The next day, Cai Qian issued an order to head south for the time being. Less than two hours later, he saw dark shadows on the sea ahead, as if dozens of large ships were anchored near these islands. The ships were sailing closer, Wu Ping, Zheng Jia

Many of these fellows could see clearly that the big ships also had huge eyes and towering poops. Merchant ships never had eyes on the bows, so these big ships were naturally pirate ships.

After several large ships, there were many masts and sails, and I didn't know how many ships the three major pirate groups had come this time. The Zheng family members were not familiar with the pirates outside the Shui'ao gang. Seeing such a posture, they couldn't help but be surprised.

His whole body was trembling. Wu Ping had always been bold, but to Cai Qian at this moment, the trembling on his body was clearly visible.

"There...there are so many ships..." Wu Ping couldn't help but sigh while looking at the ships on the sea. There seemed to be a kind of envy in his slightly frightened eyes, or maybe...excitement that something big was about to happen.

.

At this moment, suddenly I saw a puff of black smoke spitting out from the big ship in front of me. Then, a cloud of smoke exploded on the shore of the island, changing the color of dozens of steps around. Then, Cai Qian

Everyone on the boat only heard a "bang" sound, but a small number of them could not stand steadily and slipped and fell down. Cai Qian couldn't help laughing when he looked at these Zheng family men who had never seen the power of Western cannons.

"Hahahaha..." But in just a moment, Cai Qian's laughter stopped abruptly. From the black smoke, half a ball flew out and hit a big tree on the beach hard.

The power of the cannonball was extremely powerful. How could the big tree withstand the impact? It soon fell to the side, and then the "squeaking" sound of the big tree falling to the ground gradually reached the ears of the people on board.

"Cai... Chief Cai, what... is this magical skill?" Wu Ping quickly asked Cai Qian.

Cai Qian glanced at it and sneered: "Humph, I heard that those people in Annan bought the fine bullets from the Westerners. When the shells were blasted out, they split into two halves. If one half falls, the other half can still survive."

Then it flew nearly a hundred steps. It is said that during naval battles, Westerners used this method to bombard the opponent's mast. It was most effective. They didn't know what the bullet should be called, so they randomly named it "Butterfly Cannon" to show that it was continuous.

Absolute meaning. Humph, people like Annan seem to be even more unscrupulous."

In fact, these so-called "butterfly cannons" were what the European world called "chain bombs" at that time. In naval battles at that time, artillery used solid shells. Although the Qing army also had "explosive bombs" that could be detonated in the center, they could only

It was used for short-barreled mortars to attack mountains and destroy forests. The barrel of the naval battle gun was very long, so only solid bullets could be used. It was not until twenty years later that blooming bullets for long-barreled artillery appeared in Europe. But from solid bullets to

European artillerymen have been trying to change the blooming bullets and constantly innovating, and finally succeeded in developing modern blooming bullets, not overnight. At this time, the so-called "chain bullets" were an attempt by Europeans to improve solid artillery shells.

.Due to the strong presence of pirates along the southeast coast, chain bombs also entered the East Asian waters through various transactions by European smugglers.

Seeing that the other side had finished the artillery test, a small boat was lowered and headed towards Cai Qian and his party. Soon, the boat approached Cai Qian's fleet. When a small leader on the boat saw Cai Qian, he immediately paid homage to Cai Qian: "

Leader Cai, the gang leader has already learned about your coming to join us. The gang leader has also learned about the Zheng family’s grain ship heading north. The gang leader will ask you to come over right now. Also, please come with this guy from the Zheng family.

Ship. Mr. Annan has other instructions."

"Brother Zheng, Wu Ping, I sent someone to inform the gang leader yesterday about your matters. But I didn't expect him to be so anxious, so he actually informed the Marquis about the grain ship. It just so happens that it saves you two from having to go again.

Let’s talk about it. You can come with me first and don’t be afraid when you meet the Marquis. Whatever the Marquis asks or the gang leader asks, just tell them the truth.” Cai Qian told Zheng Jia and Wu Ping.

people said.

"This... Chief Cai, the Marquis will not go back on his word, right?" Wu Ping asked.

"Why are you going back on your word? What did the Marquis promise you?" Cai Qian said coldly: "However, as long as all your words are true, how about I protect you from the Marquis's safety?"

Hearing that Cai Qian was trying to ensure that their lives were safe, Zheng Jia and Wu Ping were slightly relieved. They followed Cai Qian on the boat and headed towards the center of the pirate fleet. They could only travel for one stick of incense, and the time had just arrived.

Under Lunguili's main ship, looking at this giant ship that was more than ten feet long, with a towering bow and stern, and numerous gun emplacements, the Zheng family's crew members were also amazed. Soon, ladders were lowered on the giant ship, and everyone took a step.

As soon as they boarded the main ship, they saw a man sitting in the dragon-patterned chair in the middle of the ship. He was wearing brocade clothes, but with his hair spread wide open, and his hair was messy and fluffy. It was none other than Annan Jinluhou Lun Guili.

Cai Qian walked to the left of Lun Guili and stood behind a person. It was not difficult to tell that this person was Lin Yasun, the leader of the Shui'ao gang. Zheng Jia had seen Lin Yasun's face and immediately bowed to show respect. Lun Guili was on the right.

There are still more than ten pirates on the side, all dressed in casual clothes, but their costumes are different from those of the Shuiao Gang. Naturally, they are the leader of the Fengwei Gang, Zhuang Youmei, and his subordinates.

Zheng Jia had long heard Cai Qian tell Lun Guili about him, so when he saw the people in front of him, he concluded that the person in the middle was Lun Guili, and hurriedly stepped forward to bow to him and said: "Young man Wenzhou Zheng Ji Zheng Jia

, I have met the Marquis. His name is well known to everyone. We are really honored to see him today. If the Marquis is generous and can protect us, I will definitely tell the master and thank the Marquis again in the future.

"

"Forget the polite words." Lun Guili seemed a little impatient and went straight to the point of Zheng Jia: "Are you Zheng Tianxuan's guy? I heard that Zheng Tianxuan is the leading businessman in Wenzhou and currently has five grain ships.

We have reached this area of ​​the sea, right? If you answer honestly, I will certainly spare your life."

"Exactly, Mr. Hou knows things well." Zheng Jia said with a smile: "My master has five grain ships heading to Ningbo. No, there have always been floods in eastern Zhejiang in recent years. Every year

When there is a flood, the price of food will rise. If you transport 10,000 shi of food, you can make a lot of money. Moreover, the master has already greeted Gang Leader Lin before, and Gang Leader Lin has agreed to these five ships.

I won't interfere. The master also specifically told the villain that since Gang Leader Lin has defected to the Marquis, he should also inform the Marquis about this matter. The Marquis is magnanimous and can naturally leave some ways for the villains to make money.

, are you right?"

"Where are these five ships now?" Lunguilli asked again.

"Now in Wenzhou, we will prepare to go north in two days." Zheng Jia felt a little uneasy when he saw Lun Guili's wrong answer, so he had to bite the bullet and answer.

"Okay, if you want to earn money from these grains, then I will give you a chance. Ten thousand shi of rice will give you fifty thousand taels of silver. Including the boat, the total will be eighty thousand taels. Tell your master to give it to us within three days.

Bring the 80,000 taels of silver obediently, and we will let you wait for the grain ship to go north. If there is one less tael of silver, counting from today to the fourth day, these five ships and 10,000 kilos of rice will all belong to me!

I'll give you a day's chance, so go back and ask your master to raise the money. If you don't give it after three days, I'll get it! Do you understand me clearly?" Lun Guili didn't take Zheng Tianxuan seriously at all.

Zheng Jia was shocked when he heard Lun Guili's words, and asked tremblingly: "This...this, Mr. Hou, isn't this embarrassing the villain and the master? The leader of Lin Gang has already formed an alliance with Mr. Hou, why is Mr. Hou still there?"

Do you really need this batch of grain? We need to raise 80,000 taels of silver in three days. This... We have deposited the silver in various shops. Even if we count them one by one, we will definitely not be able to raise this much in three days?"

"What alliance, what agreement?" Lun Guili still looked down upon Zheng Jia and said: "The one who formed an alliance with you is this Lin Yasun. Who are you? I have never seen you. I think you are a low-class guy."

, what qualifications do you have to bargain with me? If your master can't raise these 80,000 taels of silver, I will ask you for these five ships and 10,000 shi of rice. What's wrong? Isn't it right?! I'm heading north this way.

, I don’t want to use swords or guns with you, I just want you to give me some money and food, why are you so distressed?! If you think I am wrong, I have a lot of cannons here, why don’t you try this butterfly first?

How does the gun taste?"

"Hou... Lord Hou..." Wu Ping saw that Zheng Jia was too frightened to speak in the face of Lun Guili's intimidation, so he had to boldly say: "According to the market price, this rice is only two taels of silver and one stone at most. This boat

No matter how big it is, two thousand taels of silver per ship can't be more. Even if the Marquis gets the grain and rice for these ships now and lets us redeem them, isn't the price too high?"

"What is the market price? You are a worthless man, how can you tell me the market price? Let me tell you, I spent a lot of money to buy these cannons! On my ship, you have 10,000 shi

The market price is 50,000 taels, and the market price of five boats is 30,000 taels, not a penny less! Say it again, these five boats are 10,000 shi meters, what is the market price?!" Lun Guili has always been arrogant, listening to Wu Ping

He actually talked back to him and immediately became angry. Everyone in the Zheng family also knew that Lunguili was not asking for money at all, but was eyeing the food and would not give up until he got it.

"But Lord Marquis, does that mean the peace agreement between my master and Gang Leader Lin doesn't count?" Wu Ping still refused to give in.

"What kind of peace treaty? I'll say it again, no one has signed any kind of peace treaty with me!" Lunguili did not relent, and turned to Lin Yasun and said: "As for you saying that you have an agreement with Gang Leader Lin, that is between you and Lin Yasun."

What does the gang leader's affairs have to do with me? Otherwise, gang leader Lin, tell him yourself whether there is a peace treaty between you and them? If so, can we still do anything about it now?"

Lin Yasun listened to Cai Qian's questioning and knew very well that this time Lun Guili went north to plunder, food was the top priority. Therefore, even if he had an appointment with Zheng Tianxuan, Lun Guili dismissed it.

When there was news that the grain ship was heading north, he immediately decided to start the robbery. This robbery was carried out by the Annan ship, the Fengwei Gang and three of his own gangs. Naturally, he had to consider dividing the spoils after the war. If he stuck to the agreement he made at that time

, then they are bound to suffer a loss when dividing the spoils. The Fengwei Gang and themselves are in the same ocean in Fujian. Although they have defected to Lunguili, there is a lot of competition on weekdays. If Fengwei takes the majority, life for their own fleet will be difficult in the future.

At that moment, he made an agreement in his mind and said to Lun Guili: "Master Marquis, you have traveled all over the world and have seen many people. Naturally, you should know that this so-called peace treaty is nothing more than a piece of comfort paper for those businessmen. This operation,

I swear to follow the Marquis to the death, and if there is any need for me, I am willing to be the vanguard, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Chapter completed!