The vegetation on Dongsha Island is lush, and the pirates usually do not pay attention to hygiene and excrete everywhere, so there are a lot of mosquitoes and flies, and Shen Laoqi's goods were tied up and thrown in the dark for a day and a night, which made the mosquito bite unrecognizable.

At this moment, Shen Laoqi, whose head and face were covered with red spots, knelt in front of Xu Jin, forcibly held back the itching all over his body, and smiled and showed two rows of yellow teeth, which was really a bit stumbling.

Xu Jin waved his hand to signal the unties, and Zhao Datou immediately stepped forward to untie the ropes on Shen Laoqi's hands and feet, and warned him with a flintlock pistol: "To be honest, this is Lord Xu sent by order, answer whatever you ask, and blow your head if you dare to play tricks." ”

Shen Laoqi immediately kowtowed three times at Xu Jin, and said with a sneer: "Lord Qincha, please ask, the little one definitely knows everything." ”

"What's your name, who's your name, and who's your name?" Xu Jin asked lightly.

"Back to the adult, the little one is called Shen Qi, a native of Quanzhou, Fujian, born in a stove household, and his family is so poor that he can't afford to open the pot, so he really has no way to live, so he went to sea to become a pirate."

"Those goods in the cave were sent by merchants and gentry from nearby states and counties?"

"Yes, my lord, because the imperial court strictly imposed a ban on the sea, those businessmen and gentry did not dare to come forward to sell and buy with the Japanese people in person, so they secretly sold the goods through us, and the accounts were divided into seven cents afterwards."

"How did you get in touch? For example, how to deliver the goods? How do I pay? ”

"All the shippers are Chen Sipan's uncle and nephew are responsible for contacting, the shippers transport the goods to the designated place by the sea, and then we send a ship back to the island, and then settle and share the spoils after the goods are sold, and the money obtained is also Chen Sipan's uncle and nephew are responsible for giving the goods to the shippers."

"So you've never met any shippers?"

Shen Laoqi laughed and said: "Yes, those shippers are afraid of being discovered by the imperial court, and they never dare to come forward in person, even if they occasionally send people to the island to check the goods, they are all insignificant small shrimps." ”

Xu Jin casually picked up the teacup and took a sip, but he was so astringent that he frowned, the tea was brewed by his brother-in-law Xie Sangun, and there were too many tea leaves, and the craftsmanship was worse than nine streets in early spring and early summer.

"Then do you know the Japanese merchants who traded with you?" Xu Jin quietly swallowed this bitter tea and continued to ask indifferently.

Shen Laoqi hesitated for a moment, but his head was immediately pressed against the cold muzzle, and he quickly nodded like a chicken pecking rice: "I know, there are three groups of main regular customers, one is the caravan of the Fat Front Country, and the leader is called Fat Front; One group was a caravan from Mikawa Province, and the leader was named Tokugawa Ieyasu; There was also a group of caravans from Owari Province, and the leader was called Oda Yokoji. ”

Now Japan is in the Warring States Period, domestic wars are everywhere, warlords are divided, and there are many small countries in chaos, and the three small countries mentioned by Shen Laoqi, Xu Jin only has a slight impression of Hizen Kingdom, and the other two have never even heard of it.

Of course, Xu Jin didn't bother to care, and continued to ask: "Will these Japanese merchants come to Dongsha Island to trade in the near future?" ”

Qi Jingtong and Xie Erjian glanced at each other happily, or adults are thoughtful, I didn't expect to ask this yesterday.

Shen Laoqi's eyes rolled and said, "My lord, if the little one tells you, can you spare the little one's life." ”

"You grandmother, you dare to bargain with us adults, you are impatient, right?" Zhao Datou rolled up his sleeves, and a large butt smashed into Shen Laoqi's back, and the goods immediately fell to the ground and wailed in pain.

Xu Jin ignored it, and continued to drink the cup of bitter tea, until Shen Laoqi was cleaned up and begged for mercy, then he signaled Zhao Datou to stop, and asked lightly: "Say, will those Japanese merchants come in the near future?" ”

Shen Laoqi was originally a soft bone, and after eating the butt of the gun five or six times, he didn't dare to bargain anymore, and immediately replied: "The Japanese merchants usually come after the fight in October, because it will happen to be ...... tailwind!" ”

Zhao Datou immediately raised the butt of his gun and was about to smash it, Shen Laoqi was so frightened that he hurriedly covered his head with his hands and shouted: "It will come, the Japanese merchants will come in the near future." ”

"What day exactly?" Qi Jingtong couldn't help but ask first.

Shen Laoqi peeked behind him out of the corner of his eye, and saw that the rough big-headed soldier did not raise the butt of his gun, so he cautiously replied: "Originally, according to the agreement, there will be a group of Japanese merchants arriving at the end of February, but it is estimated that it has been delayed, and it has not come yet." ”

Intuition told Xu Jin that Shen Laoqi was not lying, firstly, according to the ancient sailing conditions, it was normal to be ten or eight days late, and secondly, if Shen Laoqi was lying, he could directly tell himself that there was no Japanese merchant in the near future, which would save a lot of trouble.

Qi Jingtong said with a bang: "My lord, why don't we stay on Dongsha Island for a few days?" ”

Xu Jin nodded slightly, these Japanese merchants must have brought a large amount of money when they came to trade, hey, Tianyu doesn't take it, it's really unreasonable, since the Japanese people can come to Daming to loot, how can they not rob them in turn, and come without being rude!

Shen Laoqi is a treacherous person, how could he not see the intentions of Xu Jin and the others, and swallowed his saliva bitterly: "My lord, the small ones don't dare to guarantee that those Japanese merchants will come, and the second leader Chen Dong has run away, if the Japanese merchants receive the news, there is a chance that they will not come." ”

Xu Jin said indifferently: "You'd better hope that they come, because, if you get a huge one, this official can reduce your punishment as appropriate." By the way, which one is the Japanese merchant who came this time? How many people are estimated to be there? ”

Shen Laoqi was overjoyed when he heard this, as if a drowning man had grasped a life-saving straw, and immediately replied: "Lord Hui, this time it is Owari Province Oda Yokoji who came to trade, it is estimated that there will be two bows and three masts, and the manpower is about 300 people, but the ship is equipped with many cannons, and the firepower is very fierce." ”

Xu Jin looked at Qi Jingtong and Xie Erjian, and both of them nodded, indicating that they could eat.

Xu Jin was a little uneasy, and asked, "Shen Laoqi, do these Japanese merchants have other firearms in their hands. ”

Shen Laoqi replied honestly: "There are a small number of firearms, but if they are far worse than the kind of firearms you use, they are not as good as bows and arrows." After speaking, he glanced at the flintlock pistol in Zhao Datou's hand with palpitations.

Xu Jin finally put his mind at ease when he heard this, he brought another hundred soldiers to the island today, and he also specially brought supplementary ammunition for Qi Jingtong and others.

Shen Laoqi said with a smile: "My lord, the small one has dealt with that weaver letter Hengji, if it is useful, the small one will go to the soup and go to the fire, and he will be at a loss." ”

Xu Jin said lightly: "Don't worry, if the Japanese merchants really come, there will be a place for you." ”

Shen Laoqi rubbed his hands with joy when he heard this, wishing that the would-be merchants would come immediately, and then he would make meritorious service to avoid death.