The construction of the bridge has been going smoothly, and the training of the captains and monks has been smooth sailing. However, the issuance of sea trade licenses has stalled. In the entire month of December, only one was issued.
Tang Yaozu is the envoy of Xianling Palace. Although his deployment of overseas work has always been difficult, he has always gained something. At the third joint meeting of the institutions in Beijing held before the end of the year, he explained to everyone:
"According to the news that came back, at the island owners meeting held on Ling'ao Island, one of the peninsula owners responded to his call. The number we got was thirty-two islands, but some people said it was forty-four. Everyone knows
, it is difficult to distinguish overseas forces. Some island owners have a sphere of influence that covers many islands, such as Wutong Taoist. The main island is on Ling'ao Island, but the island owners of eight islands surrender to him. Another example is Tingfeng Taoist, who is relatively well known to everyone.
Yes, Fallen Leaf Island is actually composed of three islands..."
"Taoist Wutong has formed a fleet, and the island owners of all the islands have brought their boats to join. They have proposed to block the entire sea route in the East China Sea. And the latest progress has been to extend the patrol waters to the Luoye Island line."
Li Dayin asked: "Has Luoye Island also joined them?"
Tang Yaozu said: "We have not received any news about this yet. We only know that Taoist Tingfeng has always been at odds with Taoist Wutong. But after the Ling'ao Island Conference, facing the rapidly expanding power of Ling'ao Island, does he still have
It’s hard to say that you have the courage to confront Taoist Wutong.”
Lu Yuanyuan said in confusion: "What Ling'ao Island is doing, doesn't it mean that it has cut itself off from Taoism? They don't want to go ashore to sell seafood anymore? If we don't sell them food and clothes, what will they wear? What will they eat?"
Tang Yaozu explained to her: "Ling'ao Island can buy rice from the South China Sea. It is said that the peninsula over there is extremely rich in products..."
"peninsula?"
"It's south of the Shiwanda Mountain in southern Yunnan... Let's not talk about this place. In fact, what we are most worried about is that they forcefully come ashore to rob, which will cause local chaos and cause very heavy losses."
Lu Xixing asked: "Have they sent anyone ashore to convey their requests to Daomen?"
Tang Yaozu said: "It's very possible, we are waiting too."
Lu Xixing said: "If they make a request, I hope to delay it as much as possible. Our anti-smuggling fleet has not yet been formed, and the ships capable of fighting have just been put on the slipway. It is best to delay it for more than half a year."
Li Dayin said: "This is not an option. It is too passive. Besides, Ling'ao Island will not wait for us to build ships."
Lu Xixing said: "If it doesn't work, we start a beheading plan?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Zhao Ran, waiting for him to express his position.
Zhao Ran thought for a moment and said: "Let's put aside the new order at sea that we talked about before, let's just talk about beheading. As far as I know, there are at least two great monsters standing on the side of Ling'ao Island, and there is another monster.
The attitude of the Great Demon Spirit Fox Ancestor in the Hell Sea is unclear. We don’t know what the strength of the Spirit Fox Ancestor is, but we know that there are at least three great demons in different states of transformation. These great demons and Wutong
What is the relationship between Taoists? Have we figured it out?"
Tang Yaozu shook his head, and Zhao Ran nodded: "The storm on the sea is dangerous and the direction is unknown. If you are in danger here, the Taoist sect cannot support you. Since we don't know the relationship between these transformed demons and Taoist Wutong, we must consider it leniently.
With such a beheading force, how many Hedao and Lianxu need to be sent out? For such a beheading, will there be a possibility of losing Hedao or Lianxu? After the beheading is successful, when facing the next Wutong Taoist, what should we do?
what to do?"
At this point, Zhao Ran made a final decision: "I am not against the beheading plan. This plan requires two conditions. First, we need a fleet that can control the sea. After beheading, we can firmly hold the results of the victory in the palm of our hands; second, we need
We have extremely accurate information to ensure that there will be no major accidental casualties."
After Zhao Ran finished speaking, everyone fell silent. After a while, Li Dayin said: "Then let's put together a fleet, um, a fleet, for emergency use. The pirates' ships are actually just merchant ships. In the merchant ship
It's just a matter of adding defensive equipment. They can do it, and we can do the same. Now let's purchase ships from merchants, and get eight to ten ships together first, and go to sea as a deterrent. Maybe we can try to drag our warships into the sea."
Everyone agrees with this method, and Zhao Ran also agrees. The situation is changing rapidly. If you want to wait until the new ship is launched, the coast may have become a sieve for wind.
A merchant ship worth 500 materials costs about 5,000 to 6,000 taels of silver. Although the ship is a second-hand old ship, if you want to get a ship in a hurry, you can only buy it at the price of a new ship, and the ship owner may not be willing.
Sell.
Coupled with some auxiliary ships worth two to three hundred dollars, and even fast sentry ships worth about one hundred dollars, the budget for purchasing the ships was eighty thousand taels, and Zhao Ran paid the money from Jimingguan's account.
There is no way, so far, Zhao Ran and others have tried their best to control this matter within the scope of "anti-smuggling" - although it feels like it is almost out of control, so the money has to be paid by Ji Ming Guan.
As for the war-defending weapons on the ship, Lu Xixing has stated on behalf of Leixiao Pavilion that Leixiao Pavilion will be responsible for equipping them.
Who is responsible for this matter? Zhao Ran glanced at everyone present, and Li Dayin had already raised his hand: "I will be responsible for the ship purchase. I am more familiar with the capital's ground. Which company has been a maritime merchant and which company has ships? I
I'm generally in the right mind, and I promise to get the fleet together for you before February next year. Zhiran can rest assured that you won't mess with the accounts, they must be clear!"
Everyone laughed, and Zhao Ran smiled and said: "Lao Li is one of the leaders of the captain's training class. In the future, when the anti-smuggling fleet is built, you will also be the founder. You must know more about what kind of ships can go to sea and fight than all of us here.
, I can rest assured if I leave this matter to you."
After saying that, he turned to Lu Xixing: "I would like to ask Senior Brother Lu to work hard on the French crossbows, heavy cannons, fire dragon cannons, water dragon cannons, etc. that are needed on the ship."
Lu Xixing immediately agreed: "Don't worry, I will apply for transfer from Leixiao Pavilion immediately."
After pondering for a moment, Zhao Ran said again: "Of course, if the situation is really urgent, or if Taoist Wutong really does something that will outrage both humans and gods, and when the news is confirmed, we will not give up the possibility of implementing the beheading plan. This will require everyone from Xianling Palace.
Fellow Taoist, you have worked hard.”
Tang Yaozu nodded: "This is what we should do."
"Also, please pay attention to Senior Brother Wei. Ling'ao Island will definitely send people ashore to inquire about our movements. If we can catch one or two such spies, it will be of great help to us in understanding their arrangements."
After the joint coordination meeting, the Zhengdan Festival of the second year of Longqing arrived. Zhao Ran was in a nervous mood all the time while attending the Zhengdan Great Court Meeting, presiding over the Wenchang Guanzhai Jiao Dharma Assembly, participating in condolences and visits, and other various matters. Such things
He had not experienced this mood for a long time. The last time he felt the same nervousness was before the Red Plains Defense Battle.
On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Zhao Ranzheng and Rong Niang were enjoying the snow in the spring breeze when they heard from the steward: "There is a monk from the East China Sea who asked to see him. He said his surname was Yang and his name was Xianjin."