The wind blows from the South Sea

Chapter 24 Undercurrent
  dark night
  The old palace square was noisy and lively for a long time with the Nanyang Company's mules and horse caravans setting up camp. It was not until after the meal that the large group of people took a rest and then calmed down.

All kinds of malicious prying eyes that appeared in the surrounding area were hidden in the darkness, but they did not disappear.

In the seemingly calm night, there seems to be a disturbing throbbing hidden, that kind of wild restlessness brewing silently...

The arrival of the Nanyang Company's mules and horses caravan broke the originally peaceful balance, just like a beast in the forest invading another beast's territory, which would inevitably lead to a fight between dragons and tigers.

Every town and village near the interior of Java Island belongs to different indigenous tribes. These tribes are strong and weak and do not like to be disturbed by outsiders.

Because it is located on an important transportation road, the Yousuf family entrenched in Yanwang City is a typical local powerful.

Just like a tiger with a strong sense of territory, it will never watch another tiger hunt on its own territory. This is the most difficult place to open a trade route.

After dark, a piece of good news is comforting;
  The two carts of mules and horses and a dozen men who had been stranded in the small town of Luopu earlier to sell goods returned smoothly after nightfall, which made Feng Guohui let out a long sigh of relief.

It would be a lie to say that you are not worried. It is always better to have less trouble.

According to Captain He Qiang who led the team;

After the mule and horse caravan left, the old local tribal chief in Lopu Town once appeared and invited him with a good attitude. He was mainly worried about the sudden appearance of the Nanyang Company.

This is also a common concern among local small and medium-sized indigenous tribes. If there is such a big commotion, they are afraid that the white colonial government will go to war again, or do something else?

I can't figure it out, it can be said that I can't sleep on the pillow.

Captain He Qiang, through an interpreter who was familiar with the indigenous language, explained to the old chief that the Nanyang Company's request to open up a trade road was a thing that was beneficial to both parties.

The mountain people in the town can barter to obtain urgently needed iron tools, daily products, needles, threads and other commodities, and sell their excess agricultural products and mountain products to improve their lives.

The southern trade route will be opened in the future

Nanyang Company will have one or two caravans passing through the small town of Luopu every week, which will become a norm and bring much-needed supplies to this relatively isolated small town.

The indigenous tribes can exchange money, salt, iron tools, and even pay some fees. They can follow the caravan to Surabaya City or other inland towns, which makes life and transportation much more convenient.

Through this explanation
  Having eliminated some barriers, it finally alleviated some of the old chief's concerns. It can also be seen that he is not completely relieved, but he is powerless to stop it.

This is the current situation of the local small and medium-sized indigenous tribes. Facing the powerful Nanyang Company's mules and horses caravan, which is almost armed to the teeth, even if they want to stop it, they are powerless.

Some bandit gangs of thirty or fifty people did not dare to show their faces at all.

They are not stupid either. With this little strength, it is not enough to fill the gap between the teeth of Nanyang Company's armed mules and horses caravan.

in the past

There are also many mules and horses on the road, most of which are transporting output from plantations and mines in the hinterland, including spices, coffee, tea, tobacco, cane sugar, corn, peanuts, kapok, oil palm, and cocoa. Tropical specialty crops such as lead and aluminum ore will pass through the town of Lopu.

However, these freight teams only transported specialty tropical crops for sale. Some were escorted by the Dutch colonial government troops, such as spices, coffee, cocoa tea and other goods. They were bulk goods that Westerners attached great importance to, and they were also tropical specialties widely grown in inland plantations.

Some are privately armed escorts from indigenous tribes, transporting local specialties to Surabaya City for sale, mostly agricultural products such as rice, kapok, and peanuts.

These large teams of mules and horses do not sell goods locally, nor do they engage in barter trade.

In a small place like Luopu Town, there is no way to stay, and naturally there is no benefit.

After listening to Captain He Qiang's report, Feng Guohui reached out and patted He Qiang's shoulder with a relieved expression and said;
  "You and the guys have worked hard, there will be more of this kind of thing in the future.

You need to be patient when opening new trade routes, avoid conflicts, and minimize the use of force.

This was done very well. The local small and medium-sized indigenous tribes mainly used force to intimidate them, and they did business and anger to make money.

Take your brothers down to rest early. Yanwang City is a tough place and tomorrow will be very hard. You need to be mentally prepared to do things. "

"I understand, Master Ding. Brothers are absolutely unambiguous in what they do."

"Well, let's go."

"Master, please rest early. I'll take my leave." He Qiang saluted with his hands clasped in fists, then turned and left.

In the inn

The dim butter lamp reflected the clear outline of Feng Guohui's face in uncertain light and shade. He slowly exhaled a breath and looked at the dark sky outside the inn with deep eyes.

this moment

His eyes were so bright and firm, and he said to himself: "The tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop. If that's the case... let's see who is the real hero, right?"

A mansion somewhere in Yanwang City
  The mansion is furnished with typical Chinese family furnishings. In the middle is a desk where ancestors are enshrined. On either side of the desk are two antique Taishi chairs, one on the left and one on the right. There are two rows of chairs facing each other at the bottom, with people sitting on the chairs. This is the Wang Fugui family who runs the grain and oil business in Yanwang City. They are quite influential among the local Chinese and are considered the most prominent figures after the Yusuf family.

At this moment, Wang Fugui was holding a greeting card in his hand, with the words "Yours sincerely, Feng Guohui, Manager of Nanyang Company" written on his head, which made him look very struggling.

My family knew their own affairs, Yanwang City was already an inland city, and the local Chinese population accounted for only about 10% of the city's population, and most of them were merchants and salesmen.

In terms of strength, it is far inferior to the Yusuf family.

"Mother, this matter is really difficult." Wang Fugui frowned and looked at the head of the altar table.

Sitting on the Taishi chair on the other side is a kind-hearted old lady. She wears a brocade phoenix-patterned headband, her gray hair is neatly combed, and her bun is decorated with gold mandarin ducks and blue gemstones. .

Wearing a Manchu style coat made of brocade, with wide sleeves reaching to the wrist, he looks elegant and luxurious.

This is Wang Lin, the real talker of the Wang family. She is a high-ranking lady from the famous Lin family in Java Island. She is literate and eloquent.

The Wang family's development from a merchant family to the present is inseparable from Wang Lin's hard work.

Wang Lin held the Buddhist beads in her hand and turned them slowly. She did not rush to respond to her son Wang Fugui's words, but turned her eyes to the group of people sitting below.

Facing the majestic gaze of the old lady, the nephews and nephews of the shopkeepers below all shrank their heads and remained silent, which made her greatly disappointed.

Among the nephews and nephews of the Wang family, there are no talented people!

a little silent
  Wang Lin said with a dignified expression;

"You gentlemen are in charge of things outside. You always have to come up with a charter when you encounter something. You can't rely on my old lady to take care of everything. What's this?"

"Mother, this Nanyang Company is not simple. It is a remnant of long-haired people. It caused a big commotion in Surabaya City. I heard that hundreds of people in the water house were exterminated at once. They are very ruthless and should not be offended easily. !”

"According to what you say, then our Wang family can afford to offend the Yusuf family?"

"Uh... Mother, of course we can't afford to offend our little arms and legs." Wang Fugui smiled as he was speechless.

After thinking for a while, he could only bite the bullet and continue; "The invitation from Nanyang Company came to my door. If I refused without being allowed in, I would be afraid that it would arouse the jealousy of these killers. If this causes any trouble, I can It would be a disaster.”

This is obviously forcing someone to take sides, and choosing one side will definitely offend the other.

Wang Lin looked at her eldest son's helpless appearance and sighed sadly. Years of business career had smoothed Wang Fugui's edges and made them smooth.

Businessmen value profits over righteousness, and their timidity becomes more and more obvious.

But she couldn't blame her for this. Which Chinese family living overseas didn't think about themselves first?

After careful consideration

Wang Lin then said;
  "I, the Wang family, have been in business for generations. One more friend and one more path, it's not about taking sides.

I can send someone to visit the Yusuf family early tomorrow morning and take the initiative to explain to the Yusuf family in detail today’s submission from the Nanyang Company, and make it clear that my royal family has no intention of becoming an enemy and that we cherish the friendship we have had with the Yusuf family for many years.

We are both in Yanwang City, and we hope we can continue to cooperate closely in the future. It is only right to help each other.

As for Nanyang Company, it is just a polite visit and does not involve anything else. Please understand. "

Did Wang Fugui listen? He just nodded frequently. Hearing what Wang Lin said, he paused and asked smoothly, "Mother, how about the reply from Nanyang Company?"

Mrs. Wang Lin had a headache when she saw her son's lack of progress, but she didn't show it at all on her face. She just continued, "Why do you have to wait for someone to come to your door? You can take your two nephews to visit you tomorrow. After all, they are of Chinese descent. Nanyang Company came to Yanwang City to pay a courtesy visit, and no one can say anything."

"Oh, I understand. This can not only reduce the suspicion of the Yusuf family, but also eliminate the risk of either/or. Wonderful...it is indeed wonderful!" Wang Fugui solved this thought and couldn't help but smile on his face. meaning.

His performance made everyone in the hall heave a long sigh of relief, and free compliments immediately came flooding in.

Wang Fugui cupped his hands with a smile on his face. Then he thought of something and asked again, "Mother, if Nanyang Company mentions joining forces during our visit, how should the child respond?"

"Let's deal with the small things. I'll explain the big things first. I'm a little tired. Let's go." Wang Lin felt depressed in her heart and responded casually.

Then he stood up, and two pretty little girls on the left and right beside him hurriedly came up to help him, and headed towards the back hall.

This night

Several powerful Chinese families in Yanwang City all had trouble sleeping and eating because they received invitations from Nanyang Company. They knew that a storm was coming.

(End of this chapter)