The Haiphong Yamen ship left, but the two Macao and Portuguese officials stayed on the Thor. Because Zhao Xin could not speak Cantonese, Liu Sheng was left to deal with them, and Zhao Xin only served as a companion.
Matos and his men looked around with surprise, then sat under the awning and began to ask Liu Sheng. Their main questions include which country's ship the Thor is, where it comes from, what its purpose is, what cargo is on board, how many people are on board, what weapons and equipment it has, etc.
Zhao Xin had already made plans for these questions, but these answers made Matos and the others roll their eyes.
What a great Ainu kingdom, what a string of bright pearls on the North Pacific, etc... In the end, Liu Sheng said that he came to Macau this time to conduct a preliminary business inspection and purchase a batch of cotton. , medicinal materials and porcelain go back.
After hearing this, Matos nodded with great satisfaction and said: "Gentlemen, since you have reached an agreement with Mr. Chen, I will send someone to report your situation in writing to Haiphong Tongzhi Yamen and Xiangshan County. As the municipal government of Macau Commissioner, on behalf of my colleagues at the Macau City Hall, I welcome you. I would also like to welcome your visit to the Governor of France."
Liu Sheng said: "Mr. Matos, can our ship sail into the Macau pier under your leadership?"
Matos shook his head and said: "Your Excellency, the tonnage of your ship is too large and the draft is too deep. The inner pier in Macau cannot berth such a huge ship. I will lead you to the Tanzai Island pier in the south to dock, and we will take the boat from there. The sailing ship enters Macau. Gentlemen, while anchored at Tan Chai Island, I hope you will abide by the laws here and avoid further trouble."
Liu Sheng shook his head and said, "You should tell the British about this, not us!"
Matos was choked by the opponent's tough attitude and could only say: "Okay. We will say hello to the British."
The noon seafood dinner was eaten on the deck instead, and Matos and his men were invited to join them. Seeing a table full of dishes all made in Chinese style, and Liu Sheng and the others all eating with chopsticks, Matos was a little surprised. However, considering that the other party did not have pigtails and was driving such an iron ship that the Qing people could not own, we temporarily suppressed our suspicion.
During lunch, Zhao Xin went to the bathroom and came back, his face suddenly turned ugly. He didn't sit for a while, then said he felt unwell and left. At that time, Liu Sheng was busy talking to Matos and didn't pay much attention.
Afterwards, the Thor raised anchor and set sail. Under the leadership of Matos' men, it entered the port on the north side of Tanzai Island. According to Guangdong Customs regulations, all ships coming to Macau must berth here. Crew members are not allowed to enter Macau without inspection; once discovered, they will be expelled. The arrival of the Thor caused a commotion in the port. Considering the insufficient water depth in the port, it finally had to stop at sea five hundred meters away from the port.
The only thing to do now is to wait for Macau to send a ship. Originally, Liu Sheng was thinking of hiring a Chinese fishing boat on the port, but Matos reminded Liu Sheng that the fishermen here usually looked very honest, but once they had the opportunity, they would turn into pirates. He had asked people from the Haiphong Yamen to help spread the word, and it was estimated that the Macau City Hall would send a boat to pick him up early tomorrow morning.
Matos mentioned the pirates, which reminded Liu Sheng that there was still a group imprisoned on the Thor. Since you have nothing to do, let's have a surprise interrogation to learn more about the situation.
Matos was extremely surprised when he heard about this. He did not expect that these Seris people could capture so many pirates, so he requested that these pirates be handed over to Macau for processing. However, this request was flatly rejected by Liu Sheng.
"The man was arrested off the coast of Wailingding Island. What does that have to do with you?" Liu Sheng spoke unceremoniously.
Matos had no choice but to take a step back and asked to observe the interrogation. He said that pirates have often appeared in the Pearl River Estuary recently, and maybe these people are one of them. Liu Sheng thought about it and agreed.
The interrogation was conducted under the awning on the main deck. In addition to Liu Sheng, there were two soldiers and a correspondent in Beihai Town who were responsible for taking notes. Two of Matos and his men were present to listen.
Because Zhao Xin had previously considered recruiting this group of people, the soldiers guarding Zheng Yi deliberately did not give them food. Today, Zheng Yi, his cousin Zheng Qi and others are all starving, and it is impossible for them to get angry.
"Tell me about it. Name!"
"Zheng, Zheng Yi." Zheng Yi pursed his chapped lips and spoke weakly.
"I'm asking you what your name is!"
"Zheng, Zheng Wenxian."
"how old are you?"
"twenty one."
Liu Sheng saw that the other party was so hungry, so he ordered his men to get Zheng Yi half a bowl of fish soup to drink. As soon as Zheng smelled the aroma of the fish soup, he didn't bother to burn his mouth when he took it. He drank it in two sips. Then he took a deep breath and said, "I won't tell you anything you ask me. The worst is that it will be another one in eighteen years." hero!"
"You are a sneaky guy, how can you be considered a hero!" Liu Sheng chuckled disdainfully and continued to ask: "Tell me, where is your home base?"
Zheng Dao said: "Kill or behead me, don't even think about it. If you want me to confess to you, don't even think about it!"
At this time, Matos looked at Zheng for a long time and suddenly said: "Is your father's name Zheng Lianchang?"
Zheng Yi's pupils shrank, he glared at Matos fiercely, turned his head and stopped talking.
Matos nodded at this time and said to Liu Sheng: "Mr. Liu, I think I know the origin of this group of people."
"Oh? I wonder if Mr. Matos can talk about it?"
According to Matos, at the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, one of the subordinates of the southeastern pirate leader Zheng Zhilong named Zheng Jian led his troops to resist the Qing Dynasty in Fujian and Guangdong. However, he was later pursued by the Qing army and finally occupied the coast of Guangdong. area and become a pirate. These people occupied the Lei Yue Mun area in the southeastern corner of Hong Kong Island as their nest, and were dedicated to Zheng Jian. They also built a Tin Hau Temple there and collected water diversion fees from passing ships. Zheng Jian's son is Zheng Lianchang, and Zheng Yize is Zheng Lianchang's son. The current pirates in the Pearl River Estuary are divided into six gangs: red, yellow, blue, white, black and purple. Zheng Lianchang is the leader of the red flag.
After listening to Matos' explanation, Liu Sheng laughed and said, "It turns out they are a pirate family!"
What Liu Sheng didn't know was that in the history of another time and space, the most famous group of pirate leaders during the Jiaqing period, such as Zhang Baozai, Xiangshan Er, Zheng Guohua, Guo Podai, etc., all came from Zheng Yi's disciples. As for Zheng Yi's later wife, she was the famous Zheng Yi's wife; but the woman whose nickname was Shi Xianggu was only ten years old this year.
Liu Sheng spent an entire afternoon interrogating all the prisoners. Basically, apart from name and age, nothing else can be asked. He guessed that because all of these pirates' families were on Hong Kong Island, if they were all recruited, they would not be able to survive in the future.
Afterwards, Matos and the two were taken to rest, while Liu Sheng came to Zhao Xin to discuss how to deal with Zheng Yi and others. Unexpectedly, after he knocked on the door, he saw Zhao Xin's face was a little pale.
Liu Sheng then asked with concern: "What's wrong with you?"
Zhao Xin shook his head and said, "I felt uncomfortable eating at lunch, and my stomach was upset."
Liu Sheng said in surprise: "You're not doing something right this time! You just had a cold, and now you have a stomachache?"
Zhao Xindao: "I'll find some medicine and I'll be fine soon. What do you want from me?"
Liu Sheng saw that he looked very relaxed and did not look too seriously ill, so he told Zheng Yi and others about their situation.
Zhao Xindao: "I originally thought they were some petty thieves, so I thought of subduing them. I didn't expect that they turned out to be from a pirate family. Even if I bring such people back, they will be a source of instability."
"Then what are you going to do?"
Zhao Xin leaned on the table, lit a cigarette, and said nothing for a long time. After a while, he said: "Send the two men back and let them report to Zheng Yi's father. Let them tell Zheng Yi's father that if they don't reach Tanzai Island in two days, they will never see his son again."
"you mean?"
Zhao Xin poked his eyebrows with his index finger and said: "We have to meet with the Hongqi boss for a while. If this move is done well, it will be of great help to Liu Zheng, and the ship repair craftsman we want may be It’s also settled.”
"That's good!"
The two British three-masted sailing ships they captured on Sakhalin are still parked in the port of Beihai Town. The main reason was that both ships needed repairs, but there were no suitable hardwoods or craftsmen in Beihai Town, so they were dragged down. Zhao Xin's plan is to use these two ships for long-term coal transportation in Ezo and Beihai Town.
Zhao Xin continued to say to Liu Sheng: "When you and Guofeng arrive in Macau tomorrow, in addition to dealing with the Portuguese, you need to check the price of oak or ironwood and buy a batch if it is suitable; in addition..."
"Wait a minute!" Liu Sheng interrupted hurriedly: "Let Xiao Ding go, you won't go?"
Zhao Xin shook his head and said: "I have to test the communication networks in various places on the ship, and I can't finish it in a while. In addition, if the Hongqi boss comes, I have to deal with it. Guofeng is busy this way, you take him to Macau Let's go around to celebrate the end of his internship."
"But is your body okay?" Liu Sheng asked suspiciously.
Zhao Xin made a look of disdain and said to Liu Sheng: "Put it away, it will definitely work! Besides, including the round trip, we can only stay in Macau for a total of two and a half days, and there is a lot to do." "
After Liu Sheng left Zhao Xin's cabin, he immediately went to the cockpit to meet Ding Guofeng. As soon as he came up, he asked: "Zhao Xin said that he won't go to Macau and asked you to come with me. Do you know this?"
Ding Guofeng said: "I know, he said a few words to me this afternoon. What's wrong?"
Liu Sheng nodded, turned around and went out without saying anything...
Shrimp Ball Boy was the first guy under Zheng Yi to see the Thor. He didn't expect that he would be let go! Before getting off the boat, Liu Sheng had someone bring him a large bowl of rice and the remaining fish soup from lunch. While the shrimp ball boy was devouring it, he heard Liu Sheng say to him: "Have you written down everything I said?"
"Uncle, we have remembered it all!" Shrimp Ball Boy took a big sip of fish soup, smoothed it on his chest and said, "Master Chang will definitely arrive within two days!"
There were several fishing boats surrounding the Thor starting from Tanzai Island on the post road, all trying to sell their goods. Liu Sheng gave two silver coins to the boatman of a fishing boat and asked him to send the shrimp balls away. The fisherman is also a member of the Dan family, so he naturally knows about the pirates of the Red Flag Gang. Now that I have money to take, I am naturally more happy.
As for Zheng Yi and the others, they didn't know what Liu Sheng was thinking when they saw their companions being let go.
Liu Sheng walked up to Zheng Yi fiercely and said: "Boy, your father will be here in two days, just wait for your butt to be slapped!"
Zheng Yi also gave Liu Sheng a vicious look in return, and said, "Why are you so arrogant! If my father arrives in two days, you have to beg him to leave!"
When Liu Sheng heard this, he burst into laughter.
Since the shrimp ball boy left, the soldiers in Beihai Town have not made it difficult for Zheng Yi and the others. They first untied the ropes and let them have a full meal; then they took some bedding and put it in the bow cabin of the ship for Zheng Yi and the others to use. After eating the white polished rice and covering themselves with soft and comfortable bedding, Zheng Yi and others, who had been sleeping like a hawk for two days, fell down and fell asleep.
Early the next morning, the boat sent by the Macau City Hall arrived. It was a watermelon flat. This is a single-masted ship with a low bow and a high stern. The bow has a protruding deck, which is convenient for berthing next to large ships or loading and unloading cargo at the dock. In addition to carrying cargo, this kind of watermelon boat is often used to transport foreign businessmen between Guangzhou and Macau, so it is also called "the flat boat that refutes ghosts and goes to Australia".
Liu Sheng and Ding Guofeng followed Matos with fifteen soldiers. Each of them brought two pistols, an 84 revolver and an M1911. Before setting off, everyone dismantled the M1911 into parts and hid them in their backpacks along with the bullets; as for the 84 revolver, they were all loaded to prepare for accidents at sea.
As for the gifts brought to Macao and Portuguese officials, they chose cigarettes, matches and lanterns. In addition, they also prepared several cheap electric razors and batteries as gifts for the Governor of Macau and the Haiphong Yamen Chen Tongzhi. Of course, all the outer packaging of items from another time and space has been removed and replaced with pine boxes crafted by the ship's carpenters.
Liu Sheng was wearing a snow-white captain's uniform and stood on the deck of the watermelon boat. He looked at Zhao Xin and A Miao who were waving to him. He waved and murmured: "No, this kid must be hiding something from me!"
Zhao Xin is indeed in trouble. The reason why he suddenly left the lunch yesterday was because he discovered a crack in the jade pendant. After returning to the cabin to experiment, the results almost left him stunned!
For almost an afternoon, Zhao Xin was wondering what happened. He carefully recalled his actions over the past few days, and finally discovered in despair that he had escaped from the jade pendant and placed it on the table before going to bed that day due to a severe cold.
"But it didn't fall to the ground!" Zhao Xin was puzzled, and finally he resorted to the ultimate method of drawing blood.
But the result was just like what Liu Sheng saw yesterday afternoon. Even if Zhao Xin made himself look like a piece of paper, the jade pendant no longer worked as before.
"It's so wet now!" Zhao Xin was already desperate 10 minutes before Liu Sheng knocked on the door. Don't say you can never go back, even Jade Perry's things can't be taken out!
So, while Liu Sheng was proposing how to deal with Zheng Yi and the others, Zhao Xin thought a lot. He felt that he should not go to Macau, but first think about everything he had at hand. After the big inventory is over, let's see what we say to Liu Sheng and the others.
At the moment, he felt that the ones who were most troubled were not Liu Sheng and the others, but those at the education office of Beihai Town. Now they were giving these old men a hard time!
"A Miao, if I...I mean if..."
"Huh? Master, what do you want to say?" A Miao also felt that something was wrong with Zhao Xin since noon yesterday, but Zhao Xin didn't say anything, so she didn't dare to ask.
"What would you think of me if I could no longer make things disappear and give out as much food as I wanted?"
Why does it sound so difficult for Amiao Xin to say this? She blinked her eyes and thought for a long time before saying: "Master, do you mean that you will no longer be a god?"
"Well, that's pretty much what it means."
"That's great! Then the master will no longer suddenly disappear for many days, and you can always let A Miao follow you!"
Zhao Xin's eyes suddenly became a little moist. He ruffled A Miao's hair twice and walked back to the ship building with a forced smile. Afterwards, he took a pen and paper in the cockpit and began to take inventory of Beihai Town's existing inventory, including rifles, cannons, bullets, tractors, generators, several boats, etc...
The list of supplies ended up filling more than a dozen pages of blank paper. He felt that even if he couldn't go back, the current items would be enough for a few years. In addition to medicines and consumable parts for some equipment.
"Oh, let's wait and see what Zhao Liang can do when we go back." Zhao Xin thought this way, and that was all he could do for now.
While he was sighing, the intercom rang suddenly. It was the telegraph room on the third floor calling him.
"Sir, can you come down here right away? The communication line at Sheyang Lake has been connected!"
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