Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 696 Zheng Bao's War and Peace
Zheng Bao gave Wang You the title of master despite his disappointment—at least Wang You still has a record of management copywriting, and Zheng Bao also lacks such talents.Then he took the solicited ships and money to move in the offshore waters around Dianbai, robbing salt boats and coastal residents.He also went to the Vietnamese waters to participate in several maritime conflicts between the Northern and Southern Dynasties and reaped a lot of benefits.Hearing that Liu Xiang's fleet had left the Pearl River Estuary, he hurriedly led the fleet to Lantau Island, planning to take advantage of this gap to rush into the Pearl River to make a fortune.

After he arrived on Lantau Island, he found that many small bands of pirates had gathered sporadically, and they were all planning to rush into the Pearl River to fight.The disastrous defeat of officers and soldiers in Chengmai and Liu Xiang's sudden departure from the Pearl River Estuary gave them great expectations of making a fortune.

After Zheng Bao came to Lantau Island, he used his strength to quickly integrate all the ships here.Now this improvised group has expanded to the size of 70 large ships.There are more than 200 sampans and more than 4000 pirates.

Just as Zheng Bao was about to wait for the right tide and wind direction to rush into the Pearl River estuary, the news of the arrival of the Australian fleet temporarily dispelled his idea.

The Australians building a pier on Hong Kong Island shows that they intend to stay here forever.And also sent many ships.Zheng Bao thought: If we don't establish an alliance with them, once the fleet enters the Pearl River, it will be a big disaster for the Australians to take advantage of the fire at the Pearl River estuary.

Either you can get the Australian alliance, and the two sides will sit on the ground and share the spoils.He is willing even if he bleeds a little more; or, he will completely destroy the Australian fleet so that they dare not come to grab the territory.

It was under such consideration that Zheng Bao sent Jin Caifa there.In addition to the attempt to test the Australians, there is also the intention to inquire about the military situation.In particular, it is necessary to find out whether the most powerful "fast boat" of the Australians that does not need sails has come?
He carefully asked his two confidants about the number of Australian ships, the number of cannons on board, and how many defenders there were on the shore.He was relieved to hear that the Clippers did not come; and he sighed regretfully when he heard that more than 50 Australian ships were berthed.It would be great if there were only ten or twenty ships!Although most of the warships of the Australians look no different from those of Guangdong and Fujian, they are far from what local ships can match in terms of speed and firepower.At the beginning, all the shopkeepers wanted to send people to seize the ship because they took a fancy to their "Clippers".I didn't expect their sailboats to be so easy to use!

In particular, the "quick cannon" on their sailboats can instantly fill the sea with a column of water, and wipe out the enemy's sailors at a distance of one or two hundred feet. If they have such a magical weapon, why can't they dominate the sea? ?
Zheng Bao has been itching to think about this idea.In his opinion, although the Australian cannons sound very good, they are nothing more than another copy of the Hongyi cannons.This kind of cannon is expensive and heavy, and it will explode by itself in battle.The best thing is this "fast gun" that can hit far and accurately, and can fire continuously. If you can get a few guns, you can sweep the enemy by installing them on the ship.

"Master Wang!" Zheng Bao saw Wang You coming to the cabin, and greeted him quickly.

"This group of thieves are very loud!" Zheng Bao has been smooth sailing since he became a pirate, and he couldn't bear the tone. "They want us to send all the soldiers and ships over there-isn't this fucking surrender? Going to the big gang is not such a waste of people!"

Wang You looked at the "boss" without saying a word.Zheng Bao is not an idiot - Zheng Bao is very cunning and cruel, but unfortunately he is only the highest level of toubob.In terms of knowledge and ability, he is not on the same level as Zhu Cailao and the others, even second-line shopkeepers like Heiqi Laosi are much better than him.

pity!Zhu Cailao had already died in Nanri, and the shopkeepers under him were dead and surrendered.I have also been reduced to the point of being a teacher for this number one person.Wang You was very unwilling.

Don't have to say, just come to the mouth of the Pearl River.Wang You thinks this is a suicide attempt.The next step in the Pearl River Mouth Basin must be the focus of competition between Liu Xiang and Lingao's Australian group-it is the place that everyone avoids, how can a small company like myself easily enter the troubled waters?Besides, this was originally Liu Xiang's territory.Although Liu Xiang's main force has already moved to the sea area of ​​Fujian, it does not mean that he will give up this land to others.

Zheng Bao's actions, in Wang You's view, were "two offenders" and offended both parties.In the end, he will definitely end up in a terrible end.

But Zheng Bao felt complacent.Now he bears the title of the so-called Marquis of Guiyi in the Dali Dynasty and General Ninghai, and he feels like a "high official". He uses all kinds of fancy and obscure things in the costumes, flags and ceremonies.Let Wang You despise him very much.

But right now he can only hold back.Zheng Bao's former subordinates of Zhu Cai's subordinates wanted to be reused but were not at ease, and spent a lot of effort to divide and guard against them.Wang You knew that he was the most popular in Zhucai's old department, and Zheng Bao took him very seriously.A little carelessness is likely to "fall into the water and die" inexplicably.

"Master Wang, tell me, what happened to the gangsters? It seems that they are going to monopolize the territory of the Pearl River Estuary." Zheng Bao said angrily.

Wang You coughed. The Australians arrived at the mouth of the Pearl River and built a fort on Hong Kong Island, so it was clear why they came here.In fact, Zheng Bao didn't have many choices. Either he would fight the Australians as enemies, or he would sail away and walk away.

In his opinion, leaving is the best choice for the Zhengbao Group—even if the Australians have half their ships, the Zhengbao Group is absolutely impossible to be the opponent of the Australians.It is impossible to deal with Australians without a huge advantage in numbers.

Wang Yougang said a few words about the reason that "it is not suitable to go to war", and found that Zheng Bao's face showed an expression of impatience--Zheng Bao obviously did not intend to walk away, not only that, but he also fired the Australian ship cannon idea.

"I said, Lao Wang, you are a person who is afraid of tigers and wolves. Where is the arrogance of being under the hands of the big shopkeepers?" There are only forty or fifty boats, and there are no fast boats and iron boats. I think they are about the same as our boats. He has powerful firearms, and I will ask the brothers to stick them to the gang, and drown them too!"

He said confidently: "If you want to say that the ship's guns are powerful, of course he is the Australian. But when it comes to swords, guns, and fists, I am the best in Chinese kung fu. As long as you can get on the boat, no matter whether he is real or not, he will be on the deck. If the firearms can’t be used, why don’t we just let us chop and kill them casually?”

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

"Then tell me, what's the problem?"

Wang You thought, not to mention how to send people to the deck. Dozens of Australian boats are moored there. It is not always possible that the people on board are all deaf and blind, waiting for the enemy to go up one by one. climb.

"Even if we can capture a few ships, if other ships find out, wouldn't it be a waste of time to besiege them together?"

"Well, what you said is also reasonable." Zheng Bao thought for a while and it was true.But he immediately had a second thought:

The second thought is to capture the thief and capture the king.Zheng Bao plans to select one hundred brave men among the pirates, and promise them a lot of money.Then each had a sharp knife in his arms.Then he pretended to go to work and assassinated the big boss of the Australians in front of the account.

According to the descriptions of Jin Caifa and others, although there are guards around the big tent of the Australians, there are only 50 to 80 people.Zheng Bao believed that as long as seven or eighty people entangled these people, the rest of the people could rush in and kill all the leaders inside.

Wang You couldn't laugh or cry—this plan is more realistic than the previous one, but the possibility of success is that the Australians are all fools, and they will allow a hundred strong men to approach their own center casually, without searching beforehand .

Then Zheng Bao put forward several "strategies".All were rejected by Wang You one by one.

"If the treasurer is determined to be an enemy of the Australians and obtain their ship guns, there is only one word."

"what?"

"Wait." Wang You nodded, "Australians and I have almost the same strength. If you start a war rashly, even if you can win, it will be a miserable victory. Right now, we can only play by ear, and we will judge how the Australians behave."

In fact, just do nothing and wait for the opportunity.Zheng Bao was dissatisfied: "When will we wait? When can we enter the Pearl River?"

"Entering the Pearl River is just a matter of raising one's hands. If you don't take care of the affairs of the Australians, there will be endless troubles!"

"Well, what you said makes sense!" Of course Zheng Bao didn't want to break into the Pearl River Estuary alone and leave such a fleet behind.

"Brother has a way." Seeing the opportunity to interject, Jin Caifa hurried out and said.

"What way?"

He had to tell Zheng Bao and Wang You that he had met Shi Shishi on the pier in Hong Kong like a treasure.

"...Shi Shishi is dressed like an Australian now. If I hadn't dealt with him back then, I wouldn't have guessed that the Australian was Shi Shishi."

Zheng Bao became interested: "Oh, what kind of official is he with the Australians now? How many ships?"

"I didn't dare to ask. He's far away, on a boat at the pier." Jin Caifa said, "With him on the line, the matter of the shopkeeper will be ready."

Wang You immediately understood: "Are you going to buy him?"

"That's right!" Jin Caifa said, "As the saying goes, people die for wealth, and birds die for food. He Shi Shishi was only a second-class shopkeeper in a small company back then, and he might not be able to become a big shopkeeper under the hands of Australians. He only manages five or six boats. As long as the big shopkeeper is willing to pay a lot of money, he can't help but not be tempted."

Whether it is to let him pull out of the team, or to make a sudden counterattack when the two sides are fighting, it is an excellent opportunity.Zheng Bao's eyes lit up.

(End of this chapter)