Chapter 2180

In the end, all problems still have to be solved with money, but as long as he can maintain his market position in Yangzhou, Ma Zhengping will agree without hesitation even though he knows that the costs incurred will most likely be astronomical.

Come down.

Ma Zhengping was not worried about being ripped off by the Haihan people. What he was worried about was that he was not even qualified to be ripped off. Although the domineering look of the Haihan people made him feel uncomfortable, he also knew that this was most likely the only way to save him.

Huizhou salt merchants must seize the external power of the opportunity.

The situation that Ma Zhengping expected most was for Haihan to directly clean up the Shanshan salt merchants in Yangzhou, but he also knew that the Haihan people were unlikely to take such a step at the risk of falling out with the Ming Dynasty, so they could only settle for the next best thing and hope that Haihan would do the next best thing.

Han can provide some effective means of support, and the Hui salt merchants can solve this problem themselves. This is probably the least risky way to assist Haihan.

Through Duan Tiancheng's statement, Ma Zhengping basically confirmed that Haihan would adopt this method to provide support to Huizhou salt merchants, which also made him breathe a big sigh of relief. As long as the Haihan people no longer sit idly by, then Yangzhou's

The situation is about to turn around.

Of course, Ma Zhengping did not get carried away. He knew that even if the Haihan people were willing to help, there were still great variables. For example, the Huizhou salt merchants actually had some of these muskets, and even spent a lot of money to buy some from overseas.

Muskets produced by Haihan, but these weapons failed to form real combat effectiveness in their hands, and they were still unable to defeat their opponents.

The main reason is that the opponent's musketeers have received better professional training and have mastered some of the tactics used in the army. They are already considered to be a paramilitary organization to a certain extent. Naturally, they are better than their subordinates who have never had any relevant combat experience.

These people are much stronger with experience.

Now that the Haihan people have promised to provide military training, this of course solves this problem that has troubled Huizhou salt merchants for a long time. However, even if Ma Zhengping is a layman on the military, he can imagine that this military training will definitely not be completed in a short time, and here

How to deal with possible attacks by Shanxi salt merchants during this period is still a huge problem.

Taking advantage of Duan Tiancheng's good mood, Ma Zhengping quickly expressed his concerns to him.

Duan Tiancheng said: "Boss Ma is worried that the camp will be taken over by the opponent before the soldiers are fully trained? This is not difficult to handle. Although it is inconvenient for our country to send troops to Yangzhou, if it is sending non-military personnel, there is no such scruple.

."

Ma Zhengping wondered: "What does this mean?"

Duan Tiancheng said: "I wonder if Boss Ma has ever heard of the escort agency Golden Shield Escort?"

Ma Zhengping said: "I am very ignorant. I only know that this escort agency is run by your country, but I don't know the specific situation. I would like to ask Mr. Duan to explain a few things."

Duan Tiancheng said: "Golden Shield Escort undertakes various escort and escort services. About half of its members are veterans from the Haihan Army, and most of them are Han Chinese. Since its establishment, it has been favored by merchants from the Ming Dynasty.

It has an excellent reputation in the Fuguang area in the south. If Boss Ma has acquaintances in the Fuguang area, you can ask them about the reputation of Golden Shield."

Ma Zhengping's eyes lit up when he heard that there were many veterans of Haihan among the members of the Golden Shield Escort. This was a bodyguard in name, but in fact it was a paramilitary organization in the appearance of a bodyguard. Perhaps they were hired to deal with it.

Shanshan Salt Merchant is indeed a good idea.

But Duan Tiancheng immediately gave up his intention: "Although Golden Shield Transport has the ability to fight with arms, in principle they only serve as escorts and will not take the initiative to eliminate targets, so Boss Ma should not rely on them to eliminate them."

Competitors. We can send a golden shield escort to Yangzhou to protect your safety, but the grievances between you and the Shanxi salt merchants must be left to you to resolve on your own."

Although Ma Zhengping couldn't help but feel disappointed, he still thanked Duan Tiancheng for the reminder with a smile on his face. He didn't quite understand why Haihan deliberately set a threshold here. Wouldn't it be wiser to let the people under the Golden Shield escort directly solve the problem?

Is it simple?

This is actually because the top officials of Haihan are now cautious about using troops overseas. Officials can turn a blind eye to civilian armed organizations like Jindun that specialize in doing dirty work, but there are limits to the authority they are given.

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The situation Duan Tiancheng mentioned was not to offend Ma Zhengping, but was a regulation currently being implemented. This was also done to prevent the Golden Shield personnel from being bribed by foreign dignitaries and doing stupid things overseas that were difficult to end. After all, the Golden Shield personnel

There are people under the banner who have guns, and many of the members have actual combat experience. The ordinary guards stationed in the Ming Dynasty may not be able to defeat them. Of course, Haihan senior officials cannot let this special armed force become a mercenary that can be dispatched at will if they have money.

.

Therefore, the relevant departments have set rules for Golden Shield Transport. When performing employment missions in foreign countries, they can only focus on defense and cannot take the initiative - unless they receive clear instructions from the Haihan military.

The Golden Shield escort can be hired by Ma Zhengping to go to Yangzhou to protect the personal safety of Hui salt merchants, but its function is only that. The Zhoushan authorities do not want this armed force to become a mercenary used by salt merchants to attack their peers.

Although Haihan will provide some special support to Huizhou salt merchants, the disputes between salt merchants in Yangzhou will ultimately have to be resolved by the salt merchants themselves. Shi Diwen does not want to step directly into this muddy water.

Ma Zhengping asked cautiously: "Then, will Mr. Duan be responsible for the cooperation with your country from now on?"

Duan Tiancheng really couldn't answer this question. Although Shi Diwen authorized him to be responsible for negotiating cooperation with Yangzhou salt merchants, he did not decide whether to let him be responsible for the follow-up. Of course, he did not dare to make a conclusion for his boss without authorization.

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"Boss Ma, don't be so impatient. General Shi has his own arrangements for the follow-up cooperation. By the way, don't leave Zhoushan for the next few days, just wait and see!" Duan Tiancheng could only play tricks on him first and then talk.

Although Ma Zhengping was very anxious about this, he could not urge Duan Tiancheng and could only agree first.

Seeing that the conversation had reached a fever pitch, Duan Tiancheng stood up to leave again. Ma Zhengping bowed his body and sent Duan Tiancheng to the door of the courtyard, and stuffed an envelope into Duan Tiancheng's hand to thank him for his hard work of traveling to communicate.

Duan Tiancheng accepted the benefit and rushed to Shi Diwen early the next morning to report the progress of the meeting with the salt merchant.

"They agreed so quickly... It seems like their life is really difficult!" Shi Diwen was a little surprised that Ma Zhengping agreed to the cooperation conditions so quickly. He originally thought that the other party would have to struggle for a while first no matter what.

time, and then bargain for a price, just like a businessman.

Duan Tiancheng said: "I see that Ma Zhengping's attitude does not seem to be hypocritical. It should be what the general speculated. The situation in Yangzhou can no longer allow them to drag it out any longer. Moreover, when I mentioned the matter of military assistance, he even

We didn’t even ask about the price, and we agreed immediately, which shows how urgent we are.”

Shi Diwen said: "Since you came forward to discuss this matter with Yan, then you will continue to follow up. But whoever wants to use the Golden Shield next, I will ask Ji Yuanqing to join in, and the two of you will be jointly responsible.

What do you think about the incident in Yangzhou?"

Duan Tiancheng responded quickly: "In this humble position, I will obey the general's orders!"

In addition to normal business, Golden Shield also has the function of collecting various political, economic and military intelligence in other countries, so the military department that usually interfaces with Golden Shield is the Military Intelligence Bureau responsible for intelligence collection.

The plan to provide military assistance to the Anhui salt merchants in Yangzhou was originally Ji Yuanqing's idea for Duan Tiancheng. In terms of understanding the situation in Yangzhou, the Military Intelligence Bureau was obviously an indispensable participant, and the subsequent use of the golden shield also had to be made by

The Military Intelligence Bureau issued orders. Therefore, Duan Tiancheng had no objection to Shi Diwen's arrangements.

Shi Diwen immediately drafted a warrant and appointed Duan Tiancheng and Ji Yuanqing to be jointly responsible for the military support plan for Yangzhou salt merchants. Duan Tiancheng was responsible for the personnel training part, while the arms trading and Golden Shield personnel operations in the Ming Dynasty were handled by

Conducted by Ji Yuanqing.

After a while, Duan Tiancheng handed Shi Diwen's warrant to Ji Yuanqing: "I will be working with Brother Ji next time!"

Ji Yuanqing quickly read the contents of the warrant and responded with a smile: "The people from Jindun complained to me before that there was nothing to do this year, but now they have a mission!"

"How could they have nothing to do? Before the fleet's expedition to Hirado, didn't they transfer all the people from Golden Shield back to the island to act as a temporary defense force?" Duan Tiancheng retorted.

The Golden Shield Escort is an escort agency to the outside world, but internally it can act as a militia organization in extraordinary times. When the East China Sea Fleet departed overseas, the Golden Shield temporarily stopped all operations outside the island and took all its personnel back to Zhoushan Island to serve as a force.

The extra-staff armed defense force is responsible for monitoring the security situation in the urban area on the island.

Ji Yuanqing said: "You also know that many people in the Golden Shield are veterans who have retired from the front-line troops. For them, if they don't fight, their hands will be tight. Just being on duty can't satisfy them."

"That's right...they are all people who can't take any time off!" After hearing what Ji Yuanqing said, Duan Tiancheng couldn't help but nod in agreement: "Having said that, those who want to live in peace will be resettled back to their local places after they retire.

If you do something, it won’t appear in Jindun’s staff.”

The Haihan Army has extremely high standards for the placement of veterans. Those who are willing to return to the countryside to farm will be given farmland and property by the government. Those who are willing to work in the yamen can also arrange errands. Of course, there will still be some people who still miss the military after they retire.

Life, and a considerable number of these people will join civilian armed organizations like the Golden Shield and continue to live a militarized life. Occasionally, they will have the opportunity to participate in some small-scale armed operations and enjoy the addiction of fighting.

The headquarters of Golden Shield is located in Sanya, but in fact, every overseas colony, especially the trading port under the control of Haihan, has a branch of Golden Shield. And these branches are not completely under the command of the Sanya headquarters.

The Military Intelligence Bureau has the authority to direct and mobilize its personnel.

The closer the place is to the Ming Dynasty, the larger the personnel establishment of the Golden Shield branch is, so as to undertake various escort tasks. For example, the Golden Shield Escort in Zhoushan Dinghai Port has a staff of more than 200 people, and most of them are field personnel.

They all have the experience of serving in the Haihan Army and can be said to be a new force lurking among the people. That's why Shi Diwen handed over part of the local defense to Jindun during the expedition.

"I happen to be free right now, so let's go to the Golden Shield!" Ji Yuanqing read the warrant and knew that this matter could not be delayed. He immediately put down what he was doing and went with Duan Tiancheng to visit the Golden Shield at Dinghai Port.

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For a prosperous trading port like Dinghai Port, Jindun has always had no shortage of business. After the triumphant return of the East China Sea Fleet, Jindun quickly took over the defense and resumed normal operations.

Golden Shield's branch in Zhoushan is located in the port area. It has acquired dozens of acres of land in one go and built a large-scale base.

The base has dormitories, stables, warehouses, collective canteens, training grounds and other infrastructure facilities. It is basically a small military camp. At the gate of the base is a shop open to the public. Outsiders are generally not allowed to enter the base.

Business can only be conducted in the store.

Outside the gate, there is a flagpole four to five feet high on the dam used for merchants to park their cars and horses, with a long flag flag hanging on the top. Ships from the sea can see the "

The four characters "Golden Shield protects luck".

For businessmen, the service fee of Golden Shield Escort is not cheap. It is at least 30% higher than that of ordinary escort agencies on the market. But of course it is expensive for a reason. The reputation of Golden Shield Escort is worth the price.

All goods escorted by Golden Shield will be evaluated before departure. If there are any mistakes during the journey, Golden Shield will fully compensate for them. Therefore, there are still some merchants who are willing to spend a lot of money to hire Golden Shield personnel to carry out the escort for the sake of stability.

However, due to objective conditions, Jindun's business area is still limited to coastal state capitals, and will not go too far into the inland areas of the Ming Dynasty. Most of the officials in coastal state capitals know that Haihan is powerful, and will not embarrass Jindun's escort business within their jurisdiction.

, when local officials see the golden shield flag, they will consciously avoid it and not provoke these evil stars.

Since Jindun started its business in Zhoushan, the biggest setback was that it was attacked by gunfire while escorting illegal salt to Yangzhou, resulting in casualties. Of course, the Zhoushan authorities quickly implemented harsh retaliation, not only fighting with the salt merchants' armed forces

They fought several times with real swords and guns, and later sent capable armed personnel to Yangzhou City to destroy the salt merchant's musketeers. However, this holiday has always been remembered by Jindun.

It is no longer a secret in the market that Golden Shield Transport is inextricably linked to the Haihan military, so when Ji Yuanqing and Duan Tiancheng came to Golden Shield in military uniforms, they did not attract too much attention from others.
Chapter completed!