The urban pattern of Macao is completely different from that of traditional Chinese cities, but it has the flavor of a small Spanish city, and the overall structure is relatively loose.

The whole city, at the beginning, started from the pier, little by little to expand outward, not only did the seaside not have a city wall, not even a checkpoint, as soon as you got on the pier, you entered the city.

In the distance, the walls built along the mountain are intermittent, and in many places only an iron fence has been erected to separate the small villages outside the city that are still inhabited by Chinese people, and some houses are built directly on the cliff wall by the sea, forming a natural barrier.

The only castle-like building is located at the northernmost land passage of the peninsula, the Gate.

It seems that, unlike the Chinese who are accustomed to building walls around the city, the Portuguese city defense is a point defense, relying mainly on a few batteries on land and fleets at sea.

The way the Portuguese manage the city is also different from that of the Chinese, after Lin Xiao and they disembarked from the dock, they did not find that the military police came to interrogate, and it seems that all kinds of people have a great degree of freedom to enter and leave the city.

The Westerners of the current era do not have as strong a demand for colonial territory as they did later, and as long as they don't prevent them from getting a stronghold and making a lot of money, they don't bother to care about you.

Of course, the colonial authorities had only a few hundred troops stationed in them, which was too small a number, and this was also a major reason for the lax management, and many facts could not be managed.

The whole city is not large, with a crossroads as the core of the city, and there is a tall church at the intersection of the crossroads, although there are no decent public facilities on the streets, but the planning is quite neat, and the road surface is relatively clean.

Most of the buildings along the street are small Iberian buildings, with porches on the ground floor, whitewashed walls, and closed shutters on the windows along the street.

As for the pedestrians on the street, it is very much like a colonial city: Portuguese, Chinese, black and mixed-race people, and there are many Japanese, most of them wearing the uniform of servants, running in front and behind the Portuguese masters.

The Portuguese, Spaniards, and Dutch at this time employed Japanese as servants, craftsmen, and sailors throughout East and Southeast Asia.

In addition, there are also some dark-skinned and curly haired figures, who look like Ah San, thief eyebrows, rat eyes, and many skinny Southeast Asian natives.

The streets were bustling with aristocrats roaming on horseback, veiled ladies in sedan chairs carried by two, followed by black slaves with umbrellas, who maintained their original style even in colonies thousands of miles away from their homeland.

As for the sailors of all colors and ragged clothes, they were naturally a sight in the streets, and they were all drunk, staggering in the streets, but most of them had short knives or knives pinned to their waists, and the occasional security officers who passed by the city did not pay much attention to them.

At the door of the big families sat servants wearing thorn clothes and carrying rattans, and when they saw a drunken fellow trying to break in, they gave him a hard blow.

A group of more than ten people slowly walked inland, walked along the main street to the intersection, turned a corner and continued to walk a short distance, and found that there were fewer Caucasian people on the street, and the street began to become Chinese-style.

Li Tao reminded Lin Xiao in a low voice that they had come to the Chinese gathering area in Macau, and Jack Lee's shop was not far ahead.

Lin Xiao found that a few people wearing black uniforms had been silently following behind, probably local security officers.

It seems that they may have noticed this strangely dressed group of armed men, and did not dare to act rashly, but someone must have gone to report to the Portuguese master.

In order to prevent accidents, Lin Xiao decided to leave a few special combat team members to stand guard near the intersection, and the rest continued to walk forward.

Unlike the seaside street, there are many shops selling raw silk and silk, as well as many porcelain shops.

There are also some shops with exquisite shops, and there are men in green clothes and hats at the door to greet them, but they can't see what goods are being sold.

Just looking east and west, suddenly a young man ran out of the house, bowed down and smiled and saluted Li Tao, saying that the owner had an invitation, Lin Xiao raised his eyes and saw that the house in front of him was the "Baotai" firm.

It was unnecessary and inconvenient for a large group of people to go in, Lin Xiao decided to accompany Qu Shiyun and Li Tao to go first to see the situation, while Zhang Chenfeng took the rest of the people and divided them into several groups of three and scattered nearby.

The streets of the Chinese gathering area are already narrow, and there are many shops along the street, and various canopies cover the limited sky a lot, making the light very bad.

As soon as I walked into the shop, it was darker, and there was a faint smell of fragrance in the air, and after a while, my vision returned.

Passing through the foyer, I saw that it was a typical Chinese-style hall, with blue bricks on the floor, red sandalwood decoration, and a pair of big red palace lamps hanging in the room.

Looking at it, out of the back door of the screen came a well-dressed Chinese businessman with a smile on his face, and it seemed that this was the shopkeeper of the "Baotai" firm - Jack Lee.

Jack Lee is not tall, with a slightly fat round face with flat facial features, and a typical southerner look.

As soon as he saw Qu Shiyun, Jack Lee was stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly stepped forward, feeling the surprise of seeing an old friend.

After the two sides saw the ceremony, they each sat down, the servant served tea, Qu Shiyun took the seat, Li Tao followed, and Lin Xiao was arranged in the third seat of the guest seat.

According to Lin Xiao's meaning, Li Tao did not introduce Lin Xiao's true identity, so he seemed to be an accompanying officer.

After a few words of greeting with Qu Shiyun, seeing that everyone's mood was not high, this Jack Li was also refreshed, and asked Li Tao straight to the point: "What's wrong, something happened?" ”

Lin Xiao was quietly looking at this Jack Lee, and when he saw this, his heart sank, and he frowned slightly, but he didn't say anything.

"Exactly,"

Li Tao said with a little surprise, "Shopkeeper Li, the news is ...... Informed. ”

Seeing that Li Tao and the others were a little nervous, Jack Li laughed and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, although I don't leave home, I also have some eyes and ears...... A thousand catties of saltpeter had just been negotiated, and he hurried back and forth, and it was expected that something urgent would happen. ”

"People say that the shopkeeper Li is exquisite, and his hands and eyes are all over the sky, and sure enough...... The rumors are true. ”

Seeing this, Qu Shiyun teased lightly.

Lin Xiao observed the words and expressions on the side, although most of this kind of people are cunning and cunning, but he always feels that he does not seem to be talking nonsense at this time.

There are some things that can't be pretended, and the more you pretend they are, the more flaws they have.

So, maybe he really didn't know that his eyeliner was just because the movement on the big ship was too big and he saw something different?

Thinking of this, although Lin Xiao was anxious in his heart, his complexion eased slightly.

"Your Excellency has won the prize, hehe...... As soon as you come ashore, the contemptible people will wait for you to come......"

Jack Lee smiled at Qu Shiyun, then hesitated, "I just don't know...... What's going on? Can the contemptible help? ”

"Speaking of helping, we really have nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace,"

Li Tao saw that he was very active, and he also said straightforwardly, "There is a shopkeeper Lao Li, you must help us find that Andre ......"

"Andrey?"

Jack Lee was shocked when he heard this, and said with a puzzled expression, "He...... Stealing goods? ”

André, who was introduced to the ship by his hand, was the leader of nine hired sailors, a Spanish wandering sailor who had been adrift at sea for many years, and had traveled many difficult voyages.

It is said that people who have this experience have already made a fortune, but this person is too good at gambling, but if he has a little money, he often loses all his money in a few days, so he has not been able to buy his own boat, so he can only be hired by others, often take a short distance for others or something, and by the way, he will bring some private goods to chat to make a living.

The day before yesterday, the big ship came back safely, and Andre and the others, didn't they all go ashore with a generous honorarium?

"Don't hide it from Shopkeeper Li, something really happened,"

Qu Shiyun's face was solemn and said, "Just last night, the sailors on the big ship ...... Assassinated...... Eleven people, none of them were spared. ”

"Huh?"

"Dangchang!"

With a short exclamation, Jack Lee froze suddenly, and the teacup he had just picked up in his hand rolled to the ground.

Thank you: "You are here", "January snow", "chatter", "quasi-plan", "stay" tips!

Thanks: "It seems to be an old man", "Tang", and "Passing Years" for the monthly pass support!

I wish you all a happy Dragon Boat Festival!

(End of chapter)