Chapter 161 Cooperation
Zhang Ruo stood at the bow of the boat. Although he tried to be calm, in fact, he felt like a stormy sea inside.
In the field of vision, a big fish that is at least ten feet long is cutting through the waves and shuttles through the huge waves. Behind and to the left and right of the giant fish, several small fish follow closely, facing the giant fish. Compared to that, those boats are like toys. Sometimes it is thrown into the sky, sometimes it falls to the bottom.
The giant fish is running for its life, and the boat is chasing it.
The giant fish had several spears with long ropes inserted into its body, and blood flowed out, dyeing the sea area it passed red. The end of the rope is in the hands of the sailors on the small boats.
"Bachelor, how are my men here?" Cai Ming, the governor of Xuanwu Prefecture, walked to Zhang Ruo and asked with a smile.
"What is that big fish?" Zhang Ruo pointed at the big fish in the sea that was getting tired and slowing down, "It is so huge, could it be the god of the sea?"
" What Poseidon is, it’s just a huge fish, we call it a whale!” Cai Mingdao: “Bachelor, whales are good things, their whole bodies are treasures, but it’s quite difficult to catch them, although we There are special whaling ships, but they can't catch a few all year round. There is a folk saying that when a whale falls, all things come alive, which shows how precious this thing is. When the bachelor comes this year, we can catch such a huge whale. It’s all the luck brought by the bachelor!”
Zhang Ruo held the side of the boat and looked into the distance.
On the small boat, a tall man holding a fish hairpin in one hand and holding a rope to drag the whale in the other hand stood at the bow. No matter how the boat bumped, the man was like a nail. Nailed firmly to the bow of the ship.
Behind him, one man was turning the rudder and two were turning the oar. No matter how the whale tossed and beat, the boat still nimbly avoided the waves and got closer and closer to the whale.
Amidst the roar, the man suddenly rose into the sky, holding a long rope in his hand, like a big bird, passed through the waves more than ten meters high, and appeared on the head of the whale, with a harpoon and lightning in his hand It stabbed out like a spear, hitting the whale's head right in the middle. He slapped the tail of the harpoon with his hand, and with a whoosh, the harpoon penetrated the whale's head without its handle.
After the man completed the blow, he lowered his feet and stepped on the whale. He let the big fish writhe painfully in the water, as if he had grown up on the big fish.
The movement of the big fish became smaller and smaller, and finally it floated on the sea surface like a mountain of meat.
The surrounding boats moved closer amid bursts of cheers.
Zhang Ruo's heart was agitated and could not be calmed down for a long time, and there was another person who had the same mood as him, Yao Dali.
As a former naval general of the Yan family who was rampant on the Qingshui River and Juma River, Yao Dali believed that he was the best choice both for his water skills and his ability to control ships. But today, when I looked at Cai's subordinates, I realized that there are people outside the world, and there is a sky outside the world. Compared with these people, I am really just a shrimp and crab in the stinking ditch. Thinking about how he walked sideways without hesitation before, Yao Dali couldn't help but sweatdropped.
"Bachelor, we have finished watching the children's games. Let's go back to the cabin. The fleet is also preparing to return. The sea is rough and the waves are rough, and the bachelor is not as thick and fleshy as the warriors like us." Cai Ming said with a smile. .
"How can any governor speak so delicately? Zhang was demoted from Chang'an last year and traveled thousands of miles. What kind of hardships has he not suffered?" Zhang Ruo said with a smile.
Cai Ming gave a thumbs up: "When Cai heard this, he admired the bachelor so much. In this world, there are really not many people who dare to give Marshal Linghu eye drops. The brave warriors in Chang'an all shrank their necks, but the bachelors and scribes stepped forward. It makes people sigh that there is really no one in Daqin today. "
"The great Qin Dynasty is full of talented people. The governor can be said to be poor. Just look at Xiao Changche outside the pass, and he is a first-class hero!" Zhang Ruo said with a smile.
Cai Ming laughed loudly: "Xiao Chaqi, oh no, no, it's Xiao Duhu now. Cai has always admired him very much. A few days ago, he even sent someone to Baoping Prefecture to help him. Xiao Du escorted the gift."
While speaking, the two of them had already entered the cabin.
Looking at the closed hatch, Zhang Ruo lost his reserve and said bluntly: "Cai Governor, Zhang Ruo is not a person who is good at beating around the bush. If you have something to say, just say it!"
"Looking at your behavior, it is indeed very different from ordinary literati!" Cai Ming said with a smile.
"These days, the governor has made me appreciate your power. Now, I have a clear understanding of the power of Governor Cai!" Zhang Ruodao said: "Then it is better to open the window and speak frankly!"
Cai Mingxiao Then he poured tea for Zhang Ruo, "Bachelor, I, Anzhu Xuanwu, really can't figure out why I should intervene in the fight between Linghuye and Xiao Changche! These two people are both strong dragons. I, Cai, At best, he is just a grass snake, and he can live in a secluded place. Once he gets involved in such a fight between dragons and tigers, I'm afraid he will end up badly in the future."
"The world is in chaos and the heroes are fighting for hegemony. Cai Governor really thinks that Xuanwu is here. Is this a happy place? No one can escape this great change!" Zhang Ruo shook his head and said: "Either take the initiative or get involved passively."
"To be honest, Bachelor. People think it's too early to choose a side now!" Cai Ming said with a smile: "Cai's strength may not be worth mentioning on land, but on the sea, Cai's words still have some weight." Zhang Ruo nodded and said: "I'm not asking you to choose a side now, and I don't need you to choose a side. Look at me, have you chosen a side?"
"Isn't the bachelor the same as Xiao Changche and Li Dachui?" Cai Ming said in surprise.
"Zhang belongs to the Qin Dynasty. Whoever is loyal to the Qin Dynasty will be my partner!" Zhang Ruo said seriously.
Cai Ming clapped his hands and laughed and said: "So, I am loyal to the Qin Dynasty, so I can form a team with the bachelor!"
"There is no problem!" Zhang Ruo smiled and said: "If the governor is interested, Zhang will definitely get it!"
The two looked at each other and laughed.
"Li Dachui intends to open up the Maritime Silk Road and wants to cooperate with Governor Cai." Zhang Ruodao: "This is much more profitable than Governor Cai pretending to be a pirate at sea and robbing merchant ships, and the risk is extremely low! Once successful, Xuanwu Prefecture can It has become an important key node.”
“Bachelor, once this trade route is really successful, I’m afraid Linghu will come to take a piece of the pie early in the morning. I can’t withstand the pressure of Marshal Linghu. At that time, I will inevitably offend Xiao Duhu again! "Cai Mingdao: "Zhu Bajie looks at himself in the mirror, and I don't care about it. Money is good, but life is more important, right?"
"After all, Governor Cai is still not confident enough in his own strength and considers himself weak!" Zhang Ruo sighed.
"I'm just telling a fact. I'm not afraid of them now because when they come, I can leave. The sea is like my home. They can't stay here for a long time. Once they leave, , I can come back again!" Cai Mingdao: "But if this point that the bachelor calls is successful, then I will have a lot of things in Xuanwu. Even if I am willing to let it go, I am afraid that others will not be able to let it go. To protect these bottles and jars, you have to really choose a side, and if you choose wrongly, the consequences will be serious!”
“Why not strengthen yourself, don’t choose a side, and let others come to you? Here we are!" Zhang Ruo took out several drawings from his arms and placed them in front of Cai Ming: "This is the gift that Anxi Deputy Governor Li Dachui asked me to bring to you."
Cai Ming opened the drawing in front of him and his eyes narrowed slightly. What was drawn on the drawing was a pair of warships. After a rough count, there were more than ten types. The largest one, according to the marked dimensions, is over thirty feet long.
“The manufacturing methods of these ships are now in Tai’an City!” Zhang Ruodao. "Li Duhu said that Governor Cai was running rampant on the sea, and he should know how big the world is. With the current strength of the governor, he can barely protect himself. He is more than willing to deal with the Goryeo bandits and Japanese bandits around him. In the final analysis, he lacks combat power. , if this line is successful and the wealth is rolling in, are you afraid that you will not be able to build more boats and recruit more water experts?"
Cai Bin pondered for a long time and said: "Li Du. Hu Dang really doesn’t care that I have similar cooperation with Linghuye?”
“What’s there to worry about?” Zhang Ruo said calmly: “The bulk material transactions outside the customs used to be in Tai’an City, but now they have been moved to Aoping. City, even if the Maritime Silk Road is opened, the final destination of these goods after reaching the customs can only be Aquarius City. Linghuye wants it, yes, buy it with money."
"Only! I’m afraid that Marshal Linghu will be more inclined to grab it!”
"If he dares to rob, there will be no Anxi Protectorate!" Zhang Ruoshe said with a smile. "The Qingshui River and the Juma River merge into one in Baoping Prefecture. They come all the way east and enter the sea in Xuanwu Prefecture. And as you know, Yan Sheng's navy has all returned to the Anxi Protectorate. Come with me this time Yao Dali is one of the important generals of the Navy."
"Understand. Well, I am just a middleman!" Cai Ming said: "The goods come from the south, and then go to Aquarius City along the waterway. In this way, large-scale transactions outside the customs will be firmly controlled by the Anxi Protectorate, unless the Great Qin opens up the mainland. Go to the passage, but it seems unlikely that Marshal Linghu will. As the bloodletting continues, the Anxi Protectorate will become stronger and stronger. This is a good plan for the bachelor."
"What did you lose, Governor? Not only did you gain, right? A lot of money, increased strength, and gained friends from the Anxi Protectorate. Love, and these hard-to-find things!" Zhang Ruo knocked on the drawings on the table: "If Governor Cai is willing to send troops to conquer Ryukyu, Fuso and other places in the future, Li Duhu will also be willing to support him."
< br>"He really said that?" Cai Ming was very interested.
"Cai Shi, you suffered a big loss from Japanese pirates at sea a few years ago. In that battle, you killed thousands of soldiers and lost more than a hundred warships. It was not easy to get them back. They took most of the good stuff away, you won’t take it seriously, will you?”
Cai Ming's face turned blue and he gritted his teeth and said: "Scholar Zhang, you are well-informed. Only few people know about this matter. Where did you get the information?"
"What's in the paper?" Can you withstand the fire?" Zhang Ruodao: "It's never too late for a gentleman to take revenge. Now that the opportunity is in front of you, it depends on whether you are willing to do so. As long as you join in, you will be able to pilot such a powerful ship in a few years. , Go straight to the Japanese slaves' lair!"
Zhang Ruo patted the blueprint of the building and ship on the table vigorously.
(End of this chapter)