"Master, have you ever heard of El Dorado in Africa?"

Goodit. Solomon blinked with a pair of big talking eyes and looked at Chen Defang who was pillowing his thighs with a smile. This is an uncle who is very cute and a little naïve. Because he has a great brother who has the opportunity to be a king, he is still jealous of his genius brother. It seems that he will be a mediocre and inactive dumb king in the future. But it doesn't matter, the Indians are very good at dominating, and it's okay to be mediocre. In short, this is a lucky uncle who is also easy to coax.

"El Dorado?" Chen Defang smiled, "My brother already has a gold country and a silver country. ”

"Master, don't you want one? I've heard people say that your country is heavily indebted and is borrowing money to support the war. If you don't want to be in debt for the rest of your life, you should look for a little extra money. ”

Goodit. In seductive words, Solomon asked, "For example, there is a gold-rich country on the west coast of Africa, which used to be called the Ghana Empire, and now it is called the Mali Empire, and it is a large country ruled by black men. ”

Ghana or Mali is sub-Saharan and is rich in gold, copper and salt. Trade routes through the Sahara Desert and trade in North Africa. The gold produced there eventually ends up in Europe, where it is the main source of gold. This is known to those in the circle of Mediterranean civilization. The Berbers of Morocco were also attracted to gold and waged a war to conquer Ghana. But there was no way to control this sub-Saharan territory for a long time, and finally let Uncle Black drive back to the north of the Sahara. Then, after more than a hundred years of fighting, the Mali Empire rose to prominence in the gold-rich Niger River Basin. It has become a large country in sub-Saharan Africa and west.

"What about the abundance of gold? That's someone else's country. Tran was unmoved, because he knew that the country had nothing to do with him. What has something to do with him is Tianzhu Great Britain. He and his descendants will develop in Tianzhu in the future. In Africa, Chen Dexing will not give it to him.

Goodit. Solomon didn't seem to understand Tran's words. Giggling and laughing: "Mali, the black country, is not going to be too strong, because most of the black people are stupid." And it's lazy and very loose. The only thing that can do well is to be a slave...... Someone has to force them to work with a leather whip! ”

Chen Defang blinked and looked at his little lover, "Goodit, aren't you also black?" ”

"The hosts! I'm white! "Goodit. Solomon pouted and protested, "It's a white man with a little darker skin!" ”

Her mother is white and her father is a quarter white, so she is 62.5% white. In the 21st century, in another time and space, such mixed-race people are considered black. But in the 13th century. Such mixed races are considered white, and if anyone says they are black, they are in a hurry. In these days, racial discrimination is above board.

"Good, good, my little liver, you're white and your skin is as white as milk." Chen Defang, who has been upgraded to an uncle, naturally will not bother with a little lover. However, he still had little interest in what African El Dorado was.

He waved his hand lightly and said with a smile: "The African El Dorado will talk about it later, but for now, it is important to get the slave oarsmen first, because the rainy season will soon pass." Goodit. There won't be any surprises on your father's side, right? ”

"Accidents? How is that possible? "Goodit. Solomon said, "Don't worry, my father is the best liar." ”

Chen Defang was still a little worried, shook his head and said, "The vast sea." Ten wooden boats are like a few leaves, and if they don't stop at the port of Malé, where are we going to find them? ”

It is very difficult to search for ten large Arabic galleys at sea and use boats. Even if you can find it, you may not be able to catch up. Tran's pirate fleet is made up of slower ships. Therefore, the robbery was to be carried out when the Solomonic slave convoy docked at the port of Malé.

At that time, Selassie. Solomon would have waited for the second advance payment. Let the fleet be stranded in the port of Male. There would also be daily feasts to get drunk with the bravest black warriors in Solomon's fleet.

"That can't be." Goodit. Solomon smiled, "The slave ship needs to be replenished with supplies and fresh water. The first stop from Zela is Socotra, the second is Lakshadweep Islands, the third is Malé, and the fourth is Greater Aceh. These are fixed lines that don't change easily. Because these four places are ruled by the small sultans of the Heavenly Sect, they specialize in the business of merchant ships across the border, and there is no need to increase the high transit tax...... The Solomonic family were Jews, and if they were to raise taxes in the ports of the Celestial Sect, it would be a lot of money. Therefore, most of the non-Celestial merchant ships from Africa took this route. ”

Socotra, the Lakshadweep Islands, and Male are also ruled by the Celestial Sultans, but all three of them are small sultans who are not strong and do not have the capital to levy high transit taxes. In particular, the two sultans of Lakshad and the Maldives rely on low taxes to attract merchant ships to dock to make some money, and if the taxes are too high, no one will come. And Great Aceh is located in the westernmost part of Sumatra Island, and it is also a city controlled by the Sultan of the Celestial Sect, but now it is subject to the Ming Dynasty like the Maldives, and is controlled by the Daming Strait Governor's Office (the Daming Strait Governor's Office has no manpower to take over Greater Aceh for the time being), and the customs and ports of Great Aceh are under the management of the Strait Governor's Office, and there is no power to collect taxes at all. Moreover, the Greater Aceh Customs is part of the Straits Settlements Customs, where taxes are paid and goods can be sold within the Straits Settlements.

"Aren't they afraid of encountering pirates? Isn't the Maldives archipelago a den of pirates? ”

"The Solomon Chamber of Commerce has paid the protection fee, the Tianfang Sect pirates in the small Western Ocean are all time-honored, organized and ruled, and the big chamber of commerce can get a pass flag if they pay the money, and they will not be robbed if they are hoisted. In contrast, the Han pirates in the Little Western Ocean were more dangerous. ”

The Han pirates actually had gangs, but they originally operated along the coast of China, Japan and Goryeo. It only expanded to Nanfan a few years ago, and it only entered the small Western Ocean in the past two years. In fact, it is to seize the territory of the Heavenly Sect pirates. In the process of this expansion, the scale of Han pirates swelled too quickly, and many fierce and fierce dragons participated in the promising cause of sea robbery. Naturally, the original rule is a bit broken......

Chen Defang thought for a while and asked, "Then why were you robbed by the Heavenly Fang Sect pirates last time?" ”

Goodit. Solomon snorted softly. "The Solomon Chamber of Commerce has a number of flags, and they can't be bought for money. This is related to the strength of the big chamber of commerce. A strong Chamber of Commerce can have more flags, while the Solomon Chamber of Commerce does not have many flags. That's why my father didn't have a flag. ”

It's another intra-clan strife! Chen Defang's eyes narrowed, there are many heirs in the big family, and there will be many contradictions. A family of slave traders is already like this, I'm afraid the Chen royal family won't be any different, right? Now Daddy and the second brother haven't thought about this, but their eldest brother can't help but think about it, so he has to find more ways out for so many brothers and grandchildren, right?

This money seems to be really a bit insufficient!

Maybe you might consider the advice of the little lady Gooditt and get involved in the slave trade and gold robbery?

……

The blue waves in front of you gently ripple with the slight sea breeze, and the warm sunlight spills endless heat in all directions. The golden sand stretches like a ribbon, and the gentle tide follows wave after wave.

With sun, sand and turquoise waters, it's a great place to enjoy the gifts of nature. If it were placed in the 21st century, it would be a holiday destination for tourists. Today, this beautiful island of the Maldives archipelago is devoid of tourists from all over the world in beach pants and bikinis, only hordes of Arab pirates pitching their tents on the golden sands, roaming around, drinking bad wine, eating salted fish and other food bought from the island's fishing villages - bought, of course. The Arab pirates are all time-honored brands, and they know that they have to do business for a long time, and they can't rob their supply depots, right?

This scenic island is one of 200 inhabited islands in the Maldives archipelago. It is a crescent-shaped coral island with a series of small islands and a series of coral reefs that form a lagoon. There are several reefs under the channel that enters and exits the lagoon. Only the fishermen who have been living here know the exact location. Under their guidance, the Vostok and nineteen other large Arab galleys had sailed into the harbor and collected their sails. The anchor chain was lowered and moored quietly. It's like twenty clawed monsters lurking and waiting for their prey to appear.

Thousands of warships of the combined fleet of the Celestial Sect. They are now divided into 50 teams that lurk next to 50 islands in the Maldives archipelago. Hundreds of Maldivian fishermen's boats have been cast as if they were casting nets. Not for fishing, but for the search of a large fleet of Han Chinese.

In addition, more than a dozen Arab caravans shuttle between various important ports such as Malé, Colombo, Goa, Cochin and the unnamed island where the "Vostok" docks, bringing back the latest news from all over the world.

One of the largest and most opulent dwellings in the island's fishing village is owned by pirates. Now it was Admiral Gaerawin's headquarters, the fleet admiral was seasick and almost hung up, and now he finally stepped on solid ground to breathe a sigh of relief. Now I'm sitting on the floor eating and drinking. As the slave girls of the "Vostok" brought up the price of the slashed barbecued meat, melons, dates and other food, the aroma of rich Arabic coffee floated through the room.

Drinking alcohol is explicitly forbidden in the Qur'an, and although Ghalawin was born into a steppe tribe that was a good drinker, he was sold into slavery from an early age and grew up in a Mamluk military camp, so he naturally adhered to the rules and precepts of the Heavenly Sect.

While munching on roast mutton and drinking extremely strong coffee, the Admiral of the Combined Fleet of the Heavenly Sect finally regained some of his spirits. With a big move, several core figures of the fleet walked in briskly and began to report the news they had just received.

"Your Highness the Emir, ten Solomonic slave ships have been found on the island of Malé."

"Solomon? Are you Jewish? Emile Gaerawin took a sip of coffee and asked lightly.

"It's a bunch of black Jews." Isfahan. Yusuf replied. "They are protected by Arab pirates."

At the moment there is no great contradiction between the Arabs and the Jews, they are just a bunch of businessmen without a homeland. In contrast, the Arabs hate Christians even more, and now there are Celestials!

"What kind of slaves are they selling?"

"It was black slaves, 2,000 black slaves, who were sold to plantations in Java."

"Oh." Gaerawin nodded, not saying anything more. The slave trade was explicitly allowed in the Qur'an, and the black Jews were still selling slaves. Even Muhammad would not have said anything when he saw it.

"Did you spot the Prince's privateering fleet?" Gallavin asked again.

"There's some news," Isfahan. "They gathered at the riverside port in Bangladesh half a month ago, and there were 20 to 25 of them, all of which were large ships. The entire fleet had at least 5,000 sailors, and could carry the same number of infantry. They may now be on their way to Colombo. ”

Isfahan. According to Youssef et al., the destination of Tran's fleet could have been the Seven Islands or the Song strongholds on the lower Indus River, or it could have been Goa, ruled by the Hindu Yadawa dynasty. Although the Hindu countries are not the target of the Ming attack at present, they will still use various means to extract benefits from those countries. This includes trade privileges, extraterritoriality, and concessions.

"Colombo?"

"The Ming Dynasty had a concession in the port of Colombo, stationed about 500 Ming soldiers and 3,000 Sriwijaya mercenaries, and also built a fortress and arranged more than a dozen cannons."

"Is there a possibility of occupation?" Gallavin asked suddenly.

"It's hard," Isfahan. "Pirates are not good at attacking fortifications, and the Ming Dynasty has a powerful Nanyang fleet stationed in Malacca, and if we can't attack it for a long time, we will be wiped out." ”

"I see." Gallavin nodded, not holding his own foot any longer.

Isfahan. Youssef added: "If the Prince's privateering fleet arrives in Colombo, we will know in a day's time." And they will stay in Colombo for at least two to three days. Enough for us to assemble and then head north to the coast of India to intercept them. ”

"Going to the coast of India to intercept?" Galavin frowned, "What if their target is the Maldives?" Will they occupy the Maldives? ”

"No, it won't." Isfahan. Yusuf shook his head with certainty, "There are more than a thousand islands in the Maldives archipelago, and there are two hundred inhabited ones, how many can they control?" And the fishermen of the Maldives archipelago are family with us, and it's a pirate den. Even if Malé were to be taken by them, we would still be able to get supplies. (To be continued......)