The orderly behavior of the Beiyang Fleet made those who were standing or kneeling without answering feel quite embarrassed for a while! However, under Liu Haojia's gaze, they still agreed in varying degrees.
When Liu Haojia saw that they had agreed, he waved his sleeves and said: "The military order has been issued, you can do your own thing! Everyone, please retreat!"
After speaking, Liu Haojia walked into the back hall first, and the other officers dispersed. Those officers who opposed the change of defense gathered together and walked outside, secretly discussing countermeasures. But they couldn't tell Ziwu Maoyou for a while! After all, military law is like a mountain. If Liu Haojia really kills them, they won't be able to reason with him!
When he walked outside, Liu Pingjiang suddenly turned his head and whispered: "Send out your confidants when you go back and encourage the soldiers to make trouble! Just say that you don't want to go to the north to change defenses! The noise must be loud, but the actions must be small!"
When everyone heard that this was a solution, they immediately agreed and then dispersed. And Liu Haojia was not idle at the back. He sent Liu Tang and others out to inquire among the soldiers to see if they planned to incite the soldiers to cause trouble.
Afterwards, Liu Haojia called Li Wenliang and three others and said: "Inform everyone in the fleet to be prepared to counter the rebellion!"
Li Wenliang frowned and said, "Young Marshal, has the matter really reached this point?"
Liu Haojia said: "According to my conjecture, it is unlikely. It is just a precaution! In addition, if those soldiers do not cause too much trouble, please do not take action easily. All wait for my order!"
Then he called a few more people to make a series of arrangements and sent them away. He himself returned to the room and began to look through the pile of invitations on the table. He looked through the invitation and matched the information in his mind with the name on the invitation.
Magistrate Qian sent two invitations alone before, but Liu Haojia declined them both on the excuse that he was busy with military affairs. But I don’t know whether Magistrate Qian intentionally or unintentionally sent him an invitation together with the local gentry in Quanzhou! Among these people are local wealthy families, as well as serving and retired officials. It’s a very mixed bag! It seems that Governor Qian will not give up until he achieves his goal!
After thinking about it for a while, Liu Haojia called a servant and said, "Go and send a message to Magistrate Qian. Tell him that I have finished my military duties today and will go to the banquet on time tonight."
After the servant left, Liu Haojia began to fiddle with various account books again. These account books were compiled by him based on court documents. They recorded various situations of the Quanzhou Navy in detail. Everything from soldier rosters to inventory supplies.
He was busy with everyone until the evening. After briefly freshening up, he took his family to the most famous restaurant in Quanzhou, Hongbin Restaurant! Today, Magistrate Qian and the local gentry entertained him there.
When Liu Haojia rushed to Hongbin Tower on time, there was a man dressed as a master waiting outside the door. When he saw Liu Haojia arriving, he immediately stepped forward to salute and said, "May I ask if Mr. Liu of the Navy is in person?"
Liu Haojia said: "It's me."
After the master saluted again, he said: "Master Li, I am waiting for you here under the order of the proprietor, Master Qian, sir, please!"
Liu Haojia nodded to indicate the way ahead for Master. The master directly led him to the largest private room on the third floor. After reporting, he opened the door and invited Liu Haojia in. After Liu Haojia entered the room, he saw a large round table with more than a dozen people sitting around the table. Magistrate Qian was at the head.
When everyone saw Liu Haojia coming in, they all stood up to greet him. Magistrate Qian even said loudly: "Master Liu has wiped out a group of pirates before he arrived in Quanzhou and relieved us of his own troubles. He is really young and promising!"
Liu Haojia secretly curled his lips when he heard this! Because he already treated Liu Haojia as a junior in his words. But at this time, other people had already echoed loudly, praising Liu Haojia like a flower! As the saying goes, don't hit someone with a smiling face. Even though Liu Haojia knew it was a banquet, he could only greet everyone with a smile!
Magistrate Qian stepped forward and took Liu Haojia's hand and said, "Master Liu has just come to Quanzhou and is not familiar with the local gentry yet. I will introduce them to you!"
After the two parties were polite, Magistrate Qian arranged for Liu Haojia to sit down, and then ordered the banquet to officially begin! Then the food and wine were served like a stream, and a variety of tables were set up! Liu Haojia took a closer look and saw that it was indeed full of delicacies! Without more than a hundred taels of silver for the food and wine on this table, there would be no way to get rid of it! It seems that the prefect Qian has spent a lot of money in order to take credit!
The banquet begins, cups come and go, you greet me, I greet you back, and the atmosphere gradually becomes warm! During the banquet, everyone also took the opportunity to continue the introduction intentionally or unintentionally, showing off their own strength! So and so in my family is an official in the government, and so and so in my family is a famous gentleman! Don’t forget to tell him how much convenience so-and-so can provide!
Liu Haojia sneered in his heart when he heard this! This is clearly intimidating yourself! If you cooperate, then both parties will be fine. If you don't cooperate, we people will cause you countless troubles, and your father's position as the chief of the navy will not be secure!
During this period, everyone kept saying that they had relatives in the Navy and were reluctant to let him stay away. Why should more local people be placed in the navy, so that it would be easier for the navy to communicate with local officials and gentry, etc.
He heard what he said, but Liu Haojia didn't intend to answer. Anyway, as long as he reorganizes the navy, it will be an army that is completely independent of the local area, and they will not be able to get involved! And their unlucky days are still to come, just wait and see!
At the same time, several gentry urged him to behead the captured pirate leader as soon as possible, so as to boost the fighting spirit of the soldiers and appease the hearts of the people! Although their words were high-sounding, they could not hide the urgency in their words!
Liu Haojia compared their information one by one and knew that these people were accumulating property very quickly. They might all be involved in large-scale smuggling or simply the owners of pirates! Now that these pirates have been arrested, they are naturally eager to silence them!
But how could Liu Haojia play his trump card so quickly? Naturally, he delayed the matter on the grounds of further interrogation. And maybe there will be unexpected joy in holding these pirate leaders in the palm of your hand!
When the wine was full of wine, Magistrate Qian slowly changed the topic to the extermination of pirates. He praised Liu Haojia so much that he was born with a rare talent, and even toasted him with a glass of wine! Then he promised countless conveniences, as if he, the prefect, was a great master!
Finally, he said loudly: "Come, come! Let's toast our young and promising Mr. Liu again! In the next few years, the sea will be calm!"
