"The people of Tiger Character Banner took away so many big trees from our Dongjiang Town and turned them into ships. I'm afraid it will cost a lot of money." Mao Chenglu sighed with emotion.
Mao Wenlong held a bowl in his hand and said: "This further shows that the Tiger Flag has made a lot of money in maritime trade. It is a pity that the court does not allow me to build a navy. Otherwise, I would want to build a few big ships to go to Nanyang and Hong Kong." Mao Yi is doing business."
"With the Denglai Navy here, it is impossible for the imperial court to agree to our request to build a navy." Mao Chenglu said, and then added, "Actually, we have money for shipbuilding, so it is more practical to raise more soldiers."
Mao Wenlong nodded.
He just casually talked about the shipbuilding thing. The imperial court could set up Dongjiang Town at its limit, and it was impossible for him to be in charge of a navy again.
Moreover, when fighting against Hou Jin, he could only count on the soldiers he kept by his side. No matter how powerful the ship was, it would not be able to go ashore, and it would be of no use to Hou Jin's people.
Suddenly there were footsteps outside the door.
Then a soldier guarding the door came in, bowed and said, "Father, Mr. Chen is here and is waiting for your summons outside the door."
"Isn't Chen Zhong in Tieshan? Why come to Pi Island at this time!" Mao Chenglu looked puzzled.
Mao Wenlong closed the lid of the bowl and said to the soldier who came in to report: "Let Chen Zhong come in!"
The soldiers retreated from the house.
Not long after, Chen Zhong walked in from outside the house, came under Mao Wenlong, knelt down on one knee, and said: "The general will see the deputy commander-in-chief."
"There is no need to be so polite between you and me. Get up!" Mao Wenlong raised his right hand to signal Chen Zhong to get up.
"Yes." Chen Zhong agreed and then stood up.
Mao Chenglu on the side said: "Master Chen, you are not supposed to be guarding Tieshan, why are you here on Pi Island? Or is it that Hou Jin attacked Tieshan and Tieshan has been lost?"
Even though they had a great victory in Liaodong on Pidao, they knew in their hearts that it was because Houjin's rear was empty, giving them the opportunity to make a sneak attack, and they got a bargain.
With the strength of Dongjiang Town, they are still no match for Hou Jin. Usually, Dongjiang Town only makes some sneak attacks or uses some underhanded methods to deal with Hou Jin.
If Dongjiang Town really had the strength to confront Hou Jin head-on, they would not have been chased to North Korea by Hou Jin. They did not escape back to Pi Island until Hou Jin retreated.
Chen Zhong looked at Mao Wenlong and said: "In accordance with your instructions, the general has recently begun to limit the number of large trees that the Tiger Character Banner can ask for. Later, the people from the Tiger Character Banner found the general, and the general hid several times. This time it was really I can’t hide, so I have to come to see the Lord and ask for an idea.”
As he spoke, he cupped his fists and saluted Mao Wenlong.
Mao Chenglu, who was standing next to him, said: "I don't think it's a big deal. It's a simple matter. When the people from the Tiger Flag come back, tell them that because of the money, it's getting harder to get the big wood, and the price will have to be increased."
"This..." Chen Zhong hesitated.
The most indispensable thing in Liaodong is the deep mountains and old forests. There are a lot of big trees in the forest. In other places, the big trees can still be worth some money, but in Tieshan, big trees are everywhere in the mountains and plains. They are free things. There are as many as you want, and the most is to cut them down. Take some effort when planting the tree.
But their Dongjiang Town also has no shortage of labor. There are many people who have fled to Dongjiang Town from Liaodong. These people can be used to cut trees. There is no need for their officers and soldiers in Dongjiang Town to cut the trees themselves.
To them in Dongjiang Town, big trees are nothing but white things.
They, Dongjiang Town, used these big trees that didn't cost a penny to exchange for the things Dongjiang Town needed from Hu Ziqi. It was simply a costless business. They could no longer make enough money, but now they have to increase the price of the big trees. To outsiders, this may seem like a snake swallowing an elephant.
Mao Wenlong took a sip of tea and said, "What Chenglu said is very good. If the Tiger Flag people come again, you can tell them that if they want big wood, they have to increase the price. Otherwise, the big wood will not be sold to them in the Tiger Flag in the future."
"Isn't it a little bad?" Chen Zhong said hesitantly, "After all, Damu is in Dongjiang Town, so you can get as much as you want."
"There is nothing wrong with it." Mao Wenlong said, "The big tree is not important to our Dongjiang Town, but it is very important to the Tiger Flag. You have to remember that businessmen pursue profit. If the big tree is not important, the Tiger Flag How could people be willing to exchange grain, iron, salt and other things for big wood?"
"Yes, I understand." Chen Zhong nodded.
Regardless of whether the big wood is worth money or not, Mao Wenlong said that he wanted to increase the price. He knew that he had no choice but to increase the price of the big wood. Moreover, selling the big wood more expensively was a good thing for him and the entire Dongjiang Town. Being able to use the big wood They got more things they needed in Dongjiang Town from Huziqi.
Mao Chenglu said: "Counting the days, the Tiger Flag ship is about to arrive. I don't know if they will bring more food this time. Otherwise, we may not survive this winter."
"Denglai sent a batch of food not long ago." Chen Zhong turned his head and looked at Mao Chenglu.
Although he was guarding Tieshan, he also had sources of information about matters on Kepi Island. Not only he, but also several other Dongjiang Town generals who were guarding other places knew about major events such as Denglai's delivery of grain and grass.
Mao Chenglu said with a dark face: "Don't mention it. Denglai's grandsons are getting more and more excessive. Nearly half of the grain sent this time is mixed with sediment. Most of the remaining grain that is not mixed with sediment is... Some of the old grain has become moldy and has to be thrown away.”
"Is it that serious?" Chen Zhong frowned.
Nowadays, their food and drink in Dongjiang Town mainly depends on the food shipped from Denglai. If there is something wrong with the food sent by Denglai, the entire Dongjiang Town will starve together.
"Otherwise, none of these civil servants are good." Mao Chenglu said bitterly, "We worked hard behind Hou Jin's rear with Hou Jin's people, but those civil servants didn't care about our lives at all, and got some food mixed with sand to make up for the shortage. , they did this without fear of chilling the hearts of our Dongjiang Town soldiers."
Mao Chenglu looked angry.
Chen Zhong looked at Mao Wenlong and said: "Sir, if it is as General Mao said, Denglai sent a batch of grain mixed with sediment, we still have to find a way to solve the matter. If we let it go, Denglai will I’m afraid it will become more and more excessive over there.”
"Do you have any good ideas?" Mao Wenlong asked Xiang Chen Zhong.
Chen Zhong said: "Withholding food and salary is a normal thing in the Ming Dynasty. When the food and salary come out from the Ministry of Household Affairs, part of it is withheld, and then passes through the hands of the Ministry of War, and finally reaches our Dongjiang Town. It can be said that there are layers of deductions, and half of it is given away. It’s already quite rare when you get to Dongjiang Town.”
Mao Wenlong nodded.
He was also very clear about this, otherwise there would not have been so many generals who were on empty pay, many of which were due to insufficient food and pay.
