Chapter 562: The old Zhao Xixing who drives the tiger and devours wolf

On the cargo ship "Xu 98", the owner, Zhao Hongli, saw that everything was ready, and then ordered: "Go!"

The sailor elder Wang on the boat shouted: "Go!"

"Dangdangdang..." The bronze bell rang, and a row of ten sailors strongly propped up the bamboo poles, pushed the boat away from the dock, and then used the big oars. The cargo ship "Xu 98" gradually left the No. 11 pier of Rising Sun Port .

From a high altitude, the port of Rising Sun is huge, capable of loading 30 cargo ships and 20 cargo ships at the same time, and the port here, which operates almost day and night, is like a huge heart, constantly handling people and cargo.

The goods on the wharf were piled up like a mountain, the day was cleared, and the next day, it was piled up again, and it was unusually prosperous.

Zhao Hongli is thirty-five years old, from Quanzhou, young and capable, and he has been on the boat longer than the time on the shore. He got on the boat when he was fifteen and owned a boat of his own when he was twenty-five. First it was a big boat, then a sloop, and now it is a brig. After three years, he plans to borrow from the bank to buy a three-masted splint to go ocean.

At a good time, his wealth was much faster than his father's generation.

Xu 98 is a brig cargo ship with a weight of 1oo tons. Its speed is very fast. Its main business is to transport sugar from the Sunburst port in the southeast province to Kolkata in India.

Sugar is a big export business in the Southeastern Prefecture. The white sugar of the Southeastern Prefecture is particularly fine and white, and the quality is higher than that of other places. In recent years, the sugar squeezed out from the sugarcane grown on the island of Java is sweeter than the sugar squeezed out from the sugarcane in Taiwan and Guangdong and Guangxi. It is very popular with crooked nuts and can be sold as much as possible.

At the beginning, the sugar transportation business was arranged by hong Maofan plywood ships. From time to time, Asan’s ships and ships from West Asia would transport sugar to the Port of Rising Sun. However, as the number of Chinese ships increased, for the sake of business, shipowners like Zhao Hongli, After loading sugar and sailing westward, he crossed the Strait of Malacca and reached India and even the Red Sea in West Asia. At the farthest point, a Chinese ship arrived in Africa.

Chinese ships have completely restored the situation of Zheng He's voyages to the west two centuries ago, and more frequently than Zheng He's voyages, the number of Chinese ships going west has increased year by year.

The naval power of the Southeast Province has not left Malacca, nor has it projected to reach the Indian Ocean. The sea route to the west is not peaceful, with many pirates and thieves, but Zhao Hongli still feels a little emboldened.

In his ship, eight six-pounder guns were installed on the open deck, and the crew were equipped with flintlock guns for self-defense.

The crew has been trained in guns. There are government subsidies for the purchase of guns and training, but the government will not suffer in vain. Once needed, the government will recruit crews to participate in the war. At this time, the crew does not need too much training.

The enemy must fight, and the Chinese ship is a tough bone for pirates.

He also bought "insurance" for his cargo. This "insurance" is a business launched by the Southeastern Government in recent years, mainly to provide protection for the safety of ships and crews. It is called "compulsory traffic insurance"-compulsory traffic insurance. "Insurance company" is responsible.

Young Master Yan is too lazy to think about it, and just use those titles. Anyway, I am the boss and everyone has to listen to me.

All registered passenger and cargo ships have to buy insurance, and the social and economic development and personnel quality have reached the level where insurance can be implemented.

With insurance, if the cargo ship encounters a shipwreck or pirate robbery in the middle of the ship, the loss incurred by the insurance company will be compensated.

On this sea route, there is no direct patrol by the Southeast Asian Navy, but according to Zhao Hongli’s understanding, sometimes we see some westbound ships full of strong Chinese men. In fact, they are ships with military background and are responsible for clearing up illegal activities on the channel. The elements even heard that some pirates robbed a Chinese cargo ship. As a result, the crew showed their 24-pound cannon, which made the pirates completely dumbfounded.

This must be the Southeast Mansion’s navy loading slingshots for the pirates. It should be noted that the Southeast Mansion’s civilians cannot purchase six-pound artillery.

If pirates are caught, all pirates who have killed Chinese people will be hanged, and those who have not killed Chinese people will all undergo horrific labor reforms.

Therefore, the sea route is still safe. Instead, beware of licensed robbers—the tax collectors of the countries and forces along the route.

They intercepted sea-going ships to collect taxes, while the Southeast Navy's navy avoided conflicts with them. The current strategy has not changed.

However, Zhao Hongli is not very worried.

The wind and ocean currents are both suitable. The boat travels fast. When the sun is about to go down that day, the elder sailor king comes over and said: "Boss, the boat is five nautical miles, and you will be able to reach Johor in five days."

"Yeah!" Zhao Hongli replied.

"Are we going to pay taxes in Johor?" Pharaoh asked again.

"Yes!" Zhao Hongli replied.

What they are talking about is a new order issued by the Southeast Government since the beginning of this year, requiring all ships passing through the Strait of Malacca, no matter what country, to stop, supply, and pay the transit tax in the ports of the state of Johor, and not to travel in more western Asia. Dock in Qi port.

When the order was issued, the shipowner who dared not to comply was fined, and at the same time, the ship holding the Johor customs declaration could get a 15% tax refund!

In this way, everyone has implemented it, even if Aceh’s supply is better and more favorable.

Background: Aceh and Johor, the two countries are separated on the left and right sides of the Strait of Malacca, with Johor in the east and Aceh in the west.

Aceh, the name of an ancient country. That is, the northwestern part of Sumatra, Indonesia. Since the beginning of the 16th century, the kingdom of ms1, which ruled northern Sumatra and some areas of the Malay Peninsula, was the trading center of the Malay Archipelago. Also known as dumb Qi. It was built by the people of Aceh, hence the name. Kota Racha (now Banda Aceh). At the beginning of the seventeenth century, it reached its peak under the rule of Sudan Iskandar Muta. As far as the power is concerned, it includes all the west coast of Sumatra, the west of Indrapura (now Minangkabao area), and the east of Siak. He also conquered Pahang, Kedah and Perak, and obtained the pepper and tin producing areas in the Malay Peninsula. In 1613 and 1615, Iskandar Muda invaded Batu Shawar twice. In 1629, he attacked Malacca, but was defeated by the combined fleet of Portugal, Johor and Pattani.

The ancient country of Johor is located at the southernmost point of the western part of the Malay Peninsula, with the South China Sea to the east, the Strait of Malacca to the west, and Singapore to the south across the Strait of Johor---there is no Singapore at this time.

Both countries are strangling the Strait of Malacca. In the previous three years, ships in the Southeast and most of the ships going to the Indian Ocean were mainly supplied in Aceh. However, since this year, none of the boats have gone to Aceh to supply supplies, and they have all been transferred to Johor.

In the evening four days later, when I entered the Bangaran Port in Johor, I saw that there were many ships lined up in the port.

Bangaran Port is small and is under construction and expansion. One side of the channel is closed. What's more, they are slow to enter the port. Although there are working boats and small boats towing in front, the crew of "Xu 98" still have to use heavy oars. Boating was exhausted, and the air in the harbor was filled with the stench that radiated from the tannery, which made the sailors want to vomit.

"This place is really disappointing!" the sailors grumbled.

"I will endure it!" Zhao Hongli endured it for the 15% tax rebate!

At Bangalan Port, they expect to set sail the next morning, so they have a lot of time.

The port is not good, and the tax collection is very diligent. They saw the local official ship approaching them, collecting tax at 6% of the price of the goods!

Some small boats approached, loaded with fruits, vegetables, and live animals—they knew that the Chinese like to eat green plants and fresh things.

They are very helpful, but be careful, the sailors are on guard with muskets, and if the existing people want to steal, they will shoot them unceremoniously!

Those people are very good at stealing things. If you are not careful, even the steering wheel will be removed for you. You have to be very careful!

Only a few sailors went ashore together ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ Most of the sailors stayed on board.

This is to save money, there is free food on board, and you will take care of yourself when you go ashore!

The Chinese generally have a strong sense of family. In order to save a copper plate, they would rather suffer a lot by themselves. Therefore, it is not easy to make money from the Chinese.

...

Leaving Bangaran Port and continuing to the west, on the morning of the third day, they found a galley in front of them, approaching them on a high ground, on which some heavily armed warriors stood!

"It's from Aceh!" the sailor elder Wang shouted.

　　

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