Chapter 1216: A Merit of the Highest Order

The sun had just risen, and the seashore was a blaze of splendor, lifting the heart and spirit. But those meeting there had no mind for the beautiful scenery. The moment Li Siming and Li Simin saw Li Laohai, Li Siming recoiled a step in fright. Li Simin, gritting his teeth, tried to charge forward, only to be firmly held down by two household guards. Li Laohai, for his part, made no move, merely sitting there and letting out a sigh.

"Fourth Master, on behalf of our Dragon Head, this old man asks one question: can the Li family members who entered port yesterday be handed over to us? If you can hand them over, we can agree to all the terms the Li Family Grand Alliance promised before, and even add another thirty percent. If your esteemed side does not agree, then let us not let this matter harm the harmony between us. This Haizhou Port is a cornucopia of wealth; let no one delay everyone's chance to make a fortune," Li Laohai said in a deep voice.

Hearing these terms, Shi Manqiang and Ye Wenshu exchanged a glance, while the Li brothers on the other side were extremely nervous. It had to be said, the terms offered by this new Dragon Head were very generous, and carried no hint of threat or force. It was purely the manner of a businessman. However, Shi Manqiang and Ye Wenshu could also understand why the other party was acting this way. They had no power to threaten Xuzhou, so why needlessly offend them?

Shi Manqiang's hesitation made Li Siming and Li Simin over there even more tense, but Shi Manqiang quickly gave his answer: "Uncle Li, since these Li family members have come to seek refuge with Xuzhou, out of regard for our past alliance and friendship, we will certainly take them in and look after them. How could we hand them over to others? Uncle Li, please do not bring this up again. Let us not let this harm the harmony between us either."

"Fourth Master need not call me Uncle Li. This old man has already changed back to his original surname. Call me Zheng Laohai!" Li Laohai, Zheng Laohai, said gruffly.

"You still have the face to say that? Back then, if the Old Master hadn't taken you in, your Zheng family would have been nothing but tiny shrimp scraping a living off the coast! You ungrateful wretches, you'll surely end up as fish food one day!" Li Simin roared furiously. But having just suffered some hidden losses while being blocked by the household guards, he could do nothing more than shout now.

Zheng Laohai glanced at Li Simin. His expression had been cold, but when he saw Li Simin's severed arm and then looked at his own, he simply shook his head and said in a muffled voice, "Without the efforts of my Zheng family sons managing things, how could this Grand Alliance have reached its current state? That Old Master of yours had his mind entirely on money and women, and had long lost any aggressive drive. Now, in the Min-Yue region, great sharks emerge one after another. If we hadn't acted against you, the entire Grand Alliance would have been finished."

After saying this, Zheng Laohai touched his own severed arm with his hand and said with emotion, "You actually knew to use my method, understood that the arm wasn't as vital as your life, and knew how to treat the wound. I didn't teach you in vain!"

Li Simin's eyes were bloodshot; he looked as if he were about to explode. He stepped forward, but was blocked by a household guard's outstretched hand. Li Simin suddenly lunged forward, only to be immediately restrained by two men. Li Simin bellowed and screamed at Zheng Laohai. After shouting a few times, tears streamed down his face without stopping, and his cries turned into wails.

Shi Manqiang frowned and gestured for the man to be dragged away. Li Siming, for his part, had remained cowering the entire time, showing no expression of anger. Zheng Laohai closed his eyes slightly, and only when Li Simin had been dragged away did he look at Li Siming. Shaking his head, he said, "What we men of the sea need is fearlessness in the face of death. But you act just like some pampered young master. If the family enterprise were truly handed over to you, this Grand Alliance would surely be destroyed."

After saying this, Zheng Laohai ignored Li Siming's reaction and directly asked Shi Manqiang, "Fourth Master, this old man asks once more: you are definitely not handing over these Li family members, is that correct?"

Shi Manqiang nodded calmly. Zheng Laohai asked again, "Then what about the berthing trade, the various purchases in this port, and all the previous rules and customs? Will those change?"

"Master Zheng, the people are still the same people, and the ships are still the same ships. There is no enmity between us, so why would anything change? If your esteemed side has any concerns due to the changes, you can come and discuss them. Our Master Jin will have arrangements made." It was Ye Wenshu who stepped forward to answer this question.

Hearing Ye Wenshu's reply, Zheng Laohai's face showed no sign of joy. Instead, he changed the subject and asked, "In that case, can our Grand Alliance use the Haizhou shipyard?"

"Of course. The construction of this shipyard relied on your esteemed side's assistance. The shipwrights and master craftsmen inside were even provided by you. How could we burn the bridge after crossing the river? Everything remains the same as before," Ye Wenshu said with a genial smile.

Having weathered so many storms, Zheng Laohai was naturally not swayed by such words. He pondered for a moment, then asked further, "Then what about the salt goods, ironware, Xuzhou cloth, and liquor? How will those be handled? And will the cannons you previously agreed to sell to us still be sold?"

At this question, Ye Wenshu hesitated briefly before continuing with a smile, "Please rest assured, Master Zheng. It is fair trade. As long as your esteemed side can fulfill what was previously agreed upon, then what Xuzhou has promised will not change either. Everything will be the same as before."

Salt was a necessity. Transporting Huai salt to Fujian was not only immensely profitable but also held political significance. Ironware and weapons were linked to ship components and were fundamental for an armed merchant fleet like the sea traders. And along the entire coast of the Great Ming, the only place that could supply large quantities of high-quality ironware at a reasonable price was Haizhou Port. Xuzhou cloth and liquor were both wildly profitable trade goods, worth making a separate trip to the north for. Cannons were critical instruments of state and war, which went without saying.

Since the supply of these goods would be maintained, the relationship between the two sides would not change. However, Ye Wenshu's promise did not put Zheng Laohai at ease. He kept his eyes fixed on Shi Manqiang, and only when he saw that Shi Manqiang showed no sign of refusal or denial did he relax slightly.

"Very well, there is nothing more to say. My family's Dragon Head and Manager have a rule: these Li family ships may no longer sail the seas. If they are spotted by our Grand Alliance, it will inevitably mean destroyed ships and dead men, a feud that ends only in death," Zheng Laohai's voice turned considerably more ominous.

Shi Manqiang raised his head, his expression turning cold. Those dozen or so ocean-going ships were a rare resource. If this so-called Zheng Grand Alliance held such an attitude, then a battle would be inevitable in the future, and all those previously agreed-upon trade concessions need not be mentioned. But then Zheng Laohai continued in a muffled voice, "However, if it is Xuzhou's ships putting out to sea, everyone will naturally have to offer them every convenience."

As soon as these words were spoken, the tension that had just begun to build in the room immediately dissipated. Zheng Laohai said no more. He simply clasped his fist in salute and said, "Since my message is delivered, this old man will not linger here. Someone will deliver the cargo manifest shortly. The quantity of salt and ironware needed this time is not large; please have it loaded and handed over within the next few days. My family's Dragon Head and Manager also said that Master Jin is a true hero, and he will certainly pay a personal visit. We will trouble you again at that time."

Zheng Laohai walked out. Shi Manqiang and Ye Wenshu rose to see him off. It was clear that the guards waiting outside for Zheng Laohai were in high spirits, even showing some hostility toward the men of the Zhao Battalion. Zheng Laohai himself, however, was not in particularly high spirits. As he was about to board the ship, he even sighed with emotion, "I always said I wanted to go home and retire, but with all this turmoil, I fear I'll end up as fish food even in death."

They had expected to fight a defensive battle on land and sea, but had not anticipated they could still do business. However, Haizhou Port was very well prepared. Salt goods, ironware, and even Xuzhou cloth were all in stock. The managers of the Cloud Mountain Trading Company at the port had already begun preparing the goods and settling accounts. The sea ships also had some specialty products from the Wa country to sell.

"We do business here so that we can win battles. These sea folk, on the other hand, win battles and strengthen their arms so they can do business. This time, their ballast is actually copper ingots and gold and silver. Could it be that their pursuit also doubled as a port trading voyage?" On the way back, Ye Wenshu couldn't help but remark with a sigh.

While they had gone to see Zheng Laohai off, Li Siming had remained under the watch of the household guards, unmoving. When Shi Manqiang and Ye Wenshu returned, the previously cowering and timid Li Siming said, gnashing his teeth, "You two, that Zheng Laohai has the face of a man but the heart of a beast! Everything he says is a deceitful lie! You absolutely must not believe him, or you will be cruelly harmed!"

Ye Wenshu gave a cold laugh, while Shi Manqiang could not even be bothered to reply. He directly arranged for someone to take Li Siming away and settle him in. After the man left, Shi Manqiang couldn't help but say, "Zheng Laohai actually wasn't wrong. If this Grand Alliance were handed over to this Li Siming, it would probably truly collapse."

What Zheng Laohai had said earlier, though seemingly a warning and a threat, had actually pointed out a path to survival for the remnants of the Li family. As long as you could seek shelter under Xuzhou, you could keep your life. If you still insisted on clinging to the Li family name and status, you would be heading straight for death—you could blame no one else. Yet, despite the meaning being expressed so clearly, this Li Siming had not understood it at all.

Although the fortifications and household guards at Haizhou Port remained on high alert the entire time, the Zheng family fleet was very well-behaved. After loading their cargo and replenishing their food and water, they weighed anchor and departed. To be absolutely certain, Shi Manqiang and the others had deliberately arranged for an inconspicuous merchant ship from within the port to follow them. Three days later, it returned to report that the Zheng family fleet had indeed sailed far away. Only then did the state of alert here relax somewhat.

At this time, a messenger from Xuzhou also arrived at Haizhou, bringing orders from Zhao Jin. Zhao Jin's opinion was the same as Shi Manqiang's handling of the situation at the time: all these Li family members were to be kept, and the fleet was to be absorbed. Furthermore, Zhao Jin had sent detailed instructions. Li Siming, Li Simin, and the core members of the Li family's sailors and crew were all to be brought to Xuzhou for a tour. Zhao Jin wanted to meet them personally. As for the ordinary rank and file, they were to be mixed and integrated with the Zhao Battalion's own maritime sailors.

Zhao Jin's letter was very detailed. It instructed the Second Brigade to first divide, absorb, and assimilate the remnants of the Li family, turning this force into the maritime foundation of the Zhao Battalion. However, business with the Zheng family must not be delayed. As the letter stated, they should not view the Zheng Grand Alliance and the Xuzhou Zhao Battalion as similar organizations. The Zheng Grand Alliance existed purely for trade and profit. As long as they could make money through harmony and achieve mutual benefit and a win-win situation, they would not become mortal enemies with the Zhao Battalion.

"Master Jin's joy can be read between every line!" Ye Wenshu remarked with a smile. Cheng Dahu and Geng Mancang, who had already arrived, were both present. Everyone's spirits were high. Over the past few days, orders and news had been continuously coming from Xuzhou. Those in the upper echelons like them all knew the news: in the recent great battle against the government troops, although the Second Brigade and the Huai'an North District had not earned any merit, this time, by taking in the Li family fleet and continuing to maintain relations with the Zheng family, Xuzhou also viewed this as a merit of the highest order!

Thanks to old friends "Wind's Dragon King" and "Qi Sanwen" for their tips. Thanks to everyone for your subscriptions and monthly tickets. Thank you all for your support.