However, Yin Feng brought Chen Zhongji into the study not to discuss the issue of women's foot binding. He handed a pile of documents to Chen Zhongji and said seriously: "You will take the company's merchant ship to Nagasaki in ten days to go to Ryukyu. In these ten days "Here. You must read this information and some information about Ryukyu that I found for you. You must be familiar with Ryukyu's situation before departure."
Chen Zhongji was taken aback. He looked slightly panicked: "What? I'll leave in ten days. So... this... ah..."
Yin Feng didn't notice his strange look. He opened a map. It depicts a general map of the Ryukyu Islands. Although the Ming Dynasty and Ryukyu have been in contact for hundreds of years, there is almost no map of the Ryukyu Islands in the Ming Dynasty. Accurate Ryukyu map. Therefore, Yin Feng’s map came from a Japanese Jesuit missionary. He pointed at the map angrily and said: “The Japanese are ambitious. Four years ago, they tried to encroach on the Jilong Tamsui area in Taipei. Among them, Satsuma, the dominant lord in the southwest The Shimadzu family is eyeing Ryukyu. There will definitely be a war with Ryukyu in the next few years. Once Ryukyu is annexed by the Satsuma clan, we will have no barrier to the north of Taiwan Island and will directly face the harassment of Japanese pirates. Therefore, Ryukyu must not fall into the hands of Japanese pirates. .”
Chen Zhongji nodded repeatedly: "That's what the captain said. These Japanese pirates are too arrogant. They even injured our shopkeeper Lu and asked our company to leave Ryukyu."
Ji Zai suddenly remembered something and asked Yin Feng quickly: "When I was in Luzon, I heard Uncle Zeng say that Ryukyu is my vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. The Japanese pirates behaved like this. How could the imperial court ignore it? They really will leave in ten days." "
"The imperial court. The imperial court will not care about other things except waiting for the death of the previous King of Zhongshan and sending envoys to canonize the next king. Ryukyu is too far away from the capital. The uncles in the capital have no time to care about us Chinese. Life and death there." Yin Feng said with a sneer. In the original historical time and space, after the Satsuma Domain annexed Ryukyu, the Ming Dynasty basically knew nothing. The Fuzhou Rouyuan Pavilion still received Ryukyu tribute envoys and sent envoys to enshrine Ryukyu. The king had no idea that many of the tribute envoys were actually Japanese in disguise. He also didn't know that the Ryukyu king had been completely controlled by the Japanese. He remained ignorant until the demise of the Ming Dynasty.
Yin Feng patted the map on the table and said: "When you arrive in Ryukyu, contact Mr. Xie Mingyakata as soon as possible. Through him and other Chinese officials, try to get the King of Ryukyu to allow our company to establish an independent commercial center in Naha Port. Secretly Turn the trading house into a fortress. At the same time, we must also seek permission from the king to establish farms and trading centers on several large affiliated islands such as Amami Oshima. If this is not possible, we will secretly contact the local officials with real power. Let’s build several bases secretly.”
He took a letter. The name of Zeng Qi was written on the letterhead: "The second master wrote a letter. The new battleship has been launched at the Cavite Shipyard in Luzon. I named it Manila. There will be another battleship by the end of the year. It can also be built and launched before. It will become the Airwolf."
Chen Zhongji understood immediately: "This means that by the beginning of next year, we will have four warships."
Yin Feng nodded and said: "I will call the new 'Flying Wolf' a battleship. This will be the Chinese company. It will also be our first giant battleship with a hundred cannons in the Ming Dynasty."
Chen Zhongji opened his mouth wide and took a breath of air: "Oh my god, Mazu, is this really a giant ship with a hundred cannons?"
Yin Feng nodded somewhat triumphantly: "Of course. The designed cannons are 102. Note that this is confidential. You are not allowed to tell anyone outside this door."
In fact, Yin Feng got a bargain. When they occupied Manila last year, there were three huge carrack-type sailing ships under construction in the Cavite shipyard. Two of them had only laid the keels and had not yet installed the transverse ribs. However, a large amount of high-quality wood was piled up in the shipyard, and two Spanish shipbuilding engineers were captured. So Yin Feng ordered a Dutch shipbuilder to be sent to Cavite and built it using local indigenous labor. A Karak-type merchant ship was assigned to the Luzon garrison of the Chinese Company. The other two ships completely changed their designs. It was led by Dutch shipwrights and assisted by Fujian shipwrights who arrived one after another. It took a year to finally build the two ships. A giant sailing warship with a Galen-type hull and a Fuzhou-type sail and cable structure.
Since the wood was ready-made goods left by the Spanish, the cannons they loaded also came from the Spanish arsenal in Manila, and a large number of indigenous laborers participated for free. In fact, the cost of these two warships was very low, but they became the main force of the entire East Asia at that time. The largest and most advanced warship in the sea.
"The Flying Wolf still needs to modify the sail structure, reinforce the inner cabin, and add iron armor to key parts. Therefore, it will not be completely completed until the end of the year. After it is launched, it will come to Taiwan. It will be under the command of the old battalion of the Yinggang Navy. In any case, personnel training, It will take time to test firearms and equipment and become proficient in ship operation. I hope that the war with the Japanese pirates in Ryukyu can be delayed as late as possible."
Chen Zhongji said excitedly: "Okay. With the three giant ships Fei Zihao and our other warships, we will definitely defeat the Japanese pirates..."
Yin Feng shook his head and said: "Time. We need time now. The rebellion in Dadufan Country is still continuing. The headhunters in the eastern mountains have also cut off our road to Hualien. There are also pirate activities in Fujian and Guangdong. Nanyang There are still a lot of troubles to deal with. And the government is still thinking about collecting taxes in Taiwan Port... We need time. You go to Ryukyu. Not only do you have to prepare for war, but you also have to try to delay the start of the war. In a short time, don't fight with the Japanese again. There is a conflict between samurai in Ryukyu. Moreover, the king of Ryukyu must be encouraged to reorganize his armed forces. Once the war begins, try to delay the development of the war. We must strive to preserve the Naha Port on the main island of Ryukyu. If this is not possible, we must at least defend Shuri Castle. Make every effort to support it. To the arrival of reinforcements from the Chinese Company."
Chen Zhongji stood up straight. He raised his head and patted his chest with a dignified expression: "Don't worry, shipowner. I will hold on until the Chinese warships arrive." Turning his head, Chen Zhongji walked forward with a smile. His serious expression changed to a look of laughter. : "Then the captain, the Japanese pirates will definitely do something evil to Ryukyu. If they don't start the war for a long time, won't I have to stay in Ryukyu forever? Or, let Xilan follow me."
Yin Feng was startled. He smiled bitterly and patted Chen Zhongji on the shoulder: "Brother, you thought you were going to do business. What you have to deal with are Japanese pirates. People will be killed in the battle. You brought your mother-in-law with you. You have no idea. ...Wait a minute. Boy, do you mean to have a happy event first and then go to Ryukyu? Boy, just beat around the bush with me."
Chen Zhongji scratched his scalp in embarrassment. He blushed and whispered: "When I returned to Taiwan earlier, I didn't know that I was going to Ryukyu so soon. That...that..."
Yin Feng looked at his favorite disciple and little brother curiously. He smiled and said: "What's going on? Just now you were very surprised that you were leaving in ten days. There must be some reason. Is it to postpone the wedding? Sealand will not be happy."
Ji Zai's face turned red and he murmured: "That... was supposed to be done next month. That... our..."
"Boy, tell the truth. Otherwise I won't care about your business."
Chen Zhongji gritted his teeth and said with determination in a mosquito-like voice: "Xi Lan is pregnant..."
Yin Feng almost fell off the chair. He jumped up and widened his eyes: "You know this. Have you seen a doctor?" He thought it was the time before he traveled. There was a family planning hospital specializing in dealing with early pregnancy and childbearing problems. .
Chen Zhongji lowered his head and said coquettishly: "How can you go to the doctor for such a thing... Xilan is a descendant of the priest of their tribe and village community. This kind of knowledge has been passed down from ancestors. What she said is absolutely right..."
Yin Feng thought curiously: It seems that the woman took the initiative.
"Hahahaha." He laughed uncontrollably.
Ji Zai's face turned red. He thought he would be scolded, but unexpectedly, Yin Feng burst into laughter.
Yin Feng stepped forward and patted his shoulder hard: "You have a lot of potential, boy. Well, you are responsible. I will talk to your sister-in-law right now. Your happy event will be arranged in the next few days."
Ji Zai couldn't figure out how this could be considered "promising". But at least one of his worries had been put aside.
…
Ten days later, at the end of June in 1608 (the thirty-sixth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty), a Chinese merchant fleet consisting of six merchant ships and an escorting three-masted warship sailed out of Taiwan Port and headed for Nagasaki, Japan. .We will stop at Ryukyu Naha Port on the way.
The newlywed Chen Zhongji, the shopkeeper of the Ryukyu Merchant Store of the China Company, who is also the head of the East Asia Department of the Chinese Army's Military Intelligence Department, was standing on the bow of the ship, reluctantly watching the emerald green island of Taiwan fade away.
Going to the Ryukyus with him on the same ship were 100 veterans of the Fourth Infantry Regiment, 20 sharpshooters from the Roaquan Special Battalion (the special team had just been renamed the Special Battalion), and roughnecks. The fleet was about to dock at Naha and the Ryukyus. There were two merchant ships involved in the transaction. One of them had 100 new flintlock muskets in the bottom hold, a large amount of gunpowder and packed paper fixed ammunition, and a small three-pound field gun.
Lu Yun, the storekeeper of the Ryukyu Chunghwa Merchant Store, was seriously injured and could no longer see his business. The remaining staff of the Chunghwa Merchant Store had no unified command. In the past few months, they had been humiliated by the Japanese samurai. Satsuma clan's business affairs stationed in Naha Port Agent Takaaki Kayama led people to continuously attack the Chunghwa Commercial Building and almost set the building on fire. If it weren't for the royal guards sent by the King of Ryukyu to drive away the Satsuma samurai, dozens of people in the commercial building might have wandered on the streets. .At this time, no Chinese merchant ships had arrived in Naha. Therefore, the dozens of Chinese people in the business building seemed very isolated.
Chinese people have always lived on the Okinawa Islands. In the early Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty even allowed thirty-six families from Fujian to immigrate to Ryukyu. They brought shipbuilding technology and various agricultural and handicraft technologies to the Ryukyu king.
In comparison, the Japanese have always been a serious problem in the north of the Ryukyu Kingdom. When Japanese pirates spread poison, Ryukyu is always the first to suffer. Therefore, the general Ryukyu people are very friendly to the Chinese and have a strong sense of identity with China. However, .This does not mean that Ryukyu's ruling class will very much want to cooperate with Chinese companies.