1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 2180
In fact, all problems will be solved with money in the end, but as long as he can keep his market position in Yangzhou, even though he knows that the resulting expenses are likely to be astronomical, Ma Zhengping still agrees without hesitation. down.

Ma Zhengping was not worried about being ripped off by the Haihan people, what he was worried about was that he would not even get the qualification to be ripped off.Although the domineering appearance of the Haihan people made him very uncomfortable, he also knew that this was most likely the only external force that could save the Huizhou salt merchants, and he had to seize the opportunity.

The situation that Ma Zhengping most expects to happen is that Haihan directly takes action to clean up the Shanxi salt merchants in Yangzhou. Han can provide some effective means of support, and the Anhui salt merchants can handle this trouble by themselves. This is probably the least risky way of assistance for Hai Han.

Through Duan Tiancheng's statement, Ma Zhengping basically confirmed that Haihan would adopt this method to provide support to Huizhou salt merchants, which also made him breathe a sigh of relief.As long as the Haihan people no longer stand idly by, the situation in Yangzhou will turn around.

Of course, Ma Zhengping didn't get carried away, he knew that even if the Haihan people were willing to help, there were still huge variables.For example, this musket, in fact, also has some in the hands of Huizhou salt merchants, and even spent a lot of money to buy some muskets made in Haihan from overseas, but these weapons did not form a real combat effectiveness in their hands, and they still fought hard But their opponents.

The main reason is that the opponent's Musketeers have received better professional training and mastered some tactics used in the military. It is already considered a paramilitary organization to a certain extent. These people with experience are much stronger.

Now the Haihan people have promised to provide military training, which of course solves the problem that has plagued Huizhou salt merchants for a long time.However, even if Ma Zhengping was a layman in the military, he could have imagined that this military training would definitely not be completed in a short period of time, and how to deal with possible attacks by Shanxi salt merchants during this period was still a huge problem.

Taking advantage of Duan Tiancheng's good mood now, Ma Zhengping quickly expressed his concerns to him.

Duan Tiancheng said: "Boss Ma is worried that the camp will be taken over by the opponent before the soldiers are trained? This is not difficult. Although it is inconvenient for our country to send troops to Yangzhou, if we send non-military personnel, then we don't have such scruples .”

Ma Zhengping was puzzled and said, "What's the meaning of this?"

Duan Tiancheng said: "I don't know if Boss Ma has heard of the escort company Golden Shield Escort?"

Ma Zhengping said: "I'm ignorant and ignorant, I only know that this bodyguard firm is run by your country, but I'm not very clear about the specific situation, please Sir Duan explain a thing or two."

Duan Tiancheng said: "Golden Shield Escort undertakes various escort and escort services. About half of its members are veterans from the Haihan Army, and most of them are Han Chinese. Since its establishment, it has always been favored by merchants of Ming Dynasty. It has an excellent reputation in the Fuguang area in the south. If Boss Ma has acquaintances in the Fuguang area, he can ask them about the reputation of Golden Shield Escort."

When Ma Zhengping heard him say that there are many Haihan veterans in the members of the Golden Shield Escort, his eyes brightened immediately.This is an Escort in name, but it is actually a paramilitary organization with the appearance of an Escort. Perhaps it is indeed a good way to hire them to deal with the Shanshan salt merchants.

But Duan Tiancheng immediately dispelled his intention: "Although the Golden Shield escort has the ability to fight armed, in principle they only serve as escorts and will not take the initiative to attack and destroy the target, so Boss Ma should not rely on them to destroy the target." Competitors. We can send Golden Shield convoys to Yangzhou to protect your safety, but the grievances between you and the Shanshan salt merchants should be resolved by you.”

Although Ma Zhengping couldn't help being disappointed, he still thanked Duan Tiancheng for his reminder with a smile on his face.He didn't quite understand why Haihan deliberately set up a threshold here, wouldn't it be easier to just let the Golden Shield escort directly solve the problem?

This is actually because the senior management of Haihan is cautious about using troops overseas. Civilian armed organizations like Jindun, which specialize in dirty work, can turn a blind eye to their actions, but the authority granted is also limited. .

The situation Duan Tiancheng said was not to prevaricate Ma Zhengping, but the regulations currently being implemented. This was also done to prevent the personnel escorted by the Golden Shield from being bought by foreign dignitaries and doing some stupid things overseas that are difficult to end.After all, there are people under the Golden Shield Escort with guns, and many members have actual combat experience. The ordinary guards of the Ming Dynasty may not be able to beat them. dispatched mercenaries.

Therefore, the relevant departments have set rules for the Golden Shield Escort. When performing employment tasks in foreign countries, they can only focus on defense, and cannot take the initiative to attack—unless they have received clear instructions from the Haihan military.

The Golden Shield Escort can be hired by Ma Zhengping to go to Yangzhou to protect the personal safety of Huizhou salt merchants, but its function is nothing more than that. The Zhoushan authorities do not want this armed force to become a mercenary used by salt merchants to attack their colleagues.

Although Haihan will provide some special support for Huizhou salt merchants, the salt merchant disputes in Yangzhou will ultimately be resolved by the salt merchants themselves.Shi Diwen didn't want to step into this muddy water.

Ma Zhengping asked cautiously: "After that, will Mr. Duan be in charge of the cooperation with your country?"

Duan Tiancheng really can't answer this question. Although Shi Diwen authorized him to be in charge of negotiating cooperation with Yangzhou salt merchants, he has not decided whether to let him be responsible for follow-up follow-up. Of course, he does not dare to make a conclusion for his boss without authorization. .

"Boss Ma, don't be so impatient. General Shi will make his own arrangements for the follow-up cooperation. By the way, don't leave Zhoushan for the next few days, just wait with peace of mind!" Duan Tiancheng can only play sloppy eyes to fool him at the moment.

Although Ma Zhengping was very anxious about this, he couldn't urge Duan Tiancheng, so he could only agree first.

Duan Tiancheng saw that the conversation was in a hurry, so he got up again to say goodbye. Ma Zhengping bowed and sent Duan Tiancheng to the gate of the yard, and stuffed another envelope into Duan Tiancheng's hand to thank him for his hard work in the middle.

Duan Tiancheng accepted the benefits, and rushed to report to Shi Diwen the progress of the meeting with the salt merchant the next morning.

"I agreed so quickly... It seems that their life is really difficult!" Shi Diwen was a little surprised that Ma Zhengping agreed to the cooperation conditions so quickly. He originally thought that the other party would have to struggle for a while no matter what. Time, and then bargain again, so that it looks like a businessman.

Duan Tiancheng said: "I see that Ma Zhengping's attitude does not seem to be a fake, it should be what the general speculates, the situation in Yangzhou no longer allows them to drag it down any longer. Moreover, the humble official said about the military aid, he even I didn’t even ask about the price, so I immediately agreed, which shows the degree of urgency.”

Shi Diwen said: "Since you have come forward to discuss this matter with Yan, then you will continue to follow up. But for those who will use the Golden Shield next, I will ask Ji Yuanqing to join in, and the two of you will be jointly responsible What do you think about Yangzhou?"

Duan Tiancheng hastily responded: "I will obey the general's orders!"

In addition to normal business, Golden Shield Escort also has the function of collecting various political, economic and military intelligence in other countries. Therefore, the military department that usually connects with Golden Shield is the Military Intelligence Bureau that is responsible for intelligence collection.

The plan of providing military aid to Huizhou salt merchants in Yangzhou was Ji Yuanqing's idea to Duan Tiancheng. In terms of understanding the situation in Yangzhou, the Military Intelligence Bureau is obviously an indispensable participant, and the use of the Golden Shield in the future must also be determined. Military Intelligence calls the shots.Therefore, Duan Tiancheng had no objection to Shi Diwen's arrangement.

Shi Diwen immediately drafted a warrant, appointing Duan Tiancheng and Ji Yuanqing to be jointly responsible for the military support plan for the Yangzhou salt merchants. Among them, Duan Tiancheng is in charge of the personnel training, and the arms trading and the operations of the Golden Shield personnel in Daming territory are in charge. Ji Yuanqing directs.

After a while, Duan Tiancheng handed Shi Diwen's warrant to Ji Yuanqing: "It's time to work with Brother Ji!"

Ji Yuanqing quickly finished reading the contents of the warrant, and responded with a smile: "The people from Jindun complained to me before that there is nothing to do this year, so here comes the task!"

"Why do they have nothing to do? Didn't the fleet send all the people from Golden Shield back to the island to act as a temporary defense force when the fleet went east to Hirado?" Duan Tiancheng retorted.

The Golden Shield Escort is an escort in nature externally, but internally it can act as a militia organization in extraordinary times.During the time when the East China Sea Fleet was sailing overseas, Golden Shield temporarily stopped all operations outside the island, and took back all its manpower to Zhoushan Island as a non-staff armed defense force responsible for monitoring the public security situation in the urban area of ​​the island.

Ji Yuanqing said: "You also know that many people in the Golden Shield are veterans who have retired from the front line. For them, their hands are itchy if they don't fight. How can they be satisfied just by being on duty?"

"That's true...they are people who can't take time off!" After hearing what Ji Yuanqing said, Duan Tiancheng couldn't help nodding his head in agreement and said, "Speaking of which, if anyone wants to eat a peaceful meal, they will all be resettled back to the place after they leave the army." After doing something, it will not appear in the Golden Shield establishment."

The Haihan Army has extremely high standards for resettlement of veterans. Those who are willing to return to the countryside to work in agriculture will be granted farmland by the government. Those who are willing to work in the yamen can also arrange errands.Of course, there will still be some people who still miss their life in the army after retiring from the army, and quite a few of these people will join civilian armed organizations like the Golden Shield and continue to live a militarized life.Occasionally, I also have the opportunity to participate in some small-scale armed operations, and live off the addiction of fighting.

The headquarters of Golden Shield Escort is located in Sanya, but in fact every overseas colony, especially the trading port under the control of Haihan, has a branch of Golden Shield Escort.These branches are not completely under the command of the Sanya headquarters, and the Military Intelligence Bureau has the authority to command and call its personnel.

The closer the place is to Daming, the larger the staffing of the Golden Shield branch is, so as to undertake various escort tasks.For example, the Golden Shield Escort in Dinghai Port, Zhoushan, has more than [-] people under its banner, and most of them have served in the Haihan Army. During the expedition, part of the local defense will be handed over to Golden Shield.

"It just so happens that we are free right now, so let's go to the Golden Shield!" Ji Yuanqing saw the warrant and knew that this matter could not be delayed, so he immediately put down what he was doing and went to visit the Golden Shield convoy at Dinghai Port with Duan Tiancheng .

In a prosperous trading port like Dinghai Port, Golden Shield has always been full of business.After the East China Sea Fleet returned in triumph, Golden Shield quickly handed over its defense and resumed normal operations.

The branch of Golden Shield Escort in Zhoushan is located in the port area, and it has surrounded dozens of acres of land in one breath and built a large-scale base.

There are dormitories, stables, warehouses, collective canteens, training grounds and other infrastructure built in the base, which is basically a small military barracks.At the gate of the base is the store that is open to the outside world, and outsiders are generally not allowed to enter the base, and can only contact business in the store.

On the dam outside the gate, which is used for merchants to park their cars and horses, there is a flagpole four or five feet high, with a long flag hanging on the top. Ships from the sea can see the " The four characters of "Golden Shield Escort".

For businessmen, the service fee of Golden Shield Escort is not cheap, it is at least [-]% higher than that of ordinary escort companies on the market.But of course it is expensive for a reason, and the reputation of the Golden Shield escort is worth the price.All goods that are escorted by Golden Shield will be evaluated before departure. If there is any mistake on the way, Golden Shield will guarantee full compensation.Therefore, there will still be some merchants who are willing to spend a lot of money to hire Jindun's personnel to perform escort for the sake of stability.

However, due to objective conditions, Golden Shield's business area is still limited to coastal state capitals, and will not go too deep into the inland areas of Ming Dynasty.Most of the government officials in coastal prefectures knew that Haihan was powerful, and they would not embarrass Jindun's escort business in their jurisdiction. When local officials saw Jindun's bodyguard flag, they would consciously avoid it and not provoke these evil stars.

Since Jindun started its business in Zhoushan, the biggest setback was that it was attacked by muskets while escorting smuggled salt to Yangzhou, causing casualties.Of course, the Zhoushan authorities quickly retaliated harshly. Not only did they fight with the salt merchants' armed forces several times, but they also sent capable armed personnel to Yangzhou City to destroy the salt merchants' musketeers.However, this festival has been remembered by Jin Dun.

It is no secret in the market that the Golden Shield Escort is inextricably linked with the Haihan military, so Ji Yuanqing and Duan Tiancheng, who were dressed in military uniforms, did not attract too much attention when they came to Golden Shield.

(End of this chapter)