In the riverside private room on the second floor of Xunyang Building, Zheng Hongkui looked boredly at the sparkling river outside the window. His original name was Zheng Zhibiao, and he was in his early Chinese New Year's Eve this year, and he was the fourth brother of Zheng Zhilong, a guerrilla in the southeast coastal defense.

Compared with other brothers, Zheng Hongkui can be regarded as both civil and military, and he changed his current name to avoid the suspicion of the eldest brother after he served as a martial artist in Nanjing Jinyi four years ago. But when people around him know his identity, they still call him "Fourth Master". At the beginning of the year, he was already the commander of the Jinyi Guard in Nanjing, but after all, the real power of Nanjing officials was not as good as that of Beijing, and his duties were not very important, so most of his work in office was still inclined to use some of the connections he had made in Nanjing officialdom to facilitate his family's activities in the southeast. Just as at the same time, Zheng Zhilong asked him to come to Jiujiang to meet Zhao Yinglai, so he immediately put aside his work in Nanjing, casually took a leave, traveled thousands of miles by boat, and sat on the Xunyang Tower.

"Fourth Master, Mr. Lin, Shi Ye, and Mr. He have arrived." Su Gaozhao turned in from the door of the private room and said to Zheng Hongkui.

As the first matchmaker of the cooperation between Zhao Ying and the Zheng family, Su Gaozhao, the director of the water line of Zhengjiashan Five Merchants, also set off from Hangzhou this time and followed Zheng Hongkui. The "Mr. Lin" mentioned in the words is Lin Wuzhang, the Zheng family's special correspondent to Zhao Ying, "Shi Ye" is Shi Fu, who was previously assigned by Zheng Zhilong to help Zhao Ying train the navy, and "Mr. He" is Zhao Ying's internal affairs envoy He Kewei.

After a while, Lin Wuzhang, Shi Fu, and He Kejing appeared together behind Su Gaozhao, Zheng Hongkui got up to greet him, and found that there was another person behind the two of them, so he asked why. Su Gaozhao said with a smile: "This is Mr. Fu Xunyu, the foreign envoy of Zhao Ying's promotion of foreign envoys. ”

Zheng Hongkui nodded, saluted everyone, and sat down one by one. Zheng Hongkui asked Shi Fu first: "Is Shi Ye's health better?" He had heard earlier that Shi Fu was sick and could barely speak or move, so he asked.

Shi Fu smiled and said: "Even the fourth master knows about this, so ashamed." But thanks to Mr. He's doctor's skillful rejuvenation, this illness was cured two years ago, and I, a rotten wood body, could have already joined the military, and then worked for Zheng Ye and Zhao Shuai. ”

Zheng Hongkui grinned and said, "Then I'm not well-informed." Then he asked, "What disease is it?" ”

Shi Fu replied: "I heard the doctor say that it is similar to the plague that is currently raging in Henan, Shanxi, Beizhili and other places, but I am afraid that I was sailing on the sea before going to Huguang, and the people were mixed, and I accidentally came into contact with some northerners to get contaminated." ”

He Kewei said at this time: "There is a doctor named Wu Youxing in my camp, who is proficient in the art of treating the plague, and the medicine is cured. But looking at Shi Ye's later appearance, the disease should be eradicated. ”

Shi Fu waved his hand and said: "Where can you say that you are alive and vigorous, if you really want to say it, Ah Lang can still be relied on." Now that Zhao Ying has Ah Lang to help, it's useless for me to keep it. "He is Shi Lang's uncle, he followed Zheng Zhilong on the sea to make a living when he was a teenager, and now he is the same age as Zheng Hongkui, and it is also the time when his blood has not retreated. In the past, he rarely served people, and he regarded his children and nephews as children, and never had the habit of praising them in public. But now even he has changed his tone and praised Shi Lang in public, which shows that Shi Lang is indeed doing well on Zhao Ying's side.

He Kewei smiled: "Shi Ye is modest, in terms of experience and knowledge, you are still better." However, you are Zheng Ye's favorite general, and you are indispensable for the southeast sea to support you, so Zheng Ye called you back. I Zhaoying small temple, in the end, can't keep the big Buddha. ”

Everyone laughed, and Zheng Hongkui said: "Ah Lang, that kid, I have long seen that he is extraordinary, and he will become the pillar of my Zheng family in time." Since Shi Ye thinks that he is up to the task, and Zhao Shuai also feels that it is appropriate, it is okay to let Ah Lang take over completely. Then he said to He Kewei, "Mr. He, Ah Lang is still young, if there is anything inconsiderate in the future, please bear with me, as long as you inform my Zheng family, my Zheng family will definitely add more people to come, and I will never refuse." ”

He Kewei hugged his fists and said: "The fourth master's mind, I will smile for Zhao Shuai in the future." ”

Zheng Hongkui continued: "In the past few years, the Zheng family and Zhao Ying have worked hand in hand, and their careers are in full swing. But Zhao Shuai and the eldest brother are riddled with everything, and they have the heart to see each other and have no time to see each other. The eldest brother asked me to act on my behalf this time, just to come to Huguang for him to take a trip and see the situation with his own eyes, so as to show mutual respect and respect. He added, "There is still a little bit of a small gift that came with the boat, and I asked Mr. He to accept it at that time, and convey to Zhao Shuai my eldest brother's thoughts." ”

He Kewei nodded solemnly and said: "Zheng Ye's high mountain scenery and virtue, with this heart, I am grateful." Zhao Shuai also prepared things. However, thinking that Zheng Ye is all over the world and has a wide range of knowledge, what has he not seen? I'm afraid that it will not be in the eyes of Zheng Ye. ”

Zheng Hongkui shook his head and said: "The courtesy is light and affectionate, Mr. He and Mr. Fu are willing to be present today, and Zheng will be able to receive a big reward from the eldest brother when he goes back!" ”

While talking, one dish after another was presented one after another, and everyone used chopsticks to drink, talking and laughing.

He Kewei took a sip of wine and said: "Our battalion Pang Xingong, Zhao Hudao, Li Pichao and others have sent letters more than once, praising Zheng Ye for being thorough, not only in Ningbo Mansion, Quanzhou Mansion, and even Guangzhou Mansion have set up a guild hall for our battalion as a basic base for trade, but also provided a large amount of money and silver to help our battalion start in the southeast trade. ”

Zheng Zhilong is in business and has a contract spirit. Since agreeing to cooperate with Zhao Dangshi, according to the agreement between the Zheng family and Zhao Ying, he will first set up a hall in Ningbo Mansion and let Pang Xingong take charge of it, and also lease a boat to Pang Xingong and lend Pang Xingong's Ningbo Hall a start-up fund at a discount. Later, Pang Xingong said that he followed his father-in-law Fuji Xinliang to Japan to open up channels, but in fact, Zheng Zhilong intended to give profits to Pang Xingong as a face to sell to Zhao Dangshi. Because Japan was determined to enforce the Shogunate Decree after the Shimabara Rebellion a few years ago, and finally implemented it three years ago, the profits of trade have long been difficult to compare with the past.

Under the Lockdown Order, Japan forbade foreign ships to berth and enter the country, and only opened the port of Nagasaki to allow Ming and red-haired ships to trade back and forth, and it was under the complete control of the shogunate, not only did the Japanese merchants suffer a catastrophe, but the Zheng family, who regarded trade with Japan as a major project, also suffered heavy losses. The profits of Japan's trade routes plummeted, and Zheng Zhilong naturally no longer paid attention to it, and it was not a big deal to give Pang Xingong a piece of the pie.

Originally, Zheng Zhilong's support for Pang Xingong and Ningbo Hall was just a political tool to win over relations with Zhao Ying, but later found that Pang Xingong was doing well, so he paid more attention. Later, I heard that Zhaoying City Bosi also operated in Taiwan and Haojingao, so he found Zhao Hudao and Li Pichao through Pang Xingong and established contact.

In fact, Zheng Zhilong is getting bigger and bigger in the southeast sea, but he is also facing some thorny problems, such as the dispute with the red-haired man and the Francophone man is the main body. Both of these people have occupied an onshore foothold in the southeast sea and are developing steadily, which is a potential threat to Zheng Zhilong, who aspires to dominate the southeast sea and then march into the South Seas. Among them, the Francophile is only nested in a corner of Haojing Ao, but the red-haired people really occupy a large territory in Taiwan and build countless fortresses to consolidate themselves. Zheng Zhilong has been fighting with them openly and secretly for many years, but he has never been able to gain the upper hand, and after thinking about it, he came up with the idea of using Zhao Hudao and others to pull Zhao Ying into the game.

Zheng Zhilong, who has been vigorously developing Zhao Ying in the past few years, has such a huge ally in his eyes, no matter whether Zhao Ying can reach out to the southeast sea or not, given time, Zhao Ying's direct or indirect influence may not be able to help the Zheng family. Moreover, Zheng Zhilong also made a special trip to Guangdong and Fujian to meet with Zhao Hudao and Li Pichao, and deeply felt that these two people had extraordinary means and were the people he needed. Zhao Hudao relied on the relationship between Du Chunchen, a businessman in Haojingao, and basically had a certain right to speak among the Francophone people; Li Pichao, through his own drill camp efforts, climbed from a small soldier captured and forcibly recruited by the red-haired people to a weighty position in the red-haired mercenary army. These are all potentials that Zheng Zhilong values. In his thoughts, even if the main body of Zhao Ying cannot set foot in the southeast sea in the short term, he only needs to support Zhao Ying City as an arm to fight against the red-haired people and the Francophone people, and the long-term benefits to the Zheng family are immeasurable. The successive completion of the Guangzhou Hall and the Quanzhou Hall is a willing investment by Zheng Zhilong under the guidance of this ideology.

No matter what Zheng Zhilong's calculations are, at least the benefits obtained by Zhao Ying can be seen and felt. The establishment of the three guild halls, whether it is to find channels for Zhao Ying's military equipment or to make profits, has irreplaceable contributions. He Ked's few words of gratitude are really from the heart.

Zheng Hongkui said a few words, and Lin Wuzhang said: "The Zheng family and Zhao Ying are mutually beneficial and help each other. In the southeast, my Zheng family helped Zhao Ying, and in Huguang and other inland areas, Zhao Ying also helped my Zheng family a lot. ”

Su Gaozhao answered: "Exactly, in Huguang and other places, Zhao Shuai gave an order, and no one dared to disobey or disobey." My five merchants went to Huguang to buy what they needed, and they no longer had to suffer from the trouble of the people and the government, and after a year, not counting the channels that Zhao Ying helped to develop, the old channels remained the same, and the profits doubled. In addition, with Zhao Shuai's prestige, the warehouses of my Zheng family in Xiangyang, Wuchang, Changsha and even Jiujiang, Anqing and other places were built one by one, and no one dared to infringe on one or two, which saved a lot of transshipment costs. Not to mention that Zhao Ying opened a money bank in the mainland and provided us with reserves, and the risk and loss of silver money circulation were also really reduced. ”

He Kewei stood tall and said: "Zhao Shuai is highly admired for his conduct and affairs, and his popularity is widespread. Needless to mention in Huguang, in Nanzhi and other places, Yuan Jixian, the governor of Jiangxi, is also a close friend, say hello, Zheng Ye from the southeast to Huguang this way, how can there be any obstacles. Instead, he said, "Recently, Sichuan has also been included in my Zhao Ying's sphere of influence, if Mr. Su's side wants to develop business in the southwest, my Zhao Ying will fully support it." ”

Su Gao Zhao said happily: "With this intention, we can discuss this matter carefully with Mr. He and Mr. Lin next." ”

Zheng Hongkui stroked his palm and said: "In terms of business, both parties have a good heart, I came for the eldest brother, so I won't ask too much." As long as the two sides go hand in hand, high-spirited, it is a good word. In the details, Lao Su, you are responsible. Speaking of this, he suddenly looked left and right for a while.

He Kewei asked, "What is the fourth master looking for?" ”

Zheng Hongkui scratched his sideburns and said, "I heard Lao Su say before that there will be eight people attending this banquet. Why wait and wait, wait until the dishes are almost ready, only six of me, and the other two don't show up? ”

He Kejing clapped his hands and said, "Oh, the fourth master is talking about General Zuo and Fang Zongzhen." ”

Zheng Hongkui took a bite of the dish and replied: "Yes, Zuo Menggeng, the general of the thief, Fang Guoan, the chief soldier of Sichuan, why don't you see anyone?" Saying that, he put down his chopsticks and joked, "Isn't it that these two adults are in high positions and power, and they don't look down on my eldest brother as a coastal defense guerrilla?" ”

He Ke hurriedly explained: "There is absolutely no such intention, the two of Zuo and Fang are really busy with military affairs, and it is difficult to get out. In order to apologize, they asked me to bring a gift, which was put together with my Zhao Ying's as an apology. ”

Zheng Hongkui Nunu said: "I see, the commander of the first army has all the opportunities, and he is not as empty as Nanjing idlers like me." ”

He Kewei listened to his implicit sarcasm, and said with a smile: "In addition to business today, there are important things to communicate with the fourth master. Although the two of them have something to do with it, it has little to do with whether they come here or not. As he spoke, he looked at Fu Xunyu, who was sitting beside him, "Let Foreign Envoy Fu tell you the specific reason." ”