whale wave

Chapter 60

In summer, sea ships return to Hong Kong by the monsoon, bringing goods transported from overseas and news of pirates. They frequently appear in the trade lanes of Pugan, Japo and Srivijaya, attacking passing merchant ships.

Many ships were ransacked by pirates, dragged their damaged hulls and reluctantly returned to the harbor, and then entered the dock for repairs.Under such circumstances, the Maritime Merchants Guild announced that it would be held in September. The boss of the guild, Liu Enshao, called the maritime merchants from all over the world to gather at Shanhailou in Quanzhou to discuss ways to deal with pirates.

Originally, it was the time for sea ships to return to their voyages, and then the elders of the Maritime Merchant Guild issued a summoning order, and ships from Mingzhou and Guangzhou also entered the port one after another.

There are two ships of the Chen family returning home, one is the Fuxin ship and the other is the Furen ship. Chen Fan boards the Fuxin ship to deal with affairs, and Chen Yu learns by his side.Chen Yu and his elder brother entered the boat hall and chatted with the small sea merchants on their ships. These sea merchants spoke complex languages ​​and came from different countries. They either spoke Chinese or a common language, or they carried a passerby with them.

This kind of conversation is very necessary. From them, we can get first-hand information from overseas. This time, Chen Fan mainly asked them about pirates.There was a businessman on the ship who came from the country of Japo, where the pirates were the most troublesome. He had his own views on the local pirates. He said: "In the past, most pirates came from the Horun Islands. Their ships were small and their weapons were inferior. , only dared to rob cargo ships carrying cloves there, until last year, they began to drive large ships, wandering in the sea lanes of Japo, attacking passing ships."

"Most of them are attacking Chinese ships. Even if they can't catch up, they will throw heavy fuel oil on the ship. The Chinese ship I was on board encountered such a fate, thanks to Fei Tongshi who rescued us."

Fanshang was grateful. Although he lost the goods, he still had his belongings. He could buy goods in Quanzhou and return to Japo with the boat.

Chen Fan was very puzzled, pirates all had their own territory, they would not suddenly leave their lairs and rob ships that they had never dared to rob before.He asked Fan Shang what kind of ships the pirates were driving, and who were the pirates. He asked very carefully, and even asked whether the pirates had ever attacked Liu's ships.

The elder brother was talking with the sea merchants of the Jiapo country, while Chen Yu listened quietly. He didn't understand why his elder brother specifically asked about the Liu family's ship. Did the elder brother think that the pirates were related to the Liu family?

Chen Yu was worried that the pirates would affect his family's business, and he was also worried that Ah Yuna's unstarted career as a ship merchant would end prematurely. He hoped that the Maritime Merchant Guild would find a way to deal with the pirates.

At noon, the officials of the Shipbuilding Department boarded the ship and registered the goods and people. The small sea merchants who took the ship brought their own goods off the ship one after another, and the sailors carried out the large goods from the cabin. Standing at the bow of the ship, looking at the sea ships lined up in the harbor to both sides, the sails are like a forest, and the horizon is endless.

Some are sea-going ships carrying cargo, and some are sea-going ships that plan to come to the September Maritime Merchant Guild and park here.

Chen Yu thought, if there were still someone in their family who would act as the head of the ship and personally lead the ship to sea, then the position of senior executive of the Quanzhou Maritime Merchant Guild might not be held by the Liu family.The Liu family's reputation at home and abroad is not very good, and my father was honored as a righteous man overseas.

As he grows older, Chen Yu already knows that the maritime merchants are harmonious on the surface, but the competition is fierce in private. The Liu family will become more and more powerful through this guild. At that time, it is unknown which maritime merchant family will be able to contain the Liu family.

At dusk, Chen Yu disembarked with Chen Fan, and the two returned home together. On the road, Chen Yu asked him, "Brother, the spices brought back this year are only half of what they were in previous years." He noticed that the spices brought back this year were not as much as in previous years.

"This boat did not go to Maropa and Nufa, but only bought a small amount of frankincense at Srivijaya." Chen Fan answered every question his younger brother asked him, although his words always sounded indifferent.

Chen Yu had heard of these two places, both of which are located in the Dashi country, which is the main production area of ​​frankincense. He asked, "Brother, why don't you go to the Dashi country this trip?"

"I was going to Dashi country, but suddenly encountered a big storm on the way. One of the masts was blown off by the wind, so I had to turn back and anchor in Xilan country to repair the ship." Gu Zhoushi will tell him later.Gu Zhoushi recorded the voyage situation along the way, flipped through his notebook, and it was clear at a glance.

Chen Yu pondered for a while, before he asked in a low voice, "Will you lose money this trip?"

Chen Fan said indifferently: "No, it's just that we transported less frankincense and paid more for repairing the ship."

On the way home, Chen Yu thought that if someone else was on the ship, he would definitely be able to avoid the storm, because he has the ability to predict the storm.

The two brothers walked to the door of the house and entered one after the other. Chen Fan rarely comforted him: "Don't think too much."

Surprised, Chen Yu nodded.He knew in his heart that his father and brother never mentioned his talent, because he didn't intend to use it, and he didn't want outsiders to know his identity as a half shark.

The Chen family has five sea-going ships. Even if one does not make much profit, the other four will make considerable profits. The annual income of the ship dealer can be between RMB 40 and [-].

It can't be called a wealthy country, but it is definitely a wealthy party.

Since the two ships returned to the port, Chen Yu followed his elder brother to learn how to deal with the officials of the Maritime Department, and also learned how the different goods will flow after the ship berths at the port, and which goods will be handled by the government. buy, which ones can be sold on their own.

After he was busy for a while, he remembered that he hadn't seen Zhao Yousheng for a few days. He didn't know what he was doing recently, he must be very busy too.

Zhao Yousheng was indeed very busy. A few days ago, Fan Touli arrived at Quanzhou Port on a ship bound for China. Zhao Yousheng discussed with him what goods to purchase in the fan hall.People who are not familiar with maritime trade may think that the seagoing vessels leaving China carry ceramics, but this is not the case. There are also goods such as silk cloth, gold and silver jewelry, burning beads, and tooth boxes.

After some discussion, Zhao Yousheng and Fan Touli decided to purchase ceramics, silverware and Qiongzhou floral cloth.

"Iron pots and copper plates are also in great demand, but I heard that China prohibits the sale of iron and copper by sea ships, but Bin Tonglong's officialdom does not prohibit iron and copper trading." Fan Touli laughed, and touched the necklace worn around his neck with his slender fingers.He grew up in the seaport and only went to sea twice, but he is very familiar with sea trade.

"It is indeed explicitly prohibited. Our country lacks iron and copper. Furthermore, there are many wars, and iron and copper are needed to forge weapons and armor." Zhao Yousheng will not do things that are not good for the country for money.

Fan Touli asked, "Apart from iron pots and copper plates, are there other prohibited items?"

"And this thing." Zhao Yousheng took out a bunch of copper coins from his body and put them on the table. When he went out to drink on weekdays, he would bring a few copper coins to reward the buddy.

Fan Touli was stunned: "No wonder the last time I took a boat out of the port, the officials searched my suitcase and asked me how many copper coins I was carrying. I said I only had fifteen coins and showed him to him before he gave up."

After confirming the goods to be purchased, Zhao Yousheng asked Fei Chunjiang, Wu Chu, and Fan Touli to go to a pottery workshop in Ning County to order ceramics, while he himself took Zhou Ying to a shop in the east of the city to learn about the prices of silver and tin utensils and Qiongzhou flower cloth. , Shop around, and then let Broker Huang and Zhou Ying go to order together.

The family's rent was managed by Zhao Yousheng, and he used the rent to buy goods. He didn't tell Zhao's mother in advance, and Zhao's mother was always careless and never asked.

After finishing all these matters, Zhao Yousheng invited everyone to Fanguan for a drink, and made an appointment with Fan Touli to set sail in September.Zhao Yousheng was unable to accompany the ship, so under the introduction of Fei Chunjiang, he hired an experienced ship merchant to do it, calling Su Qin.Fan Touli will personally deliver the goods to Bintonglong, and then sell the goods from Bintonglong to Quanzhou Port, Su Qin and Zhou Ying will accompany the ship.

Su Qin boarded the ship on Zhao Yousheng's behalf, managed the crew and merchants, while Zhou Ying was in charge of bookkeeping.

Their ship is not big, with few crew, not much cargo, few things to do, and simple accounts, so there is nothing to worry about with this arrangement.

In the middle of the night, Zhao Yousheng left Fanguan with his servants, Fei Chunjiang went with him, and asked him: "Isn't Mr. Lang afraid that he will teach pirates to rob you as soon as the ship leaves the port?"

"My country's seaports are patrolled by officers and soldiers. As for Bintonglong, the port where the Liu family often goes, there will be no pirates." Zhao Yousheng has memories of his previous life, and he suspects that the Liu family is behind the recent rampant pirates.

Fei Chunjiang said with a smile: "Mr. Lang speaks in the same tone as Da Fan, do you think the Liu family is behind the scenes?"

"If there were no pirates endangering the maritime merchants, Liu Enshao would not be able to call the maritime merchants from all directions to Shanhailou for a guild. I am afraid that his move is not to destroy the pirates, but to use this opportunity to show his ability to the court." Zhao Yousheng knows Liu Enshao and His son Liu Heyue's ambitions, Liu Enshao even got the post of comfort envoy in Fujian in his previous life.It was he, Guo Yuhong of Zhizhou, and Xia Qianshan, commander of the Xia family, who planned to surrender to the enemy and exterminated the eldest son in the official shipyard.

Fei Chunjiang frowned when he heard that, he thought it was very possible, for Zhao Yousheng's opinion, he had to talk to Chen Fan about it when he went back, they couldn't just let the Liu family dominate.The stronger the Liu family is, the more squeezed other maritime merchants will be, and life will not be easy in the future.

"If you want me to tell you, don't hide from the Chen family about Mr. Lang's shipping business. Chen Gangshou will be Mr. Mr. Lang's good teacher and helpful friend, and he will be able to help Mr. Lang in many matters." Fei Chunjiang really felt that Zhao Yousheng was quite capable and capable. If you have a good impression of him, you will talk to him earnestly.

Zhao Yousheng said lightly: "Let's talk about it later."

Fei Chunjiang was puzzled by his repeated rejections, and he asked, "You won't be hiding Xiaoyu's secrets until now, right?"

"Xiao Yu knows." Zhao Yousheng bid farewell to Fei Chunjiang, leaving only this sentence.

"In this case, Xiaoyu is hiding it from his father and brother."

Watching Zhao Yousheng go away, the tall figure disappeared into the crowd, Fei Chunjiang muttered to himself.

Zhao Yousheng took a boat from Fanfang to Chengxi Wharf, and was walking on the closed Post Street. He walked to the entrance of an alley, stopped suddenly, and told Zhou Ying who was following him: "You go back first."

Zhou Ying didn't ask the master what he was going to do, and he knew that he was going to the Chen family to find Chen Yu.

Zhao Yousheng walked through the alley leading to Chen's house countless times, even with his eyes closed.Wu Chu held the lamp in front of him, and with the help of the light, he could see the road in the deep alley. He thought to himself that it was not appropriate to visit other people's houses at such a late hour, as every house had closed their doors and slept.

Zhao Yousheng didn't go through the gate of Chen's house. He bypassed the back door of the east courtyard and knocked on the lock. After a while, a servant opened the door for him and led him to Chen Yu's room.

Chen Yu hadn't fallen asleep yet, his room was brightly lit, he was copying the accounts in front of the desk, he was involved in a ship trade today and needed to sort out an account and hand it over to his father.

Hearing footsteps outside the door, Chen Yu quickly put down his pen, opened the door, and called out, "Ah Leftover?"

He could recognize Zhao Yousheng's footsteps, and as he wished, he saw the person who day and night appeared at his door under the lights.

Zhao Yousheng nodded with a smile, went into the room with him, and asked him, "Haven't you slept so late?"

"Some accounts need to be kept..." Chen Yu and Zhao Yousheng were close, smelling the smell of wine on each other's body and the scent that Jiu Ji often carries, he asked, "Did Ah Left go to drink?"

Zhao Yousheng walked to Chen Yu's washstand, washed his face with Chen Yu's towel, and wiped his hands with another towel. He said slowly: "Drink with Fan Touli and Fei Chunjiang in Fanfang, come back Passing by an alley on the way, I suddenly wanted to see you, so I came here."

Chen Yu was delighted, took him by the bed and sat down, looked at him in the light, thinking that he had lost weight recently.I can't say what he said, such as what I miss you, but the love is revealed between the eyebrows and eyes.

The author has something to say:——

Director: Tsk, now you don't need to draft a love story.

Preview: The next chapter will be full of them selling dog food.

I won't complicate things about the Liu family, but explain them briefly. The story is for falling in love.