"Building a shipyard requires too much money. The Hong family was robbed by pirates and all their property was emptied. Where can we still afford to build it?"
The guide sighed: "I heard that before the Hong family was robbed, there were still several large ships that had not been delivered. There was a big fuss last year. I don't know what's going on now?"
"It seems that the Hong family is having a hard time."
Jin Feng frowned slightly.
The Hong family's situation is more complicated than he imagined.
But I'm already here, and I'll have to see Hong Taoping no matter what.
The guide was very familiar with Yuxi Town, so he took Jin Feng and the others straight to the Hong family's old house without asking.
A skinny camel is bigger than a horse. After all, the Hong family was once a wealthy family. Although it has declined, the former glory of the Hong family can still be seen in the huge old house.
But when the guide led Jin Feng and others to the gate, they found that the plaque on the door read "Zhao Mansion".
Jin Feng and Tang Xiaobei both looked at the guide in confusion.
The guide himself was confused: "This is the Hong family. Why is there a plaque bearing the name of the Zhao family? Mr. Jin, please wait a moment. I'll go ask."
The porter was frightened when he saw Jin Feng coming with a large number of people. When he saw the guide coming, he quickly stepped forward and saluted and asked, "Master, what are your orders?"
The guide was a squad leader in the Navy. He was polite to Jin Feng because he saw with his own eyes the combat effectiveness of the escort.
Hundreds of escorts forcefully forced the number of enemies, more than twice our own, off the cliff. The scene was really shocking.
The guide will never forget it in his life.
Moreover, Jin Feng and Navy are currently in the honeymoon period.
The heavy crossbows and catapults promised to Zheng Chiyuan before the war have now been partially removed from the Chamber of Commerce cargo ship and directly installed on the navy warship.
The rest will also be delivered in the coming period.
Zheng Chiyuan also ordered a lot of flash bombs and grenades.
The heavy crossbows manufactured by Jin Feng are several levels more advanced than the traditional heavy crossbows previously equipped by the navy. After the navy was equipped with them, the overall combat effectiveness has been greatly improved.
This made Zheng Chiyuan think more highly of Jin Feng and become more polite.
Zheng Chiyuan was like this, how could his squad leader dare to show off in front of Jin Feng?
He was obedient along the way and answered Jin Feng's questions carefully.
But in front of ordinary people, the guide immediately straightened his back, pointed at the Zhao Mansion plaque and asked: "How did the Hong family's old house become the Zhao Mansion?"
"Master Jun, my master ordered a boat from the Hong family. The Hong family received a deposit, but they couldn't hand over the boat and couldn't get the money back, so they mortgaged the old house to my master..."
The concierge thought that the guide brought so many people here to stand up for the Hong family, and explained fearfully: "My master did not force Young Master Hong. It was Mr. Hong who gave the house to my master himself. If the official doesn't believe it, just go and inquire."
"
"Where has the young master of the Hong family gone?" the guide asked with a frown.
"I heard that I followed the old servant to the countryside..." the concierge replied in a low voice.
"Where in the country?"
"Three miles to the north from the dock, there is a Linhai Village. I heard that Master Hong went there."
The porter said: "If the military master doesn't know the way, I can show him the way."
"No, I know Linhai Village."
The guide waved his hand, looked up at the Hong family's old house, and turned the horse's head.
After hearing the guide's explanation, Jin Feng also sighed.
"Sir, it's almost dark. Linhai Village is a small village. It doesn't even have an inn. Should we stay here in Yuxi Town for one night and go back tomorrow?" the guide asked.
"No need, let's go find Hong Taoping first." Jin Feng shook his head.
It’s a long journey from the East China Sea back to Xichuan, so it’s impossible to encounter an inn every day.
The escorts carry luggage on their horses and can set up camp on the spot at any time.
Now that the situation in Xichuan was unknown, Jin Feng couldn't wait to fly back and went to see Hong Taoping in the evening. If it worked or not, he could continue setting off tomorrow. Staying one night would mean delaying another day.
"Okay then, this way sir."
Seeing Jin Feng's insistence, the guide quickly continued leading the way.
When it was getting dark, the cavalry team finally arrived at the small village called Linhai Village.
Linhai Village is a fishing village with only a dozen households. The sea is a few hundred meters east of the village.
There is a small pier made of wooden frames on the seaside. Five or six small fishing boats are tied to the wooden frames and rise and fall with the sea water.
An old fisherman came over carrying a fishing net. When he saw the horse team, he hurried to the side of the road.
"Old man, do you know where Master Hong is?"
The guide stopped his horse, leaned over and asked.
"Are you looking for Master Hong?"
When the old fisherman heard this, his expression immediately changed. He carried the fishing net and knelt down to the guide: "Fellow military lords, Master Hong really has no money. He even gave up his old house to the Zhao family. Can you let him go?"
"Old man, don't be afraid, we are not here to collect money from Mr. Hong."
Jin Feng said: "I wanted to ask Master Hong to help me build a boat. When I arrived at Yuxi Town, I found out that Master Hong was here."
"Please ask the young master to build a boat?" The old fisherman looked at the team behind Jin Feng with suspicion.
Although the escorts did not wear black armor, they were still dressed in smart attire, and they looked like soldiers at first glance.
Who would hire a man-made ship and put up such a big fight?
Jin Feng guessed what the old fisherman was thinking when he looked at his expression, and said with a smile: "Old man, I heard that pirates are rampant recently. I thought I would come to the beach to kill pirates, so I brought more people with me. Don't be afraid!"
"Really?" The old fisherman still didn't believe it.
"Old man, to put it bluntly, if we really come to trouble Master Hong, do we still need to ask you for directions?"
Jin Feng said: "There are only about ten households in this village. It won't be a big deal if we surround each house and search them. Are you right?"
Although Jin Feng's words don't sound good, they are true.
Only then did the old fishermen believe that Jin Feng and the others really came to Hong Taoping to build a boat.
"Master Hong lives in Chen Laowu's house, which is the third house in the village with a millstone at the door."
"Thank you, husband!"
Jin Feng cupped his hands towards the old fisherman and motioned for the guide to enter the village.
There is indeed a millstone at the door of the third house at the entrance of the village.
Two children aged five or six were playing next to the millstone. When they saw the horse team approaching, they turned around and ran into the house.
"Grandpa, grandpa, it's not good, someone comes to ask the young master for a debt again!"
The child ran and shouted: "There are many people here, and they are all riding horses and carrying knives!"
In the yard, an old man was arranging fishing nets.
It was getting dark, and he couldn't see clearly. The fishing net was almost up to the tip of his nose.
Hearing the child's call, the old man jumped up, threw away the fishing net and rushed into the back room: "Master, I'm afraid the officers and soldiers are coming to arrest you. Run away from the back door!"
In the room, a young man in his twenties put down the ship model in his hand and sighed: "Uncle Chen, what will you and your family do if I run away?"
"They are here to find the young master. If the young master is not here, they will definitely leave."
The old man said and went to pull the young man.
"Uncle Chen, do you believe this?"
Hong Taoping broke away from the old man's pull and asked with a wry smile.
When the old man heard this, his face fell.
"I've been having trouble with Uncle Chen recently."
Hong Taoping bowed to the old man, turned around and walked out of the house, just in time to see the guide coming in with Jin Feng, Tang Xiaobei and others.
"It's you?"
Hong Taoping was stunned for a moment when he saw the guide.