After the soldiers left, Zheng Fusong quietly came to the door and eavesdropped on the people inside.

But he never thought that Qian Zhen had left, and in Zheng Zhilong's eyes, this money was really a messenger and would not be taken seriously at all. But the conversation between Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Hongkui made Zheng Fusong dumbfounded.

"Fourth brother, when you came back from Guangzhou, you said that Li Zhaoji's wolf ambition would become a big problem, I still think you are making a big fuss, and now I look at it, this guy does have some ability." Zheng Zhilong's voice came into Zheng Fusong's ears.

Zheng Hongkui smiled and said what Zheng Zhilong liked to hear: "In the end, it is a tiger father and no dog, when he was in Guangzhou, Fu Song also felt the same." At that time, I didn't pay attention to him, but it was Fusong who valued Li Zhaoji, so I paid attention to him.

Speaking of which, Fusong admires Li Zhaoji very much, and seems to have the idea of recruiting him to work. ”

"If he were a man who is willing to live under others, he will not go to Tamsui to open up a foundation." Zheng Zhilong was noncommittal, and said with a smile: "Fusong thinks things simply, but this kid does have some vision, but he is going to Jiangnan for a few years, and the mundane things here should not involve him too much." ”

"Yes, big brother. How to deal with Li Zhaoji, please make a charter for the eldest brother. Zheng Hongkui naturally had no opinion, after all, he also thought so. Send Zheng Fusong away as soon as possible, and kill Li Zhaoji during his absence in Fujian, so that everyone is happy.

Zheng Zhilong said lightly: "The news sent by Qian Dongxing can only prove that Li Zhaoji is indeed a threat, but how to deal with him, it is the news of the red-haired ghost that is more useful." ”

Saying that, Zheng Zhilong handed a secret letter to Zheng Hongkui, the letter was written in Dutch, but Zheng Hongkui did not need to be translated by others, the reason is that after the Battle of Liuluo Bay, the condition for the Zheng family to achieve peace with the Dutch side was that the Zheng family sent someone to be a hostage, and Zheng Hongkui was among the hostages.

During his two years at the university, Zheng Hongkui also learned Dutch and has a good understanding of Dutch cultural habits.

"Then Paul has a bit of a way, just seeing that Li Zhaoji received a large number of deer skins, but did not ship them, he guessed that Li Zhaoji was going to Nagasaki to trade." Zheng Hongkui read the letter and said approvingly.

Zheng Zhilong asked: "I just don't know, if Li Zhaoji's trade is ruined, can he still open the Oriental Trading Company?" ”

Zheng Hongkui immediately gave a positive answer: "As far as I can see, Li Zhaoji is afraid that he will go bankrupt and completely degenerate." ”

"How?" Zheng Zhilong came to be interested, in the early years when he was a pirate, when he was undecided, he raised swords, but with the Fu Daming, he became more and more constrained, and his habits have also changed.

Zheng Hongkui said: "This year's New Year, with the four pirates surnamed the Pearl River Estuary making trouble, the raw silk trade in Liangguang is chaotic, first the price of silk tickets plummeted, and then the price of the entire silk fabric is diving. I thought that this was a good deal to make money, so I sent two ships to go, but I didn't expect that before I entered the mouth of the Pearl River, I was attacked by pirates and forced to retreat.

And I heard that people who passed by land, in Guangzhou City, someone bought a large amount of silk tickets, that person is Hai Shuzu, the eldest brother may remember that last autumn, it was rumored that the big owner of the Oriental Trading Company was Hai Shuzu. I'm afraid that this matter is related to Li Zhaoji. ”

Zheng Zhilong nodded, feeling that his brother's guess was very reasonable.

Zheng Hongkui also said: "Big brother thinks that Li Zhaoji is a self-made man, and when he was in Guangzhou last year, he was just a ship, and he didn't have much capital, but he was able to take out a large amount of cash to disrupt the raw silk market in Guangzhou, which shows what Li Zhaoji must have invested all the wealth of the trading company."

And his fleet is leaving Manila at this time, Chunsi is going to be sold to Nagasaki, you think, this deal to Nagasaki is a matter of life, if it is lost, he is afraid that it will be difficult to turn over, if it is as rumored, and the gentry of Liangguang are involved, let alone turn over, it is to die without a place to be buried. ”

After listening to these analyses, Zheng Zhilong stood up and said with satisfaction: "I originally thought that Li Zhaoji's Oriental Business Society was a trouble, but now it seems that it is easy to solve, so I immediately wrote a letter to Zheng Tai, asking him to cooperate with all Japanese parties, including the Nagasaki Commission, and teach Li Zhaoji a good lesson." ”

"Does the eldest brother mean to unite to lower the price, or ......" Zheng Hongkui asked.

"It's not enough to just lower the price, after all, we can influence it on the Nagasaki side, but we can't control it on the Manila side. The hundred-legged insect is dead but not stiff, since it has to be done, it must be done. In recent years, Japan's foreign trade has become more and more tightened, and there are more and more rules, and his Li Zhaoji's Oriental Trading Company is a new player, and it is inevitable that there will be omissions.

Catch a mistake and ask Nagasaki to ask him directly, that's it, all the cargo of the ship is detained, and see what he does. If Li Zhaoji went to trade in person and arrested me, it would be a strategy to kill two birds with one stone. Zheng Zhilong said happily.

Zheng Hongkui nodded, immediately responded, and said: "If that Li Zhaoji knows how to be good, he still stays alive, and Fusong will always look at him pleasing to the eye, if he can stay by his side and be driven by an eagle dog, it is the most appropriate." ”

Zheng Zhilong smiled: "Fourth brother, when it comes to the most painful Fusong, I still count you." If Li Zhaoji is captured and handed over to you for training, whether he is willing to surrender or not depends on your means. ”

Zheng Hongkui had no opinion, and said: "Then there is a letter sent by Shen Youlong, which means that the four surnamed pirates are like that, it is really not true, please come forward, eldest brother, and see if you can eliminate the soldiers." ”

"This old thing, treat me like a bitch, like a bitch. I said last year to help him suppress the thief, he was afraid that my Zheng family would master the Guangdong sea trade, and he would not let it, and now the four surnames are making trouble and come to beg me again. Am I a bitch, like that, and I come and go when I call it?

I replied to him, either to ask the imperial court for troops, and the military department sent a letter to allow me to enter Guangdong. Or, give him money, and I'll help him settle things. Zheng Zhilong said hatefully.

"The eldest prince ........" The maidservant girl who came to deliver tea appeared behind Zheng Fusong outside the door and whispered hello.

Zheng Fusong eavesdropped on the conversation inside, so he was so engrossed that he didn't notice it, and Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Hongkui also heard this shout.

Zheng Fusong immediately pretended to have just arrived: "What's the matter with you, you were still following me just now, why did you come so late?" ”

The door was opened, and Zheng Zhilong looked at several reprimanded maids and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

Zheng Fusong immediately said: "I watched my father and fourth uncle work hard, and I asked them to send some refreshments, but I never wanted to go so slowly. ”

Zheng Zhilong nodded slightly: "Fusong has grown up, and he knows that he cares about us, so send it in." ”

The maidservants didn't dare to speak, they didn't even dare to explain, they walked inside, and the last one was stopped by Zheng Zhilong, he said: "Your mother likes to eat this plum, Fusong, you can send it to her." ”

Zheng Fusong immediately picked it up and hurriedly went.

"Big brother, this kid seems to be listening to us outside." Zheng Hongkui said.

Zheng Zhilong smiled: "I naturally know, but when he grows up, I want to save face for him." ”

"Then you say, will Fukumatsu tell Li Zhaoji not to let him go to Nagasaki to trade?" Zheng Hongkui remembered the plan he had just agreed upon.

Zheng Zhilong said: "I don't know about this, but even if Fusong does this, do you think Li Zhaoji will believe it?" We are in charge of the business in Nagasaki, and the son of the Zheng family does not let others go, do you make it clear your motives? ”

Of course, Li Zhaoji, who was far away in Macau, did not know that because of the trade to Manila, the Dutch and the Zheng family were calculating him.

But it doesn't matter if you don't know, because Li Zhaoji has always been wary of these two families, and he has always known that sooner or later he will have to separate from them.

The Oriental Trading Company is located in the East, this is a real monster room, and every country on the land is a behemoth for adventurers, but the Zheng family, the Dutch East India, the Du Company and Spain, which have influence on the sea, are all overlords.

Emotionally speaking, Li Zhaoji of course wanted to unite with the Zheng family to defend against foreign captives, but the Zheng family regarded themselves as enemies.

With the return of the fleet of the Oriental Trading Company from Manila, the whole of Macau was plunged into a revelry, and this voyage ignited the trade that had been deposited for many years, and the Portuguese in Macau, who had been jealous of Lee Siu Kee or had some plans, regarded Lee Siu Kei as a true friend at this moment.

Trade would continue, with Lee leaving the Tamsui in Macau and going back and forth between Macau and Manila after repairs, while the Dongfang and Lingding Island would travel between Macau and Tamsui to transport goods and immigrants and prepare for trade with Japan, which began in April.

Of course, with a successful trade, Li Zhaoji no longer had to be a hostage, and he chose to go north, to Guangzhou, to find the leader of the Cantonese gentry, Chen Zizhuang.

Guangzhou is extremely dangerous for Li Zhaoji, being kidnapped is the shame of the governor Shen Youlong's life, and Lin Cha hates Li Zhaoji even more, Li Zhaoji knows that once he reveals his whereabouts, he will inevitably die, so he did not send a letter of worship according to the rules, but went directly to Chen Zizhuang's house, observed around his home, and found that the old man was really at home, and went directly to the door to show his identity.

"Shopkeeper Li, please come with the villain." The housekeeper of the Chen family bowed slightly, led Li Zhaoji through a verandah, walked into a quiet courtyard inside, and led Li Zhaoji into the flower hall.

The area of the flower hall is not small, the arrangement is quite elegant, the blue and white porcelain is placed on the large round table, and the lights are also shining, fine porcelain, bead curtains, and cultural toys are shining.

"I'm the only one here today, is your master going to open such a big banquet?" Li Zhaoji asked puzzled,

There was a middle-aged woman with four maids in the flower hall who was spreading cloth vegetables, Li Zhaoji looked at this big table full of people, and felt that this must be a banquet for seven or eight people, which was a little weird, after all, he himself did not notify in advance.

"That's because the old man originally had a distinguished guest today." Chen Zizhuang walked out of the inner hall and said with a smile.

"Master Chen, I haven't seen you for many days." Li Zhaoji hurriedly said: "Take the liberty to come and invite Master Chen Haihan." ”

"Where, where. Although you are uninvited, in fact you are always the Lord, come, speak inside. Chen Zizhuang took Li Zhaoji's hand and walked to the inner hall, and he explained the reason in three or two sentences.

It turned out that Chen Zizhuang set up a table in his private residence today, and the entertainer was Hai Shuzu and several gentry from various cities who participated in the cooperation of silk ticket trading, of course, there was also an acquaintance of Li Zhaoji among the guests, Zhao Wenji, the guest of Shen Youlong, the governor of Liangguang.

"What's the matter, Governor Shen also wants to mix in the raw silk business?" Li Zhaoji asked with a smile.

Chen Zizhuang smiled: "Where is it, Lord Shen sent this Mr. Zhao here to discuss with us about pacifying the pirates." ”

Li Zhaoji was stunned when he heard this, and Chen Zizhuang immediately explained.

Theoretically, the four pirates had a hostile relationship with the Cantonese gentry, but in fact, the two sides had a lot of contacts and each had its own gains. Although the pirates of the four seas are at sea, they can survive for so long, it is clear who can rob and who cannot rob here.

Of course, this is also based on the indulgence of the gentry and the local government of Guangdong, but the four pirates fought together, and all the rules collapsed.

Shen Youlong's meaning is very simple, contact the gentry of the state capitals, and together with the local government of Guangdong, to express the meaning of the truce, that is, to salute first and then the soldiers. Of course, if there is a misunderstanding between the four surnames, the court and the gentry can also send someone to mediate on their behalf.

This is not uncommon, both coastal and inland. After all, the officials and bandits are a family, and they make a lot of trouble, and no one looks good when they break the sky.

It's just that Chen Zizhuang and others obviously lack interest in mediation. The infighting between the four surnamed pirates was manipulated by Li Zhaoji, and he was willing to bring down the price of the silk ticket and take advantage of the weakness. Li Zhaoji fought and killed in front, and Chen Zizhuang and other Guangdong gentry immediately followed, and they also intervened in the raw silk takeaway.

Naturally, the more the four surnames make trouble, the better, and Shen Youlong's hope is destined to be lost.