The Tian family has a few leisure months, but in May people are twice as busy. The south wind blows at night, and the wheat is covered with yellow.

In the month of May, the vast territory of Huaxia Nuo was hit by the wind from the south, and the rice and wheat were blown into a golden color by this gentle summer wind.

At the southwest end of the Ming Dynasty, there stands a city called Hepu.

Thanks to the economic benefits brought by the salt fields and pearl ponds, as well as the opening up of trade with Southeast Asia, this ancient city has become more prosperous.

During the market season, the green brick streets in the city are constantly crowded with people, and the shops on both sides are filled with a dazzling array of goods, all of which reflect the prosperity of this ancient city.

Although Hepu City is not as dynamic as Leizhou City, it has also found its own position and has become the economic link between Nanyang and the interior.

Many businessmen either went south to Nanyang to pan for gold, or they took Nanyang's specialties northward along the Nanliu River, and then made huge profits from economic activities here.

Just like this, the wealthy people in Hepu have gradually gotten rid of the singularity of salt merchants. More and more maritime merchants have stood out among the wealthy groups in Hepu, and the most popular place is undoubtedly the newly built Hepu Pier.

"Give way!"

"Come here and unload the ship!"

"Okay, let's go to sea!"

…

Hepu Pier is crowded with merchant ships traveling from north to south. Some are unloading goods to complete the voyage, while others are loading goods to prepare for sailing. They are all on their own adventures.

As more and more Chinese businessmen went south to seek gold, Chinese culture was also transported to every corner of Southeast Asia, and many people even had the "fire" of Southeast Asia to spread China.

"Don't block the way, give way!"

Four followers were in front, clearing the way for a middle-aged man with a big belly.

Zhang Baiguan, known as Coffin Zhang, is a famous coffin shop owner in Hepu City.

He got this title not only because of his coffin business, but also because he was extremely stingy. Not to mention that he liked to eat and drink all year round, and even his wife was not willing to spend a few more pennies. His daily clothes were better than those of ordinary people.

Not as good as anything.

But he doesn't know whether this move offended God. His coffin shop suffered from fires in the past six months or there were always problems with the coffins he sold, which made his life difficult.

However, things were not entirely bad. While his coffin business suffered repeated blows, the maritime trade he inadvertently participated in reaped rewards.

This time, he spent a lot of money to purchase a large amount of ginseng and other precious medicinal materials from medicinal material dealers, and now he is personally supervising the dock workers loading the ships.

Zhang Baiguan, with a big belly, looked at the cargo box being carried up by the dock workers and asked: "Dumb, Siamese businessmen are really willing to buy our ginseng at five times the price?"

"It's... absolutely true!" A young man who looked honest and courteous heard this question and responded with a stutter.

Zhang Baiguan pinched his mustache, his eyes still stayed on the wooden boxes and said: "Okay, I will trust you again. I hope you will live up to my kindness!"

"I...I promise that I will...come back smoothly!" Ah-Dai thought of Zhang Baiguan's bowl of gruel and quickly expressed his stance.

Zhang Baiguan saw that the last box of medicinal materials had been carried up, but he stood with his hands behind his hands and said: "It's not that you returned smoothly, but that we returned smoothly!"

"Ah? Master, what do you mean?" Ah-Dai couldn't help but froze, looking at Zhang Baiguan in confusion.

Zhang Baiguan glanced at Ah-Dai with contempt, and said matter-of-factly: "The goods this time have reached 10,000 taels. I can't believe any of you, so of course I have to go there in person this time!"

During the first two voyages and trades, although he constantly sent his confidants to monitor each other, he was always wary of even his own sons, let alone just a few confidants.

Just like this, when he decided to place a bigger bet, he no longer acted as a hands-off shopkeeper, but decided to personally participate in this maritime trade, and even wanted to tightly grasp this financial path.

Several other confidants heard Zhang Baiguan's decision. Although they were slightly surprised, they immediately felt that this decision seemed reasonable.

With Zhang Baiguan's stingy temperament, it would be a fool's errand to hand over such valuable goods to them.

"Master, are you... going to be seasick? It's very uncomfortable!" Duan swallowed secretly, but said worriedly.

The corners of Zhang Baiguan's mouth raised slightly, and he said sarcastically: "While I was floating on the sea, you were still in your mother's womb!"

Huh?

When several close followers heard these words, they couldn't help but look at the follower who had been following Zhang Baiguan for ten years. As a result, the follower also had a confused look on his face.

In the impression of all of them, Zhang Baiguan has always been a "country bumpkin", but they did not expect that he was already an "old man" running into the sea.

Zhang Baiguan saw that the loading had been completed, so he put his hands behind his hands and boarded the ship, intending to go to Nanyang to pan for gold himself.

But he didn't notice that when he walked onto the ship, a hint of cunning flashed through his eyes that had always seemed honest and fawning.

This ship belonging to the United Merchant Group set out. It was a ship that sailed regularly to Siam, and most of the people on board were merchants from Lianzhou or Gaozhou who were engaged in the navigation trade here.

Since the Lianzhou Government Office under the leadership of Lei Changjiang dredged the silt at the mouth of the Nanliu River, ships have followed the river flow directly from Hepu Pier into Tokyo Bay, allowing Hepu to be closely connected with the ocean.

After Zhang Baiguan confirmed that the goods were correct, he fell asleep with peace of mind.

However, when he fell asleep again, he found that his head was groggy. It was already dark outside, and he vaguely felt that something was wrong.

When he saw Ah-Dai come in, he was secretly relieved, sat on the bedside and directly ordered: "Ah-Dai, pour me a cup of tea, where is the ship now?"

"Well, if it takes another half a day, we can go to Leizhou Bay!" Ah-Dai came to the tea table and poured a cup of tea, and replied very honestly.

Zhang Baiguan couldn't help being stunned. He was shocked at the direction of the ship, and also surprised that Ah-Dai spoke so eloquently. He was not at all the idiot he remembered who was grateful for his kindness after he stole the banknote.

"My name is not Ah-Dai!" Ah-Dai seemed to see through Zhang Baiguan's thoughts, but he put the poured tea to his mouth and said.

Zhang Baiguan re-examined this person. There was no trace of honesty in this person. He was clearly a smart and capable young man. He asked doubtfully: "What do you want?"

"You are cautious enough! I thought that it would only take a few months to get the graduation exam, but I didn't expect that it took me several months to complete the graduation exam questions until today!" Ah-Dai took a sip of tea and said to

Zhang Baiguan revealed.

Zhang Baiguan's brows furrowed and he looked even more puzzled: "Graduation exam? Who are you?"

"I am a student at the Joint Military Intelligence Academy, code name...A-Dai!" A-Dai met Zhang Baiguan's gaze and responded slyly.

Zhang Baiguan vaguely felt that the code name was fake, and snorted sternly: "I don't care who you are! This ship is a sea-going ship of the United Alliance. Just because you want to swallow my cargo, I'm afraid it's just crazy!"

"

Although he has never dealt directly with the United Merchants Group, he knows that the reputation of the United Merchants Group can be said to be a big deal, and he will never allow a servant to steal his master's property.

"Your goods? I'm not interested. I just want to complete my graduation exam this time!" Dui looked extremely disdainful of the goods, but shook his head seriously.

When Zhang Baiguan heard that this person who went to such great lengths to deceive himself was not for money, he couldn't help but be even more confused and asked: "Then what do you want?"

Dumb put down the tea cup and was about to respond, but he looked up and saw a handsome young man walking in, his eyes immediately showed a touch of respect.

Huh?

When Zhang Baiguan saw the young man coming in, his eyes widened at first, but he knew that the other man did not come here for property, but he felt even more uneasy in his heart.

"Shopkeeper Zhang, do you still recognize me? I have... helped your business?" The handsome young man walked in and said to Zhang Baiguan with a half-smile.

Zhang Baiguan swallowed secretly, but forced himself to be calm and said: "Jiang... Mr. Jiang, how dare I not recognize you? You and Mr. Lin Ge are classmates and good friends!"

Since Lin Haoran became famous, especially with the growth of the United Business Group, many people in western Guangdong have also become figures.

Jiang Ronghua, who had a deep friendship with Lin Haoran and was extremely close to the Portuguese, was already a big shot who should not be messed with.

"Haha... To tell you the truth, I'm still the principal of the Joint Military Intelligence College!" Jiang Ronghua noticed Zhang Baiguan's panic and declared his family status.

Zhang Baiguan vaguely heard that the United Business Group was indeed cultivating specialized intelligence personnel, but he never thought that Jiang Ronghua was actually in charge of this matter, so he just said bravely: "Mr. Jiang, I wonder why you are spending so much time on it?

"

"Dean, please have tea!" Dui respected Jiang Ronghua very much and took the initiative to give him a bench and tea tunnel.

Jiang Ronghua sat down on the bench and took the tea at the same time: "I have always heard how stingy you are, even your wife and children can only live with you, but I don't know that I have people throw your goods into the sea, what will you do?

?”

"You... you can't do this!" Zhang Baiguan's eyes widened, and he immediately felt a pain in his heart.

Jiang Ronghua took a sip of tea and said calmly and calmly: "My father was burned by thieves on the boat and his whereabouts are still unknown. I just threw you some goods into the sea. Maybe I can give my father some money from the underworld. You

Why should we be so indifferent?"

"Your father didn't go to sea at all!" Zhang Baiguan realized that Jiang Ronghua's psychology seemed to have become abnormal, so he immediately blurted it out.

Huh?

When Ah-Dai heard this answer, he first glanced at Zhang Baiguan, and then turned to look at Jiang Ronghua with understanding.

Jiang Ronghua has been searching for his father's whereabouts for so many years. For this reason, he went to Donghai Island to join Chen Jiu's camp. Then he almost died in the sea while searching for his father in Nanyang. He still has not given up searching for him in Nanyang for many years.

But who would have thought that after more than ten years of searching, he would always be looking in the wrong direction.

"Mr. Jiang, I... what I just said was a hypothesis! Your father may not have gone to sea that year, but he was... missing somewhere else!" Zhang Baiguan knew that he had let something slip, so he explained hurriedly.

Jiang Ronghua handed the teacup back to Ah-Dai, but looked at the nervous Zhang Baiguan and said calmly: "Do you really think that I have been deceived after so many years of investigation?" After a pause, he directly exposed him and said: "You originally belonged to

The core members of the Hongqi Gang just opened a coffin shop in Lianzhou to hide themselves in order to facilitate their work, but is that so?"

"Mr. Jiang, you are joking, how could I be the backbone of the Hongqi Gang?" Zhang Baiguan immediately denied it when he heard this.

When Chen Dai saw Zhang Baiguan's quibbles, he pretended to expose it: "Stop quibbles, the green snake tattoo on your hand is the symbol of the Red Flag Gang, and it is exclusive to the core members!"

Zhang Baiguan looked at this servant who had already seen him through with complicated eyes. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, but he knew that he probably didn't have any secrets anymore.

"Who is the leader of the Hongqi Gang?" Jiang Ronghua opened the fan in his hand and asked again.

Zhang Baiguan swallowed secretly, but said with a smile: "Master Jiang, isn't this something everyone knows? The leader of the thieves, Hong He, was bombarded to death. It can be said that he deserved it."

"Hong He is just a code name. Those people can't see Jiang He's true identity at all. Just pick a young man and call him Hong He!" Jiang Ronghua waved his fan and said with disdain.

Dumb, who was standing next to him, immediately had a look of contemplation on his face, vaguely aware that there must be another hidden reason behind this matter.

Among their class's graduation exam questions, there were questions related to this, but they were handled by students who were better than him, but he didn't know if the mystery of Honghe had been revealed.

"Mr. Jiang, Hong He was really killed by shelling. This is absolutely true!" Zhang Baiguan looked at Jiang Ronghua and said sincerely.

When Jiang Ronghua heard that Zhang Baiguan had repeatedly misled him, he couldn't help but said jokingly: "Now that things have happened, do you still think you can deceive me?"

"Mr. Jiang, Hong He is really dead!" Zhang Baiguan did not panic because of this, and still responded firmly.

Jiang Ronghua sighed secretly, and nodded slightly: "He is indeed dead, but he did not die in the battle to annihilate the Red Flag Gang presided over by Mr. Lin Ge, but died in an accident!" After a pause, and again

He said seriously: "Over the years, I have been sitting in Leizhou and cultivating many outstanding talents to investigate this matter. Do you really think that I can still be kept in the dark?"

"Mr. Jiang, I admit that your guess is correct, but investigating this matter will be harmful rather than helpful to you!" Zhang Baiguan thought for a moment and warned him seriously.

"Because he is my uncle, do I have to pretend to turn a blind eye to this matter?" Jiang Ronghua sneered when he heard this.
Chapter completed!