Hearing that four ships were loaded with raw silk and silk, Manila's businessmen flocked to the wharf. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoThe merchants in Manila can make several times the profit by transshipment Chinese silk to the Americas or Europe, and they only hate that the supply is too small. Now that there are big shippers coming to the door, how can these businessmen not be excited?

Li Tu was invited into the chamber of commerce by these businessmen, drinking black tea and discussing the business carefully. Li Tu and these related merchants only had an interest relationship, so they adopted the principle of the highest price, and auctioned off the goods one by one in the Chamber of Commerce. Before the auction, the Li Tu faction went around publicizing, and the auction hall was full, and many white Chinese aborigines, including some white women, came to join in the fun, and the crowd was very lively. It took a month to shoot before Li Tu sold all the goods.

The Spaniards were subject to customs duties on the goods sold by Litu, at a rate of three percent.

The Spaniards in Manila used the Mexican eagle as currency, and one eagle was worth one peso, worth seven cents and two cents of silver. After selling his goods, Litu harvested a boatload of Mexican silver coins.

Four ships of goods, the purchase price of 68,300 taels, sold for 137,200 taels, after removing the miscellaneous goods and customs duties on board, this single trip net profit of 70,000 taels. Among them, the profit belonging to Li Tu was 32,700 taels, that belonging to Xiao Xiangui was 28,700 taels, and that belonging to Shimazu Tadashi was 8,600 taels.

Of course, the more important thing about Li Tu's trip to Manila is to learn Western navigation techniques.

In order to master Western sailing techniques, Li Tu found a group of Chinese sailors on the dock who operated for the Spaniards and recruited them. Spain is located in a corner of Europe but is expanding globally, and there is a shortage of manpower, and Chinese sailors are widely used in Manila. These Chinese sailors all knew that the Araja people were brutal and bloody, and they slaughtered Chinese people at every turn, and it was expedient to work for them. At this time, there were Chinese owners to recruit them, and these Chinese sailors were very happy and joined Li Tu's team one after another.

Li Tu verified the ability of these people, and hired thirty people as a talent reserve with a high salary of thirty or forty-two years, and scattered them into four boats.

Soft sail sail is not a rare handicraft, the Spaniards don't care, let Li Tu recruit. But it is much more difficult to find a shipwright who knows Western shipbuilding techniques. Although there are shipyards in Manila, the Spaniards classify shipbuilding technology as secret and do not allow foreigners to enter the shipyards.

For a while, Li Tu had no way to poach the shipbuilders, so he thought of meeting the governor of Manila. I don't know what kind of character this governor is, but if he is easy to speak, he may appoint a few shipbuilders to himself.

Li Tu contacted the Governor of Manila through the president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Liaison Ladies and asked to meet the Governor. In mid-October, the president told Lettor that the Governor had promised to meet him.

On this day, with a general officer, he followed a guard into the Spanish royal city, which was heavily guarded and usually did not allow people of color to enter, and met the governor Shilva de Córdoba in a castle. and Archbishop Gonzalez of Manila, who stands on the other side.

In Europe at this time, the Holy See was sacred to the common people of Europe. Whoever offends the Holy See will be abandoned by the people. In Spain, a country of religious fanaticism, the bishop is even more transcendent. Therefore, in Luzon, the status of the Archbishop of Manila is also extremely high. For some important matters, the Archbishop of Manila has a considerable say, even decision, power.

The only thing in the governor's reception room was a chair under the governor's buttocks, and the guests were only allowed to stand and talk. Li Tu scolded the arrogant Spanish colonists in his heart, and said to Shilva: "In Xia Chinese Li Tu, I have seen the governor of Manila!" Turning around, Li Tu said to the bishop again: "Hello bishop! ”

Seeing that Li Tu respected himself, Bishop Gonzalez smiled and nodded.

Governor Schlva looked at Li Tu and said with a smile, "Welcome, biological man!" You are a young captain with four Akito ships, and Manila welcomes your shipment of raw silk and silk! You have contributed to the prosperity of Manila. ”

Li Tu said lightly: "The governor has won the prize!" ”

Leaning back in the chair behind him, and letting the high-end silk shirt spread out ostentatiously, Governor Schlva asked, "Did you come to see me for any request from Manila?" For next year's trade, we will try our best to meet your reasonable requirements! ”

Hearing this, Li Tu's eyes lit up. But shipbuilding technology is a secret technology after all, Li Tu did not dare to immediately propose to startle the snake, but tried to say with other things: "I want to buy some cannons!" ”

Hearing Litu's words, Shilva looked at Gonzalez and exchanged glances with the archbishop.

Shilva said bluntly: "We sell artillery only to biological captains who have arrived in Manila for five years in a row. You're coming to Manila for the first year and we can't sell it to you! ”

Litu was about to answer, but he heard Bishop Gonzalez ask: "Son, do you believe in God?" ”

Li Tu was stunned and replied honestly: "There is no faith in the bottom." ”

Gonzalez smiled and said seductively: "If you convert to God and join the Church, we can sell you one or two small cannons this year!" Even though there are only one or two, it's far better than nothing, isn't it? ”

Li Tu really had no intention of defecting to God, shook his head and said, "What if you refuse?" ”

"Then you'll have to wait five years!"

Li Tu saw that the Manilans were so unhappy to sell an artillery, and it was impossible for them to provide shipbuilders with secret channels. After thinking about it, he honestly said, "I have no intention of converting to Catholicism. ”

Gonzalez looked at Li Tu with a look of regret and stopped talking.

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If the way to find the governor is not working, Li Tu can only consider secretly poaching the shipyard. Li Tu had no way to poach directly in the local area, so he turned to find a way from the local overseas Chinese.

Li Tu walked into the Chinese gathering area "Balian", found local Chinese vendors, and bought local specialties such as pepper, pearls and spices from them as goods for the return trip. A local overseas Chinese leader named Wang Kang, in his forties, has a reputation for benevolence and righteousness. He was originally a native of Jinjiang, Fujian, and lived in Manila for more than ten years, and now he is a businessman with a solid family. Li Tu handed over the biggest deal to him, and used it as a bridge to get acquainted with this overseas Chinese leader.

The purchase orders have been sent to the various merchants, just waiting for them to transfer the goods from all sides. On November Day, Li Tu brought a Japanese knife as a gift and visited Wang Kang's house.

When he arrived at Wang Kang's house, after a few polite words, Li Tu went straight to the point.

"Does the prince know about the shipyards related to the La-people?"

"The shipyard of the related Laren is just south of Wangcheng, and there are more than 100 shipwrights, I don't know what Li Gongzi is asking?"

"How many Chinese are there in that shipyard?"

Wang Kang looked at Li Tu and said: "The cadres are so ruthless and brave, they are proud to be soldiers and die in battle, and they are not willing to work hard. The craftsmen in this shipyard, except for a few leaders who are related to the La, the rest are all Chinese and natives. As far as I know, there are more than 60 Chinese among them. ”