Chapter 108: Crescent Island

After following Qi Zhentao through the main facilities on the island, not only the wharf and the island's living facilities, but also on Crescent Island, there is even a shipyard that has begun to take shape.

The shipyard was built on the other side of the island, and a large quantity of timber suitable for shipbuilding was placed in a cave next to the shipyard. There are already a lot of experienced old workers in the shipyard who are laying the keel according to the specifications of the Lanshui ship, and looking at the progress, the shipyard has been working for a while.

On several commanding heights on the island, three- to four-story towers have been erected and lookout posts have been arranged. There is a simple road connection between these lookouts and the buildings on the island.

As for the buildings on the island, considerable work has been put into it. Looking at those buildings in the form of barracks, if they were built in the form of barracks according to the standards of Dongping, they could accommodate at least 5,000 people. Several ** courtyards are suitable for important guests, and one of them is equally suitable as a command center for the defense of the island, and as a final fortress for the defense. The buildings under construction on the island also include taverns, inns, open-air arenas and other entertainment facilities. And taken together, it is clear that these are not intended to temporarily solve those "pirates", but more like to establish a permanent military base.

Now the hastily erected complexes still smell of paint and lime, and the empty camps are inhabited by less than a thousand sailors of all kinds, of whom only two or three hundred are sailors with experience in naval warfare. The rest of the people have been on the Lanshui ship these days to follow Qi Zhentao's old family members to learn how to operate the battleship.

"Old man, in this way, the cost of raising this Crescent Island is really ......," Ye Tao said in a stammered manner.

"Actually, it's not as scary as you think. This is what everyone at Seven Seas Trading Company decided to raise, and I didn't even propose it. Qi Zhentao said, "Originally, everyone wanted to do business well. I didn't expect to meet Chunnan Haishang so unpopular. This time, they will be put in order, and this will be the home port of the escort in the future. Although everyone has to share a little bit of the profits, everyone thinks it's worth it. At sea, after all, it's still a fist to speak. ”

Ye Tao agreed: "This is nature. But, old man, what can I do to help me now? ”

"Ballista, I want a ballista!" The old man said loudly. "This thing works much better at sea than catapults. Catapults are too inaccurate. Attacking and defending the city and smashing the crowd has some effect, but on this sea, I don't have such a big place to load things on the ship and throw them into the sea. ”

Ye Tao nodded quickly. Although the ballista played a huge role in the defense of Baishi City, whether it would be used as a heavy equipment for the Dongping army was still under discussion between the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War. Moreover, because of Gao Zhuo, Gao Zhen and the two obstructed intentionally or unintentionally. I'm afraid it's going to be a bit problematic. And I don't know if it's because the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War have been too busy recently, or because they haven't noticed the huge role of ballistas at all, after so long, Ye's Workshop has not even received an order to ban the outflow of ballista manufacturing technology. Strictly speaking, the ballista is still something that can be spread with Ye Taodi's wishes. Since that's the case. Ye Tao doesn't have to care too much about other people's opinions. Anyway, procedurally, he didn't make any mistakes.

But Ye Tao also thought of another question: "Old man, it's no problem to load the ballista on the ship." The space occupied is smaller than that of the Divine Arm Bow, and the power is not much worse than that of the catapult, but the accuracy is also high. But what's the use of throwing stones in a naval battle? Didn't you say that you used to play Jump Gang War? ”

Qi Zhentao's eyebrows raised and said, "Who said I was going to throw stones?" ”

"Old man, you can't just do this oil bomb...... It's going to be a staker. Ye Tao had no doubt that Qi Zhentao definitely had a way to get a batch of fire oil bombs. Since the secret spies in Xiling can be obtained, then Qi Zhentao, a person who has secretly received the full support of the state, can be qualified to build the Lanshui Ship Cangshui Ship, and even be able to lend a warship from the Sailor Division, can naturally get it. However, now the business of the oil bomb is controlled by the Gao family, and there is no other semicolon. If it is exposed in the storage and transportation of fire oil bombs. In case the Gao family has a temperament, they will be investigated. At that time, the imperial lawsuit will be easy to fight.

Qi Zhentao shook his head and said, "No." Didn't you use fish oil to get that projector? Since there is this fish oil that can be burned. Naturally, there are other ways. Fish oil, with butter and mutton fat, and with nitrate and other things, I also made something similar to the oil bomb, which may not be as powerful as the oil bomb, but it seems to be a little safer than the oil bomb. If the oil bomb is not stored well, it seems to explode when touched, as you also said, what kind of volatilization, deflagration. But this thing that we made out ourselves, like a kind of ointment, will not be ignited unless it is directly ignited. I've had people try it in an empty room, and the smell of this stuff barely leaks out. ”

Ye Tao exclaimed: "Old man, if it's really safe, it's much better than a fire oil bomb." The Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of War, and the military in various places have a love-hate relationship for fire and oil bombs. As long as the power is not too far off, I think that maybe a lot of people will be willing to use this kind of thing like yours, old man. By the way, what do you call this thing, old man? ”

"Hehe, I really don't dare to say that I made it up, I just came up with an idea, and the rest of the things are all in your workshop", Qi Zhentao smiled and said: "Now, the Yicheng part of Ye's workshop is now tossing and turning some very interesting things." You haven't been to see it this time, have you? The name of this thing is Mars, and it is the name of a little guy in the workshop. ”

Ye Tao smiled and asked, "Old man, when will you have the opportunity for me to see how powerful this thing is." ”

"Coincidentally, I think so too, you hurry up and build a few ballistas. Tomorrow there is another ship in Yicheng that is here to deliver Mars. Then, we set sail together the day after tomorrow, went around the north, and took the Ice Shark Island. Those bunnies are so unruly that they took advantage of me and Chunnan's pirates to fight behind our trading company's northern route. After a pause, Qi Zhentao smiled slyly and said, "It just so happens that you brought two warships, and with my relationship with the sailors, it's okay for them to go and fish for an outer piece together." Four Lanshui ships. The lineup of two ships is quite luxurious. ”

Ye Tao couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat when he heard this. Indeed, four Lanshui ships and two Cangshui ships can only be said to be luxurious. The pirates on Ice Shark Island are supposed to be four to six medium-sized warships, none of which are designed for naval warfare, but are just better performing fishing boats and merchant ships. At most, there is room for two or three catapults or crossbows. The Lanshui Ship and the Cangshui Ship can be said to be the strongest warships that embody the most advanced naval warfare technology and manufacturing technology of this era. It is so strong that in a series of cooperation between Chunnan and Dongping, Chunnan strives to make the blueprints of the Cangshui and Lanshui warships part of the trading place between the two countries. Using such a fleet to fight Ice Shark Island can only be said to be killing chickens with a knife. And when the fleet is mixed with the ships of the Dongping Water Division, the best outcome for the pirates is to surrender directly.

Ye Tao smiled bitterly and said, "Old man, you also think too highly of me, you only have so much time." It's a bit tight to build a ballista. Is there all the material on the island? ”

Qi Zhentao said: "It's not rebuilt, didn't you teach a lot of local soldiers and craftsmen to make ballistas in Baishi City?" Some of them are on the island now, and there are also those apprentices of yours at the Yicheng branch of Yip's Workshop, aren't there some of them who follow our fleet to repair the wooden components on the ship at any time? I'm also here with all these people. These people can make things out of it, but. They don't know the reason after all. I tried it a few times, but it seems that there are problems with range and accuracy, and it still depends on you. Also, this whole Crescent Island. You also see that there is something that needs to be improved, you just say. ”

The two of them walked around the island, although Qi Zhentao was not less arrogant back then, but he was not young after all, and he was a little tired. When they returned to the docks, they set up a small table on the docks, and brought a few side dishes and bottles of wine. Drink to the sound of the wind and the waves. This old and young, in this kind of not elegant, at most can only be regarded as more able to enjoy life, can be regarded as aspiring together.

"Old man, I really didn't expect you to be so interested in running Crescent Island like this. But Nanami Trading Company, if it can really have a strong enough escort team, can have such a base, for future business. The benefits are limitless. Ye Tao and Qi Zhentao did a small cup. His amount of alcohol is incomparable to that of an old pirate leader like Qi Zhentao, who has been begging for a life at sea for decades, and Qi Zhentao is obviously ready to put down his kind of energy. But he was helpless. The toast of the elders must not be drunk.

"As soon as the Seven Seas Trading Company came out, it was a bit energetic. If it was before, just running business at sea, although my Qi family was not a rich country, even if they ran into a few losers, it would be enough for them to burn for several lifetimes. Luckily, my two sons are far more interested in earning money than spending money. Originally, I was going to let my eldest grandson read more books and turn around to find an identity, but I didn't expect that kid to get into the book and not want to come out. The little grandson is now obsessed with playing chess and can't wait to live in the Yi Zhan Building. The little granddaughter likes to plant flowers and grass, so she took care of the family's garden when she was so old...... These guys, depending on their temperament, no matter how bad they are, they are limited. I spent the first half of my life making money, but I didn't expect that now I don't know how to spend it. There are not many opponents in the business field. But when these Seven Seas Trading Company came together, their vision was different. It's no longer a one-family business, but if these people at Nanami Trading Company can act in unison, it will be terrifying. Although it is a business, it is really possible to use business to turn your hands into clouds and rain with your hands. It's not just a matter of a few firms, it can even shake the country's foundation. This is probably the reason why those sea chambers of commerce in Chunnan temporarily united to deal with the Nanami Trading Company, everyone, they all know it in their hearts. Qi Zhentao took a glass by himself, and his eyes became brighter and brighter: "However, the more I know about this, the more I want to fight with those guys, and divide the highs and lows." If the Seven Seas Trading Company falls, it will naturally spread widely, but if the sea merchants who can defeat Chunnan, hehe, there are some goods, whatever price I mark, they will have to eat at whatever price. We are short of horses in Dongping, and Chunnan is even more lacking, if we can control the maritime trade routes of Chunnan, and with the cooperation of Her Royal Highness Princess Zhaohua's Kyushu Trading Company, we can even make Chunnan no longer able to form cavalry, what kind of strength is this. ”

The more Qi Zhentao spoke, the more excited he became. He was a merchant, and before that, he was a pirate. He never imagined that he could hold such a huge amount of power in his hands. In this era, a large group of top tycoons, including Qi Zhentao, were the first to realize the power of capital. It's not collusion between officials and businessmen. There are no extraordinary means, but only the struggle is carried out with capital and all kinds of human and material resources that can be mastered in the weak legal framework of this era. On this battlefield, there is not so much blood, but it is just as cruel. As a person from the modern era, Ye Tao understands better than these businessmen how terrifying and tragic the collapse of a country's economy is. And in this day and age. There will be no such thing as the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and there will be no World Bank or World Trade Organization to save anyone, no country.

In the end, the old man revealed a decision that was originally to be announced at the meeting of Seven Seas Trading Company to be convened later: Ye Tao would take full control of a series of affairs related to machinery, manufacturing, and construction under Seven Seas Trading Company, probably similar to the role of chief technology officer in Ye Tao's concept. Through this position, Ye Tao, who did not invest a single silver or two in Seven Seas Trading Company, had the same qualifications as those big businessmen to enter the semi-annual general meeting of Seven Seas Trading Company, and solved a series of technical problems for Seven Seas Trading Company. Ye Tao will receive a 2% dividend from the net profit of Seven Seas Trading. When it comes to technical matters, Ye Tao and Ye's Workshop do not bear any cost issues, but only make plans. Costs for specific manufacturing and services are settled at market prices.

Two percent! Compared to the royalties that are usually around 8% in modern society. Compared with the 24% stake that Ye Tao held in the studio in the original era, this proportion is really a bit small. But what a terrifying organization Seven Seas Trading Company is. Millions of dollars are flowing in their hands. If needed, they can even concentrate an astronomical amount of money equivalent to Dongping's fiscal revenue for two years in a short period of time. This is the proportion of two percent. Just based on the fact that the integration of Seven Seas Trading Company has not yet been completed, it has also ensured that Ye Tao can have an income of no less than 200,000 taels per year. And the various plans that Ye Tao can put forward cannot be without involving Ye's workshop. Only the Yip's workshop, which he had carefully built, could barely meet his technical requirements. Even if he is embarrassed to earn more of this part of the income, I am afraid it will not be too little.

However, Ye Tao still sighed. Not because of dissatisfaction, but because, he could not refuse such conditions. Even if he knew that once he accepted such conditions. Even if he is tied to the chariot of the Seven Seas Trading Company, he will see the Seven Seas Trading Company, Chunnan Sea Trading, and perhaps other shopping mall rivals fighting to the death and participate in it. And once he is involved, he will inevitably not tolerate failure.

"Old man, are you drunk......" After a while, Qi Zhentao, who had a lot of alcohol, was drunk first. The comfortable mood and the blowing of the sea breeze made the old man lie on the small table and fall asleep very unvividly.

Let the family members who followed Qi Zhentao send the old man back to the room to rest. Ye Tao stood on the dock for a while. Watch the sea turn from blue to deep blue. From dark blue to pitch black, Ye Tao realized. The night was really late. He turned around, and a man in Tsing Yi, who was in his thirties and looked very capable, was standing not far away.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting so long. Excuse me, are you ......" Ye Tao saw in this man in Tsing Yi a temperament that obviously did not belong to ordinary servants.

"Villain Liu Qing, the old man asked me to follow Ye Gongzi. Things are too complicated on the side of Nanami Trading Company to worry about Childe too much. Whatever you want, just tell me. Liu Qing replied respectfully. There is no hint of falsity in this respect. Speaking of which, Liu Qing is not a person from Qi Zhentao's trading house, but the illegitimate son of Liu Yi, another partner of the sea businessman. Liu Yi and Qi Zhentao had a quarrel for a long time before Qi Zhentao agreed to let Liu Qing follow Ye Tao to do things. A large pile of information made Liu Yi clearly know what kind of magical character Ye Tao was. Those strange businesses are always done by Ye Tao inexplicably. Whether it is the battle building and marching chess, the porcelain wall decoration or the low-pressure boiler that is also flourishing in Yicheng and Danyang, it is a business that everyone has never thought of, and it is the unique business of Ye's workshop, and this monopoly seems to be unable to be broken for a considerable period of time. Not to mention the business of Tissot Watch & Watches and Yip's Workshop, which have become well-known brands of this era.

In Seven Seas Trading Company, although everyone cooperates with each other, the distribution of interests is calculated, only Ye Tao's two percent profit, everyone almost didn't think about it.

Ye Tao scratched his head in embarrassment. It's quite rude to think about all sorts of things and let a guy who is obviously well-educated and looks like he has been waiting for so long, and he doesn't even notice it. Ye Tao hurriedly apologized, but Liu Qing didn't care, he refused Ye Tao's title of "Liu Gongzi" and insisted that Ye Tao call him by his name.

"Okay...... Liu Qing, I want to see the general plan of the current layout of Crescent Island, is it okay? "Since he has agreed to take over this errand, Ye Tao naturally has to work hard to do better, best.

"Childe will go back to the room first. I'm going to get it. Liu Qing arched his hand.