At the same time as the major forces in the north are playing, the south has also won a new round of bloodshed.

The Chao Gang was listed as a chaotic party by the imperial court, which made it impossible for the Chao Gang to gain a foothold in the south, and the government yamen and the Ming army of the local guard stations were quickly dispatched to arrest the Chao Gang personnel and seize the real estate, shop sales, and shipyards and other facilities of the Chao Gang in various places.

Because the Chao Gang is very wealthy, this one was listed as a rebel party, and the officials in various places who had been peeping at their property suddenly turned their faces and did not recognize anyone, and embezzled the assets of the Chao Gang everywhere. As the highest local governor of Guangdong, Xu Kai, the political envoy of Guangdong, and Wu Xiong, the governor of Chaozhou Prefecture, were the most active. Mobilize officials to embezzle a large number of assets of Chaogang dignitaries, and most of the confiscated wealth fell into their hands and a small part was handed over to the state treasury. However, the people below did not get any benefit, and some unwilling commanders of the guard post and hundreds of households treated many rich households and rich peasants as chaotic parties, arrested them indiscriminately, and then confiscated their property.

For a time, the party was disrupted at the top, and the people were boiling with grievances at the bottom.

Of course, the most depressed are the leaders of the Chao Gang.

Wu Liuqi was the leader of the flood banner who was sent to teach in vain, which greatly surprised Su Li and others. Originally, Su Li and the others knew that Wu Liuqi was in a relationship with a mysterious person. But I didn't know it was the White Lotus Sect. Now that he has been detained by the imperial court as a rebel of the rebellious party, Su Li, the big leader, is angry and vomits blood.

Cam Ranh Bay tide gang helm. Sully convened an emergency meeting. In addition to Wu Liuqi, the other five leaders Huang Hairu, Zhu Ayao, Zhang Li, Xiao Yang Guang, and Xu Long arrived one after another.

As soon as the people entered the Hall of Righteousness with a curse, Su Li knew that the various departments seemed to have lost a lot.

"How?" Su Li hurriedly asked, "Are your brothers suffering a big loss?" ”

"It's not weird!" Huang Hai Ruyue sat down, and when he heard this, he suddenly slapped the table and stood up. Said: "Big brother, our houses, shops and factories in Guangdong and Chaozhou have been copied by Xu Kai and Wu Xiong, and many brothers who didn't have time to withdraw were put in prison. ”

Zhu Ayao, Zhang Li, Yang Guang, and Xu Long also complained, and Su Li also learned from them that they had lost a lot.

Yang Guang said: "The eldest brother is right! I have long expected that the Guangdong government will not give us a good life, so we started planning to transfer early, otherwise we will lose a lot of money this time, and we will definitely lose all our money! ”

Several people said yes, thanks to Su Li's assertion that Deng Haonan peeked at the Chao Gang, and sooner or later he would collude with the Guangdong government to plot the foundation of the Chao Gang. As a result, the Teochew Gang began a clandestine move more than a month ago, allowing most of the property to be transferred to Vietnam. However, the Chao Gang has been in business for a long time and has a solid family background, even if most of the property is transferred, the remaining small part still makes the officials of Guangdong big and small drool greedily and frantically divide up.

"Who made us merchants?" Su Li sighed: "Since ancient times, the people have not fought with the officials, and it is the people themselves who suffer. Besides, we're still the bottom merchants. ”

Zhang Li scolded: "The official mansion is not a good thing, but this qiē is all caused by Wu Liuqi's bastard." It's okay to hook up with the White Lotus Sect? Isn't this a lantern looking for death? ”

Zhu Ayao sighed: "Wu Liuqi is looking for death. We were also implicated by him, now it's okay, we were pressed by the court to mess with the party, and we don't want to do business in Daming in the future! ”

Xu Long said: "Big brother, hurry up and get an idea!" What should we do in the future? ”

Su Li secretly said in his heart: Who will I ask if you ask me? At present, even if the Chao Gang has nothing to do with the White Lotus Sect, the Chao Gang is rich and ranks among the best among the major forces in the southern provinces, and the corrupt officials in the imperial court have long been greedy, even if they don't have this stubble, they will find another reason to bring down the Chao Gang and confiscate their property.

"That's right, Xu Long!" Su Li suddenly asked, "Didn't your nephew work under Deng Haonan?" Why didn't I send you a letter? ”

Xu Long looked at Su Li, then at the other four, sighed and said, "Don't hide it from the eldest brother, and the brothers, my nephew has been passing on the word to me." wants me to take refuge in Deng Haonan. It's just that I've been thinking about the friendship between my eldest brother and my brothers, how can I lose it? ”

Xu Long's words were really touching, and Su Li and the others were immediately grateful, and praised Xu Long for being righteous enough.

Yang Guang asked: "Your nephew said that what is the benefit of taking refuge in Na Haonan!" ”

Su Li and the others hurriedly listened.

Xu Long said: "My nephew said that he wanted me to hand over my navy to Na Haonan, and then register a company by myself, and then when I do business in the future, I can pay taxes to the Liaodong Governor's Office." ”

"Hand over the trolls?" Yang Guang suddenly shook his head and said, "If you hand over the navy and go out, won't you become a lamb to the slaughter?" Besides, without the escort of the navy, the South China Sea is full of pirates and foreign ships, and if the goods are robbed, they will lose all their money! ”

"yes!" Zhang Li nodded and said, "This weapon has been handed over, but it is the sword and the fish and the flesh!" No way! ”

"Not really!" Xu Long said: "My nephew said that after handing over the navy, as long as there is no tax evasion, the navy of the Liaodong Governor's Mansion will escort the caravan." If you dare to rob the fleet under the Liaodong Governor's Office. Then the navy of the Liaodong Governorate will immediately raze them to the ground and recapture the goods! "That's new!" Su Li nodded and said, "I haven't heard of the government army escorting merchants!" ”

Xu Long smiled: "Actually, big brother, can't you see it?" That Deng Haonan kept silent and didn't talk about the artifact, but his subordinates didn't think so, my nephew said, it was a matter of time before the artifact was won. ”

Su Li frowned and said, "Listen to what you mean, you seem to be ready to take refuge in Di Haonan?" ”

Xu Long nodded and said, "I don't hide it from the eldest brother and the brothers, the younger brother has indeed thought about it!" ”

When everyone heard this, they immediately stared at Xu Long tightly.

Xu Long said with a smile: "I will hand over the naval army under my jurisdiction to the eldest brother, and then take my caravan to take refuge in the Liaodong Governor's Mansion." With my nephew here, I believe he won't embarrass me. Besides. I don't go into politics or the military, I just do business. The governor of Liaodong is not a child, and the businessman only needs to abide by the regulations of the Tingdong Governor's Office, and he is just doing business

Hearing that Xu Long would not take away the water army, Su Li and the others immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother Xu, you are really righteous enough." Su Li said: "Actually, you can not tell us about this at all, and we can't say anything if you take the navy away." That's the one you brought out, after all. Okay, brother leads your love! ”

"Brother Xie". Xu Long thanked him and asked the other brothers, "What are you going to do with the brothers?" ”

Yang Guang sighed: "I have become a rebel party in the imperial court, and I don't want to buy goods and do business in Daming in the future." Vietnam can be settled, but there is nothing to do here. ”

Zhang Li asked: "Brother Xu, you voted for the Liaodong Governor's Mansion, wouldn't you be able to make a fortune?" How much tax do you have to pay? ”

Xu Long said with a smile: "At present, the laws of the Liaodong Governor's Mansion are stipulated. Those who have recently defected are exempt from tax for one year. Those who go with a caravan will enjoy the tax treatment of 30% as long as they are loyal to the Liaodong Governor's Office. ”

"Is this true?" Yang Guang's eyes lit up, and he said: "At present, the imperial court levies an additional eighty percent tax on our merchants, and if the tax is reduced to thirty percent, then we don't have to smuggle and become pirates." ”

Then asked Su Li and said, "Big brother, if this is really the case, then if we vote for him Deng Haonan, what treatment will we have?" ”

Su Li looked at Xu Long, who said, "I'm just doing business, so as long as I don't oppose the laws of the Liaodong Governor's Mansion." If I don't cooperate with the enemy or the enemy, then I am an ordinary law-abiding citizen. But if the eldest brother and brothers vote over, there will be no problem in doing business like me. If you want to intervene in the military and political affairs of the Liaodong Governor's Office, the salary will naturally be higher, but it is not one.

"But what?"

"Still. People must doubt your motives and sincerity, and it is impossible to become a high-ranking official all at once! Just like Zheng Zhilong's subordinates who surrendered in the past, they can only serve as the coast guard and police of the Taiwan government now, and they cannot enter the regular army."

"I thought you were going to say something?" Yang Guang said with a smile: "If the people who went to the past have to trust and appoint important positions, then they are fools!" Zhang Li said: "Zheng Zhilong's subordinates can be accepted by Deng Haonan, although it is not an important position, but it is not bad to see that they are now in the guard team!" The Liaodong Governor's Mansion didn't give them small shoes to wear, did they? ”

Xu Long nodded and said, "If the eldest brother and brothers go over, my nephew can still talk." First of all, we have no enmity with Deng Haonan. He can tolerate Zheng Zhilong's old department, and I believe we can tolerate it even more! I heard my nephew say that Deng Haonan wanted to form a river defense guard force, and that the incorporation of my naval army was to be incorporated into the river defense fleet. ”

Su Li asked, "What does the river defense fleet do?" ”

Xu Long replied: "The navy of the Liaodong Governor's Mansion is divided into two kinds of navies. One is specifically used to fight wars, which is now the Pacific Fleet. The other is specialized in cracking down on smuggling and maintaining local law and order, which is similar to patrolling and arresting. Those on the sea are called the Coast Guard, and those on the inland rivers are called the River Defense Guard Fleet. ”

"Is it the Patrol Seaway?"

When Yang Guang heard this, he immediately summarized it.

"It's a sea cruiser!" Xu Long said: "But the governor of Liaodong is not the same system as the Ming court, and isn't it equivalent to becoming the imperial court if it is called the sea patrol?" When the family changed its name, it was subordinate to the Liaodong Governor's Office

Su Li nodded and said, "Obviously. The Liaodong Governor's Mansion did not call the name of the king and the emperor, but it had the fact that the territory was sealed! ”

Sima Zhao's heart is only!

Everyone immediately understood the meaning and looked at Sully. Although they yearn in their hearts, they still have no bottom, after all, taking refuge in Deng Haonan is equivalent to getting on his ship, if they succeed one day, it's okay, but if they fail, they really become thieves.

Sully looked at his brothers and asked, "You guys seem to mean that?"

Several people glanced at each other, and Zhang Li said: "We are just doing business, and developing the navy privately is just self-preservation, if it is really against the imperial court, does the eldest brother think that the king of Vietnam can keep us?" ”

Yang Guang nodded and said, "Yes, big brother!" Deng Haonan made a way to occupy North Korea, Ryukyu, and Taiwan, he didn't dare to touch the land of the imperial court, but no one cared about touching Vietnam! Besides, let's go to Vietnam, Deng Haonan only needs to force the king of Vietnam to betray us under the pretext of purging the chaotic party! ”

Su Li thought for a while and said, "For brothers, you can't stand in the way of your brothers!" So be it! Xu Long, you help ask, let's take the navy and the caravan to throw it over together, and see what benefits that Hao Nan can give! ”

"Don't worry! I'm going to ask my nephew! Xu Long was happy in his heart, in fact, he came as a lobbyist for the Liaodong Governor's Mansion. I said a lot of good things earlier, if Sully really accepted his water army, then he would definitely not do it.

"You said your nephew was here?" Su Li suddenly heard the meaning of the words and asked, "Where are the others?" ”

Xu Long said with a smile: "Actually, I don't want to hide that the Little Liaodong Governor's Mansion has been ordered to go south to deal with us." The main force of the Pacific Fleet has already arrived at the Longmen Port Naval Base in Taiwan, and my nephew has also come with the fleet. ”

Su Li smiled bitterly: "Forget it! I don't care about you now! I ask you, how many battleships did they come? .

"Seventy warships!" Xu Long didn't hide it from them, and said: "Thirty cruisers, forty frigates!" ”

"That's it?" Yang Guang asked disdainfully.

"That's it!" Xu Long smiled: "Don't underestimate it! As a brother, I'll give you a thorough explanation. Their warships were all large Western ships, and the Dutch East India Fleet was no bigger than that. Zheng Zhilong's water army is amazing! Fighting them is not a one-sided slaughter?

"That's right!" Yang Guang remembered that Zheng Zhilong's army was completely annihilated. Suddenly silent.

"That's it!" Sully said, "Go ahead! Let's take a look at the market first! ”

Xu Long left happily, but Su Li and the others looked at me and I looked at you, all sighing and shaking

Although the Chao Gang is both a businessman and a thief, the scale of the water army is also very large. It's a pity that it is not a regular army after all, and it has not experienced the baptism of naval artillery battles. They would have been able to fight in the era of cold weapons, but they would have been blind in naval battles in the era of hot weapons.

Su Li and the others were discussing the matter, when his subordinates came to report, and Wu Liuqi came to visit.

"Does he still have the face?"

Yang Guangteng stood up suddenly, and several other people were also surprised.

Su Li waved his hand and said, "After all, brother, let him come in and see what he says." Let's go out and talk back, and soon Wu Liuqi entered the Juyi Hall.

"Greetings to the eldest brother and brothers!"

Wu Liuqi's words were not accepted, Yang Guang and the others all bowed their heads to drink tea, talked about other things by themselves, and ignored him.

Wu Liuqi was very embarrassed. But he's thought about it, too.

Su Li coughed lightly and said, "I don't know if Wu Zhangqi has anything to say?" Our temple here can't fit your great god! ”

Wu Liuqi was also embarrassed, but he still said stubbornly: "Big brother, this matter is not my brother's, please also ask the eldest brother and all the brothers Haihan."

Yang Guangteng stood up suddenly, and was about to scold, but was stopped by Zhang Li next to him. just said: "If you have something to say, Haihan is a fart!" ”

Wu Liuqi smiled: "There may be some misunderstanding between our brothers!" I'm here this time to apologize to everyone, and it's my fault to keep it from my brothers! Second, on the orders of our sect leader, we will discuss important matters with your brothers. ”

Su Li said, "I don't know what your sect leader commands! ”

"Don't dare to do it!" Wu Liuqi said: "It's just because of my affairs that the Chao Gang has become a chaotic party in the imperial court, and I am sorry for the loss of many brothers and property." ”

Zhang Li said: "You don't need to be sorry! You are now a veritable court offender, and we don't care about what we lost before, so we just look away. Please leave quickly. It would not be good for the provincial government to bring the imperial army to us."

Su Li nodded and said, "That's right! For the sake of the brothers, we don't care. Passed. Forget it! We are just maritime merchants. But I don't want to be charged with rebellion."

Wu Liuqi sighed: "Big brother doesn't know! Now even if the Chao Gang does not rebel, the imperial court will charge you with rebellion. Even if you hide here, the Imperial Mariners will chase after you. Do you think the king of Vietnam will be able to keep you? I say to you, don't be delusional! Vietnam is a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, as long as the imperial court comes over with an edict, Nguyen Phuc Yuan will definitely send you to the imperial court to invite merit, and your treasures will all be swallowed up by him! ”

When Su Li and the others heard this, they were all stunned. Immediately, they calculated in their hearts. Wu Liuqi's words make sense, Ji Fuyuan may not be able to keep them. Maybe they'll be handed over.

Wu Liuqi saw that it had an effect, so he said, "Big brother." Right now, everywhere you go, it's a mess. There is no place for the world to be so big."

Sully asked, "What do you mean?" ”

"It's not interesting!" Wu Liuqi said: "It's just to show the eldest brother and brothers a clear way!" ”

"How?"

Wu Liuqi said with a smile: "Right now, our sect leader sincerely invites the eldest brother and all the brothers to join us and achieve hegemony together!" ”

Join? White Lotus Sect?

Su Li and the others were stunned for a moment, they didn't expect Wu Liuqi to come and be a lobbyist!

Yang Guang sneered: "Wu Liuqi! Wu Lao Liu! It's okay if you rebel yourself, why drag us into the water! What benefits did the White Lotus teach you? A flood flag envoy makes you willing to work for Xu Hongru? Your life is worthless! Don't say you know us! We can't afford to lose this man."

Wu Liuqi smiled bitterly and said: "Now that the emperor is mediocre and incompetent, the traitorous ministers are in charge, and the people are not happy, it is a great opportunity for my generation to rise up and compete with each other!" ”

Huang Hairu said: "It's true that heroes are born in troubled times, but there are more heroes who die, and we still have self-knowledge, knowing how many pounds and taels we have." ”

Wu Liuqi replied: "Don't you know that I've been in the Chao Gang for so many years? You are all rare heroes, and it's a pity not to come out and do a career. ”

Su Li asked bluntly, "Don't brag about it!" Just say it! ”

Wu Liuqi smiled and said, "Big brother is really fast!" Then I'll get straight to the point! There are now more than 200,000 followers and millions of followers, and as soon as the time comes, the sect leader will ascend to the top and shout, and suddenly overthrow the Ming court like a mountain and a sea."

"Stop!" Sully rolled his eyes. said: "There is too much moisture, you wring it out and say." A few years ago, Xu Hongru had more than 100,000 people, and he was not cleaned up by the 5,000 troops of the imperial court! A rabble. What about millions of people? Tens of thousands of brothers in the Chao Gang are stronger than them! ”

"It's a different time!" Wu Liuqi said: "Last time, our sect leader was not fully prepared, so he let the imperial court eagle dog get in the way. Now that the sect leader is working hard to become strong, refining elite soldiers and strong generals, he naturally cannot repeat the mistakes of the past

Zhu Ayao asked directly: "Let's do things for him, what conditions does he give!" ”

Wu Liuqi said: "The sect leader said it. To the eldest brother, the left envoy of the apologetic, several brothers are Dharma protectors, and the brothers below are compiled into the flood flag. ”

Yang Guang said: "You are the leader of the flood flag, we are all under your control?" ”

"No, no, no!" Wu Liuqi hurriedly said: "The flood flag is directly led by the eldest brother, and I follow the eldest brother as a helper!" ”

Yang Guang pursed his lips and said, "It's pretty much the same!" ”

"What the hell is this?" Zhang Li said: "Deng Haonan promised to give the eldest brother a fleet commander, that is a third-grade member of the imperial court!" What kind of fart do you sect leader give, give it? The deputy head of the sect is almost the same! ”

Wu Liuqi was dumbfounded. H