After hearing what Hua Bushi said, Cao Muyun looked dejected and indifferent, while Hai Hongzhu pouted and remained silent. Zhu Hong was also a simple and honest man, not good at talking, so he remained silent.
The eldest young man paused for a moment, and when no one answered, he chuckled and said, "You are silent. Could it be that you want to settle down here and don't want to go back to the mainland?"
Only then did Cao Muyun respond: "If you can return to the mainland, Cao Muyun would definitely like it. If you have anything to say, Brother Hua, please tell me."
Hua Bushi said: "Although it is not impossible to return to the mainland, it is not that easy. This storm may not stop within a few months, and even if the storm passes, ships from the Middle-earth continent will have to sail to this island.
It lasts for ten months, so from this point of view, we will have to stay on this island for at least two months."
After hearing this, Cao Muyun frowned. If the poisonous wounds on his body were not treated in time, it would be difficult to live for more than three months. He originally planned to rush back to the capital to find the palace after returning to the mainland.
The imperial doctor in the island tried to treat the poison. But if the storm continued for a month and the ships from the mainland were delayed for a while while returning to the island, I was afraid that even if they could return to the mainland, they would die from the poison before they could reach the capital.
Hai Hongzhu didn't believe it and said: "It only took us six or seven days to get to Wanyi Island by boat. How come it takes so long to get back to the mainland? Can you ask me clearly?"
Hua Bushi said: "I asked clearly. The indigenous name of this island is 'Biluo Island', but the Han people call it 'Okura Island'. It is located at the southernmost tip of the South China Sea, about one month away from Borneo."
It is 1,200 miles away, and it is 2,300 miles away from the Guangdong territory of the Ming Dynasty. Even a fast ship that can travel more than 100 miles a day will take more than 20 days to sail from the mainland of China."
After hearing this, Hai Hongzhu's eyes widened and her mouth opened almost unable to close.
"Wanyi Island" is located in the Qizhou Ocean, about 700 miles away from Guangdong. According to this calculation, the hurricane and thunderstorm actually swept the four of them more than a thousand miles away in a few days, and they have been drifting.
Arrived at the southernmost point of the ocean.
Cao Muyun asked: "Since this place is so far away from the Middle-earth continent, how can such a big city exist? Moreover, I have never heard of such a big warehouse city on the sea in the past."
Hua Bushi said: "We have never heard of this city before, just because the people who know about this city in the Middle-earth continent are only a few big merchants specializing in ocean trade along the coasts of Fujian, Guangdong and Zhejiang. And this book
It is something that violates the laws of the Ming Dynasty, so they will not spread it to the outside world."
If Cao Muyun realized something, he said: "It turns out that this city is a stronghold built on the ocean by unscrupulous businessmen who engage in smuggling and smuggling in several areas along the coast of the Ming Dynasty."
Hua Bushi said: "Young Master Cao is right to say that. Although this island is still within the territorial waters of the Ming Dynasty, this city was not built by the Ming Dynasty officials and is not under the jurisdiction of the officials. The soldiers guarding the city are not officials.
The military can naturally be considered illegal."
He paused briefly and then said: "However, this is a stronghold, but its scale is indeed quite large. According to Shopkeeper Sun, there are warehouses in this city, and there are hundreds of firms engaged in ocean trade. In addition to the
Many people who came to the Ming Dynasty came from Borneo, India, Persia, and even Portugal, Spain and other Western countries. The population of this city has exceeded 30,000, and many people migrated from the mainland with their whole families.
The shopkeeper Sun who settled here came to this island eight years ago with his wife and children. In this city, there are all kinds of shops, inns, restaurants, even casinos and brothels, and there is no shortage of anything."
There are 30,000 people living in the city. Not only is it small, it is comparable to a medium-sized city in the Ming Dynasty. And on this wild island in the ocean, such a large city can be built. It cannot but be said that it is
A miracle.
Cao Muyun said: "Brother Hua, have you asked Shopkeeper Sun who built this city?"
Hua Bushi said: "Speaking of the city lord of this city, you and I both know him. He is Mr. Ma Da, Sima Zhufeng."
Hearing this, Cao Muyun was a little shocked, and then he lowered his head and said nothing. This was because the person who killed Mr. Ma Da in Nanquanzhuang was none other than "Mr. Muyun."
Since this city was built by Sima Zhufeng, it must be the headquarters of the "Wanjin Hall". If word of the murder spreads, I'm afraid someone will come to avenge him when the city is neutralized. But now that Cao Muyun has lost his martial arts,
But there is no resistance at all.
Hua Bushi could certainly see Cao Muyun's thoughts, and smiled slightly and said: "Brother Cao, don't worry, the people in this city don't know about Sima Zhufeng's death yet. As long as we don't tell, we don't think it will happen for a while."
Someone is looking for trouble with Brother Cao."
Cao Muyun's expression changed and he said, "Thank you, Brother Hua, for hiding it for me."
Hua Bushi waved his hand and added: "But Mr. Sima was able to build such a huge city. His courage is really impressive."
Sima Zhufeng was born in Shaolin. He is one of the eight elite disciples of the "Shaolin Sect" who have passed the "Muren Alley" Eighteen Bronze Man Formation Trial in the past twenty years.
Swordsmanship' is a famous swordsman who travels across the south of the Yangtze River. Fifteen years ago, Sima Zhufeng disappeared from the Jianghu and his whereabouts were unknown. But four or five years ago, as the head of "Wanjintang", he was working in port companies along the coast.
He appeared and became a millionaire.
According to Chu Yiyi's inference that day, the Jiangnan swordsman must have obtained the "Panlong Jue" and found the treasure buried by the former pirate king Tuoba Qingtian on the Whale Swallowing Island, so that he could become rich. But Chu Yiyi did not
Unexpectedly, Sima Zhufeng's wealth would come from ocean trade.
The Ming Dynasty promulgated the "Sea Ban Order", prohibiting the construction of large ships, and ocean-going trade at various ports was also outlawed. However, Western countries' demand for commodity transactions between the Middle-earth continent could not be changed. Tea, raw silk, etc. produced in China,
Silk, satin, porcelain and other goods were very popular among the upper classes of European countries, and merchants flocked to them. Spices, linen, clocks, and even muskets brought from the West were sold in various parts of the Ming Dynasty, and they also had extremely rich profits.
Profits. Especially in the past ten years, with the advent of the Age of Discovery in the Western world, the art of shipbuilding has advanced by leaps and bounds. It is no longer difficult for merchant ships from European countries to bypass the Cape of Good Hope and cross the Indian Ocean to reach the waters of the Ming Dynasty.
But the biggest obstacle to realizing trade is that these large European merchant ships are restricted by the laws of the Ming Dynasty and cannot enter the ports along the coast of Middle-earth.
Relatively speaking, after the promulgation of the "Sea Ban", the Ming Dynasty's shipyards and workshops in China were strictly prohibited from manufacturing sailing ships with two masts or more. Shipbuilding skills have not improved and are still at the level of Zheng He's voyages to the West two hundred years ago.
It is even worse. There is now a clear gap with the Western shipbuilding industry. Of course, it is impossible for China's small and medium-sized merchant ships to sail to Europe. Even if they cross the Indian Ocean and reach the Middle East and Arabia, it is not easy.
Therefore, in the vast ocean of the South China Sea, there is Okura City, a transit place that allows free trade. Merchant ships from the Middle-earth continent can dock here and trade with ocean-going ships from Western countries. Whether it is Chinese merchants or
Maritime trading companies from Western countries all have great appeal.
This is the reason why Okura Castle was able to rapidly develop to such a scale within fifteen years. A large number of goods from merchant ships from Chinese and Western countries were transported to this city for storage for the purpose of trading and distribution. This city was named "Okura".
It's a real name.
In fact, in essence, it was precisely because the Ming Dynasty was stubborn and short-sighted, and ignored the huge value of ocean trade, that Okura Castle, a maritime mall outside the jurisdiction of the imperial court, was so prosperous. The Ming Dynasty even issued a
The decree forcibly evicted the residents of several coastal villages in Fujian and Zhejiang, and they were not allowed to live dozens of miles away from the coast, causing countless people to be displaced and miserable. However, Okura Castle was able to migrate from the mainland in just over ten years.
More than 30,000 residents live and work peacefully in this city on a deserted island, which is a stark contrast.
Hua Bushi only got it from Shopkeeper Sun. He explained in detail about Okura City and various situations without making any comments. However, this young master is already proficient in business, and Cao Muyun is also very knowledgeable.
People don't need to say it at all, they naturally have feelings in their hearts.
Hai Hongzhu, on the other hand, had no city in his mind. With his big eyes open, he was only amazed at the scale of this great sea city, but did not think about other things.
After hearing about the situation in Okura Castle, Cao Muyun pondered for a while and then asked about other situations on the island.
Hua Bushi said: "This island is roughly in the shape of a horseshoe. The highest volcano in the center is called 'Red Flame Peak'. We also saw it when we took a boat to the island. Okura Castle was built on the east side of Red Flame Peak.
Except for the relatively flat terrain in the east, the other sides of the island are rugged mountains covered with rainforests. There are dozens of indigenous tribes among them. People in the city call them "Baba tribesmen". According to shopkeeper Nasun, there are
Some Baba tribes often trade with city residents, usually exchanging the grains, vegetables and other items they grow for daily necessities."
Cao Muyun said: "I wonder where the port on this island is. Is there a large ocean-going ship anchored?"
When he asked this question, he was naturally thinking of braving the storm on the sea and taking a boat back to the mainland. If there was an ocean-going sailing ship parked in the port on this island, as long as he promised a large sum of money, he might be able to persuade the owner to risk the voyage.
No matter what, it is better than wasting time on the island and waiting until the end of the poisonous death.
Hua Bushi said: "My younger brother asked Shopkeeper Sun that the seaport is on the east side of the island and is integrated with Okura City. As for whether there are large ships docking at the port, Shopkeeper Sun doesn't know. I have to go there myself."
You can find out the details by looking at it.”
Cao Muyun nodded and said: "Thank you, Brother Hua, for telling me. Tomorrow Cao Muyun will go to the port to check and see if he can find a ship that can travel."