Qian Tiandun saw Xu Ke's shocked expression, so he continued: "Presumably Boss Xu has also heard that our Haihan base camp is located on Qiongzhou Island in the South China Sea, and the garrison of Qiongzhou Mansion is in charge of Hainan Wei, under the jurisdiction of Haikou Office, Qinglan Office, Wanzhou Office, Nanshan Office, Danzhou Office, Changhua Office, Yazhou Institute and other thousands of households, the island garrison is more than 10,000, and the water and land forces are much more than this Changguo Wei Shipu Office. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 But now the garrison on the island also gets along well with us, the two sides cooperate happily, and there has been no trouble. I think this method should also work if it is copied to Zhejiang. ”

Of course, the process of Haihan seizing control of Hainan Island was not as easy as Qian Tiandun said, especially when he attacked the Ming control area in northern Hainan in 1630, but he fought several siege battles in earnest, and there was no "harmonious" and "pleasant" atmosphere between the two hostile sides. Although the war that broke out in northern Qiongbei was later portrayed by Haihan through propaganda as "the Haihan militia assisted the government to fight against pirates", after a few years, many parties gradually understood that Haihan sent troops to Qiongbei in the name of "suppressing bandits", not to kill pirates of unknown origin, but to gain military control of the northern Qiongbei region.

After that war, almost all the officials in the Qiongzhou government who were hostile to Haihan died, and almost all the missing disappeared. In the next year or two, the successor local officials changed frequently, and the officials who eventually stayed on Qiongzhou Island were basically people who recognized the status quo and were willing to accept the support of Haihan with their eyes closed. As for the Ming garrison, it only retains a nominal establishment, and the entire guard system only has officers from top to bottom, and there are no troops to command at all. A person like Li Jin, a staff general in Danzhou, who was active-minded, simply threw himself into an idle position such as a "staff officer" in the Haihan Army, and he was doing two errands at the same time, but he was also living at ease. After emptying the entire Qiongzhou officialdom, the so-called Ming garrison is naturally just like Qian Tiandun said, and it can't create any more trouble for Haihan.

Xu Ke didn't know the inside story of this, but the Haihan people ran Qiongzhou very prosperously, and there were many rumors in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In the past, he didn't think about the reason for this, but now that he heard Qian Tiandun mention this, he realized that the Ming Law prohibits the people from privately hiding swords, bows and armor, but this Haihan even built a gun warship, which has long been a mortal crime that is not enough to kill ten heads. Since the Haihan has such a powerful armament, how can the local government turn a blind eye, and the only explanation is that the local government is in collusion with the Haihan people, or it has been manipulated by the Haihan people at all, and has lost the right to speak and jurisdiction.

Xu Ke didn't dare to imagine that Haihan had fully controlled the situation in Qiongzhou, but looking at Qian Tiandun's natural appearance, and Xu Yuzhuo did not raise any objections to this, this statement should not be made up by Qian Tiandun. The influence of the Haihan people in the two provinces of Fuzhou and Guangzhou seems to be far above the rumors in the rivers and lakes. If you measure it by what they did in the south, then a small place like taking a Shipu Institute is indeed not a big deal. Haihan's heavily armed fleet numbered at least a few thousand men, and it was enough to crush the local garrison in Shipu Harbor. If the Haihan people are not prepared to think too much about the consequences and impacts, and only seek to achieve their goals, then there is indeed nothing wrong with the approach that Qian Tiandun said.

Xu Ke frowned and said, "If the Shipu garrison mistakenly thinks that it is a pirate or an enemy invasion from another country and starts to fight your army, how will it end?"

"It's simple, try to get it as fast as you can, and then block the message. Qian Tiandun said lightly: "If the local defenders are so ignorant of current affairs, then we can only take radical measures to deal with it." A guard fortress of a similar level, an hour or two should be enough to solve. ”

"This ...... This is the ...... of the Ming Dynasty's official army" Xu Ke didn't know how to comment on Qian Tiandun's statement for a while, but this was indeed a subversion of some ideas in his mind -- someone dared to openly challenge the authority of the Ming Dynasty in this way, isn't this kind of behavior the same as an invasion? This is really going to war, how can the news say that the blockade can be blocked?

Xu Ke stammered and persuaded: "General Qian, the waterways in Shipu Port extend in all directions, but I am afraid of ...... I can't stop it!"

What Xu Ke said is also true, Shipu Port is a harbor surrounded by the mainland and many islands, there are as many as five or six channels out of the port, and the exits on the east and west sides of the harbor are a full 40 miles apart, and it is very difficult to block all the channels. Moreover, the west side of Shipu Port is next to the Baijiao Waterway in the north-south direction, this waterway with a length of more than 50 miles leads to the direction of Xiangshan County, and the Siputou Port at the end can see Xiangshan County after turning over a mountain sorghum. If the Haihan fleet wanted to block all these waterways, it would basically be equivalent to encircling the entire port of Shipu from the sea. It's not that this can't be achieved, but I'm afraid that the movement of doing so will be much greater than attacking Shipusho, not only will it not have the effect of blocking the news, but it will make the formation bigger and bigger.

Qian Tiandun replied noncommittally: "If it really can't be sealed, then simply make the momentum bigger, maybe it will have a miraculous effect." ”

Shi Diwen said next to him: "The Ming army here in Ningbo, since they can't even solve the pirates in the jurisdiction, will they have the courage to fight us?"

Xu Ke still felt emotionally unacceptable about this matter, and couldn't help but speak for the Ming army: "The background of the Zhoushan pirates is too complicated, and it is not just the fault of the Ming army......

He said while looking at Xu Yuzhuo, after all, Xu Yuzhuo is a general of the Ming army, and his position should be on the side of the Ming Dynasty, but this time even Xu Yuzhuo is on the side of the Haihan people: "Those who are in the same stream with pirates, what else can they justify for them! If you have the courage to fight us, then look at the quality of this Zhejiang army!"

Xu Ke was still waiting to continue to persuade, but Xu Yuzhuo saw his intentions and decisively stopped: "This time I came to Zhejiang, the head of the family has an order, and every action will be decided by the two generals Hai Hanqian and Shi. If it is necessary to use military means to solve the problem, it is also under the full command of the two generals. ”

When Xu Ke heard this, he realized that a considerable part of the personnel in this fleet were probably from the Fujian Ming Army, but because of the inconvenience of cross-provincial movement, it was very likely that they pretended to be the Haihan militia to participate in the operation, and even the command was handed over to the Haihan generals. Xu Xinsu's determination to this matter can be seen from this.

Xu Ke also understood at this time that the Xu family was not involved in this matter in an official capacity, and the starting point of Xu Xinsu and Xu Yuzhuo was to seek benefits for the family - for example, to obtain a long-term and stable trading base outside Hangzhou Bay, and to continue to expand the maritime trade route northward based on this. Of course, the protagonists of this play are Haihan people, and Xu only plays a supporting role in it. As for the possibility of clashes with the local Ming army in the process, Xu Xinsu is already fully prepared for this, and he will try to win the target even if he goes to war.

Thinking about the interests in the middle, Xu Ke could only sigh silently in his heart, the head of the family is still the same person who sent him to Zhejiang a few years ago, and all decisions are made for the sake of interests. Even if Xu Xinsu is now the chief soldier of Fujian, he still does not regard himself as a retainer of the Ming Emperor in private, and the Haihan people give more benefits, so even if he helps the Haihan people deal with the Ming Dynasty's own army, he will do the same.

Xu Ke can't say how disappointed he is, but he feels that even if he returns to Fujian to enter the officialdom in the future, I am afraid that his future will be very limited, after all, Xu Xinsu, who is currently the highest in the officialdom, seems to have no intention of seeking a higher position. However, he still has to fight for this opportunity to perform at the moment, because most of the actions reported to Xu Xinsu afterwards were completed by Xu Yuzhuo, and all his performances were seen by Xu Yuzhuo, and how much credit he could have at that time may be a matter of one or two sentences from the other party.

After Xu Ke thought about it, he immediately changed his attitude and began to make suggestions for Haihan's plan: "In my opinion, if you want to control Shipu Port, you should first block several access channels on its east road. As long as the passage to the outside world is cut off, it is still possible to block the news for a few days. ”

Qian Tiandun smiled and said, "Trouble Boss Xu to point it out to us on this map." ”

Xu Keyi pointed out on the unfolded map: "Everyone, please see, this Shipu Castle is located in the harbor at the eastern end of Shipu Port, with three waterways leading to the East China Sea in the east, and connecting the depths of Shipu Port in the west. The three waterways on the east side are extremely narrow, and if they can be blocked at the same time, not a single sampan will be able to get out of Shipu Harbor......"

This Xu Ke also said that Shipu Port was difficult to completely block, but he changed his words in a blink of an eye, Qian Tiandun didn't know that this guy's mentality had changed. However, if it weren't for someone like him, who was familiar with the local terrain and sea conditions, he would have been a little clueless about what to do with Shipu Port. Although the terrain can be clearly seen on the map, the specific direction of the sea flow, the distribution of reefs and rocks, and the situation of nearby garrisons are very little information for the coalition forces to ensure the smooth implementation of the operation.

With Xu Ke's guidance, Shi Diwen made a rough plan after dividing five by two, and he was not sure how much work it would take to finally control Shipu City. Of course, this is not a big problem in Qian Tiandun's opinion, just block the way out and prevent the garrison from calling the police to Xiangshan and Ningbo Mansion in the north.

"Boss Xu, don't go back to Xiangshan for the time being in the past two days, how about General Xu send someone over to take your family out?" Qian Tiandun patiently listened to Xu Ke before asking.

Xu Yuzhuo also said: "Take your family out first, so that you don't have to worry about the future." You can rest assured, after picking them up, you will send them south back to Fujian, where there will be a special person to receive and settle them. When this is done, I will send you a boat to the south to reunite with your family. ”

Xu Ke's family in Xiangshan County has a wife, two concubines, a son and a daughter, plus housekeepers and loyal servants who serve the family, a total of less than ten people. The rest are still some long-term workers, but they don't need to be taken away. He just felt a little sorry for the manor in Xiangshan County, and it was a pity to lose it like this.

Xu Yuzhuo seemed to have guessed his thoughts, and comforted with a smile: "There is no need to worry about my brother's family property, wait for you to sign a resale deed and sell all the manor properties to the person I arranged, and the silver will be added to the market price of today's Ningbo Mansion by thirty percent." When I go back, I will give you the silver ticket of Haihan Bank, which can be exchanged for cash at all seaports in Fujian. ”

Xu Ke said politely: "The silver in this property is also from the clan, and it should not be obtained by the subordinates, and there is no need to increase the price." ”

"This silver has long been recorded as an expense, and you don't have to be polite, this is one of the rewards you deserve for many years of lurking in Zhejiang. "Xu Yuzhuo is telling the truth, the Xu family operates so many industries, how can they care about the expenditure of 1,800 taels of silver for a manor in the countryside of Ningbo. Besides, in addition to this silver, Xu Xinsu has even prepared an official position for Xu Ke's children who are about to return to their hometown in Fujian, compared to the real estate that Xu Ke purchased in Fujian, it is not so important.

The humble scene of this brother is very harmonious, Qian Tiandun and Shi Diwen are also very familiar and did not interject, waiting for this cousin to finish the play. Then several people carefully revised Shi Diwen's action plan together, and prepared several response plans for possible situations. By the time all this was done, it was time for dinner.

Although this Yushan archipelago is isolated in the East China Sea and is rarely populated, its location is just at the intersection of the north and south ocean currents, and the seafood is very abundant, and it is known as "Asia's No. 1 fishing ground" in later generations. Qian Tiandun asked the cooking class to open a small stove and make a seafood banquet to entertain Xu Ke. Rao is Xu Ke himself is an expert in the fishing industry, and he has never tasted such a novel and rich taste.

Xu Yuzhuo revealed the relevant secrets during the banquet: "Nowadays, more than eighty percent of the various edible spices purchased by Fujian from overseas are supplied by Haihan. There are many spices used in Haihan cuisine, and the cooking method is also unique, which cannot be eaten in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Don't talk about you, even those gourmets in Guangzhou will go to Sanya, Qiongzhou, to taste the most authentic Haihan cuisine. Brother is enjoying happiness with you today, otherwise how could there be such a good meal!"

Xu Yuzhuo's last words also intended to praise Xu Ke, in fact, since the departure from Fujian, he has followed Qian Tiandun and Shi Diwen to eat a special officer's small stove meal, although it is not as rich as this meal, but it is also an authentic "Haihan taste", which is much better than the Ming army's own food.

After eating, Qian Tiandun said, "Please ask Boss Xu to rest here tonight, and we will go to Shipu Port tomorrow." ”

Xu Ke was stunned and said, "Tomorrow?"

Qian Tiandun responded: "Without further ado, the daily expenses of these thousands of people are not a small amount, and you can save some military expenses by starting early." ”