Lu Ming

Chapter 575 Ruan Chuntang and Messi
Ruan Xuantang tremblingly walked on the newly built road in Fort Hon Ki.

Although there are many things in Ha Long Bay that scare him, the county official, Ruan Chuntang himself did not expect that what scares him the most is the speed at which this city is built!

Ruan Chuntang is from the Anjing tribe.As an aboriginal clan living in the Thang Long Mansion of the capital, the Ruan family has grasped the knack of political speculation well and survived the chaotic regime change in Annan.

This is also the reason why Ruan Chuntang was able to get a county magistrate position in a frontier county.In the past few years when Marshal Zheng Bing (zhuang) of the imperial capital came to power, in order to stabilize the capital and win over allies, he gave the Ruan family a small vacancy for an expatriate county magistrate: Hengpu County, Guang'an Province, where Hongji City, Guangning Province is located later.

Although it is a small vacancy far away from the capital, it is still very important to Ruan Chuntang. After all, this position was obtained by the Zheng family who stood in line with the family.In other words, the Ruan family chose rights and officials in the current court situation, and abandoned the emperor, orthodoxy and morality. The price is not small.

Because of this, the young Ruan Xuantang, as the leading generation of the clan, is also conscientious in the daily county affairs of Hengpu County, and dare not make the slightest mistake.After several years of hard work, Ruan Xuantang's "diligence" ability has gradually been hyped up by the tribe to the Thang Long Mansion.Just half a year ago, it was reported that Marshal Zheng Bing had heard his name, which made Ruan Chuntang favored by the clan for a time.

The good mood lasted until the day ten months ago.

Ruan Xuantang knew that trouble was coming when the yamen servant hurriedly came to report that there were a large number of ships near Xialongkou and that the pirates were landing in large numbers day and night.

Not to mention Ming Dynasty these days, the coast of Annan is also full of bandits.It is common for a large group of pirates to gather and land ashore to earn a ticket, so Ruan Chuntang did not doubt the accuracy of the information at all at first.

But when Ruan County Magistrate gathered the people in Hengpu County and prepared to meet the enemy with strong walls and clear fields, he was confused by the continuous information that followed-the pirates set up camp in Xialongkou, the pirates built a fortress in Xialongkou, The pirates went to the countryside to send condolences to the villagers, and the villagers all went to the pirates.
The confusing and contradictory information made Ruan Chuntang at a loss.In the end, after a generous reward was offered, some of his subordinates risked their lives to go to the seaside to inquire in person, and then sent back accurate information: they were not pirates, they seemed to be genuine Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers.

Ruan Chuntang: "."

Nervous and generally sent people to "negotiate in the enemy's camp" continuously, until the identity of the visitor was confirmed, the county magistrate Ruan Da finally knew why the coastal fishermen defected to the "pirates".

The frightened county magistrate Ruan urgently sent someone to Thang Long Mansion to deliver a letter, and at the same time made preparations to come to ask OR to see the officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty. When the army of Shenglong Mansion arrived, as a local official, if he couldn't even explain the reason why the Ming people landed, he would lose his head.

So Ruan Xuantang came today.He was dressed in official robes and guards of honor. He half-lyed on a lifting pole with a canopy, posing as a magistrate, and was carried by his subordinates to solemnly negotiate with the Ming army.

However, when he came to Halong Bay, he was so surprised that he didn’t fall off the lifting pole: In just a short time, a city had already been raised on the deserted beach in the past, and a brick fort with thick walls suddenly appeared in Ruan Xuantang. In front of him, it seemed that the gods had thrown it down.

Ruan county magistrate was furious and grabbed his subordinate's collar: "Idiot, this is not a fort, it is obviously a city! Why didn't you tell me the day before yesterday?"

The subordinate was also dumbfounded, stuttering and unable to straighten his tongue: "Master, master, it has never been so fast! The little one came here the day before yesterday, and the city wall is still there!?"

No wonder the people in Annan were amazed. The power of technology is something that most people in this era do not understand.For the city wall built by the traversers, the most laborious thing is actually how to excavate and level the foundation.

As for the city walls, the existence of standard red bricks first of all omits the necessary process of "grinding bricks and joints", a necessary process when ancient craftsmen built buildings.Secondly, the existence of cement also greatly shortens the construction time. These black technologies are the key to the sudden rise of the city wall.

After carefully looking at the panic-stricken subordinates, Ruan Chuntang confirmed that the confidant brought out from the clan did not lie, and his face immediately sank: Ming people had premeditated, so it must be the plan.

Standing in the distance, and observing the harbor next to the city and more than ten large ships in the bay, Ruan Chuntang and his party came to the gate of Fort Hongji.

Not long after, when Grandpa Ruan was put into the fort, he stepped on the trail in Hongji Fort, but stopped for a while.

At the foot of Ruan Xuantang is a red brick walkway that is too extravagant to describe.You must know that even in the Thang Long Mansion, the inner courtyard of the imperial palace and the walls of some wealthy mansions are made of red bricks.Where can such labor-intensive and time-consuming things be laid under your feet?
But at this moment, what appeared in front of him were two red brick roads wide enough to run a horse.Although it has not yet been completed, the extension trajectory of the two brick roads is already obvious: the cross shape runs through the inner fort.

Standing on the dry red brick road, Ruan Xuantang stomped a few times: it is the best red brick.

At this moment, Ruan Chuntang first looked up at the bamboo and wood canopy built above, and then looked down at the craftsmen who were concentrating on paving the road.Then he turned around and took a deep look at the outer wall of Hongji Fort, which was also made of red bricks, and the gleaming blue cannon on the top of the city.

When entering the city gate before, Ruan Chuntang still couldn't believe his eyes: In this era, even the city walls of the northern and southern capitals of Ming Dynasty are all made of loess as the core and covered with stone bricks. There has never been a city wall in the world It is purely made of red bricks.

But just now, when Ruan Chuntang entered the door, he did see the section of the city wall: it was completely made of red bricks.

Now that the trail has been verified, the last trace of doubt in Ruan Chuntang's heart is gone: "What a villain! But when did the Ming Kingdom become so rich? Didn't it mean that there was also civil strife?"

With deep confusion and deep anxiety, Ruan Chuntang finally came to the door of the big red brick house in the middle of the city.

After handing over the name card and printing letter, Ruan Chuntang tried to calm down the uneasy things in his heart.Not long after, Magistrate Ruan was led into the house by himself under the guidance of the strangely dressed guard in front of the door.

To Ruan Chuntang's expectation, the inside of the big house was very bright, surrounded by seven or eight kerosene lamps emitting bright light, which made the county magistrate who was used to the dark palace a little uncomfortable.

Soon, after seeing clearly the man in the middle of the hall wearing the official robe of a Ming military general, Ruan Chuntang ignored the people around him, stepped forward squarely, bent down and saluted: "Xiaguan, An Ruan Chuntang, magistrate of Hengpu County in the Southern Kingdom, pays homage to all the lords of the Ming Kingdom."

Like all the small countries around the Ming Dynasty in this era, although the Annan people regarded the Ming people as their enemies, the upper class still spoke Chinese and wrote Chinese characters—the Vietnamese characters of later generations, and the Latinized alphabetic writing was not implemented until 1884 during the French colonial period.

In fact, before Ruan Chuntang entered the door, it was Shao Qiang who was in casual clothes who presided over the reception speech.Unexpectedly, after entering the door, this little official from Annan, who was dressed in a fake Daming robe, took Sha Zhengming, who was dressed like a general, as the rightful master.

But it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter who comes to send a small Annan official.So Sha Zhengming waved his hands carelessly: "Well, no courtesy, let's sit down."

Although Annan was a vassal state in the Ming Dynasty, they called themselves "Dayue Kingdom" internally, and they called Annan externally.

In fact, since the Annan people defeated the Ming Dynasty occupation army and established the Le Dynasty 200 years ago, their citizens have long regarded the Ming people as enemies in their subconscious mind, so the Ruan Da county magistrate cannot lower his momentum today anyway. This is a diplomatic incident. .

So the next moment, in the middle of the main room, County Magistrate Ruan Da took his seat safely, and faintly confronted the many Ming people who were seated in a semicircle on the opposite side.

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Since the atmosphere on the court was not good, the two sides didn't have much politeness. After a few words, the conversation quickly touched on the core issue of Ruan County Magistrate's visit: Why did the Ming people come?
The negotiators sent by Ruan Chuntang also asked about this question before, but the person's level was too low, so they were dismissed by this side without getting a definite answer.

Today, since Ruan Chuntang, the magistrate of Zhengyin County, came here and officially represented the Annan government, the traversers no longer shirk their excuses, and justly stated the reason for coming here: to receive the land.

Receive whose land?

The Franji merchants who lost in the Macau War took out Annan's land for ransom.

When Ruan Chuntang heard this, he showed a mixed expression of confusion + disbelief, as expected by the observers.After a while, after finally digesting Sha Zhengming's words, he asked in disbelief: "Even if you take over some farmland, there is no need to build a city on my land in Annan, right?"

"It's a joke, don't you guys know? Not to mention that there are bandits everywhere in Annan, and you are not a good person in the court. Now that we men are under the emperor's order, we have to go to this land where birds don't shit, so we don't have to build a small fortress." Settle down?"

When Ruan Chuntang heard this, he was powerless to complain: As far as the regulations of this city are concerned, he is ashamed to say "Little Fortress?"

Fortunately, County Magistrate Ruan could see at this moment that this Ming army general was probably a rough man who was not very reasonable.So he shook his head slightly, and asked the next question: "Since the land is sold by Francier businessman, is there a title deed?"

"Isn't this nonsense? How can there be no title deed?"

Sha Zhengming waved his hand impatiently when he heard the words, turned his head and shouted to the side door: "Officer Zhao, are you done? Hurry up and get the land deed of the Franji people."

"My lord, immediately!"

After a while, a young man in a double-breasted jacket hurried out from the back room, holding a stack of papers in his hand.

Seeing this, Sha Zhengming waved his hand confidently: "Show him the land deed."

"Yes!"

Ruan Chuntang also took over the land deeds with full confidence: he was sure to find out the problems from these land deeds, because as a local county magistrate, he knew very well that it was impossible for the county government to approve such a large area of ​​land that was large enough to build the city and port. What kind of Lao Shizi Franc machine businessman.

The next moment, Ruan Chuntang looked down at the land deeds carefully.

At first glance, the printed paper of these land deeds is exquisite, and the official seal and charge on it seem to be complete.

On the top one, the original owner of the land was a French businessman named Leo Messi.Not to mention the truth or falsehood, the number of acres marked on this title deed is already extremely astonishing: a full 5000 acres of contiguous land, the location is just here in the city of Halong Bay, and a detailed map is attached.

The original owner of the next one is Nelson Semedo.

Down below is Serge Samper.

The last one is called Ter Stegen, who seems to be a Prussian businessman.

There are quite a few title deeds, 23 in total.

At the next moment, County Magistrate Ruan Da opened his mouth wide and stared wide-eyed. He dipped his middle finger on the land deed of businessman Macy, and then made an insulting gesture in front of General Shashen. Douyin asked, "Is the ink still available?" Didn't do it?"

(End of this chapter)