1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 529 The truth behind the scenes
"These gossips spread outside are unreliable. The plans of the Haihan people are not so easy to be guessed!" Li Jifeng slowly put down his teacup, and said to the two sons standing in front of him: "In short, no matter what the Haihan people The purpose of doing it must be to make money, we just need to follow up, don't rush to get to the bottom of it, we will naturally know the answer in two days."

This time Li Jifeng was notified by Haihan to send people from "Furuifeng" to attend the "Qiong Lianfa" shareholder meeting held in Zhennan Port. Zhennan Port wasn't too far away, so he went to the meeting in person and brought along his two sons who had more contact with Haihan.

Among Li Jifeng's three sons, apart from the eldest son Li Fa who has separated from the family and has been stationed in Fujian to run local businesses for a long time, the second son Li Po and the third son Li Nai have been engaged in business cooperation with Haihan people in recent years. Activity.Especially Li Nai, who is a Haihan fan, stays in Sanya for at least three or four months a year, and has close contacts with Haihan's high-level executives. Purchased property.If he hadn't been the person in charge of the Golden Shield Escort and had to stay in Guangzhou to handle affairs, Li Nai would have already moved to Sanya to settle down.

After Li Po and Li Nai arrived at Zhennan Port, they represented "Furuifeng" to attend some social occasions, and visited each other with various people in the business district.And the topic that everyone will talk about at the moment is what kind of surprise Haihan will announce at this conference.

Quite a few believe that the next area Haihan people will develop will be Qiongxi, because since last year, Haihan people have been building ports and roads in Changhua County, Qiongxi, and building large-scale construction projects.This is not confidential news. Almost all merchants who travel between Danzhou and Sanya all the year round know about it, and what the Haihan people built there is not an ordinary loess official road, but a unique double-track railway in Sanya. This costly means of transportation has already indicated the strength of Haihan's local development.

A well-informed person has already inquired about the relevant news. It is said that the Haihan people have discovered a huge iron mine in the local inland mountainous area, and they will start large-scale development as soon as the road is repaired.As for whether the government will intervene in this matter, the merchants don't care - leaving the Haihan people, can the Changhua government have the ability to mine on its own?Even if they really have, can they still stop what the Haihan people want to do?Not to mention the situation in Changhua City, as long as anyone who has been there knows it, the local government has long been emptied by the Haihan people, and the thousands of households in the garrison have also become one with the Haihan people, so there are not many traces of Ming Dynasty at all.

There is no businessman thinking about mining, because the mines of the Haihan people will not let outsiders intervene. There is no company in the Sanya Tian Monolithic Mine that can participate in the shares, and the mines have never been in the "Qiong Lianfa" appear in the list of investment projects.However, from Haihan's large investment in the local area, it is not difficult to infer that the livelihood of the people near Changhua will inevitably be driven by the mining industry in the future, and there will definitely be a lot of business opportunities at that time.With reference to Haihan's practice in the development of Sanya, it is very possible to introduce merchants from Ming Dynasty to invest in the local area.

Another group of people think that Haihan's next investment location will be in Hong Kong Island, and the reason is very clear. Last year, Haihan people spent a lot of effort to enclose this land in the southwest corner of Hong Kong Island, and then attract investment and development. To build a port, it is clear that it is going to settle here.As far as the development potential of this area is concerned, it is obviously still very limited. If the Haihan people really want to make the scene bigger here, they will probably have to expand to the north of Hong Kong Island—just like what they did on Qiongzhou Island. Do the same thing.

And the Daming navy stationed on Hong Kong Island is insignificant to these businessmen. In the face of Haihan's powerful money offensive and threat of force, how many people can keep their integrity?The navy of Qiongzhou Island has a large number of warships helping the Haihan people in the smuggling business, how can the navy of Hong Kong Island be any better.As long as the Haihan people want to take Hong Kong Island, the navy on this island will not become too much resistance—or they may even become their help.

After taking over Hong Kong Island, what role this place will play for the Haihan people who have made a fortune in maritime trade, almost all the participants are experts, and they can naturally analyze a lot of favorable conditions from various aspects of the right time and place.Moreover, the Haihan people's past operating results on the port are enough to give the investors of Daming full confidence.As long as the Haihan people say that they are going to enclose land in Hong Kong Island, everyone will spend their money and pour it in. Anyway, with the management level of the Haihan people, they will not lose money anyway.

Many people supported these two mainstream opinions. After listening to a lot of discussions outside, Li Nai and Li Po naturally wanted to report these situations to Li Jifeng.However, Li Jifeng didn't seem to agree with these two views, and he didn't even comment too much. The word "unreliable" sums it all up.

Li Naike is not a quiet and obedient person, and immediately asked after hearing the words: "Father has other opinions on the Haihan people's announcement? Can you give me advice?"

Li Jifeng glanced at Li Nai, and said in a deep voice, "Are you losing your mind?"

Li Nai replied: "My child has some opinions on this."

"Tell me and listen."

"That kid just speaks nonsense." Li Nai paused, and then explained: "In the past few years, every time Haihan held this investment promotion event, he would give our family some tips beforehand, but this time there was no news at all. Nothing at all, why is this? Haihan’s actions in Johnsey and Zhennan Port are no secrets. If he really wants to use these two places as the next development area, Haihan has no reason to keep it secret from us. In Hai’er’s opinion, Either the Haihan people didn’t prepare any surprise announcements at all, or the selected development area was not what the outside world expected!”

When Li Nai said this, he stopped to see Li Jifeng's reaction.Li Jifeng responded calmly: "Continue."

"I think of the recent chaos on Qiongzhou Island. Many cities in Qiongbei have been captured by pirates, and even the capital city of Qiongzhou has been besieged. If the Haihan militia army hadn't been dispatched in time, the situation in Qiongbei would have been in jeopardy... "

"Get to the point!" Li Jifeng interrupted impatiently.

"Yes!" Li Nai responded, "I heard that all the government houses in Qiongbei were destroyed by pirates, so all the cities are currently under the temporary trusteeship of Haihan, even the Fucheng. In other words, Qiongzhou Island is now It is basically under the control of the Haihan people, the meat delivered to their mouths, will the Haihan people spit it out and return it to Daming?"

"No ships have come out of Qiongzhou this month. According to Haihan, the coast of Qiongzhou Island is closed to prevent the pirates hiding on the island from escaping. I think there may be something tricky in it!" Li Po interjected without losing the opportunity.

"So you think that the Haihan people are taking advantage of this opportunity to take control of Qiongzhou Island in their own hands?" Li Jifeng asked back.

Li Nai and Li Po looked at each other and nodded affirmatively.Li Nai continued: "As early as two months ago, when the pirates had not yet landed on Qiongzhou Island, they were only harassing ships on the outskirts. The Haihan people had already stated to the government that they would send militia troops to expel the pirates on their own, and purchased a large number of them in Guangdong. War preparations. I heard that the day after the Governor ordered Haihan to dispatch the militia, the fleet of the militia left Victory Port. Obviously, they have been prepared for this time. The Haihan people will not be in vain, they Helped Annan clean up the small southern imperial court, and took a lot of good places along the coast of Annan in return. This time I drove out the pirates for Daming, and I am sure that they will try to profit from it."

"What Da Ming can't give, Haihan will find a way to steal it. They have repeated this kind of thing many times in Qiongzhou Island. If our predictions are correct, this Qiongzhou Island may soon change its surname!" Li Po added.Although he was talking about the gains and losses of the Ming Dynasty, there was not much disappointment or grief on Li Po's face.

"Although what you said is not accurate, it is not far away." After listening to the statements of the two sons, Li Jifeng finally expressed his opinion: "Father got the news a few days ago that Haihan's militia army stationed in Annan There was also a major mobilization before, and almost all the sea ships in the north of Annan were confiscated."

"To fight pirates?" Li Po asked.

Li Jifeng shook his head and said: "It's not that simple! Later Haihan regained Qiongbei. It is said that they landed from the east line and drove the pirates all the way west until they regained the whole territory. If Annan sent help, it would be in the nearest Qiongxi Danzhou How could a huge gap be left for the pirates to evacuate from Qiongzhou Island? With the strength of the Haihan militia at sea, how could they just let this group of prodigal dogs go?"

Li Nai reacted very quickly, and immediately said: "Father, you mean Haihan people..."

"Shut up!" Li Jifeng didn't let Li Nai finish his sentence, and immediately interrupted him: "Some things, just know what's on your mind, and you must not say it casually. My father told you not to talk about this outside At the next shareholders meeting, I was worried that you would say the wrong thing and be listened to by someone with a heart. Although my Li family has a good relationship with Haihan, it does not mean that we can do whatever we want. The Haihan people have a lot of plans, and you all I know, don't offend them because of some trivial matters, lest my Li family will have nowhere to stand in the future!"

Li Po and Li Nai felt chills in their hearts when they heard it, and they nodded in agreement.If the drastic change in Qiongbei was really planned by the Haihan people, then this move is really too big.But such a bold thing can only be done by powerful Hai Han people.And if the truth of this matter is leaked out, then Daming may immediately declare war on the Haihan people on Qiongzhou Island.

Although this kind of declaration of war will not cause actual trouble to the Haihan people for a while, after all, the Haihan people hold a powerful force no less than that of the Ming Dynasty's official army.But for a trading partner like "Furuifeng" who has a close cooperation with Haihan, it is tantamount to a catastrophe. At that time, the government will be able to take over the Li family on the charge of "collaborating with the enemy". There is probably no chance of turning over.

If Li Jifeng's guess is true, then the Li family had better hope that the Guangdong government would find out the truth of the matter as soon as possible.Although I don't know what the Haihan people are going to do, but since they have such a big plan, they must have made corresponding preparations for the aftermath. Li Jifeng can only bet on this possibility now, waiting for Haihan to take over. The means that will be displayed next.

Li Jifeng's two sons were not as calm and composed as himself, and two emotions of fear and excitement were mixed in their hearts, and there was something indescribable.Especially Li Nai, who had a close relationship with Haihan, felt extremely complicated.

When Li Nai first went to Shengli Port three years ago, he had already realized the hidden ambitions of these outsiders.When he exchanged views with Ning Qi, he could clearly feel that the other party did not maintain enough respect for Daming like other foreigners, but more like a condescending perspective.

Although Li Nai was a little displeased with Ning Qi's attitude at the time, it didn't take long for him to realize that the superiority of the Haihan people was not groundless, but backed by terrifying strength.The Haihan people constantly demonstrated their omnipotence in almost every aspect, turning Yulingang, which had been abandoned for many years, into the most prosperous trading port in Qiongzhou Island in a very short period of time, and they spread out at an astonishing speed. Expanding its influence, it quietly emptied the government office in Yacheng and annexed a large area near Victory Port without a single shot.

With the deepening of bilateral cooperation in trade and other affairs, Li Nai's understanding of Haihan became more and more profound.He knew that this group of overseas visitors would not be satisfied with being rich in the remotest corners of the earth, but had far greater, or more terrifying aspirations.

The army trained by the Haihan people, the weapons they made, and the warships they built were all much more powerful than the Ming army that Li Nai knew. And if they just want to protect their own industries, there is obviously no need to form such a powerful army .Although the Haihan people have always held the banner of peaceful development, Li Nai knew that the ultimate purpose of raising such a powerful army was probably to start a war.

When the Haihan people sent the militia group to Annan to join the war, Li Nai still thought about it, thinking that the Haihan people would probably put their future expansion direction on the other side of the sea.However, there seems to be a certain deviation in this judgment. The Haihan militia withdrew to Qiongzhou Island after the end of the Annan Civil War, and Haihan still expanded northward from the east and west coastlines of Qiongzhou Island at a steady pace.Controlling the entire Qiongzhou Island is probably only a matter of time.

However, the pirate invasion some time ago seems to have accelerated this process in disguise. The Haihan militia appeared in Qiongbei as a savior, drove away the invaders all the way, and successfully became the new ruler in Qiongbei area. This sudden change It was indeed beyond Li Nai's expectations.

(End of this chapter)