your employer?" Shen Jia asked.

"Pirates are rampant, is it not good to ban the sea?"

Shen Jia smiled, "This is the first time I've heard about pirates saying that pirates are rampant."

"My employer is not a pirate, he is just a businessman."

Shen Jia suddenly realized, "I understand, your employer is making huge profits through smuggling, so of course he doesn't want the court to open the sea."

"Old Shen Ge, why are you asking for trouble? When you return to Beijing, you just say that you don't think it's suitable to open the sea, and you can just persuade the holy majesty to give up?" The man persevered in persuading, "What good will open the sea do for you? If you can help us this time, my employer can give you this number."

After that, the man stretched out five fingers.

"Bribe me?" Shen Jia couldn't laugh or cry, he had always been upright, this was the first time someone dared to bribe him.

"Do you think it's not enough?" The man didn't understand Shen Jia's temperament, and thought he thought it was too little, so he raised his bargaining chip, "From now on, you will share [-]% of the business along the coast."

"It seems that it is indeed a huge profit." Shen Jia said lightly, "What if I refuse?"

"That's okay, we will kill you." The visitor spoke vicious words in a flat tone, "Once you die, the emperor will definitely be furious. Isn't Kai Hai also a failure?"

"But Your Majesty will encircle and suppress the Japanese pirates. Can you do a good job in smuggling?" Shen Jia asked back, "That's why you haven't dared to kill me so far."

"Mr. Shen Ge is really smart." The man cupped his hands at Shen Jia, "We don't want to make a fuss, Mr. Shen Ge, we have a lot of time. You should eat and drink well, so let's think about it carefully."

After finishing speaking, the man called his subordinates and escorted Wei Tongzhi away, leaving Shen Jia alone.

Although he was not tied up again, with Shen Jia's strength alone, he couldn't escape the big ship.It doesn't matter if you tie him up or not.

It seems that the other party already has a plan in mind.