He re-brewed a pot of tea for Li Sizhi, and hurriedly went to the gun factory to find his own man.

Li Sizhi was not idle, drank two cups of tea and rested for a while, then picked up the pick, filled all the water tanks in the house, and just put down the pick, he heard an enthusiastic voice outside.

"Si'er, Si'er, you stinky boy, you're really back." He Liangtao appeared at the door, entered the courtyard, grabbed Li Sizhi's two shoulders, looked at them carefully for a while, and said: "Oh, after going out to practice, not only is it developed, but it is also a lot stronger." ”

Li Sizhi is naturally strong, he follows Li Zhaoji on weekdays, and Li Zhaoji has the habit of exercising, so he follows running and boxing, and more importantly, when he captured Mu Luo, he was held down by Mu Luo's backhand, although Tang Mu has never said it to outsiders since then, everyone doesn't know about this shameful thing, but Li Sizhi has always been ashamed, and he is even more energetic to exercise and boil his body.

"How is your master?" The three of them were very affectionate, and when they entered the room, He Liangtao asked directly.

Li Sizhi's subordinates just bought some cooked meat and snacks, but He took advantage of going out, bought a big goose, killed it and started stewing.

Li Sizhi observed He Liangtao while dealing with He Liangtao's questioning.

He Shi could call him back, Li Sizhi expected it, but he didn't expect He Liangtao to be so happy when he saw him. In the final analysis, He Liangtao is a person who is extremely responsible for his work, even if he is a little afraid of his wife, but it is rare to be so happy when he is called out of the gun factory.

"I didn't delay your work, uncle." Li Sizhi said.

He Liangtao slapped his thigh and said: "What work doesn't work, the gun factory is also idle. As soon as your aunt said that you were back and brought good news, I came back immediately. ”

Li Sizhi said: "Did the eldest mother tell you about that?" ”

"Women's mouths always like to exaggerate, I can't believe it, but I believe you more." He Liangtao patted Li Sizhi on the shoulder and motioned for him to sit down and speak.

Li Sizhi saw that He Liangtao had this attitude, and he was more sure in his heart. He Liangtao is a very benevolent person, why his status is so high, and he still has a bad relationship with Li Sizhi's master Qi Hai, it is because when he was young, Qi Haizhao brushed him once.

It stands to reason that He Liangtao has been courteous to Francois in Macau over the years, and he will be scolded for changing his court. But now He Liangtao has put on a negotiable posture, which makes Li Sizhi feel a little dramatic.

"I'm coming back with the big shopkeeper this time, did you see the Egret at the dock, it's the ship." Li Sizhi said.

He Liangtao said: "Of course, just talking about the strange number of sails on the ship, the big guy knows that it is the ship of your Oriental Trading Company." ”

"That's the ship that my master took the lead in building." Li Sizhi said.

He Liangtao couldn't help but be a little surprised: "Master Qi can build a foreign ship?" ”

Li Sizhi smiled: "No, the big shopkeeper strongly supports it." When I came back this time, the big shopkeeper had both official and private affairs, and there was also a big event, which was to move some people over. My master's shipyard is short of people, so I asked me to inform his old acquaintances from the past.

The Egret was the first to sail for Tamsui in ten days at the latest. ”

He Liangtao's eyes widened: "Is it really freshwater?" But it's the territory of Greater Luzon. ”

Greater Luzon is a Spaniard, Li Sizhi said with a smile: "Now it belongs to the trading company, and the Oriental trading company has a city there." ”

At this time, He brought wine and food, and several people gathered around the table to eat and use it, He Liangtao is not a scholarly family, and he believes in God, so there are few rules in the family, and He can also sit at the table and eat.

And Li Sizhi nibbled on goose meat, and told He Liangtao about the development of the trading company in the Tamsui area during these days.

The raid on Tamsui City, the blood alliance with the familiar fan, the heavy damage to Atayal Shengfan, the cooperation with the Dutch, and the United Spaniards, one by one, said He Liangtao was shocked.

He Liangtao couldn't help but say: "I saw Li Zhaoji that day, and I felt that he was extraordinary, and now it seems that this is indeed the case." ”

"Yes, my family's big shopkeeper is going to do great things, and the trading company is thriving day by day." Li Sizhi said this from the bottom of his heart, without the slightest falsehood.

When He heard this, he kicked his man under the table, reminding him not to say that it was useless and to get straight to the point.

He Liangtao coughed lightly and said, "Is the freshwater stable now?" ”

Li Sizhi said with a smile: "The Dutch and the Spaniards have done it, and the people who were killed have retreated into the mountains and forests, and the familiar ones have made friends with us, and the trading company has completely gained a firm foothold." Don't hide it from the uncle, this time my family's big shopkeeper came back, and it was both public and private.

Do you know that when I was in Guangzhou, my big shopkeeper met a few confidants. ”

He Liangtao has heard a little, of course, He Liangtao does not know the truth about the Hongmen banquet that happened in the Fujian Hall, except for a few parties, no one else knows. The rumors in the market were just that the personal soldiers of Lin Cha, the chief soldier of Guangdong, made some trouble that night, and nothing else.

But for several women, He Liangtao knows a thing or two, he once heard Shi Luobao say that Zheng Hongkui gave a pair of twins to Li Zhaoji.

"When I come back this time, the chief treasurer will take the ladies to Tamsui. My master, you want me to take my sister and my sister over. Uncle, you say, is fresh water stable or unstable? Li Sizhi asked rhetorically.

He Liangtao nodded, even Li Zhaoji himself was willing to take his family members with him, so there was nothing unstable.

And this dispelled He Liangtao's only concern, he said: "Your aunt said that Shopkeeper Li has also heard of it, do you intend to let me go too?" ”

"Indeed, when I heard that I knew you, the big shopkeeper asked carefully, and my master only said good things about you. Now Tamsui City is being renovated, and the big shopkeeper also has the heart to cast cannons and make guns, and you are also good at this aspect. Li Sizhi said.

"If I go, I'm not alone." He Liangtao said.

Li Sizhi nodded: "That is, the family has passed, so it's naturally good." ”

He Liangtao waved his hand: "That's not what I mean, Si'er, you also know that I have made a lot of friends over the years, and many people in Macau point to me for dinner." Of course, these people are also capable people, but these people also have families. ”

Li Sizhi couldn't help frowning, why He Liangtao is so valued in the Macau Council is because he has a wide range of connections in Macau, but these connections can not be maintained just by feelings. As He Liangtao said, these subordinates of his are either craftsmen or capable people, all of whom have craftsmanship, and such people are welcomed by many Oriental trading companies.

However, if the family members also go, there will be no less than three or five hundred people, and they will all be settled by the trading company, and the expenses will be indispensable.

Li Sizhi really didn't expect such a section.

After thinking carefully, he asked: "Uncle, this matter is not something I can decide, you roughly calculate, how many people will be willing to go with you?" ”

Ho Leung Tao said: "You have also seen that Macao's trade is now withering, and to tell you the truth, there are only three foreign ships coming to Macao this year, and many of them have no ....... to enter." ”

Speaking of Macau's economy, Ho Leung Tao is full of tears, generally speaking, because of the hydrological characteristics of the Pearl River Estuary, August and September are the main times for foreign ships to enter Macao, at this time, merchant ships from the Portuguese Viceroyalty of East Africa and the Viceroyalty of Goa will come, not only that, Arab merchants will also enter Macao, and then leave in November and December.

In the past, there were as few as 20 or as many as 60 merchant ships, but this year there are only three.

This was due to the fact that the Viceroyalty of East Africa was harassed by the Sultanate of Muscat, a group of Omanis who were both merchants and pirates, and the Dutch were in full challenge to Portugal in India and across the ocean. Among other things, Malacca has been occupied by the Dutch, and the choke point of East-West trade has been choked.

After the occupation of Malacca, the Dutch demanded that Indian, Dutch, and Arab merchants have to trade in Batavia, and under the threat of force, naturally few merchant ships came to Macao.

No trade, no expenses, this is the iron law of trading ports.

Li Sizhi used to be a little carpenter, he didn't understand this, and he didn't care about this, but now his status and knowledge are different from before, and he can't help but feel a little sad when he sees the place where he grew up since he was a child become so declining.

He Liangtao complained a few words, counted on his fingers, speaking of which, when he was prosperous in previous years, many people did not rely on him to live, but now that trade is not working, more and more people are looking for him for help, and there are many people who can't live without him.

After calculating, there were seventeen or eighteen people he could determine, and no less than one hundred and fifty family members, and this was only certain, and there were more uncertainties.

"Then I'll have to ask the chief treasurer and ask him to make a charter." Li Sizhi said.

He Shi also beat the side drum on the side: "Si'er, these relatives and friends of your uncle are all our own family, and when you go to Tamsui, you also want to twist into a rope with your master, at this time, you can say a few more good words and strive for more benefits for them."

We have more family members, and you have more reliance on the big shopkeeper, and your waist pole is hard, you know? ”

Li Sizhi smiled, nodded again and again, but was careful in his heart, in his opinion, the words are so reasonable, but there must be a degree of doing things.

After eating, Li Sizhi retired first, saying that he would come back in the evening, he hurried to the branch of the trading company in Macau, and saw Tang Mu in the hall, this kid was chatting with Liu Li, the local person in charge.

"Sizhi, you're back, if you don't come back, I won't dare to leave." When Tang Mu saw Li Sizhi, he was about to carry the burden.

He also has a task on this trip, which is to go to Guangzhou and send a letter to Hai Shuzu and Chen Ping, of course, the letter to Chen Ping is a secret, and he has to go home to take a look and report that he is safe.

But before he came, several elders of the trading company gave such a stern explanation that he didn't dare to leave before Li Sizhi came back.

Li Sizhi hurriedly stopped Tang Mu and said, "Brother Mu, don't panic, I'll see the big shopkeeper first." ”

Tang Mu grinned and couldn't help but say, "Then you go, you were scolded, don't blame my brother for not reminding you." ”

"What's wrong?"

Tang Mu said: "The storyteller said that three women in one play, and now there are four women around the shopkeeper, what kind of scene is that, it's hell." ”

Li Sizhi thought about it, Li Zhaoji and the four women have not yet established a relationship, let alone married, this time to take them to Tamsui, naturally there is a meaning of union, but this is not easy to say, a woman can do anything, but she can accept four in one breath, how to speak? Who will be the housewife of the house, and who will be the child?

The current Li Zhaoji must be a big head, and Li Sizhi doesn't want to provoke him.

"Then I'd better wait and see how the big shopkeeper feels?" Li Sizhi stopped and didn't dare to go to the backyard.

Tang Mu said: "Then you wait, I'll take the first step." ”

"Brother Mu, don't go in a hurry, help me come up with ideas." Li Sizhi grabbed Tang Mu.

The two are of the same age, and they have a friendship, and they have both competition and cooperation on weekdays, and the relationship is a little special, but in the final analysis, because of the factor of age, the relationship between the two is the best among the trading companies.

So Li Sizhi didn't hide it, and told He Liangtao about it.

Who would have thought that before Tang Mu could speak, Liu Li on the side crossed Erlang's legs and said: "Sizhi, it's not that my brother says bad things about your uncle, just a kind-hearted person like your uncle, eighty percent of this matter will pit you." ”