The Red Mansions

Chapter 138
On the outskirts of Ningbo.

On the farm, in a beautiful house, the inside and outside are heavily guarded.

In the secret room, eight people sat around a round table and had a secret conversation.

The one who was joking was Zhou Youfu, the housekeeper who represented Jiangnan Zhen's family.

Zhou Youfu was in his forties, with a radiant face, pampered and well-to-do, with a rich appearance, even though he was a servant, he was somewhat noble.

He pointed to the young man beside him, and introduced to everyone: "This young man must be familiar to everyone. He is the military advisor of the Black Shark Gang, Liu Yongan and Liu Junshi. This time, in order to discuss a big plan, this old man invited him. coming."

Everyone took a deep look at Liu Yongan, did not speak, but all cupped their hands.

The Black Shark Gang is a newly emerging pirate force in the sea in recent years. It has dozens of sea ships and thousands of pirates under its command. Its power should not be underestimated.

However, Liu Yongan was also humble to those present.

He got up and bowed to everyone, and said with a smile, "You are all polite."

Fu sat down again slowly.

To these people in front of him, he had to be humble and polite.

No way, although the Black Shark Gang dominates the sea, they do not do production. For a long-term plan, they must have a stable source of income.

It is the best choice to partner with these people in front of you and the family represented behind them to do smuggling business.

These people represent the Zhen family in Jinling, the Niu family in Henan, the Liu family in Shanxi, the Kong family in Shandong, the Xia family in Jiangxi, the Zheng family in Zhejiang, and the Chen family in Huguang.

There are two reasons why it is the best choice to cooperate with these people.

One is that the families represented by these people are all the top families in their respective provinces, and the sources of various goods that need to be smuggled are relatively stable in terms of quantity and quality.

Stability means a steady stream of wealth.

The second point is also the most important.

These family forces are no different from local snakes in their respective provinces, and they can eat both black and white.

The cooperation between the Black Shark Gang and these families is equivalent to finding countless backers.

With more backers, the Black Shark Gang will not be afraid of being suppressed by others, so they can live longer, and their strength and background can develop better.

After Liu Yongan sat down, Zhou Youfu looked at the crowd and said in a deep thought:

"Since Wen Kunlin, the prefect of Ningbo, took office the year before last, our overseas business has plummeted. In order to change this situation, we have this secret meeting."

"I'm not going to hide it from you, the Zhen family has been living a tight life for the past two years."

"You must have heard that Lin Ruhai, the inspector of salt in Yangzhou, has been keeping an eye on the Zhen family for these years. As a result, the private salt business did not dare to do it with such fanfare as in previous years, and suffered heavy losses!"

"I wanted to find some benefits in the overseas business, but I didn't expect to meet a stunned Qingwen Kunlin again."

"This guy is not doing his business every day, just staring at all the seaports to suppress bandits. Even Diao Wenjun, the leader of the Black Shark Gang, was arrested and locked up in the Jinling Prison."

"So everyone, I invited the master of the Black Shark Gang here today, and I also want us to sit together, brainstorm, and make a plan to completely change this passive situation."

When everyone heard the words, they all agreed.

The representative of the Kong family from Shandong said: "Since Steward Zhou is open and honest, let me also talk about the troubles the Kong family encountered."

"The situation encountered by our Kong family is similar to that of the Zhen family, but the loss is even greater. The private salt business has almost disappeared, and the iron business has also been strictly censored at the Ningbo port. Since last year, the transaction volume has dropped by the middle..."

The representative of the Zheng family in Zhejiang said: "Our Zheng family's silk cloth that was going to go to sea has been piled up like a mountain in the warehouse. Although a small part of it traveled from Fujian last year, the cost of transportation and handling was several times higher because of the need to cross mountains and ridges."

"It doesn't matter if the cost is high. The key is to delay the time. Due to the influence of the sea wind, it only takes a few months to go to sea every year. The small amount from Fujian cannot handle the inventory at all."

"If this delay continues, all those silk cloths piled up in the warehouse will be ruined!"

Next, each family representative made a speech, and the situation was similar, that is, the control in Ningbo was too strict, and the smuggling business was not easy to do.

The silk, tea, porcelain, gold, silver, books and other goods in the warehouses of the major families have piled up like a mountain, and they urgently need to be sold earlier, or they will rot in the warehouse.

After waiting for everyone to finish speaking, Zhou Youfu nodded and said, "Everyone has said the situation, so is there any way to break this unfavorable situation?"

The representative of the Liu family in Jiangxi said: "Can we think of a way to transfer Wen Kunlin away from Ningbo? At worst, we will suffer a little loss, give up some benefits, and let him be promoted to one and a half levels..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Youfu shook his head and said, "This method is not appropriate. Wen Kunlin is the right-hand man brought by Governor Wen Junshou of Zhejiang. Without Wen Junshou's nod, even the cabinet would not easily transfer Wen Kunlin away."

"Then send someone to assassinate!" The representative of the Henan Niu Family said with a blank expression.

Zhou Youfu still shook his head, he said: "This is even more difficult, the guards around him are all elites transferred from the capital, and recently there are Jinyiwei people mixed in, just waiting for someone to come and die!"

"What about framing?" the representative of Zheng's family in Zhejiang asked.

Zhou Youfu thought for a while, nodded and said, "It's possible to try it, but it's not guaranteed to hit the target. If Wen Kunlin reacts, I'm afraid it will be even more crazy to crack down on smuggling."

Everyone has thought of many ways, but none of them are appropriate.

At this time, Zhou Youfu smiled and said: "Since everyone can't think of any reliable solution for a while, this old man has an immature idea here, maybe you can give it a try."

After everyone nodded in agreement, Zhou Youfu pointed to Liu Yongan beside him, and said, "This method is very simple, just find a way to make Zhejiang mess up! The specifics will be done by the people from the Black Shark Gang."

Liu Yongan stood up, saluted everyone, and then said:
"My Black Shark gang plans to choose a day to pretend to be Japanese pirates, land from the coast of Shaoxing, disperse into dozens of teams, each ranging from 70 to [-] people, and do some murder and robbery in Zhejiang to attract the attention of the government. force."

"But in fact, the main force of the Black Shark Gang will only raid Kuaiji and Gaobu, and then go straight to Hangzhou, Yingtian, Wuhu and other places to expand the results of the battle."

"The students don't shy away from you adults. The students have selfish intentions. They just want to take advantage of the chaos and rescue the leader of our Black Shark Gang from the Jinling Prison."

"Of course, the Black Shark gang will definitely attract the attention of the government by killing people along the way, and Ningbo Mansion is no exception. This will give you the opportunity to take advantage of the chaos and ship a large number of goods!"

The representative of the Zheng family in Zhejiang frowned and said, "It's a good idea, but it's a one-shot deal. Besides, did Mr. Liu misunderstand the government's guards? Do you really think they are just for nothing?"

At this moment, Zhou Youfu smiled and said: "I don't know what you guys are, but today's guards are no longer the guards of the founding period of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

"For example, Jinling City's army has 12 people, but in fact there are only more than 1000. Are you surprised?"

"Hehe, after hearing what I said, you won't be surprised at all."

"For decades, the army's farms have been destroyed, and a large number of farms have been mortgaged or sold by the generals of the guards. As a result, military households cannot survive, and a large number of them fled. They would rather become fugitive slaves than join the army."

"So, don't look at the guards everywhere in the south, but there are very few troops that are truly capable of fighting."

Liu Yong'an nodded and said: "Everyone Zhou is right. If you know yourself and the enemy, you will never be imperiled in a hundred battles. Since my Black Shark gang dares to go ashore, we will not fight unprepared battles."

"The lord said just now that we are a one-off deal. The student said it bluntly. This is wrong. Since we can go ashore this year, can we not go ashore next year?"

The representative of the Zheng family in Zhejiang nodded slightly when he heard the words, and asked again: "Since you have already thought of a way, why did you come to us for a secret talk? Is there anything you need to cooperate with?"

Zhou Youfu pondered: "There are two things that need cooperation. One is to confirm the delivery time and quantity first."

"After all, the Black Shark Gang can only take two months at most to go ashore. We must send all the goods out to sea within this period of time. Early preparations are essential!"

"Second, you must provide comprehensive and reliable information for the Black Shark Gang along the way."

"Although they will dress up as Japanese pirates and disperse into countless small teams to make trouble everywhere, which is convenient for concealment, but they are also afraid that they will be taken over by some government. When they are severely tortured, it will be easy to expose the Black Shark Gang."

"Once the Black Shark Gang is exposed, it will be a rebellion, and the imperial court will definitely encircle and suppress it with all its strength."

"But the Japanese pirates are different. Now the imperial court's attention is all in the north. If the Japanese pirates make trouble, it will only be regarded as an itchy skin ringworm. In addition, the adults in the court and the central government are beating and drumming, and the matter will pass quickly. ..."

Liu Yong'an nodded secretly, but his thoughts flew to Cixi, the magistrate who made him hate to the bone.

Last time at Ningbo Cixi Guild Hall, if he hadn't run fast, he would have been almost hacked to death by the county magistrate!
He, Liu Yong'an, has never been so embarrassing since he was so old. This revenge must be avenged!

……

Cixi, the training ground of the Patrol Camp.

Jia Yun convened a meeting of the backbone and informed that the pirates might attack Cixi on February [-]th.

After the backbones heard the notification, instead of being afraid, they were all eager to try.

Jia Yun saw that the morale of the crowd was high, so she ordered: "From now on, all the patrolling camps will move to the Guanhaiwei barracks, and form a joint training army with their musketeers."

In fact, he also knows that there are not many people in Guanhaiwei now.

However, the current patrol battalion only has the establishment of one hundred households, and it is barely enough to pick some moderate musketeers from Guanhaiwei.

With the addition of musketeers, the patrol battalion can be attacked with muskets in the distance, wolf traps and spears in the middle, and boring palladium in the near to kill the fish that slipped through the net, and the combat power can be doubled.

In addition, in the mandarin duck formation, the left and right shield players are responsible for blocking the Japanese pirates' arrows and spear attacks, and providing protection for the soldiers behind.

In this way, there is both offense and defense.

Just in this way, Jia Yun's personal guards will all join the training camp.

Originally, he was waiting to transfer people from the capital, and then send all the personal guards to the patrol camp to serve as small flags and general flags, but now he has to move forward.

Guanhaiwei, built in Shanyang, is solid against the peaks and deep against the giant immersion.

Guanhaiwei is a heavy guard on the southeast coast. Its tall and majestic city gates and towers are the landmark buildings of the Acropolis.

The city gate is the weak link of defense, so many city gates are equipped with urns to better resist foreign invasion.

Many cities have water gates and water gates, while the inner city of Guanhaiwei is densely covered with canals and ponds, and the rivers and rivers outside the city are crisscrossed. In order to connect the water systems, there are also several water gates and water gates.

Jia Yun led the patrol battalion to Guanhaiwei overnight, and went to the tower with the commanding envoy Qin Mingzhong.

Qin Mingzhong is in his thirties, vigorous and dignified, although his official status is higher than Jia Yun's.

But in this day and age, civil servants are more noble than military officials. Even if Qin Mingzhong is the commander of the third rank, he dare not neglect Jia Yun, the magistrate of the seventh rank.

After all, even if Jia Yun can't control him, she can find his faults and impeach him, which is the most annoying thing about civil servants.

Of course, the main reason is that when Governor Wen Junshou visited here last year, he greeted Qin Mingzhong and said that he should cooperate with Jia Yun more, which is why Qin Mingzhong has always been more polite.

On the city floor.

Looking at the vast night, Jia Yun said: "Once there is a war, the enemy will probably attack the entrance and exit of the city gate first. As long as they capture the city gate, they can drive straight in!"

The east gate of Guanhaiwei is called Yingxi Gate, the west gate is Zhenwu Gate, the south gate is Laixun Gate, and the north gate is Gongsu Gate.

There are suspension bridges outside the four city gates, the east gate is Qinglong Bridge, the west gate is Zhongxiao Bridge, the south gate is Tianyi Bridge, and the north gate is Gongsu Bridge.

The four city gates and the Wengcheng Gate are not on the same central axis.

When going out of the city gate, all turn to the left to the Wengcheng Gate. The city gate and the Wengcheng Gate are staggered to each other, which can prevent the enemy from driving straight in like a flood.

The left is the big one, and the roads out of the four city gates turn to the left, forming a swastika road shape, which means endless life and endless roundabouts.

Qin Mingzhong nodded and said: "If the pirates want to attack the city, they can lead their troops to fight in the barracks mountain and Dongshan mountain first, fight the enemy, and resist the enemy outside the city."

"If the enemy is weak and the enemy is strong and we are weak, the defenders can withdraw to the acropolis, close the urn gate and the city gate, use the city wall to command the enemy, shoot arrows, throw stones, and throw fireballs at the enemy."

"If there is a big gap between the enemy and us, the gate of the urn is broken by the enemy, and the enemy rushes into the urn, the defenders on the city can also take advantage of the high wall of the gate and urn to shoot down the enemy in the urn from a high position, forming a 'catch the turtle in the urn'."

A few words, but it is an emergency plan passed down by the army for countless years.

Jia Yun murmured: "No matter how good the strategy for defending against the enemy is, you need to train more, so as not to be in a hurry when facing the enemy..."

Qin Mingzhong hesitated and said, "Lord Jia, on the [-]th day, did pirates really sneak attack? Is the news accurate?"

"This official doesn't dare to guarantee it. I brought people from the patrol camp here today, just to prevent it from happening. Doesn't Commander Qin want to make meritorious service?" Jia Yun said with a smile.

Qin Mingzhong laughed loudly, and said, "Who wouldn't want to do meritorious service? It's just that Mr. Jia doesn't know that the officers and soldiers of our guards, in addition to the necessary duty on duty, also need to farm to earn money."

"Once the training starts, you can only eat and drink from the guards. This is not a small expense!"

Jia Yun squinted at him, and said lightly: "Commander Qin, you want me to provide you with money and food for training? Heh, if you have made meritorious service at that time, will Commander Qin let me lead the way?"

"That can't be done. The brothers sacrificed their lives for the credit, so they can't be compared!" Qin Mingzhong shook his head.

Jia Yun nodded, and said with a smile: "Since Commander Qin said so, I can only take the people from the patrol camp and leave first. If something goes wrong, I will refer to you first. Who told you not to train?" of?"

"You?" Qin Mingzhong stared at him, then sighed again, and said helplessly, "Forget it, let's do the training. Tomorrow, I will let the brothers come to train."

"It's just Mrs. Jia, I will only respond to you this time. Next time, if you come to supervise my training every three days, I will lose my face!"

Jia Yun laughed loudly, stepped forward and patted Qin Mingzhong on the shoulder, and said:
"Commander Qin, don't worry, I'm [-]% sure this time, the pirates will come and attack you, and you may be able to get promoted to an official position when you make meritorious service!"

Qin Mingzhong shook his head and smiled wryly, "Your Master Jia is the one who got promoted, right? It's too difficult for us military officers to get promoted!"

"Whether it's difficult or not, it depends on who performed it, Commander Qin!" Jia Yun said meaningfully.

Qin Mingzhong heard the words, his eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands knowingly and said: "Master Jia, don't worry, if there are really pirates coming to attack this time, I will definitely let them come and go!"

"Good! With Commander Qin's words, I feel relieved!" Jia Yun praised, then turned and walked down the city with Qin Mingzhong.

It was getting late, and Jia Yun wanted to go back overnight. Before leaving, he told Qin Mingzhong: "The patrol battalion will be put in your place for joint training first, and I hope Commander Qin will be stricter!"

"Master Jia, don't worry, I don't dare to be slack and sloppy with the ability to save my life!" Qin Mingzhong replied seriously.

……

After returning home, Charming asked suspiciously: "Master, why are you and brother Ming the only ones coming back today? Lin guarding them?"

"They have something to do, and they won't be at home these days." Jia Yun replied.

After a pause, he said again: "By the way, you have been staying at home these days, and you are not allowed to go out on the street. Did you hear me?"

Charming looked at him suspiciously, seeing that Jia Yun didn't explain, so she didn't ask any more questions, but said, "Do you need to tell Uncle Xue?"

Jia Yun asked: "It's so late, he and Ni Er haven't come back yet?"

"No, I came back at noon. Before leaving, I said hello and said that I would be back later." Charming said.

Jia Yun nodded, and under the service of the beauties and the beauties, she bathed and changed her clothes to remove the dust from her body.

The mornings and evenings in February were still a bit cool, thinking that Jia Yun had washed her hair, and when she returned to her room, she lit a few pots of charcoal fire and put them in the corner.

in front of the dresser.

Charming wiped Jia Yun's hair with a dry towel, and said with a smile, "A lot of country gentry and officials' wives came to visit today and brought a lot of gifts, but I took them all away."

"Hehe, you're clever, and you did the right thing. We'll try it right away. We can't let anyone catch anything." Jia Yun laughed.

The charming man smiled and said: "After all, I have been with the master for a long time. I have heard a lot of truths from you, and I have learned a few tricks quietly."

Jia Yun said: "It is necessary to guard against others. Master, my foundation is still shallow at the moment, so I have to be cautious!"

"I didn't see it." The charming man said with pursed lips: "I see that the master is very comfortable all day long, and I haven't seen you trembling at all..."

PS: Just an update today.

(End of this chapter)