Concentricity

In the evening, the pirates went back and forth. This time, a large ship and several small boats came, and the number of pirates was much larger than last night.

Mo Jinyan didn't notice the crowd, his attention was all attracted by the big ship.This is a three-masted ship that has never been seen again after the sea ban. Compared with the Meihuasuo building ship, the ship is not known to be much larger, and it is also two times larger than the official grain ship seen in the Minjiang River. More than double, majestic, heroic.

While Mo Jinyan was fascinated by the big boat, the people on board had already landed on the island. The leader was a gentleman about 30 years old, dressed in a long gown, wearing a scarf, and dressed as a scholar.Walking towards Mo Jinyan with a smile on his face, the sea breeze blew his robes up.

Mo Jinyan stood still, looking at the other party expressionlessly.

The other party arched his hands from a distance: "Thank you, hero, for helping me and saving my buddies." When he came closer, he made a deep bow.

Mo Jinyan just said indifferently: "I'm just killing the pirates." The implication is that the person who saved you was just incidental.

The scholar smiled unabated: "A true chivalrous man never considers himself a chivalrous man, and only does what he thinks he should do. Dare I ask the hero's name?"

Before Mo Jinyan could answer, Brother Xu let out a long howl and fell from the sky. Mo Jinyan stretched out his arm habitually, Brother Xu landed on his arm, and then moved it to his shoulder.

The scholar paused, and then said happily: "Isn't the hero the rumored Minjiang fisherman?"

Mo Jinyan shook his head and said, "I'm not a hero, but a fisherman. I've never heard of a Minjiang fisherman."

The scholar bowed deeply again: "It's really a good fortune to meet the fisherman today. Longfei in Xiaguan is the owner of Luochuan North and South Merchant. Yesterday I planned to buy from Luzon, but I was blocked by pirates and robbed me. They were almost killed by pirates, but thanks to the rescue of Yu Xia, the lives of these dozen people were saved. Guan is extremely grateful and willing to repay his kindness with all his heart."

Mo Jinyan thinks that people can't be judged by appearances. The imperial court has long banned the sea and strictly prohibited overseas business exchanges. This Guan Longfei obviously looks like a gentle scholar. He looks like a model of law-abiding, but he turned a blind eye to the imperial ban. Hai The boat is still kept, and the business is still going on.Those who can engage in maritime trade at this time, who will be ordinary characters, are mostly half-thieves, half-merchants.

Mo Jinyan said: "It's fine to repay, just lend us a boat. We are away from home for a few days, worrying about our family, and going home."

Guan Longfei smiled and said: "It's natural, but since I have the honor to meet Yuxia, I don't know if it will be a compliment to invite Yuxia on board the boat for a glass of thin wine."

Mo Jinyan knew that at this level Longfei was either trying to lure him into the gang, or he wanted to kill himself to silence him, but depending on the situation, the former was more likely.In the current situation, it is not easy for him to get out, so why not go on a boat and have a look, just to satisfy his curiosity.Then he nodded: "Then it's better to be respectful than to obey, Lord Guan please."

Guan Longfei smiled brightly: "Please fisherman."

Mo Jinyan said: "Don't call me Yuxia, my surname is Zhuang, Zhuang Yan. This is my brother from the same town, Brother Chen." As he spoke, he gave Chen Pingsheng a wink.

Chen Pingsheng was taken aback for a moment, and immediately realized that he had entered a pirate's den, and he had to rely on Mo Jinyan to get out.

After getting on the boat, Mo Jinyan found that his field of vision had completely changed. The feeling of a three-masted ship was completely different from that of a building boat or walking on a boat. Atmospheric and spectacular, it is simply too good to express.

Guan Longfei is a person who is very good at observing words and expressions. Looking at Mo Jinyan's expression at this moment, he can tell that he is very courageous. Not only does he not have the slightest fear, but he feels at home and at ease.Then he tentatively asked: "Does brother Zhuang Xian also love this sea boat?"

Mo Jinyan's expression froze: "It's the first time I got on such a big boat, it's quite novel. Guan Ye is really good at it, how can such a big boat escape the investigation of the government?"

Guan Longfei sighed: "What kind of skill do I have? At that time, my father had hundreds of such large ships. Later, when the government's ban on seas was issued, nine out of ten of my family's ships went away. The only ones left, My father secretly hid them on a small overseas island and preserved them, and the number is no more than a dozen."

Mo Jinyan listened and did not answer.Guan Longfei told him about his maritime trade experience while showing him around the entire ship.While looking at the ship, Mo Jinyan wondered why this man was completely defenseless against himself. Isn't he afraid that he is an officer?

The few people finally came to the main cabin, which was very luxuriously furnished, and all the furnishings were rare and exotic objects from overseas countries: glazed lamps, ivory lampstands, rhinoceros horns, red coral decorations, tortoise shell smokers... everything, but Mo Jinyan was ignorant, he just thought it was more refined, and even dazzled his eyes a little.

Guan Longfei took the lead and sat down at the table. Someone had already put the exquisite dish cloth on the table.The bowls and dishes are exquisite blue and white porcelain, with exquisite ivory chopsticks, all kinds of delicacies from mountains and seas, all of which are exquisite.

Guan Longfei personally poured wine for Mo Jinyan: "Brother Zhuang Xian, Guan will toast you first."

Mo Jinyan said: "I'm not good at drinking, let's replace it with tea."

Guan Longfei's face changed, and he smiled unnaturally: "Since you are not good at drinking, then drink less, I'll toast, you can do whatever you want."

Seeing the other party making concessions, Mo Jinyan couldn't take it too seriously, so he nodded, Guan Longfei had a drink, and he took a sip.

Guan Longfei made a toast, and Lu Saihu came to toast again.Lu Saihu was the leader who was rescued by Mo Jinyan last night, and he was Guan Longfei's sworn brother.

After drinking for three rounds, Guan Longfei finally started to talk about the business: "I have heard about Zhuang Xiandi's reputation for a long time. In the past six months, what I have done has made the pirates frightened, and also benefited the people on both sides of the Minjiang River. I have long wanted to make friends with you. I did. I didn't expect that I would be lucky enough to get to know my younger brother.

"Speaking of which, my brother and I approached the same goal by different routes. You ambushed the pirates on both sides of the Minjiang River, and I intercepted the pirates at sea. Over the years, we have fought against the pirates no less than ten times, and we have forged a sworn feud Brother Zhuang Xian probably also has a bloody feud with the Japanese pirates, Guan is not talented, and wants to invite the virtuous brother to join us in the same boat and fight against the Japanese. I don’t know what the virtuous brother wants?"

Mo Jinyan smiled, is this considered to be recruiting himself into the gang, and said: "As far as I know, what Guan Ye is doing is illegal business, keeping sea ships privately, and foreign businessmen for privately, whichever one is found out is a capital offense. You So tell me the truth, aren't you afraid that I'm from the government?"

Guan Longfei laughed loudly: "As far as I know, since the Eighth Township's Dongwei Navy lost at the mouth of the Minjiang River at the beginning of August last year, it seldom came out to patrol. In the past six months or so, I often heard that Brother Zhuang Xian single-handedly picked I have seen Japanese pirates many times, but I have never heard of the court navy going to battle again. Therefore, I think it is impossible for my brother and the government to be in the same group."

Mo Jinyan was noncommittal: "If I don't want to, will Lord Guan let us go back?"

Guan Longfei was stunned for a moment, and said with a smile: "If you look down on my wild temple, then naturally you don't have to force it. I will arrange a boat to take you back. I just hope that what you see and hear today is nothing. It’s not in vain for us to get to know each other.”

Chen Pingsheng had been eating quietly on the sidelines, sweating all over his face, afraid that he would not be able to go back if Mo Jinyan promised.

Mo Jinyan was obviously a little surprised by Guan Longfei's answer, it seemed that it was not a forced buy and sell deal.If Guan Longfei was only fighting against the Japanese, he would naturally not refuse, but he is doing illegal smuggling business, and he may even be a pirate. Embrace this shift in identity.

He was naked by himself, and it didn't matter what he did, but Chen Pingsheng had to go back to take care of his mother and brother, so he couldn't be dragged into trouble.

"Then thank you Guan Ye for your hospitality." Mo Jinyan said.

Guan Longfei thought of another thing: "I heard that my brother was blown to Nangan Island by the hurricane. I don't know where he is from?"

"We are from Changle County."

The faces of the people at the table changed.Guan Longfei put down his chopsticks, and said slowly: "It's been a long time since you two came out, I'm afraid I haven't heard of it, the second hurricane a few days ago, the seawater of the Minjiang River flooded back, the seawater overflowed, and the water of the Minjiang River rose by more than ten feet. Countless houses on both sides of the strait were submerged, and countless people were drowned. I hope that the two families will be safe."

The chopsticks in Chen Pingsheng's hand had already fallen to the floor, and his face was pale: "Xiao, Xiaoyan, why did this happen? Will my mother and my brother..."

Mo Jinyan comforted him: "Brother Chen, don't worry, nothing will happen." But he already knew in his heart that there might be more danger than good luck. I pray that Mrs. Chen, mother and son, can escape unharmed.

How could Guan Longfei look at him: "Two brothers, don't worry, eat, and immediately ask the waiter to take you back after eating."

Even though they haven't eaten rice and vegetables for several days, at this moment, how can the two of them have the intention to eat.It's just that Guan Longfei, the host, didn't leave the table, and it's not easy for them to be guests.

Guan Longfei kept persuading: "You two virtuous brothers, let's eat more, I'm afraid you haven't eaten for several days."

Mo Jinyan and Chen Pingsheng had no choice but to deal with them a few more times.

Sure enough, Guan Longfei didn't say anything to persuade him to stay, but just sent someone to arrange the boat.Before leaving, Guan Longfei said: "Brother Zhuang Xian, take care all the way!"

Mo Jinyan clasped his fists and thanked him: "Thank you Guan Ye, let's just leave it alone, there will be a later date."

Guan Longfei asked two clever men to drive a small boat to send Mo Jinyan and Chen Pingsheng back overnight.

After the hurricane, the sea receded, leaving a mess all over the place. There were overturned huts everywhere, uprooted trees, thick silt left on the vegetation, and the dead bodies of various livestock and poultry. There are still the remains of the victims who have not yet been discovered and processed... It is summer, and the corpses will rot within two or three days, so the air is really not fresh.

This unbearable smell had haunted their nostrils ever since they entered the interior.I couldn't see anything in the night, but I could imagine the tragedy.

Since Chen Pingsheng knew that Changle had been shipwrecked, he had hardly spoken.Mo Jinyan was alone and safe, but he could feel Chen Pingsheng's anxiety, the feeling of losing a loved one, no one could taste it more than himself.At this moment, he couldn't say any more comforting words, but just quietly accompanied him.

Brother Xu perched on his shoulder, as if he could feel the depression of his master, and also seemed to be able to feel the oppression of the surrounding environment.Brother Xu can also smell that rotten smell, but he is not a vulture pecking at dead bodies, so he is not very interested in this smell.He just quietly napped on Mo Jinyan's shoulder.

In the middle of the night, they finally arrived at the pier at the entrance of Chen Pingsheng's village.The two men did not leave immediately, but accompanied them ashore and entered the village.The road is muddy, and the places we walk should have been filled with ocean a few days ago.Wherever the torch reached, there was a mess, countless houses collapsed, roofs were overturned, and broken bricks, rubble, and thatch were everywhere. The scene was extremely miserable.

This was the most destructive hurricane Mo Jinyan had ever seen, and he was greatly shocked in his heart.

Chen Pingsheng's house had been soaked by the flood and half collapsed, but there were still voices coming from this house.Chen Pingsheng was overjoyed, thinking that his mother and younger brother were safe and sound, but he was happy for nothing. The people talking in the room were the village head and neighbors. Chen Pingsheng's mother and younger brother were all drowned at home in the sudden flood. up.

The neighbors have been busy at home for several days, and now they finally have time to take care of the Chen family's affairs.The Chen family's mother and son died for a few days, and the corpses began to rot, and there was not even a decent coffin.The neighbors thought that Chen Pingsheng had also drowned somewhere, and they were about to restrain the mother and son of the Chen family hastily. Woolen cloth.

When Chen Pingsheng saw the miserable conditions of his mother and younger brother, he cried to his heart's content.A Guan guy who came with him quietly handed Mo Jinyan a hard cloth bag: "Master Zhuang, this is what our Lord Guan asked us to bring to you. He said he would give it to you when he needed it. Take it to Brother Chen My family should make two birthday materials."

Mo Jinyan pinched it and knew it was silver. Holding the bag of silver, he thought to himself that Guan Longfei was really good at predicting things. Refusal, the deceased can't be wrapped in a straw mat and sent.

"Then thank you Guan Ye for me. If I have a chance in the future, I will definitely repay you all."

The guy smiled: "Hero Zhuang is serious. If you need help in the future, go to Yongshengxing in Changle City, and just ask the shopkeeper to send a message to Lord Guan."

Mo Jinyan clasped his fists and said: "Thank you for your troubles. Thank you Guan Ye for me." But he smiled wryly in his heart, so everything has been calculated.