Li Tu asked tentatively: "These shipwrights, are they in charge of the people?" ”

"Nothing more than boatsmiths! Although the stakeholders did not want the shipbuilding technology to be easily leaked and did not allow outsiders to enter the shipyard, they did not have much control over these shipwrights. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoThese shipwrights also live in the Eighth Company, and they go to work in the shipyard every morning and go home in the evening, just like other craftsmen. ”

"If a few are gone, what will happen to the stakeholders?"

Wang Kang twisted his beard, shook his head and said, "This shipbuilding technology is not exclusive to the people. Hongyi and Francois also have their own strengths in shipbuilding. Even if a few shipwrights were gone, the people who wanted to be involved in the country could only flee back to China as shipwrights, and they would not be traced. After a pause, Wang Kang asked, "What does Gongzi Li mean?" ”

When Li Tu heard this, he was happy in his heart, and said: "I want to recruit four or five old shipwrights who are familiar with various shipbuilding techniques, and bring them back to China to build ships, and ask the prince to mediate among them." ”

Li Tu did not want to build Spanish galleons, but to use Western technology to improve the ships, and did not need to get a full set of men and horses from the Spanish shipyard. There are four or five experienced Western craftsmen who communicate with the Fuchuan craftsmen in Zhangzhou, which is enough to apply the new Western technology to the Fuchuan body, so Li Tu only needs a few old craftsmen in the shipyard.

Hearing Li Tu's words, Wang Kang pondered for a moment and said: "These shipwrights are craftsmen, and their salaries are higher than ordinary people, even in the massacre twenty years ago, the people involved in the Araja did not kill the craftsmen who worked for them. Li Gongzi hastily recruited them, I'm afraid it will be a little difficult. ”

Li Tu said generously: "I will give them a salary of one hundred taels a year, and they will pay fifty taels first when they get on my ship." ”

Seeing that Li Tu was so bold, Wang Kang tapped his fingers on the table without speaking.

Seeing Wang Kang's appearance, Li Tu hurriedly said: "If this matter is successful, I should offer 200 gold to the prince to thank the prince for his mediation." ”

"Li Gongzi, this is the outside!"

"This matter needs to be guaranteed by the prince, and it should be so!"

That Wang Kang was polite, and then said with satisfaction: "Li Gongzi is so bold, this matter can be done." You can go back in peace and wait for my news! ”

#####

Half a month later, Wang Kang secretly sent someone to contact those shipbuilders and invited them to his home to meet Li Tu.

Li Tu walked into the room and saw five stout craftsmen with their heads wrapped in turbans sitting on chairs, their expressions different, but all of them were a little hesitant. The first person is in his forties, wearing Ming-style short clothes, no beard on his face, and a pair of small eyes are very bright. Seeing Li Tu come in, the five craftsmen stood up and bowed.

Wang Kang, the overseas Chinese leader, said: "Li Gongzi, this is the shipwright you want to hire!" This is headed by Boss Zhang! ”

Li Tu arched his hand and said, "Hello Boss Zhang! Thank you for coming to see me! How many years have you been working in the shipyard? ”

The old man said loudly: "I have been working in the shipyard of the Cadre Lap people for 17 years, and I am familiar with all the processes of the Cadre Wax people shipbuilding. Several other people have also been doing it for more than ten years. Give us enough materials to make five of us build a Manila galleon, and we can build it! ”

Wang Kang also added: "These are all old craftsmen, Li Gongzi doesn't have to worry about their craftsmanship!" ”

When Li Tu heard this, he was relieved and said, "That's fine! ”

The boss looked at Li Tu with small eyes, and said directly: "Li Gongzi, we only have an honorarium of more than 30 taels in the shipyard, and you said that 100 taels hired us to go to Zhangzhou, we are very willing." But my boss Zhang is also a straight temper, so I only say one thing. You want us to go to Zhangzhou with you to build a ship, but a few of our craftsmen have been working in Manila for more than ten years, and they are all family people. Let's talk about the house, the house, and how to sell it. If the people involved in the sale find out and are watched, how will they get on your ship at that time? ”

These craftsmen are not people who do big things, and they look forward to the future when they make decisions, for fear of suffering a little loss. I want to get Li Tu's high salary, but I also feel sorry for my house in Manila. Li Tu secretly said that if he didn't spend some money, he couldn't dig up these craftsmen.

Li Tu glanced at Boss Zhang and asked lightly, "How much is your house worth?" ”

Several shipwrights glanced at each other, and finally Boss Zhang said: "The house, furniture, and sundries cost at least forty taels of silver!" ”

Li Tu glanced at a few shipwrights and said loudly: "Your house and belongings will be sold to me." I'll give fifty taels each! Your house will be mine. On the day you boarded the ship, you came empty-handed with your families! ”

After that, Li Tu took the silver bag from the general, took out seventy eagle oceans from it, and said in a loud voice: "I will give each of you ten taels of silver now, and fourteen eagle oceans as a deposit for your house." And when you are on my ship, I will give you the remaining forty taels of silver, and the fifty taels of wages that I have advanced, ninety taels. ”

Stuffing seventy eagles into the hands of these craftsmen, Li Tu clapped his hands and asked, "How is it?" ”

After taking the silver, the eyes of the craftsmen lit up, and the hesitation on their faces was swept away. The boss licked his lips and muttered, "Do you really give ninety taels as soon as you get on the boat?" ”

In this era, ninety taels is already a considerable amount of wealth, enough for a family to settle down and start a business. Counting today's ten taels of silver, Li Tu will give one hundred taels as soon as he gets on the boat. Li Tu is so generous, Boss Zhang almost doesn't believe it.

Li Tu said impatiently: "If I don't give it then, you will get off the boat!" You shouted on the ship, the soldiers who checked the ship will definitely help you, can I still tie you up? After a pause, Li Tu said: "But this can be said, you don't want to sell anything, lest the people in the country know that you are going to run and have more branches." ”

The boss stopped talking and agreed.