Chapter 251: The Young Master of the Red Gang and Thirteen Lines
Chapter 251 The Young Leader of the Red Gang and Thirteen Lines
Speaking of which, the man called "Brother No. 1" by the pirates is Zheng Yi, the young leader of the Red Gang, one of the four "Dan Family Bandits" in the Pearl River Estuary, whose name is Zheng Wenxian.
After Kangxi regained Taiwan, some of the remnant soldiers of the Zheng family in Taiwan fled to the Pearl River Estuary and became pirates. Gradually, the Dan family thieves in the Pearl River Estuary evolved from the four surnames in the late Ming Dynasty to six gangs: red, yellow, blue, white, black and purple.
Zheng Yi's father, Zheng Lianchang, was the leader of the Red Gang. He was a man of mediocre talent and intelligence, but rarely caused trouble; but his son was a master unwilling to be ordinary. He had determined to be the most powerful pirate on the surface of the South China Sea since he was a child. At the age of fifteen,
After that, Zheng Yi, who had practiced his skills well, led a group of minions to rob small merchant ships that were alone in the Lingding Ocean, and gradually gained some "fame" in the waters outside the Pearl River Estuary.
When the two single-masted wooden boats approached the Thor, looking from a distance, they saw that the Thor was completely dark, and there was no light at all. When the two wooden boats reached the position of the bow anchor chain, Zheng Yi
Then he took a lantern from the cabin and came out. With the weak light, he saw that the thick anchor chain was dark. When he touched it, he found that it was cold to the touch.
"Iron!" Zheng Yi was shocked, what a guy! If you can afford such a long and thick iron chain, how rich you must be! You are really going to make a fortune today.
He waved fiercely at one of his men. A lean pirate carrying a bundle of hemp rope on his back and a short knife in his mouth climbed up along the anchor chain with his bare feet. Waiting until he climbed to the anchor hole
When it reached the position, the tilted hull could no longer be climbed; the pirate took out a flying tiger claw made of fine iron from his back waist, estimated the height of the ship's side, and threw it up with a "swish".
There was only a soft sound of "clang", and the flying tiger's claws had been firmly hooked on the edge of the ship's side. The man grabbed the rope on the flying tiger's claws, swung it hard a few times, then swung it out gently, and took advantage of the situation.
Climbed up.
After a while, two hemp ropes hung down from the side of the ship. The pirates were overjoyed when they saw it. Two people were left to watch the ship, and the others lined up to climb up the ropes.
Zheng Yi was the second one to board the boat. When he climbed over the railing and stepped on the deck with his bare feet, he couldn't help but be stunned. He touched it with his hand in disbelief, and found that the deck was actually made of iron!
He hurriedly leaned against the railing and reached out to touch the hull of the boat. Oh my god, Mazu! The hull of this boat is actually made of iron!
"How can iron make a ship? It can actually float on water. This is too weird! Can this be done by humans?!" At this time, Zheng Yi was really scared.
What to do? Just when Zheng Yi was hesitant, his men had already climbed up quickly, squatting on the deck with weapons in hand, looking around.
At the bow of the Thor, the tall mast is surrounded by two anchor windlass surrounded by railings and a cable car wrapped with thick cables; these cables are used when docking; in addition to the bow, there is also a stern.
The pirates looked at these big black guys in front of them and felt fear in their hearts. Could these be monsters? Several of them had lost the courage to stand up.
A brave guy reached out his hand, touched it, and whispered: "It's an iron block."
Iron, iron is everywhere! Zheng Yixin said, is there anything on this that is not made of iron?
"Brother Yi, what should we do next?" a subordinate called Xiao Qi came over and asked.
Zheng Yi bit his back molars and took your mother's piece in his mouth! Fight for it!
Thinking of this, he turned around and whispered to the men who were approaching him: "Find the cabin door, rush down and kill him first! You can't stop until I tell you to stop!"
The pirates all nodded regardless of whether Zheng Yi could see it or not. Then they stood up one after another and walked forward in the dark with the help of the faint moonlight on the sea. Unexpectedly, just after walking more than ten steps, the sky suddenly brightened above their heads.
Everyone looked up and saw that the top of a tall white mast was emitting an extremely dazzling light, which dazzled the pirates and could not open their eyes.
"Mother!" A group of pirates, including Zheng Yi, immediately screamed and fell down on the deck, scared to death. These people were so frightened that their limbs were stiff and could no longer move. Including that one
Including the guy named Xiaoqi, the crotches of several pirates were already wet, and the liquid flowing out was flowing on the deck.
Immediately afterwards, the lights on the deck and on the poop more than a hundred meters away were bright, illuminating the surroundings of the Thor as if it were daytime. Under the dazzling light, seven or eight figures suddenly flashed out from behind several windlasses and cable cars.
More than thirty people lying in the middle of the deck also got up and ran over, holding guns and surrounding the pirates.
Zheng Yihe and the other pirates were horrified. They looked around and saw that these people were all wearing colorful shorts and trousers, short boots, a semicircular green helmet on their head, and holding a pole in their hands.
A strange musket, and the short spear at the head of the gun was illuminated by the silver light from the overhead light.
"Be honest! Put down your weapons! Put your head in your hands!"
On the sea, two pirates who were waiting on a wooden boat saw a sudden bright light above their heads, illuminating every detail in their surroundings. They were also frightened out of their wits, and their upper teeth started to chatter. They heard someone above them shout: "Those two on the boat.
, I’ll shoot you to death if you dare!”
The two pirates didn't dare to raise their heads. They knelt down on the deck and cried out: "Don't move, don't move."
At this time, Liu Sheng separated from the crowd and stood more than ten steps away from Zheng Yi and his group. He laughed and cursed: "Fuck your mother! What a group of people who don't know how to live or die. Tie them all up! Shoot anyone who dares to escape and resist."
kill!"
"Yes!" Seven or eight soldiers came up with plastic bundles and began to tie the group one by one. When it was Zheng Yi's turn, he only felt a tightening on his feet. Except for the fact that his ankles were already tied tightly,
, unable to break free at all; then his hands were pushed behind his back, and no matter how tight his wrists were, he could not move.
Zheng Yiyi fell on the deck and shouted: "Are you humans or ghosts?!"
Liu Sheng laughed and teased in Cantonese from another time and space: "Who do you think I am?"
Only then did Zheng Yi realize that he had fallen into a trap and was outmaneuvered. He couldn't help but cursed: "What kind of hero are you! If you can, let me go and let's fight again!"
"Do you think I'm as stupid as you?" Liu Sheng mocked in Mandarin, and then said to his soldiers: "Take them all into the forepeak cabin!" (The forepeak cabin, a cabin under the windlasses, is generally used as a warehouse.
.)
The Thor's bow cabin is divided into two compartments, inside and outside. Some tools are placed in the innermost compartment. The hatch has been locked at this time; while the outer compartment has been emptied in advance. In order to prevent these water thieves from jumping into the water and escaping, the Thor
The sailors on the ship took ropes and tied these people up first, then strung them into a string with ropes, and finally wrapped these people around a pillar in the cabin. The pirates were skin to skin at this time, and they were extremely intimate.
At the same time, several soldiers had descended to the two single-masted wooden boats through ropes and controlled the last two pirates. The two guys were the worst. After being tied up by Wuhuada, they were tied up with ropes that fell from the boats.
Diandian was lifted up.
After everything was done, everyone on the Thor came over to watch the fun, including Wang Ping. Facing Zheng Yi who kept yelling and scolding, Wang Ping pointed at him and cursed: "Thousand-knife thing!"
When we get to the shore, I will send you to the Navy Yamen, no one will survive this autumn!"
Zheng Yi glanced sideways at the other party and sneered silently.
Everyone watched for a while and saw that these people were just begging for mercy or swearing in a language they did not understand. In the end, they lost interest and returned to the cabin to rest. In the end, only one squad of soldiers was left to guard them.
Early the next morning, before the Thor was about to weigh anchor, Liu Sheng took people over to take a look again. He saw more than twenty pirates listless from thirst, and they were all standing drowsily, flesh against each other. Liu Sheng ordered
They splashed sea water on them to wake them up.
When Zheng Yi and his cousin Zheng Qi woke up, they didn't know what had happened. They heard a loud bang above their heads, and they were shocked and dizzy. After a while, Zheng Yi felt the hull of the ship move slightly.
I couldn't help but stare outside with my eyes wide open. This boat can actually drive!
At 11 o'clock in the morning, the Thor stopped in the ocean five miles southeast of Wailingding Island. As several whistles sounded, a three-masted fortune ship sailed out from the east of Wailingding Island. The mainmast docked
On the upper part, an apricot-yellow flag with flame red edges flutters slowly.
Dozens of people on the Fortune ship looked at the Thor not far away, and they were all dumbfounded, especially the few guys dressed in silk who came out of the cabin.
"This, this is the big ship of the rebels from the north?! Oh my god! Who are these people!" On the deck, a middle-aged man who looked like a wealthy businessman murmured to himself. After speaking, he urged the sailors on the ship.
: "Quick, get closer!"
When the Fu ship was only two hundred meters away from the anchored Thor, the crew on the deck began to operate the equipment to lower the gangway. The people on the Fu ship were far more knowledgeable than Zheng Yi and the pirates. The middle-aged businessman listened to the opposite
The rumbling sound came from the boat's motor, and as I watched one end of the gangway gradually approach the water, the expression on my face became extremely exciting.
"This is a Western machine!"
"Master, let's get on the firewood boat and go there." The servant behind the middle-aged man said quickly.
After a while, a firewood boat rowed out from behind the blessing boat. A middle-aged wealthy businessman and several of his men sat on the boat. The wealthy businessman looked at the big boat in front of him intently, and he couldn't help but urge the boatmen: "Hurry up.
Row quickly!"
Heshen's domestic slave Wang Ping was already waiting on the deck, while Liu Zheng standing aside was a little nervous and his palms were sweaty.
When the middle-aged wealthy businessman came up from the gangway, Wang Ping stepped forward with a smile and said, "Mr. Cai, we haven't seen each other for several years!"
The wealthy businessman surnamed Cai withdrew his wandering eyes, stepped forward, flicked his sleeves, gave Wang Ping a slap in the face, bowed and said: "Cai Shiwen of Wanhe Bank, please give your regards to Mr. Wang."
Wang Ping chuckled, stepped forward to help him up and said, "Mr. Cai is too polite! Wang really doesn't dare to accept it. This time, the Lord of the Central Hall sent Wang here to bother me!"
Cai Shiwen was all smiles and even said he didn't dare.
Wang Ping brought Cai Shiwen to Liu Zheng and introduced him: "Mr. Cai, this is it! The trade representative of the Great Ainu Kingdom, Mr. Liu Zheng Liu."
Wang Pingxin said that this group of rebels had such a weird name, who could remember it? I had recited it dozens of times and almost got it wrong!
Liu Zheng raised his hand to Cai Shiwen and said loudly: "My Excellency, Liu Zheng, is currently the trade representative of the Great Ainu Kingdom in Guangzhou. I've heard about Boss Cai's name for a long time, San, I'm glad to meet you!" He was still nervous and almost said "Sansheng"
"Fortunately" all came out bald.
Cai Shiwen smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Liu's official words are really good! I'm so glad to meet you!" Cai Shiwen thought to himself, do you think I'm a fool? I know everything about the situation in the north! Those big bullshit Ainu are just a bunch of thugs.
Rebels under the banner of Qian Ming!
This Cai Shiwen was a merchant responsible for Western trade under the Guangdong Customs of the Qing Dynasty. His English name was Munqun, which means "Cai Wenguan".
Agents like Cai Shiwen, who are agents of foreign trade, have actually existed since the Ming Dynasty. Qu Dajun, a Guangzhou poet in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, once wrote, "Officials and merchants fight for foreign ships, and the cross gate opens to the ocean; five silks and eight silks can be found in Guangdong."
The satin is good, and there are thirteen rows of money piled up."
The so-called "Thirteen Banks" is just a name, and in fact there are more than thirteen. Since Qianlong's reign, the highest number was 26 (the 22nd year of Qianlong's reign), while the lowest was only 4 (the 40th year of Qianlong's reign).
Six years). As of now, there are a total of 20 "Thirteen Banks" in Guangzhou City. The general manager of the Prime Minister's foreign trade business is the Pan family of Tongwen Bank. As for the most famous Yihe Bank in later generations, it ranks sixth.
The Cai Shiwen in front of Liu Zheng has a business called Wanhe Bank, which ranks second among the various business firms.
The most bizarre thing about the Manchu and Qing dynasties is that the Guangdong Customs did not deal directly with foreigners. All orders to foreign merchants coming to Guangzhou were conveyed by the thirteen merchants. The original intention of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties was to use merchants to directly manage foreign merchants and directly handle foreign merchants in case of trouble.
Extorted money from thirteen merchants and used it to control foreign businessmen.
It is said that this method has been implemented well since the 23rd year of Kangxi, until the rise of large-scale opium trade.
On the compass deck, Liu Sheng and Ding Guofeng used binoculars to look at Cai Shiwen below, while listening to Zhao Xin's explanation of the thirteen lines. Only Zhao Xin's final words were heard: "The water is too deep here, let's make it clear.
If I say it, I won’t be able to finish it in three days and three nights.”
Liu Sheng put down the telescope and asked: "Then what do you think is going on below?"
"He is Heshen's lackey in Guangdong. In fact, Guangzhou Customs has another name, Tianzi Nanku. These people actually work for the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Liu Shengdao: "That counts as a professional manager?"
"No." Zhao Xin shook his head and continued: "They are arrogant and extravagant when they are good, but when they are unlucky, they confiscate their homes and send them into exile. They are just the emperor's servants, and they will do whatever they say."
At this time, on the deck, Liu Zheng's guard platoon was ready to go, and the two communicators were also on standby carrying backpacks containing radio equipment. The guards were all wearing all-terrain camouflage training uniforms and wearing Bonny hats on their heads.
In the large backpack on his back, in addition to personal items, there were bags of gunpowder bullets. There was a black holster on his back, which contained a "Type 84" revolver produced in Beihai Town.
Next to them, there were a dozen one-meter-square boxes on wooden shelves, all wrapped in a layer of canvas, making it impossible to tell what was inside.
Cai Shiwen looked at the thirty-two people in front of him and was secretly shocked. In his eyes, the unsmiling soldiers in the guard platoon were seen as having a murderous look on their faces, which made people frightened. He hesitantly pointed to the boxes on the deck and said: "This
, these are all required to be brought on board?”
Liu Zheng nodded and said: "This is already the minimum supply."
Cai Shiwen's butler said: "Mr. Liu, how long will it take for you to transport so many things with our firewood boat?"
"Don't be rude! Don't back down!" Cai Shiwen glared and scolded him sternly. He Shen's master had sent him a letter in May, which emphatically stated that he must not neglect this group of people. Once something goes wrong,
After all, Cai Shiwen is the only one who can ask.
Liu Zheng smiled and said: "Boss Cai, don't worry, you can bring the ship over and we will use the ship's crane to send the supplies down."
"Crane?" Cai Shiwen's eyes lit up and he hurriedly said: "Mr. Liu, to be honest, Cai has been doing business for many years and has seen many ships of all kinds traveling from south to north. But your big ship is really rare in the world.
Can you take Cai to see it?"
Liu Zheng smiled slightly, raised his hand and said: "Please."
After a visit on the deck, they learned that the entire Thor was made of steel. Cai Shiwen and his men were extremely surprised. They opened their mouths and wished they could stuff ten eggs. He kept asking Liu Zheng how iron can float on water.
Liu Zheng explained to him the relationship between buoyancy, density and gravitational acceleration. Cai Shiwen was amazed and nodded; in fact, he didn't understand a word.
After that, while the fortune ship was approaching and the crane was moving the cargo, Liu Zheng took Cai Shiwen to visit the first and second floors of the poop. As for the third and fourth floors, you were absolutely not allowed to go. However, Cai Shiwen was shocked by the first and second floors.
It was no good, especially when I saw the huge porthole windows in the restaurant on the second floor, my eyes almost popped out! And Cai Shiwen's housekeeper wanted to take a carving knife and cut out all the large glass.
Seeing Cai Shiwen yelling every time he didn't move, or gasping and speechless, Wang Ping, the servant of the Hefu, showed a look of contempt on his face from time to time, thinking to himself that they are really a bunch of ignorant bumpkins!
At this time, Wang Ping seemed to have forgotten that when he first boarded the Thor, he was so frightened that he peed his pants on the spot.
The reason why the Thirteenth Bank had a special status throughout the history of the Qing Dynasty was that, in addition to representing Guangdong Customs in collecting customs duties from ships trading in China, as the "diplomatic department" of the Qing court, it also shouldered external economic functions. First of all, it was jointly determined by the merchants.
The price of imported and exported goods; the second is to collect tariffs on behalf of the customs. In the early days when foreign merchant ships came to Guangzhou for trade, in addition to paying ship notes and goods taxes, there were also thirty kinds of "ceremony silver" with various names. As for exports, it was even more outrageous.
There were as many as thirty-eight kinds of fees, which caused a lot of headaches for merchants coming to China. At first, these customary silver were collected privately by officials, servants, etc., and later they were paid by insurance merchants. All foreign merchant ships came to Guangzhou for trade.
, first select one person from the thirteen lines as the "Guarantee". The Guarantee is responsible for all affairs of the foreign businessman, including goods sales and acquisitions, accommodation arrangements, life and property safety, conveying government orders, and collecting import and export duties and other fees.