Most people will certainly not feel anything special when they hear Neptune Island, but if a merchant in the coastal area of Zhejiang or walking on the sea heard the word Pirate Island, most of them would be so scared that they would pee their pants.
Because this Neptune Island is no ordinary island, it is a pirate nest occupied by pirates. It is the hometown of Fang Guozhen, the largest pirate leader in the southeastern coastal area.
Fang Guozhen was a native of Taizhou, Zhejiang. It is said that he was only seven feet tall, burly in appearance, black in face and white in body, strong in determination and hard work, and able to chase galloping horses. He was the largest pirate leader in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
He started out as a sea trader and proclaimed himself the 'King of the Sea', so his home base is also called Neptune Island.
Fang Guozhen's pirate group previously occupied the routes leading to Korea and Japan, and all ships heading to Korea and Japan must obtain his approval.
As Fang Guozhen's home base, Neptune Island is one of the largest islands near the Zhoushan Islands. The entire island is horseshoe-shaped, with a naturally formed harbor in the middle. The water in the harbor is very deep, with only a small opening for entry and exit. It is definitely the most popular island.
Top notch harbor.
Fang Guozhen has occupied Neptune Island for a long time and has managed the entire Neptune Island with great success. There are tens of thousands of people living on the island, including people from the Ming Dynasty in the coastal areas, Japanese pirates from the Japanese country, and Koreans from North Korea.
, and even indigenous people from Southeast Asia.
There is a ship moored in the harbor of Neptune Island. These ships are large and small, and the big ones are all good fortune ships. There are more than ten ships, and there are hundreds of small ships of various types.
On Neptune Island, pirates and Japanese pirates from various regions were drinking, gambling, and fighting wantonly, making the entire Neptune Island seem chaotic.
Here, the sky is high and the emperor is far away, and the king and I have no control here. You can do anything and do anything. You are very free.
The pirate king Fang Guozhen also ignored this. What he needed was this pirate. The Japanese pirates listened to him. As for normal times, they were very indulgent. There were even casinos, brothels, restaurants, teahouses, etc. opened by Fang Guozhen here.
At this time, in one of the most luxurious houses on Neptune Island, Fang Guozhen was discussing a big deal with pirates and pirate leaders from all over the world.
In the Juyi Hall, the burly Fang Guozhen sat above everyone, and on both sides sat the leaders of the pirate groups, including Sun En, nicknamed "Haijing", Wang Zhi, nicknamed "King of Jinghai", and "Qihai".
Chen Zuyi of Overlord, and Dayou Zonglin, the pirate leader from the Japanese pirates.
These people, as you can tell from their nicknames alone, are well-known figures on the sea in the southeastern coastal areas of the Ming Dynasty, and even in the entire East Asia region.
Hai Jing Sun En was active in the Fujian, Zhejiang, and Ryukyu areas. He was a pirate and a maritime trader. He often visited Japan and Korea. He was very powerful. He had hundreds of large and small ships and thousands of pirates under his command.
Wang Zhi, the king of Jinghai, likes nothing more than cheating on others. He is active in Guangdong, Qiongzhou, and the South China Sea, and he is considered the overlord of the South China Sea.
The Overlord of the Seven Seas, Chen Zuyi, was a native of Chaoshan, Guangdong, and was the largest pirate leader in the Nanyang region. He often traveled between the Ming Dynasty and the Nanyang region, and he also worked part-time as a maritime merchant.
As for the Japanese pirate leader Otomo Zonglin, he, like Matsuura Takanobu, used to be a famous wealthy family in the Japanese country, but his family fell into decline and he could no longer survive in the Japanese country. He took his family's warriors and tribesmen and became Japanese pirates and pirates.
, the Japanese country was active all year round in the southeastern coastal areas of the Ming Dynasty.
"Everyone, this is news from Tianjin. Tianjin Ocean Trading Company will organize a fleet to go to the Nanyang area and open up a Nanyang route. Judging from the news currently known, there are hundreds of Dafu ships alone this time. As for
There may be hundreds of other ships, large and small."
"This is definitely a big deal~"
Fang Guozhen looked at the people present, smiled and said.
This time, he invited these people here just for this big deal. This deal was really huge. There were hundreds of Dafu ships, plus a fleet of hundreds of other ships. It was Tianjin Ocean Trading.
Organized by a bank, the goods they carried were worth several million taels of silver.
"Hundreds of lucky boats?"
When Sun En, Wang Zhi, and Chen Zuyi heard this, their eyes suddenly lit up.
"Tianjin Ocean Trading Company is not easy to mess with~"
Only Dayou Zonglin pondered for a moment and spoke slowly.
He was active in Japan, Korea and the Ming Dynasty all year round. He often dealt with the ships of the Tianjin Ocean Trading Company. He organized several attempts to rob the merchant ships of the Tianjin Ocean Trading Company, but was beaten with bruises and a swollen face.
Also last year, another Japanese pirate leader Matsuura Takanobu and Wang Zhi wanted to plunder Ryukyu City's fleet, but they all died at sea. He knew this.
At that time, Wang Zhi invited him to participate in this operation, but that time, he happened to be busy and did not participate, so he was very lucky.
"Of course I know that Tianjin Ocean Trading Company is not something to be trifled with, otherwise I wouldn't have called all the guys here."
Fang Guozhen nodded and said.
Of course he knew what happened between Wang Zhi and Matsuura Takanobu last year, and how could anything that happened in the waters near the Zhoushan Islands escape his eyes.
That time, he also sent many ships to participate in the operation, but lost all his money, and even his friend Wang Zhi died.
So from then on, as long as it was a ship from Tianjin to and from Ryukyu City, he did not dare to act rashly, because until now, he had not yet figured out how Wang Zhi and Matsuura Takanobu died, so that the entire army
destruction.
"I believe everyone should be aware of the rise of Tianjin Port in the north. Northerners represented by Tianjin Ocean Trading Company and Ryukyu City simply don't take us seriously."
"In the past, all merchant ships going to Korea and Japan had to obtain our consent before they could go to Korea and Japan to do business. But now, everyone uses Tianjin Port to go to Japan and Korea, and we can't make a penny.
.”
"Even the ships from Tianjin to Ryukyu City did not pay us a penny in protection fees."
"If things continue like this, what will we eat? What will we drink?"
Fang Guozhen stood up and glanced at everyone with cold eyes.
Even though he is known as the King of the Sea and is the largest pirate leader in the southeastern coastal area, these people in the northern Tianjin port do not take him seriously at all and do not even think about him.
And because of the rise of Tianjin Port, northern merchants going to Korea and Japan were not under his control at all, and their development was extremely rapid.
As a result, the number of merchant ships heading to North Korea and the Japanese Kingdom in the Jiangnan area and the southeastern maritime area has greatly reduced, and the protection fees he received have naturally become less and less. After the beginning of the thirteenth year of Hongzhi, he did not earn a penny.
The rise of Tianjin Port in the north has seriously affected his interests, and it has also affected the interests of the Jiangnan maritime merchants and big families behind him.
The fleet departing from the northern port of Tianjin has now completely snatched away the business of Japan and Korea. These large merchants and large families in the Jiangnan region have no way to compete with them.
Regardless of freight volume, price, cost, etc., all aspects are inferior to the trading houses and fleets here in Tianjin Port in the north.
Originally, last year, he wanted to make a big deal and hit the trading houses in the northern Tianjin Port hard. The arrogance of the fleet would let them know that the title of Sea King was not just random.
However, last year, Wang Zhi and Matsuura Takanobu looted the fleet sent by Liu Jin to Ryukyu City, but were completely annihilated by Li Yuanshan and others. This battle not only dealt a heavy blow to pirates and Japanese pirates in the East China Sea region.
It was even more frightening that the Sea King Fang Guozhen did not dare to move rashly for almost half a year. He did not dare to move the ships that regularly communicated between Ryukyu City and Tianjin Port. Every time he watched the ships filled with sucrose coming from him.
Passing by the door of his hometown home, he only dared to drool and watch the other person leave.
This time, Tianjin Ocean Trading Company was going to open a south-ocean route, and he really couldn't sit still.
If the northerners are allowed to open the Nanyang route, then not only will he be unable to survive, but the large merchants and large families in the Jiangnan region behind him will also be unable to survive.
Having lost the Japanese country, the market in North Korea has severely weakened their vitality. If they lose the market in Nanyang again, what they will eat in the future will really depend on the northwest wind.
"This time, Tianjin Ocean Trading Company will open a route to the Nanyang region. Once this route is opened, there will be a steady stream of merchant ships traveling between Tianjin and the Nanyang region."
"At that time, our business will be greatly affected, and it will be like now. Not only will the business be unable to continue, but we will also not be able to receive a penny of protection fees."
"I summoned everyone here not for my own benefit, but for the benefit of all of us. This time, we must teach those northerners a lesson and let them understand that I am the emperor above the sea.
Their orders are not as effective as ours."
Fang Guozhen's voice was very loud, and when he said the next part, he clenched his fists.
For more than half a year, he, the King of the Sea, has been so frustrated that he dare not eat the meat at his doorstep, and the brothers who follow him are also very dissatisfied.
Pirates and Japanese pirates are just like mothers if they have breasts. If Fang Guozhen cannot lead everyone to eat well and drink hot food, these people below will no longer listen to you over time.
Once people's hearts are broken, it will be difficult to lead a team, so you must do something big and do it beautifully.
"Neptune, have you figured out what happened last year?"
"If that matter is not cleared up, I won't dare to take action."
Hai Jing Sun En looked at Fang Guozhen and said.
He also heard about what happened last year. Wang Zhi was also one of the most famous pirate leaders at that time, and Matsuura Takanobu was also the biggest pirate leader. As a result, the two of them joined forces, but they died inexplicably, and the entire army was destroyed.
Until now, no one has figured out how they died.
"I figured it out. The Tianjin people's artillery is very powerful. They relied on this to destroy Wang Zhi and Matsuura Takanobu."
Fang Guozhen nodded and replied.
"The Tianjin people's artillery is indeed powerful~"
Dayou Zonglin also said with lingering fear.
"If it's just that the artillery is powerful, it doesn't matter."
"I really want to know how these northern landlubbers know how to go into the water to find food. If I don't teach them, they really think that the sea is the same as the land."
King Jinghai, Wang Zhi, didn't think so and didn't care at all. He was the first to stand up and express his intention to participate in this action.
Of course, he is not a fool. He knows very well that once this northerner opens a route to the South Seas, his good days will almost come to an end. Looking at the miserable life of the current Sea King Fang Guozhen, he does not want to live such a life.
.
On the sea, the world has always been dominated by southerners, and northerners have no sense of existence. In the past, whether it was going to Korea, Japan, or going south to the Nanyang region, it was all monopolized by people from the southeastern coastal areas.
"I have also heard about what happened at Tianjin Port. Since they are unwilling to abide by the rules of the sea, we should really teach them. The rules must be followed and protection fees must be paid."
Chen Zuyi, the overlord of the Seven Seas, also said that he has been active in the Nanyang region all year round, traveling between the Ming Dynasty and the Nanyang region for business. He has also heard about the Tianjin port in the north, but has not yet come into contact with it.
However, like Wang Zhi, he also realized that once the Tianjin Port opens a route to Nanyang, his interests will also be greatly impacted, so he must attack these northerners and prevent them from going to Nanyang.
"It's okay for me to participate. I have only one goal, and that is Ryukyu Castle. After that is accomplished, I want to occupy Ryukyu Castle."
After hearing what Chen Zuyi and Wang Zhi said, Hai Jing Sun En thought about it and spoke.
He is active in Fujian, Ryukyu, and Zhejiang, but he is very aware of the existence of Ryukyu City. He has also sent people to Ryukyu City, and he has a clear understanding of the situation here.
He is also coveting Ryukyu City and wants to take it for himself. The sugar in Ryukyu City and the situation here in Ryukyu. Once he can capture Ryukyu City, he will really make a fortune, and he can use Ryukyu City as the basis to lay a
A piece of sky.
"Brother Sun is indeed a sea spirit. This Ryukyu City is a good place. But since you are interested in it, Brother Sun, I can agree to give it to you."
Fang Guozhen looked at Sun En. This Sun En was not tall and unattractive. He looked like an old farmer, but he was known as a sea spirit, a ghost spirit, and a ghost spirit.
"Okay, then this time I will definitely come out in full force."
When Sun En heard this, he immediately laughed happily. He had coveted Ryukyu City. In fact, he had long wanted to take over Ryukyu City alone. Now that Ryukyu City has been built, a lot of land has been reclaimed around it.
Liangtian, there are tens of thousands of people here, and it is in a lawless place like Ryukyu, so it is definitely the best choice for a base and base.
"Otomo Zonglin, what do you say?"
Hai Jing Sun En agreed, and now Dayou Zonglin is the only one left. Fang Guozhen looked at Dayou Zonglin.
"Since everyone has decided to act together, I have no reason not to participate. In fact, if possible, we'd better loot Tianjin Port. It is said that last year, their fleet to Huanghuangzhou came back and brought back a total of three thousand
Ten thousand taels of silver."
Dayou Zonglin licked his lips, his eyes were slightly red, and he said a little crazy.
Japanese pirates and pirates also often looted some cities in the southeastern maritime region. They did this not once or twice, but they have always been afraid to do big business.
Dayou Zonglin was as crazy as a Japanese man, and even proposed to sack Tianjin Port. His words frightened Fang Guozhen, Sun En, Wang Zhi, and Chen Zuyi.
It’s so bold~
Tianjin Port is the only open port in the Ming Dynasty, and it is so close to the capital. It has always been heavily guarded. The key is that it is the hometown of Liu Jin and the hometown of emerging capitalists in the north.
He even thought about looting the Tianjin Port without even looking at how much he weighed. The ships at the Tianjin Port could easily sail out hundreds of Dafu ships, and the population of Tianjin was in the hundreds.
Wan, you actually said you were going to loot Tianjin Port.
"Why, don't you think this idea is very bold? It's very bold. If no one can think of it, we can win by surprise. Didn't you Ming Dynasty people say that Sun Tzu's Art of War says that soldiers are crafty, and they must go out when they are sent out?
Strange Soldier."
Dayou Zonglin looked at the slightly stunned people, smiled and said.
"Let's forget about looting Tianjin Port. At least for now, with the few ships and manpower we have, it is impossible for us to loot Tianjin Port."
Fang Guozhen looked at Dayou Zonglin and really couldn't figure out where he got the courage to say that he would loot Tianjin Port. If the people in the north knew about this, he would probably be found out even if he hid under the sea.
"Since everyone is willing to do this big deal together, then we have made a deal~"
"This time, we chose the location near the Zhoushan Islands. There are many pirates here, which is convenient for us to hide, and it is also the only place they must pass when going south."
"If everything goes well here, we will go south to pull out the Ryukyu City together and cut off all the claws of the northerners to see if they go south again."
"If this vote is done well, we can plan to loot Tianjin Port again. It is said that every inch of land in Tianjin Port is precious and there is gold everywhere."
Fang Guozhen stood up and briefly explained the action plan.
"Okay~"
"I'll go back and gather the troops now~"
"Me too, I'm a bit pressed for time, but it's almost enough~"
"This time I want to teach the landlubbers in the north how to go to the sea."
When others heard this, they all nodded. This big deal was done not only for the immediate money, but also for future benefits.
