Chapter 119 What I Saw in Keelung (I)

"The Zheng family's affairs are not easy to deal with!"

In the government office of Keelung City, several high-ranking military and political figures, led by Qin Hao, sat around a stove, turning over potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn and other crops that had just been shipped from Hsinchu to make them evenly heated, while discussing how to deal with the Zheng family's envoys.

Zheng Zhilong's navy was repelled by the navy led by Amorim, and his family members stationed in Xiamen City were also invited to Keelung City by Zhao Chang. The foundation of the Zheng family settled in Taiwan Island for ten years was also broken by Chen Hu in one fell swoop, and even Zheng Zhihu was captured alive.

These captured Zheng family soldiers can bring huge profits to Keelung City every day, especially high-intensity work such as mines and coal mines. If there were no such laborers, it would never be possible to achieve the current scale.

Faced with such a huge advantage, it would be a lie for Qin Hao to say that he was not tempted.

He really didn't want to let them go.

"Except for Zheng Zhilong's relatives, no one else will be released!" Qin Hao put down the half-eaten corn in his hand and looked at the civil and military officials present.

Han Xian, Zhao Chang, Chen Hu, Li Yi and other military officers had no objections. They did whatever the lord said.

As for the civil service group headed by Zhuge Xuan, they were also silent this time and did not make any comments.

The advantages of the army and navy this time were really huge. If they did not make a lot of money, it would be selling out the country. Zhuge Xuan did not dare to risk the world's disapproval and go against the interests of everyone.

"Since everyone has no other intentions, let Zhuge Xuan handle this matter." Qin Hao naturally became a hands-off shopkeeper again, wanting to leave all the follow-up to him.

Hearing this, Zhuge Xuan shook his head and gave a reason why Qin Hao must attend.

The civil and military officials headed by Qin Hao are no longer a small-time sea merchant, but a hegemon with thousands of miles of land and 200,000 people. It is time to announce their birth.

Qin Hao listened while chewing the remaining half of the corn. After thinking for a moment, he only said one sentence: "Yes! But let them hang out for a few days before meeting them."

Because of Qin Hao's words, Zheng Zhilong had to stay in the inn in Keelung City. Fortunately, Qin Hao did not restrict their travel, and the group could still collect folk songs in and outside the city.

Everyone walked along the streets with the flow of people, observing the streets and the scenes in the city.

Because of the victory of the war, the people in the city seemed to appear on all the streets. The bustling crowd walked along the wide and flat ash road towards their destination.

Out of the instinct of a soldier, Zheng Zhilong and his guards and followers observed these people who were rarely seen on weekdays from a close distance with the eyes of a soldier.

The farmers in the suburbs, the craftsmen in the nearby workshops, the merchants and employees in the "Qin and Han Business House", what interested them more were the soldiers wearing military uniforms made of bamboo cloth and covered with bamboo armor.

What is amazing is that the army and the people walk side by side. As long as the people do not mix into the army, there will be no trouble. The people will not be frightened by the soldiers wearing armor and holding spears. When the soldiers see the people beside them, they will smile and pass by. Occasionally, if they see someone familiar, they will nod and say hello. Due to military regulations, they can only nod in the team.

The orderly pace, the momentum of thousands of people as one, coupled with the clean and tidy red narrow-sleeved buttoned military uniforms, are full of vigor.

The heroic posture of looking around and looking proud is in sharp contrast to the sluggishness of the Ming army elsewhere.

Zheng Zhilong asked carefully and found out that these people are "policemen". Like the patrol camp of the Ming Dynasty, they are responsible for patrolling, public security, firefighting, and vigilance in the city. They are not the elite field divisions of the Keelung Army.

Most of them were newly trained soldiers, who were drawn from all over the place to serve in various cities according to the standard of one armor and one soldier.

Compared with the pirates at sea and the Ming army, they were much stronger in appearance and momentum.

"The real elite, it must be the soldiers of the two camps!" Men, women, old and young in Keelung City often said this when talking about their own army. That tone and expression made people feel as if they were praising their own children.

This caused Zheng Zhilong to be even more surprised.

"Bandits pass by like combs, soldiers pass by like combs, and yamen runners shave like knives." This is an extremely correct truth from south to north.

The people of the Ming Dynasty respect ghosts and gods and stay away from people who hold swords and guns in their hands, no matter what kind of armor and uniforms he wears, how can they praise him?

The so-called two camps are the Shuntian and Qijia camps, which are stationed in the key points of Keelung and Hsinchu respectively, and act as the sea-suppressing needle.

The soldiers and horses that were responsible for the security patrol were so elite. Zheng Zhilong couldn't imagine how elite the soldiers and horses of the two camps, which were known as the main force, could fight.

Forget it!

If you can't think of it, don't think about it. Anyway, now you are in Keelung City, you will always have the opportunity to witness how elite the soldiers and horses of the two camps are, how much difference there is between them and the Ming Dynasty servants in the mainland, and who is stronger and weaker than the Liaodong Border Army and the Later Jin Trumpet Soldiers. You will know the difference when you see it.

Having made up his mind, he carefully watched the scenery along the road.

Due to years of doing business at sea, Zheng Zhilong has developed a professional habit. Whenever he arrives in a city, Zheng Zhilong always observes the local prices first, including rice, cloth, oil, salt, and meat prices, and infers the vitality of a city from this.

"Northern and southern tastes, rich and frugal, it's up to you! Banquets, big pots and small stir-fries, rice and noodles!"

A burst of lively shouting awoke Zheng Zhilong from his thoughts. The guards around him looked at him asking for permission, "Master, how about we have dinner here?"

Looking at the plaque hanging high at the entrance of the restaurant, "Fengtai Tower, what a mouthful!"

There was a bustle of people having dinner inside, with cups and plates interlaced, and guessing and guessing.

The aroma of pasta wafted out from the kitchen of the dining room, making these men who had not eaten delicious food since childhood unable to move their legs.

Several white table masters are skillfully kneading the dough in their hands. The dough is constantly changing shape in people's hands, and then it is pulled into individual dough balls. Oil and water are sprinkled into the dough balls at intervals, and then rolled out flat. Mix in sesame seeds, sprinkle with salt and other spices, and bake it in the oven. After a while, a fragrant and shiny sesame cake will come out of the oven.

"Let's go! Go in and take a look!" Zheng Zhilong was also aroused by the aroma.

The group of people entered the restaurant and found a booth to sit down. The restaurant waiter, who was already alert, ran over with a water sign to greet them.

"Are these guests from the mainland coming from the mainland? What kind of food and drinks are you going to have?"

"How many of the famous dishes from Fengtai Restaurant can you name?"

"Are we here? In addition to the ordinary dishes, the specialty dishes are squirrel mandarin fish, fish-flavored shredded pork, Kung Pao chicken, spicy chicken, and boiled pork slices. This dish also includes mutton slices, pork slices, twice-cooked pork, Boiled fish, Mapo tofu, Wensi tofu, etc. If you are not sure about these dishes, you might as well look at the names of the dishes on the water sign." The waiter replied in a nonchalant manner.

"What's with the wine?"

"We only sell soju here. If you plan to drink rice wine, we have to go out and buy it for you. However, I have a suggestion for you. The food here is extremely spicy, and paired with soju, that is what a man should drink. !”

“What’s with the pasta?”

"Pasta?!" Hearing several customers asking about pasta, the waiter looked at the guests in front of him.

"Our city of Keelung only produces rice, not wheat. White flour is ground from wheat shipped from other places. It is not cheap. If you want to eat corn flour, or two kinds of flour, it will be much more cost-effective. "

"Okay, little brother, I'll leave this money to you. Could you please help us improve it? We need to eat mutton, chicken, duck, and fish. We need to eat noodles. We also need to eat those dishes and two kinds of noodles you mentioned. Soju Bring a jar."

Zheng Zhilong handed a few broken pieces of silver to the waiter's hand with a pleasant look.

The waiter put a handkerchief on his hand, took Zheng Zhilong's money, looked at it carefully, and said: "Masters, if you have time, go and exchange some silver coins, that thing will be useful!"

Zheng Zhilong was stunned. He didn't expect that Keelung City actually used silver coins. Before he could ask more questions, the waiter raised his voice and shouted loudly.

"The guest of Ren brand has ten taels of silver in his locker!"

After this shout, the waiter turned around and left, depositing the silver coins with the accountant at the door.

After a while, the same dishes were served by the waiter at a reasonable price. "Although it is not the New Year's Day and you cannot drink alcohol, I will make an exception today. Everyone has worked hard these days, so you can drink a little. Don't get drunk and get in trouble." that is!"

Looking at the small jar of soju brought by the waiter and smelling the faint aroma of wine coming out of the mud seal, Zheng Zhilong greeted his guards with gentle words.

"Thank you for your consideration, uncle!"

"Slowly turn around, your dish! Braised beef brisket with potatoes!"

"Boiled meat slices!"

“Kung Pao Chicken!”

"Squirrel mandarin fish!"

One after another, the waiter brought out the dishes with their names.

What made everyone stunned was that the pot of boiled meat slices was called Shuizhuo, but the huge porcelain pot was full of oil!

"Brother, is the dish served wrong? We want boiled pork slices, why is this basin full of vegetable oil?" Zheng Zhilong motioned to the guard to ask the waiter who served the dish.

The waiter's mouth moved slightly, as if he was a little disdainful, but out of professional habits, he politely explained to Zheng Zhilong and the others: "You don't know, this so-called boiled dish is called Boiled fish is actually made of oil. If you don’t believe it, look at the table next door. The boiled fish is made of vegetable oil!

"Uncle, this potato was promoted in the north by the Lunxiang State of Anhui Prefecture, but the yield was too low and farmers were unwilling to plant it. I didn't expect it to be so delicious here in Keelung City."

A few people drank and ate, constantly appraising the food and wine, which was quite pleasant.

While he was talking, there was a burst of laughter at the door, and a group of people came in.

Seeing this group of people coming in, Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but let out a "huh" sound, and the color on his face changed.

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