The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

Fatty Wu then continued, "When we sailed through Luzon before, if we went ashore, we would resupply near the Luzon dock. This time, in order to find the sweet potatoes they wanted, we specially walked a long way to the interior of Luzon to ask around. Unexpectedly, they really did exist. However, the locals don't call this thing sweet potatoes, but red potatoes. Fortunately, I was able to match it with the picture. It's not very expensive to buy. One silver ingot can buy several large baskets.

Everything went smoothly at the beginning. Since we had bought the goods, Master Ge and I decided to go back and report back. However, the soldiers sent by Lieutenant General Zhou refused to do so. The leading team leader insisted on learning how to plant locally before he would leave. They had knives and guns, and we could not defeat them.

In the end, they took the initiative and started to boss us around.

This wasted a lot of time, and when we returned, we were interrogated for a long time by those Russians. They also confiscated our goods and even took away our nice clothes. We were almost put in a cage.

In the end, it was thanks to the bravery of the navy team sent by Lieutenant General Zhou that they acted decisively and took direct action against those people, rushed to the dock and escaped by boat, so we were able to escape. Many people died that time.

I also admire them from the bottom of my heart. They were still protecting those baskets of sweet potatoes until their death, and asked us to bring them back."

At this point, Fatty Wu's true feelings began to show. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and choked up, "To be honest, I used to think that Daxia's soldiers were all good-for-nothings, only able to run. They couldn't even take care of themselves, let alone the common people. But this time, I've changed my mind. Really, completely changed! They're all real men! I can't compare to them."

Although Zhang Pingan was not at the scene, he could imagine the tragic scene at that time.

"I will report the truth to Lord Zhou and give these people a proper burial. The compensation will be based on the highest regulations in the county. If the court doesn't approve it, I will make up for it for them," Zhang Ping'an said in a deep voice.

After saying that, he thought for a moment and asked, "The Rakshasa you're talking about are the blond, blue-eyed people who resemble the Hu people?"

"Well, yes and no," Fatty Wu nodded and shook his head. "Most of them have hooked noses, blond hair, and green eyes. Some have red hair and blue eyes. They look a bit like the Hu people, but they are much whiter. We sailors call them Rakshasas. They are said to have come from far away, occupied Luzon by force, and then drove the local people of Luzon to live on remote islands. In short, they are not good people."

"Well, do you know when they appeared in Luzon?" Zhang Pingan asked after pondering for a moment.

If he remembered correctly, these should be the Spanish colonists mentioned in history.

Since the Spanish already exist, what about other countries?

Fatty Wu thought about it carefully for a moment before replying, "Well, I'm very familiar with the Nanyang area. They should have arrived in Luzon three years ago. They have very powerful poisons and firearms, which are somewhat similar to the fire egg guns used by Admiral Zhou's navy team. In addition, they are said to have light artillery, but I haven't seen them.

When they first went there, they established their own business in a small fishing village near Manila in Luzon, built a large house, and called themselves businessmen.

Gradually, the yard became larger and larger, and from time to time he would give small favors to the local people, and he gained a good reputation.

I don't know when, but when I passed through Luzon again, they had already occupied several surrounding cities by force, and later even the port checkpoints were under their control."

Zhang Pingan sneered in his heart after hearing this. This is always the method used by the colonists.

It has continued for hundreds of years without any changes, basically the substance remains the same in a new form.

If I have the chance in the future, I must go to Luzon to see what these original colonists looked like.

"I heard from Lord Mai that your ship is damaged and probably needs major repairs. You should settle down and rest in the inn for the time being. I will discuss everything after I report to Lord Zhou," said Zhang Ping'an.

Fatty Wu nodded and said, "Thank you very much, sir! The boat had a lot of problems. The sails were broken, and it's winter now, so it probably won't be repaired for a while. Besides the fact that those Russians damaged some of it at the beginning, we encountered a storm on the way back, and the compass was broken. If I hadn't been so experienced and familiar with this sea route, I almost wouldn't have been able to make it back."

After saying that, he patted his chest and said, "But don't worry, sir, those sweet potatoes are fine. They are all good! I would rather lose my life than lose those sweet potatoes!"

Zhang Ping'an felt a little amused when he heard this. He was afraid of being held accountable. No matter how businessmen were, they were still businessmen and they were still afraid of power. If what Fatty Wu said was true, this matter could not be blamed on him.

But he remained serious as he said, "I understand and will report the truth to the court. The court has always been clear about rewards and punishments, so you can rest assured!"

"Oh, oh, of course, of course," Fatty Wu replied with a bow.

Then he went out and went to the inn with the servants.

After the people left, Zhang Ping'an ordered his men to eat their fill and notify Mr. Mai to come in.

Lord Mai had been waiting in the outer living room and didn't dare to go back. Although he didn't know that it was Lord Zhou who urged the ship to go out to sea, but Ge Li had been Zhang Ping'an's legal advisor before, and the two were classmates and had a close relationship. He also made a living under Zhang Ping'an, so of course he couldn't ignore it. Moreover, when he saw that there were people from the imperial navy on the ship, this matter became even more complicated!

But he just thought it was a smuggling ship and didn't think of anything else.

Zhang Ping'an let him in this time, probably because he wanted him to turn a blind eye.

However, after entering, I realized that I was only half right.

Zhang Pingan wanted him to stop talking too much, but what he was most concerned about at the moment were those baskets of sweet potatoes.

Because they were in a hurry to save people, these baskets of sweet potatoes were still placed outside on the carriage.

After ordering people to bring them in, Zhang Ping'an found that these sweet potatoes were not much different in appearance from the sweet potatoes today. They were mainly long and thin in shape and light in color.

The top and bottom of the basket are carefully separated by oilcloth and linen, making it ventilated, breathable and waterproof.

"Load these baskets of sweet potatoes onto my carriage, I'll take them back for safekeeping," Zhang Ping'an ordered.

This was obtained with great difficulty, and at the cost of so many lives. It is truly worth more than gold, so we have to be careful.

After all this trouble, it was almost dawn. Zhang Ping'an immediately wrote a letter to report what happened here to Lord Zhou. Everything depended on his decision.

As expected, I had just sent the letter and had not yet received a reply from Lord Zhou, but I received a letter from my father-in-law first, which mainly discussed the issue of food and fodder.

Because the war has started on the front line!