Chapter 851: Even a Radish Can Squeeze Out Blood

Luo Zhenjiang strides forward, not even turning his head, and shouts hoarsely, "This cargo ship also belongs to the Canal Gang! As the head of a gang, what's wrong with pressing the ship?"

Luo Hongli rolls his eyes: "A fleet of dozens of ships doesn't need you to press a ship! I think you just want to accompany Tuan Tuan!"

Tuan Tuan sits in Luo Zhenjiang's arm, tilting her little head, blinking: "Uncle Luo, does Sister Luo say it's right? Do you want to accompany me?"

Luo Zhenjiang grins, his big face rubbing against her little face: "That's right! If I don't watch you safely come out of Taiyuan Island, how could I be at ease?"

Tuan Tuan wraps her arms around his neck, plants a "smack" kiss on his face, her voice sweet and bright: "Uncle Luo is so nice! I like Uncle Luo!"

Luo Zhenjiang feels three pounds lighter in his bones from that kiss, bursts into hearty laughter, his face flushing red.

He steps steadily on the deck, turns and shouts to the shore: "You watch the Canal Gang for me; I'll accompany Tuan Tuan for you!"

Luo Zhenyue looks at him, smiles and shakes his head, calling out loudly: "Zhenjiang, just go!"

"The Canal Gang has us; it won't get chaotic! Guard Tuan Tuan well, and don't let any mishaps happen!"

"Don't worry!" Luo Zhenjiang lifts Xiao Tuanzi upward, looks down at her with indulgent eyes: "Even if I throw myself away, I won't let little Tuan Tuan lose a single hair!"

Everyone boards the ship, bowing fists to the shore in farewell.

The crew unties the ropes, and the cargo ship slowly departs the shore.

Tuan Tuan waves her little hands vigorously at Luo Hongli and Luo Zhenyue: "Sister Luo! Grandpa! I'm leaving!"

Luo Hongli smiles, waves at her, his eyes rimmed with red.

The cargo ship unfurls its sails, sails down the river, heading straight for Quanzhou.

At the same moment, Taiyuan Island, Governor's Office, inside the restaurant.

A long table is covered with a white linen cloth, with fresh flowers and a Western‑style candlestick in the center.

Kui Yi and Mei Er sit at opposite ends of the long table, with bread, pickled herring, roasted venison, cheese, and half a roasted chicken before them.

Kui Yi, in his fifties, has ash‑gray hair cut to the ears and a neatly trimmed beard.

He pours a glass of red wine and takes a sip, his head down.

Mei Er sits opposite him, about forty years old, deep‑set eyes, slender fingers.

He pulls a white ceramic pipe from his pocket, leisurely stuffs tobacco into the bowl, lights it and draws a puff.

The smoke drifts across the dining table.

One drinks, the other smokes; each does their own thing.

This has always been their habit: when nothing's amiss, they eat separately; when there is business, they begin to talk.

Kui Yi places his cup on the table: "That envoy sent a letter saying this time the Emperor of the Fierce Country sent an army to capture Taiyuan."

"He also said the commander is the Emperor's most favored Seventh Prince."

He cuts a piece of venison, his fork hovering: "But why haven't we seen anyone come to fight yet?"

"Not even a single warship has been seen; could the news be false?"

Mei Er exhales a puff, watching the pipe's flame: "We have no dealings with them, yet they send us news for no reason; I think they have ulterior motives."

"They specifically mentioned that prince; I think they're trying to kill by using a knife borrowed from someone."

"Possible," Kui Yi puts the venison into his mouth: "Central Plains People have always been cunning."

"If they weren't constantly fighting among themselves, we couldn't have held this place for so many years."

He shakes his head, regretful: "The fiercer they fight, the more it benefits us."

"Unfortunately, they have stopped fighting now, now that they think we're coming."

Mei Er nods: "Governor, I'm worried that Cai Tong returned from Jiangnan Region empty‑handed, having gained nothing; if the higher‑ups ask, how should we account for it?"

"Could the few wealthy merchants from Jingcheng that Wu Shuang mentioned be sent by the Emperor of the Fierce Country?"

"I don't think so." Kui Yi, cutting the roasted chicken, says: "If they were the Emperor's men, why not directly order Cai Tong and Wu Shuang captured, and take the silver notes on them?"

"Why waste silver fighting us? If it were me, I'd definitely do that."

Mei Er puts the pipe aside, picks up the knife and fork: "Governor, don't forget, Wu Shuang said clearly: whatever we buy, they buy."

"It's obvious they're coming after us."

"If they're not the Emperor's men, then they're businessmen."

"If businessmen act like this," Mei Er takes a slice of bread, spreads cheese evenly: "I can understand."

"Oh?" Kui Yi lifts his wine glass, takes a sip, "Tell me."

"Want to do business with us." Mei Er says without hesitation, "Probably they've set their sights on our huge profits, gripping our goods, trying to sell to us, taking a share."

Kui Yi smiles at the words: "If that's the case, it's easy to handle."

"Buy high, sell high, give them a cut, that's all." He shifts: "As for the Fierce Country's navy, they just defeated the Eastern Sea; if they truly come to attack Taiyuan, our manpower shortage would be a real problem."

"I've long said the garrison here is insufficient, always wanted to increase troops," his face darkens, "yet you always oppose me!"

"Two years ago I advocated reinforcement, a year ago I suggested adding cannons, you kept blocking! Now they're about to strike, and you want me to bear the loss of Taiyuan for you?"

Mei Er glances at him, unafraid: "Reinforcement? Have you calculated how much a soldier costs per year?"

"Food, pay, weapons—none are cheap."

"Regardless, no warships have arrived; that's the fact." He places a slice of venison on the cheese‑spread bread, bites: "Your justification for expanding the army doesn't hold."

Kui Yi sets down his glass, pours more wine: "You mean I'm making a mountain out of a molehill?"

"I mean, there's no need to rush."

"You make it sound easy!" Kui Yi springs up: "I'm the Administrative Governor; if Taiyuan falls, it's my responsibility, you don't have to be accountable!"

Mei Er picks up the pipe, taps it on the table edge, sparks flying, voice rising: "We're here for business, not to fight wars!"

"Business is the most important! Without business, what's the point of guarding this island?"

"Our terms are only three years, almost up; this cargo is the last chance to make money, what's the use of filling your head with war?"

He softens: "Business makes money, war spends it; you should understand that, Governor."

Kui Yi stares at him, then slowly sits back down.

He stayed silent for a long time before saying, "Even so, if they come and refuse to sell us the goods, that hole would be huge."

"That can be handled," Mei Er gently pricked a piece of roasted venison on the platter with a fork, and the juices slowly seeped out, "You can also squeeze blood from a radish; it's the same as taking it from the island's residents."

Kui Yi's eyelid twitched, he silently nodded, lifted his cup and raised it toward Mei Er.

Mei Er also picked up a cup, toasted back, and the two drank it down in one go.

Over ten days later, the cargo ship arrived safely at Quanzhou.

The group disembarked and headed straight for the Quanzhou yamen.

At the doorway, Xiao Ningxun asked, "Is Prince Ning inside?"

The soldier at the door asked, "Who are you?"

Tuan Tuan sat on Luo Zhenjiang's arm, poking her little head inside, and said, "I am the Princess Protector of the Nation! Where is my dad?"

The soldier quickly saluted and said, "Your Highness! Prince is in the main hall; just walk straight inside, Princess, please follow me…"

Before he finished speaking, Tuan Tuan had already slipped out of Luo Zhenjiang's embrace, waddled on her short little legs toward the interior, shouting, "Dad! I'm here!"