1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 595 Open the skylight
The next morning, Xu Yuzhuo also arrived at the mission's resident early, commanding the soldiers here to boil hot water for the mission to prepare breakfast, not like a general in the army at all, but more like a housekeeper.

Ning Qi saw it, and couldn't help praising: "It seems that the Xu family's family style is not bad, and Xu Yuzhuo's background is unexpectedly not airy."

Shi Diwen replied: "The information sent back before said that among Xu Xinsu's seven sons, Xu Yuzhuo is the most important one. It seems that there is some reason."

After Haihan and Xu Xinsu secretly reached a cooperation agreement, Fujian quickly sent a group of military officer students to study in Sanya, and Xu Yuzhuo was among the first batch of students.Although Xu's children came to Sanya to study various subjects one after another, but Xu Yuzhuo's relationship with Haihan officials is undoubtedly the deepest among these people, and he also knows the most about Haihan.And the various professional skills he has learned from Haihan, as well as his broader vision and knowledge than his contemporaries, will indeed help him obtain a better way out in the army.

Seeing Ning Qi and Shi Diwen coming out of the room, Xu Yuzhuo immediately came forward to say hello.Ning Qi said with a smile: "Xu Yuzhuo, you are a general of the Ming Dynasty, it seems that it is not good for you to be so hospitable to us foreign visitors?"

Xu Yuzhuo said solemnly: "Although the students are generals of the Ming Dynasty, the etiquette of master and apprentice must be followed. Our Ming Dynasty is a country of etiquette, and this is also the proper etiquette."

Shi Diwen said: "Xu Yuzhuo, if you're not busy today, take me around the island after lunch."

Xu Yuzhuo replied: "Students' mission these days is to accompany all distinguished guests. Mr. Shi has orders, and students should obey them."

After breakfast, Xu Xinsu sent someone to invite the missionaries to Zhangzhou together.However, according to the temporary discussion last night, Shi Diwen would stay on Xiamen Island with the main combat ships and crew, while Ning Qi would take the "Lightning" to Zhangzhou with the members of the non-military mission.In order to ensure safety, Shi Diwen still sent an "expedition-class" warship and a supply ship to go together.

Before the team set off, Shi Diwen specially called Morgan to the side and gave a few words of advice.The presence of a blond, blue-eyed foreigner like Morgan in the Haihan mission is quite eye-catching.Even some Ming army officers who had known each other yesterday couldn't help but look at Morgan a few more times at this moment.

Ning Qi walked up to Xu Xinsu, and took the initiative to invite him: "Master Xu, if it's convenient, you can take our sailing boat." After speaking, he pointed to the "Lightning" catamaran on the pier that had been surrounded by people.

Xu Xinsu replied with a smile: "I will stick to my wish, I dare not ask for it."

After the "Lightning" catamaran was bought by the North American Gang, part of the living facilities had been dismantled in order to be able to ship more munitions.However, after the crossing, the Ministry of Shipping still tried its best to repair the interior of the ship.Although it is no longer comparable to the condition when it leaves the factory, the comfort of its internal environment is still much better than that of sailboats of this era.Moreover, among the hundreds of ships belonging to the entire Ministry of Shipping and the Navy, the "Lightning" and another catamaran "Fast Speed" are the two best-maintained ships, and they have to enter the dock every two months on average. A comprehensive maintenance, so despite having been used for four years after the crossing, the boat is still in pretty good condition.

Under the leadership of Ning Qi, Xu Xinsu boarded the ship from the stern, stood at the door of the cabin and took a look first, then ordered his subordinates: "You all don't come up, you can't stand in the cabin!"

However, Xu Xinsu's subordinates dare not let him stay alone on someone else's boat easily, not to mention that it is said that the speed of this boat is so fast that ordinary sailboats can't catch up at all. What if something happens?
The two sides coordinated for a while, and finally Xu Xinsu sent four people to board the ship.But this has basically reached the upper limit of the "Lightning". After all, there are still several people on Haihan's side, plus the crew and sailors responsible for operating the ship. If there are more people on board, there is really no place to sit. up.

Although the speed of the "Lightning" is fast, this place is Xu Xinsu's territory after all, so the pilot ship is still arranged by the landlord. Increase ship speed.

"I've heard that Haihan's little white boat is fast and stable on the sea before, but I didn't expect to have the opportunity to ride it myself!" Xu Xinsu sat on the sofa in the living room of the cabin, and couldn't help but reach out and touch the soft boat. He kept admiring the leather sofa, "This cushion is very comfortable, you Haihan people will enjoy it!"

"Master Xu, if you like it, you might as well live in Sanya for a while when you are free. There must be many things that will interest you." Ning Qi replied with a smile.

Xu Xinsu patted the armrest of the sofa lightly and said, "Why didn't the old man want to stop and rest for a while? It's just that the situation in Fujian has been difficult to stabilize, and I can't let it go for the time being!"

"Master Xu is referring to Shibazhi? I heard that Master Xu has won many battles in the past two years, Shibazhi no longer dares to come to Zhangzhou and Quanzhou to harass him?" Ning Qi asked tentatively.

Xu Xinsu shook his head and said: "The matter is not as simple as the rumors. With the military assistance provided by Haihan, Shibazhi is no longer our army's opponent in the war, but there are too many people along the coast of Fujian who are inextricably linked to them Interest relationship, even if we fight for another ten or eight years according to the current situation, it will be difficult to completely wipe out Shibazhi!"

Ning Qi heard that Xu Xinsu seemed to have something in his words, so he followed his meaning and asked: "Then what's your opinion, Master Xu?"

Xu Xinsu said: "To destroy Shibazhi, Zheng Zhilong must be wiped out! As long as Zheng Zhilong dies, Shibazhi will surely fall down and disperse, and will soon break up into small groups, and then we can eliminate them one by one."

Ning Qi nodded and said: "I understand the truth, but how does Master Xu plan to destroy Zheng Zhilong? As far as I know, Zheng Zhilong is either in Penghu or on Dayuan Island, and Fujian doesn't seem to have enough surface forces to attack this far.”

"Mr. Ning's words are true, so the old man can only write down this account temporarily, and make plans when the time is ripe." Xu Xinsu readily admitted Ning Qi's statement.

Upon hearing this, Ning Qi hurriedly asked: "So now there is a truce between the Fujian Garrison and Shibazhi?"

"Whether to fight or not to fight, the initiative is not on our side." Xu Xinsu shook his head and said: "At present, our army is still sticking to the stronghold to defend against the opponent's attack."

Ning Qi thought in his heart that you pushed the words cleanly, it seems that if you don't make your words clear, this circle will have to continue like this.

"Excuse me for asking boldly, is Mr. Xu thinking of a temporary truce with Shibazhi?" Ning Qi asked very specific this time, so as not to let Xu Xinsu be easily fooled.

Xu Xinsu looked at Ning Qi and said, "Mr. Ning, Gouzi returned from training in Sanya and told me a lot about your military theory. I remember that one of them basically said that war is for politics. I understand why we fight. It's a very important thing for people who hold power."

Ning Qi nodded and said: "This is a theory written by a general named Clausewitz in the West, called "On War". Lecture."

Xu Xinsu went on to say: "Then why did our army fight against Shibazhi? To exterminate pirates for Ming Dynasty? I don't think you may believe this reason, even I am not sure about it."

Ning Qi smiled, agreeing with Xu Xinsu's statement.In her early years, Xu Xinsu started her business by helping the big businessman Li Dan, and besides the formal business, Li Dan also had many shady business in private.And the pirates that have become popular in this era, many of them are both maritime merchants and pirates. Among Xu Xinsu's subordinates who came ashore with whitewashing, in fact, many of them were born in blood-licking business in their early years.

Although Xu Xinsu is now a senior general of the Ming army and a member of a province, it is hard to say how much the interests of the Ming Dynasty hold in his heart.If we really want to make a comparison, perhaps Bai Huahua's silver weight is even heavier.And the war that broke out between him and Shibazhi was for the control of maritime trade from the very beginning, and the interests involved were simply astronomical. It was not a simple game of cat and mouse, officers and soldiers catching robbers.Xu Xinsu himself understands this very well, and he believes that the Haihan people who have been providing him with military aid will also see the stakes very clearly.

Xu Xinsu continued: "The old man has been fighting with Shibazhi for so many years, and what he did was nothing more than a profit, but if he doesn't have to continue fighting, there is a way to protect his own interests. Isn't the benefit of a truce better than fighting?" How big is it?"

Ning Qi responded calmly: "Although what Master Xu said is reasonable, this calculation method should only be for economic benefits, right?"

Xu Xinsu nodded and said: "Indeed, as Mr. Ning said, from a business point of view, once the war ceases, we can save 10 taels of military expenditure every year, and we can restore normal relations with Dayuan Island, Ryukyu, and Japan." In terms of trade, the interests involved are at least one million taels. The taxes Fujian paid to the imperial court last year were less than 300 million taels. As a normal person, no one can handle such a large amount of money. Turn a blind eye, right?"

"If everything is decided by money, then many things will be easy to deal with." Now that Xu Xinsu has taken the initiative to open the skylight and speak brightly, Ning Qi no longer intends to hide it: "Our weapons are also It is also possible to sell whoever pays, but we have not done this before, and we do not plan to do so in the future, does Master Xu know why?"

"The old man would like to hear more about it." Xu Xinsu's complexion did not change much, and he still looked very calm.

"It's very simple, we have different ways, and we don't conspire with each other." Ning Qi said, "We only cooperate with people who have the same ideas and interests. Some people's ideas and plans are far from ours, and such people will not become ours." Partner."

"So you chose to cooperate with the old man because we have a lot in common?" This topic aroused Xu Xinsu's interest.Although the two parties have cooperated for several years, Xu Xinsu actually did not have many opportunities to discuss such deep-seated issues face-to-face with Haihan's senior personnel.And to have the opportunity to hear Ning Qi, one of the most powerful people in Haihan, express his views, this is indeed a rare opportunity for Xu Xinsu.

"At least one thing, we have the same attitude." Ning Qi said slowly: "For the existence of Shibazhi, we also hold the attitude of getting rid of it and making it quick. But our ability is limited. We must find a strong ally to assist us, and Master Xu is a very suitable candidate in our opinion."

Ning Qi’s words were actually a bit cryptic, but Xu Xinsu is also an old fritter who has been in the arena for many years, so he naturally heard the overtones of his words—at least one thing that Ning Qi said has the same attitude, in fact, it is very likely It means that this is the only common ground between the two parties, and if this unique common ground is gone, then the basis for cooperation between the two parties will no longer exist.

This time Xu Xinsu was silent for a while, and then said again: "If the old man hadn't started a war with Shibazhi, then naturally he wouldn't have had the opportunity to cooperate with you?"

"Maybe there will still be economic and trade cooperation, but the military will definitely not choose Mr. Xu as a partner." Ning Qi didn't hide anything, and directly showed his hole card.

Although what both parties are saying is only a hypothetical situation, there is no doubt that it also applies to the current situation.If the Fujian side really had a truce with Shibazhi, then the Haihan side might react to this and stop cooperating with the Fujian side.And once this kind of military cooperation stops, it is hard to say whether Shibazhi, who has been coveting Fujian, is still willing to abide by the so-called armistice agreement.

Ning Qi didn't need to say this truth, he believed that Xu Xinsu would also be able to think of it.If Xu Xinsu would rather take such a risk and insist on a truce with Shibazhi, then Ning Qi can only admire his stubbornness.

Xu Xinsu said in a deep voice: "Some things cannot be decided by the old man alone. The interests of many parties are involved in it. The old man can only weigh it and make a decision that is beneficial to all parties as much as possible."

"The choice you made may be beneficial to others, but for us Haihan, with all due respect, I didn't think of any advantage." Ning Qi followed closely: "A truce means that Shibazhi has The energy has gone south and entered the sphere of influence of our Haihan. No matter where these people go, they will be a big trouble! At that time, it is very likely that we will have to dispatch the fleet to clean up this pile of garbage in Fujian. Or maybe this is Mr. Xu The real purpose of choosing a truce?"

(End of this chapter)