Da Ming started to ascend the throne

Chapter 554 Ximen Qing

As a Chinese who led the uprising, Zhang Shantang knew very well how important weapons were to them.

The Spanish colonists had very strict control over firearms. As long as they found someone hiding firearms in their home, the whole family would be brutally killed. They didn't care about killing by mistake.

In their eyes, the Chinese are the lambs they raise. When there is no money to spend, they will cut a wave of wool.

Zhan Zhao had said just now that they had prepared firearms, but Zhang Shantang didn't think there would be too many, at most dozens of muskets.

There are more than 100 employees in the Zhang Family Manor, in fact, more than 100 Ding, and these people are soldiers recruited from the Ming Dynasty.

More precisely, they were those guard soldiers who couldn't survive and fled in the end.

The Zhang family didn't have any firearms, but they secretly hid some big knives, which were all secretly forged in the lowlands. These colonists would come to clean them up from time to time, and Zhang Shantang had already prepared for this.

Zhang Shantang asked Zhan Zhao:

"My lord, we are young and strong, and there are at least 1 Chinese with combat effectiveness. However, the colonists not only have guns but also cannons. If they really encircle and suppress us, our chances of success are still very slim. I don't know what you can do for them." How many weapons do we provide?"

Zhan Zhao smiled slightly:
"Master Zhang, don't worry, the day before yesterday we used a special method to send food as an excuse to quietly pull a batch of firearms. As long as you are willing to cooperate, it is not a big problem to guard the Liu Family Manor.

Now the most important thing is to see how you gather the Chinese. If you blatantly gather the Chinese, it will definitely attract the attention of the Spanish colonists. I am worried that they will start early. "

Liu Ran stood up and cupped his hands:

"My lord, don't worry. Just name it my father's birthday. It shouldn't be a big problem. In the past, many Chinese came to celebrate my father's birthday."

Zhan Zhao nodded:
"Okay, then make a decision like this, and start action tomorrow morning."

As soon as everyone discussed it, the servant came in and reported:

"My lord, there are people coming outside again, people from the church."

"Someone from the church? What are they going to do? Could they be here to inquire about something?"

Hearing people coming from the church, everyone became nervous. After all, Zhang Shantang had passed through a big scene. After a while, he calmed down and clasped his fists at everyone present:

"Let's avoid it in the inner room for the time being, and Zhang will see who is sacred."

"Okay, let's avoid it for now, Brother Zhang must be careful."

Everyone retreated to the inner room immediately, leaving only Zhang Shantang's family in the living room, and the teacups that everyone drank just now were also removed together.

Seeing that there were no traces left, Zhang Shantang got up and walked out of the hall to greet him in person.

At this time, there was a middle-aged Chinese standing in front of Zhang's house. Judging from his attire, he was obviously a person of status in Luzon.

When Zhang Shantang saw this person, a smile immediately appeared on his face. This person was Ximen Qing, who joined the church very early and had a good relationship with the archbishop. He was also a middleman in the trade between Chinese and Westerners, and they had known each other for a long time.

Because Ximenqing has contacts in both Luzon and Ming Dynasty, merchants in Ming Dynasty usually use him to introduce them when doing business with the West. He does not have a physical company or store, and only charges referral fees.

Because of the large amount of trade, Ximen Qing made a lot of money and had a great influence in the local area. Almost everyone, whether Chinese, indigenous or Spanish colonists, knew him.

Because he has a good relationship with the Spanish archbishop, almost no one in Luzon would easily offend him. In Luzon, the archbishop has almost more influence than the governor.

The governor is mainly engaged in politics, while the archbishop mainly manages the congregation in Luzon. You must know that in Luzon, almost all the indigenous people have joined the Catholic Church.

As soon as the archbishop makes an order, tens of thousands of people will move upon hearing the news. It can be said that the actual power of the archbishop is even higher than that of the governor.

Ximenqing's sudden visit today made Zhang Shantang's heart jump wildly. Could it be that the uprising has been brought to light?In any case, let's welcome Ximen Qing to the living room first.

"Hahaha, I didn't know that the officials from Ximen came here, but Zhang was late to greet him, so he went to Haihan!"

Ximen Daguanren is what the Chinese call Ximen Qing, and he himself doesn't care about these things, but is very satisfied with the title of Daguanren.

I don't know if he doesn't know Ximen Qing well, or he still thinks the name Ximen Qing is very domineering, so he chose this name.

Seeing the Patriarch of the Zhang family coming out to greet him in person, Ximen Qing also showed a smile, walked quickly a few steps to Zhang Shantang, clasped his fists and said with a smile:

"Ximenqing took the liberty to visit, and he also hoped that the Zhang family master will be happy."

"What's the matter, please come inside quickly, the senior officials from Ximen are coming to the humble house, the Zhang family is full of splendor, please come inside quickly."

The two walked into the hall politely to each other, Zhang Shantang immediately ordered his servants to serve tea, but Ximen Qing waved his hands and said:

"Zhangjiazhuang, the matter is urgent. I will leave after a few words. If I have a chance, I will drink tea again. I just got bad news. The colonists are going to attack the Chinese again. You'd better organize your compatriots to avoid the limelight.

I heard that it will start in three days at the earliest. It has been two days tonight, and there is nothing I can do about it. I can only tell you the news. I am about to leave Manila overnight by boat. "

Sure enough, Ximen Qing's news should be accurate. Zhang Shantang has no doubts about this. After all, his family has a wide network.

I heard that this person has a good relationship with the archbishop, so he should not be implicated. Even he had to flee overnight. It seems that this time is more serious than the previous few times.

Zhang Shantang felt that the Spaniards should have blocked the port, and it would be difficult for Ximen Qing to get out of Manila, so he reminded him kindly:

"Thank you for the reminder, senior officials. In my opinion, it is best for senior officials to stay and deal with these thugs with us. Since they are ready to attack, they will never let you leave Luzon."

Ximen Qing was taken aback:
"No wonder you were not surprised at all when you heard the news. Brother Zhang also got the news. Do you think it would be useful for us to fight against the colonists together? Personally, I feel that it is all futile, so I might as well go for it."

Zhang Shantang sighed:

"There is no other way but to try. We have to believe that the Ming army will not ignore this matter. As long as they are willing to save us, Zhang feels that it is worth fighting for."

Ximen Qing pondered for a while, and immediately made a decision:

"Okay, I originally planned to go to Huangming Island quietly. There are my good friends there. Since Brother Zhang and you have already made plans, I will not leave. What are you going to do? If there is a place that needs me, Ximen Qing will die , we Chinese should rise up and resist.”

It turned out that Ximenqing had overheard the conversation between the archbishop and the governor. The content of the conversation made him feel that the world fell instantly, and the colonists actually wanted to encourage the aborigines and Japanese vagrants to massacre the Chinese.

Don't think that if you have a good relationship with the Archbishop, you can just ask him to let you go. After dealing with Westerners for so many years, Ximen Qing understands the psychology of these foreign devils best.

In their eyes, there is only interest and no friendship at all, and they believe that they have only a dead end, so he rushed to the Zhang family overnight, trying to use the prestige of the Zhang family to remind the Chinese to pay attention to safety.

(End of this chapter)