I learned from the waiter:
Dengzhou has two ports, one is a military port for warships to dock and station troops, and the other is a civilian port for maritime cargo.
The window of Song Che's guest room had a great view of Minggang Pier. It had just suddenly rained, and many cargo ships had returned to the port to take shelter. From this, it seemed that Dengzhou shipping was flowing normally.
But,
"Didn't the imperial court impose a sea ban? Why is Dengzhou's port and terminal still shipping goods?" Song Che asked in confusion.
The waiter lowered his voice and said mysteriously: "Sir, you are an outsider and don't know anything. There has never been a ban on crossing the sea in Dengzhou. We have always been connected with Dijon, Korea, and even the Japanese country overseas. There is trade.”
"oh?"
This is quite crucial information. Song Che quickly asked: "Aren't these cargo ships afraid of being robbed by Japanese pirates?"
The waiter just laughed and said, "This little guy doesn't dare to make any assumptions...but for the people of Dengzhou, it is not a bad thing that there is no sea ban."
As the saying goes, "If you rely on the mountains, you will eat the mountains; if you rely on the sea, you will eat the sea." Shipping is the source of most of the economy in coastal areas.
In fact, ordinary people know very well that private shipping is illegal, but it can make money!
The government turns a blind eye, what can ordinary people say? Just keep your head down and put the money away.
"Sir, please take a rest first. I will take my leave."
The waiter turned around and exited the guest room without giving Song Che a chance to ask any more questions.
Song Che opened the window again. At this time, the rain had gradually subsided, and the port was floating in the mist——
Sudden,
A familiar caravan appeared in sight.
The Jiang family caravan.
There is also an urging sound:
"It's raining less now. Let's move the goods onto the ship quickly. Be careful and don't get wet!"
The bearded bodyguard led a group of dock workers to carry the goods onto the cargo ship in the rain.
Song Che called Nangong Yue and Lu Jingxiang and pointed to the Jiang family caravan unloading goods on the dock:
"Your next task is to keep an eye on the dock. Anyone like the Jiang family who unloads and loads goods at the dock and participates in maritime exports. What kind of business do they do and who do they do business with? After finding out, make a list Give me the list...remember, you have to act in secret and your identity must not be exposed."
"Don't worry, boss, this is our strength."
Nangong Yue and Lu Jingxiang nodded and left.
"Crash..."
It's raining hard again.
The heavy rain continued intermittently until the next morning.
Song Che rented a carriage and, together with Jiang Yuntian, began to visit Dengzhou City.
Anyang Prince's Mansion, Wanshou Palace and Penglai Pavilion are all in the northeast of Dengzhou;
The two ports are in the northwest of Dengzhou;
The entire north side of Dengzhou faces the sea. There are only two city gates, one on the south side and the other on the southwest side. Each gate has 10,000 defenders.
Outside the Wanshou Palace and the Royal Palace, a garrison camp was stationed, guarded by at least 800 elite soldiers.
It takes two-quarters of an hour to reach the Wanshou Palace from the south gate, and half an hour from the southwest gate and the military port to the Wanshou Palace.
The Huainan Navy had cannons at its disposal, so it was easy to break through the gate of Dengzhou City. The garrison at the gate was not a worry, but the biggest trouble was the 100,000 naval troops stationed in the military port.
If Jingdong Navy can be transferred away from the military port, the certainty of capturing the king will be much higher.
However, the military port is an important military area. Don't even approach it. Even if you pass by and take a second look, you will be expelled.
Song Che wandered around the city for three days but couldn't find out any news about the navy.
Nangong Yue and Lu Jingxiang are more powerful. After their investigation, they found out——
In Dengzhou City, there are a total of twenty-three merchants who ignore the maritime ban and illegally smuggle in salt, cloth, tea and other industries;
Among these businessmen, the Jiang family is the leader. They not only monopolize the Dengzhou salt industry, but also the shipping business on the dock;
According to the investigation, the Jiang family would organize a fleet to go to sea every seven days. At that time, each smuggler would load their own goods onto the merchant ship, and then the Jiang family would export them uniformly.
The final destination of the fleet is Dijon on the other side of the Bohai Bay.
The strangest thing is that the dock is always loaded with cargo but never unloaded. The fleet goes out fully loaded but returns empty.
There were more than 20 cargoes on board, and one trip would probably bring in a profit of at least ten thousand taels, but there was not a single cash box to carry off the ship.
Dijon is a nomadic people, and the gold and silver in circulation is very scarce. Doing business with them is often "barter for barter". If so, it is even more impossible to return with an empty ship.
"Is King Anyang paying tribute to Dijon? Want to unite with Dijon to rebel?" Jiang Yuntian guessed.
Song Che immediately shook his head in denial: "King Anyang wouldn't be so stupid as to join forces with foreign enemies to seize his country. Besides, a shipment from the fleet is tens of thousands of taels. How can such a big deal come from a small person like Dengzhou?"
He then asked Xiang Nan Gongyue and Lu Jingxiang: "When the Jiang family's fleet went to sea, did they tie anything to the bow?"
"have!"
Nangong Yue confirmed: "A black flag will be planted every time."
That is related to Japanese pirates.
If the fleet wants to go from Dengzhou to Dijon, it must pass through the Bohai Bay, and most of the northern Japanese pirates gather on the islands and reefs in the bay.
The black flag is equivalent to a passport.
There must be some kind of ulterior secret between Dengzhou, Dijon and the Japanese pirates.
"Oh, why bother? Machiavellian tricks, conspiracies and so on are the most troublesome!"
Jiang Yuntian waved his hand and suggested: "Let me tell you, let's pack up quickly, return to Zhifu Bay immediately, mobilize the Huainan Navy to go straight to Dengzhou, and fight them openly. Although we don't have the advantage in numbers, we have guns and cannons, so it may not be possible." You can’t fight it!”
"Well... we have guns and cannons, but don't forget, there are Dijon, Japanese pirates, and pirates behind us. If we chose war from the beginning, why would I have to come all the way here?"
Song Che turned to look out the window and said slowly: "Don't worry, everything is under my control. Now, there is only one key person left."
Lin Yue,
She must know all this.
In the past few days, Song Che had also thought of many ways to contact her, but the palace was heavily guarded and he could not get in no matter how much money he spent.
Of course, there is another problem that gives him a headache——
Prince Anyang deregistered Lin Yue and was undoubtedly her savior. Princess Han did not dislike her and even recognized her as her sister.
She is a very chivalrous woman who dares to love and hate. She will never betray King Anyang for her own sake.
Since ancient times, it has been difficult to have both loyalty and filial piety.
"Da da da……"
knocking.
"who!"
The four people in the room were immediately alert.
"Sir, it's me."
The waiter's voice came from outside the door. He said: "You have been thinking about Penglai Pavilion. Just now, the government has announced that Penglai Pavilion will be reopened. You can go up to the tower with your friends to play."
After hearing this news, Song Che's eyes lit up.
A brilliant idea came to mind.
