NCCnovel Chapter 187 Threat
Chapter 187 Threat
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Li Fei pondered, "So the general only brought four or five hundred-ton ships to Fujian, while the large ships of a thousand-ton ships are all anchored in Lingao?"
"That's right. But a few old lock ships aren't enough, which is why I suggested testing the cannons. That way, they won't look down on us, but they won't be too wary either."
Inside the city government office.
“This Liu guy is so good at making cannons. If we don’t agree to form an alliance, we can certainly monopolize the business in Fujian and Japan, but what if he stabs us in the back?” Zheng Hongkui reminded his brothers. “He can sell his cannons to us, and he can also sell them to Liu Xiang. Just think about it, if Liu Xiang’s ships are equipped with these cannons, and he boards us and fires a few shots at us, we’ll be in big trouble!”
This possibility was so terrifying that even Zheng Zhihu remained silent.
After much internal struggle, Zheng Zhilong finally made his decision: "Form an alliance with them!"
Zheng Zhihu and the others were a little surprised: "Big Brother?"
“I’ve thought it over repeatedly. What the third brother said isn’t impossible. We can’t push that guy surnamed Xia towards Liu Xiang’s side. Since he’s quite powerful and can even forge cannons, he’s practically a figure of importance on the sea. We should win him over and focus all our efforts on eliminating Liu Xiang, so he won’t trip us up from behind. As for what happens after we eliminate Liu Xiang…”
Zheng Hongkui understood his meaning: "Let's free up our hands to deal with him later?"
Zheng Zhihu also realized: "Whether we beat him or scare him, we have to teach him a lesson he won't tolerate. Haha!"
Zheng Zhilong smiled and said, "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. Forming an alliance now does not mean we will remain allies in the future. He cannot blame me for going back on my word. Considering that we are both government troops, let's give Governor Xiong some face. As long as he is sensible, we will waive his toll when his fleet passes through Fujian."
The two sides met again at the government office the next day. Compared to their initial cautiousness and probing, they were much warmer at the second meeting, as if they were old friends who had not seen each other for many years.
Zheng Zhilong immediately declared, "General Liu's suggestion yesterday was excellent. We are all officers and soldiers, and Liu Xiang is a thief. Naturally, we must cooperate sincerely and share the burden for the court. Once we eliminate Liu Xiang and subdue the Dutch, we will be in charge from Fujian to Guangdong, haha!"
Liu Ye smiled broadly, "General Zheng is wise! Now that our two families are allied, everything is negotiable. Logically speaking, the cannons should be offered to us without hesitation, how could we accept your money? However, my place is a poor, remote area with no profitable businesses, and my family's wealth is naturally incomparable to General Zheng's, so I really can't afford to lose money. How about this, each cannon will be sold at cost price, three thousand taels of silver, without making a single penny from you, and your needs will be given priority. I'll postpone my own needs for now, what do you think?"
"Haha... Three thousand taels of silver, cost price, General Liu, you're really joking..." Zheng Zhilong laughed and patted Liu Ye on the shoulder.
Liu Ye adopted a serious expression: "No joking. General Zheng knows very well how much the Hongyi cannons cost, but can a Hongyi cannon that fires ten-jin cannonballs even be loaded onto a ship? Can its power compare to my cannon? My cannon can fire thirty-jin cannonballs!"
Unable to contain himself, Zheng Zhihu stood up and said loudly, "Since we're forming an alliance, we should show some sincerity. Three thousand taels of silver? Are you running a black market? One thousand taels would be more like it. We'll take as much as you have!"
Liu Ye shook his head: "Master Zheng, you are mistaken. I would be losing out big time if I gave you a thousand taels. How about I give you a thousand taels and you cast cannons for me? I'll take as many as you have."
Zheng Zhihu was furious. This was clearly an attempt to extort money from the Zheng family by relying on his cannon-casting skills! He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "You, surnamed Liu, don't push your luck! My elder brother has already agreed to the alliance, but you want to sell a few cannons at such a high price? You have no sincerity at all! My elder brother has plenty of money, but he won't be a sucker!"
Liu Ye said slowly and deliberately, "If Master Zheng is in charge here, then this deal is off. I dare not let General Zheng be a sucker. Otherwise, I'll find another sucker to buy cannons and earn some money to support my family. For example, I could sell them to Liu Xiang?"
Zheng Zhihu laughed angrily: "You want to sow discord between us brothers, and you even want to threaten us with Liu Xiang? You've got some nerve! Don't you know whose territory this is? Guards!"
Several people outside responded with a loud shout, and a group of men rushed in, each wielding a gleaming steel knife. They were all incredibly fierce, seemingly the elite men of the Zheng family. The atmosphere immediately became tense. Liang Xiaoming and the others swallowed hard, trying to appear calm.
Liu Ye glanced at Zheng Zhilong and saw that although his lips were tightly closed and he didn't utter a sound, his expression wasn't tense. It seemed he still intended for Zheng Zhihu to play the bad cop and him to play the good cop. Liu Ye sneered inwardly. If he was going to put on an act, he might as well go all the way. He picked up his teacup and smashed it on the ground.
Before long, Lin San led his guards in and rushed in, surrounding Liu Ye and the others. Naturally, there were physical altercations and angry glares between them.
"You, surnamed Liu, do you think your small group of men can protect you?" Zheng Zhihu smiled contemptuously: "The entire Zhongzuo prison is owned by the Zheng family. Even if you get on the ship, you won't be able to leave the port."
Liu Ye said to him very seriously, "I didn't bring many people this time, only twenty men and twenty guns. If it really comes down to a fight, I definitely won't be able to escape unscathed. But with these twenty men, I can easily defeat fifty soldiers in hand-to-hand combat, and with firearms arrayed, I can take down a hundred soldiers. I haven't experienced the strength of the Zheng family before, but they might not be stronger than the Guangdong garrison, right? If I can't leave, I'll take you all down with me. At worst, we'll all go to see the King of Hell together!"
Although Zheng Zhihu had heard of the battles that had taken place in Guangdong, he didn't believe it, thinking, "You're just bragging! We've seen the government troops' muskets before; one shot and they're useless..."
Liang Xiaoming couldn't help but interject, "Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand. In the time it takes for the government troops to fire one shot with their muskets, our guns can fire three. Two or three times the number of troops won't even be able to get close."
Zheng Zhilong finally spoke: "Second brother, you're being too ridiculous. Don't you even respect me as your elder brother? Tell them all to step back."
Zheng Zhihu, unconvinced, argued, "Brother, they've gone too far..."
"Didn't you hear what I said? Who's in charge of the Zheng family, you or me?" Zheng Zhilong's tone became stern.
Zheng Zhihu lowered his head and remained silent. He turned and waved his hand, signaling his men to leave. Seeing their leader was angry, the group of men tiptoed out the door.
After they all left, Zheng Zhilong put on a smiling face and said to Liu Ye, "General Liu, my second brother was a bit reckless and acted rashly. Please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart. Why don't you have your men go out first, and we can sit down and talk slowly, so as not to ruin our harmony?"
Liu Ye smiled enigmatically: "That's excellent."