Chapter 178 The Hai Family's Daughter Grows Up to Become Hai Chaoyun

Chapter 178 The daughter of the Hai family has grown up - Hai Chaoyun

After leaving Zhuque Town, the new army advanced to the southeast.

From Huainan East Road to Liangzhe, the distance is the shortest and the terrain is the flattest.

When passing through Xuzhou on Huainan East Road, more than half a month has passed.

Wei Yuan did not rush to march, but eliminated the nearby bandits one by one before continuing to move forward.

It is a good thing to eliminate bandits and protect the peace of the people.

Therefore, Fan Chunren, the Southeast Governor, did not stop it.

However, what surprised him was that when the new army was stationed in Xuzhou City, Wei Yuan also uprooted the famous local gang - the Salt Gang.

The nature of this Salt Gang is the same as the Cao Gang, but its influence and power are not as good as the Cao Gang.

After leaving Xuzhou, Fan Chunren asked:

"The forces behind the Salt Gang are complicated, and it is just a gang. I haven't heard that they robbed houses like bandits. Why do we need to do this?"

Wei Yuan couldn't tell him that the Salt Gang often robbed the business of the Cao Gang in Huainan, causing the Cao Gang, which was spread all over Liangzhe, to suffer losses.

"It is said that this Salt Gang had raised the price of salt during the war, and often oppressed the people, making the local people miserable. It's just a matter of pulling it out, which is also beneficial to the country and the people."

Wei Yuan responded casually, and Fan Chunren didn't think much about it.

Once the Salt Gang was eliminated, the power of the Cao Gang could officially infiltrate the Huainan area.

After all, if the Salt Gang was removed, the clans in Huainan would definitely support another Salt Gang.

Instead of doing this, it is better to let the Cao Gang, which has its own support, take the lead.

If there are any changes during this period, Wei Yuan doesn't mind killing them again when he returns victorious.

"Haizhou and Chuzhou are close to the coast. I heard that there are also Japanese pirates causing trouble. Now the Japanese pirates in the southeastern coastal area only know that the army will go there, and don't know that we will go to Haizhou."

"I have sent out scouts to find out the situation of the Japanese pirates in Haizhou. I need to stay in Haizhou for a while."

"If Lord Fan is anxious to take office, I will go ahead for the time being. After I have eliminated the Japanese pirates in Haizhou, I will go to the southeast to join you."

Starting from Haizhou, all the way to the coastal cities, from north to south, the task of eradicating the Japanese pirates is almost completed.

But in this way, the triumphant return originally scheduled for June or July may be postponed.

As the saying goes, there is no constant situation in the army, so there is no need to worry about the emperor.

It's just an extra month or two.

Fan Chunren said, "In that case, I will go ahead and see you in Liangzhe."

"See you in Liangzhe." Wei Yuan nodded slightly and sent a hundred light cavalrymen to escort Fan Chunren to the southeast.

Following Wei Yuan all the way, Fan Chunren could clearly feel that the other party would call him whether discussing military affairs or other things, which was a respect for him.

Since he had done this, he, as the general manager, naturally had to give him face, so he strongly supported Wei Yuan's decision.

At the same time, as the general manager, he urged Liangzhe to transport a batch of food and grass first.

The food and grass with the army would be enough for a while.

Fan Chunren did this to show goodwill to Wei Yuan.

After he left, Wei Yuan marched into Haizhou.

After receiving the news, the local governor and some elders of the big families waited outside the city gate that day.

It was about noon when the new army arrived here.

To be honest, according to the information from the Imperial City Department, the Japanese pirates in the Haizhou area were at most a few hundred people.

There is no need for the army to go in person, just send a general to lead a thousand people.

But Wei Yuan still came, because there is a big noble family in Haizhou, that is, the Haizhou family, which is responsible for the reform of the salt system.

Haizhou is close to the sea. If the Hai family wants to do the shipping business, they will certainly not go to Liangzhe instead of going far away.

Wei Yuan led the army here to talk with them.

The situation of the Hai family is similar to that of the Sheng family. The Sheng family is the eldest branch doing business, the second branch pursuing official careers, and then colluding with officials and businessmen.

The Hai family is the eldest branch serving as an official in the court, and the second branch doing business.

When they arrived outside Haizhou City, Wei Yuan asked the army to camp on the spot and only led the Manjia Camp to the city.

Wei Yuan did not negotiate much with the local governor, because in Haizhou, the Hai family was the real boss.

The local governor was afraid of the power of the Hai family in the court. Usually, he would not object to what the Hai family said as long as it did not affect his interests.

In this case, Wei Yuan had nothing to say to him.

That night, Wei Yuan and his three hundred guards settled in the Haizhou City Defense Camp.

The total number of troops in the entire Haizhou was about 1,500, which was pitifully small.

The next day, Wei Yuan planned to lead the full armor camp to the Hai family.

The head of the guards, Jiang Ji, was puzzled and said, "General Wei, given our status, we should wait for the Hai family to come to us, why do we have to look for them?"

Wei Yuan asked curiously, "You seem to have guessed what I am going to do?"

Jiang Ji bowed and said, "I dare not make random guesses, but I think it should be related to sea transportation."

"I have said so much just to say that I am Wei Shuai's man and will consider everything for Wei Shuai."

Wei Yuan said: "Even you can guess that I went to Hai's for shipping. It seems that I really have to go to Hai's."

Jiang Ji was puzzled, but he did not ask any more questions.

As a personal guard, he knew better than anyone whether to say some things.

He just wanted Wei Yuan to feel that he, a personal guard, was really considering him.

After all, whether he could have a bright future and become a general like Chen Daniu in the future was all up to Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan's idea was also very simple.

He just wanted to tell Zhao Zhen that he was greedy, very greedy.

A monarch like Zhao Zhen was not afraid of the greed and lust of his subjects.

The more fame and wealth the subjects valued, the more greedy they were, the more he dared to use them.

Afterwards.

Three hundred personal guards in heavy armor followed Wei Yuan to the Hai's house.

The servants who were in charge of guarding the gate of the Hai family shuddered when they saw the soldiers wearing scary masks, holding Guandao, looking majestic and murderous.

They ran directly to the backyard to report to Hai Qing, the second head of the Hai family.

At this time, Hai Qing was chatting with her family,

"Chaoyun, you girl, you finally came here, so stay a few more days."

"Tomorrow I will visit the loyal and brave earl in your capital. Why don't you tell me what kind of person he is?"

Before Wei Yuan went to war, Hai Zhong's daughter, Hai Zhou's sister Hai Chaoyun, set out and came here.

She was going to find her brother and take a look at the scenery along the way.

At this moment, Hai Zhou was leading the salt tax reform in Liangzhe.

Hai Chaoyun was surprised when he mentioned the loyal and brave Wei Yuan.

"He's here?"

Hai Qing said, "You didn't know? Yesterday, the governor came to look for my uncle, and he wanted to go outside the city with my uncle to meet him, and then we went to the governor's house for dinner together."

"Your brother did tell my uncle about him. This man wants to get involved in our Hai family's business."

Hai Chaoyun said, "My niece rarely negotiates with nobles in Beijing, but I also heard from some sisters that the loyal and brave Wei Yuan is a hero."

Hero?

Hai Qing murmured to herself, "If he is a hero, it's okay, but I'm afraid he is a tyrant!"

As soon as the voice fell.

The servants of the Hai family ran here and said in a panic:

"Bingbing. Master, all the people outside our family are soldiers."

Soldiers?

Hai Qing frowned slightly, then stood up and said to Hai Chaoyun and others:

"You stay here, I'll go out and take a look."

This time, Wei Yuan was able to lead the troops, in fact, the Hai family also helped.

Of course, it was limited to submitting a letter.

Hai Chaoyun lived in Jiangsu and Zhejiang since childhood, and only went to the capital in the past two years. When she was free, she still liked to live in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

But no matter what, this girl has seen some of the world.

Hearing that there were soldiers coming, she was worried about the safety of her uncle, so she followed Hai Qing.

Hai Qing's family members and descendants also followed.

At this time, Wei Yuan was standing in the front yard of the Hai family.

Two hundred guards were guarding outside the door.

Only one hundred guards followed Wei Yuan here.

Hai Qing saw Wei Yuan at first sight, frowned and asked in confusion:

"Loyal and Brave Lord? We just drank and talked happily yesterday, why are you here with your troops today?"

Don't you know what it is?

Wei Yuan brought his troops here for only one purpose, that is to give Hai family a warning.

So that they know that as long as he serves as the Southeast Pacification and Recruiting Envoy, he will have the final say in the coastal counties.

Wei Yuan said bluntly: "Why did I come here? Didn't Hai Zhou mention it to you?"

Hai Qing suddenly fell silent.

At this time, the family members and children of the Hai family who followed him stood behind him.

Some women couldn't help but tremble in their legs when they saw those soldiers wearing masks and looking ferocious.

Suddenly.

Hai Chaoyun, the daughter of Hai Zhong, bowed to Wei Yuan and said:

"The court has its own laws. It seems inappropriate for the loyal and brave to lead troops to break into other people's houses."

Wei Yuan glanced at her.

She looked good, with the graceful temperament of a Jiangnan woman, but not stunning.

She was not panicked when encountering things, and she did not show any fear when seeing the soldiers around her.

I don't know if she was holding on or had confidence.

Wei Yuan smiled and said, "You are a woman, but you are very eloquent."

Hai Chaoyun said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "General Wei, you are too kind."

"I have heard from my brother that General Wei is a hero of the time and a pillar of our Great Zhou. Now he is ordered to suppress the Japanese, but he leads troops to my Hai family to suppress others with his power. What's the reason?"

Wei Yuan asked, "I am ashamed to be the pillar of the sky. Who is your brother?"

Hai Chaoyun said, "Hai Zhou, the salt inspector."

It turned out to be him.

Wei Yuan smiled, "Are you Hai Chaoyun, Haizhou's sister?"

Haizhou has many sisters, but most of them have married, and only Hai Chaoyun is still waiting to be married.

Hearing this, Hai Chaoyun nodded.

Wei Yuan laughed twice and said, "When your brother came to find me, he said that if I had not been engaged, your Hai family would not mind setting a precedent and marrying a nobleman."

As soon as these words came out, Hai Chaoyun immediately thought of something and felt ashamed subconsciously, "You!"

Wei Yuan was too lazy to pay attention to her anymore and waved to the guards around him.

They left.

Afterwards, Wei Yuan looked at Hai Qing,

"Master Hai, are you going to leave me alone like this?"

Hai Qing said with a stiff face, "Lord Zhongyong, please."

Come to the main hall of the Hai family.

Hai Chaoyun personally poured tea for Wei Yuan.

The latter suddenly asked, "I heard that you know my nephew Sheng Changbai?"

Hai Chaoyun knew that Wei Yuan was related to the Sheng family.

Sheng Changbai and Hai Chaoyun did not know each other, but the former had asked if there were any unmarried women in the Hai family, which had a very strict family tradition.

Then he found out about Hai Chaoyun.

She shook her head and said, "I've heard of the name Sheng Changbai."

Hai Qing winked at her.

Hai Chaoyun knew what to do, "My niece will leave."

Paused.

Hai Qing took the initiative to ask, "General Wei, my Hai family's business is not just my Hai family's business. If I give you 20% of the profit, how can I explain to those who cooperate with my Hai family?"

"How about 10%?"

Wei Yuan shook his head and said nothing.

Hai Qing frowned and said, "General Wei, we agreed before that if the navy is established, we will give you another 20% profit. Now there is no news about the establishment of the navy, and you are asking for 20% profit right away. It's a bit..."

He didn't dare to say the next words.

Wei Yuan smiled and said, "Are you trying to say that I am too treacherous?"

Hai Qing was silent.

Wei Yuan said, "Before the sea transportation was opened, your Hai family had used the power of the court to transport silk and jade to overseas countries in the name of imperial merchants."

"Most of the profits belong to the court, but in order to prevent the Japanese pirates from robbing along the coast, you have to pay tens of thousands of taels of silver to the Japanese pirates every year."

"If I tell this to His Majesty and say that you are colluding with the Japanese pirates, can your Hai family's reputation in the court be preserved?"

This news was passed to Wei Yuan by the Imperial City Department.

What Yan Da wanted was very simple. If Wei Yuan made 20% of the Hai family's business, he would want 30% of the 20% profit.

Therefore, Wei Yuan must take 20%, not less than 10%, otherwise, he will not make any money.

The Hai family is indeed in collusion with the imperial merchants. Since the Hai family pays tribute to the court every year, Zhao Zhen did not ask about this matter.

Now that sea transportation is open, the Hai family does not need to give profits to the court. As long as they do a few big business with overseas countries, the tax revenue will be enough for the court to earn.

During the ban on sea transportation, only the imperial merchants can do business with overseas countries.

Hai Qing looked embarrassed and did not know what to do for a while.

Wei Yuan continued: "The navy will definitely be established. By then, you can save the money you pay to the Japanese pirates."

"Otherwise, as your Hai family's business grows bigger and bigger, will those Japanese pirates only want a few tens of thousands of taels of silver?"

"Take a step back. Even if the navy is not established, as long as I am in the southeast, your Hai family's business will not be able to bypass me."

"It's just 20% profit. Your Hai family will not lose."

To put it bluntly, 20% profit is protection fee.

Wei Yuan is in charge of military and national affairs in the southeast, and there is too much room for maneuver.

The Hai family is just the first target of his exploitation.

Of course, this matter cannot be overdone, otherwise, it is easy to be attacked by the crowd and counterproductive.

Just collect some benefits appropriately.

But only this Hai family.

His responsibility is to sweep the Japanese pirates along the southeast coast, which has little to do with Haizhou.

He made a detour to Haizhou, and it can't be in vain.

When Hai Zhou came to find Wei Yuan, he wanted him to clear the Japanese pirates in Haizhou. Only in this way can the ships of the Hai family sail freely on the sea.

"General Wei, our Hai family has contributed money and effort to support you in sweeping out the Japanese pirates."

"The two hundred warships that are being sent to Liangzhe are all supervised by the Ministry of Works, and have nothing to do with the Military Equipment Bureau. The money for supervising the construction of the warships is also applied by the Ministry of Works to the court, and my Hai family and merchants in the southeast have donated money to build them."

"Now, you still want 20% profit, isn't this going to kill me?"

Hai Qing put on a particularly aggrieved look.

Wei Yuan's face was solemn, and he asked back: "So, these warships should not be built? If the Japanese pirates hide on the sea, do you want the soldiers of the Danglu Army to walk to the sea to kill the enemy?"