The imperial court and the Hong family had ordered several warships before, and the guide often came over to check on the progress.
The two parties cannot be said to be familiar with each other, but at least they know each other.
"Our Hong family has already delivered the warships ordered by your navy. Why are you still looking for me?"
Hong Taoping's tone was a little angry.
The pirates almost robbed the Hong family of all their wealth. In order to pay off the debt, Hong Taoping sold both his ancestral home and his ancestral fields.
Now I can only live in the house of my former servant.
Even so, there are still several accounts that have not been paid off.
These people came to him to ask for debts, and Hong Taoping accepted them.
However, the warships ordered by the navy had been delivered long ago, and it was the governor who paid for them. Even if they were not delivered, it would not be the navy's turn to ask for them.
"Master Hong, don't get me wrong, Mr. Jin wants to ask you to build a boat." The guide explained quickly.
"Mr. Jin?"
Hong Taoping subconsciously looked at Jin Feng, who was being guarded by his bodyguard, with a confused look on his face.
The Hong family was once a well-known local wealthy family, and they were familiar with the surrounding wealthy families.
But Hong Taoping had never met Jin Feng.
Seeing this, the guide quickly introduced: "Mr. Jin is from Xichuan. Has Master Hong heard about the Battle of Qingshui Valley and the Battle of Xichuan City?"
After saying this, Hong Taoping became even more puzzled.
Dakang's communications were backward. Hong Taoping was a shipbuilder and had never heard of the war in the northwest.
"Master Hong, have you always heard of Shui Yuzhu?" the guide asked again.
Hong Taoping finally nodded.
Dakang's salt factories are basically concentrated in the East China Sea. Salt merchants who come to the East China Sea must pass through Jiangnan.
Hong Taoping actually heard the salt merchant who was collecting debts talk about water jade beads.
"Shui Yuzhu belongs to the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce, and the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce belongs to Mr. Jin," the guide said.
"Is Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce yours?"
Hong Taoping looked at Jin Feng with a shocked expression.
Some time ago, the Ninth Princess spread the news to the salt merchants that they could purchase goods from the Xihewan Salt Factory, causing an uproar among the salt merchants.
Xihewan Salt Factory has become a hot topic among salt merchants.
When discussing Xihewan Salt Factory, one cannot avoid the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce behind the salt factory.
But after beating Hong Taoping to death, he never imagined that the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce, which made the salt merchants extremely wary, actually belonged to the young man in front of him.
It is true that Jin Feng is too young and looks much smaller than him.
If he hadn't known the guide before, Hong Taoping would have thought they were a group of liars.
"Master Hong, why did I lie to you? The Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce belongs to Mr. Jin!"
The guide pointed at Tang Xiaobei and said, "This is Mrs. Xiaobei, the big shopkeeper of the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce."
"I've met Mr. Hong!"
Tang Xiaobei bowed slightly.
"I've met Madam, I've met Mr. Jin!"
After all, Hong Taoping had been educated by a big family, so he suppressed his shock and bowed to return the gift to Tang Xiaobei.
He also took the opportunity to salute Jin Feng.
At this point he already believed the guide's words.
Because the salt merchants said that the chief shopkeeper of the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce is a young and beautiful woman.
Tang Xiaobei fits the bill perfectly.
The most important thing is that the Hong family is now in decline and is heavily in debt. They don't even have a place to stay. All the families they had good relationships with in the past are avoiding it. There is no capital worth others' efforts to defraud.
"Sir, are you really here to build a ship with me?" Hong Taoping looked at Jin Feng.
"Of course." Jin Feng nodded: "General Zheng of the Navy said that the young master's shipbuilding skills are as good as those of your father. Knowing that I was looking for a shipbuilder, he was the first to recommend the young master."
"My dock has been destroyed..." Hong Taoping said with a bitter look on his face.
"If you agree to help me build ships, I can build another shipyard." Jin Feng said.
There is no lifting equipment in Dakang, so shipbuilding is done in shipyards, and components are basically carried and assembled by workers.
Not only did it require a large number of workers, shipbuilding was also extremely slow.
Jin Feng really doesn't like this kind of shipyard.
If he wants to build sea-going ships, he will definitely need to build another dock.
"Building a shipyard can cost a lot of money," Hong Taoping reminded.
"Young master, don't worry about money," Jin Feng said, "I just want to ask you, are you willing to help me build a ship?"
"Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Hong. I am very grateful, but..."
Hong Taoping hesitated for a moment and said: "To be honest, our Hong family accepted deposits from many merchants and promised to help build ships, but then pirates came, the shipyard was gone, and our home was robbed... I was afraid of being involved.
gentlemen."
"Why, you helped me build the boat, and they still dare to come and steal it?"
Jin Feng asked with a frown.
"This, it's really hard to say." Hong Taoping said: "The backstage behind them is very tough..."
When Jin Feng heard this, his brows could not help but frown slightly.
Before coming, he was most worried about whether Hong Taoping would be willing to help him build ships, and whether Hong Taoping's shipbuilding skills were as good as Zheng Chiyuan said.
Now it seems that the Hong family's situation is much more complicated than I imagined.
Hong Taoping's worries are not unreasonable.
Those wealthy businessmen do have a background behind them.
As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot overwhelm a local snake, but Jin Feng is not yet arrogant enough to think that he can dominate Dakang.
He was able to enjoy a good life in Sichuan and Shu because Sichuan and Shu were the territory of the Qing family and he was on good terms with the Qing family.
Here in Donghai, he has no foundation at all. If people want to control him, there are many ways.
If Jin Feng stays in Donghai all the time, he won't be afraid.
But he can't stay here forever.
Whether we can take over this mess of the Hong family is indeed a question.
The old man had been standing nearby listening to the two people talking. When he found out what Hong Taoping said, he clapped his legs anxiously.
He could tell that Jin Feng was no ordinary person. If Hong Taoping hugged this thigh, maybe the Hong family would be able to turn over.
Who knew that Hong Taoping was so honest and would say everything to others?
Doesn’t this push people out?
Thinking of this, the old man turned and ran back to the back room and took out the ship model made by Hong Taoping.
"Sir, my young master is really good at building ships. He was even ashamed of himself when he was alive."
The old man held the ship model in front of Jin Feng: "Sir, look, this is what my young master made."
Jin Feng looked down at the ship model and narrowed his eyes slightly.
The ship model made by Hong Taoping is completely different from the currently popular cargo ships in Dakang, but it is somewhat similar in appearance to the Galen ship.
This aroused Jin Feng's interest and asked, "Can I take a look?"
"Sir, it's funny." Hong Taoping nodded, his expression a little shy.
This made Jin Feng want to laugh a little.
Solid eyes, shy, not good at socializing...a typical science and engineering man.
Jin Feng took the ship model and looked at it carefully.
But it was already very dark at this time and it was impossible to see clearly.
"It's cold outside and dark. Please come inside and take a look."
The old man ran back, took out the lamp oil that he was usually reluctant to use, and lit the oil lamp.
"Da Liu, let Da Zhuang arrange for the brothers to camp."
Jin Feng turned around and explained, then carried the ship model into the house.
"Mr. Hong, this ship is different from the ships we usually see. How did you think of doing this?" Jin Feng asked.
"The year before last, I saw a group of golden-haired devils at sea. Their boats were completely different from our Dakang boats. They put the big boats in the cabins to make them more stable at sea. I thought this was a good idea, so I made one.
"
Hong Taoping said: "It's just that I didn't get on the boat, and I don't know what it's like inside. I made this by guessing myself, and I don't know if it's right?"