1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 313 Replacement
If it's just an ordinary maritime merchant, no matter how rich he is, Zhang Tongpan may not want to sell his face. After all, the social status of a merchant is far from being comparable to that of court officials.But Haihan and his group are indeed a bit special, not only rich but also powerful, looking at the scale of the construction of Shengli Port, it is enough to make the officials of Qiongzhou Island ashamed.

Yacheng began to build the city in the fourth year of Qingyuan in the Southern Song Dynasty. It has been more than [-] years so far. Later, Yazhou Water Village was set up at the mouth of the Ningyuan River to assist the city defense.But in terms of the strength of the defense, I am afraid it is far inferior to the Victory Harbor and Victory Fort built by Haihan, and the construction of the latter only took about a year.What's even more frightening is that the militia organized by the Haihan people is far superior to the Yazhou garrison. According to the situation learned from his son-in-law Luo Shengdong, the Haihan militia's combat strength has far exceeded that of the Yazhou garrison. The Yazhou garrison, according to Luo Shengdong, even if all the garrisons on Qiongzhou Island were pulled out, they might not be able to do as much as the Haihan militia.

No matter from any point of view of economy, politics, or military, Zhang Tongsan could hardly refuse the demands of the Haihan people.Even if it was just for self-protection, Zhang Tongpan had no choice but to choose the path of cooperation-the Haihan people had a way to get local military and political officials to jointly write a letter recommending it, and naturally they would have enough energy to pull people out of their seats.

Zhang Tongpan pondered for a while before responding: "As Mr. Ning said just now, the land belongs to more than [-] households, and perhaps some of them are willing to sell the land at a price, but if they are desperate, they will not sell it. Yes, how will you deal with it, can you give some information first?"

Zhang Tongping didn't speak too thoroughly, but he believed that it was enough for the other party to understand what he meant - as long as Haihan could handle the existing more than 200 households in this area, other official procedures would not be enough. question.And the last sentence is to remind the Haihan people not to make things too big. If there is a lawsuit, it will be more embarrassing for Yacheng.

"Don't sell it to us?" Ning Qi smiled and said: "If you don't sell it, don't sell it, but the person who will be inconvenient at that time is definitely not us. Don't worry, Zhang Tong, we will use as peaceful a way as possible to resolve the conflict in the middle." problems that arise."

In fact, there have always been different views within the group regarding the nail households that will definitely appear in the process of expanding the territory outward.Of course, the hardliners hope to use thunderous means to solve it quickly. As for the loss of interests that may be caused to a few people in the process, there is no way.If you can't even deal with such a small number of nail households, how can you talk about conquering the world in the future?

But there is also another school of opinion that if some abnormal means are used in the process of land acquisition, it will inevitably have a negative impact on the minds of the people, and the public ownership of land by the crossing group itself has a fundamental conflict of interest with the ruling class of this era. Putting this contradiction on the table too early to resolve it may arouse the hostility and hostility of the landlord class towards the time-traveling group.

After repeated discussions, the executive committee finally came up with a compromise plan - for those people who are unwilling to move or sell their land, they will directly adopt the method of enclosing the land, and the land they belong to will be demarcated. Circle it and let it fend for itself.If this is the case and you are still willing to be kept in a fence like poultry, then the executive committee thinks it is no big deal. After all, the land of more than 200 households is less than [-] mu of land, and the current planned development With an area of ​​nearly [-] square kilometers of land, the ratio is less than [-]% after conversion, which is not harmful to the overall situation.

Of course, if someone really dared to jump out and sing against the time-traveling group during this process, then the executive committee would not hesitate to play a show of killing chickens to scare monkeys to scare some people with ulterior motives.In the worst case, they can be transported directly to Heitu Port to dig coal after being caught. Anyway, the number of laborers needed there will never be too much.

There is no need to tell Zhang Tongju about these specific solutions. Ning Qi said this just to give him another reassurance so that he can properly cooperate with the development plan of "Qiong Lianfa".But since Zhang Tongpan didn't pat his chest to take over the matter, Ning Qi naturally wouldn't speak too harshly.

Zhang Tongpan pondered for a while before saying: "Which side will the area operated by 'Qiong Lianfa' be at that time?"

"The land ownership belongs to Haihan, but the developed industry belongs to 'Qiong Lianfa'." Ning Qi replied concisely.

Zhang Tongpan nodded and asked, "Then who pays the annual taxes?"

"It's all borne by 'Qiong Lianfa'." Ning Qi explained: "The annual tax will be sent to Yacheng in cash. As for the specific amount, I can only say that I will never let everyone in Yacheng Your Excellency is disappointed."

How much of this so-called "taxation" will go into the treasury and how much will go into the pockets of officials will be a matter under the table.Ning Qi didn't report the specific number, and Zhang Tongsan didn't intend to ask. If the conversation at their level involved specific numbers, it would be too explicit, and it didn't fit Zhang Tongsan's status as a senior member of Zhang Tongsan's party. .As long as the two parties reach a tacit agreement on the general direction of cooperation, it is enough, and no oral or written agreement is required. Doing so is purely to give yourself a chance to be caught.

"There is one more thing. I would like to take this opportunity to discuss with Mr. Zhang." Tao Donglai, who had been on the sidelines without speaking, finally began to speak: "Several adults in Yacheng will resign within this year. The long-standing good cooperative relationship between us and Yacheng has affected, I wonder how Master Zhang thinks about this issue?"

Zhang Tong judged that you are nothing more than worried that your successor will not be of the same mind as your predecessor, which will cause you trouble.It's just that it's okay to think about it in your heart, but it's not good to say it in person.At that moment, he coughed dryly and said: "Presumably, when you step down, you adults will definitely explain clearly to the successor. Mr. Tao needn't worry too much."

"I'm not worried about our business. Even if the new lord has any trouble with us, he probably won't have trouble with Yinzi." Tao Donglai said meaningfully: "But if the new lord has trouble with Mr. Zhang If you don’t have one mind, it will be more troublesome.”

"What does Mr. Tao mean?" Zhang Tongjuan asked quickly.

"Most of the benefits of this Yazhou territory have already belonged to the current adults. When the successors come up, there will not be much left for them. It is hard to say whether they will be satisfied with this status quo. Maybe there will be some secret tricks to change the rules set by the predecessor." Tao Donglai said in a slow and deep voice.

Zhang Tongpan frowned, feeling that what the other party said was a bit unfounded.There are rules in the mall, and there are rules in the officialdom. It is not uncommon for a successor to overturn the rules set by the predecessor as soon as he comes up. However, it is relatively rare if it is done so blatantly for profit.Besides, the person who took over as Zhizhou was himself, and even if the successors of the other positions wanted to do something, it was unlikely that they would bypass themselves.

However, Zhang Tongpan is also considered a bit of a man of the city. Although he didn't think so, he didn't show it on the surface. Instead, he continued to ask: "Then, based on Mr. Tao's opinion, how should we deal with it?"

"In my opinion, it is not difficult for Mr. Zhang to control the political situation in Yacheng as the governor of the state, but there is still an unstable factor of the army..." Tao Donglai paused, observed the other party's face, and then continued. : "There is a serious shortfall in the Yacheng Guards Army. As far as we know, at least a quarter of the places in the Thousand Households Office are vacant. We can transfer some people from the militia to make up for these vacancies..."

Before Tao Dong could finish speaking, Zhang Tongpan's expression changed, and he said, "How can this be done!"

"How can it not be done? In this way, it can not only make up for the shortage of the guards, but also allow Mr. Zhang to have a force that can be called at any time in Yacheng." Tao Donglai continued calmly: "The cost is not expensive. Master Zhang needs to worry about it, and we will bear all the corresponding expenses."

Zhang Tong was still waiting for a few words of defense, when Luo Shengdong suddenly said, "My son-in-law thinks Mr. Tao's method is very good! Father-in-law might as well think it over."

Zhang Tong's sentence came to his lips, and he slowly swallowed it back.He knew that although his son-in-law made his fortune with the help of the Haihan people, he still had some insights into the problem.Given his familiarity with the Haihan people, since he rushed to express his opinion at this juncture, it meant that Tao Donglai's proposal could not be rejected.Zhang Tongjuan quickly thought about the cause and effect, put away his angry face and said: "Since Mr. Tao has this sincerity, I will consider it carefully, and I will give this matter a thorough consideration before replying."

Speaking of this, Tao Donglai and the others stopped, and asked the two of them to go back to the residence to rest for a while, and it will be the evening feast after a while.When the old man and son-in-law returned to their residence, Zhang Tong asked, "Why did my son-in-law stop me just now?"

Luo Shengdong explained: "Father-in-law, you don't know something. Judging from my son-in-law's contact with them in the past year, the Haihan people have great plans, and they don't allow others to snore next to the couch. I think Yacheng is close to Shengli Harbor. In the immediate vicinity, the Haihan people even formed such a powerful militia on their own, in the final analysis, isn’t it because they are worried about the officers and soldiers in Yacheng?”

"Since you know that they are worried about the officers and soldiers, why are you so close to them?"

Luo Shengdong blushed, but fortunately he had been wandering at sea all year round, so he couldn't tell from his dark complexion: "My son-in-law was indeed lured by profit at the beginning, but after a long time, he found that the Haihan people have great ambitions, Don't say that Shengli Port, even including the entire Yazhou, may not be able to satisfy them. But given the current situation of my son-in-law, it is extremely difficult to escape the control of the Haihan people. It is better to let nature take its course and reap more benefits. Maybe they can be transferred out of Qiongzhou Prefecture as soon as possible by means of promotion."

"What a bastard!" Zhang Tongpan lost his temper very rarely, and slapped the table heavily.Luo Shengdong hung his head, and didn't continue to argue—he believed that his father-in-law was also a smart person, and he wouldn't be so stupid that he couldn't see the situation in front of him clearly, and he didn't need his own help to come up with too many ideas .

After taking pictures of the table, Zhang Tongsan quickly calmed down again. After all, falling out with the Haihan people is of no help now. After seeing the local defense facilities and the Haihan militia on duty at the port, he now also believes what Luo Shengdong said. It's true, if the Haihan people really wanted to raise their flags to rebel, it would be easy to capture the Yacheng guarded by the guards.Although the Haihan people have chosen a more gentle way to expand their power, they are not allowed to refuse, otherwise they will be the first to fall. Weng and his son-in-law - after all, they are the two who have cooperated with the Haihan people. The party with the greatest interest.

The so-called "replenishment of vacancies" proposed by Tao Donglai is essentially to control the military control of Yacheng in a disguised form. Do not agree with this approach.But after calming down, Zhang Tongsan really had to consider the possible consequences of rejecting the Haihan people in this matter.

Thinking of this, Zhang Tongpan felt that he still had to seek his son-in-law's opinion again. After all, Luo Shengdong was the number one expert on the Haihan issue in Yacheng, and he had to listen to his opinion for such an important decision.

"My son-in-law, if this matter does not go according to the wishes of the Haihan people, what will be the consequences? Will the Haihan people openly send troops to attack Yacheng?" Zhang Tongpan suppressed his anger and asked as pleasantly as possible.

Luo Shengdong raised his head and replied: "The Haihan people are not willing to oppose the imperial court. It is impossible to send troops to attack Yacheng. My son-in-law thinks the biggest possibility is that Yacheng will be attacked by pirates, and all those who oppose them , will be killed in this pirate attack by chance. The son-in-law is an officer in the water village, so he will naturally be the first to die in battle. However, with the way the Haihan people do things, they will probably give the son-in-law a buckle "Collude with pirates" so that the successor can step on the son-in-law's head to take power."

"There is such a plan!" After Zhang Tongsan heard it, although he felt that it was not very realistic, he couldn't deny the possibility.After all, the armed forces of the Haihan people are there. If you insist that the Yacheng garrison can withstand the attack launched by the Haihan militia, I am afraid that Zhang Tongjuan himself will not believe it.And the Yazhou water village where Luo Shengdong worked happened to be the sea gateway of Yacheng, so if they were attacked, they would naturally be the first to bear the brunt.

Of course, Luo Shengdong's words were a bit exaggerated. He also knew that the Haihan people would never attack Yacheng unless they had to.However, a few days before that, he had already been invited by the executive committee to have a private talk, asking him to try to persuade Zhang Tongsan to accept a series of proposals about the military deployment of Yacheng put forward by Haihan.At that time, Luo Shengdong also asked what would happen if he couldn’t do it. Although the answer he got was not as exaggerated as the pirates attacking the city, the result was not much better for him——Zhang Tongju’s prefect position would probably be Because several of his colleagues turned back at the last moment and fell short, and he, Luo Shengdong, would probably be dismissed and investigated for embezzlement of military pay and other crimes.

Tao Donglai said something at the time that Luo Shengdong remembered: "The switch between the two roles of a useful person and a stumbling block is actually a matter of the parties' thoughts."

In the eyes of the Executive Committee, those who cannot be useful will become stumbling blocks——Luo Shengdong's understanding is very intuitive and simple, and he is unwilling to give up the wealth and status he has acquired so hard now, so he decided to try his best to follow the rules of the Executive Committee. He will do what he asks, until one day he can be promoted to a higher position and leave Qiongzhou Mansion and leave the control of the Haihan people.

Therefore, Luo Shengdong was very dedicated in persuading Zhang Tong to be sentenced, and tried his best to avoid conflicts of opinion between his father-in-law and the Haihan Executive Committee.When Luo Shengdong saw some signs during the meeting just now, he hurriedly went up to put them out, fearing that the old man would make a big mess and it would not end well.

Zhang Tong was bored for a while, and suddenly asked, "Are there any Haihan people in your navy?"

Luo Shengdong didn't expect the father-in-law to ask this question suddenly, and couldn't help being stunned for a moment.

Seeing that he was speechless, Zhang Tongpan thought he was unwilling to tell the truth, so he urged: "You tell the truth, the old man just wants to understand the way Haihan people do things."

Luo Shengdong gritted his teeth and said, "To be honest, three or four out of ten of the sergeants in the water village have been replaced by members of the Haihan militia. Within two or three months at the latest, the entire water village will probably It was taken over by the Haihan people."

"It has reached such a serious point?" Zhang Tongpan was really taken aback by this: "Then, does General He know about this?"

"For more than two months, the Haihan people entrusted their son-in-law to bring 3000 taels of silver to General He Shen, asking him to be lenient about this matter. To this day, everyone in Shuizhai already knows the general inside story of this matter." Luo Shengdong simply told the whole situation of the water village.

Zhang Tong was shocked and said, "Why has no one reported this matter?"

Luo Shengdong sighed and said, "The soldiers and sailors in Shuizhai only spend about 50 taels of silver a year. Although there are Haihan people's private salt business, life is easier, but after a year, it's only [-] taels of silver. It’s only four or fifty taels of silver. Now Haihan people recruit skilled boatmen and sailors from us, and the lowest price they offer is ten taels of silver a month. Who would destroy their jobs and report this to the state government?"

Seeing that Zhang Tongsan's face was gloomy, Luo Shengdong continued: "Wei Sanzhu, who used to compete with my son-in-law for the general position in Shuizhai, has quietly relinquished his military post and went to Shengli Port to be admitted to the Haihan People's Shipping Department. As a captain, the money he can get every month is four or five times more than that of being a captain in Shuizhai! If my son-in-law hadn’t accepted the private salt business from the Haihan people, he might have been the same as Wei Sanzhu. So I quietly went to vote for the Haihan people. In such a situation, I think the guards are not much better. Zhang Qianhu goes to the cliff office every month, but he is more diligent than his son-in-law. Now the Haihan people fight with his father-in-law. This greeting, in fact, maybe the matter has been almost done in private."

(End of this chapter)