"The response strategy agreed upon earlier is for your country to find out the reasons for the rampant pirates and to deal with the enemies hidden behind them, while we will send manpower to eliminate those pirates one by one according to your designated goals. .”
Zhou Keshan seemed to be smiling but not smiling: "However, you have never found out who the enemy behind the scenes is, so what can we do? Those people are all big food pirates, what do they have to do with me, Da Zhou, and the two What does state-to-state diplomatic relations have to do with it? If Shi Boruo feels that the big pirate pirates are causing too much noise, why not urge the truth to be unearthed as soon as possible and cut off the source of the pirate attacks?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? What about Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves? That's Shi Tianni, your defense envoy north of Beijing Road in Dazhou, and his men! If I report this matter to Prime Minister Shi, what will you do? end!"
"Haha..." Zhou Keshan laughed.
Zhang Liangpeng is also a capable person, and he is in charge of all areas in eastern Zhejiang. He has many eyes and ears, and Shi Tianni's secret trip south cannot be hidden from him at all. So Zhou Keshan simply refused to deny it.
"It has been five months since the pirates were raging until now, and the merchant ships in Shanghai have also been on tenterhooks for five months. Shibo thinks we are moving too fast? We are using too many people? We are making too much noise? Don't you know? It only took two months for the Great Zhou Dynasty to mobilize tens of thousands of troops to wipe out half of the city. In fact, only forty-one people went south in this operation at the beginning!"
Zhang Liangpeng was silent for a while.
This is true, but it is Dazhou's principle. These northern Han people went on a rampage to conquer the Central Plains, so they felt that this set of drastic methods was applicable to all countries.
The Song Dynasty was different. When the Song Dynasty wanted to solve the problems it faced, it had far more resources to use than the northerners who were far away across the ocean, and they were also much slower.
The Song Dynasty had a huge bureaucracy and a complete management organization for maritime trade. In recent years, those involved in maritime trade include three municipal shipping departments in Guangnan, Zhejiang and Fujian, and more than a dozen municipal shipping offices in Hangzhou, Qingyuan, Wenzhou, Jiangyin, Huating, and Hainan, plus Shuaichen and Caochen from various places. The many related yamen and personnel under his command have a tighter system of authority and authority than any other dynasty in history.
The emperor of the Song Dynasty can be regarded as a benevolent king, and the ministers in the court and the ministers beside him are also talented people. They can be regarded as virtuous ministers. Whatever Shi Xiang wants to investigate, there are many suitable candidates who can uncover any deeply buried truth.
In the Song Dynasty, there were 16 naval armies under the Dianqian Division, Coastal and Coastal Construction Divisions, and the Regional Economic Strategy and Appeasement Division. The number of ships under their control was at most more than 4,000. Only one was expanded by the Dinghai Navy. The completed Xupu navy consisted of four armies, eight generals, sixty-three teams, and 14,000 men. With this power, it controlled the sea, and no pirates could resist it.
The Song Dynasty had such a strong power, but when it came time to use it, the thunder was loud and the raindrops were light.
As the scale of maritime trade expanded, the size of the Shipping Department in the Song Dynasty became larger and larger. In name, a Shipping Department had four officials and eleven officials. In fact, the number of officials filled in it was more than ten times greater. There are more than a hundred times more people who depend on Shibosi for their meals, and the number of officials, idlers, and helpers who work hard for Shibosi is even more incalculable.
But such a huge system does not bring huge power. Instead, it makes the whole system like a dying giant. If it moves even slightly, all the bones in the body will be crushed by its own weight. It has been three months since Prime Minister Shi issued an order asking the Municipal Shipping Departments to pay attention to unusual movements at sea, but the Municipal Shipping Departments have not responded and cannot respond.
The literature and education of the Song Dynasty were unparalleled in the world, and scholars became officials one after another. In the past two years, Prime Minister Shi has been able to win over allies, divide political opponents, and expand his political base with his huge financial resources. It seems that he has the momentum to cover the sky with one hand.
But a senior official like Zhang Liangpeng understood that there were many people working under Prime Minister Shi, and their slogans of loyalty were shouted loudly. However, those who Prime Minister Shi was really willing to entrust with important matters were actually a few people in his small circle. people.
When the old man looked down, so many officials followed his gaze and worshiped him, which was probably pleasing to the eye. But Shi Xiang knew that these people were always a puddle of mud. Therefore, Shi Xiang was very angry to find that the teams he had sent to investigate were all wandering in the mud. Let alone investigating, his own house had become a black mess.
As for water in various places
military……
Yes, according to common sense, the navy crushing pirates is like crushing ants. Not to mention pirates, even the maritime power that the Northern Zhou Dynasty tried to expand was nothing more than an ant in front of the Song Dynasty.
But the situation in the Song Dynasty was so unbelievable. As far as the Dinghai Army under Zhang Liangpeng's nose was concerned, he could gather hundreds of sterns, thousands of small boats, and sails covering the sky on the sea surrounding the islands with just one order. Block out the sun. But that's all he could do.
There were so many ships to maintain and so many soldiers to eat. Over the past few decades, the navy of the Song Dynasty had long been accustomed to making a living on its own. If the envoy wants to parade the troops to show his prestige, that's no problem. In official matters, everyone has to help each other.
But what about patrolling, catching theft, tracking, fighting... The gentlemen above, I still owe more than ten years of military pay and rewards. If you don't pay off, don't delay us by talking about these things. Go boating to make some extra money. The business at sea is so prosperous, so why don’t we Qiu Ba have to go hungry?
Therefore, if Zhang Liangpeng was asked to exterminate the pirates, he would only be able to mobilize twenty-three ships, not even one more. As for the manpower that dares to brutally confront the pirates at sea and on land at the same time, we really can't count. It’s all because you don’t think about it, and there is still hope of “having something.” Once you think about it, the result is likely to be nothing.
That being the case, what else could Zhang Liangpeng say?
The Song Dynasty accomplished nothing, how could it still complain about the vigorous and resolute actions of the Great Zhou Dynasty?
Like countless officials in the Song Dynasty, he always regarded the Zhou regime in the north as a grass-roots team composed of a group of vulgar warriors. No matter how fierce and powerful they are, they cannot compare with the clothes, rituals, music, and teachings of the saints of the Song Dynasty.
But he was also a busy official in the Song Dynasty. In the past two years, he had been trying his best to earn millions of dollars for Prime Minister Shi to use to suppress the court.
The cooperation between the two families at sea is so intricate and involves countless details. Zhang Liangpeng, Li Yun, and Zhou Keshan slowly worked out the regulations bit by bit, and then implemented them bit by bit. . The more attentive he was, the more he felt that his cooperation with the Northerners was very fast and convenient, and the more he felt that the Song Dynasty was vain on the surface, and all the civil and military officials underneath were useless.
Facing the rampage of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, he was furious, but a vague feeling came to his mind:
Is it possible that things should be done in such a vigorous and resolute way? .
Is it possible that I, Da Song, am just a fooling around?
Zhang Liangpeng never dared to think too much about these questions. He also knew that there were no answers to these questions. He could only speak harshly to Zhou Keshan, and in the recent discussions, his momentum became more and more powerful and his words became more and more severe:
"No matter what, that Alibaba can't make a fuss anymore! Otherwise, the navy of the Production and Construction Department will have to take action, and I have to report the truth to the Prime Minister. Once the Prime Minister is angry, it will not look good on everyone!"
Zhou Keshan was polite.
He bowed to Zhang Liangpeng and said, "Master, please don't worry...otherwise, our two families will each take a step back?"
"How to retreat?"
"The chaos caused by the big food pirates can be stopped, and there will definitely be no embarrassment for the Prime Minister. But you must find the person behind the plan of our merchant ship as soon as possible. Unless this force is eliminated, we cannot rest assured! "
"When you say as soon as possible, how fast do you mean?"
"After the spring begins, the trade wind picks up again, and business must not be delayed. Therefore, it will take a month at most. If there is no results within a month... Shibo, we have actually caught some people bit by bit and asked some questions. There is a little clue in the confession. When the time comes, the wildness of the big food pirates will show up, and they will really attack Junzhou. Don’t be surprised!"
What does this mean? Could it be that this matter is also related to the chief officer of the coastal military state? Who is so bold?
Zhang Liangpeng's thoughts were racing, but he didn't want to ask in detail. He could only jump at Zhou Keshan's vague threat.
"How dare you!" he roared, angrily stood up and pushed the door open. After taking two steps, he turned back and shouted loudly: "It's only one month! Within one month, Xuanzhen will definitely give an explanation. Those big pirates of yours are all at sea."
Wait! "
"Haha, then just listen to Shibo." Zhou Keshan saluted again.
Zhang Liangpeng strode out with a gloomy face.
After passing several doorways and crossing courtyards, his followers followed him one after another. Seeing that his face was not friendly, they all hurriedly acted like they should keep away strangers. From time to time in the courtyard, I ran into people such as promotions, supervisors, activities, and guest managers hired by the Shanghai Bank. Seeing the menacing attitude of the group, they all got out of the way.
Approaching the outskirts of the security courtyard, Zhang Liangpeng suddenly said "Hey".
He asked, "Why don't you go through the main entrance?"
The personal attendant looked at his face and whispered: "Today is December 15th, and it has been exactly three months since the last dividend."
Zhang Liangpeng stood suddenly, his expression stern.
After a while, he walked deeper into the corridor.
The corridor is winding and winding, with high walls on both sides. After walking for half a cup of tea, I arrived at a side door.
Coincidentally, the back door is opposite the courtyard Zhang Liangpeng built on Lanshan Island. In the small courtyard inside the side gate, five carriages were parked one after another according to the practice of once every three months.
Zhang Liangpeng sighed.
After Shi Xiang and Beifang launched sea trade cooperation, Zhang Liangpeng, who was specifically responsible for sea trade matters, received special preferential treatment from Li Yun and Zhou Keshan, and continued to secretly extract benefits and dividends from the Shanghai trade, with the specification being 10,000 yuan every three months. So far, he has obtained it six times and obtained 60,000 guan of money.
Sixty thousand guan was no longer small money. With the money, Zhang Liangpeng used the money to not only seek land and property in his hometown in Lishui, but also invested in bribery and gossiping in Lin'an, trying his best to restore his brother Zhang Liangneng's official connections when he was still alive.
He is confident that as long as he invests tens of thousands more coins, many difficulties will be solved. When he returns to the court one day, these forces will be activated together to earn a better future, and even lead to the political participation that his brother once achieved. Bit!
"The pirates were raging and the trading company suffered huge losses, but the ten thousand guan that I deserved was not lost at all. Zhou Keshan was really thoughtful!" Zhang Liangpeng couldn't help stroking his beard and nodded slightly.
"Ahem..." The person next to him whispered: "Mr. Zhou sent someone before to say that this time, the bonus is not only 10,000 yuan from the operation of the trading company. There is also part of it, which is from the big food pirates and various groups. The pirates captured 10,000 strings from the battle."
"You accept this? You're confused!" Zhang Liangpeng cursed.
He knew that as long as he accepted the extra 10,000 yuan, the Dashi pirates would have to be from Dashi, and the one active along the coast of the Song Dynasty would be Alibaba and not Shi Tianni. At least for him, that must be the case. Prime Minister Shi would not hear any rumors from his Zhang Liangpeng.
Officials from other places may have guessed, either they themselves are unwilling to interfere, or Zhou Keshan has other ways to deal with them. But Beiren's hand holding the knife just stretched out. It was still a hand that did not obey Da Song's call and had its own way.
Zhang Liangpeng naturally knew that this was completely different from what the two families had agreed upon. But in Lin'an, in the eyes of Shi Xiang, nothing happened.
Is this good? If I conceal it, wouldn’t I mean to deceive the prime minister? Isn't it like eating inside and outside...
Zhang Liangpeng hesitated for a moment.
The person next to him said distressedly: "Mr. Zhou's people said that from now on, the seizures of big pirates will be made every three months, and each time they will not be less than 10,000 guan! Master, this boss really can't collect this amount of money." What?"
Every three months? No less than 10,000 yuan each time? It turns out that it's not a one-time deal, but a steady flow of money?
Zhang Liangpeng gasped. He knew that the few followers around him might have benefited from it in advance, so he couldn't bear to see the meat flying away from his mouth. This group of people, I have been teaching them about human ethics in vain, they are still so ignorant and greedy!
But……
This piece of meat that belongs to me is right next to my mouth. Will I eat it or not?
He walked around the five carriages, finally made up his mind, and said slowly: "Recently, pirates have caused a lot of troubles, especially the big pirates who are the most ferocious. All naval forces in eastern Zhejiang have to organize their ships, Cultivate your military equipment and make sure you have a sound strategy!"
What about the pirates, what about the navy, and what does it have to do with their followers?
The followers didn't understand at all, they only knew that their master had decided to accept the benefit, so everyone was happy and said that his master was wise.
