At present, the two provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi, although there are no real sailors. However, with the support of a large sum of money, in just a few months, a large-scale fleet with more than 200 merchant ships and warships of various types was formed.

At this moment, in addition to the fifty ships used to ensure the water transportation of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces with the Liaodong Peninsula and the Shandong Peninsula. The remaining 185 large ships that could be used for the voyage were all gathered together.

On the dock, a large fleet of ships that had just been appointed as the director of the Foreign Trade Department and organized such a large fleet for a long voyage for the first time was in front of him, and he was thinking about the various differences that might arise during this trip to Japan.

Because, after such a large-scale fleet left the Ming Dynasty, it is very likely that if one mistake is not careful, the entire fleet will be wiped out, and all kinds of materials worth millions of taels of silver will be lost.

At this moment, the deputy director of the Foreign Trade Department who was really in charge of this voyage, Ou Xiao, who was also an old subordinate who was drawn up by Xiang Lian, strode up to Xiang Lian with a complex expression that was both strict and hot.

"Your Excellency, a total of 800,000 quintals of grain, 50,000 quintals of refined salt, 5,000 flintlock muskets for export, 1,000 glass mirrors of various sizes, and a Haw Par Musket Regiment responsible for protecting the entire fleet, a total of 1,500 soldiers, have all boarded the ship and are ready to march for Toei Japan......

Hearing this, Xiang Lian's face was full of strictness, and a smile finally appeared.

When a trace of a determined expression appeared on his face, he ordered directly to Ou Xiao in front of him.

"Let's go, then...... Don't forget the explanation given to you by the officer, use these materials. Get back as much wealth as possible. If it's possible. The officer wants to be on the fleet that has returned. See all kinds of brass, sulphur ...... we desperately need"

Ou Xiao assured loudly: "Please rest assured, the lower officials promise to live up to expectations......

The mighty fleet, with Xiang Lian's hope for the future, slowly disappeared in front of everyone. Hundreds of miles away from the Shandong Peninsula, outside the north gate of Beijing, several important officials of the imperial court dressed as ordinary merchants also bid farewell before leaving without anyone wiping their senses.

Zhang Qianshu, who has been promoted to the first assistant of the Ming Dynasty cabinet. With a majestic face, he gave his final advice to the heart in front of him who was preparing to travel far away.

"Lord Wang, everyone in the court knows that you were picked up by the old man and trusted by the old man. Therefore, on this trip to Houjin, you are on a certain journey, which means the old man ......"

"The importance of this trip to Houjin, the old man will not say much. But. What the old man wants to remind you is that at this moment. Not only the old man is looking at you, but the court is looking at you, and even when you are on the pilgrimage, they are looking at you at this moment. ”

The middle-aged man who was placed in high hopes by the imperial court and was ordered to send an envoy to Houjin, under the gaze of Zhang Qianshu's clever eyes, replied loudly: "Please rest assured that the student will not live up to the trust...... Don't let your teacher disgrace you......"

After speaking, he took a few guards dressed as servants, with a determined face, and strode out of Beijing City.

Tokyo, Japan, as the largest port in Toei Japan, although it has been much deserted because of Japan's closed country policy. However, all sorts of merchant ships still cover the sea around the pier.

Just as several Japanese naval warships docked at the pier began their routine patrol for the day. A crisp alarm sounded suddenly on the watchtower that was as high as a dozen battles.

Then, a black spot composed of more than a hundred warships appeared on the sea surface at the junction of heaven and sea.

As the fleets from Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces got closer and closer to the Tokyo docks, the huge figure of the sea ships finally came into the field of vision of the Japanese at the docks.

Suddenly, all kinds of exclamations began to sound on the dock, and there was an endless stream.

Compared with the huge bodies of sea ships that are several hundred tons high, the patrol boats equipped by the Japanese navy can only be described by the word boat.

However, this gap obviously did not frighten the Japanese sailors who were born as samurai.

Although it is not clear what the specific identity and purpose of this flotilla is. However, these Japanese reacted only after a brief period of shock. Then, amid the roar of their respective commanders, they resolutely boarded the patrol boat and rushed in the direction from which the Haw Par Army fleet was coming.

Soon, two fleets, which had a huge gap just in terms of size, collided together.

At the same time, a piece of news that shocked everyone quickly spread through the Tokyo docks. Then, like a gust of wind, the news quickly spread to the city of Tokyo.

The Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty, which all Japanese people yearn for very much, sent a large caravan and brought countless supplies of all kinds to Japan......

The mighty fleet of the Haw Par Army, guided by several Japanese patrol boats, directly occupied the best ship position at the Tokyo docks. This is because these merchant ships are loaded with all kinds of materials that Japan urgently needs. If they could not give these Ming Dynasty people the best hospitality, the Japanese who urgently needed these materials would not have been able to buy these materials from the Ming Dynasty people, that is, the Haw Par Army, at a very favorable price.

As soon as the mighty fleet approached the dock, dozens of officials from the Foreign Trade Department headed by Ou Xiao had just set foot on the land of the Japanese, and dozens of Japanese dressed as businessmen hurriedly greeted them.

I thought it would be very troublesome to communicate with these Japanese people. After all, they belong to two countries.

However, what Ou Xiao didn't expect was that these Japanese businessmen spoke Chinese very fluently. After some exchanges, Ou Xiao knew. Nowadays, Japanese people are starting a wave of learning Chinese.

Both the aristocracy and the wealthy were proud to be able to speak Chinese.

Since these Japanese people can speak Chinese, it saves a lot of trouble. Under Ou Xiao's calm gaze, the Japanese businessman, who had long been blushing at the goods loaded in the merchant ship behind Ou Xiao, had to ask: "Lord Ou, I don't know what goods you brought with you to Japan this time...... I was the most powerful businessman in Tokyo, and I had the support of the Tokugawa shogunate. As long as there is cargo in the fleet that we want, we will definitely buy them all......"

"Buy them all......" Hearing these words, Ou Xiao directly showed a mocking smile on his face.

Then, without hesitation, he said mockingly: "Buy them all? Are you sure you have the financial resources ......"

The face of the Japanese changed, and he replied without showing weakness: "Of course, the foundation I belong to is the most powerful foundation in Japan. If I can't buy it, there will be no one else in the whole of Japan who can buy the goods that you have worked so hard to ship to Japan, Lord Ou......"

Hearing this, all Ou Xiao could do was shake his head noncommittally.

After pondering for a while, he no longer hesitated, and said directly: "In this case, this official will see how huge the financial resources of the consortium you belong to......

"As far as I know, Japan, like the Ming Dynasty, was affected by drought. Coupled with Japan's grain production, it is already very low. So far, the price of grain in Japan has risen to 10 taels of silver per load. Even so, there is no market for food in the Japanese market, and there is no supply......"

As soon as Ou Xiao's words were finished, a pair of Japanese eyes in front of him shot out two fine lights.

Nodding to Ou Xiao without hesitation, he affirmed: "Yes, Japan is indeed very short of food now...... Could it be that the fleet brought by Lord Ou brought food that was urgently needed in Japan? ”

"If that's the case, I'm willing to buy all the grain brought by Master Ou at the price of ten taels of silver and a load of grain......"

At this moment, Ou Xiao can already be sure that the Japanese standing in front of him are indeed the largest and most powerful consortium in the whole of Japan. Because, when he spoke, the other Japanese people closed their mouths at the same time as if they had agreed to it, and led the Japanese who stood at the front.

Faced with this situation, Ou Xiao's brows subconsciously furrowed.

Because, if I only face a Japanese consortium and no competition during my trip to Japan, it is impossible to make the most profits.

So, to get through this shipment in Guò's hands, to plunder more wealth from Japan. Then there is only one way to let these Japanese consortia standing in front of them compete. With competition, the goods in your hands can be sold at a better price.

However, how to break the situation in front of him and let these Japanese people in front of him not take the lead of one person has become the biggest and only problem that Ou Xiao needs to solve now.

Under the gaze of several Japanese, an idea quickly came to Ou Xiao's mind, making Ou Xiao's eyes, which were still confused just now, shoot out two fine lights directly.

As for the idea, it is very simple to say, that is, to feed the largest Japanese consortium and let him retreat...... Only by letting him quit can other Japanese foundations not have to worry about the Tokugawa shogunate behind this consortium, compete and raise the price of the goods in their hands to the highest.

Counting the goods in their hands, the only thing that could satisfy the Tokugawa shogunate, the largest consortium, and make them retreat in difficulty, was the 5,000 flintlock muskets that were shipped with the goods.

Thinking of this, the corners of Ou Xiao's mouth flashed with a sneer that was not erased.

Under the gaze of the Japanese representing the Tokugawa Shogunate Foundation, he said with a mysterious face: "This official believes that with the strength of the Tokugawa Shogunate Foundation, there is absolutely no problem in eating these grains. However, there is another kind of cargo here. This official believes that food is nothing at all in the face of such goods? ”

As soon as Ou Xiao's words were finished, the face of the Japanese, who had just eaten the grain in Ou Xiao's hand, directly revealed a heartfelt expression of yearning.

Staring at a pair of eyes full of heat, he looked at Ou Xiao and waited for Ou Xiao to follow. (To be continued......)