Chapter 264 Are you willing to die for the Pu familys great cause?
Chapter 264 Are you willing to die for the Pu family’s great cause?
The changes in the Huguang rebellion have not yet spread to Shandong, but the changes in Qi Yuanda and Linqing Chaoguan Jiang Guanqing have been noticed by many people in Linqing City.
The emperor focused on people from all walks of life who used ships to bring goods to avoid taxes.
In a city like Linqing that thrives on water transportation, the wharf is one of the core areas.
Regarding water transportation, in addition to various trading houses, there are also more gangs that sell coolies and bully and dominate the market.
"Brother, what does Qu Jia Chang mean?"
Looking at the ingot of silver in front of me, I realized that this small gang making a living at the Nanbanzha Pier in Linqing City didn't even have an official gang name. It only had a small reputation as Nanbanqi.
Nanban Qi's family owns three boats, and about fifty people make a living by Qi Fuguang's side.
Firstly, Qi Fuguang was from the same family as Qi Yuanda, and secondly, he knew how to do things and get things done, so he was able to steadily take over a lot of work under the Shandong General Manager of the Cao Army.
Normally, when he goes out on people or ships, he always interacts with Captain Qu Jia, who is nominally in charge of five canal ships and fifty canal soldiers. There are things like calling brothers and sisters, drinking and having fun, but it is all Qi Fuguang's money. I have never seen him.
Chief Qu Jia gave him silver, which was twenty taels per ingot.
No wonder Qi Fuguang's "Second Boss" felt frightened.
"...Didn't he say that? This is Qi Dutai's reward for our brothers seeing that we have done things well over the years. It was not easy for everyone in the past..."
The second boss looked constipated.
When did Qi Dutai become such a good person?
Isn’t it because His Majesty has arrived in Linqing...
This money is hot to the touch.
"Isn't it because there is no work to do in the future, so Commander Qu Jia will give us money to stop our mouths?"
"What's going on? Won't there be a shipment of new grains from Shandong to the south in a while? We still have our work to do this time..." Qi Fuguang was also very worried. After looking at the ingot of silver for a while, he said, "Put it away first and wait.
After this storm has passed, it still has to be sent back."
How can Qi Yuanda’s money be so easy to get?
After much deliberation, it was simply that there was something going on at the moment that forced Caojun Shandong to settle some matters with money.
There is so much free money, who is willing to give it away?
The Nan Banqi family is just a minor player in Linqing City, and the big players know more about the situation.
"This is settling old scores."
In the flower hall of a wealthy family's house west of Wei River, several wealthy businessmen gathered together.
"Everyone, I don't know what's going on with you. But if the Cao Army can't be used anymore, I will pay an extra two thousand taels of silver to Fu Ji Muxing every year."
"So what, Shandong is going to try out a new law. Can you and I, the Fujian Chamber of Commerce, be able to fight against the imperial court in Shandong?"
These wealthy businessmen were all originally from Fujian, and came to Linqing City via the canal to serve as shopkeepers or directors of their respective firms. The person who said these words was none other than shopkeeper Wu.
One sentence made several wealthy businessmen in the flower hall look ugly.
Having been tacitly agreed to for many years, transporting cargo via canal ships was beneficial to them, the Cao army, and the imperial court.
Now this change will only benefit the imperial court more.
"Qidutai recognized it." Someone sighed, "Zhang Fujing is in Shandong, so cruel."
"Your Majesty is stationed at the Confucian Temple. The Linqing gentry was originally quite complaining, but this year they have to rush to the provincial examination Enke."
Shopkeeper Wu looked at the few people who were talking to each other, but he remained silent.
"Old Wu, the Wu family is in the spice business. If we don't use the water boats, we will suffer the greatest loss. Do you agree?"
Shopkeeper Wu was silent for a moment and then said: "Zhao'an is at the border of Fujian and Guangdong. Our Wu family also has some goods that are on Huangmingji's line. I don't know about the others. If Shandong is like Guangdong, the money in the future will definitely be less than before.
It’s good money. But if you don’t recognize it, what can you do?”
One person suddenly said: "I heard that the coastal defense divisions of Zhejiang and Guangdong have merged with the sea off Fujian and are attacking the west coast of Taiyuan Island."
All three people nodded.
If that island is captured, the Navy is stationed in Penghu, and the Penghu Inspection Department is restored, then if you want to take risks and send ships out to sea in the future, will you have to bypass Taiyuan Island and go to Nanyang or Ryukyu through the deep ocean?
"No way to survive." Privately, someone finally vented their grievances, "I have to prepare my own ships and personnel, pay taxes at many checkpoints, and manage everything along the way. Can this business continue in the future?"
Although they still make money, if they make less money, it will cost them their lives.
"What? Brother Zhou wants to rebel?" Shopkeeper Wu suddenly said this.
The man suddenly had a sly expression on his face: "Shopkeeper Wu is joking."
"In that case, our gathering today is just for grumbling. Wu will take his leave."
After finding out the mentality of these people, shopkeeper Wu really bowed and left.
After the remaining people looked at each other for a few times, they all lowered their heads.
They are all businessmen from Fujian, and they still know a thing or two about the secrets of the Wu family in Zhao'an.
Pu Zitong, who is currently rebelling in Huguang, was born in the Pu family in Guangzhou.
During the Song Dynasty, one branch of the Pu family from Guangzhou moved to Quanzhou, Fujian.
With the convenience of that time, the Quanzhou Pu family made the spice business huge and became extremely wealthy.
A hundred years later, when the Zhao and Song dynasties were already in name only, Wen Tianxiang and Zhang Shijie supported the young emperor and fled to Quanzhou, where they mobilized the Pu family's fleet in the name of the imperial court.
The head of the Pu family was awarded the title of envoy to Fujian and Guangdong, as well as the chief merchant ship, and commanded the coastal defense. He was highly trusted. However, in the end, the Pu family abandoned the Song Dynasty and surrendered to the Yuan Dynasty. Wen Tianxiang and others had no choice but to continue to flee south with the young emperor. Zhao Song finally died in
Yashan, Guangdong, lost its country.
However, the Pu family enjoyed many years of wealth and status, and their official positions became more and more powerful. They were called the emperors of Quanzhou and even Fujian and Guangdong, and they even monopolized many trades in the southeastern ocean at that time.
Until Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming Dynasty.
For the Pu family in Quanzhou, Zhu Yuanzhang issued a special edict. The entire Pu family in Quanzhou was classified as a lowly status, and he even ordered Pu Shougeng, who was demoted to Yuan Dynasty, to "dig the grave and whip the corpse."
After that, the Pu family in Quanzhou changed their surnames one after another and kept their names anonymous. The family has been a big family for more than two hundred years, and its roots are complicated. After all, many descendants of the Pu family had interests in dealings with local officials, gentry, and wealthy families, and they were eventually preserved.
After another hundred and fifty years, the descendants of the Pu family in Quanzhou accumulated again, and the Wu family in Zhao'an is said to be one of them.
After more than a hundred years of accumulation, an unknown descendant of the Pu family in Guangzhou eventually became a military household, and the current rebel leader Pu Zitong was born.
It's hard to say whether this Pu family has another kind of hatred towards Zhu Ming.
At today's gathering, these people actually wanted to test whether the Wu family in Zhao'an had any ideas.
There was still rebellion there, and the emperor was "treacherous" again. Five years before Jiajing, he tried a new law in Shandong. How many people were involved in the benefits of the canal, someone had to take the lead in protesting.
Shopkeeper Wu returned to his house, but his expression was ugly.
Qi Yuanda was unexpectedly forced by the emperor to spend his own money to appease the Caoding watermen and many people who were struggling to make a living on the Linqing wharf. The Linqing gangs who were the first to persuade him had no chance to take advantage of the opportunity to ask for some arrears of wages.
The little emperor's power to intimidate Ming officials had reached this level.
The interest circles in Linqing City that used to be like a network of copper wires and iron wires became like melting snow after meeting the emperor.
Linqing Chaoguan was inspecting many merchant ships and tankers that were temporarily suspended in Linqing due to the emperor's southern tour, and the Caojun Shandong general also behaved like a chicken and accepted the inspection and punishment.
There are so many wealthy families and business houses that are obviously full of resentment, but they dare not express it in words.
After being silent for a while, Shopkeeper Wu called over the two of them.
"Although General Pu is just a distant descendant of the Pu family from Guangzhou who moved to Shaozhou, the imperial court must be investigating now that something has happened. Even if I Zhao'an Wu family and the Pu family in Guangzhou have not had anything to do with each other for more than a hundred years, I am afraid that they will be destroyed soon.
"
"Uncle, tell me what to do."
Shopkeeper Wu's eyes became intense: "Everyone knows how cruel the Emperor is. Even Yan Shenggong's Mansion can handle it, so I'm going to order the Wu family to be safe. Now that General Pu is in Huguang, Fengtian is seeking rebellion, I'm going to order him to be safe."
If the Wu family can help us, we will be successful one day, and our descendants will all take back our ancestral surname, and the Pu family will once again be famous all over the world!"
After saying that, he stared at his two nephews: "Are you willing to die for the great cause of the Pu family?"
…
Zhu Houcong had stayed in Linqing for the seventh day. He did not leave the Confucian Temple and looked around in Linqing City.
It's a bit regretful to say that, after all, I have stayed in the Forbidden City for so long and it is rare to leave the house.
But the world is undercurrent, and Zhu Houcong doesn't want to take any risks now.
The days ahead are still long.
What's more, the main reason for coming to Shandong is to send another signal to the world, to change things again, and to seize the initiative.
Five years before Jiajing, it was true that it had not been implemented nationwide, but was only expanded as a pilot project in Shandong.
After all, the new law in Guangdong is indeed quite effective. The increase in tax revenue and the increase in grain taxes are all visible.
"Now, is it time for this year's new grain from Guangdong to be transferred to the front line?" Zhu Houcong asked Yang Tan, "There are new grains from Guangdong and Sichuan. I hope Gu Shilong, Zhu Qi and Luo An can bear their temper.
I am too impatient to do things in Huguang."
Yang Tan said: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. After listening to your Majesty's strategy, they know that countering rebellion is not just counterinsurgency. Spending so much money and food will always have long-term benefits for the country and the people. If they don't get enough credit this time, they will still have plenty of time in the future.
.”
However, Yang Tingyi reported back: "Zhejiang and Guangdong coastal defense roads have reported that apart from some barbarians on Taiyuan Island, there are quite a few fortresses and barbarian soldiers at the north and south ends of Xi'an on the island. Judging from their actions and words, there are actually some Fujian elements.
, Zhejiang, and Guangdong accents, there are even Japanese rogues. Their soldiers are not inferior to the elite soldiers of the guards."
Zhu Houcong nodded: "After the Zhejiang Shipping Division is stopped, those coastal families that used to only focus on the interests of violating the ban on entering the sea will naturally not leave a way out. The provinces are ready to move, and there is a rebellion in Huguang. I am afraid they have no idea.
When the imperial court arrived, they would invade Taiyuan. Orders were sent to Wu Tingju and Wei Bin, and the emperor Ming remembered that the newly purchased grain from Cochin this year would be transferred to Penghu. The Taiyuan pirates and private soldiers along the coast also practiced their skills.
Be a navy master."
There may be difficulties in terms of specific progress, but in general, Zhu Houcong has decided to hit these punches together in China.
As for the issue of money and food, he personally went south to frighten the south and seize money and food.
Shandong has another arrangement, which can really only be called a tooth-beating ceremony.
"After I leave tomorrow and come back next spring, I hope that Shandong will have a new look."
"I will do my best." Zhang Fu replied respectfully, and then said, "Your Majesty, the wealthy gentry and elders from Shandong have all arrived, and they are all looking forward to seeing Tianyan."
Zhu Houcong stood up with a smile: "Then let's drive over."
It is still in the Linqing Prefecture Government Office. Today there are many tables in the courtyard.
The emperor will leave Linqing tomorrow. Is today a farewell party?
As soon as Zhu Houcong came, Shandong would also try out new laws.
The atmosphere at this banquet cannot be said to be very harmonious, it can only be said to be frightening.
Fortunately, no matter what storms there may be later, when the emperor is present, the emperor and his ministers must be united and happy.
Zhu Houcong did not need to say anything else. When he arrived, it was enough for him to pay respects to his elders, encourage some gentry students, and express his recognition of the gentry and wealthy households' contributions to the education and education of the countryside.
There was "joy and laughter" in Linqing Prefecture's Yamen, and inside and outside Linqing City, Li Quanli, Qi Jingtong, and Liu Zhenyuan were all making final preparations for the emperor's departure tomorrow.
The emperor's large ship has been pulled from the north of the city to the new dock outside the water gate in the south of the city. Tomorrow, the emperor's ship will leave Linqing City from the Lumen of the border city.
On the way, you will also pass Linqing Chaoguan.
There will be inspections along the way, and a curfew will begin tonight until we leave the city, get on the boat, and set off tomorrow.
In addition, the supplies on many ships in this line also need to be replenished.
These matters were all handled by Ma Gui, the prefect of Linqing and Chaoguan of Linqing, under the supervision of Huang Jin.
If there are concubines accompanying you, the spices on the royal boat must be indispensable.
Ma Gui stood next to Huang Jin with endless flattery: "This spice is purchased from the famous Wu Ji in the west of the city. Previously, the spices from Xiaojing Palace in Shandong were also purchased from them. They are all top quality."
Huang Jin inspected it personally and saw everything that was going to be put on the boat.
After checking that there was no problem, he waved his hand.
Those who carried it were all cavalry soldiers arranged by Qi Yuanda himself.
These people all kept their eyes open and did not dare to peek at the furnishings on the boat. They just moved their things on the deck and disembarked.
On the ship, there were naturally strong eunuchs who moved everything into various storage compartments.
In the canal a few miles to the south, no one paid much attention to the movement in the water in the night, even though the accompanying guards were already five miles away on both sides of the bank.
At this moment, because the emperor was stationed in Linqing and it was night, there were no boats on the canal traveling near Linqing.
At the bottom of the canal near the shore, there is a strange-looking thing embedded diagonally in the river bank below the water surface.
It is like a small iron house, with an iron boat bottom underneath that is convenient for gliding on the mud at the river bottom.
Not many people know when this thing came here.
But at this moment, there were actually two people in the innermost part of the small iron house that was tilted upward.
They nested in the innermost part, but the innermost part was not completely filled with water. Instead, there was a place two or three feet square, like a well.
Above the well, there is a two-finger-thick pipe leading to the top. The exit is hidden in the grass on the canal embankment. It is difficult to search unless you look carefully with purpose.
Now, the two people were waiting quietly inside, breathing the air that was actually very turbid and thin, and looking at the dark tube.
Next to the two of them, there is also a tall iron bucket.
There is also something like an iron boat bottom at the bottom of the barrel. There is also a long pipe extending out from the bottom of the barrel. I don't know what kind of leather it is.
The upper part is not immersed in the water at the moment. Even if it is immersed in the water, the place where the pipe leads to the iron bucket has been sealed tightly to prevent water from seeping in. The outside of this slender pipe is also painted with something unknown.
Things that fall into water will not float.
I don't know how long it took, but the two finally caught a glimpse of light from the ventilation pipe at the well mouth.
This bright light is extremely difficult to distinguish, but the two of them have stayed here for two nights and have become extremely sensitive to changes in light.
Then, the two looked at each other.
"Third brother, I'm going."
In the subtle voice, the other person hummed softly.
Amidst the rustling sound, a man took a sheep's belly bag placed on the top of the bucket and bit it in his mouth.
Then, he pushed the iron bucket and slowly walked out.
After the iron bucket was completely submerged in the water, it actually floated slightly. If it weren't for the two iron blocks tied to his calves to hold it down, the iron bucket might still have surfaced.
And he stepped on the mud, so he was able to successfully carry the iron bucket to the middle of the canal under the water.
The people who stayed in the iron house held the string of hoses in their hands and slowly lowered them, watching their cousin push the iron bucket under the water towards the center of the canal.
I don't know how long the breath in the sheep's belly can last, but my cousin is the most water-based person and can hold his breath very well, not to mention that he is risking his life to do this.
Soon, he disappeared from his weak vision.
At the bottom of the canal ten miles away from Linqing City, before dawn, there were some slight waves rising at the bottom of the river, but no one noticed.
When the hose stopped pulling in that direction, he looked down and saw that it was already the last lap.
The man's eyes were slightly warm, and he knew that his cousin had completed his mission and was waiting to die.
Presumably, he has his hands stuck in the fasteners on both sides of the iron bucket, and the iron blocks on his legs will pin him to the bottom of the river, letting the river water wash away him.
Even after he died, he would keep his hands raised and leave the bucket less than two feet away from the river.
The weather has been dry this year and the water depth in the canal is less than before.
The next task was his own. He had to wait until dawn, and when there was faint movement above his head, he would hold his breath and glance at the largest royal boat passing through the center of the more than twenty feet wide canal through the water.
It should be visible.
He took one last look at the fire stick hanging on the dagger at the top of the cave, and grasped the hose tightly.