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Strictly speaking, Gao Zhuang and Tao Tao just seemed to be chatting harmoniously, but in fact they felt unfamiliar everywhere.
This is understandable. After all, they have not seen each other for ten years. Even if they were familiar at the time, as time goes by, the relationship gradually fades away and they are almost like strangers. That's why some people say that relationships also need to be managed. Once the business is given up, the relationship breaks down and ceases to exist.
All in all, the two of them chatted somewhat bumpyly and were in the running-in period. Moreover, after chatting and greeting each other, we suddenly ran out of words. Then you look at me and I look at you, with big eyes and small eyes, a tendency to remain silent.
For a moment, the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Wang Observer noticed it, and while being amused, he also helped to save the situation: "Brother Gao, the scenery nearby is nice, why don't you go out for a walk?"
"Okay, I'll lead the way" Tao Dou nodded quickly, and he could also tell that something was wrong in the atmosphere. While secretly complaining that his father was clumsy and unable to build relationships, he also planned to take action on his own.
"Then let's go together." Gao Zhuang stood up and smiled awkwardly: "Uncle Tao, we'll see you later."
"well!"
Tao Tao naturally would not object, on the contrary, he was somewhat relaxed.
While talking, under the guidance of Tao Dou, the three of them walked out. The center of Langqi Island is a hilly area, but it is surrounded by plains, and fields have been carved out by people. Walking along the field path, if you don't look at the sea on the side, you can feel the more beautiful pastoral scenery.
"There is a reef ahead."
At the right time, Tao Dou introduced: "In our place, they are also called stone gongs and stone drums. The main reason is that there are stones shaped like gongs and drums. When the waves hit the stones, they immediately make a loud sound of gongs and drums. Especially when the tide rises, the sound is like thunder. Very Spectacular.¡±
"Really, you really need to take a look." Gao Zhuang said with a smile, which was a compliment to his face. After all, he travels to the sea all year round. What island scenery has he not seen? Not to mention the loud gongs and drums, he had even witnessed the overwhelming tsunami. Well, of course, if you encounter a tsunami, you can't call it fate. It can only be called unlucky, and I almost had a brush with death.
"Actually, the best view is the Baiyun Mountain Sun View Platform in the middle of the island." Tao Dou said casually: "There are ancient temples, ancient ancestral halls, ancient forts, ancient tombs of celebrities, and cliff carvings."
"Well, I'll go take a look when I have time." Gao Zhuang nodded. Anyway, I¡¯m already here and I¡¯m not in a hurry to leave. It¡¯s nice to just take a stroll. At the same time, he also asked intentionally: "Brother Tao, where do you usually work? Don't you have to go to work now?"
"Come on, come on, I finally asked"
??In a moment. Tao Dou felt tears welling up in his eyes. He quickly calmed down, then scratched his head and said with a smile: "Actually, I am a tour guide, and I usually have a lot of leisure time. I usually only get busy during the peak tourist season. But I like to go to sea, little one. When I was young, I often helped my dad on his boat, but later the boat was sold, and in order to support my family, I had to change my career to be a tour guide."
¡°Over the years, I have dreamed every day. I have dreamed of sailing on a ship
As he spoke, Tao Dou's eyes were full of expectation. Gao Zhuang should understand such a strong hint. However, what disappointed him was that Gao Zhuang didn't seem to understand and didn't express anything.
"We're at the beach."
At this time, Gao Zhuang turned around and said with a smile: "Brother Wang, the wind is strong and the sea tide is foggy. Don't go too close to avoid getting your clothes wet."
"Know."
Even though it was not the first time he saw the sea, at this moment, Wang Guan's mood was still a bit turbulent. I saw that unlike the pier where the water is deep and the waves are relatively calm, there are many reefs on the edge of the coast here.
When the sea breeze blows, waves of waves roll in, like an overwhelming force, hitting the rocks, then turn into bursts of fine white foam, then rise into the air and turn into light rain, falling on the beach sand. .
In an instant, the beach naturally became riddled with holes, and some small crabs could be vaguely seen getting out of the sand nests and returning to the sea as the waves receded. It is these low tides that gently smooth the riddled beach, leaving no trace. Then, wait until the next wave comes, and it's another cycle.
For people who have lived inland for a long time, seeing the sea for the first time is definitely quite exciting. That's why Cao Cao left behind the famous Guan Cang Sea. Unfortunately, Wang Guan didn't have the literary talent in this area. He didn't know how many times he had watched the sea. Although his mood was different every time he watched the sea, no poems or articles were written. .
This time was no exception. After watching it for a while at the beach, Wang Guan also started walking on the beach.
It¡¯s said to be a beach here, but it¡¯s actually just a shoal. After all, there are many rocks and it is not a suitable port. Even if people in the village wanted to go fishing, they would not choose to enter and exit here.
"You know, in those days, people were killed here." Tao Dou said when he had nothing to say. This was one of his few advantages. No matter what others had to say or not, he himself was very good at talking.
"oh?"
Hearing this, Wang Guan was somewhat curious: "What's going on?"
When Tao Dou heard this, he immediately became energetic and quickly explained: "That happened a long time ago. I also heard from the elders in the village that pirates often appeared in our area in the past. They also often kidnapped people in the village. To become pirates, the government sent a large army to capture a group of pirates and beheaded them on the beach in order to serve as a warning"
"I heard that many people were killed and even the entire beach was dyed red. Especially at night, the screams of all kinds of innocent ghosts can be heard endlessly, which is frightening."
As he spoke, Tao Dou had a frightened expression on his face. After rubbing his arms, he continued: "It wasn't until later that everyone invited the masters from Baiyun Temple to hold a salvation meeting for seven consecutive days that the storm was temporarily calmed down. .¡±
"Pirates?"
At the right time, Wang Guan was a little surprised, but he also thought it was normal. After all, since the opening of the Maritime Silk Road, everyone has realized that the risks of going to sea may be high, but the benefits are huge. With more merchant ships going to sea, pirates naturally emerged.
After all, sea trade business requires capital, but pirates are a business without capital, which naturally attracts many people to take risks. It should be from the Song Dynasty to the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. For thousands of years, maritime trade has continued, and piracy has naturally continued. Not to mention ancient times, even in modern times, pirates are no longer legends and continue to exist.
"Temporarily calm the storm?"
At this time, Gao Zhuang keenly grasped the key: "In other words, the matter is not over yet?"
"right."
Tao Dou nodded repeatedly and sighed: "A few days after the ceremony, his men were captured and beheaded, which angered the big pirate at that time. In anger, the big pirate gathered a gang and led hundreds of large ships. , broke through the sea defense line in a mighty manner, went straight to the shore, and had a fierce battle with the imperial navy"
"I heard that the battle lasted for three days and three nights, and the big pirate almost captured the provincial capital. However, the imperial officers and soldiers were also cunning. They had long expected that the big pirate might retaliate, so they had already made arrangements and were waiting for the big pirate. Get into the trap."
Speaking of which, Tao Dou is very talented in telling stories. When narrating, he shrank back as if he was immersed in the story, and said with a bit of fear: "That battle was earth-shaking, with rivers and seas turning upside down, and artillery fire flying everywhere. The sea was stained with blood In the end, the officers and soldiers prevailed and drove the pirates back."
"Just repelling it?" Wang Guan said in surprise: "In this case, it will be a disaster in the future."
"After being repulsed, the officers and soldiers must have taken advantage of the victory to attack and wipe out the pirate gang before returning victorious." Tao Dou said with a smile: "From now on, the waters around Langqi can be considered peaceful."
"It's just a period of peace."
At this time, Gao Zhuang added: "Pirates are like leeks, they grow again and again after being cut. They are not so easy to eliminate. However, the pirates in the future will not be so powerful."
Wang Guan was startled and said curiously: "Hey, from what you said, it seems that you know which big pirate he is talking about."
"Yes, Brother Gao, do you know who I am talking about?" Tao Dou was also a little confused, but he had already decided that he would agree with Gao Zhuang regardless of whether he was right or not.
"In the Fujian and Zhejiang areas, there are very few big pirates who can muster hundreds of large ships and dare to fight directly with the imperial officers and soldiers. As far as I know, there are only the Zheng pirate group in the late Ming Dynasty and the pirate king Cai Qian in the mid-Qing Dynasty."
Needless to say, the Zheng family in the late Ming Dynasty was a pirate group headed by Zheng Zhilong, the father of Zheng Chenggong who regained Taiwan. They engaged in maritime trade and reaped all the profits. They also led a thousand armed fleets and repeatedly defeated the officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty. He served as a maritime general, monopolized overseas trade, and controlled tens of thousands of various sea-going ships. He can be called the first shipping king in the history of the world.
It was by relying on the family fortune left behind by his father that Zheng Chenggong was able to occupy Taiwan and fight against the Qing court for decades. It can be said that the birth of the Zheng Group was a product of the Ming Dynasty's maritime ban for more than two hundred years. It was full of chance and inevitability, and there was no possibility of duplication.
"After occupying Taiwan, the Zheng family is no longer pirates, but a force. Therefore, the big pirates mentioned by Brother Tao are definitely not members of the Zheng family." Gao Zhuang continued: "Excluding the Zheng family, then only pirates are left. Wang Cai took it."
"Who is Cai Qian?" Wang Guan naturally asked.
?"He is a native of Fujian Province." Gao Zhuang said vaguely: "As you know, due to work requirements, I pay more attention to this aspect. When I checked the information a few days ago, I found out that in the late Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, there was a The man named Cai Qian, because his family was poor and lost his parents when he was young, encountered famine again in the fifty-ninth year of Qianlong's reign, so he simply went to sea to become a pirate."
"He led his people to gallop on the seas of Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong, hijacking ships and stealing goods, blocking waterways, and collecting foreign taxes. Because he was ruthless and daring to fight, his power developed rapidly, and in a few years he became the leading power in the southeastern seas. The pirate group has grown to 20,000 to 30,000 people, with more than 200 large and small ships."
As he spoke, Gao Zhuang also sighed: "This man traveled across the sea for more than ten years, and successively defeated the Qing officers and soldiers who surrounded him. Finally, he simply raised the banner of resisting the Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty, captured a county in Taiwan, and regarded the Ming Dynasty as the righteous one. Shuo, Jianyuan Guangming, offered sacrifices to heaven and earth, and claimed to be the mighty king of Zhenhai"