"With Lord Zhao's temperament, even if he is not elected as the head of the general program, he will try his best to win the recognition of the compensation clause from the imperial court."

Tang Qiantang said disapprerovingly: "Electing the head of the general program, but roasting him on the fire, I think it's a bit too much." ”

"From the immediate point of view, this is indeed a redundant move. However, in the long run, it is necessary. Yan Yuexi took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said lightly, "No one is a fool, even if you get the navigation rights and trade rights west of Longzhu Island, what can you do?" The sea route is long, and it is not so easy to get through. Even if it is a large trading house, it is not an overnight task to set up bases along the way and encircle overseas barbarians. General Zhao can speak for us this time, and next time it's none of his business, but what? ”

"The person in charge next time, then focus on the generalization, why bother ......"

"However, after this village, there really is no such shop."

Yan Yuexi said: "Old Tang, we have been doing business for so many years, and we all know that if we want to make a big deal, it is indispensable to have the right time, place and people." The position of the head of the general program of the Southwest Sea is really not suitable except for Zhao Xingde. He looked at Tang Qiantang's disbelieving eyes, and enumerated them one by one, "According to what you said, in the future, the court will change the person in charge, and we will deliberately envelop him, but does he really dare to fight against the court for the sake of us people, or even turn his face?" Further, he really dared to do this, but did he have the ability? If he really has such great ability, can he be like Zhao Xingde, who only serves as a general leader who is respected and ignores the details, and turns all of us into his personal subordinates or money bags? No, no one else does. ”

"Now? It may not be that it lures the wolf into the room," Tang Qiantang retorted, "It's hard to know the heart of a person!" ”

"This is also true, after Zhou Gong was afraid of rumors, Wang Mang was humble and did not usurp the time." Yan Yuexi nodded, but shook her head again, "However, people can't see through this thing." We have always made great profits in doing business, and the greater the risks. Zhao Xingde has done so many things and made so many words since he unveiled the post. Like other shopkeepers, I listened to his words and watched his deeds, and felt that this person's temperament was not a duplicitous tyrant, and he was fair, and he had never done anything ruthless or forcible in the past. He shook his head and laughed at himself, "Of course, if we people look away, we deserve it." ”

"Alas-" At this point, Tang Qiantang had to sigh, "If only the military government didn't give this order."

Fu Haixing has always kept his distance from the battles in the Five Mansions.

However, this is not to say that the shopkeepers of Fuhaixing ignore the wind and rain in the court, on the contrary, any powerful shopkeeper of Fuhaixing is very sensitive to the movements of the Xia court, otherwise, a big storm may bury his decades of hard work. Yanyuexi travels between Dunhuang, Chang'an and Luoyang and other Kanto cities all the year round, and the undercurrent in the Xia court is surging, and many people have a lot of complaints about the Protector Mansion, and Yanyuexi has also heard of it. In all fairness, he also complained about the Protectorate, but he was careful to keep his distance from "those people".

"It's really not surprising to me that the Protectorate made such a decision."

Yan Yuexi said in a low voice: "However, leading to such a situation must be unexpected by some people. ”

The two of them are getting older, and Tang Qiantang rarely listens to him speak in such a gloating tone.

"'The farmer is the one who feeds the whole country, and the merchants and craftsmen are just parasitic on the farmer. The shakuto who farmed the fields could support themselves and grow and eat for themselves, and they did not need merchants in the first place, but merchants and craftsmen could not leave the farmer shakuto. The sergeants come from self-reliant peasants, and they should also protect the peasants first, and other merchants, craftsmen, and Confucian students, etc., are all in the second ......'" Yan Yuexi pursed her lips and shook her head, "A big boat, the wood used to make the mast is made of Liaodong giant wood, the ribs and keels are made of Lingnan iron power wood, some iron bones are made in Ezhou Iron Yard, iron nails are made from Bianliang Iron Workshop, paddle machines are produced in Yangzhou Shipyard, canvas is from Southeast Silk and Satin Factory, and fabrication is in Yangzhou, how much labor is used in this, and how many merchants are going to run." Now, the southwest maritime merchants jointly elected Zhao Xingde, I want to see how they let the farmers come to ship ships and go to sea and fight? ”

"But," Tang Qiantang said worriedly, "the Protector Mansion won't take a break so easily. ”

"Don't worry too much," Yan Yuexi looked left and right, the other Kanto maritime merchants were still waiting with a worried face, someone was whispering, no one noticed the two of them, Yan Yuexi lowered her voice again, leaned over to Tang Qiantang and said, "Look at the situation, there must be something big happening in the river, in the face of such huge waves, no matter who wins or loses, no one will pay attention to us here." ”

"Huh?" Tang Qiantang's eyes widened in surprise, and a premonition of unwanted arose in his heart.

He was about to ask what was going on, when the crowd suddenly stirred, and someone shouted, "Come out!" ”

"Lord Xu, You Dongjia, what is the result?"

Tang Qiantang looked up and saw Xu Xiaoyun and You Yongjie walking out of the shipbuilding.

Xu Xiaoyun's face sank like water and he couldn't see the clues, but You Yongjie had a happy look on his face.

The two walked to the railing of the shipbuilding, and before they could go downstairs, You Yongjie said loudly to the maritime merchants who were urgently asking: "Everyone, Lord Zhao has promised to wait for the head of the general program for us!" As soon as the words fell, there was a jubilant sound on the front deck of the building, and some people clapped their hands in celebration.

"There is salvation!" "Great!"

"God and Buddha bless, there is finally a turnaround!"

Although the requisition of ships dealt a heavy blow to the interests of maritime merchants, Zhao Xingde agreed to serve as the head of the general program and promised the conditions of compensation, which can be regarded as being able to explain a thing or two to the people of Qianmin, and there will be a chance to turn defeat into victory in the future.

The maritime merchants are people who have experienced storms for a long time, and some people have experienced things that have happened to them in a desperate situation. In the past, when they escaped death, most people recited the blessings of God and Buddha, but not like now, so many people rejoiced together. You Yongjie was full of smiles, and Xu Xiaoyun couldn't help but show a little smile on his face. He thought that it would take a lot of trouble, and he thought of a lot of persuasions, but who knew that Zhao Xingde only proposed a few small amendments to the constitution of the maritime alliance, and then agreed, and no one from the other officers objected. The process was so smooth that even Xu Xiaoyun didn't expect it.

"Lord Zhao is in a place of suspicion, why do you still agree to the position of the head of the general program in name only?"

Feng Mi stood beside Zhao Xingde and looked thoughtfully at the maritime merchants on the deck. It stands to reason that Zhao Xingde's bad relationship with the Xia court was exactly what a young Song State officer wanted, however, he may have stayed in the sailor for a long time. Under Zhao Xingde's intentional arrangement, Feng Mi, Ma Yuan and others had a very close relationship with Gao Su, Liu Zhijian and other Xia State officers, and gradually became less strange and hostile to each other, so they did not want the two countries to fight each other. When Zhao Xingde carried out the military order to requisition ships, the officers did not insist on opposing it.

"The colonization of Haijiang is a century-old cause, and it would be a pity if you don't have perseverance and give up halfway."

Zhao Xingde seemed to sigh and answer, he turned his head and said to Zhou He on the other side: "Brother Zhou, I told you the day before yesterday that after this war, I will release Nanshan, disarm and return to the field, cultivate myself and work together, and study and write for fun." It's a pity that if I withdraw from this, I won't kill Beren, and Beren will die for me. With so many obstacles in my body, I can't get it if I want to retreat from the rapids. ”

Zhou He nodded, silent.

The relationship between Zhao Xingde and these Song businessmen is like that between him and the old department of Henan Jingdong Road, only he can unite these people, so that they will not fall apart, and will not become the meat in the mouths of all parties. If it were someone else, Zhou He would definitely suspect that he was a scheming hero, and use this as the basis for being the king and emperor. However, for Zhao Xingde, Zhou He clearly knew that Zhao Xingde did not have greater ambitions than Chen Dong or Deng Su, he just did what he thought he should do.

"Thank you, Lord Zhao!" "Let's meet Mr. Zhao!" The merchants gathered on the deck shouted at the ship's tower.

"Thank you, Lord Zhao, for your success!"

Unconsciously, the sun was setting, and the warm brilliance seemed to be a layer of blurry and soft clouds shrouded in Zhao Xingde's body.