On the back of the Aegean Sea, a large ship is preparing to enter the Mediterranean through the Turkish Strait from south to north.
The Aegean Sea region is now one of the most chaotic areas in the entire Mediterranean. A large number of pirates gather here and specialize in looting passing business travelers.
Because here you can go to the Black Sea, reach the Nanyun Province of the Ming Empire, and obtain precious goods from the far east, so this route is now also an emerging golden route, even more popular than the original route to the Golden Continent.
From the far east, the homeland of the Ming Empire, goods can be transported unimpeded and very safely to Nanyun Province. Compared with taking the sea route to Golden Continent, or taking the Nanyang route, taking the land route is undoubtedly the easiest way now.
Safe route.
The wind and waves at sea were too strong, and the safety of ships was a big problem. This also caused many merchants in the Ming Dynasty to switch to land routes, which also contributed to the prosperity of this route.
The prosperous and busy golden route will naturally attract many pirates, including Ottoman pirates, Vikings, Arab pirates, shameless English pirates, as well as Spanish and Portuguese pirates who do business while doing business, in short, all kinds of pirates
They all gather here.
The Aegean Sea is located at the exit of the Turkish Strait, and is the ultimate place to go to the Black Sea. There are many islands here, and it is extremely convenient for these pirates to escape. In addition, the existence of the free trade port of Xihai Island also facilitates them to sell their stolen goods, which is even more aggravated.
The rise of pirates in the Aegean Sea.
At this moment, around the big ship, there were six pirate ships with skull and crossbones flags flying towards the big ship. The pirates on the pirate ships bared their teeth and claws, waving their hooks and swords all the time.
Prepare to loot this big ship.
"Pirates~Pirates~"
On the deck, Alexey and Andre looked anxiously at the pirates rushing over, and then looked at the Ming Dynasty dragon flag hanging high on the ship's mast. He was a little confused. Didn't it mean that no one in the Ming Dynasty dared to mess with this flag?
After seeing the Ming Dynasty Dragon Flag, why did these pirates dare to rush over?
Looking at the Ming people on the boat, all of them were calm and composed, as if they were not afraid. They even didn't bother to raise the sails on the boat and had no intention of struggling or escaping.
"Mr. Xie, Mr. An, there is no need to panic~"
"The Black Dragon we are traveling on is an authentic Ming ship. There are more than a hundred Ming people on board. They don't dare to do anything to us. They even came over to check it out and will leave soon."
Next to the two of them, Zhang Wei, the chief escort of the Black Sea Escort Bureau, was very confident. He looked at the approaching pirate ship and showed no signs of panic.
Looking at the Ming people on the ship, they all did what they were supposed to do and had no intention of paying attention to the pirates around them.
"But, but, hasn't the Great Ming Dragon Flag already been hoisted on our ship?"
"Why do they still dare to come around?"
Alexei was a little confused and asked after thinking about it.
"That's because many passing ships will fly the dragon flag of our Ming Empire. They deceived these pirates at first, but over time, these pirates knew about it."
"So, as long as the passing ships fly the dragon flag of the Ming Empire, they will get closer and check it carefully. If it is not the ship of the Ming people, they will loot it. If it is really the ship of the Ming people, they will not
What do you dare to do to us?"
Zhang Wei smiled and explained.
Looking around again, several pirate ships have already approached. I saw that the hooks on the pirate ships hooked the side of the Black Dragon very neatly, and then several pirate leaders also climbed over along the hook locks.
"Red Beard, why is it you again?"
Seeing the pirate crawling over along the hook rope, Zhang Wei immediately recognized him and immediately stepped forward to say hello with a smile.
"Modan~"
"What bad luck, it's you again."
Seeing Zhang Wei, looking at the clothes of the Black Sea Escort Bureau on him, and then looking at the Ming people on the boat who were not panicking at all, Red Beard suddenly became so angry that his beard straightened.
"Haha, my friend, this is called fate."
Zhang Wei immediately laughed and hugged the other party.
This is what escort agents are like. Since ancient times, they have relied on black and white friends to enjoy food and drink. Although the Ming Dynasty has enough majesty in this area, these black and white people should be friends with each other.
The red-bearded man in front of me is a famous pirate in this area of the Aegean Sea. He is an official pirate with a privateering license issued by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He specializes in plundering passing merchant ships in this area.
Zhang Wei met this red bearded man several times when he walked here. After going back and forth, he became familiar with him and became a friend.
"Fate is nothing~"
"It's really unlucky to meet you. Another trip was in vain."
Redbeard cursed a lot, but he still smiled and chatted with Zhang Wei.
Just as he expected, the ship in front of him was an authentic Ming Dynasty ship, and no one deliberately flew the Ming Dynasty dragon flag to pretend to be a Ming Dynasty ship.
As long as he encounters the ships of the Ming Dynasty, he cannot take action. No one can bear the anger of the Ming Dynasty, and no one wants to be rewarded with a high reward.
"Come on, don't leave in a hurry. I happen to have a few jugs of good wine here, drink it before leaving."
Zhang Wei, however, smiled and pulled his red beard and sat down on the deck. Soon someone brought him good wine and food, and they started chatting while drinking.
"This wine is still strong enough for you Ming people~"
Redbeard was a heavy drinker, and after taking a sip of Daming shochu, he immediately became addicted to it.
"Is business good recently?"
Zhang Wei looked at Red Beard's appearance and immediately smiled. The crew members on the Black Dragon were also sending jars of fine wine on ropes to the pirate ship next to them.
This can be regarded as giving the pirates some face, so that they can't let them return empty-handed, and it can also be regarded as a friendship. As for the tolls, there is no such rule. Anyway, the ships of the Ming Dynasty do not need to pay.
If you bring wine, just give them a few jars of wine, and sometimes give them some tea or something. It just means that it is enough. They will not return empty-handed when they go down the slope, and the Ming Dynasty's ship will also pass smoothly.
"Forget it, it hasn't been open for more than half a month."
"Now these merchant ships are all very good and evil, and all of them are flying the dragon flag of your Ming Dynasty. We have no choice but to inspect them one by one, or else we will let you pass directly."
The red-bearded man drank heavily and ate roasted chicken with big mouthfuls. The wine and food of the Ming Dynasty were really good. When it came to business, he sighed helplessly.
"Now these ships are all passing together. They have cannons and guns on board. They are not easy to mess with. We haven't gotten any fat sheep for a long time."
"You are doing this business without capital, and your life is so comfortable."
"Look at me, I'm going to the Principality of Moscow this time. It's going to be windy and sunny, and the journey is tiring. It takes three months to go back and forth, and I only get a few dozen taels of silver. You are still comfortable."
Zhang Wei said with a smile while Redbeard was pouring wine. Alexei and Andrei were dumbfounded. Is this still the pirate in their imagination?
I originally thought that a war was inevitable, but now it has turned into a complaint meeting?
"Fart~"
"Don't think I don't know. You have a large manor and a large ranch here in the South Caucasus. Your life is very comfortable, and yet you still complain to me. That means you don't want to live a stable life and like to wander around.
.”
"You Ming people are still comfortable. No one dares to mess with you wherever you go, and anything you do can be done easily. If I were a Ming people, I would be able to live comfortably at home with my wife and children in my arms."
Red Beard looked at Zhang Wei and said, obviously, the Red Beard Pirate Group has also figured out all the people from Ming Dynasty who often pass by.
The Zhang Wei in front of me is a retired member of the Ming army. He was a soldier of the Ming Dynasty in the past. He has made military exploits and owns a large area of land and pasture in Nanyun Province.
"Haha, I just like to walk around."
Zhang Wei immediately laughed.
In fact, he lived a very good life when he was young. When he became a bodyguard, he was just like Li Ting and others. He didn't like a comfortable life and liked to wander around.
"Gone, gone~"
"It's really unlucky to meet you, kid~"
"Another trip was in vain. If you are free next time, remember to come to my island for a few drinks."
After downing a jar of Daming shochu, the red-bearded face turned red, and he staggered a little while walking. He touched his belly and walked back helplessly.
We had no choice but to encounter a Ming ship. Although everyone knew that the Ming ship was a fat sheep, no one dared to attack it.
This Ming Dynasty has naval forces stationed on the West Island and the Black Sea. If you offend the Ming Dynasty people, they will directly send naval warships to reason with you. A bombardment will not kill you, and there will be a high reward that will keep you awake.
If you can't afford it, you can only consider yourself unlucky.
"Okay, I'll come to your island to have a few drinks when I'm sailing alone that day. I'll see if I can bring you some beautiful slave girls this time."
Zhang Wei watched Red Beard climb the rope back to the pirate ship and said with a smile.
"Fuck~"
"You've told me this many times, but I never saw you actually bring me a few that time."
"Forget it, last month I robbed a French ship and got some nice chicks. If you come, I will let you have a taste of French chicks."
Redbeard was very agile and climbed back to his pirate ship in a few seconds. Hearing Zhang Wei's words, he became even more angry.
"Haha, let's forget it~"
"I have no shortage of women. I can't even feed a dozen of them at home, but I don't have any extra energy to waste."
Zhang Wei immediately smiled and waved to Redbeard, who quickly left with his pirate ship.
For this scene, the Ming people on the ship have long been accustomed to it. They are used to it. When traveling in the Aegean Sea, they will encounter several groups of pirates. Many captains are very familiar with these pirates.
