The changes in the situation of the Huguang rebellion have not yet reached Shandong, but the changes of Qi Yuanda and Jiang Guanqing of Linqing have been noticed by many people in Linqing City.

The emperor set his eyes on the fact that people from all walks of life relied on boats to bring goods to avoid taxes.

In a city like Linqing, which is prosperous because of water transportation, the wharf is one of the core areas.

Around Caoyun, in addition to various trading houses, there are also more gangs that sell coolies on the one hand and bully the market on the other.

"Big brother, what does Qu Jia mean?"

Looking at the ingot of silver in front of him, this small gang begging for a living at the Nanbanzha Wharf in Linqing City didn't even have an official gang name, and only had a little reputation with Nanbanqi to the outside world.

Nanban Qi's family, he has three boats, and there are about fifty people begging for a living by Qi Fuguang's side.

Qi Fuguang came because he and Qi Yuanda are his own family, and secondly, he can do things and things, so he can steadily take over a lot of work under Caojun Shandong.

Normally, when he goes out and goes out of the boat, he is docking with the Qu Jiachang, who is nominally in charge of five cao boats and fifty cao soldiers. There are brothers and brothers, drinking and having fun, but they are all Qi Fuguang's silver, He has ever seen Qu Jiachang give him silver, or a silver ingot with twenty taels.

It's no wonder that Qi Fuguang's "second master" was stunned.

“…… Didn't he say that? This is Qi Dutai to see that we have done things effectively for many years, and to reward our brothers, it was not easy for everyone to ...... in the past."

The second boss looked constipated.

When did Qi Dutai become such a great good man?

Isn't it because His Majesty has arrived in Linqing......

This silver is hot.

"It can't be that there is no work to do in the back, and Qu Jia Chang will use silver to plug our mouths, right?"

"Where is the matter, won't there be new grain from Shandong to the south after a while? There is still our ...... this time" Qi Fuguang was also worried, and after looking at the ingot of silver for a while, he said, "Put it away first, and when this gust of wind passes, you still have to send it back." ”

Where is Qi Yuanda's silver so easy to get?

Thinking about it, it is nothing more than what is the current situation, so that Caojun Shandong always has to settle some things with silver.

There is so much silver in white flowers, who is willing to take it out and scatter it?

The Nanban Qi family is just a small character in Linqing City, and the big characters know more.

"It's a clear idea of the old scores."

In the flower hall of a large family west of Weishui, several wealthy businessmen gathered together.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know what is going on with you. But if the Cao army can't use it, I will pay an extra 2,000 taels of silver every year to pay the wood shop. ”

"So what, Shandong wants to try out the new law, is it possible that you and I Fujian Chamber of Commerce can fight against the imperial court in Shandong?"

These wealthy merchants, all originally from Fujian, passed through the canal in Linqing City and served as the treasurer or manager of their respective trading houses in Linqing City. It was the shopkeeper Wu who said this.

In a word, several wealthy businessmen in the flower hall looked ugly.

What has been acquiesced in for many years, the transportation of goods by Cao is beneficial to them, to the Cao army, and to the imperial court.

Now with this change, only the imperial court benefits more.

"Qi Dutai confessed." Someone sighed, "Zhang Fujing is too ruthless in Shandong." ”

"Your Majesty is stationed in the Confucian Temple, and the gentry of Linqing originally complained, but this year they are going to drive a township test Enke."

The shopkeeper Wu looked at a few people who said a word, but he was silent.

"Old Wu, the Wu family is in the spice business, if you don't use the boat, the loss will be the greatest, do you admit it?"

Shopkeeper Wu was silent for a moment, and then said: "Zhao'an is at the junction of Fujian and Guangdong, and our Wu family also has some goods on the line of Huang Mingji. I don't know about the rest, if Shandong is the same as Guangdong, the money in the future will definitely not be as easy to earn as before. But what if you don't admit it? ”

One person suddenly said: "I heard that the coastal defense and water divisions of Zhejiang and Guangdong have merged into the sea off Fujian and are attacking the west coast of Nataiyuan Island. ”

All three nodded.

If that island is taken, and then the naval division is stationed in Penghu and the Penghu Inspection Division is restored, then if you want to take risks and send ships to sea in the future, you have to bypass Taiyuan Island and go to the South Seas or Ryukyu through the deep ocean?

"Don't give you a way to live." In private, after all, someone vented his grievances, "I have to prepare my own ships and people, pay taxes at many checkpoints, and I have to work all the way." Will this business continue in the future? ”

Although they still have to earn, but when they make less, it is like asking for their lives.

"What? Brother Zhou wants to rebel? Shopkeeper Wu suddenly said this.

The man's expression suddenly changed: "Shopkeeper Wu said with a smile." ”

"That being the case, getting together today is nothing more than complaining, Wu said goodbye."

After probing the mentality of these people, the shopkeeper Wu really bowed and left.

The rest of the people looked at each other a few times before they all lowered their heads.

They are all businessmen from Fujian, and they still know a thing or two about the secrets of the Wu family in Zhao'an.

Pu Zitong, who is now rebelling in Huguang, was born in Pu, Guangzhou.

In the Song Dynasty, one of the Pu clans in Guangzhou moved to Quanzhou, Fujian.

At that time, this Quanzhou Pushi made the spice business very large, and it can be called a huge fortune for a while.

A hundred years later, when the Zhao and Song dynasties had already existed in name only, Wen Tianxiang and Zhang Shijie supported the little emperor and fled to Quanzhou, and requisitioned the Pujia fleet in the name of the imperial court.

The head of the Pu family was awarded the title of Fujian and Guangdong envoy and the main city and the commander of coastal defense, which can be described as extremely credible. However, in the end, the Pu family abandoned the Song Dynasty and surrendered to the Yuan, Wen Tianxiang and others had to continue to flee south with the little emperor, and the Zhao Song Dynasty finally lost the country in Yashan, Guangdong.

However, the Pu family has enjoyed wealth for many years, and the officials have become bigger and bigger, and they can be called the local emperors of Quanzhou and even Fujian and Guangdong, and they have monopolized many trades in the southeast sea direction at that time.

Until Zhu Yuanzhang opened the Ming Dynasty.

For the sake of Quanzhou Pu's family, Zhu Yuanzhang specially issued an edict, and the entire Quanzhou Pu family was classified as a lowly member, and even ordered Pu Shougeng, who was demoted to the Yuan that year, to "dig up the grave and whip the corpse".

After that, the Quanzhou Pu family changed their surnames and went incognito. The more than 200-year-old clan has an intricate root system, after all, there are still many descendants of the Pu family who have interests with the local gentry and wealthy families, and they were finally preserved.

After another hundred and fifty years, the descendants of the Pu clan in Quanzhou re-accumulated, and the Zhao'an Wu clan is rumored to be one of them.

With more than 100 years of accumulation, an unknown descendant of the Guangzhou Pu clan has finally become a military household, and there is now a rebel leader Pu Zitong.

It's hard to say if this Pu family also has another hatred for Zhu Ming.

At today's gathering, these people actually want to test whether the Wu family of Zhao'an will have any ideas.

There was still a rebellion over there, and the emperor was "treacherous" again, and five years before Jiajing, he tried a new law in Shandong. How many people are involved in this canal, someone must take the lead in protesting.

Shopkeeper Wu returned to his mansion, but his face was ugly.

Qi Yuanda was actually forced by the emperor to pay out of his own pocket to appease the many people who were begging for a living on the Caoding Caogong and Linqing wharf, and the first to say that the Linqing gangs had no chance to take the opportunity to ask for arrears.

The little emperor's deterrent power against the Ming officials had reached this level.

In the past, Linqing City formed a circle of interests like copper wires and iron nets, and after meeting the emperor, it was like melting snow.

Linqing banknotes are currently in the inventory because of the emperor's southern tour and suspended in Linqing many merchant ships, Cao Jun Shandong also obediently like chickens to admit and accept punishment.

So many big clans and commercial houses are obviously full of resentment in their chests, but they dare not express their words.

After being silent for a while, Shopkeeper Wu called two people.

"Although General Pu is only the distant figure of the Pu family in Guangzhou who moved to Shaozhou, but since the matter has been raised, the imperial court must be investigating. Even if I, Zhao'an Wu's and Guangzhou's Pu's have been separated for more than 100 years, I am afraid that they will fall soon. ”

"Uncle, you say, what to do."

The Wu shopkeeper's eyes were blazing: "If you are violent today, everyone knows it." Even the Yan Shenggong Mansion can be done, and I Zhao'an Wu will not be lucky. Now General Pu is rebelling in Huguang Fengtian, if I can help the Wu family, he will succeed day by day, and my descendants will return to their ancestral surnames, and the Pu family will be famous all over the world again! ”

After that, he stared at his two nephews: "Are you willing to die for the great cause of the Pu family?" ”

……

Zhu Houxi had stayed in Linqing until the seventh day, and he did not leave this Temple of Literature and looked around in Linqing City.

It's a pity to say, after all, I've been in the Forbidden City for so long, it's hard to get out.

But the undercurrent in the world is turbulent, and Zhu Houxi doesn't want to take any risks now.

The days ahead are still long.

What's more, the main reason for coming to Shandong is to give the world another signal, to play again and seize the initiative.

Five years ago, Jiajing really had not been implemented to the whole country, but it was only expanded in Shandong.

After all, Guangdong's new law is indeed quite effective, and the increase in tax revenue and grain endowment are visible.

"Now, this year's new grain from Guangdong should also be transferred to the front line, right?" Zhu Houxi asked Yang Tan, "There are new grains from Guangdong and Sichuan, I hope Gu Shilong, Zhu Qi and Luo An can endure their temperament, and don't be impatient in handling Huguang's affairs." ”

Yang Tan said: "Your Majesty, but please rest assured, when they hear Your Majesty's strategy, they know that counterinsurgency is not just counterinsurgency. Spending so much money and food will always have long-term benefits for the country and the people. This time, the credit for the lack of credit will be there in the future. ”

However, Yang Tingyi replied: "Zhejiang and Guangdong Haiphong Dao have all reported that in addition to some Yimin on Taiyuan Island, there are quite a few walled cities and barbarian soldiers at the north and south ends of Xi'an on the island. Looking at his behavior and speech, there are mixed accents from Fujian, Zhejiang, and Guangdong, and even Japanese ronin. Its soldiers and armor are not inferior to the elite soldiers of the guard. ”

Zhu Houxi nodded: "After the Zhejiang City Bosi stopped, those families along the coast who only focused on the benefits of violating the ban on going to the sea in the past will naturally not leave a way back. The provinces were about to move, and Huguang rebelled, but they didn't expect that the imperial court would enter and suppress Taiyuan. Ordered Wu Tingju and Wei Bin, Huang Mingji this year from Jiaozhi newly purchased grain, transferred to Penghu. Take this Yuan Haikou and the private soldiers along the coast, and also train my sailors. ”

There may be difficulties in the specific progress, but in the general direction, Zhu Houxi has decided to fight these punches together in China.

As for the issue of money and grain, he personally went south to deter the south and confiscate money and grain.

Shandong has another arrangement, and it can indeed only be called a tooth sacrifice.

"After I leave tomorrow, I will come back at the beginning of spring next year, Pan Maogong has already given Shandong a new atmosphere."

"The ministers will do their best." Zhang Fu replied respectfully, and then said, "Your Majesty, the rich gentry and elders of Shandong have all arrived, and they are all looking forward to seeing the face of heaven." ”

Zhu Houxi stood up with a smile: "Then let's drive over." ”

It is still in the Linqingzhou Yanai, and there are many tables in the courtyard today.

The emperor is leaving Linqing tomorrow, and today is a farewell banquet?

As soon as Zhu Houxi came, Shandong will also try out the new law.

The atmosphere at this banquet cannot be said to be very harmonious, but it can only be said to be terrifying.

Fortunately, no matter what wind and rain are behind and the emperor is present, it must be the monarch and the ministers who are united and happy.

Zhu Houxi didn't need to say anything else, he himself arrived, it was enough to pay tribute to the elders, exhort some gentry students, and express his recognition of the gentry and wealthy families who donated funds to educate the township.

"Laughter" in Linqing Prefecture, inside and outside Linqing City, Li Quanli, Qi Jingtong, and Liu Zhenyuan are all making final preparations for the emperor's departure tomorrow.

The emperor's big ship has been pulled from the north of the city to the new wharf outside the water gate in the south of the city, and tomorrow, the emperor's halogen will drive from the city of Linqing out of the land gate of the border city.

On the way, you will also pass through the Linqing banknote customs.

Inspections are carried out along the way, and there is a curfew from tonight until tomorrow when you leave the city, get on the boat, and set off.

In addition, the supplies on many ships in this line also need to be replenished.

These things were all done by Ma Gui of Linqing Zhizhou and Linqing Banknote Pass under the supervision of Huang Jin.

There are concubines accompanying them, and the spices on the royal boat cannot be missing.

Ma Gui was beside Huang Jin, and he looked endless: "This spice was purchased from the famous Wu Ji in the west of the city, and the ones in the Shandong Xiaojing Palace were also purchased from them, and they were all of the highest quality. ”

Huang Jin personally inspected it, and he personally saw everything that was going to be on the imperial boat.

After checking that there was no problem, he waved his hand.

The ones that were carried were also Cao soldiers arranged by Qi Yuanda himself.

None of them squinted and did not dare to snoop into the furnishings of the boat, but simply moved their things to the deck and disembarked.

On the ship, there are naturally sturdy eunuchs who will carry everything to the various storage compartments in different categories.

And in the canal, a few miles to the south, no one paid much attention to the movement in the water in the night, even though the accompanying guards were now on guard on both sides of the river to a distance of five miles.

At this moment, because the emperor was stationed in Linqing, and it was night, there were no boats on the canal near Linqing.

At the bottom of the canal, near the shore, there was a strange-looking object embedded diagonally in the bank below the water's surface.

It looks like a small iron house, and there is an iron boat bottom that makes it easy to glide on the silt at the bottom of the river.

Not many people know when this thing was here.

But at this moment, there were two people in the innermost part of the small iron house diagonally upward.

They nested in the innermost part, but not all of them were filled with water, but there was a place two or three feet square, like a well.

Above the well, a pipe two fingers thick leads to it, and the exit is hidden in the grass above the canal embankment. It's hard to search if it's not purposefully viewed.

Now, the two of them waited quietly, breathing in the air, which was actually very turbid and thin, and staring at the dark tube.

Next to the two of them, there was also a tall iron bucket.

At the bottom of the barrel, there is also a thing that looks like the bottom of an iron ship. At the bottom of the barrel, there is a long tube that extends out, and I don't know what kind of leather tanning it is.

The first half of this part is not submerged in water at the moment. Even if it is immersed in water, the place where the pipe leads to the iron bucket has been sealed so tightly that it will not seep into the water. The slender pipe is also coated with something unknown, and it will not float up if it falls into the water.

I don't know how long it took, but the two of them finally caught a glimpse of a glimmer of light from the ventilated pipe at the wellhead.

It was hard to tell the difference, but the two had been here for two nights and were extremely sensitive to changes in light.

Then, the two looked at each other.

"Third brother, I'll go."

In a small voice, the other man hummed softly.

In the midst of the squirming sound, a man took a lamb's belly pouch placed on the top of the bucket and bit it on his mouth.

Then, he pushed the iron bucket and walked out slowly.

After the iron bucket was completely submerged in the water, it could still float slightly. If it weren't for the fact that he also had two pieces of iron tied to his calf and dragged him, the iron bucket would have surfaced.

And he stepped on the mud, and in this way he carried the iron bucket smoothly to the middle of the canal.

The man who remained in the iron house dragged the string of hoses in his hands and slowly put it down, watching his cousin push the iron bucket under the water towards the middle of the canal.

I don't know how long the breath in the belly pouch can last, but this cousin is the best person in the water, and he can hold his breath very much, not to mention that he is risking his life to do this now.

Soon, he disappeared from his faint vision.

At the bottom of the canal, which is ten miles away from Linqing City, before the sky begins to dawn, there is a slight ripple at the bottom of the river, and no one knows.

When the hose stopped pulling that way, he looked down and saw that it was already the last turn.

The man's eyes were slightly hot, and he knew that this cousin had completed his mission and was waiting to die.

He must have had his hands stuck in the dead clasps on both sides of the bucket, and the iron on his legs would hold him to the bottom of the river, and let the water wash him away.

When he died, he would keep his hands up, leaving the bucket less than two feet above the river.

This year, the weather is dry, and the water depth of the canal is a little less than before.

The next task was his own, and he had to wait until dawn, when there was a faint movement overhead, and then he had to hold his breath and glimpse the largest imperial boat through the water as it passed through the middle of the canal more than twenty zhang wide.

It should be visible.

He took one last look at the fire fold that hung from the dagger at the top of the cave, and grabbed the hose.

(End of chapter)