Guo Dajing stopped talking, picked up the tea bowl and sipped the tea, waiting for Fujino Masa's decision.
Fujino Masaaki glanced at Fujino Hide and said: "The Lin family is accustomed to maritime trade, so the risk of navigation should not be great. But I must also consider the unexpected. It is this daughter who makes me worried."
"Dad." Fujino Hide's identity was exposed. He couldn't help but stamp his feet in shame and said: "I will go wherever you go. Either we go together or we don't."
Fujinomasa smiled slightly and said: "The so-called risks at sea are not greater than those on the battlefield. Therefore, I decided to go to the trench territory to deal with the Western barbarians and broaden my horizons."
He turned to Guo Dajing and said with a half-smile: "Master Guo, Ying'er will stay in Guanglu Island, how can you reassure me?"
Guo Dajing blinked and said, "How about Mr. Fujino, what kind of guarantee does Mr. Fujino want from Guo?"
Fujino was staring into Guo Dajing's eyes and said: "Take care of her, as long as you are still alive."
Guo Dajing was a little embarrassed about this promise. He didn't know what kind of care it was, or whether it was for a lifetime.
But after weighing the situation, he still nodded vigorously and said: "As long as Guo survives, I will definitely do my best to take good care of Miss Fujino."
"If you take good care of her, Aying must be satisfied." Fujino smiled slyly, looked at his daughter, and said, "Master Guo has already agreed. You can naturally put forward conditions and let him satisfy you."
Yeah?! If you want to say that, wouldn’t it be that Fujino Hide had it in his hands?
Guo Dajing was shocked and doubtful, and he couldn't help feeling a little regretful. But when he saw Fujino Hide's expression, it didn't look like him, so he felt relieved again.
There are so many heroes in the world who will do anything to achieve their goals. Guo Dajing feels that he may not be like this, but how can a woman still not be able to make peace?
The next step was easy. Guo Dajing explained his plan in detail. Not only did he want to buy muskets, but he also wanted to hire Western Yi instructors, craftsmen, etc.
"The first batch of muskets will not be large in quantity." Fujino Masa said: "If we don't have to wait in the trench for a long time, we must try to reach an agreement with the Western Barbarians. They will make the guns and deliver them, and Mr. Guo will pay."
"If we can hire instructors and craftsmen from Xiyi and provide a stable supply of muskets, it will basically not be a problem." Guo Dajing said: "We can use the banner of Dongjiang Town. For the official, Xiyi still pays more attention to it."
Fujino nodded slightly and said, "If Lin's maritime merchants are honest, we can borrow more from them in the future."
"It's always risky to cooperate for the first time." Guo Dajing said helplessly: "I have tried my best to catch them. As long as they think about making big money, they will not lose big because of small things and ruin their way to wealth."
Forming your own merchant fleet is the safest thing to do. But currently, conditions do not allow it, so we can only hope that the Lin brothers are not short-sighted.
And Guo Dajing seemed to be wandering around the Lin family warehouse, which also had a purpose of inspection. If the goods were large and valuable, the Lin family would naturally not dare to offend Guo Dajing easily.
To put it bluntly, whether it is a one-off deal or a long-term cooperation depends on the vision and courage of the Lin brothers.
For Fujino Masa's safety during the sea journey, Guo Dajing was not prepared to let him bring too much money. According to his estimate, he only brought 5,000 taels of silver, which was enough to buy 200 muskets and hire several people.
"If there are more than two hundred muskets and the money is not enough, the Lin family will pay for it and I will repay the principal with interest. Mr. Fujino, what do you think?"
Guo Dajing asked Fujino Masa's opinion. After all, he was sent out, so it would be unreasonable not to bring enough money to others. Of course, Guo Dajing didn't know how much money he would need to bring.
Fujino smiled and said: "I think five thousand taels is too much, and wealth should not be revealed. Is this a saying among you Han people?"
Guo Dajing said with a smile: "There is indeed a saying. But there is also a saying, a poor family has a rich road. How can Mr. Fujino be short of money when he is away from home?"
After pondering for a while, Guo Dajing said: "In this way, I will give Mr. Fujino two treasures. If there is really no other way, I will sell them to Xiyi."
The so-called treasure is naturally a small mirror as big as a palm. According to Guo Dajing's estimation, it is relatively safe to sell for a thousand taels of silver per piece.
After finalizing most of the details, even the few followers Fujino Masa was going to bring, Guo Dajing sent Fujino Masa off and returned to the cabin to rest in a happy mood.
This was another major event accomplished, and Fujino was the ideal candidate. Guo Dajing was quite satisfied with it.
……………………..
Guanglu Island is located in the northern part of the Yellow Sea and the west of the Changshan Islands. It consists of 23 large and small islands, mounds and reefs, with a land area of more than 30 square kilometers. It is the largest island in the Changshan Islands.
Guo Dajing chose this island because, firstly, it had a relatively large cultivated land area, making it easier for him to be self-sufficient; secondly, because it was close to the Jinzhou of Lushun in southern Liaoning, it was conducive to the implementation of his strategic vision.
After arriving at Guanglu Island, Guo Dajing started to get busy, checking the registration books, summoning the chief officials of various ministries to assign tasks, measuring dozens of acres of land, and planting potatoes...
If it is managed like Shang Kexi did before, there will naturally be no need to expend too much brainpower and no need to be too tired.
However, through understanding and inquiry, Guo Dajing made new arrangements for many tasks and formulated new rules and regulations. This naturally made him busy and tired.
For example, growing oysters by cuttings on a shipwreck, that is, raw oysters, although they grow slowly, saves cost and manpower, and is also a good way to increase food.
Another example is the army-affiliated workshop on Guanglu Island. Guo Dajing recruited manpower from the common people to expand production. In addition to the original simple work of repairing armor, he also added the manufacturing of crossbows, mines, trebuchets and other weapons.
Guo Dajing was willing to invest in military industry. The original craftsmen only gave them some food to support their families, but he gave them an increase of one penny.
Although it is only a penny, it is a huge change for the common people. Who wouldn’t be happy about the salary increase?
The total number of soldiers and civilians on the island is fifteen or six thousand. If they can all be mobilized, a lot of work can be done by concentrating their strength.
Maybe the previous chief officials had not thought about it, but they were limited by food and funds and could not manage like Guo Dajing.
If you want money, you will get food, and if you need food, you will get food. Guo Dajing issued a series of policies. As long as you work, no matter how serious it is, you can get food, more or less.
Logging wood, burning pottery, grinding medicine, making military uniforms and gloves...even fishing and catching shrimps are more than the original food received. At least, it can allow the people to eat a few more bowls of porridge.
"Buy ducks and geese, as well as paper and iron materials..." Guo Dajing took out the list and told Wu Jiucheng, "Take a thousand taels of silver and go back quickly."
There are no ocean-going ships in Guanglu Island, but there are several ships that can sail in the Bohai Sea and to Dengzhou, Ningyuan and Tianjin.
Wu Jiucheng is the steward in charge of the island's purchasing. He is in his forties and has worked as a merchant in Liaodong. He is a very shrewd person.
However, Guo Dajing's generosity made Wu Jiucheng stunned for a moment, and then he bowed and accepted the order, "Don't worry, sir, I will not only go to Dengzhou once or twice, but I will definitely get things done."
Guo Dajing smiled and nodded, and said: "There are a few more people going with you. They will be settled in Shandong. You can help take care of them."
"Young man, I understand." Wu Jiuzheng guessed that it was Guo Dajing's spy. It was not his place to ask about spying. It was probably about the court's movements and the situation of Denglai officials.
Wu Jiuzheng really guessed wrong. The people sent by Guo Dajing mainly asked about the situation of the officials and gentry living in Shandong. Whose family had more land and whose family had more food.
As the chief official of an island, Guo Dajing cannot leave the island without permission. But Shandong is very close, so he can still find time to make a trip or two.
Buying grain costs a lot of money, so there is no easy way to steal it. It’s just the officials and gentry who embezzle land and don’t pay taxes on grain. If you don’t steal what’s theirs, you’re stealing who’s what’s theirs.
Moreover, the security situation of the official gentry's house, as well as the guards who guard the courtyard, are useless to Guo Dajing. He can steal with peace of mind and ease, so why not do it?
Wu Jiuzheng took the order and left. A dark-faced man who looked like an old farmer walked in again and bowed to report to Guo Dajing.
"Your Excellency, we have planted more than 430 acres of rye, and the potatoes have sprouted and started to be planted. Approximately 180 acres can be planted, and they can be planted in these two days."
Wang Laohan is a real farmer, and as his name suggests, he is honest and honest, and he handles the things he tells him very seriously.
"Where are the retting ponds? How many have been dug?" Guo Dajing asked pleasantly.
Wang Laohan had an expressionless face and bowed: "Sir, six have been dug now, and five more are being dug."
"Okay." Guo Dajing took a note, stamped it with his own seal, and handed it to Wang Laohan, "Go to Mr. Zheng to get the food!"
Wang Laohan's face flashed with joy, he stepped forward to take it with both hands, thanked him and turned around to leave.
Next, Feng Zhang, the steward of the workshop, came in to report that there were hundreds of crossbows modified from short bows, sixteen trebuchets, and more than 460 mines of various types.
It has been more than half a month, and Guo Dajing is not satisfied with this production quantity.
However, the rules and regulations were not long after they were implemented, and the recruitment process was getting better, so he still praised them more and gave them as many grains as possible.
Finally able to be quiet for a while, Guo Dajing stroked his forehead and looked at the data he recorded. Although the writing was ugly, that was not the point.
The military household system also has advantages, that is, you can do whatever you say and do whatever you want, with very little resistance.
Guo Dajing's emotion was not false. For example, if potatoes and rye were grown on the people's own land, they would have to spend a lot of time explaining the benefits of planting, and the people would still be doubtful and worried.
It's fine now. Only Wang Laohan expressed his concern in a murmur. Guo Dajing didn't waste any time and told him that there was no problem and the matter was settled.
The owner of the island is the local emperor, and the court does not send local officials. Naturally, Guo Dajing is in charge of both the army and the people, and he has great power.
As for military training, Guo Dajing did not devote the main energy. The officers below carried out the orders, and Liu Qishi, Fujino Masa and others were responsible for supervision, and he was relieved.
All the muskets in the space were taken out and secretly put into the warehouse. After the war to aid Korea, more than 100 muskets were purchased from Korean volunteer generals such as Zheng Fengshou and Cui Xiaoyi, and the number of musketeers has been expanded to 400.
When the crossbows were manufactured, Guo Dajing prepared to form a new army of more than 2,000 men. Four hundred musketeers, five hundred crossbowmen, eight hundred sword and shield spearmen, two hundred fire support troops, and one hundred cavalry.
It's not that it can't be expanded, but there are only so many armors, and the financial and material resources on the island can't support too many off-duty troops.
This amount still needs to be re-verified by the imperial court before payment can be made. According to the original establishment, Guo Dajing would have to pay for the extra 500 soldiers out of his own pocket!
Even if he spends his own money to raise troops, Guo Dajing doesn't care. He is planning to land on land and establish a stronghold to gather the Liao people who have escaped from Jianlu's rule.
There was no knock on the door, but someone came in.
Guo Dajing lowered his head, rolled his eyes, and when he raised his head again, he had a smiling face, welcoming the gentle breeze of fragrance.
Fujino Hide didn't salute or address him, he walked over directly, handed over the documents in his hand, and said: "After counting, there are about 6,700 people."
"Thank you for your hard work." Guo Dajing reached out to the chair next to him, then picked up the statistics and started reading.
Fujino Hide sat down unceremoniously, took out a small mirror, looked around, and adjusted his makeup.
Smelly! Guo Dajing just glanced at it from the corner of his eye and turned to the document again.
Since all the people must be soldiers, they must train on a regular basis. Even if the intensity is not enough and they can only spend their free time, it is better than just pulling weapons and going to the battlefield.
Guo Dajing wants to do it more thoroughly. Even women, who can work and are of appropriate age, must participate in military training and be incorporated into organizations such as militia.
Of course, to become a militia member, you also need to receive more food or pay some money. When it comes to mobilizing the enthusiasm of the people, Guo Dajing prefers material incentives from future generations rather than empty words.
Six thousand seven hundred people, each person will be given an extra liter of grain per month, or a few cents of silver...
Guo Dajing looked at Fujinohide's final calculation, pondered, weighed, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and moved his eyes to Fujinohide's face unconsciously.
After washing it off, I don't know what strange thing was applied on it. Fujino Hide's skin color was not very white, and his facial features probably did not meet the aesthetic standards of the time.
But in Guo Dajing's opinion, based on his countless experiences in reading beauty on the Internet, Fujino Hide's facial features, including eyes, nose and mouth, have typical Western European beauty, much like a later Korean actress.
Well, this guy's mother is Korean, no wonder.
Fujino Hide raised his eyebrows, blinked his big eyes, and asked with a half-smile: "What are you looking at?"
What are you looking at?!
Guo Dajing smiled and said: "I heard that you went to see the house being built for me and pointed at the craftsmen. When it comes to building houses, they are the professionals."
Fujino Hide didn't take it seriously and said: "What I asked them to change was the layout of the room, not the structure of the house. You are so busy, so I had to do it for you, so that you would not be dissatisfied after living in it and complaining all day long."
Me, complain?
Guo Dajing cupped his hands and said helplessly: "Thank you very much, Miss Fujino."
Fujino Hide regained her daughter's body, but her usual dressing style still tends to be neutral, and she made her own military uniform.