After talking about the navy, the rest of the business side is simply not worth mentioning.

Due to the huge profit margins, the negotiations between the two parties went on with great ease and pleasure. Guo Zili had a brief discussion with Victor of the Hornisian family, but there was nothing to negotiate, they just confirmed it routinely. Because the more specific details have been written by John. Hornisian and Xu Xin discussed it carefully in Florence, one by one.

It was agreed that starting from the next year (i.e., 1640), merchant ships from the East Coast Republic of China would come to the port of Suez once a year in the summer to trade with their families. The number of goods to be carried at each time was also stipulated: no less than 200,000 pieces of East Coast Calico cloth, no less than 10,000 pieces of dyed cloth, no less than 5,000 pieces of calico, no less than 5,000 pieces of woolen wool of all kinds, no less than 30 pieces of army guns (ranging from 4 to 12 pounds), and as for dyed leather goods, sabers, armor and some other goods, the two sides negotiated separately.

At the same time, Victor, on behalf of the Hornisian family, made a solemn commitment to invest in the construction of a transit warehouse, a large freight yard and a camel fleet at the port of Suez. Warehouses are used to store goods; The freight yard was used to store copper, lead, tin and other metals urgently needed by the East Coast Republic of China, as well as to temporarily house slaves sold from the hinterland of the Ottoman Empire, which would be one of the "bulk goods" imported by the East Coasters; Caravans, in turn, are used to transport cargo to Mediterranean ports and back to Anatolia, or simply to Syria.

This is a huge deal totaling nearly 800,000 yuan, and if it is reached, the Ottoman Empire will become the second largest exporter of goods to the East Coast Republic of China. In time. It is likely that it will continue to climb to the first place, replacing the Kingdom of France. And. Through this route, the East Coasters could also circumvent the agreement with the British East India Company on textile quotas for exports to the Ottoman Empire in order to make more profits.

The importance of the Ottoman market to the Eastern Republic is self-evident, after all, it is very unsafe to put all your eggs in one basket. The day will come when the majestic Bishop of Richelieu will sweep away the feudal divisions in France, and the French will try to develop their own textile industry, and the future of the people of the East Coast, including all foreign textiles, will be bleak in the French market. If you don't plan ahead at this time, when will you plan again?

Explore the cargo of 25,000 white cotton cloths, 5,000 dyed cloths, 100 collars of armor, and 30 army light artillery pieces brought by the fleet. Except for the 30 cannons that were given to the Egyptian Pasha and the 100 pieces of armor that were given to the Janissan Guard, the remaining 30,000 pieces of textiles were all bought by the Hornisian family for 65,000 yuan. Of course, the Hornisian family did not pay cash, but paid the people of the east coast 20 Turkmen horses, 20 camels, and a large amount of copper, lead, tin and other metals, as well as a batch of Ottoman plant seeds and saplings.

Both sides are happy with this bartering approach, after all, no one wants to run around with a pile of money.

With Anthony's envoy, Victor. After Khornisian had settled, the only thing left at the table was a handsome middle-aged man from the Caucasus, who was the head of the local Mamluk military aristocracy. If the Turks now control the upper strata of Egypt, then these Mamluk military aristocratic groups control the middle and lower strata of Egypt. They swore allegiance to the Turks and assumed certain taxes and military obligations. It was a powerful arm for the Turks to rule the Egyptian region.

In the war between the Ottoman Empire and the Safavid Persian Empire that lasted for more than 100 years, the Mamluk military group in Egypt contributed a lot. Therefore. They also had a negative view of the Persians. After knowing that the people on the east coast of the province were in desperate need of a large number of slaves, the former Caucasian Mamluk descendant named Gregory told Guo Zili that he was willing to contact some friends in Aleppo, Palestine, and Baghdad to organize a manpower to capture slaves in Persia and then resell them to the East coasters.

Guo Zili readily agreed, and after asking Gregory's troops if they needed new equipment, the two sides parted happily.

At this point, basically everything that needs to be done has been done. As for the credentials handed over by the chairman of the Executive Committee to Sultan Murad IV of the Ottoman Empire, since Guo Zili and others were reluctant to go to Istanbul, and the Sultan was personally leading the army to fight against the Persians, his whereabouts were not yet known, so this credential could only be handed over by the Egyptian Pasha.

Guo Zili, who had finished his business, was reluctant to stay in the port of Suez for more. Taking advantage of the wind and currents to facilitate eastward sailing, the Exploration Fleet set sail on June 10 for the Arabian Sea after temporarily depositing its cargo in the port of Suez, and then sailed eastward with the wind and currents in the direction of India.

There were only a handful of sailors in the Exploration Fleet who had ever sailed long distances, but most of them were low-level sailors at the time, and they were completely unaware of the exact route and voyage of the route, which was perhaps best known only to the Portuguese. There was no way, the people on the east coast could only orient themselves according to their own charts, and then try to move in the direction of India.

On 25 July, two ships of the Eastern Coast Republic Exploration Fleet were vaguely followed by three Portuguese-flagged warships at sea, and the lookout immediately passed the news to the bridge.

Guo Zili picked up the binoculars and looked at them, only to see that the three Portuguese ships were all three-masted sail galen ships.

"It seems that we are not far from the mainland, and we may already be in the open sea close to India." "These dead-headed Portuguese must think we have plans for their territory," said Second Lieutenant Given. It is no wonder that they were nervous, as a warship as powerful as the 'Free Trade' was rare in the East Indies. ”

"Is this area the traditional power of the Portuguese?" Guo Zili asked.

"It's just what the Portuguese consider to be the 'range of power'." "As far as I know," said Second Lieutenant Givan with some disdain, "the ships of the British East India Company often operate in these seas, and even often enter the Persian coast—they have a good relationship with the Persians, and I have not seen these Portuguese dare to say anything." ”

The Safavid Persian Empire suffered defeat in the war with the Ottomans for more than a hundred years, and it has only changed in recent years, mainly because the Persians were too backward in their weapons and tactics. In the beginning, the Ottomans were armed with muskets and cannons, while the Persians were still fighting with sabers and bows and arrows. As a result, the Persians were defeated again and again without any suspense, losing vast territories such as the Caucasus and Iraq in succession.

It was only in recent years that the Persians learned from the painful experience and decided to carry out military reform, introduce advanced Western military techniques and tactics, and reform the outdated military concepts at home. And among them, the British are the main Western players. The reformed Persian army was much better than before, not only defeating the Turkmens and Uzbeks in the east, but also impressing the Ottomans on the western battlefield. In the history of the old time, the Persians and the Ottomans would reach a more formal armistice in the last two years.

"Sir, the Portuguese have come in a transport boat." Boatswain Tim shouted. As far as everyone looked, they saw a small boat with a white flag rowing towards the battleship "Free Trade" in the waves on the turquoise sea.

Soon, the two Portuguese climbed up the rope ladder to the deck in full view. One of them spoke fluent Spanish: "What country or company are you shipping from?" It's less than two days from Mumbai, so please identify yourself immediately. ”

Guo Zili was embarrassed, this was the first time he had encountered a foreign navy that did not know the flag and naval flag of the East Coast Republic. Could it be that these turtles only nest in Asia all day long?

"We are the ships of the Navy of the Republic of China on the east coast of China from the New World, the Portuguese, and we will go to Mumbai for a visit." Givens walked up to the Portuguese and replied in Spanish.

"Do you have any entry documents?" The Portuguese asked.

"Nope."

"Is there an introduction from any adult in my country?" The Portuguese asked.

"Nope."

"Your request to enter the port, then, will not be granted." The Portuguese said simply, "You must not go any further, or our naval cruisers may take action against you." ”

When Ensign Givens had finished translating the meaning of the Portuguese, all those on deck who heard these words immediately stopped what they were doing, and many sailors had already begun to look at the two Portuguese in front of them with dangerous eyes.

Guo Zili was silent for a while, then waved his hand and said, "Very good, Portuguese, I respect your meaning." Boatswain, send them away. The navigator turned east-south, heading south along the coast of India. ”

The two Portuguese saluted, then rowed back in the dinghy again.

"There is no need to clash with the Portuguese." Guo Zili waved his hand to stop Second Lieutenant Jiwen, who was about to stop talking, and then said: "Besides, these Portuguese are subordinate to the Governor of Goa, it is normal to be arrogant, it is estimated that the strength of the Portuguese fleet stationed in Bombay and Goa is not weak, our mission has been completed, and there is no need to conflict with them now." Now, give me a return to the port of Suez. ”

Givens saluted, and then began to go to the deck to give orders. (To be continued......)