Sea Pavilion.

This is the largest wine shop on the Macau Ferry Terminal, a three-storey building with a panoramic view of most of the port.

"Yo, Master Li, you're here, rare guest." A man came up at the top of the stairs, and the shopkeeper saw that face and greeted him with great enthusiasm.

The person who was carefully entertained by the shopkeeper was Li Yerong, the interpreter who had been on the Great Western Passage and accompanied Lin Cha, the chief soldier of Guangdong.

Mr. Li played a key role in the Weddell Fleet incident five years ago, in which he demonstrated his network of relationships between Guangzhou officialdom and Macau. It's just that all connections and intrigues were wiped out in front of the British cannons.

The British put on a tough posture, so that Zhang Jingxin, who was the governor of Liangguang at the time, had to give in, and even the initiators, the former commander-in-chief Chen Qian, and Li Yerong's proprietors were uneasy.

But he did not escape after all, Zhang Jingxin released the captured British hostages, returned the bribes, and let them escape after buying goods in Guangzhou. Chen Qian was impeached and arrested, but Li Yerong, a little shrimp, was imprisoned and no one cared about him for a long time, until Lin Cha became the general soldier of Guangdong and needed a person who was familiar with maritime trade.

So Li Yerong was freed and became the person in charge of the business of the chief soldier Lin Cha in Macao, and was respectfully called Master Li by the people here.

"The fresh fish is cut and served with wine, and then I am served spicy shredded rabbit, Panlong vegetables and Yunlin steamed crab. I know you've got a Fujian cook here. Li Yerong said proudly, occupying the best table by the window.

How could the shopkeeper not know the trouble of these dishes, and knew that Li Yerong was a chef of his own family, but he didn't dare to slack off, and said: "Everyone knows that you, Master Li, are a famous eater in Guangzhou City, and you can taste it carefully later."

The fish is coming soon, and I have rice wine with rose dew here, you can try it. ”

"Well said." Li Yerong laughed.

As the fish and rice wine came up, Li Yerong poured himself a drink, and suddenly heard a commotion outside the Guanhai Pavilion, so he asked the shopkeeper: "What's going on, where are those many people from outside?" ”

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Don't you know yet?" This morning, a foreign ship came to the open sea, and it is strange that it is a foreign ship, but it is all our Ming people, and even the name of the ship is called Dongfang. It is said to belong to an Oriental trading company, and it brought a lot of goods, and many shops went after hearing about it.

No, it's a lot of noise on the streets. ”

"Where is the ship?" Li Yerong asked.

The shopkeeper pointed to the west window and said, "Look, the inner harbor is stopped, and it seems that there is something to do with it." ”

Li Yerong walked to the window on the other side and took the Dongfang into his eyes, the sails hanging horizontally between the masts were being retracted, and this strange sail structure immediately reminded Li Yerong of the British ship that played the Guangdong Navy Division on the Lingding Ocean more than ten days ago, which seemed to be also called the Dongfang, but at that time, this foreign ship was still the English ship name.

"Interesting, interesting." Li Yerong said to himself, and instructed the shopkeeper: "You bring my food here, and I will eat it here." In addition, go and talk to the chief shopkeeper of the Dongfang, and say that I, Li Yerong, are here to eat with him. ”

"Oh, so Master Li knows this strange ship?" The shopkeeper's suspicions.

Li Yerong laughed: "But I don't recognize it." ”

"Then how do you invite people to dinner?"

Li Yerong said: "Haha, who said I invited, it was he who wanted to invite me to dinner." Shopkeeper, all the best wine and food you have here are up, and I have covered this third layer. ”

Although the shopkeeper didn't know what to do, Li Yerong couldn't afford to offend him at all, so he immediately agreed, thought about it, and went to the dock to invite someone in person, for fear that his men would not be light or heavy.

"Master Li next to Mr. Lin, I don't know him, I received his kindness, he just docked in Hong Kong, and he is busy with affairs, so forget it." Li Zhaoji responded with a smile after listening to the shopkeeper's words.

"You say that, the little one can't talk back when he goes back. Looking at Lord Li's appearance, it seems that he knows you. The shopkeeper said.

Hai Shuzu walked up to Li Zhaoji and whispered in his ear: "Shopkeeper Li, when we first arrived in Guangdong, we encountered an official ship and clashed with it. I remember that on the big ship at the head, it was the banner of Lin Zi, maybe it was the ship of the chief soldier Lin Cha.

And this Vostok, although it is an Ahat ship, the sail line has been modified by you, which is extremely special. Those who have seen it are categorically impossible to easily forget. Maybe....... ”

Li Zhaoji nodded slightly, and said in his heart that if it was really because of this incident, it would be a little troublesome. This Macao is not a colony of the Portuguese, and there are military positions set up in Guangdong on the island, and these people, who dare to offend the general army of Guangdong, if they do not handle it well, these people will attack themselves, but it is quite troublesome.

At this time, Li Zhaoji regretted a little in his heart, he had known that he would encounter such a thing, so he would not come to Macau, and the senior who went to the Dutch control was the one.

"It's a blessing or a curse, it's a disaster that can't be avoided, I'll go." Li Zhaoji made up his mind and said to Hai Shuzu: "Mr. Hai, you and Liuzi and Ali are in Hong Kong together. Ah Shun and I will go to meet this Master Li. ”

Hai Shuzu immediately stopped Li Zhaoji and said: "Shopkeeper Li, that's Lin Cha's person, who is both a dragon crossing the river and a snake on the ground, so it's better to leave Hong Kong immediately to avoid trouble." ”

"Haha, what's the trouble, if he uses the official face to take me, where will he let a wine shop shopkeeper deliver a letter and bring troops directly."

Li Zhaoji only took Liu Shun to Guanhai Pavilion, and Li Yerong did not get up to greet him, showing an arrogant posture. And Li Zhaoji didn't give him face, but just asked: "Dare to ask, but Li Yerong and Master Li?" ”

"Exactly." Li Yerong bowed slightly, looking at Li Zhaoji with interest.

Li Zhaoji let out a hearty laugh, sat on the chair unceremoniously, looked at the table full of wine and food, and said: "I didn't expect that I, Li Zhaoji, have such blessings today, Lord Li, I invited this meal." ”

Saying that, a small money bag was thrown to the shopkeeper, and under Li Yerong's stunnedness, Li Zhaoji directly grabbed the wine jug and poured a big mouthful into his mouth, then scooped up a crab and ate it hard.

Li Yerong looked at the reincarnation of this starving ghost, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

This guy looks very good, and he recognized this table of wine and food as soon as he came, but he didn't lose anything in front of him. The most delicious Panlong dish was served directly in front of him and feasted.

Li Yerong had never seen such a thick-skinned person, but he hadn't eaten either, and as soon as he picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of spring cake, he heard Li Zhaoji say: "My lord, don't patronize and eat, talk." ”

Li Yerong said in his heart, shouldn't this be what he should say?

A whole roast duck was brought up, just out of the oven, Li Yerong didn't move, Li Zhaoji ripped off a duck leg and stuffed it into his mouth, and tore off another one and put it on the plate in front of him, seeing that the two most essential parts of a roast duck entered his mouth, and if he didn't eat some crispy duck skin, it was all gone, Li Yerong's chopsticks reached out to the roast duck, but Li Zhaoji even picked up the plate and handed it directly to Liu Shun, who was swallowing saliva next to him: "Ah Shun, you take it to that table to eat, don't stand here, delay our talking." ”

A roast duck, Li Yerong didn't move a single chopstick, it all belonged to Li Zhaoji and the two, he was not in a beautiful mood just now, and he was even more unhappy at the moment.

"Is this how Shopkeeper Li treats guests on weekdays?" Li Yerong asked.

Li Zhaoji smiled: "I'm very restrained like this, if I am in front of my own family, I have to take off my boots and rub my feet." ”

Li Yerong saw him put on a gesture of confusion and threw away the chopsticks, but Li Zhaoji pretended not to see it and continued to eat.

He devoured this, half pretended, half real, and it was the first delicious meal that had passed over for more than a month.

"Do you know, why did I invite you to come to Guanhai Pavilion for dinner?" Li Yerong asked.

Li Zhaoji replied casually: "What else can it be, blackmail." ”

Li Yerong snorted coldly, Li Zhaoji laughed, slapped his mouth lightly twice, and laughed at himself: "Oh, look at my stinky mouth, just tell the truth." Master Li invited me to come, definitely for cooperation. ”

"What to work with?" Li Yerong squinted and asked, although Li Zhaoji was a little rude and arrogant, but this brain seemed to be very smart.

Li Zhaoji said: "What is to make money and cooperate." You are the confidant of the commander-in-chief, I am a seafarer, and it is my blessing to be able to cooperate with you. Some time ago, when I first arrived at the mouth of the Pearl River, I had a face-to-face encounter with Lord Lin Cha's sailors in Lingdingyang, and I also opened fire.

It's not big or small. To put it mildly, it was a misunderstanding, let's have a glass of wine today to relieve our suspicions, cooperate happily, and this matter will pass. To put it mildly, firing at the official ships of the imperial court is a rebellion, and I should be arrested and killed. ”

Li Yerong smiled, and said in his heart that Li Zhaoji was a cool person, and he already knew his intentions.

"Listening to people, talking to smart people is easy. Shopkeeper Li, you are a smart person. Li Yerong said.

Li Zhaoji ate and drank to his heart's content, wiped his hands, and said, "Then let's not talk darkly, Lord Li, is this cooperation between you and me, or is it the cooperation of Lord Lin Chalin?" ”

"What do you say?"

Li Zhaoji thought for a while: "I guess it's what you mean, if it's Lord Lin Cha, you have to arrest me in a military prison in Guangzhou to talk about the conditions, where can I eat this kind of banquet." ”

That's what Li Yerong meant, he took care of Lin Cha's business in Macau, and his income was limited after all, but this tiger skin had to be used well.

Li Zhaoji said: "I asked just now, it's a matter of relevant elements, if the general army of Lin Cha cooperates, and the four elements on my side will offer it, and I have to go to the house to thank it." If it were you, I would only promise you a part. ”

Li Yerong's face changed slightly, and he squinted and said, "You don't know how to lift." ”

In this era, if you are only a middleman, Yichengli is already very face-saving, but Li Yerong is not a middleman, he wants to act as a patron of the trading company, and in the future, the Oriental trading company can play his banner outside, so that he is at least a three-percent member.

Li Zhaoji smiled: "Don't be angry, listen to me." ”

As he spoke, Li Zhaoji handed Li Yerong a post, which was still Hai Shuzu's, and he said: "Lord Li, this is the big owner of our trading company, and I am a shopkeeper. I can agree, just one percent, want three percent or more, two days later, the owner of the sea came, you talk to him personally. ”

"I said a new trading company, where did such a scene come from, it turned out to be the property of Mr. Hai's family. Either way, no matter what. When your host comes, I will have a banquet here, the property of Master Hai's family is naturally different from usual, tell Master Hai that two components are enough, and the general soldier will take care of our business in the future. Li Yerong has obviously restrained a lot.

"Oh, then I'll be my master, thank you Lord Ye."

The two talked for a while, and then they parted.

Li Zhaoji went downstairs, looked at Liu Shun touching his stomach and asked, "Ah Shun, have you eaten enough?" ”

Liu Shun grinned: "Shopkeeper, this meal is refreshing and delicious." ”

"You can't just eat it, at night, you go to the market to inquire about this Li Yerong, find out where he lives and how many people follow him on weekdays."

"Shopkeeper, who are you?"

"If you want to eat me two percent, he is not qualified. Looking for a chance, I did him. ”

"He's the man in chief." Liu Shun was a little worried.

"So what, it's a big deal to go to Dayuan or Manila to buy and sell in the future." Li Zhaoji didn't want to get along with this guy, and Lin Cha was deeply involved with the four surnamed pirates, and was in charge of the ground military affairs in Guangdong, Li Zhaoji knew very well that if he wanted to succeed, he could still be vain with the imperial court, but he would definitely not get along peacefully with this Lin Cha.