Ximen Qing raised his nose and sniffed on the horse. Sure enough, there was already a smell of the sea in the air, salty and wet. Xue'er next to him was already very excited and wished he could see the sea immediately.
Ximen Qing understood this feeling very well. It was as if he was about to see the sea for the first time. The novelty made people excited.
Those who have never seen the sea will definitely have regrets. Of course, the sea here is nothing compared to the resorts of later generations. What is disappointing is that there are only a handful of China's huge coastlines.
Only a place can be called a true resort.
Because most places are either reefs or mudflats; even if there are beaches, they are all yellow sand, and the sea water looks yellow. What’s the point?
Only the blue sea, sky and white sandy beach are the real sea.
But the funny thing is that the beautiful places are not rich in seafood. Only the nutrients rich in mudflats can produce the best quality seafood.
However, for Mingzhou Port, most of the seafood produced is in the Zhoushan Islands. Although the Zhoushan Islands are composed of a bunch of islands, the largest of them, Zhoushan Island, covers more than 500 square kilometers, which is actually much larger than many counties.
When passing by Suzhou, Shi Qian, a scholar on the drum, had already caught up with the scholar Xiao Rang and the jade-arm craftsman Jin Dajian. Forging an ultimatum was not a difficult task for these two people, and it only took two or three days to do it.
Come up with an ultimatum that is so vivid that even Ximen Qing can't see any flaws.
Although it is not perfect for Jin Dajian and Xiao Rang, Ximen Qing has decided that it is enough.
The original document deleted the messy information about asking Japan to present "rare products", and slightly changed Ximen Qing's background, turning him into a genuine envoy of the Song Dynasty.
Sun Junming and Zheng Qing, who still knew nothing about this, were plotting their own evil plans. After the convoy entered the inn, news came from Scar-faced Tiger Liu Renzhong, saying that these two goods were related to a certain person.
The postmen glanced back and forth, seeming to have their heads connected.
Ximen Qing smiled slightly at this and asked the blood warriors to continue to keep a close eye on them. Sun Junming and Zheng Qing had been in Mingzhou for many years, and they probably knew a lot of shabby settlers and Japanese businessmen. This time they just lured the snakes out of their holes and caught them all, which was considered Ming Dynasty.
The state government has eliminated several evils.
Now... let them think they have a plan!
Ximen Qing didn't bother to give them a gift. Anyway, these two people would never do anything before the goods were received. He probably would have planned to do it at sea...
Speaking of this, Ximen Qing admired the wisdom of the ancients nine hundred years ago. The goods were not transported all the way from Bianliang, but were purchased directly by the local Yamen in Mingzhou. Those goods needed to be collected slowly elsewhere, and
In Mingzhou, the streets are full of brocade, damask, incense, tea bowls, stationery... It's like searching for something in a bag.
Accompanying Ximen Qing's envoy were only one hundred altars of Jingyangchun, plus some of Ximen Qing's "private goods."
These "private goods" include some inkstones and other stationery that Ximen Qing asked Shi Qian to find a place to customize, as well as some heavy yellow and orange...copper coins.
Time was tight, but Jiang Jing, the magic fortune teller, also managed to get almost 50,000 copper coins.
As soon as this thing arrives in Japan, the profit will be seven to eight times. And if it is converted into gold and silver and then exchanged back... Ximen Qing doesn't know how much profit he can make.
Anyway, there are many.
Ximen Qing’s strategy this time is to make a fortune silently!
...
...
During dinner, the postman deliberately touched Zheng Qing's arm while serving the food. Zheng Qing understood and pulled out a note from the bottom of the food bowl.
Sun Junming also saw it. After the two had a hasty meal, they excused themselves because they felt unwell and went back to the room.
As soon as the two left, Kinoshita Tokichiro next to him hurriedly saluted Ximen Qing and said: "Master, this is not far from Mingzhou Port. Sun Junming and Zheng Qing have many acquaintances in Mingzhou Port. Master should not take it lightly."
Ximen Qing chuckled and said: "Those acquaintances you mentioned are just shabby people. Even if they hold sharp weapons, can they compare to my own soldiers?"
Liu Renzhong, who was sitting at the bottom, raised his head proudly after hearing this. Although he didn't speak, the meaning was already obvious.
No matter how many shabby settlements there are in the local area, they are still not well-trained soldiers who have just experienced the baptism of blood on the battlefield.
"Master." Kinoshita Tokichiro's attitude became more and more humble, and his head was almost touching the ground. His voice was deep in his throat: "Not only are they broken down, but there are also some Japanese people... To be precise, they are Japanese pirates, and also Japanese pirates.
Often active in Mingzhou, these people only care about money. Sun Junming and Zheng Qing spend a lot of money on weekdays. Although it is not known whether their martial arts are stronger or weaker than their master's personal soldiers, at least the swords in their hands are
To take advantage."
Listening to what Kinoshita Tokichiro said, Ximen Qing remembered that the so-called tachi in Japan was mostly influenced by the Tang sword and the Huanshou sword of the Han Dynasty, and slowly evolved. However, since the founding of the Song Dynasty, a weapons ban has been implemented, except for government tolerance.
, among the people, not to mention the ring-shou knife, there are several households that share the same kitchen knife. Most people carry a whistle stick with them when traveling. I don’t know how many craftsmanship has been cut off in knife making, let alone development.
.
The Yan Ling Sword that comes standard with the blood-blowing soldiers is carefully crafted by the government, but the environment is so harsh, and the Yan Ling Sword is not much better.
Now that Japan is in the late Heian period, it is a time when sword-making technology is advancing by leaps and bounds. There is even a name called the Taito era. The "Battle of the First Nine Years" and the "Battle of the Last Three Years" where the samurai forces were most active were more than 20 years ago.
Years ago, even Su Shi, Ouyang Xiu and others wrote poems praising the sharpness of Japanese knives.
These bits of knowledge were all acquired by Ximen Qing from playing some games before he traveled through time. Kinoshita Tokichiro reminded him that he remembered them all.
It seems that many of these Japanese pirates are former samurai who came to Mingzhou to cause trouble.
"Japanese people are short in stature, can the Taidao they use be better than the Yanling Dao of the Song Dynasty? I cut off my head with one strike of the knife! By the way, they are short, so they may not be able to cut it... Hahahaha!
"
Scar-faced tiger Liu Renzhong didn't buy it and patted the Yan Ling knife placed aside. If Ximen Qing hadn't been there, he would have slapped the table with the Yan Ling knife.
Faced with Liu Renzhong's ridicule, Kinoshita Tokichiro remained unmoved. He just lay on the ground and waited for Ximen Qing to speak.
"Be careful and you won't make a big mistake." Ximen Qing played with the thunder stone and narrowed his eyes: "How are you practicing the combined attack technique?"
Liu Renzhong was slightly surprised to see Ximen Qing suddenly change the topic, but he still replied honestly: "We have been training in the art of combined attack, and the soldiers are already very skilled."
"Very good." Ximen Qing nodded and said: "No matter how powerful the Japanese pirates are in martial arts and how powerful their weapons are, they are only a minority. If you encounter them, don't do it one-on-one. Instead, use the technique of combined attack to kill many to one quickly.
!”
Only then did Liu Renzhong realize what Ximen Qing meant. He felt shocked and hurriedly accepted the order.
Kinoshita Tokichiro also kowtowed and said happily: "It's great that the master is willing to listen to Tokichiro's advice."
"Okay, just get up." Ximen Qing smiled slightly: "Your idea is very good and makes sense, so I will naturally adopt it."
"Yes." Kinoshita Tokichiro got up from the ground and went to sit in his seat. However, he accidentally glanced at Liu Renzhong opposite him, which made the latter very angry.
"My lord has agreed, then we will do as you say!" Liu Renzhong thought to himself: "When the Japanese knife is seized, I must try to see who is sharper with the Yanling knife. Then we will see what Fujikichiro has to say!"
Looking at Liu Renzhong's face, Ximen Qing knew that this guy was still secretly dissatisfied. He smiled and shook his head and said: "Scarfaced Tiger, although Japan is only a few islands and is not on the same level as the Song Dynasty, it can't be said that the craftsmanship of custom-made knives is not the same."
It’s better than me, Da Song, so there’s nothing surprising about it. Do you still remember Coach Lin’s dragon scales?”
"Of course I remember." Scarfaced Tiger Liu Ren nodded and said, "The Dragon Scale Sword is one of the most precious swords in the world. It is densely covered with patterns and overlaps one another. It can cut iron like clay. It's no problem."
Ximen Qing smiled and said: "Then do you know where the dragon scale sword came from?"
"This..." Liu Renzhong said hesitantly: "I don't know. I just heard that it came from the west... maybe from Xixia and Tubo?"
"Hahahaha!" Ximen Qing said with a smile: "The West is the West, but it is much farther than Xixia and Tubo. This kind of sword has a special pattern. Only a place called Damascus has this kind of craftsmanship, and Damascus is just a white-coated food.
It’s just a small country under our jurisdiction, much smaller than Japan.”
Liu Renzhong was shocked when he heard this, and Kinoshita Tokichiro was also secretly surprised by his master's erudition.
However, Liu Renzhong was convinced and did not feel angry secretly.
Ximen Qing nodded secretly. In case of encountering those Japanese pirates, the fifty blood soldiers including Liu Renzhong were the main force of the envoy. Ximen Qing did not want the captain to go into battle with emotions.
"Okay, I'll contact the Mingzhou Yamen early tomorrow morning... I also want to say hello to the shipping department." Ximen Qing said: "Now that the goods are ready, we can load them and wait for sailing."
...
...
When I woke up the next morning... Strictly speaking, Ximen Qing was woken up by Xue'er. The method was naturally Ximen Qing's favorite.
After releasing it comfortably in Xueer's mouth, Ximen Qing felt refreshed, and Xueer expressed her true thoughts after gargling her mouth.
I want to see the sea.
"Seeing the sea is not a big deal... just don't be disappointed when the time comes." Ximen Qing said with a smile: "After all, Mingzhou Port is the busiest time now. I'm afraid what you see the most is not the sea, but all kinds of things."
Big boats and small boats. Wait until you get out of the sea and enjoy the view... Don't forget to take the pills prepared by Dr. An, or you'll end up vomiting, and I won't care."
Xue'er didn't expect that one sentence would elicit so many responses from Ximen Qing. She rolled her eyes and was about to think of some words to respond when Liu Renzhong was already knocking on the door gently outside.
"Sir, there are people outside the inn calling for injustice."