Chapter 578: Tie it up! Throw it into the sea! Continue without fear of death!

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Suddenly, a faint sound of cannons came from afar.

Because it was still night, the sea was particularly quiet and the sound of cannons was spread far away.

Huang Shijun hurriedly turned around and checked out. Chen Yaoyang also went out to see what was going on. Zhang Zhun stood up, stretched his waist, and listened to the direction of the cannons. Judging from the cannons, the battle was not particularly strong. The number of ships participating in the battle should not be many.

Moreover, it can be judged that there is no sound of flying dragon cannon firing. However, the two sides of the battle must be the Tianjin Navy and the Hu Ben Navy. In the Bohai Bay, only these two water forces may have conflicts. It is impossible for others to come in here.

Sure enough, a moment later, Huang Shijun came in and reported to Zhang Zhun: "Governor, it seems that he was the warship commanded by Zhou Zhengyu, and fought with the Tianjin Navy."

Zhang Zhun said in surprise: "Zhou Zhengyu?"

He frowned quietly, came to the deck outside, and raised the Mile Mile Mile.

Sure enough, in the south, there was a constant burst of artillery fire. Because it was late November, the moonlight was already dim and the visibility was not very good. Only when the fire was shining can you vaguely see the two sides in the war. Judging from the situation observed in the Qianli Mile Mile, it was indeed two enemy ships were besieging a warship of the Tiger Army.

"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The continuous low sound of conch continued to sound.

Because it was night and the light was not good, the fleet commander Li Jicheng could not speak the flag, so he had to convey it through the sound of conch. The sound of conch was whimpering, indicating that it was an enemy with combat effectiveness. According to regulations, when hearing the sound of conch, all warships must be fully prepared for combat.

"Let's go over and help!"

Zhang Zhun said without hesitation.

"clear!"

Huang Shijun agreed and immediately commanded the battleship and leaned towards the battlefield.

Because the north wind was blowing, the warships were very fast, and the distance between them and the warring parties was constantly shortened. The flash of artillery fire became brighter and brighter, and the sound of artillery was becoming more and more shocking.

"Dongdongdongdongdongdong!"

"Dongdongdongdongdongdong!"

"Dongdongdongdongdongdong!"

At this time, there were fierce drum sounds coming from Li Jicheng's flagship.

The meaning of drum sound is of course the entire army assault. So all the blessed ships and all the Cangshan ships immediately set out to surround the battlefield in the south. The north wind was strong, and more than a dozen warships were pushed into the battlefield in an instant.

Zhang Zhun held up a thousand-mile mirror and carefully looked at the two sides fighting.

It is indeed Zhou Zhengyu's flagship and is being besieged by two Tianjin Navy warships.

Zhou Zhengyu performed a relatively special task this time, which was explained by Zhang Zhun alone, and others did not know. Therefore, when Zhou Zhengyu was carrying out the mission, there was only an ordinary No. 2 blessed ship with him, and there were no flying dragon cannons on the ship. Two warships of the Tianjin Navy chased him out desperately, obviously to intercept Zhou Zhengyu. The two Tianjin Navy's warships were also No. 2 blessed ships. Two to one, Zhou Zhengyu was at a disadvantage.

However, with the arrival of Li Jicheng's fleet, the balance of power immediately changed. Li Jicheng's fleet had six blessed ships and five Cangshan ships, with troops several times that of the Tianjin Navy. It was discovered that the reinforcements of the Hu Ben Army Navy arrived, and the warships of the two Tianjin Navy's warships obviously had the intention to retreat and tried to escape to the south. The Hu Ben Army Navy's Cangshan ship immediately chased after him like a rabbit.

"Force them to surrender!"

"You must catch them!"

Zhang Zhun put down the Qianli Mile Mile and said coldly.

The Tianjin Navy's warship is actually showing off its might here? I still want to escape to the south? Don't they know whose territory is located in the south? Since they are here, don't leave!

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The warships of the Hu Ben Navy fired fire and intercepted the Tianjin Navy warships trying to escape. The Cangshan ship had the fastest speed, rushed out like a sharp arrow, and walked around in front of the two lucky ships of the Tianjin Navy, blocking their retreat path. In this way, it was very difficult for the two lucky ships of the Tianjin Navy to escape from the sky.

Zhou Zhengyu breathed a sigh of relief and directed the warship to leave the battlefield and leaned towards Zhang Zhun's flagship at the same time. Huang Shijun also commanded the warship to lean over. After a while, Zhou Zhengyu's warship leaned against Zhang Zhun's flagship. The sailor threw out ropes, tied the two ships tightly together, and laid a springboard in the middle of the two ships to facilitate travel.

Overjoyed, Zhou Zhengyu hurriedly stepped on the springboard and came straight to Zhang Zhun, stood attentively and shouted happily: "Sir!"

Zhang Zhun returned the favor solemnly, and then asked with concern: "How is the situation?"

Zhou Zhengyu said happily: "Don't worry, sir, everyone on the list has been invited."

Zhang Zhun nodded with satisfaction and said, "What's wrong with the Tianjin Navy?"

Zhou Zhengyu said briefly: "They have too deep relationship with the big salt merchants in Leting. They knew just now. They didn't know what we asked these salt merchants to do, so they followed and wanted to grab the people back halfway. I asked some salt merchants that they had to respect the Tianjin Navy for more than 100,000 taels of silver every year. These silvers were divided up by the senior officials of the Tianjin Navy and officials at all levels of the court. Maybe it was stimulated by the silver, and they beat them quite fiercely."

Zhang Zhun nodded thoughtfully and subconsciously looked back at Chen Yaoyang behind him. This man, who is also a senior executive of the Tianjin Navy, seems to have made a lot of money. The salt farms in Beizhili are all on the beach. To get security, of course, a lot of money is indispensable for respecting the Tianjin Navy.

Seeing Zhang Zhun's malicious gaze, Chen Yaoyang hurriedly explained: "Governor, don't get me wrong. The silver from the salt merchants in Northern Zhili is for filial piety to all royal relatives, as well as the cabinet, and the six ministries. The number is more than 100,000 taels, at least one million taels a year. I have no right to participate in the guerrilla status like my guerrilla status. Even the admiral and general of our Tianjin Navy, what I get is a little exposed from the cracks of other people's fingers."

Zhang Zhun said calmly: "Take me to see the guests."

Zhou Zhengyu agreed and led the way in front and came to his boat.

Zhang Zhun looked around and said casually: "There is still a little moonlight, take them out of the deck."

Zhou Zhengyu agreed and soon asked someone to bring fifteen people out of the cabin.

These people are of different heights, weights, ages, different expressions on their faces, and different dresses on their bodies. However, they all have a common identity, that is, the salt merchant. These people are the big salt merchants who Zhou Zhengyu "invites" back from Leting according to Zhang Zhun's instructions.

Leting is one of the largest sea salt distribution centers in Northern Zhili. The sea salt sold from Leting weighs more than 30 million jin every year, and the annual profit is more than million taels of silver. Among the three major salt farms in the country, the highest production capacity is the Changlu Salt Farm in Northern Zhili. Leting is the highest production area of ​​Changlu Salt Farm. Many salt merchants in Northern Zhili make their fortunes here.

Of course, they are not the largest salt merchants in Northern Zhili. The largest salt merchants in Northern Zhili are all in the capital. There are also some in Tianjin Wei. These people are the senior officials of the court and the royal relatives. Without a strong backstage, it is absolutely impossible to become a salt merchant.

Zhang Zhun glanced at all the salt merchants and said bluntly: "I am Zhang Zhun!"

All the salt merchants were slightly surprised. They had never expected that they would meet Zhang Zhun here. They did not expect that Zhang Zhun would be so young. If he had not introduced himself, they would have thought that the other party was just an ordinary soldier of the Hu Ben Army.

Zhang Zhun glanced across and continued, "You guys, I invited them back."

He particularly emphasized the word "please" and did not conceal his violent means. Yes, it was he who ordered Zhou Zhengyu to use violent means to "please" all the big salt merchants in Leting. To accurately describe such behavior, another word should be used - kidnapping. They were kidnapped by Zhou Zhengyu.

The expressions of those big salt merchants became a little unnatural. Business people, looking at all directions, could not have known Zhang Zhun's name. Zhang Zhun was in Shandong and on the coast of Liaodong. Even the Tartars fell hard in front of Zhang Zhun. Recently, they even extended their black hand to Northern Zhili, which made the capital panic, thinking that the Hu Ben Army was going to attack the capital.

Now, Zhang Zhun uses violent means to force them to capture them, what good fruit will be eaten? They don’t know where they heard the news that the more gentle Zhang Zhun’s speech is, the more irresistible it is. Now Zhang Zhun’s tone sounds quite gentle. So, they are even more pessimistic. Never throw this evil man into the sea to feed fish, that is the real corpse!

After a slight pause, Zhang Zhun's eyes stayed on the faces of each salt merchant for a while, and said slowly: "Since you have invited you, I hope you can see the reality clearly and make wise choices. The so-called time-knowing people are heroes. I don't want to see bloodshed happen."

All the salt merchants' bodies slightly sternly again.

Bloodshed incident? Is Zhang Zhun going to kill them? It's so cruel, too domineering, too unreasonable. This is naked kidnapping, this is naked violence! However, Zhang Zhun kidnapped them and used violence to violate them. So what can they do? These big salt merchants have a considerable wealth. What do they value most now is safety. If they have no life, what should they do with so much wealth?

Zhang Zhun glanced at the Tianjin Navy who was being besieged and said coldly: "As for the Tianjin Navy... you can see it yourself. They are already unable to take care of themselves!"

In fact, those big salt merchants didn't need to look at it, just to know that the Tianjin Navy was not good. All around were warships from the Hu Ben Army Navy. It was difficult for the Tianjin Navy to escape, let alone defeat the Hu Ben Army Navy. The Tianjin Navy had few ships, and if these two were also killed by the Hu Ben Army, the remaining power would be even weaker.

The Tianjin Navy was gone, and the salt merchants were not heartbroken at all. The problem was that the Tianjin Navy was gone, and the Bohai Bay was completely the world of the Hu Ben Army Navy. Sea salt can only be salted off by the sea. Changlu Salt Field includes hundreds of salt fields of all sizes, all at the sea. If the Hu Ben Army Navy kept coming to harass them, they could not produce normally.

This is exactly what Zhang Zhun relies on. To put it bluntly, Zhang Zhun wanted to use such means to make the salt merchants in Northern Zhili surrender. If you do not surrender, I will make it impossible for you to produce normally. I will send warships to harass you every few days, and even go ashore to grab salt directly. You have no way to do it. What? Fight? Even the Tartars are not the opponent of the Hu Ben Army. Do you think the imperial army can be sure to defeat the Hu Ben Army?

Zhang Zhun yawned in an exaggerated manner, reached out and patted his mouth casually, and said a little tired: "I haven't slept last night. I'm really sleepy now, so I don't have time to talk too much to you. I'm going to tell you a long story short. What do you think about this Bohai Salt Industry Alliance?"

Those salt merchants looked at me, and I looked at you, and didn't say anything.

The so-called salt industry alliance mentioned by Zhang Zhun is actually very domineering and rude. The Hu Ben Army demanded to take over all the salt farms in Beizhili and all the sea salt sales networks. These salt merchants have since become subordinates of the Jingyan Division of the Hu Ben Army. All business activities must be under the command of the Jingyan Division of the General Affairs Department of the Great Governor of the Hu Ben Army.

If they really join the Bohai Bay Salt Alliance, most of the profits of sea salt trading will definitely be snatched away by Zhang Zhun. The salt market in Northern Zhili was originally a competition between Changlu Salt Field and Laizhou Bay Salt Field. If both salt fields were controlled by Zhang Zhun, the entire salt market in the northern Ming Dynasty would be controlled by Zhang Zhun.

This is something they cannot agree to. Although they all have a few small money and their net worth is at least tens of thousands of taels of silver, in fact, the real master is a senior official at all levels of the court. In a special place like Northern Zhili, except for the emperor and the senior officials of the court, others are basically unable to get the upper hand. The salt industry business makes quick money and profits, so of course the senior officials of the court will not let go.

However, if they did not join this salt industry alliance, the outcome would be imagined. The warships of the Hu Ben Navy would definitely come to greet each other warmly every three days, and they might even come ashore to visit. The entire Bohai Bay is the world of the Hu Ben Navy, and the salt field cannot be moved to the inland. If you can escape the first day of the first day, you can't escape the fifteenth day!

Faced with Zhang Zhun's aggressive means, all the salt merchants urgently hope that the court could come forward and suppress Zhang Zhun's arrogance. The court still had relatively powerful troops in Northern Zhili, Shanhaiguan, and Jinzhou. If these troops were mobilized to deal with Zhang Zhun, they might be able to give Zhang Zhun a look.

Unfortunately, Zhang Zhun didn't care about this at all. If you want to cut flesh from someone else's mouth, you must have the sharpest knife. The Hu Benjun is his knife. Seeing that all the salt merchants didn't say anything, he said bluntly: "Don't have any opinions? If you don't have opinions, you're joining!"

Finally, a salt merchant couldn't help but say, "Zhang Zhun, there is no such thing in doing things, you must also experience our difficulties!"

Zhang Zhun rolled his eyes and said disapprovingly: "What am I going to do?"

The salt merchant said dissatisfiedly: "You always have to give us time to consider it, right?"

Zhang Zhun stared at the salt merchant for a moment and said slowly: "Your name is Tang Tonghu, right?"

The salt merchant replied uneasy: "Yes."

Zhang Zhun said coldly: "I thought you were Tang Bohu!"

Tang Tonghu had no choice but to be speechless.

Zhang Zhun waved his hand casually and said coldly: "Find out the information about Tang Tonghu."

Zhou Zhengyu immediately sent someone to find him, and soon dug out Tang Tonghu's information and handed it to Zhang Zhun. Of course, the information came from the information network of the Yinxiang Sect. Leting is very close to the capital of the Yinxiang Sect, Luanzhou, and the Yinxiang Sect is naturally very familiar with the salt merchants such as Leting.

Zhang Zhun took the information and flipped it casually in the light of the fire, with a cold face and a cold tone: "Tang Tonghu, you are still doing a good job... In the fifth year of the Tianqi, you sold 250,000 kilograms of sea salt to the Mongolians... In the sixth year of the Tianqi, you sold 750,000 kilograms of sea salt to the Mongolians... In September this year, you sold 1.3 million kilograms of sea salt to the Mongolians..."

All the cold sweat on Tang Tonghu's forehead appeared. He had never expected that the Hu Ben Army knew even this. It should be known that according to the Ming Dynasty's laws and regulations, selling private salt to the Mongolians was definitely a death sentence for raiding the family and extermination. He was shocked and scared. Could it be that the information in Zhang Zhun was obtained from the hands of the Dongchang and the Jinyiwei?

Zhang Zhun closed the information book, looked at Tang Tonghu coldly, and said slowly: "Tang Tonghu, is my record right?"

Tang Tonghu immediately felt something was wrong, and knelt down with a thud and shouted loudly: "I'm wronged! I'm wronged! Sir, I'm really wronged!"
To be continued...