"Don't think that the Ming Dynasty's fleet has no cannons. Let me tell you, the Ming Dynasty's fleet has more cannons than you. I once saw the Ming Dynasty's warships firing a salvo, and one warship alone had hundreds of cannons. A small ship like yours, in
In front of the Ming Dynasty Navy, they will be blown to pieces in an instant." The first mate didn't know why he said such words. Perhaps he could only rely on the power of the Ming Dynasty Navy to stimulate these pirates, so that he could vent his anger smoothly.
The captain looked ugly and said nothing, but the other person sneered and asked sternly: "Since Nanyang is so dangerous, you have repeatedly lied to us to come here, do you want us to die? Captain, I see this
This guy just wants us to come and die, so we can just throw him into the sea and feed him to the fish."
After hearing this, the captain also stared at the first mate fiercely, but he did not give the order directly, but was waiting for the first mate to defend himself.
The first mate smiled calmly and said: "If I want you to come and die, then why do I have to explain so much to you? Wouldn't it be better if you just rush forward and then be smashed to pieces?"
After hearing this, the captain immediately stretched out his hand to stop the other person. He laughed, nodded and said: "Yes, if you have the intention to harm us, just watch us rush forward. But we robbed your ship and cargo
,don’t you hate us?”
The first mate shook his head and said directly: "The reason why I brought you here is because, Captain, you promised that as long as I bring you here, you will give me a thousand gold coins."
That's it? The captain was stunned for a moment after hearing this. He had indeed promised it, but he had never thought about paying the money.
Unexpectedly, this idiot actually believed it and thought that he would really give him a thousand gold coins.
The captain burst into laughter and promised with certainty: "Yes, I did promise you. However, you are worth more than a thousand gold coins just as cargo, right? Even if I give you a thousand gold coins, you
It’s also a disadvantage.” ??
"That's better than going bankrupt." The first mate answered without hesitation and explained with a smile: "If I don't bring you here, then I won't even be able to pay out a penny. Even if I go back, those creditors
They will also eat me alive. But as long as the captain pays me one thousand gold coins, then I can buy a new batch of goods in this old port and go back. Even if I can't make money, there is no problem in keeping the money of the creditor and me.
.
As long as I can get through this difficulty, I can continue to do business here, and sooner or later I will become a big businessman."
Hearing the first mate's innocent words, the captain and the second mate looked at each other and laughed at the same time.
The captain hugged the first mate with a sincere face and said, "Yes, dear first mate, as long as you take us to the old port, I will pay you a thousand gold coins."
The captain and the second mate smiled so toothily that even the width of the gap between their teeth was exactly the same.
The first mate knew clearly what the two of them were thinking, but at this point he could only continue to take them to the old port. But the moment the first mate lowered his head, a smile flashed at the corner of his mouth.
Zhu Biao, Han Du, and Tang Ding stood on the bow of the ship. Zhu Biao looked around with a telescope, and suddenly saw several strange-looking ships that were completely different from the Ming Dynasty.
Attracted by the ship, Zhu Biao looked at the ship carefully. Seeing the strange clothes of the people on the ship, as well as their unique curly hair and thick hair on their faces, he asked in surprise: "Those are those?"
who?"
Han Du held up the telescope, took a look over, put it down casually, and explained with a smile: "Your Highness, those are the merchants from the West who came here to trade. They are of different races from us, and their facial features are very different."
Zhu Biao nodded with a smile and said, "So these are Western businessmen. Are they the Kunlun slaves recorded in the book?"
"No." Han Du shook his head and explained with a smile: "The Kunlun slaves are as black as charcoal. They are completely different from these people."
Zhu Biao was surprised for a moment, and then said with a smile: "Sure enough, after I came out, the world seems to have become much wider, and I can even see completely different races of people everywhere."
Seeing Zhu Biao's interest, Han Du took a step back and ordered the general: "Send someone over and bring them here."
"yes."
Under the instructions of the flag signal, the three warships slowly left the fleet and surrounded the Western ships in a Zigzag formation.
A small move by the Ming Dynasty Navy scared the people on these Western ships out of their wits.
The first mate was staring dumbfoundedly at the Ming warships approaching side by side.
But the second mate ran forward quickly, grabbed the first mate's chest and shouted sternly: "Okay, I knew you were lying to us. You brought us to Nanyang just to use the Daming Navy to eliminate us."
Right? You want us to die so much. Don’t worry, we will definitely kill you and throw you away before we die.
The sea feeds the fish.”
When the first mate was caught, he couldn't help but panic. But after listening to the second mate's words, he calmed down.
There was no resistance at all, and he even lowered his hands feebly and sighed: "Can you please think about it with your head filled with rancid black water in the barrel, how can I, a Westerner, mobilize the Ming Navy?"
The captain's face was gloomy. The second mate looked back quietly and knew that the captain did not believe the first mate's lies.
He immediately added more strength, pulled the first mate in, bared his teeth and said fiercely: "If it has nothing to do with you, then how come the warships of the Ming Navy came directly to surround us?"
"How do I know?" This was what the first mate was thinking, and he was indeed confused. He even wondered if there was something wrong with these pirates, and the navy of the Ming Dynasty noticed it.
Just when he was about to explain, the first mate suddenly thought of another point, so he said helplessly: "Maybe the Ming Dynasty navy is not here for us at all. Maybe they think we are like pirates and just came to investigate."
After the words fell, the captain immediately winked at the second officer.
The second mate immediately let go of the first mate's shirt, took a step back, and gave up his position.
The captain stepped forward, stared at the first mate and asked: "Are there pirates here too?"
"Of course." The first mate knew that he had guessed correctly, and he breathed a sigh of relief and explained: "You don't think that a place of wealth like Old Port will not be targeted by pirates, do you?"
"Since there are pirates here, why didn't you tell us before you came?" The captain looked at the first mate impatiently. If the first mate had told us there were pirates here, then he wouldn't have to break in directly.
The first mate shook his head with a sneer and explained: "Although there are pirates in Nanyang, I have been doing business here for so many years and I have never heard of any pirates being able to attack the old port. The Ming Dynasty guarded Nanyang very strictly, and the Ming Navy was always available all year round.
They are constantly patrolling the sea. Just like now, when they find strange places, they will come forward to investigate."
The captain pondered for a moment and said with a sneer: "Since you know that the Ming Dynasty Navy protects Nanyang so carefully, you still want to bring us here? Do you want us to die here?"
The first mate was stunned for a moment and retorted: "Captain, you have repeatedly asked me to bring you to the Old Port. And, Captain, have you forgotten that I have reminded you that you can only come to the Old Port to do business and not to fight?"
Tribulation?"
The captain immediately lowered his head in embarrassment and looked at each other with the second officer.
Obviously, the two of them never wanted to do serious business in the first place. They just wanted to rob. If they came to do business, they just wanted to trick the first mate into bringing them here.
Now that he understood the ferocious strength of the Ming Dynasty Navy, the captain instantly eliminated the idea of robbing this place. He barely controlled himself, squeezed out an ugly smile on his face and said: "You are right, we are just here.
Business. However, business is business. What should we do with the current situation?"
The first mate also deliberately pretended not to know what they were thinking, frowned in cooperation, and said: "What else can we do? Since the Ming Dynasty Navy wants to interrogate, then let them do the interrogation. This kind of situation has not happened before.
However, the Ming Dynasty Navy also frequently inspects our merchant ships. As long as we let them board the ship for inspection, everything will be fine."
"Are you sure nothing will happen?" The captain still didn't trust the first mate and asked solemnly.
The first mate shrugged lazily and said, "Of course I'm sure, this kind of thing has happened before. I haven't heard of anyone having an accident."
The captain looked at the Ming warship getting closer and closer, and he was constantly having a battle between heaven and man in his heart. He had only heard about the strength of the Ming warship from the first mate, but he had never seen it with his own eyes.
Moreover, it is unknown whether the Ming Dynasty navy was just conducting a routine investigation or came to find them deliberately.
Under such circumstances, it is indeed not easy for the captain to make up his mind.
But time waits for no one. If the captain doesn't make up his mind, everything will be too late.
Soon three warships surrounded them. The captain saw two warships spreading out to the left and right, keeping watch from a distance. Only one warship came close to search, and the captain suddenly became discouraged. It can be seen from the actions of these warships.
come out, these are elites who have truly experienced naval battles.
The two warships were far outside the attack range of his cannons, and even a surprise attack was impossible.
As a result, the captain was finally forced to make up his mind, turned around and ordered the pirates: "According to what the first mate said, we are all merchants who come to the old port to trade. Put away all your scimitars."
After giving the instructions, he turned around and said to the first mate: "You are the only one who can speak clearly, so you will be responsible for the interrogation. I warn you, if you dare to deceive us, I will drag you even to hell."