Daming Yinghua

Chapter 138

Zheng Haizhu rode Chi Ruyi to the east, and the ten-mile journey was quickly completed. On the flattened coast in front of him, there appeared a group of large and small wooden boats moored in the port.

On the land side, there are clusters of low shacks and fields during winter slack.

It was still early and the sun was bright. Zheng Haizhu raised his eyes to recognize it, and rode his horse to the only one-story house covered with tiles.

A hundred paces away, a few men with forked sticks appeared sporadically on the side of the road. Their clothes were ragged, and their bodies looked as thin and emaciated as the mangy dog ​​lying beside them, but they looked neither like farmers nor beggars.

Facing their curious eyes rather than vigilance, Zheng Haizhu simply reined in the horse: "My fellow, is the house where the chief executive is working in front?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a strong man came striding forward, with big arms, round waist, beard, a net scarf tied on his head, and a relatively decent knife hanging from his waist.

"You lazy bastards, you don't stand up to stop people when you see them. I'd rather have a dog than you. The dog even knows how to bark twice."

The men who were lying on the ground were reprimanded by this person, most of them still looked dull and dull, only one of the older ones, who did not stop catching lice in his hand, replied at least one sentence: "Master Liu, she is a woman, I am afraid .”

Zheng Haizhu didn't get off the horse, but only cupped his hands to the bearded man: "I've seen Mr. Liu Jun."

She made up her mind today that she was going to ride a horse, so she was wearing ordinary quilted underwear, but the sable bijia that was rewarded by the Lu Palace on the outside, and the bay red horse under her crotch was even fatter and stronger. It can be fed.

The bearded man surnamed Liu, seeing Zheng Haizhu still sitting on the horse, was already very angry, but when he looked carefully, the other party, from clothes to mounts, was enough to buy several titles of his own, he couldn't help muttering, could it be Haidao? The master's family came to Mr. Cheng to do something?

He had no choice but to suppress his bravado, and said in a low voice, "I am a hundred households from Jindaotun, what do you want to do with Mr. Cheng?"

One hundred households and one thousand households are hereditary military households. When the country was founded, military households were set up in military settlements, and military households were good at fighting and farming. Up to now, many military households in the guards of the Ming Dynasty are no different from ordinary farmers. , no fighting power.

The general is in the "war barracks", counted as the recruitment system, and it is the local combat readiness force.

Therefore, after Zheng Haizhu came to see it in person, combined with Xu San's previous explanation, he had an idea.

This place looks like a military village, but it is actually the private port of the officials in charge of Haiphong Road in Dengzhou.

In the words of later generations, Cheng Bazong who is stationed here is the white glove of Haiphong officials, and Liu Baihu in front of him is Cheng Bazong's white glove.

Professional soldiers and hereditary hoarders are mixed, and the military camp is combined with the local guards to take advantage of Dengzhou's unique seaport conditions to engage in smuggling.

In the last years of Wanli, the governor of Denglai, who took over the military and political power in one place, had not yet been established. Tao Lang was only in the position of the prefect of Dengzhou, so he couldn't control it.

Just like a mayor, he has no control over the local military region.

Therefore, when Xu San came to report yesterday with a bitter face, saying that the smugglers had replaced the general manager and knocked the bamboo poles into the sky, Zheng Haizhu understood that it was not just wrong to bother the magistrate, but the key point was, Fart useless.

Wu Bangde heard that the battalion system came out to smuggle and collect benefits, but he mentioned whether he wanted to accompany him here and use Qi Jin's name to make connections, but Zheng Haizhu explicitly refused.

"The premise of building a relationship is to be on the same boat. The Zhenjiang General Soldier and Dengzhou Haidao may only talk about helping each other when they are fighting Japanese pirates in this life. Now Dengzhou Haidao earns his own money and mentions the officers of other battalions. It will only be self-defeating."

Zheng Haizhu said so, and then added: "You are the head of our intelligence bureau, the closer you are to Liaohai, the less you should come forward."

At this moment, when Liu Baihu's arrogance had subsided a bit, Zheng Haizhu got off his horse and said in a harmonious voice, "My surname is Zheng, and I used to have goods here to ask for some convenience. I heard my buddy come back yesterday and said that the newcomer Your Excellency, I am going to visit today."

She said, Shi Shiran led the horse forward, and when Liu Baihu came up, he stuffed a piece of broken silver into his hand.

When Liu Baihu took the money, he was more suspicious than happy, and asked: "The Xu San who sent the pastry kueh earlier in the morning belongs to your family, right?"

Zheng Haizhu nodded: "It's my trick."

"Ah?" Liu Baihu was startled, "Zheng Dong's family, your house is on the other side of Liaodong, is it Mao Shoubei who contacted you?"

"Exactly."

"Oh, Wuna Xu San, just told me that their boss from the south is also here this time, and his surname is Zheng. I didn't expect that it is, it is..."

Zheng Haizhu smiled lightly: "Master Liu didn't expect it to be a woman. How can I not keep an eye on Uncle Mao's business whenever I have time?"

Liu Baihu didn't bother with the anecdote about the woman running the business any longer, but quickly turned his serious expression: "Dong Zheng's family, I can't take your money. I have two brothers who are over the sea, and one has died in Tartarus." We know that Mao Shoubei dared to fight with the Tartars, so we will take care of Mao Shoubei's goods before. But now the boss has replaced it with a new one, and the number of receipts is too big, and we can't do anything about it."

Zheng Haizhu showed an expression of "I also know your difficulties".

In fact, this trip to the north, because Zheng Haizhu personally led the team, Xu San had already reported to her that Mao Wenlong was smuggled in the harbor by a hundred households in Jindaotun, surnamed Liu.

Just now, Zheng Haizhu didn't explain his origin clearly when he came up, but just wanted to weigh Liu Baihu.

At this moment, Zheng Haizhu sincerely pushed back the hand that Liu Baihu handed over the money: "It's not for Master Liu. I don't know what kind of head flowers Liu's sister-in-law and her two eldest nieces like, so I dare not buy them blindly. If Mr. Liu doesn't accept it, I can only ask the few people behind to find out where Mr. Liu lives, and send it there by myself."

When Liu Baihu heard that the other party even knew about his two daughters, it was obvious that Xu San, a fellow, had reported it, so he respectfully stuffed the money into his lapel, and then slowed down his pace.

"Zheng Dong's family, my brother will tell you the truth. Mr. Cheng, like the first general, was not promoted by military merit. The first one was transferred to another place because of the prosperity of the background. Cheng. If you are a newcomer, you must show a good performance to the masters of Haiphong Road. Who would have thought that a while ago, the imperial court came to patrol the eight prefectures, and went back and forth in the Liaohai area, making many private ports afraid to leave the boat? Liaohai is about to freeze right now, if you don’t rush to pay you, the lords will not be comfortable this year, from Mr. Cheng to our military households, don’t even think about living in peace.”

Zheng Haizhu knew in his heart that what Liu Baihu said about the inspection of the Eight Houses was Wang Yaliang.

It seems that the Marine Water Division is also very afraid of patrolling the censor. Once the censor comes, he dare not engage in vigorous smuggling activities.

She then expressed gratitude and said, "Thank you Brother Liu for your suggestion."

Liu Baihu pointed to the front: "Boss Cheng has been on duty every day for the past few days. Hey, look, the one sitting at the door is Xu San?"

Zheng Haizhu saw that he was going to talk about it, but his steps froze, so he smiled and said: "Brother, stay behind, don't accompany me in."

……

Cheng Xin snuggled the hand warmer to the patch on his chest, and lowered his head to take a nap.

But although the eyes are closed, the person is too cold to sleep.

Damn it, the general at the front is said to have been guarding this private port for three or four years, it's not that he hasn't encountered cold weather and winter months, and he doesn't know how to repair this dilapidated house with air leaks on all sides.

It's coming soon, after a few more days, once Liaohai freezes, all the ships will not be able to leave the port no matter how much money they pay, and I can go back to the city to sleep on the hot kang.

Thinking of this, Cheng Xin couldn't help but sigh, he was a dignified seventh-rank military officer, and at least he had a mighty and majestic buffalo embroidered on his belly, but the good day he was thinking about was actually just not getting cold.

Cheng Xin was originally just a descendant of a dilapidated military family in the Fushan Guard. He was able to rise to the top and become the commander in chief of the battalion purely because of his appearance.

Cheng Xin's father-in-law is a wealthy businessman from Dengzhou. He missed his old love and picked a young man with the worst skills but the best appearance from among the poor nephews in his hometown, and recruited him as his son-in-law. Yan, but 1000 taels of silver bought the robe of a seventh-rank general as compensation, which is considered very sincere.

After putting on the robe, Cheng Xin realized that the father-in-law's expectation of him was not only to be a stallion, but also to plow the land by himself.

Cheng Xin had to guard the private port and collect tolls for the master of Dengzhou Haidao, whom the old father-in-law befriended.

"Mr. Cheng."

With a female voice, Cheng Xin closed his eyes and opened them suddenly.

Zheng Haizhu, who walked in with Xu San, took advantage of Shunguang to quickly look at the general manager.

His skin is white and greasy, and his figure is slumped. When he approached so quietly, the other party even trembled when he heard the shout. Sure enough, the rank of this soldier was not achieved by real swords and guns.

Cheng Xin put on a show, sat up straight, looked at Zheng Haizhu, and then at Xu San who had come to deal with him.

Xu San said respectfully: "Master, this is our Zheng Dong's house."

owner?female?
Cheng Xin was taken aback, but his father-in-law's training for him on weekdays at least let him know what it means to be "quiet".

"Well, the boss is here, and it's also 300 taels of silver for a flag."

Cheng Xin patted the stack of cloth on the right side of the desk, and said coldly.

Zheng Haizhu saw the black characters on the silver background and the light yellow teeth, and knew that it was the flag of Dengzhou Haidao. After the merchant ship paid the toll, if he encountered a naval patrol ship in Liaohai, he would raise the flag. Return it to Haiphong Road.

The navy will pick out the private boats that are seen in front of them and check whether they are false flags.But if the flag is not hoisted, even if it is a familiar ferry in Dengzhou Port, the navy will ask for the stringing, and then charge a heavy sum.

Zheng Haizhu smiled and said respectfully: "Yesterday, I was stupid, and I didn't bring enough money to ask for the flag. This morning, I should have come to apologize to the general, and I didn't want the general's wife to ask me to accompany you on the tour of Danya Mountain. It's time to arrive."

As she spoke, she placed a 300 tael bank note in front of Cheng Xin.

Cheng Xin looked at the number on the bank note, but what he thought about was not money, but the words "General's wife".

"Well, that, Zheng Dong's family is very polite, the snacks sent by your little guy are not bad. Zheng Dong's family also eats a piece?"

"Thank you, Master, if you don't eat, Cao Min has to rush back to the city to accompany Madam to the theater."

Cheng Xin hurriedly took the flag, stood up, walked to Zheng Haizhu, handed the flag to her, and asked casually: "Listen to the accent of Zheng Dong's family, who is not a local, and which general's family member in our Dengzhou?" Good deal?"

Zheng Haizhu said in a joking tone: "The general's family is not from Dengzhou either. It's the general of the state of Lu Wangfu in Yanzhou."

Cheng Xin gasped.

He came out of the backcountry and followed the local tyrant to deal with the officials. He had already been reminded of the true meaning of the various official ranks and honors of the Ming Empire.

General Zhen Guo is the same as the general he bought with money. He is not a serious general, but he is a serious relative of the emperor.

When he reacted, Zheng Haizhu had already gathered up the flag that cost a few hundred taels to hang once, said in a gentle voice, "Don't bother the master," and called Xu San to walk out the door.

"Hey, Mr. Zheng's family..."

Cheng Xin followed their footsteps to the threshold, but Zheng Haizhu turned his head back, patted the steed beside him, and said apologetically, "May I ask you to give me some bean cakes? This horse also belongs to the General's Mansion, just now." I was in a hurry and lost the grain bag."

Cheng Xin clearly saw a distinctive monogram stamped on the ass of Zheng Haizhu's patted horse. Although he didn't know what the pattern was, he had seen Liangjun from various government offices and wealthy families in Dengzhou have hot stamps on his buttocks.

Besides, this horse is fat and strong, and it looks better than the horses in the Dengzhou War Barracks. How can ordinary people afford it.

Cheng Xin quickly greeted the sergeant outside to get the horse food bag.

With a smile on his face, he said, "This horse is really energetic."

Zheng Haizhu said: "Your Highness loves hunting, and the horses in the mansion are all extraordinary."

After a pause, Zheng Haizhu seemed to think of something, and turned his eyes from the horse's buttocks to the face of the young boy in front of him: "By the way, sir, I will have to find a big boat at the end of Lushun later, and I will have to help you in the future." Your Highness and his wife are selecting horses in Liaodong. However, I heard that the Haixi Jurchen are also thieves, and the horses sent to the horse market are not as good as before."

Cheng Xinxin said, I got it, I got it, grandma, you don't need to hint any more.

In just a few rounds, he already figured out that he should return the silver ticket to the woman first.They had been out of Hong Kong before, and they were not grassroots bandits who shot a gun to change places. Did she make up a lie to fool herself, and sent one of her men back to Dengzhou City to ask if there were any nobles from Lu Fan, and it would be fine.

But if the bank note is not refunded today, look at this woman's hideous smile, if she really goes to the royal relatives to complain, the consequences will be unpredictable.

Cheng Xin then sighed softly: "Boss Zheng, it's really hard for you to go overseas to do business, and it's not easy to earn money."

As he spoke, he stuffed the 300 taels of silver bills back to Xu San very naturally.

Xu San pretended to be panic-stricken, not daring to answer, and looked at Zheng Haizhu anxiously.

Zheng Haizhu didn't change his face: "Xu San, the boss is considerate, we can't understand the rules. The boss will give us an exception, but we can pay less money for the flag, but we have to pay it."

Xu San made an expression that he finally understood, took the bank note newly handed by Cheng with both hands, and took out another 100 tael bank note, entered the room in a hurry, and put it on Cheng Xin's desk.

(End of this chapter)