Chapter 1679: Inquire about information

Although Qin Huacheng declared that he did not want the money that Ding Pingsheng took the initiative to give, when he led the team to leave, Ding Pingsheng still had someone quietly give him a small bag of silver coins. Qin Huacheng weighed the weight and did not pretend to refuse anymore, nodding towards Ding Pingsheng.

He expressed his appreciation for his knowledge and interest. With Qin Huacheng's current authority, naturally he would not take this small amount of money too seriously. However, the attitude shown by Ding Pingsheng made him have doubts about future cooperation.

Gained more confidence.

Although Qin Huacheng is just a small detachment leader in charge of dozens of security police outside the city and does not have a deep official background, the Qin family is also a local family that has lived in Manila for several generations. As the saying goes, shrimps have their own way, crabs have their own way. You know, Qin Huacheng certainly has his own information channels. Although the Ding family has some money, they may not be able to compare with him when it comes to asking about the Haihan people. Most of the local security police recruited by the Haihan people are Han Chinese, and their family backgrounds are also low. Most of them were from civilian backgrounds, and many of them had been Qin Huacheng's playmates since childhood. They wanted to get some inside information. In fact, it was just a matter of inviting friends to have a meal of wine and meat after get off work.

It just so happened that Ding Pingsheng gave him a sum of money, which also advanced the funds for the event. Qin Huacheng planned to use the money to find out information. It should be enough to invite those friends to eat and drink in the restaurant. As for the Ding family meeting

Qin Huacheng felt that there was nothing to worry about because he would not make up his mind and come to him for help again. It could be seen from Ding Pingsheng's attitude that he was actually already interested, but he was still undecided and needed to go back and ask the old man of the Ding family for his decision. It was probably going to take a while.

In less than half a day, the Ding family will come looking for me.

Ding Pingsheng sent Qin Huacheng away, gave a few brief explanations to his deputy, and then hurried home with Ding Ping'er. During this period, the sea ban has not yet been lifted, and there is actually nothing for the shipyard to do, so Ding Pingsheng does not have to stay all the time.

Guarding the shop. What Qin Huacheng said just now actually involves a lot. It is not just a matter of money. There are some things that Ding Pingsheng cannot tell Qin Huacheng too clearly, and he does not dare to make a decision rashly, so he has to go back and ask his father for instructions.

Ding Feng.

On the way home, he encountered the Haihan Army's recruitment station outside the west gate. Looking at the long line of people, Ding Pingsheng couldn't help but sigh with emotion at Haihan's methods. After the Haihan Army captured Manila, they immediately began to recruit soldiers locally.

Enlist in the army, and it is stipulated that as long as one person joins the army, his family can obtain fifty acres of land on the north bank of the Pasig River for farming. If he has served the Spanish armed forces before, he can also use this to offset his crime. In the future, he will need to apply for Haihan citizenship.

Enlisting in the military is also an extremely important reference condition.

As soon as this regulation came out, many civilians were encouraged recently and flocked to the Haihan Army's registration point. The strength of the Haihan Army is best proved by the war that just ended not long ago.

The arrogant Spaniards on the island had almost no front that could resist for three days in front of the Haihan Army. After the war started, they retreated steadily. There was no repetition in the battle. In just a few days, they lost the entire Manila Bay, and with them

The Spanish authorities' declaration before the war that "the blood of the Haihan people will cover Manila Bay" is completely different.

The strength gap between the Spanish armed forces and the Haihan Army is so huge that anyone who is not blind can naturally see who is the real one worth hugging. What’s more, the recruitment conditions offered by the Haihan Army are extremely generous. Ordinary civilians used to want to recruit from the Haihan Army.

If the Spanish government purchases fifty acres of land, it will take at least seven or eight years for the whole family to save enough money. But now, as long as you join the army, you can get the land, and you will get generous military pay while you are in the army.

This land is almost given away for free. Who would be willing to miss such a good opportunity?

In just a few days, Haihan recruited hundreds of physically qualified soldiers from the local area. And after the news spread, more young people of the right age came from towns near Manila, hoping that through this method

In exchange for a piece of farmland for the family, he also earned a future for himself. There were many young people in the Ding family shipyard. They felt that this way was better than working in the shipyard, so they resigned from Ding Pingsheng and went to join the army with the Haihan people.

.

Ding Pingsheng can understand this choice. The sailors who work in the shipyard only get a dozen silver coins per month. If they receive a mission to go to sea, the reward can be a little more, but with this income alone, he wants to get money from the government.

Buying fifty acres of land is basically wishful thinking. The Han people have an innate desire for land. If they choose a lifestyle between owning land and wandering at sea, most Han people will not hesitate.

Hesitantly choose the former. Few people can hold on to the conditions set by Haihan.

As for the impact of joining the army on future naturalization of Haihan, the local people have not yet truly realized the importance of Haihan nationality. Whether it is land distribution, future living arrangements, personal future, Haihan and non-Haihan nationality,

The gap in treatment will be very huge. If they knew how strict the control over naturalization was on Hainan Island, they might re-examine the conditions offered by the Haihan Army, because being allowed to join the Haihan nationality is the most important condition.

Ding Pingsheng returned home and met his father, and recounted everything Qin Huacheng said when he came to visit today. Ding Ping'er was a bystander, and with her additions, there was basically nothing missing.

After listening to this, Ding Feng commented: "Yesterday, your second brother went to the Qin family and had an unpleasant quarrel with Old Qin. I guess the second brother of the Qin family also knew about it. The second brother of the Qin family used to be a servant of the Spanish, and now he is working for the Spaniards.

Haihan people are naturally high-spirited when they are on duty, so how can they bear the tone of your second brother? When I went to the boat shop today, I think you were trying to manipulate our Ding family. But you can calm down and deal with him, which is good.

, as the helmsman of the Ding family, he should have a city like this."

Ding Pingsheng said: "Father, what do you think of what Qin Huacheng said?"

Ding Feng pondered: "Since Qin Huacheng refuses to accept the cash you sent, but insists on using the future price of hiring a ship as a condition of the transaction, what he is after is not immediate profit. He should be somewhat sure that he can find out.

Only when I received the news did I offer such conditions.”

"In your opinion, can this matter be left to Qin Huacheng?" Ding Pingsheng asked.

Ding Feng said: "Let him inquire about the information first, and don't say anything more. Otherwise, if he knows too much, he will regret it. At that time, whether he refuses us or asks for an exorbitant price, it will not be appropriate."

"Then if he asks us, should we try to rescue my brother-in-law?"

"Say what needs to be said, and don't mention what shouldn't be mentioned. Do you need me to teach you?" Ding Feng suddenly became angry when he saw Ding Pingsheng's cautious look. Although his eldest son is much calmer than his second brother, he is worthy of being the head of the family.

Although he was too cautious at times, he missed many opportunities. If the Ding family was left in his hands, he would probably be able to maintain the success in the future, but he would not be able to create anything new.

Seeing that his father was angry, Ding Pingsheng quickly agreed. It was not that he didn't know the stakes, but he always felt that this matter made his father's decision safer. As the head of the family, Ding Pingsheng always lacked the courage to give orders. Before he dared to do so,

In this respect, it was his brother Ding Ping who had a bad temper who was more open-minded.

As for the Spanish man who makes the Ding family and his son so fearful, the reason is actually not surprising at all. This man's name is Francis Jr., and he is the son of Francis, the former Manila city defense commander. In other words, the in-laws of the Ding family's marriage,

It was Francis, the commander of the city defense.

It was precisely with this protective umbrella that the Ding family received almost no direct involvement in the Battle of Manila. Even the cargo ship docked by the Ding family shipyard in Manila Port was intact. When the Manila fleet was severely damaged by the Haihan Navy, Hu

Ann Louis still insisted on not touching the Ding family's ship. The reason was because Francis had issued an order to give special care to the Ding family shipyard.

Of course, before the Battle of Manila, the Ding family had gained even more benefits from this marriage, especially in shipping. If it had not been for the invasion of the Haihan army, over time, the Ding family would have become the leading powerhouse in Manila.

Han family. However, the Ding family has made a lot of benefits, but it has not inflated too much. In addition to making a lot of money in the business, the reputation in the local Han circle is pretty good, and there is no reason why the Ding family has nothing to do with it.

The Spaniards look down on them when they marry.

But the situation changed after the war. The Ding family's foreign son-in-law, Francis, was captured by the Haihan people and taken into the city. He didn't know whether he was alive or dead for several days. The Ding family didn't even have the channels to inquire about the news, let alone fishing for people.

It's not that the Ding family didn't think of a solution, but almost all the people they were looking for were the same as Qin Shengyao, who avoided the Ding family for fear of being implicated. If Qin Huacheng hadn't taken the initiative, the Ding family would have continued to worry about this matter.

Go down.

For the Ding family, there is actually another consideration that cannot be disclosed. Even the third daughter, Ding Ping'er, has been kept secret, and that is whether to save the foreign son-in-law or not. The Ding family and his son have not yet made a definite decision.

If little Francis is saved, he might not be rescued, but it will drag the Ding family into the water, which has finally managed to stay out of the matter, and let the Haihan authorities include the Ding family on the "pro-Spanish" list. And it will

The consequences may be devastating to the Ding family, which is engaged in the shipping business. The Haihan authorities don't even need to confiscate the Ding family's property. As long as the officials give a hint, no merchant will dare to maintain trade with the Ding family in the future.

It’s related.

Of course, as a husband and wife, Ding Ping'er naturally wants to save her husband from prison. Today, she went to the boat shop to beg her eldest brother Ding Pingsheng again to see if there is anything else she can think of. As far as she is concerned, there is no such thing.

What are the thoughts of taking the overall situation into account and dragging down the family? A husband is a husband. If she is gone, she will be a widow from now on. The Spaniards have married a widow once, who should dare to accept her in the future?

However, her father and brother will definitely not care too much about Ding Ping'er's thoughts. How can the fate of a woman's family be compared with the prospects of the entire family. According to the ideas of the Ding family and his son, they must first inquire about the current situation of little Francis.

and the Haihan authorities’ true attitude towards this matter, and then make subsequent plans. In any case, preserving the Ding family must be the first priority. As for the prices to be paid and the means to be adopted to achieve this goal, then

It had to be done.

Just as Qin Huacheng thought, the Ding family came to the door before noon. Ding Pingsheng himself did not show up, but sent a subordinate to deliver a message to Qin Huacheng, asking him to come to the port at noon.

Have a casual meal at a restaurant.

Qin Hua was already convinced that he wanted to take over the Ding family's deal, so he naturally would not refuse and went to the appointment alone at noon. The restaurant where Ding Pingsheng was treating guests was actually a property under the Ding family's name, so he went there early

A private room was reserved here, and as soon as Qin Huacheng arrived, he ordered his servants to start serving food.

"What Brother Qin said today, I will discuss it with my father after I go back next time, and I feel that I still need to trouble Brother Qin to take action on this matter." Ding Pingsheng poured wine for Qin Huacheng and said politely: "I hope Brother Qin can help me out of kindness.

."

Qin Huacheng smiled and said: "I don't dare to act righteously, and I am not that noble. Even if I discussed the terms in the morning and Shopkeeper Ding thinks it is appropriate, then I will go to the city in the afternoon to find out the news. If it is quick, I can get back to you within a day or two. If you don't think so,

That’s right, we’ll be done with it after our meal, and I’ll just pretend I’ve never heard of it.”

Ding Pingsheng said: "Since Brother Qin is so straightforward, I won't go around in circles. If there is definite information about my brother-in-law, from now on we will follow Brother Qin's wishes. As long as the Qin family comes to hire a boat, the Ding family shipyard will provide it as promised."

We will make special arrangements. But I hope that Brother Qin will keep the details of the transaction between you and me secret, so as not to disturb the market price."

Qin Huacheng nodded and said: "Of course I don't have to worry about this. Shopkeeper Ding doesn't have to worry. But if you want to tell me this exact news, how exactly do you know it? Do you have any requirements?"

Ding Pingsheng said: "I need to know whether he is alive or dead. If he is dead, I will bury his body and make arrangements for his funeral. If he is still alive, I need to know how the government plans to deal with him and whether there is any improvement.

"

Qin Huacheng took a sip of wine and didn't speak for a long time. Ding Pingsheng was uneasy and worried whether the other party would find his request too troublesome. Qin Huacheng finally spoke, and his words made Ding Pingsheng's heart beat with fear.

"Then the Ding family... do you want him alive or dead?"

Even though Ding has a calm personality, when Qin Huacheng asked such a direct question, his expression was inevitably a little stiff: "Brother Qin is joking, how could you...want him to die?"

Qin Huacheng shook his head and said: "This is nothing unusual. As soon as the battle was over, everyone was busy setting aside ties with the Spaniards. Haven't your Ding family thought about drawing a line with this son-in-law and the in-law?

"
Chapter completed!