It was almost dusk, and the Shunfeng Building, which had been deserted a few days ago, suddenly became lively again, and many businessmen who were still in Weihai rushed over one after another, and went directly to the second floor to go to the banquet, which made the restaurant shopkeeper and the guys who were not a little invigorated also quickly busy, let people in one by one, and at the same time greeted warmly, they sent in the fragrant tea, fine wine and dried fruits and other things like flowing water, and served them thoughtfully.

Since the news of the successive pirate attacks on the convoy at sea has been returned, not only has the port dock been completely left out in the cold, but the other shops in the town have also plummeted. More than half of those businessmen went to Jinan and other places to find the government to make decisions for their families, and the rest did not dare to think about how to prepare goods all day long as they did some time ago, and thought about cooperating to hire ships to go to sea.

However, they still had the mentality of luck and did not give up on going to sea. After all, they had a clear idea of how profitable overseas trade could be, and as long as the government could put those pirates to rest, things could still be done. With this in mind, many businessmen stayed in Weihai to wait and see, hoping when they would receive the good news.

And early this morning, when they received an invitation from Duan Kaihong, asking them to come to Shunfeng Building for a gathering, saying that they had something important to discuss, of course these businessmen would not refuse, and rushed over early. There was still more than half an hour before the time set on the invitation, and all the businessmen had already arrived, only waiting for Duan to participate in politics in the second restaurant.

It wasn't until after the time of the lantern and after it was completely dark that Duan Kaihong rushed to the place accompanied by several soldiers. After seeing everyone, it was naturally a good courtesy, and then Lord Duan waved his hand and let the wine and food be served in the restaurant, and everyone ate and drank.

On the banquet, pushing the glass and changing the lamp, staggering, saying good things to each other, looking warm and harmonious, after a while, many people have drunk and their faces are red. But in fact, most businessmen have doubts in their hearts, and some can't guess why Duan Kaihong suddenly called everyone to the restaurant today, it must be not just to contact each other.

However, as businessmen with low status, they didn't have the courage to directly ask Duan about his intention to participate in politics, so they could only use a little alcohol to knock on the side. Fortunately, this stuffy gourd was unraveled by Duan Kaihong after the wine was half-drunk.

I saw him squinting his eyes and sweeping over everyone, and then he said, "Everyone, what happened to me in Weihai recently is unacceptable to everyone, right?" I can't think of a good way to get rich and make meritorious contributions, but I was interrupted by some thieves, how can this be true! ”

"Who's to say it isn't? The villain had already received thousands of horses of silk from Jiangnan, and he planned to let the ship be sold overseas this time, how could he make some silver. Can ...... now The ship could not go out to sea, and these silks could only be pressed in the storehouse, and if they could not do it again, it would be a big loss. ”

"It's the same with villains...... If the backlog of goods prepared in advance is not brought down, the goods that were shipped out in the past few months have been robbed, and the loss is not small. Besides, if the guys who followed the boat don't come back, I will have to pay for his family's silver......"

In a word, it aroused the complaints of a group of people, and everyone took advantage of the alcohol to complain to Duan Kaihong one after another, it seems that everyone has suffered enough in this matter, and the loss is not small. Duan Kaihong nodded in response, and his eyes carefully swept over the faces of these people, trying to see something else from their words and deeds.

As far as Lu Zhen and himself judged, the traitor who hid in Weihai and revealed the route of the merchant ship to the sea was either someone in the official office who had contact with the relevant documents, or simply one of the merchants. For the former, Duan Kaihong had already asked his trusted people to investigate it carefully, and as for the latter, he had to use a strategy to test it.

However, what disappointed him was that the businessmen in front of him all looked annoyed, each of them was telling about their own difficulties, and he couldn't see anything wrong at all. In Duan Kaihong's opinion, either these people really don't have that mole eyeliner, or this guy is very good at disguise and plays the role of a victim all the time.

In that case, let me work harder. Thinking of this, he spoke again: "Your situation is naturally known to the official. But compared to your losses, this official is even more embarrassed. You don't know where, in the past two days, a few official documents came from Jinan to reprimand me, saying that I was not doing things well, which led to the current situation. If there is no improvement in the matter of going to sea, not only will the official be recalled, but the governor will also be charged with dereliction of duty to the court counselor. ”

"Ah...... But how is this good? Many people pretended to look at Duan Kaihong with concern.

"It's also difficult for this official, who would have thought that such a thing would happen at sea. Therefore, I hope you can help this official get through this difficult situation. When he said this, Duan Kaihong solemnly clasped his fists at the surrounding businessmen.

Seeing a four-grade official salute with him, all the businessmen were startled, and hurriedly got up and retreated, and then returned the salute one after another, saying that they didn't dare. Then, he asked tentatively, "I don't know what the adults mean?" ”

"Now that Jinan is forcing the official, I have to make some achievements in the matter of going to sea, so the official's meaning is that it can't be delayed any longer. In two days' time, prepare your ships to go to sea again. As long as you go out again, the official will definitely give you enough preferential treatment, and the customs duty on the port can be reduced by 30%. Duan Kaihong immediately gave his opinion.

As soon as these words came out, the scene was suddenly cold. After everyone looked at each other, they all looked at Duan Kaihong with disbelief: "My lord, think twice, you are letting us send sheep into the tiger's mouth." Knowing that there are bandits on the sea, how can you risk sending goods to them? ”

"Yes, Lord Duan, not only the goods, but also the people who went and couldn't come back, this is a responsibility that no one can afford, you can't mess around......"

Although these businessmen do not have a high status, and they are also a little afraid of Duan Kaihong in front of them, it is a matter of their own interests, and they can only muster up the courage to speak. One thing to say, the reasons they came up with are quite plausible.

However, Duan Kaihong is not a reasonable person, or he doesn't plan to reason with these businessmen today. I saw him suddenly turn his face and shout: "Presumptuous! You are toasting and not eating and drinking, is there really nothing you can do if you are the official? To tell you the truth, this time you go to sea, you have to do it if you are willing, and you have to do it if you don't want to! Otherwise, this official will convict you of colluding with the Japanese and take you all down!" ”

"My lord, you can't wronged a good person, we are all businessmen who do our duty......" Everyone immediately became anxious, and they all shouted to hit the sky.

"Hmph, can't you really see it when the official is the official? So many times the Japanese can always accurately find the location of the merchant ship, which must be a little strange, the biggest possibility is that someone has sent a message to the Japanese at sea! And you profit-seeking guys are likely to do such things! ”

Duan Kaihong's words made the businessmen lose their luster again, and many of them even trembled. If he is really allowed to forcibly put such a fatal charge on his head, he may really end up with a ruined family. Then the crowd cried out for mercy louder, and even the men downstairs heard it.

In the face of their pleas, Duan Kaihong was unmoved, and his face was still gloomy: "You let the official let you go, but who will let me go?" Now I can tell you that this must be done! Also, don't you have a lot of goods stored in the government warehouse? Tomorrow these goods will be sent to the ships in the port! ”

"Ah......h Previously, because Weihai Xinqi did not have enough warehouses to store goods, they did put many of their goods on the side of the government, but they didn't expect that this would become a bargaining chip that Duan Kaihong used to force himself to submit.

In the face of such an arrogant and unreasonable approach, the businessmen were naturally very dissatisfied, but the people did not fight with the officials, and the businessmen were the last of the four people, so that they did not dare to compete with the Sipin Participating in Politics, the only thing they could do was to keep pleading with Lord Duan, hoping that he could raise his noble hand and let himself go.

Xu was also worried that everyone would not cooperate, and even went to Jinan to complain, or was quite satisfied with their soft attitude, Duan Kaihong's face softened a little, and said: "This official also knows what you are worried about. In this way, this time to go to sea, this official will send soldiers and horses to escort the ship. In this way, even if you really encounter any thieves on the road, it is enough to ensure the safety of your goods. That's it, right? After saying this, he glanced at the merchants with a threatening look.

Hearing him say this, the businessmen who originally wanted to beg for mercy did not dare to speak out, they could feel that this was the last concession of Lord Duan, and if they bargained again, there would definitely be no good fruit to eat.

Moreover, they also somewhat agreed with Duan Kaihong's suggestion. I think that if there are officials and soldiers escorted by ships, those small bandits on the sea should not dare to fight their own merchant ships anymore.

When this thought was born, some of them nodded reluctantly. Then, with a full stomach, they went back uneasily, preparing for the next voyage. However, these businessmen are not stupid, and their hearts are still full of doubts about this, so naturally it is impossible to really invest too much in this voyage, and they are only ready to take out the goods that were hoarded in the official warehouses before.

However, what these businessmen didn't know was that since they left Shunfeng Mansion and went back to prepare for related matters, their every move had been completely targeted, and they would report it to Duan Kaihong in the official office at any time......

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