The wind blows from the South Sea

Chapter 21 Chinatown Attack
  "Second brother, Feng Guohui's Nanyang Company is really special. It makes me feel different, just like...the army in the novel is going out. What a handsome boy!"

Seeing that the caravan of mules and horses had gradually gone away, Qiao Peiyun's excited face still did not retreat. She couldn't help but grab the arm of her second brother Qiao Zhongxing and chirped.

Qiao Zhongxing had no choice but to be pestered by his little sister, so he said smoothly: "Little sister, don't be crazy, he is trying to save people? Yong'an Mansion, that's where the long-haired rebels gather, how can you get this one?" What’s so special about the team?”

"I hate it. I don't like how you keep saying that people with long hair are rebels. The Manchu and Qing Tatars have never treated us Han children as equals. Why can't we rebel against them?"

"Hey... little sister, unexpectedly, someone said something bad about my brother. I'm going to be unhappy."

"Second brother, don't talk nonsense. What does it mean to love unexpected people? I don't have any!" Qiao Peiyun's face turned red and she refused to admit it.

Qiao Zhongxing is also slow in this regard. He has already decided to marry Lin Wan'er, the second daughter of the Lin family in Surabaya City, in the spring of next year, and there are only more than four months left.

This is the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker.

Qiao Zhongxing met Lin Wan'er once five or six years ago. At that time, Lin Wan'er was still young, and her impression was that she was a beautiful and lively little girl with a well-educated and well-behaved family.

Others are completely unimpressive.

Growing up, Qiao Zhongxing abided by etiquette and never fell in love. He immersed himself in the ocean of the Four Books and Five Classics and accumulated profound knowledge.

He is a nerd when it comes to things between men and women.

Qiao Zhongxing only wanted to wait until the chaos of the Long-haired Bandits was over, then go to the mainland of China to study and further his studies, and continue to obtain merit and fame, hoping to fulfill his long-cherished wish of one day being named on the gold medal list.

Hearing that Qiao Peiyun refused to admit it, Qiao Zhongxing's stubborn temper came back again. He looked at his little sister and said with wide eyes;

“Little sister, don’t taint someone’s innocence.

If it hadn't been for your repeated begging, I wouldn't have taken you out early to watch the excitement before dawn. Could it be that I was asking for trouble?
  Now that it's winter and the breeze is blowing, wouldn't it be nice to sleep on a high bed? "

"I hate it, I won't tell you anymore. I don't have one anyway." Qiao Peiyun was scolded by her second brother, and when she saw the strange looks from the people around her, she was immediately ashamed.

So he turned around in anger and got into the carriage first.

Qiao Zhongxing couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and could only shake his head helplessly and said: "I am also crazy, and I actually reasoned with a woman."

After he finished speaking, he made a respectful bow with the people around him and apologized first, and then he also boarded the carriage.

The Huang family's four-wheeled carriage cracked its whip and quickly drove away from the street...

In a large house by the north dock of Surabaya City

Hu Zhenlei, the patriarch of the Hu family, is a tall and powerful middle-aged man. His face is dark red and has deep wrinkles that have been blown by the sea breeze all year round. People can recognize him at a glance as an old sea wolf.

The Hu family's main business is offshore shipping. Starting from Hu Zhenlei's grandfather's generation, relying on a small sampan and several nephews and brothers, they braved the storms of life and death and accumulated the family business bit by bit.

By the time of Hu Zhenlei's generation, the Hu family already owned seven sailing cargo ships, large and small, and operated maritime transportation trade from Surabaya to Batavia, Semarang, and as far away as Singapore, which had become a trend.

In the living room

According to the traditional Chinese style, the top is a long confessional table, with ancestors' tablets, incense candles, melons and fruits, and people burn incense and pray every day to pray for the blessing of their ancestors.

On the wall where the confession was made, there was a large Western color painting hanging, showing a thin, black old man with gray hair sitting in a sitting position.

Among these families who seek the sea, the traditional concepts are more superstitious and conservative. Burning incense and worshiping ancestors every day is the most important thing, and there is no room for any mistakes.

There are two traditional Taishi chairs on the left and right of the confession room. Hu Zhenlei sits in the top position on the left, and his third brother Hu Zhenting, who is also an old sea wolf with a dark face and a thin face, sits on the right.

The two rows of seats below were full of people, and every man had an air of sea breeze that could not be concealed. He looked tough, with the kind of vigor that had been baptized in blood.

In this era, there was no such thing as regular ship transportation. When necessary, they turned into pirates. This is why sea-seekers are called "sea wolves".

If you don't kill someone, someone else will kill you.

"Gao Laohua", the seat of Heantang Hall, was sitting at the head of a row of chairs on the west side of the lower end. He was introducing Nanyang Company's activities during this period until the ceremony was over.

After talking non-stop for half an hour, he stopped, picked up the tea cup next to him, and took two sips to moisten his throat.

Everyone in the hall remained silent while listening to "Gao Laohua"'s introduction, and the atmosphere seemed very solemn. This is the consistent style of the Hu clan members in discussing matters.

There are many rules, women are not allowed to participate in discussions, and they are not even allowed to set foot in the main and guest rooms.

If you dare to violate it, your legs will be broken immediately.

"Gao Laohua has said so much. It seems that the Nanyang Company, a cross-river dragon, will take root in Surabaya City. They are completely different from the gangsters we have encountered before. They act in a very orderly manner. What do you think?"

Hu Zhenlei, the leader of the clan, looked around and asked in a low voice.

Opposite Gao Laohua, Hu Huadong, who was also sitting first on the east side of the row of chairs, clasped his hands and said;
  "We have also found out the details of this Nanyang Company. The leader, Feng Guohui, and others were aboard the British brigantine cargo ship "Blackbeard Bronson" 21 days ago and had just arrived at Surabaya Port.

It is said that there are still twenty or thirty companions in Manila.

When I first came

We thought it was a "piggy" brought in by a British ghost, so we didn't pay attention. Unexpectedly, it suddenly became big.

Judging from their actions, they have no regard for the rules of the world and are very decisive in their attacks. This is indeed the consistent style of the long-haired remnants.

As for whether it can take root in Surabaya City, it is too early to judge.

That old ghost Huang Zonghan is narrow-minded and will retaliate for his grievances. He cannot be indifferent after suffering such a big loss. He must take action. "

"That's right, Mr. Huang is a man who has to take a bite of the stuff that passes by the dung truck. This guy is always on the street. How many losses have we suffered at his hands over the years?"

"Shuifang and Shunhaitang are the right-hand men of the Huang family. Most of the unscrupulous and smoky business of selling pig flowers and cigarettes relies on these two halls. Now that they have completely stopped, it is not very satisfying."

"Old Ghost Huang must not have held it in well. Just wait and see if Nanyang Company can survive this."

"Dog bites dog, a bunch of people are on the streets."

The nephews and nephews who can sit in the Hu family's meeting hall are at least a captain. They have dozens or hundreds of people under their command, and they are the backbone of the family.

Even if he is absent, the position must be vacant.

Hu Huadong is Hu Zhenlei's eldest son and the young patriarch. Now he is only 31 years old, and his face looks dark and thin, much older than his actual age, and he is quite calm and sophisticated.

After everyone discussed it, most people agreed not to intervene and just watch the show from the other side. Anyway, neither side is a good thing.

The patriarch Hu Zhenlei turned to look at the third brother Hu Zhenting. Seeing that he shook his head and was not interested, he asked, "Huadong, is this what you mean too?"

Hu Huadong raised his thick eyebrows, shook his head and replied;

"No, father, I think we should sell one to Nanyang Company to remind them of Huang Laogui's dirty tricks."

"Oh...why?" Hu Zhenlei, the patriarch, was immediately interested.

Hu Huadong said with his hands clasped in fists;

“Father, third uncle, brothers;
  The old ghost Huang has ruined many things for us over the years. He has repeatedly reported to the red ghost guys that my Hu family sells contraband spices, robs friendly ships, dominates offshore trade routes, hides weapons, and has evil intentions. If it weren’t for several major hemorrhages, our Hu family would have been able to add at least five more large sailing cargo ships. How could we forget these grudges?
  Jufan Huang Laogui's plan will never let him get his way. This is one of them.

Secondly, if Nanyang Company can open up the land transportation lines in the south and west, it can sell mountain products, natural rubber, aluminum ingots and lead blocks, coffee beans, tea, cane sugar, corn, peanuts and kapok, oil palm and cocoa from the mainland. , all of which are in high demand when shipped to Singapore.

This is good for us. After all, Nanyang Company takes the land route and my Hu family takes the sea route.

The road is facing the sky, go to one side.

Thirdly, Nanyang Company is not easy to deal with. Even if Huang Laogui can gather a crowd to kill Wilson Dao and these people, he cannot completely eradicate Nanyang Company.

The branches and leaves are damaged, but the main trunk is still there.

Once the Nanyang Company returns with its troops and sees that things have changed in Surabaya City, there will definitely be another more brutal battle.

If we can take the opportunity to hurt the foundation of the Huang family, I, the Hu family, can't help but take action. I have been enduring the old ghost Huang for a long time.

Take advantage of his illness and kill him. "

His words aroused the excitement of all the brothers of the Hu family, and they all cheered loudly.

When it comes to fighting and killing, the Huang family is far behind the Hu family. Which of the brothers here has no life on his hands, and who has not experienced the baptism of blood?
  The people who seek the sea are all straight-tempered, and the Huang family has always been firmly suppressing the Hu family, just because they can't defeat Old Ghost Huang through their intrigues, and they often suffer big losses.

If you don't want to rebel, you can only knock out your teeth and swallow blood.

After a long time, the breath that is held in my heart needs to be released, how can I not feel excited?

At this moment

The third uncle Hu Zhenting, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "East China, what if the Nanyang Company cannot survive this disaster this time and is completely destroyed?"

Ah...how is that possible?

There was a moment of silence in the meeting hall. The throats of everyone who had just been having a heated discussion seemed to be blocked, and their eyes were all focused on the third uncle Hu Zhenting.

Even Hu Huadong couldn't believe it. Nanyang Company was not a soft persimmon.

His armed mules and horses caravan has nearly 400 people. They have knives and guns. They are very powerful in combat. They are born as shaggy remnants and are best at fighting on the battlefield.

Even if the Hu family takes action, without twice the manpower, they dare not say that they can defeat the Nanyang Company's armed caravan.

After hesitating for a moment, Hu Huadong seemed to have thought of something and asked in an uncertain tone: "Uncle Third, did you hear something?"

"That's right, the Huang family spent tens of thousands of silver coins to get a batch of arms from the British ghost guy, and most of them were given to the old indigenous ghost Irwandi Yusuf. He can hide it from the Nanyang Company, but You can't hide it from our spies." The third uncle Hu Zhenting told this shocking news without changing his expression.

For a moment, everyone was in an uproar.

why?
  There is no competitive relationship between the Chinese and the Dutch Red Devils, but a relationship of dependence. The interaction between the upper class has little impact on the middle and lower class Chinese people.

However, the hostile relationship between the Chinese and the local indigenous people was that of enslavers and enslaved people, which resulted in tense relations between the two parties and sharp opposition at all levels.

Hu Huadong never expected that Huang Laogui would reach this point without a bottom line and dare to unite with the indigenous people to deal with the Chinese.

This is no longer a struggle among the Chinese people, but a willingness to act as an outsider and unite with the indigenous people to deal with the Chinese people in Chinatown.

Once the news is confirmed, the Huang family will have no place in Surabaya Chinatown and even Java Island, and will be despised by everyone.

Hu Huadong cursed angrily, "This old guy Hu is really bad. He has pus on his soles and sores on his head. Does he want to extirpate himself from Chinatown?"

"Hmph, what do you think? Old Ghost Huang can't get back the territory of Wilson Road. If one of the two powerful men is killed and the other is disabled, the influence of the entire Huang family will plummet. Isn't it more uncomfortable than death?" The third uncle Hu Zhenting said with a cold smile. .

He looked at the clan leader Hu Zhenlei, who also nodded and said;

"That's right, this move is to put oneself to death and survive.

When the bully came to his door, Huang Laogui never expected that the Nanyang Company's counterattack would be so sharp, so deadly, and so bloody, beating the entire Shuifangtang to ashes.

Things have come to this, and I want to make a comeback.

With Huang Laogui's insidious and vicious personality, he must have planned carefully and would not leave Nanyang Company the opportunity to fight again in another place.

It is because we know the nature of Old Ghost Huang and have suffered enough from him that I, the Hu clan, keep a close eye on him and not let go of his every move.

Donghua, you must leave three points of leeway when doing things.

Nowadays, the Huang family and Nanyang Company are locked in an everlasting knot that no one can untie.

How should we deal with this situation? "

Hu Zhenlei was carefully cultivating his eldest son Hu Huadong. The people of Lao Hu's clan were all outspoken and outspoken, and they ignored their passion, and they really suffered a lot for this.

Including Hu Zhenlei himself, after becoming the clan leader, he also suffered a lot from the Qiao, Huang, and Lin families, and gradually developed a more cautious temperament.

Internal strife among Chinese families is common. Whenever the Hu family develops rapidly and shows signs of catching up, other families will always take action to suppress it.

Three generations have been in business for more than 70 years, and the Hu family can only be ranked third among the four major families. Consider that they are engaged in the extremely profitable offshore shipping industry. Not without reason.

In the past, Huang Zonghan often laughed at Hu Zhenlei;
  "Please, Boss Hu, when you work on the shore, you have to be smart, follow the rules, and play the game. It's not just fighting and killing on the sea. If it's all that simple, the indigenous monkeys can also be the kings of the mountains."

There was silence in the meeting hall. These weather-beaten and tough men were all scratching their heads, unable to come up with any reliable ideas.

This is too overwhelming for them.

Heantang's "Gao Laohua" who was sitting in the restaurant was also confused. He was a gangster strongly supported by the Huang family. He was the second brother of the Hu family. Because he was tall and thin, people in the world called him "Gao Laohua".

Most of his men are laborers who live in slums and earn a living on the docks. They are relatively poor in the eyes of the big gangs, because they do not sell pig flowers and tobacco for huge profits, but just earn a living through hard work.

If it's a Jianghu matter, we can't go to war.

The intrigues of the Chinese forces discussed today are beyond the limit for Gao Laohua, and he can't say anything.

It's okay if others can't think of it, but Hu Huadong can't. After all, he is the young patriarch of the Hu family, and he will carry the entire family on his shoulders in the future.

a moment of silence
  Hu Huadong was also confused by his thoughts. He simply patted the wooden chair handle and said loudly;
  "Mother Pu, if you ask me, I'd better inform Nanyang Company. Anyway, it's a cost-effective thing, so at least I'll leave you some love first.

If the Nanyang Company guys can get through this dangerous shoal, I'll give them a high look.

If we can't get through, Huang Laogui and the native monkeys will have to pay more, which is also a situation that my Hu family is willing to see, so it's settled. "

"Okay, just do as Hua Dong said." Hu Zhenlei, the patriarch, said with approval.

In fact, he himself couldn't decide which direction to take in this matter for a long time. Thinking of his head pain, he simply blamed it on his son.

Such a result seems to have no hindrance to the Hu family.

(End of this chapter)