At dawn, candlelight was dimly lit in the training camp on the east side of Prison Island.
"The local pond reported good news but not bad news. Changguo County has not been lost, but several large islands in the east coast of the county have been occupied by Donghai bandits. Last month, I went to Changguo County for a field trip and found that the situation was not optimistic. At the end of last month,
About three hundred Donghai bandits took three large ships to attack Shengsi Island in the north. When I left Changshan Island, these Donghai bandits were still entrenched on Shengsi Island and had not left. During this period, ships from the Dongjiang River entered and left Dianshan Lake and Taihu Lake.
It is also quite suspicious. The frequency of small shareholder pirates invading the coast of Pingjiang Prefecture is also higher than before," Fu Qinghe said. "The She family broke up the soil and was granted the title of marquis. The eldest son of She Wenzhuang, She Feixiong, closed his door to recuperate after being granted the title of prince.
, does not assist Shewenzhuang in handling Jin'an's official affairs, and has opened its doors only a handful of times in the past four months..."
"The man behind the East China Sea bandits' attack on the Changguo Islands should be She Feixiong," Lin Fu sighed. "The She family also realized that Jiangxi's strategy of invading Zhejiang and Zhejiang by land was not advisable, so they took advantage of the opportunity to stop the war.
, retracted his fist and expanded his ambitions by sea. The Changguo Islands are indeed a good springboard..."
Changguo County is affiliated to Mingzhou Prefecture in eastern Zhejiang, also known as the Zhoushan Islands in later generations. The county is mainly located in the sea east of Mingzhou Prefecture, but the archipelago extends from south to north for nearly 300 miles in the outer sea. The Liuheng Islands at the southern end are
Xiangshan County of Mingzhou Prefecture faces each other across the sea, and the northernmost Shengsi Islands face Xinyi County of Pingjiang Prefecture across the sea. Once the East China Sea bandits gather in large numbers on the islands of Changguo County and gain a foothold, Mingzhou, Yuezhou, Jiahang
, all the prefectures in Pingjiang were put under the threat of the East China Sea bandits.
The Dongjiang River is still south of the Yangtze River, a large river in Pingjiang Prefecture, connecting Dianshan Lake, Chenghu Lake, and Taihu Lakes, which is also known as the Taihu Lake Water Area in later generations. The Taihu Lake Water Area is located in Jiahang, Huzhou, Jiangdong County, Pingjiang, and Danyang in eastern Zhejiang.
Among the prefectures, these four prefectures are still fully developed and the essence of Jiangnan is located. Jiangning has more than 30,000 garrison troops and nearly 700,000 taels of silver each year, all of which come from Pingjiang Prefecture.
When Fu Qinghe came over, Lin Fu did not rush to take him to the mouth of the river. Instead, he discussed the situation of the East China Sea bandits by candlelight in the training camp. It was not that he wanted to share the worries of the court or the local government. He was not in his position and did not seek political affairs.
Mingzhou, Yuezhou, Jiahang, and Pingjiang are threatened by the East China Sea bandits, which should be something that the county officials and the court need to consider. Lin Fu and the others just have to carefully consider the northward expansion of the East China Sea bandit forces under the control of the She family to Changshan Island.
threaten.
A rough wooden platform was spread out on a map of Jiangdong County's maritime territory obtained from within the Inspectorate. It was difficult to get accurate maps at that time. Qin Chengzu and others had been on Changshan Island for more than half a year, and they also conducted a lot of reconnaissance on the nearby sea area, making this sea territory
The map is quite accurate.
Zhao Hu lay on the wooden platform and painted red on Shengsi Island and Changshan Island respectively with a red pen. Shengsi Island was attacked by the East China Sea pirates at the end of April and could not be taken away. Changshan Island was only more than 300 miles away from Shengsi Island by sea. He used the wind to set sail.
, an ordinary sea-going ship can complete this sea route in day and night.
At present, it seems that the Donghai bandits under the control of the She family are likely to be the first to invade Pingjiang Mansion on a large scale after completing their gathering. The corruption of Pingjiang Mansion will not only destroy the salary source of the Jiangning garrison, but also make Li Zhuo, who is tabooed by the She family, helpless.
The food for cooking can also be cut off from the water transportation to the north of the prefectures south of Pingjiang River.
Under this situation, Changshan Island is temporarily safe.
Changshan Island is located to the north of the mouth of the Yangtze River and poses no threat to the East China Sea pirates gathered on the Shengsi Islands. Moreover, because Shengsi Island has much better conditions than Changshan Island for attacking Pingjiang Prefecture or entering the Yangtze River waterway, the East China Sea pirates at this time
There should be no firm determination to uproot Changshan Island.
Even immediate security is temporary, and no one can predict how the situation in the East China Sea will develop in the future.
Four hundred bags of smuggled salt were unloaded before dawn, and the Dongyang weighed anchor and docked at Jiang'an Wharf carrying rice, sugar, tie-dyed cloth, medicinal patch cloth and other goods trafficked from Chongzhou.
This was the Dongyang's return from its commercial voyage. Many people gathered outside the pier to watch. Lin Fu led Fu Qinghe quietly back to the thatched cottage from the river pier.
When Xiaoman woke up in the morning, his eyes were relaxed. When he saw Fu Qinghe's figure, his eye circles immediately turned red, and his tears fell unsatisfactorily. Lin Fu also sent people into the city to tell Su Mei, and Su Mei soon
Came here with the report. Over the years, she and Xiaoman have been able to escape from the mud under the protection of Fu Qinghe. The three of them have a deep relationship and share the same love as father and daughter.
When Fu Qinghe returned, Sun Wenwan, who had been staying in Zhutang to recuperate, also came to say hello.
Fu Qinghe had settled in Jiangning for ten years, and had a close friendship with Sun Jingxuan of the Hebang Xihe Hui by chance. Sun Wenwan regarded Fu Qinghe as his uncle, and there was no taboo in coming to greet him, but he was embarrassed by Lin Fu.
The tortuous misunderstanding between Lin Fu and Sun Wenwan was also explained to Fu Qinghe in the letter. At this time, meeting each other felt a bit ridiculous. Although it was Fu Qinghe who brought up the matter in the letter to Sun Jingxuan, it was actually Su Mei.
If you have the intention to do it, you will naturally let it go at this time.
After receiving the letter, Sun Jingxuan rode a fast horse from the south of the city and chatted arm-in-arm with Fu Qinghe. Lin Fuqia also had something to discuss with Sun Jingxuan.
"Sun Hui, I have something to discuss with you..." Lin Fu said.
"Master Lin, please give me your instructions." Sun Jingxuan said.
Although the matter between Lin Fu and Sun Wenwan was settled, Sun Jingtang's daughter Sun Wenpei and Lin Jingzhong agreed to get married, and the wedding date was agreed to be in the autumn. The two parties became very close and helped each other in everything.
Although Gu Wuchen went to Dongyang to supervise the war, the central government issued a special decree on the trial of Xia Cao, and also sent a censor to Jiangning, and the Inspectorate also sent a special inspector to supervise the affairs. Wang Xueshan could not play tricks, and Jiangning
With the prefecture setting an example, other prefectures and counties could no longer shirk the blame, and many things were under preparation in a short period of time.
Since Jiangning has sufficient grain and is the grain trade center of Jiangdong County, the grains of Hailing, Dongyang, and Tuzhou prefectures and counties with insufficient grain storage in their official warehouses are also prepared from Jiangning. Including Jiangning itself, the first batch of grain shipped from Jiangning is as high as
Two hundred thousand stones.
For the Hebang, Xia Cao is a good job, with favorable winds and strong water. Although there is chaos in Hongzepu, the road from Weiyang through the Cao is unobstructed, and there is a special purpose to protect the body. There is no need to worry about exploitation by officials along the road. The grain transportation volume is small, which means that
You can carry more private goods and sell them north and south. This trip can be worth several trips.
Since Xia Cao is not a regular system, and other prefectures and counties are preparing to transport grain in Jiangning, the officials in charge of Xia Cao affairs will naturally not miss this opportunity to extort money from the He Gang factions. The grain transportation services are distributed among the He Gang factions.
It will not be distributed according to the regular system.
Since Gu Wuchen was not in Jiangning, it was inconvenient for Lin Fu to directly participate in the Xia Cao matter. However, as a close confidant of Gu Wuchen, he had a lot of influence. In addition, the official in Dongyang Mansion in Jiangning who was responsible for organizing the grain supply was a close confidant of Lin Tingli. Not only did the Dongyang Mansion have 40,000
The transportation of grain from Shi Cao was handed over to Xihe Wu, and all matters related to the preparation of grain were handed over to Xihe Hui.
Although Dongyang Prefecture's Xia Cao silver was taken away by the Cao officials, 10,000 taels were taken away, but under Lin Fu's push, the remaining 30,000 taels of Cao cash were transferred directly to Xihehui without any delay or other difficulties.
Sun Jingxuan had just returned from Huzhou, where grain prices were lower. He had cash in hand and the convenience of sending canals. In addition to the 40,000 shi of grain needed by Dongyang Mansion, he also bought an additional 60,000 shi of grain to Jiangning.
, you can earn an extra three thousand taels of silver by changing hands.
Sun Jingxuan had been worried about the livelihood of the two thousand members of the Xihe Society and their families all day long. He won this good deal and would not have to worry about it for at least two years. At this time, his face was glowing. Lin Fu said that he had something to entrust to him. How could he have the slightest excuse?
"Master Gu is supervising the battle in Dongyang, and my second uncle is training Xiangyong in Dongyang. I have prepared a sum of money here, 70% of the cash will be sent directly, and the remaining 30% of the silver is planned to be purchased in Quyang Town for some supplies that are in short supply in Dongyang and shipped there.
," Lin Fu said, "I have few manpower at hand, and the river mouth is very busy. I want to entrust the purchase and transportation of supplies to the Xihe Hui. When it starts, in order to prevent the invasion of rogue bandits, I will send a boat to escort... Sun Hui wants to feel uncomfortable.
Please, I’ll have someone hand over the order and money to you right away.”
Xihehui's Xia Cao transport capacity is only 40,000 shi, and there is still 20,000 shi left.
Lin Fu's request was to support Gu Wuchen in supervising the war in Dongyang. Besides, only the northeastern part of Dongyang Prefecture was in the flames of war. The area from the south of the prefecture to Jiangning was still safe. Lin Fu sent a boat to escort him. How could Sun Jingxuan shirk? He agreed immediately.
.
Sun Jingxuan agreed, and Lin Fu went to Lin Xulu to discuss it.
The family promised to allocate a total of 24,000 taels of salary to the brave men in Dongyang for three years. Lin Fu asked Lin Xulu to spend 10,000 taels of silver to purchase urgently needed supplies in Quyang Town. Lin Fu posted another 4,000 taels of silver.
Dongyang/There was no shortage of supplies. Lin Xulu didn't understand why Lin Fu wanted to buy supplies in Quyang Town, but Lin Fu offered an extra four thousand taels of silver. Lin Xulu couldn't refuse, so he just said: "How dare you ask for money?"
"This is not my money. Some of the money received from the Dongyang Mansion was intercepted, and Mr. Gu got more of it. I sent someone to Dongyang Mansion to report to Mr. Gu. Mr. Gu ordered that this money be posted.
I'm training my second uncle to be brave - so I thought it would be better to use this money to buy supplies in Jiangning instead of sending it directly to my second uncle." Lin Fu said nonsensically.
Lin Xulu was deeply convinced, and he was still a little ashamed. The Dongyang government official sent him a thousand taels of silver. He knew full well that it was the Xia Cao silver that he had intercepted. He did not expect that Gu Wuchen and Lin Bun could be selfless and not harm the friendship between their colleagues.
He used the money to subsidize the training of Xiangyong, and then said: "When I came here this time, I also had more than a thousand taels of silver, and I also used it to buy supplies. It will make the public louder, and it will also make Mr. Gu look good."
At that moment, Lin Fu and Lin Xulu discussed making a list of purchasing supplies, including rice candy, cloth, wound medicine, steel bars and other items. There were seventeen or eight items in a mess. After the list was drawn up, they informed
The Third Madam, the Sixth Madam, the Young Madam and the three clan elders finally asked Lin Xuhong to take Qian Xiaowu and an entourage brought by Lin Xulu to take a list and carry 15,000 cash to Xiyuan of Zhutang where Sun Wenwan lived temporarily.
, entrusted to Xihe Association for procurement.
Time was tight, and the items purchased were complex and large in quantity. In order to complete this errand, Sun Jingxuan personally took charge here in Zhutang and transferred his nephew Sun Wenbing over to run errands. Sun Jingxuan thought that if he could make it in time, he would go to Dongyang in person to meet him face to face.
It would be better to meet Gu Wuchen.
Sun Wenwan picked up the order drawn up by Lin Fu but became suspicious, suggesting that her father avoid the three people sent by Lin Fu to supervise the order and go to the back hall to talk.
"There are too many doubts," Sun Wenwan took the list and said to her father. "First, Dongyang Mansion is not short of supplies. Wouldn't it be safer to quietly send the money to Dongyang on a ship to purchase supplies? Second, the Lin family is not in Jiangning.
There is no shortage of manpower, and there are more than 20 ships in the fleet, so why do we need Xihe Club to earn this money? Thirdly, since time is so tight, why bother buying 17 or 18 items of supplies? You want me to list other things?
Doubtful?"
"Maybe he wants everyone to get closer..." Sun Jingxuan said with a smile.
"You can't make fun of your daughter," Sun Wenwan said coquettishly. "Lin Fu is so hard to see through. My daughter can't marry him either alive or dead..."
"But what can Xihe do that is worthy of him setting up a trap?" Sun Jingxuan put away his jokes and asked seriously.
"Perhaps he has no intention of harming the Xihe Society, but he wants to use the Xihe Society to make this matter known to everyone in Jiangning." Sun Wenwan said, "Especially to let the Qu family know that today he deliberately said that he would go to Quyang Town.
To purchase these supplies..."
"Qu family?" Sun Jingxuan asked doubtfully.
"Dad, are you really confused or are you pretending to be confused?" Sun Wenwan said, "How dare you not remember the kidnapping of Qu Wuyang's only son two months ago? The Qu family had five thousand taels of silver outstanding through the government.
, the private bonus was as high as 10,000 taels, and the final redemption money was in Chaotiandang, four miles east of Prison Island. Before the redemption money was paid, the Qu family secretly spread the word, and as a result, the redemption money was in Chaotiandang.
People there were robbed from the water. After hearing the news, various forces came to fight in Chaotiandang. They left fifty or sixty corpses and returned empty-handed. They also formed grudges against each other. If it weren't for my daughter and aunt
I tried to dissuade you, but you and your second uncle are greedy and jealous and want to send ginseng to join in. You have the nerve to forget about it now!"
When Sun Jingxuan saw his old scars exposed by his daughter, his old face turned red and he asked softly: "You said that the robbery of Qu Wuyang's only son was related to Lin Fu?"
"Second uncle personally went to the Dongyang ship to see it. Dad, don't you suspect that Lin Fu was responsible for the robbery?" Sun Wenwan asked, "I think the Qu family should have suspected Lin Fu after the battle at Luoyang Lake.
Well, I think Lin Fu even knew that the Qu family had suspected him, so he made a big show of his efforts to lure the snake out of its hole..."
"Why did Lin Fu want to lure the snake out of the cave?" Sun Jingxuan asked.
"My daughter is just a prostitute, how could she know so much?" Sun Wenwan said, "Since Lin Fu wants to lure the snake out of the cave, this trip to Dongyang must be extremely risky. It is not as peaceful as it seems on the surface..."
"..." Sun Jingxuan frowned. He was indeed not as thoughtful as his daughter, but he had to consider the consequences of rejecting Lin Fu.
"The Xihe Society can purchase supplies on their behalf and help them spread the word, but we have to refuse the transportation of supplies to Dongyang..." Seeing his father's indecision, Sun Wenwan persuaded him, "You can't just escape when things happen, but should your father take the initiative?"
Will you use the lives of the congregation to please Lin Fu and Gu Wuchen? If you find this difficult to handle, ask your second uncle, Wen Yao, and Wen Bing to leave Jiangning tonight, and you will start pretending to be sick at noon tomorrow. If Lin Fu can
If he has the heart to let me, a female prostitute, escort the fleet for him, my daughter will accompany him."