As soon as he landed, several people came to greet him with a very respectful attitude. But no one spoke, and the strong man remained silent. Only when someone lowered his head and said something to him did he
nodded.
Someone was guiding him in front, and the strong man and his followers walked on the path opened in the dense jungle. After walking about half a mile, he stopped. In front of him was a simple village, similar to those living in similar environments around the world.
The so-called aboriginal village is no different. What is unique is that there are many wooden poles standing on the village, and a dried human head is stuck on each pole.
The strong man was indifferent to this terrifying scene. There were many armed men on guard at the entrance of the village. Although these people were all in ragged clothes, their strong bodies and sophisticated weapons showed that they were by no means ordinary fishermen at sea.
The group of people was taken into the stockade, and the ground in the stockade was stained with blood. Apparently, the "aboriginal people" here had been "cleared out" and the place was left to the new owners.
In the open space in front of a large thatched house, a fire was burning in the fire pit. A young man was sitting on a chair, holding a bunch of grilled fish in his hand and feasting on it. When he saw the strong man coming, he smiled at him and said,
Pointing to another chair next to the fire pit - indicating "please sit down".
"Hello, Mr. Paul," the young man said in Japanese, leaning back on the backrest with the careless look of someone at home, "it seems like you have a good trip."
"Everything went well," the strong man replied in a low tone, also speaking in Japanese. "When will my reward be paid?"
"Hey!" the young man exclaimed, pretending to be surprised, "You are really a cold person, without any emotions. You only talk about business! You are also a devout Christian. Can't you be like brothers in the face of a common belief?
?”
"A devout Christian would not go to Mass and offer incense to idols at the same time." The strong man known as Mr. Paul said disdainfully, "I have done everything you asked me to do. Now you
You have to pay me as promised."
"You are such a straightforward man, you speak directly without being wordy!" The young man concealed his displeasure, "Let's talk about something serious! In addition to the salary issue, I still have a few important things to discuss with you!"
"Give me the reward first." Mr. Paul said unambiguously. His eyes were almost gray, which meant he was cold and calm.
The young man signaled to his entourage. Immediately someone brought a box full of Spanish pesos.
"This is the promised reward."
Paul reached into the box, took out a few silver coins from the bottom of his pocket, looked at them carefully, threw them back and nodded. Immediately, someone came over, closed the lid of the box, and took the box away.
"I will leave the ship to you. As for the sailors to drive the ship and how to use the cannons on it, I will also teach you how to choose them."
The young man said: "Now let's talk about the second thing. You said that you can make cannons that are as good as the Australians."
"Yes." Paul nodded, "As long as you can pay and have the patience to wait."
"I have money, but not enough patience."
"Then you have to have more money."
"You are such a good businessman, not like a pirate!" the young man said with a smile.
"Being a pirate is also a business. It's a good business. Let's put it this way, Mr. Feng, as long as the price is right, everything is easy to negotiate."
"You are really a special person." The person who was called Mr. Feng was none other than Zheng Zhilong's younger brother Zheng Zhifeng. After the operation to mediate the relationship between the Dutch and the Australians failed, not only did they lose a lot of money, but also the relationship between them and the Dutch
The relationship between the two has also declined significantly. The Dutch seem to believe that they are the masterminds behind the scenes.
The Zheng brothers racked their brains and couldn't understand what kind of magic the Australians used to make the Dutch believe that they were the real murderers. It is not difficult to surmise that they used a trick. What is rare is how they did it here with "seamless and irrefutable evidence"
It is necessary to find clues and evidence in a "mountain-like" state.
However, neither the Australians nor the Dutch seem willing to publicize this matter. Economic and trade exchanges between the three parties are still continuing. Ships from the Netherlands and Australia are still entering and exiting the Zhongzuo Institute normally in accordance with the trade agreement. Brothers of the Zheng family,
It is easy to think that the silence of the Australians is by no means a sign of silence. They must be secretly plotting revenge against the Zheng family.
Now Zheng Jiazheng and Liu Xiang are competing for control of foreign trade along the coast of Fujian. It is unbearable for them to prepare for war against an enemy that is more powerful and dangerous than Liu Xiang at the same time.
The rise of the Australians in the Taiwan Strait in the past few years has been witnessed by all. Their huge sailing ships and black speedboats that can sail against the wind and current, spitting black smoke, are as heavy as stones on their hearts.
Although the Australians have not shown any ambitions for overseas trade for the time being, and are only satisfied with trading with Europeans along the coast, they do not maintain such a large fleet just to show off their prestige in the Taiwan Strait.
The day will come when we will fight to the death with the Australians for maritime supremacy. Zheng Zhilong has no doubt about this.
The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it is for him. The strength of the Australians is growing every moment. Guo Huaiyi's report mentioned that in the towns they established by fighting dogs, they sent more refugees than they had since the Yan Siqi era.
The results of many years of colonization are much greater.
Although the size of his fleet is at an advantage, the intelligence gathered from all aspects, especially the intelligence obtained from Li Siya, gave Zheng Zhilong a very clear estimate of the strength of the Australians. If a face-to-face fight started, he would
That huge "fleet" was vulnerable. At first, the Dutch's few armed merchant ships were able to suppress their superior fleet in the naval battle. If the Dutch were not weak and weak, they later managed to launch a fire attack in an advantageous position.
An attack was launched in the bay, and he could not defeat the Dutch.
Zheng Zhilong understood the advantages of European maritime power along the coast of China better than anyone, not to mention the Australians who had faster ships and more powerful cannons than the Dutch and Spanish.
To win, you need to be surprised. Launch a surprise attack, block the Australian fleet in the harbor, and attack with fireships just like you did against the Dutch.
But the Australians had too great an advantage in ship guns. This became a nightmare that the Zheng brothers could not let go of.
Fortunately, at this time, the ship returning from Manila brought them news. A Japanese Chechidan believer came to Manila. He seemed to have mastered a lot of magic and created many novel firearms. The Spaniards got the firearms he designed and made.
He had won many victories against the natives. For this reason, this Chechitan believer won the trust of the governor.
This news and the firearm he created made Zheng Zhilong feel something keenly. He immediately sent Zheng Zhifeng to Manila to find this Chechidan.
The relationship between the Zheng family and the Spanish was not very harmonious, but neither was it hostile. The Spanish colonial government was extremely dependent on the Nanyang routes controlled by the Zheng family, so Zheng Zhifeng's request was quickly met - he saw
When it came to the legendary Chechitan, Paul Takayama, in the ensuing secret talks, the two parties reached the first cooperation agreement.
During this meeting, Zheng Zhifeng felt that Mr. Paul was very interested in the Australians and knew much more than they did. However, he seemed to be hiding something, his eyes twinkling and unwilling to tell the truth.
Mr. Paul readily agreed to the suggestion that he help deal with the Australians.
"As long as Mr. Feng can pay according to the price, anything can be said."
Of course, the Zheng family has plenty of money. But when it comes to how to effectively deal with the Australians, the Zheng family brothers have no clear plan. It was Mr. Paul who suggested that since they were so in awe of the Australian cannons, they might as well seize a ship first.
An Australian ship can provide the most intuitive understanding of Australian ships and cannons. So there was a battle to seize the Harbor Patrol No. 64.
This ship-seizing operation was planned from beginning to end by Mr. Paul. He brought the manpower and weapons for the operation from Manila, and even the establishment of a secret camp on Xiaoliuqiu Island was based on his suggestion. Zheng Jiaze
Provided ships and intelligence support.
Seeing that the other party had so neatly captured a fast boat owned by the Australians, who were known to be powerful and undefeated at sea, Zheng Zhifeng could not help but be convinced - Mr. Paul was indeed not a big talker. Not only could he make firearms, he was also a good fighter! In his heart,
I couldn't help but feel the urge to recruit.
"...Can you make for us the kind of blunderbuss that the Australians use?" Zheng Zhifeng asked, "the kind on the ship you captured."
"Okay." Paul nodded without hesitation, "It's not difficult."
Zheng Zhifeng took a deep breath when she saw that the other party actually talked about the production of the "Australian Gunshot", which was known as an "artifact", in such a light manner. Is this bragging or does he really possess special skills?
"Is this true?!"
"Of course it's true," Mr. Paul said, "but I have to make a point first: I won't be as flexible and light as them, and I'm afraid it won't be able to shoot continuously for a long time. But there is no problem in making a weapon with the same effect.
"
"As long as it can be created, it's good." Zheng Zhifeng couldn't contain the excitement in his heart. In his opinion, the "Australian Gunshot" is simply an artifact. It is an important help for the Australians to dominate the sea and land. If his own side can also obtain this artifact, plus
Of the other cannons Paul promised to build for them, the Zheng family took up two of them.
As for "Chunjian", they have obtained several European sailing ships from various channels, and are also building large sailing ships themselves. Although these sailing ships are Chinese-style, they are not much smaller than European ships in terms of size and tonnage. As long as they can
Equipped with enough Western or Australian artillery, you can challenge any enemy. (To be continued...)