Cannon Foundry, Houshan Shooting Range.

Li Hongyu, Ma Shijialu, Bu Jialao and others sat under the pergola, looking at the gunner who was debugging an artillery gun in the distance, while chatting and laughing leisurely.

In order to demonstrate the superiority of the quality of the artillery of the Wannu Trading Company, Bu Jialao specially invited Li Hongyu to come to the shooting range in Houshan to test the artillery, so as to make up for the regret of the explosion last year.

In Bugarao's view, the reason why last year's artillery exploded was a complete accident, and the fact that he was able to catch up with the bombed cannon was a defective product, which made him quite annoyed.

Now, Bu Jialao got a chance to make up for his regrets, so he once again showed the people of the Ming government the power of the artillery produced, so as to push the Ming court to place an order for him.

"Mr. Manager, you're ready." While everyone was greeting, a gunner ran over to report to Bugarao.

"Let's start testing the gun!" Hearing this, Bugarao nodded and gave the order.

Hearing this, Li Hongyu, Ma Shijialu and others looked at the middle of the field, and there was a wooden cart hundreds of meters away from the artillery, which was loaded with some dirt, which was the target of the artillery.

Li Hongyu looked at the scene in front of him quietly, as far as he knew, the distance of the object attacked by the test artillery was within the effective range of the artillery produced by the Wannu Trading House, but it was the maximum range of the Daming artillery, and the gap between the two sides was clear at a glance.

As for the effective range, it refers to the distance that can be accurately hit, and the maximum range cannot be aimed at the target, just hitting the projectile that far.

This is also the reason why the Ming court purchased artillery from the Wannu trading house twice in the year of the Apocalypse and the Chongzhen period in history, and the artillery of the Portuguese is really more than one grade higher than the artillery of the Ming Dynasty, and both the iron-smelting technology and the craftsmanship of making cannons are among the best in the world.

Soon, under the gaze of Li Hongyu and others, the muzzle of the artillery flashed, and with a bang, a cloud of smoke spread out from the muzzle.

Li Hongyu immediately looked at the wooden cart full of dirt in the distance, and saw a black projectile draw a beautiful parabola in the air and land on the wooden cart accurately.

With a bang, the wooden cart was torn apart in a ball of firelight, and dust was raised at the scene.

Mascolu, Bugarao and others immediately stood up and applauded with a smile to celebrate the success of the test gun, and Li Hongyu also got up and clapped his palms, although he didn't want to admit that the Portuguese artillery was indeed superior to the Ming artillery.

Think about it, the Ming Dynasty imposed strict control on firearms, only those craftsmen who made firearms could access this knowledge, and they rarely innovated according to the old ways, and built cannons entirely by experience, lacking the support of technical theories, and the private contact with firearms would be regarded as rebellion to be beheaded.

However, the West did not have such restrictions, and vigorously developed natural science and technology for more than 200 years after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and left the Ming Dynasty far behind in science and technology, so that it was reduced to the point of buying artillery from the Wannu Trading House, which is really sad and lamentable.

"Your Excellency, if your army is equipped with this kind of artillery on the battlefield, then it will be invincible." Bu Jialao glanced at the wooden cart that was blown up, and said to Li Hongyu with a smile, with a little smugness in his words.

"It's amazing!"

Li Hongyu frowned slightly when he heard this, and then said to Bu Jialao quietly, "But if we buy artillery, we won't just buy cannons, you want to help us build a cannon factory for production, and we will buy your technology together." ”

"Buying technology?" Bugarao was stunned for a moment, looking rather surprised, no one had ever made such a request to him before.

"My lord, the production of firearms is a trade secret, and it is difficult to disclose it to the outside world." Mascolu was also quite surprised when he heard this, and then opened his mouth to relieve Bugarao.

"If we only buy the cannon, then once the cannon is damaged, it will become a pile of scrap metal, and we will have to ask you to buy it again, if the war situation is urgent, it will be too late in time, and in the long run this is a loss-making deal."

Li Hongyu pondered for a moment when he heard this, and then said to Mashigaru, "Mr. Governor, if you gain the trust of the Ming Dynasty, it will be extremely beneficial to you, not only to gain our friendship with the Ming Dynasty, but also to trade with the Ming Dynasty, why not?" ”

"This ......" Mascolus looked embarrassed, this was not something he could do to the Lord, and he wanted to repay the Portuguese Empire.

"Mr. Governor, the art of making cannons is in your hands, we just need to learn it, and you will still be the leader at that time."

Li Hongyu knew that Mashigaru did not have such power, but as the governor of Macau, his attitude was very important, so he quietly explained, "Use artillery in exchange for the friend of the Ming Dynasty, not only will you not suffer losses but will make a lot of money from it, and once you open trade with the Ming Dynasty, you will be able to earn a huge amount of money every year."

"Your Excellency, this matter is very important, and I will report it to the country." Mascolus was a little moved when he heard this, so he thought about it and said to Li Hongyu, "If you can hand over overseas trade to us Portugal, it will help this matter pass in our country." ”

"This ......"

Li Hongyu's brows furrowed slightly, Mascolu's appetite was really not small, and he actually wanted to swallow the overseas trade of the Ming Dynasty in one bite, which was enough to make European countries blush.

"I'm afraid that the Guangzhou Customs Department will not be able to make the decision on this matter, and I have to ask the court for instructions." Subsequently, Li Hongyu said to Mashigaru with some helplessness.

In fact, Li Hongyu can completely call the shots in this matter, and Emperor Wanli has given him enough authorization, as long as the dividends of overseas trade are not what Li Hongyu does.

As for the Emperor of the Apocalypse, the time of pro-government is still short, and he has not even settled the disputes between the various factions in the court, and his actions are restricted everywhere, where can he have the energy to take care of overseas trade.

Obviously, Li Hongyu will definitely not put all his eggs in one basket, in that case, wouldn't he be led by the nose by the Portuguese?

In the face of the menacing Western colonists, Li Hongyu's first thing to do was to balance the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the Western countries, and use the contradictions between the Western countries to obtain the greatest benefits from them.

Ma Shijialu did not doubt Li Hongyu's answer, he knew that such a major matter needed to be decided by the Ming court, and he didn't know that the young man in front of him was one of the most powerful people in the Ming Dynasty, and he could be the master.

After the test was over, Bu Garao led Li Hongyu back to the town, he had already prepared a sumptuous Portuguese feast for Li Hongyu, and was ready to take down this Ming general.

Shortly after the group entered the town, there was a sudden chaos in the street ahead, and several Portuguese soldiers were seen punching and kicking a young Dutch prisoner in prison uniform.

"What's going on?" Seeing this, Mascolu's face sank, and he walked forward quickly and asked.

"Back to the Governor, this kid took the opportunity to repair our cannon and moved the crosshairs of our cannon, the last time the cannon couldn't be accurate, today the people of Wannu Trading House came to overhaul it, and then this kid has moved his hands and feet, otherwise we will suffer a big loss when we fight."

A Portuguese soldier saluted Mascolus and said hatefully as he pointed to the young Dutch captive curled up on the ground with his head in his arms.

"Dare to hit our artillery, that is an act of espionage, send him to the gallows!" Mascolus frowned when he heard this, and after glancing at the young Dutch captive, he gave the order that the spy in the West should be hanged.

Hearing this, the young Dutch captive shuddered for a moment, but then did not react, and instead of begging for mercy, he curled up motionless, as if he were ready to be hanged.

Two Portuguese soldiers immediately stepped forward to frame the young Dutch captive and dragged him in the direction of the gallows, which was held in the town square for the purpose of hanging the condemned criminals and summoning the people to watch the execution.

"Mr. Governor, is he a Dutchman?" Seeing this, Li Hongyu frowned slightly, and then asked Mashigaru with interest.

"Hmm." Mascolus nodded, then said with some smugness, "He's the Dutch prisoner of the last war." ”

"Great." Li Hongyu couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and said in a low voice to Mascolu, "I wonder if Mr. Governor can sell those Dutch captives to our Lord Tongzhi, so that Lord Siguan will not come in vain this time." ”

"Sold to you?" Masgarlu was slightly stunned when he heard this, and then understood what was going on, thinking that Li Hongyu wanted to use these Dutch captives to ask for merit and rewards from the Ming Court, so he asked with great interest, "I don't know how much you can give?" ”

"Twenty taels of silver each." Li Hongyu stretched out two fingers to Mashigaru and replied in a low voice.

"Twenty taels!" Mascolu's eyes suddenly lit up, this price is not low, one tael of silver is equivalent to two Portuguese silver dollars, twenty taels of silver is forty silver dollars, this is a very good deal.

"This price is very fair, one hand to pay, the other hand to pay people." Li Hongyu noticed the excitement flashing in Mascolu's eyes, so he whispered, "Mr. Governor, you know this matter, but it's a profitable business!" ”

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this price." When Ma Shijialu heard this, he immediately understood, thinking that Li Hongyu would quote Zhao Dawei a higher price and make a profit from it, so he replied with a smile.

Of course, Mascol would have made a lot of money from this deal, and the Dutch captives had no other use than to build fortifications as coolies, and they wasted their rations, so they might as well sell them for a profit, as human trafficking was very popular in European countries.

"Then we'll make up our minds." Li Hongyu smiled slightly when he heard this, a hint of cunning flashed in his smile, he definitely wouldn't do a loss-making deal, this business was definitely worth it, but Mascolus didn't know what he was going to do at all.

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