"Commander, they don't know much about things on the mainland, but they say that at this time of year, ships from the mainland will come here to buy spices."
The Persian guide bowed and answered.
"Is there spices produced on this island?"
Li Chengqian was very curious.
The Persian respectfully handed over a few light yellow irregular particles, not much bigger than peanuts.
"Frankincense, top quality!"
Liu Rengui is a knowledgeable person!
Only then did Su Chen remember that this thing was indeed abundant in Somalia, North Africa.
"Commander, how long should we wait?"
Su Chen nodded. It happened that the fleet needed a few days of repairs for its long voyage.
If the ship doesn't arrive in a few days, then we'll have to think of another way.
With the decision made, everyone started working on their own.
Li Chengqianan couldn't bear his curiosity and decided to go to the island again to see those strange plants.
Su Chen also felt that it was time to relax and accompany him to visit.
Those ships collecting spices are really easy to talk about.
The frigate in charge of patrol reported the arrival of a ship the next day.
Su Chen took two gunboats and several frigates to hide in ambush among several small islands to the west of Socotra Island.
A galley slowly approached Socotra Island without any precautions.
I was stunned by the sudden appearance of several giant ships around me!
He didn't even try to escape, he just put down the sail and gave up resistance!
The galley was captured very smoothly, along with all the crew on board.
Tow the ship to the island and take all the crew members off the ship.
The Persian guide went to ask questions very wisely.
After a while, Cheng Wuting came to Su Chen with two Persian guides and a frightened native.
"Commander, it is indeed a merchant ship of the Ham people, and this is their captain!"
The Persian guide reported.
Su Chen smiled: "Tell him, don't be afraid!"
"If they cooperate well, they will be rewarded heavily."
As he said this, one of the soldiers hugged a piece of silk and calmed down the frightened captain!
Silk is very useful overseas. The frightened captain stopped trembling immediately and started chirping excitedly.
"Commander! He said thank you for the reward, and everything on his ship belongs to you!"
Su Chen nodded, he seemed to be a knowledgeable person, that's good.
"Ask him carefully. It seems that he has seen silk before and knows its value!"
"Tell him that I don't want anything from him. As long as he is willing to help us, there will be plenty of silk!"
Silk opened the way, and after some questioning, the Persians finally understood something.
The captain's name is Merochus, a businessman active from the Gulf of Aden to the Persian Gulf.
I usually sell spices from Somalia to Persia and transport some handicrafts back from there.
Silk was the most expensive item he bought and sold from Persia.
However, his business has been difficult recently. After the Persian Empire was destroyed, he could not sell his spices and could not get silk.
Moreover, this year the Great Eater also came to his hometown and was collecting ships everywhere. He originally had three ships, but now he only has one left.
"That means the Horn of Africa is now controlled by giant cannibals!"
The Persian guide nodded and said: "According to Merochus, the great cannibal is now and then."
"Is the cannibal enough to go out to collect ships?
Where have all the Collectors gone?"
The Persian guide shook his head: "He doesn't know,"
"Then you ask him if he can get us some ships, and I'll trade silk for him."
The guide chatted with the captain.
"Commander, he said yes, but the slightly larger ships were taken away by the big eater,"
"The most we can do is find something small. His ship should be the biggest!"
Su Chen frowned and agreed, as long as he could get close to the entrance of the Red Sea.
Watching the guy named Merochus leave in his own ship again,
Li Chengqian said: "Teacher, don't you be afraid that he will just run away!"
"Don't worry, look at the way he is staring at the silk reluctantly. He will be back soon, bringing the ship and goods!"
Su Chen returned to the cabin and called everyone over again.
"When we prepare the ship, I want someone to dress up as a merchant and go west along the north coast of the Somali Peninsula to the mouth of the Red Sea."
Liu Rengui shook his head and said: "Commander, after we have the ships, just ask the Persians to pretend to be merchants and go there."
Su Chen shook his head: "Persians are fine as translators, but you are too flattering to ask them to engage in military reconnaissance!"
"But our looks are very different, and we don't understand each other in the language."
"I have a way with my appearance, and my language can make the Persians follow me!"
Cheng Wuting said in confusion: "Commander, why are you taking such risks?"
Su Chen said: "Look at the location and width of the Red Sea Port. Do you want to be ambushed again?"
"This is a cannibal's territory. Here, they have many desperate warriors. They can carry out suicide attacks like the last time, as many as they want?"
Cheng Wuting said: "No, Marshal, what I mean is that there are many port cities in this Dashi Peninsula. Why should we go to the interior of the Red Sea?"
"That long and narrow sea area, and the exit is so narrow, is really not an ideal combat sea area."
Su Chen lazily said: "Because I want to make a surprise attack on Medina, the capital of the cannibal! The closest shore is the Red Sea!"
Everyone looked at Su Chen, and Liu Rengui asked carefully: "Commander, are we short of manpower? Even if we wait for Master Sun Ren's second fleet to join us, we will only have a total of more than 10,000 people!"
"It's because there are few people that we have to attack by surprise!"
Su Chen pointed at the map and said: "I didn't say we wanted to occupy Medina. Let's go for a walk and then return to the sea!"
"Don't worry, everyone. After all, Dashi is a nomadic people. Although Medina is their capital, it is symbolic, similar to the tent of the Turkic Khan."
"There are not many troops stationed there at ordinary times. It is estimated that their king is not here. If I guessed correctly, the cannibal king should be in the original territory of Persia now!"
"With the strength of our Marine Corps, we should be able to do it."
Li Chengqian frowned and asked in confusion: "Then, teacher, what's the use of this?"
Su Chen looked at Li Chengqian: "Your Highness, you must remember one thing from now on. When we fight overseas, we cannot imitate the way we conquered cities and territories in the Tang Dynasty."
"Your Highness, do you think just a few of us can defeat the entire powerful Dashi Empire?"
Not to mention Li Chengqian, everyone shook their heads, this is possible for us!
Dashi is not that kind of crumbling declining empire, but a powerful empire with strong soldiers and horses that is expanding everywhere and conquering all its neighbors.
With just his few manpower, the cannibal can annihilate all of his more than 10,000 people even with a pile of human lives.
And judging from the last battle, the Great Eater seems to be very good at suicide attacks.
Su Chen smiled and said: "Since it's impossible, then we have gone through a lot of hardships and traveled more than 20,000 miles by sea. Why are we here?"
