A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 887 Wu Pirates

"It's time to serve food, everyone is lining up,"

The cook with an apron on his waist knocked the rice bucket with a big spoon and shouted loudly, just like when he raised pigs in the Wu family pig farm. When the bucket was knocked, the pigs came around.

But now he no longer feeds the pigs, but becomes the cook in this camp, feeding a group of ferocious pirates from four countries who once roamed the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea.

Gao Meng ranked first,

It's not because he always claims to be Han and his grandfather is Gao Baoning, but because this guy is relatively fierce and famous among pirates. The most important thing is that everyone fell into the hands of the Dengzhou Tang people, but this one was able to get Wu Xianggong. several separate interviews,

Each time, he would be rewarded with a glass of wine and a chicken drumstick.

After doing this several times, this guy's status in the camp has been established. Of course, there are some others who are dissatisfied, especially the Silla pirates, but no matter how the Silla pirates group together or use dirty tricks, they can be said to be shrewd. In terms of cunning and fierceness, Gao Meng is a bit stronger.

Based on this, he became the first person in the camp to serve meals. Of course, the Silla people and Japanese people were not convinced by him, but no one dared to fight.

"Today we will have extra food. As a reward from your husband, I will fill you with rice and add a piece of salted fish for each person."

The pirates who eat rice every day, although they say their lives are saved these days, they are also exhausted from the hard work. They have to learn various rules every day and line up every day. As soon as they stop, they want to lie down to save energy.

Forget about big fish and meat, even a bowl of dry rice is a luxury.

Now when they lie down every day, all they think about is all kinds of delicious food, big fish, big chunks of wine, and women don’t even think about it, and they have no energy.

Gao Meng stood in front of the rice bucket, looked at the rice, and couldn't help but swallow his saliva. This rice was actually brown rice, but the outer shell was peeled off. It was yellow and rough, and it was not very tasty when cooked. For real rice, you need to peel off another layer of rice skin, then it will be soft and fragrant when boiled.

"Excuse me, master," Gao Meng nodded and bowed to the cook. The Bohai pirate, who was once a fierce and unruly pirate who killed many people, now bowed his head to a little cook.

The cook knew this guy and had heard many legends about him. However, he was as docile as a dog and not as ferocious as a wolf. He picked up a big spoon and gave this guy a big spoonful of rice, and actually asked, "Is it enough?" ?”

"Can you add more?" Gao Meng quickly said with a smile, face, face is not as important as life, and it is not as important as filling the stomach. At his age, he is the most able to eat, but he is still a martial arts practitioner. More, just a little porridge every day, it’s like hanging on to one’s life,

His life is still hanging on, but he is getting weaker day by day. If he continues like this, he will be useless.

Gao Meng became famous at sea not only because of his fierceness and daring to fight, but also because of his ability to stretch and bend.

The fat cook gave him a spoonful of rice, then a piece of salted fish, and even an extra spoonful of salted fish soup for him.

This salted fish is extremely salty, but it is actually a good thing because it is salty enough to provide salt, which is the most indispensable thing for people.

It doesn't matter whether it tastes good or not;

If a person does not eat salt for several meals, he will have no strength at all.

far away,

Wu Huaiyu and some people were watching this group of people.

"Alang really wants to use these people? These are all pirates, especially the barbarian pirates. I'm afraid they are all unfamiliar white-eyed wolves raised in a group and will run away as soon as they are released."

"Yeah, it's better to kill them all, or sell them into slavery, to get rid of them once and for all, and avoid future troubles."

Many people around me are trying to persuade them that although these pirates are imprisoned and hungry, they seem to be very honest now, but who will really believe these people.

"It's easy to run away, but I'm afraid it will bite back and bite the master."

Wu Huaiyu smiled.

What everyone said makes sense, but it actually has its own purpose for him to put so much effort into recruiting these people. Just like the sayings of scumbag men in later generations, good girls should not be let down and bad girls should not be wasted.

Of course these barbarian pirates are not good people.

But it’s actually a pretty good knife after you put it to use.

Of course Wu Huaiyu did not want to raise dead soldiers. He wanted to recruit these people for the imperial court to deal with Goguryeo and others in secret. This would not only maintain the safety of Tang ships, Tang people and Tang goods on the northern maritime trade routes of the Tang Dynasty, but also prepare for the future attack on Goguryeo.

Gather intelligence and infiltrate secretly,

and coastal raids, etc.,

It is not convenient for Datang to do these things directly, but it is possible to recruit some pirates and command them secretly.

As for the issue of control,

This is a problem, but it is not a problem. What is considered is the means.

"These people's lives are in our hands now. They are indeed honest, but letting them go will definitely be difficult to control. But in fact," Huaiyu said with a calm face and did not hide his thoughts at all, "In fact, in the final analysis , it’s still a matter of desire,

Why do you think these pirates are becoming thieves? It is estimated that except for a few who are the sons and grandsons of pirates, who inherited the father's business, most of them are also monks halfway. But whether they are forced to go to the sea or something else, embarking on this path is also There is no way,

Of course, there will be some people who are happy to enjoy this kind of life of licking blood on the tip of a knife and living uninhibitedly and freely."

But being a pirate is not really so free. There are also dangers in the pirate business. The government's suppression, the competition among peers, and the work of being a pirate can also make you lose your head at any time.

Everyone has desires. In addition to living, they also have many thoughts. The pirates caught in Dengzhou Port this time were actually not caught in Dengzhou to rob. They were either pretending to be businessmen to trade, or they were here to sell their dirty goods. , or come for smuggling,

In short, it's all for the benefit,

No one dared to come directly to Datang to plunder, let alone cause trouble in Dengzhou Port.

They come to Dengzhou Port for needs. In addition to selling dirt and smuggling, some of them actually come to Dengzhou Port to rest, consume and enjoy themselves.

It's safer and more prosperous here. You can still enjoy it after making money.

Many pirates even regard this place as a safe haven. They come here to take a vacation and relax after doing a few jobs, while repairing their ships and buying some equipment.

So for Wu Huaiyu, there are actually many ways to control those pirates because of demand.

"We can cooperate with these pirates,"

Yes, it is cooperation. Wu Huaiyu does not intend to simply recruit and control them and make them completely obey his orders, but to cooperate and each will get what they need.

The pirates secretly became a non-staff team of the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty would give them some tasks, such as uncovering the intelligence of the four countries in the East and West, etc., but there would not be too many excessive demands.

They are still free to plunder and plunder in the Haidong Four Kingdoms, but they are no longer allowed to rob Tang Dynasty ships, and are not allowed to harm Tang people.

In return, the Tang Dynasty would secretly cooperate with them, such as purchasing the people, livestock, merchant ships, etc. they had plundered. For example, it would provide them with some safe harbors, islands, and rest camps for them to rest.

You can even sell them ships, weapons, etc., provide them with some intelligence support, and even actively support them in secret smuggling.

Of course, these Tang Dynasties must also get benefits, and even get the big head.

But again, everyone is in a cooperative relationship.

It's just that this cooperation means that these pirates are attached to the Tang Dynasty.

By cooperating with the Tang Dynasty, they will continue to be pirates and have a bright future. The journey will be smooth, and they will be able to exchange their guns for cannons immediately. The Tang Dynasty can even lend them money to buy ships and equipment, and provide them with some goods for smuggling in Haidong.

There is no need to worry about other acquisitions of stolen goods, etc.

If you get tired in Haidong or are being hunted down, you can always come to Dengzhou for a rest and vacation.

If any pirates are disabled or old, Datang will also allow them to come to Datang to buy property for retirement, and even promises to ensure their safety.

Such cooperation

The pirate is not moved?

Everyone felt incredible after hearing this. After all, pirates are no different from mountain bandits and horse bandits. Everyone shouts that they are beaten.

Even if they are pirates from other countries, they are still thieves.

But in Wu Xianggong's case, how come these pirates turned out to be treasures?

Everyone is smart, and they figured it out in a blink of an eye. Indeed, if this group of pirates can really cooperate, wouldn't they become non-staff mercenaries of the Tang Dynasty?

This is his arsenic and my honey.

······

Gao Meng ate two bowls of rice and felt more satisfied than ever before. The salted fish soup mixed with rice was really delicious. Every big mouthful he took made him feel happy both physically and mentally.

He didn't even want to spit out the salted fish bones. After finishing his meal, he took the fish bone bones and chewed them bit by bit, slowly savoring them.

"Gao Meng!"

A command.

Gao Meng stood up as if on conditioned reflex, standing as straight as a gun, "Here we come!"

"Mr. Wu wants to see you, come with me."

When Gao Meng heard this, he quickly put the half-chewed fish bone spur into his pocket, wiped his hands on his clothes, and followed him, very obediently.

He followed the people to a room,

There was a table of wine and food inside, and a group of people were eating and drinking around the table.

He secretly glanced at the table. There was good wine and good food, including sea cucumbers roasted with green onions, steamed prawns, braised hairtail, and then a pot of kelp stewed pig's trotters...

Of course, Gao Meng could often eat these things in the past, but he has been very hungry recently. When he saw these things, his mouth started to water.

Wu Huaiyu drank kelp soup, which was quite delicious. It is still a tribute. Even on the coast, not everyone can eat it, and it is even rarer for people in the mainland.

Kelp and kelp have a common family, Laminariaceae, but they have different families, one is Laminariaceae, and the other is Pterospermaceae. Kelp is not as long, wide, and not as thick as kelp, and it is even classified as a traditional Chinese medicinal material.

Gao Meng stood there respectfully and honestly.

Wu Huaiyu slowly drank the kombu soup and occasionally chatted with the people at the table.

After finally finishing the soup, Wu Huaiyu seemed to remember this person and turned to look at him.

"You will go out to sea with me later, to Qingnipu," Huaiyu tapped his fingers on the table, "If you behave well this time, then I will consider returning your ship and people to you, or even give them to you again. Several boats and people are under your command.”

Gao Meng quickly expressed his loyalty, "Gao Meng is very grateful to the Prime Minister for his kindness to Gao Meng. He is as kind as his parents and can be appreciated by the Prime Minister. Gao Meng will be the Prime Minister's dog from now on and will be loyal to him."

Huaiyu smiled and said, "Loyalty is not something you can say with words, and if you pass the test, you will not work for me in the future, but for the imperial court and the Tang Dynasty."

(End of this chapter)