In July 1775, the second fleet of migratory birds arrived on Hong Kong Island. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info This time the fleet size is a little smaller, there are only three ships, in addition to the light of the sea transporting immigrants, there are two 3,000-ton freighters, this time the goods exported to Guangzhou, in addition to the glassware and high-end leather goods that were there last time, have added some new varieties, such as a batch of mechanical pocket watches, watches and other small mechanical products, as well as textiles.

Textiles have always been the main force of exports of modern industrial countries, and the cotton textile industry in Britain has almost held up half of the sky for exports. Datang does not yet have a stable supply of cotton, and a small amount of cotton is imported to fill its own demand, and even then a large number of chemical fiber garments are needed to fill the market. However, the farm in Jiazhou has tried to grow flax, and although it has not yet been harvested this year, it is expected that there will be flax textiles in the boat that will come to Guangzhou next year. The textiles that Datang can really export are wool textiles.

Datang Innovation Farm, which has begun to graze and breed sheep, alpacas and other wool livestock, has produced a considerable amount of wool, and the innovation farm has purchased a batch of wool textile equipment and produced a batch of wool. The secretary of the Innovation Farm was very business-minded, so he took the wool to dye and finish, and finally he recruited a group of female workers from among the skilled Indian and Vietnamese women to make sweaters by hand. The climate in Jiazhou is relatively warm, and the demand for woolen fabrics is not too large, but there are also some people who are afraid of the cold who will buy them. So many of these sweaters, woolen gloves and other things were loaded onto the ship and ready to be sent to the Qing Kingdom to be sold.

In addition, a large number of exported goods are all kinds of metal tools, and almost all of the small hand tools invented in later generations are included. There are also a large number of fine iron farm tools. Although the profit margin was relatively low in comparison, it was still sold in the spirit of selling surplus products for domestic companies.

Presiding over the fleet was Lin Youde, the manager of the International Trade Corporation. He has run a transoceanic route, and he is already relatively familiar with it, and he also knows the people of the Thirteen Lines in Guangzhou, so it is more convenient to do business. This time, the fleet was not escorted by warships, mainly because there were not many land passes through the transoceanic route, the threat was relatively small, and the speed of the Datang ships was faster. So even if there is any danger, it is not a problem to escape. The military strength of the Datang Navy itself is limited, so this time it did not send any more warships to follow.

Upon arrival on Hong Kong Island. Lin Youde found that the scale of Hong Kong's water village seems to have expanded a lot, and the bustling crowd moves around the water village, and the noisy atmosphere seems to be more like a town than a pirate den.

Yang Zhen had already taken the lead out of the stockade to greet him, this white-faced and beardless eunuch pirate. It seems that there is more gangsterism in his body. After seeing Lin Youde, it was no longer a military salute, but a fist hug with the rivers and lakes.

"I'm tired of traveling and driving, Manager Lin, hurry up and enter the village, and let the miscellaneous family pick you up."

Lin Youde smiled gently, "Thank you Colonel Yang." ”

Hearing the name of the colonel, Yang Zhen glanced at Lin Youde, the smile on his face remained unchanged, and led Lin Youde into the water village.

"It's been a long time. Hong Kong's water village has developed again, and we have defeated several bandits around us. Recruited their strength, Hu Fakui Hu led a lot of efforts, our Hong Kong water village at this time has 5,000 Dingkou, which is a preliminary domination of the coastal area of Guangdong, but Manager Lin is also assured, we did not take the initiative to challenge the Manchu Qing sailors, usually at sea to rob the passing ships, and never hurt people's lives, only take 20% as protection money, but also protect these maritime merchants. Instead, everyone is rushing to pay us protection money. Yang Zhen said with some smugness.

Lin Youde still laughed, but he didn't believe it in his heart. Moreover, the original plan to cultivate Hong Kong pirates was not to rob ships, but to facilitate immigrants to transshipment here, but Yang Zhen seemed to really regard himself as a pirate and started a business with no capital.

"Colonel Yang, I don't know how many immigrants are staying in Hong Kong now and can be picked up directly on the ship?" Lin Youde asked the most critical question.

Yang Zhen said: "These days, Lin Fang and others have been recruiting immigrants in the mainland with all their hearts, but they always dare not speak out, relying entirely on errands and a mouth, which is very difficult. Fortunately, the brothers of the Heaven and Earth Society have helped a lot, in the past few months, Hong Kong Water Village has gathered more than 1,000 immigrants, and the family is anxious just to eat, just Manager Lin is here, send these immigrants back to China quickly. ”

He paused again and said: "Commander Hu led two ships to Annam a few days ago, and he will return in a few days, and then he will be able to recruit another group of Vietnamese immigrants, mainly women and children." Many immigrants in Guangdong are reluctant to go to sea without seeing the boat, and they are waiting at home at this time, and they must have the brothers of the Heaven and Earth Society to deliver the message and send them to Hong Kong. Calculated in this way, this trip to Manager Lin can bring more than 3,000 immigrants back to China, which is naturally a great achievement! ”

"It's all thanks to Colonel Young's efforts." Lin Youde politely said, he had predicted the number of 3,000 immigrants before, although it was three times more than the first time, but this time after all, there was a special person to operate, and it took a while, so it was not surprising.

This time, the Ocean Light will be almost full, and the addition of more than 3,000 laborers is also an important new blood for Datang, which is almost two percent of Datang's population after all. There will be a batch of migratory bird fleets this year, and if there are almost two or three thousand immigrants each time, then Datang can take eight or nine thousand immigrants from the Qing State every year. This may seem like a lot, but it is still not enough compared to the large-scale migration envisaged by the cabinet, and there are large tracts of fertile land waiting to be cultivated in the Great Tangjia Prefecture alone, and the coastal areas of the fjord are suitable for the development of industry and shipping. Therefore, it is no wonder that the Tang Dynasty radically chose the Cuckoo Plan to obtain immigrants from the Manchu Qing in the form of war.

It's just that Lin Youde looks at it this time, Yang Zhen doesn't seem to be particularly focused on his own tasks, but on expanding the power of the pirate group, and he is more concerned. Yang Zhen already has 5,000 pirates under his command, even if these pirates are made sailors and serve the Tang Dynasty, it is a good choice. But Yang Zhen didn't mention the fact that he sent a batch of his subordinates to Lin Youde.

"It seems that as some people say, Yang Zhen may really have a small abacus." Lin Youde secretly thought, "But what if you have a small abacus?" Within three years, the Cuckoo plan will be launched, and when the Tang Army will directly hit the Manchu Dynasty, what can this group of pirates who stay in the South China Sea do? ”

Yang Zhen said eagerly at this time: "The brothers of the Heaven and Earth Society have contributed a lot to the recruitment of immigrants to the Tang Dynasty, and the former General Counselor Bai also promised them to give them hard money according to the head, Manager Lin should hurry up and help the brothers of the Heaven and Earth Society settle the settlement." ”

Lin Youde said: "This should be the case. ”

Yang Zhen said again: "From Guangxi to our second batch of migratory bird fleet to buy coal, and then in order to feed these thousands of people to buy a large batch of food, in order to attract immigrants to come, our water village is the advance payment of 30 silver dollars for the settlement fee, so our water village funds are also relatively short. The cabinet said that it is to provide a fund for our water village every year, I don't know if Manager Lin has brought it? ”

Lin Youde was even more unswerving, this eunuch pirate had already asked him for money bluntly, although the reasons he gave were quite reasonable, but Lin Youde didn't believe that Yang Zhen would really lack money. Bai Nan had already left him a large sum of money when he left, and this Yang Zhen also found a robbery by himself to make a living, saying that he had no money, which was obviously impossible.

It's just that Lin Youde can't help it, he really has to give this money, so he said: "When our merchant ship arrives in Guangzhou, and the goods are sold in cash, I will immediately settle for Colonel Yang." This time, the fund has a total of 200,000 Tang yuan, including the immigration settlement fee you paid in advance, and as for the part of the Heaven and Earth Society, I will settle it with them. ”

Yang Zhen smiled: "That's very good. ”

"In that case, then I will go to Guangzhou first, and the Light of the Sea will stay in Hong Kong, and I will ask Colonel Yang to assist the immigrants in preparation."

"Yes, yes."

After Lin Youde left, two more people came to Yang Zhen's Gathering Hall, one was the eunuch Zhu Liang who came with him, and the other was a fresh face.

"Did you hear that?" Yang Zhen asked with a smile.

The fresh face said: "This silver is really too easy to earn, or Yang Da is the master of the mastery!" ”

Yang Zhen smiled: "It is indispensable for you to have a benefit from the Heaven and Earth Society. ”

The raw face waved again and again, and said: "I, Chen Pi, thank you to Yang Da for the helmsman Wan and all the brothers." ”

"Okay, wait for Lin Youde to settle the money for you, then you can retreat."

Chen Pi hurriedly said: "Yes, Yang Da is in charge." ”

When only Yang and Zhu were left, Zhu Liang was still vaguely worried, and said to Yang Zhen: "The immigrants we recruited ourselves are all in the credit book of the Heaven and Earth Society, and let the Heaven and Earth Society take the commission promised by Bai Nan and train them to work for us." And we only gave 20 silver dollars for each immigrant to settle in, and 10 yuan was intercepted by himself, although he told those immigrants three times not to leak it, but some people will say it if they are not even, and then we will be passive in the country. ”

Yang Zhen disagreed, and said: "We have returned to the homeland of China, which is the fish and dragon entering the sea, and if they want to hold us again, they will not have this skill." Now we are still cooperating with them, that is to save face, if we really can't talk about it, it's a big deal, let's go directly to the land, together with the brothers of the Heaven and Earth Society, to restore my Ming. ”

Zhu Liang said: "This is still an illusory thing, now heaven and earth will be just a group of rabble, and without the domestic arms support of the Tang Dynasty, we will not be able to resist the Qing army." Moreover, Lord Zheng and Lord Wang are still in important positions in Datang, if our side rebels against Datang, Lord Zheng and Lord Wang will be in trouble. ”

Yang Zhen thought for a while and said, "It was Master Zheng who entrusted the miscellaneous family to do this big thing. I think that if we succeed in our great cause, Master Zheng will definitely be able to understand, and it is also appropriate to pay a small price. ”

Zhu Liang saw Yang Zhen's appearance, and had to sigh helplessly. (To be continued.) )