Chapter 71 Spanish Armed Merchant Ship

[Recite the URL silently three times. Do you remember it? If you don’t remember, I’ll ask again in the next chapter. It’s best to share it on Facebook for me]

Early the next morning, all matters were handed over to Li Chun. With the assistance of Han Xian, Li Yi, and Li Guo, Qin Hao, Zhuge Xuan and a dozen other people drove a carriage quietly on the road without disturbing the nearby people.

This arrangement is the best choice to avoid chaos as much as possible.

Before leaving, he told them to follow the rules of the old times and do as they please when Zhuge Xuan comes back. Everything should be stable. After the people found out, they announced to the outside world that several adults were going back to Nanyang and would return soon.

When he went to Daming this time, Qin Hao knew that there were many things that could not be solved in one day, and he would basically not be able to come back within two or three months. But with the precedent of going out by myself before, it won't be a problem if it takes longer this time.

After sitting on the carriage and driving for two days and two nights, Qin Hao felt excited in the mountains of Keelung.

It was Zhuge Xuan's first time here. He stuck his head out of the carriage, holding a charcoal pencil in one hand and drawing paper in the other, and kept sketching.

There was also a thick stack of drawing papers piled neatly under him, all of which were masterpieces made in the past two days. There were many kinds of road maps, water system maps, and mountain range maps. As long as there were any on the road, he had written them down one by one.

Qin Hao asked him, and Zhuge Xuan said that this was an important manuscript for future governance. Where suitable for building villages and where suitable for building bridges were all recorded in the pile of drawing paper.

Talented people never forget to learn no matter when and where they are.

"General!"

Amorim on the shore has to wait for half a day every day, and has not seen anyone for several days. When he arrived today, he saw a group of people. He left the soldiers behind and couldn't wait to step forward.

"Amorim, long time no see." Qin Hao greeted warmly.

I haven't seen him for a month.

After a while of greetings, they sat on the floor and chatted until the sun was high in the sky. Zhuge Xuan couldn't stand it any longer, so he interrupted and gave Qin Hao a look, interrupting the reminiscence between the two.

If you want to talk, you can go back and talk. What are you doing here while the sea storm blows?

Amorim also reacted, knowing that it was rude, and called a few people to board the boat: "We will talk about it when we get to San Salvador."

After entering the Fortress of San Salvador, Qin Hao walked into the conference room naturally and lay down on the leather chair with enjoyment, like a master.

Most of the soldiers on the city wall are his people, so there is no problem in saying so.

"My lord has been walking a long way. Squeeze some lemon juice to quench your thirst."

In the kitchen of the inner fort, Amorim ordered his men to make fresh lemon juice. While sending his men to deliver it to the guards who came, he personally carried four glasses upstairs.

He walked to the door and handed a glass to Zhao Chang, nodded politely and entered.

"Sir, fresh lemonade." Amorim smiled and put a glass on the table, and then gave Zhuge Xuan another glass.

"Thank you." Zhuge Xuan said.

"You're welcome." Amorim said.

We traveled day and night on this journey. I only cared about rushing. I ate dry food and drank cold drinks. My appetite was always poor.

After drinking a glass of lemon juice, the sour taste will make you grin, but it tastes very good, quenching your thirst and appetizing.

"Is there any more? One more drink!" Qin Hao asked.

I just drank it too quickly and it didn’t taste like much.

"Yes, I'll go down and get it right now." Amorim also regretted a little, knowing that he would have brought more.

Zhuge Xuan glanced at his master helplessly, sighed softly, placed his cup on the table, and said, "I haven't drank this cup yet, drink mine first."

Then he turned around and said to Amorim: "Let's go get it after we finish talking about the business."

They are here for important matters, not just to drink tea and joke around.

"Sir, do you have something to say?" Amorim was surprised. He happened to have something to discuss with Qin Hao.

"Do you have one too?" Looking at Amorim's expression, Qin Hao asked while drinking lemonade.

"Um."

"You go ahead and say it."

Qin Hao politely asked Amorim to say that they were not in a hurry. With his friendship with Amorim, it would not be difficult to borrow a boat.

"The Governor has given up on San Salvador!" Amorim said with some disappointment.

After he returned to Manila with the ship, he rushed to the Governor's Palace without stopping, wrote a letter about the Dutch's troubles, and handed it to the governor's steward together with the letter written by Carigno.

I waited for three days with uneasiness and received no response. I almost mistakenly thought that I had not done the housekeeper any favors because he did not send the letter.

After many inquiries, I found out that the Governor and several congressmen had received the letter, and had decided one day before not to send troops to Taiwan, but to concentrate their forces to fight for "Malacca" with the Dutch.

Compared with the barren island of Taiwan, "Malacca" is the lifeblood of the Spanish. Countries such as Java and Sumatra, like Taiwan, were also swarmed by the Dutch before. They revolted one after another, harassing and destroying the forts built by Spain on the island. .

Amorim also knew the importance of that place. Whoever occupied "Malacca" would be able to control at least half of the shipping cargo in Nanyang. They had done this before and made a lot of money.

He didn't care whether he could become the development officer of Taiwan Island, but he couldn't break his promise with Qin Hao.

After Amorim returned, Qin Hao was worried again, fearing that he would not come back, but fortunately he kept his promise and came back with the people and the boat.

But after hearing what he had experienced on his way back, he knew that he was in a dilemma. He was also curious about his return with people, and asked: "Since the governor is unwilling to help you, how did you get your people and ships?"

"They are all my properties in Manila."

Amorim smiled and said: "My lord, you also know that I am a small nobleman with some assets at home. Before, my father knew that I was framed and exiled to Manila, so he sold the family's manor and bought me a few ships to let me run them myself. Over the years, I have made a lot of money with my connections. After knowing the governor's decision, I sold some small boats and came with a few large ships."

Qin Hao was a little surprised. He didn't expect Amorim to be able to do this, just as he promised before.

"Those captains and sailors are reliable. Those who are willing to follow me have been brought here, and those who are unwilling have been dismissed." Amorim added, vying to express his loyalty to Qin Hao for his crew.

These brought can't be taken back again. After all, they have to find a meal. The crew members are willing to follow him because they believe in him, so they can't let people get discouraged.

"Good! Good!"

Qin Hao laughed a few times, his joy was evident on his face, and he said, "Don't worry, since you are here, I will never let you go again. I will have to trouble you more in the future."

Then he glanced at Zhuge Xuan next to him, and he immediately understood and told Amorim about the plan to go to Daming. Their fleet would be needed for future shipping.

"My lord, look."

Amorim walked to the window and opened the curtain. The scenery of the coast was imprinted in the eyes of Qin Hao and Zhuge Xuan. There were several large and small ships parked on the calm sea, and many crew members were busy on and off the ships.

"This time I brought a total of four ships, one armed merchant ship and three light sailing ships."

He proudly told various data as if he knew them all, and Qin Hao calculated the tonnage of the four ships while listening.

"210 tons + 125 tons + 134 tons"

Before Qin Hao could figure it out, Zhuge Xuan spoke first: "The four ships are fully loaded with 624 tons, with more than 400 crew members. Among them, the armed merchant ship is equipped with six 6-pound cannons, three on the left and three on the right."

"In this way, theoretically we can transport at least 500 tons of commercial goods at a time. Not only that, but we also got a skilled fleet for free." Qin Hao pondered.

Kill two birds with one stone!

I didn't expect that Amorim's arrival would solve the problem that had troubled me for many days.

If he didn't let him join, Qin Hao would definitely have reason to suspect that he was ignorant. He drank the lemon juice in one gulp, stood up and smiled: "Welcome to join!"

[Do you remember that I asked you to recite it three times at the beginning of the chapter? There may be surprises when you share it on Facebook]