Chai Lin said: "Young Master Hua has been in this city for several months, and he must have learned a lot about the free trade of merchant ships from eastern and western countries in Okura Port." Chai asked casually, "Master Hua thinks this is the case"
Is waiting for trade legitimate?”
The head of the Chai family did not speak directly about the crisis in Okura City, but suddenly asked about his views on free trade, which surprised Hua Bushi.
The eldest young master thought for a while and said: "My younger brother is a businessman. He always puts profit first. He only knows how to do business and thinks that as long as it is fair and reasonable, it is legitimate. Although the free trade here is against the law of the Ming Dynasty, the so-called
The king's law may not be reasonable, not to mention that in these troubled times, it is a great blessing to have a paradise where displaced people can live and work in peace and contentment."
Chai Lin showed joy on his face and said: "Young Master Hua is indeed a reasonable person. If he can think like this, he will surely live up to Brother Sima's hopes!"
Hua Bushi said: "I actually admire Hall Master Sima very much for giving up his wealth to build this Okura City."
Chai Lin said: "Brother Sima's lifelong wish is to build Okura City into a paradise in troubled times. In order to achieve this wish, he gave up not only his wealth, but also invested everything in his life into it.
Even my sister-in-law, Mrs. Wen Zhen, can be said to have died for this."
Hua Bushi said: "Hua Bushi has also heard the eldest lady of the city lord talk about Madam Sima's affairs."
Chai Lin said: "It's a pity that Brother Sima has just passed away, and this Okura City is facing a crisis. Whether it can still exist is still uncertain. I am afraid that we have to rely on the help of Young Master Hua to save this kind of crisis."
.”
Hua Bushi said: "My little brother's Veitian Tower is also opened in this city. In the future, I would like to do ocean trading business at the port of this city. I hope that Okura City can be safe for a long time. Please ask Brother Chai
Tell me about the crisis in this city. If I can help, I won't refuse."
Chai Lin said: "There are two crises in Okura City, one internal and one external."
He picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea. He paused for a moment and then said: "This internal crisis is caused by some powerful merchants in the city. If it is not handled properly, it may lead to disaster."
Hua Bushi asked curiously: "Merchant? As far as Xiao Ke knows, all order in Okura City is completely controlled by 'Wanjintang'. No matter how powerful other merchants are, can they still overwhelm many of 'Wanjintang'?"
Can’t you help the experts?”
Chai Lin said: "'Wanjintang' has more than two thousand disciples in this city. If everyone can unite as one, other forces will be unable to shake it. However, once Brother Sima leaves, 'Wanjintang' will only
I'm afraid that a split will follow, and the situation will be hard to say."
Hua Bushi's heart moved, and he immediately thought of Deng Ran and Fan Xilou of the "Ming Yue Club", but he said nothing.
Chai Lin said: "Chai has received information from his subordinates a few days ago. Dozens of powerful merchants in the city have been roped in and formed an alliance, led by 'Xinglong Village' and 'Qibaoju'.
Originally there was Fan Xilou's 'Ming Yue Club', but they were driven out of the city by Miss Sima so they no longer participated. The business lines of these merchants are different, and this secret alliance is obviously not for the purpose of doing business together.
, its intentions are obvious."
Of course Hua Bushi knew about "Xinglong Village". The Xiong Li who fought with Baoliang that day was the fighting dog raised by this village. He had heard that "Qibaoju" was also a larger business in Okura City. , not to mention the "Ming Yue Hui". None of these forces is worth mentioning compared to the "Wanjintang", but if many of them join forces, they can also create considerable power.
Hua Bushi asked: "But I don't know if Brother Chai can find out who is connecting this alliance and which force is the leader?"
Chai Lin said: "The alliance between these merchants was ostensibly led by Gu Zhengyuan, the owner of 'Xinglong Village', but Chai thought that the real organizer might be someone else, perhaps the person who is now in charge of the 'Wanjintang' An important person with real power."
Hua Bushi said: "How can you see it?"
Chai Lin said: "Although these alliances between business forces are very secretive, they are not airtight. Everyone in Chaiyuan can find out the information. The forces of 'Wanjintang' are all over the city, so there is no way to find out." It’s a nonsense. If there wasn’t someone protecting me in the ‘Wanjin Hall’, how could this matter have gone ahead?”
Hua Bushi thought for a while, then nodded and said: "Brother Chai's words make sense, I guess it must be so."
He paused briefly and then asked: "Brother Chai just said that Okura City has two crises, internal and external, but I don't know what the so-called external crisis is?"
Chai Lin said: "The crisis in the city may not be serious for a while, but the danger from foreign enemies is more serious. Once launched, the entire Okura City may be destroyed immediately! Chai has lived in Nan'ao Town for a long time and has rarely seen many people. Traveling, although Chai Yuan also has a business on Okura Island, I have been here for several years. This trip to the sea is because of this matter, and this enemy also has some relationship with Master Hua. "
Hua Bushi was moved in his heart and said, "Could it be that the enemy Brother Chai mentioned is the 'Black Dragon Palace'?"
Chai Lin said: "Young Master Hua is really smart. It's them I'm talking about. The Black Dragon Palace is the old enemy of Okura City. The Black Dragon King has been trying to annex this city for a long time. A few years ago, Lord Sima also led the 'Wanmen Palace'. Jintang's fleet and the Dragon Palace Tribes had many battles at sea, and each had its own victory or defeat. The ship's manpower losses were considerable, but the outcome could not be determined."
Okura Castle is a transit city for shipping merchants from Eastern and Western countries for ocean trade, while Black Dragon Palace is the king of pirates who specializes in plundering large cargo merchant ships at sea. The two sides can be said to be natural enemies.
The "Black Dragon King" has an outstanding reputation at sea. It is said that he has tens of thousands of "Dragon Palace Tribes" under his command and hundreds of large warships. And his exclusive flagship "Giant Shark Warship" is almost the same in the eyes of ordinary ship owners and sailors. The god of death is no different. Because of this, on the sea outside Wanyi Island that day, Lu Qiuhong's disciples only thought about escaping for their lives when they saw the Black Dragon King's flagship, and had no intention of resisting at all.
Chai Lin said: "It is said that the reason why the Black Dragon King did not dare to attack Okura Island is because Brother Sima holds a treasure that can restrain the Black Dragon King's giant shark battleship. Now that Brother Sima is dead, the Black Dragon King will never Everyone is afraid that a fleet will probably be dispatched to attack Okura Island in the near future."
Hua Bushi said: "But I don't know what kind of treasure it is that can restrain the giant shark ship? Although Lord Sima is dead, if we find it, maybe we can use it to defend the city."
Chai Lin said: "This matter is just a rumor. Chai has not seen Brother Sima for a long time, and he has not mentioned it to me, so Chai doesn't know what kind of treasure it is."
Hua Bushi frowned when he heard this. According to common sense, what can restrain the giant shark ship may be some kind of large artillery. However, if it is really a cannon, it will definitely not be easy to cover. As long as it is placed on Okura Island,
Everyone can see it, and there is definitely no reason why there are only rumors but no one knows what it is.
Hua Bushi was quick-thinking and immediately thought of "Panlong Jue".
In the past, the treasures of the pirate king Tuoba Qingtian, who was so rich and powerful, have all been taken out by Sima Zhufeng and used in the construction of Dakang City. It stands to reason that only a hole is left in the place where the treasure is hidden. How to open this hole?
The secret key "Panlong Jue" will not have much value. However, Sima Zhufeng used a clever trick to pass "Panlong Jue" to Hua Bushi, while the Black Dragon King and his masters tried their best to destroy this Jue.
Is it because "Panlong Jue" is related to the treasure that restrains the giant shark battleship?
Hua Bushi's mind was surging and he had thought of many things, but on the surface he remained calm and did not speak out what he was thinking. After pondering for a moment, he asked: "Brother Chai mentioned earlier that he would use the help of
I can save the crisis with my little brother’s power, but I don’t know what Hua Bushi can do to help the situation in Okura Castle?”
Chai Lin said: "There are only two things that Chai wants to ask Brother Hua to do. One of them is to try to keep the news of the death of City Lord Sima secret. I came to Okura Island for a few days and learned that everyone in the city did not know that City Lord Sima was there.
The assassination in Guangdong is probably due to the fact that the sea storm has blocked the communication between Okura Island and the mainland in the past few months. As for the death of the city lord, it is not appropriate to spread the news for the time being, please allow Mr. Hua."
Hua Bushi changed his mind and understood what Chai Lin meant.
This Dacang City was built by Sima Zhufeng. The city lord's prestige in Dacang City is extremely high. Hua Bushi has been in this city for several months, and he often hears from the merchants and people in the city, and even from Wanjintang.
All the disciples mentioned City Lord Sima with respect in their words. As long as Sima Zhufeng is here, the people's hearts in the city will be stable, and the "Wanjin Hall" will not be divided. Even if someone wants to win over some merchants and want to plot something
It's not that easy to make a mess.
Therefore, if the news of Sima Zhufeng's assassination does not spread, there will be no civil strife in Okura City. This is why Chai Lin wanted to conceal the news of his death.
Hua Bushi said: "My younger brother and his party have been in this city for several months and have not revealed to anyone the murder of Lord Sima. However, the storm on the sea has calmed down now. There must be merchants from the Middle-earth continent coming to this island one after another. By that time
This news will eventually be known to others."
Chai Lin said: "Chai understands this, but with the current situation, he can only hide it for a while. Because of this, I have a second thing, and I want to ask Brother Hua for help."
Chai Lin looked into the young master's eyes and said: "Chai wants to ask Mr. Hua to write a letter to Head Hua and mobilize the masters of your gang to come to Okura Island. First, to prepare for the attack on Okura City.
The various forces in the city are causing chaos, and the other reason is to assist the 'Wan Jin Tang' to protect the city and resist the invasion of the 'Black Dragon Palace'."