"Hmm......" Zhu Bai hesitated for a moment and said categorically: "Promise them." ”

"Uncle Twelve, this, if there is really a rich continent in the east, and the Japanese know the route, this continent cannot be occupied by the Ming Dynasty alone, and the Japanese will definitely send a fleet to the east." Zhu Mengjiong said.

Although Zhu Mengjiong has been in Japan and married a Japanese wife, the Japanese daimyo is also very friendly to him, and the common people are far more honest and cowardly than the people of the Ming Dynasty, and their lives are also very good, no worse than when he was in China, only a small number of samurai are not very friendly to him, but he still has his heart towards the Ming Dynasty, and everything is in the interests of the Ming Dynasty.

"Meng Jiong," Zhu Bai called his name for the first time: "Japan is in the middle of the continent from the Ming Dynasty to the East, and it is difficult to get around, even if they don't let their people accompany them this time, they themselves may not be able to discover the mainland in the East, but they are worried that they will go in vain and the ships will lose something on the way." When the fleets that discovered the Eastern Continent returned, the Japanese would still know about it and send their fleets. ”

"If the continent in the east really exists, the Japanese will know where sooner or later, why don't they accede to their request?"

"Not only will I agree to this request from Sagami, but I will also agree if they pass by several feudal clans in Tohoku Japan and ask for someone to be sent on board the ship on the condition that they also provide women."

"But," Zhu Mengjiong was still unwilling.

"Meng Jiong, don't worry too much." Zhu Bai decided to reveal a little bit of what Yun Xi said to him before leaving: "Let the Japanese know about this matter, it is not necessarily a bad thing for the Ming Dynasty, and it may not be a good thing for Japan." ”

"Not necessarily good for Japan?" Zhu Mengjiong repeated his last sentence, and after thinking about it seriously, he didn't say anything again.

Zhu Bai breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly raised his wine glass and said, "I'm drinking now, not talking about political affairs, how can I stop drinking?" As he spoke, he drank it all. Zhu Mengjiong had to put his thoughts down for the time being, and raised his wine glass in response.

……

……

At the same time, at a shop in Yokohama Castle, there were also three fathers, sons, uncles and nephews sitting together talking about things.

"Sixth brother, are you right?" A middle-aged man who looked like a scribe said eagerly to another man who was a little reckless.

"Of course," replied the man, "it has been spread throughout the land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and it is said that last time the governor of Fang led the fleet of sailors along the land, and found a large piece of land in the east, and I don't know whether it was a big island or a mainland. His Majesty was very interested in this, and this time he sent His Royal Highness the King of Xiang to explore the East with Fang Dudu. ”

"Everybody thinks it's possible to have a continent over there, or at least a very large island. Although the scale of the fleet sent this time is not large, it is personally led by His Royal Highness the King of Xiang, which shows that the current emperor believes that there is a large area of land in the east. The news from the capital is vague, and there may be conclusive evidence that there is a continent in the east. ”

"But third brother, even if there is really a large piece of land in the east, it's just an anecdote, why are you asking this so eagerly?" The man asked curiously. The remaining young man in the room looked over in confusion.

"Don't you think this is an opportunity?" The middle-aged man said.

"What chance?"

"Let our Yan family get rid of the current predicament, and even have a chance to rise again." He looked at his son and brother with burning eyes.

This person is a member of the Yan family, named Yan Xiu, and the person who answered just now is his brother Yan Ren, and the young man is his son Yan Tingjing. At the end of the first year of Jianye, Yan Zhenzhi was imprisoned in the name of rebellion, and his immediate family members were exiled to the northwest. Later, they were expelled from their families by the clansmen who were still able to participate in the scientific expedition, and their lives were difficult. As a last resort, they borrowed loan sharks to come to Japan to do business, and they were lucky enough to make a lot of money and pay off loan sharks. Yan Xiu and his son Yan Tingjing have been staying in Yokohama for the past two years and have not returned in order to find opportunities to make a lot of money in Japan.

Today, Yan Ren transported a batch of goods from China to Yokohama, Yan Xiu took his son to the dock to transport goods, and heard other businessmen from China mention this matter, Yan Xiu kept it in mind at that time, and after placing all the goods, Yan Ren came to inquire about it carefully.

"A continent, even if it's only a few islands, there's always something special, right? If there is really land, the people on this land have never been in contact with Daming and other countries, and the specialties transported from the local area will definitely be able to sell at a sky-high price for the first time! Even if we can only get back one or two specialties, it can make our family a lot of money! ”

"And now the imperial court does not restrict merchants from doing business, and even conscripts merchants to accompany the army to buy the booty obtained by the soldiers. If our family can control a route from the land to Yokohama in the east, and make friends with His Royal Highness the King of Xiang, we will be able to bring back the special products all the time and make a lot of money, just like those land merchants in Nagasaki. Yan Xiu explained again.

Hearing his words, Yan Ren and Yan Tingjing were also moved. Monopolizing a route, even if there is only one specialty, is also very profitable, and it is too important for the Yan family, who has gotten rid of the dilemma of rolling profits at this time, but the days are still a little tight.

"But," Yan Ren said again, "the risk is too great. We hired our own ships to follow the sailors, because we don't know if there is land in the east, and it is estimated that no ship will be willing to go with us. If you buy a ship for this purpose, I heard that the road to the east passes through an extremely cold land, and ordinary ships cannot pass, how expensive is this ship? In case of a trip in vain or a shipwreck, the little capital that our family has saved with great difficulty will be lost. ”

"I don't need our family's capital, I'll pay for it myself." Strict cultivation.

"Third brother," Yan Ren raised his head and looked at him, "You actually saved such a large sum of money in private, are you worthy of the clansmen who are still eating bran vegetables in your hometown!" ”

Hearing this, Yan Xiu hurriedly defended: "Sixth brother, you think about it, I don't have the money to buy a good ship, and I don't plan to buy a boat to follow the sailor." ”

Seeing that Yan Ren was about to ask again, he explained before his words came out: "Sixth brother, I plan to contribute money to subsidize it, it doesn't seem right, anyway, I am going to pay for this fleet, so that they can promise to take me and a few subordinates to the East together." ”

"I also saw it when the fleet was anchored today, all of them were men, not a single woman, and I don't know how long it would take to explore the land in the east, and it would be impossible to do without women on board."

"Didn't you bring a young woman from the country and pretend to be a prostitute? I also found a young woman from a Japanese fishing village, and I gave it to the fleet, and I bought all the money in my hand as the necessary things to go to sea and gave it to the fleet, but I asked to take me, a merchant, to the East, do you think, will they agree? ”

"This," Yan Ren pondered. The Ming Dynasty was able to recruit merchants to buy loot when they fought in war, and it was not necessarily impossible for a few merchants to go to the East with the ship to explore, anyway, the route was still in the hands of the imperial court, and they could just do business along the way.

However, "Third brother, this is dangerous. ”

"Can a business that is not dangerous make a lot of money? Only in this way is it possible to make a lot of money from risky trading. And the investment is not large, even if it fails, our family will not lose much, it is worth the risk. ”

"But third brother, your safety?" Yan Ren was moved by what he said, but he was still worried about Yan Xiu's life. He had a good relationship with Yan Xiu and didn't want him to risk his death to do business.

"Yes, father, it's a risk! It is better for the son to take the place of his father on the ship of the sailor and try his luck in the East. Yan Tingjing also said.

"Compared to the prosperity of my family, my safety is not worth mentioning." Yan Xiu first said a word to Yan Ren, then turned his head and said sternly to his son: "No! You are young and vigorous, and you don't know how to put up with it, and if you quarrel with the sailors' soldiers on the boat, they will throw you into the sea, and you won't even be able to bounce up the waves! You definitely can't go! Just stay in Yokohama, no, you can't stay in Yokohama and return to your hometown with the ship! ”

"Father!" Yan Tingjing shouted.

"You know what I mean!" Yan Xiu stared at him.

"Okay, even if the father and son talk about business, they will be kinder." Yan Ren persuaded: "Third brother, Tingjing is also for your good, don't be so strict with him: your father is right, you are indeed still a little young, and you are not suitable for getting on the ship to deal with the soldiers, and it is not suitable for staying in Hengbing to preside over the overall situation, or return to your hometown with the ship to run the family business in your hometown." Wait for a few years of experience, and then let you be on your own. You go back to sleep first. He finally said to Yan Tingjing.

"Yes, Uncle Six." Yan Tingjing agreed, and although he was a little reluctant, he still got up and left the room.

"Third brother, Ting Jing is also a big boss, you should talk to him softly." Yan Ren said again.

"My son, why speak softly! Lao Tzu can't teach his son a lesson! Forget it, don't mention him, talk about making a lot of money. I was able to catch a guard in the Yongxing Palace, but his status was a little low, and I was afraid that it would cost too much to open up the joints; Do you know anyone else who can speak in front of the King of Xiang, the King of Yongxing, or the Governor of Fangdu? "Yan Xiudao.

"Our family caught up with a relative of a thousand households in this fleet who was on an errand in other sailors' guards, and that relative heard that I was coming to Yokohama, so he specially dragged me to bring a letter from home."

"That's great! Tomorrow, we will take the family letter to open up this relationship. Yan Xiu said excitedly.

"But, like this," Yan Ren suddenly hesitated again.

"Sixth brother, don't worry, our family will definitely make a lot of money this time!" Yan Xiu said in a very firm voice.

Hearing Yan Xiu's firm voice, Yan Ren couldn't help but nodded slowly.