And Ferreira is also famous in Macau, he is a ruthless person, black and white.

Ferreira, unthinking that both of them had a basic understanding of each other, beckoned Li Zhaoji to a corner by the window, untied the cigarette pouch, and Li Zhaoji opened a tin box, took out a pre-rolled cigarette from it, lit it with a candle, and smoked it.

"Interesting stuff." Ferreira was not polite, took one, and did the same.

Li Zhaoji carried Ferreira's knife and put it in front of him: "Brother Ferreira won't be here to give me a knife." ”

Ferreira waved his hand and said, "Where am I so bored, I have been busy all day today, just for your Dongfang, and I only figured it out in the afternoon, you are the boss, and Hai Shuzu is just an unlucky guy who tops the tank for you." So I'm in a hurry to find you. ”

Li Zhaoji nodded: "Then you have something?" ”

Ferreira flicked the ash of his cigarette and said, "Dude, answer me a question first, how fast can your Vostok run the fastest at sea?" ”

Li Zhaoji thought for a while: "At least eight sections, maybe faster." ”

He just couldn't answer this question, nine knots was the fastest speed he measured when he went north in the South Sea, during this time, in Neilingding Island, after the Yahat ship ran aground, the bottom of the ship that adsorbed a large number of marine creatures was thoroughly cleaned, and it was also deeply transformed, and because of the sale of goods, the displacement was much lower, the draft was shallow, and the speed was naturally fast.

But the problem is that after the transformation, he sailed all the way to Macau, but because of the wind factor, he did not conduct a full-speed navigation test, so Li Zhaoji could not give a clear answer.

"Is that true?"

"Why should I lie to you?" Li Zhaoji said lightly.

Ferreira nodded: "Yes, you are a maritime merchant, and the ship is your life, how can you deceive people on this issue." ”

Just as Ferreira's eyes flashed with excitement, Li Zhaoji's words dimmed his light, and Li Zhaoji said: "I'm just such a ship, I won't sell it." ”

"Looks like you already know what I'm here for." Ferreira said.

Li Zhaoji nodded, and asked if the speed could be any longer, didn't he just want to use this ship. If it is a charter, Ferreira will tell it bluntly, and in this era, there is no requirement for speed in chartering a ship.

Ferreira thought for a moment and said, "Actually, Governor Schroeb wanted to buy this ship to complete a critical mission. ”

Li Zhaoji looked into Ferreira's eyes and asked, "Is it a delivery to Manila?" ”

Ferreira shook his head slightly: "It's more critical than that." ”

Macao's trade has been sluggish for two consecutive years, and when Lee Siu-ji docked at the port, he had already discovered that there were many large ships berthed in the port, but they were all junk ships, that is, Ming ships, and Arab dhows. There is not a single foreign ship in earnest, of course, this is also related to the month.

There are three trade routes from Macau to Manila, one is a direct route, which is a route opened up by the Portuguese, and Chinese ships cannot adapt to this kind of task across the South China Sea. The other two are the routes often taken by Chinese ships, which are divided into east and west, which are actually going north and south, around the entire South China Sea, along the coastline and island chain, which is the route of Chinese ships.

A few years ago, Manila had just entered the massacre against the Chinese, and Chinese ships did not dare to go to Manila in recent years.

Although Portugal became independent from Spain, there was one point, and it was the rule of this era that the native returned to the native and the colonies returned to the colonies. Even though official trade is not allowed, actual smuggling is inevitable. Therefore, Li Zhaoji speculated that the Portuguese bought a ship to go to Manila to smuggle goods.

The Spaniards' warships were terrifying, but Manila's American silver was tempting.

Li Zhaoji laughed and nodded constantly: "I understand, I understand." ”

Ferreira was surprised: "What do you understand?" ”

Lee said: "I have already guessed the purpose of your purchase of the ship. ”

Ferreira couldn't believe it, but Li Zhaoji said a few words in his ear, Ferreira's face changed greatly, and he shouted in shock: "You...... How do you know? ”

"I just know, tell Your Excellency Schroeb that I can't sell this ship, but if I am given enough time, I can build or rebuild a faster ship for him, so that it can reach Lisbon safely, at least the Dutch ships, no one can catch up." Li Zhaoji patted Ferreira on the shoulder with confidence, leaving him alone in shock.

Li Zhaoji left Ferreira, jumped onto the central wine table, and said: "Brothers, don't drink dry, wait a while, I have already ordered someone to go outside to buy, half an hour, only half an hour, someone will bring the roast whole sheep."

Today, I, Li Zhaoji, and you will not get drunk or return. ”

"Good! Thank you boss, the boss is atmospheric, the boss is in good health! The drinkers shouted in unison.

The reason why Li Zhaoji entertained these drinkers was not only to vent the negative emotions accumulated for more than a month, but also to make a familiar face among these people.

This tavern is not big, but it can be said to be the most professional employment platform in the whole East, and the people who come in and out of here are all skilled mercenaries, and they can't treat these people like those craftsmen, and they can't be deceived to Neilingding Island like those craftsmen.

It can only be said that you will be familiar with each other first, and you will have the opportunity to recruit them to do things in the future. For example, if Li Yerong is killed, there is room for cooperation.

Early the next morning, Li Zhaoji sat in front of Shi Luobao, the governor of Macao, and the two looked at each other without too much politeness.

Shi Luobao asked bluntly: "Shopkeeper Li, how did you know my secret?" ”

The so-called 'mission' was to transport a shipment to Lisbon, a gift from Governor Schroeb to the King of Portugal.

This is clear to Lee Siu-kee, because in 1640, the Kingdom of Portugal finally got rid of the Spaniards and achieved national independence, and the king of Portugal changed from the king of Spain to João IV, which was a major change for all the spheres of influence of Portugal and abroad.

As the saying goes, once a son of heaven is a courtier, maybe there is no similar proverb in Portugal, but Schroeb must understand this truth.

Macau was also special to Portugal, which had endured sixty years of Spanish rule, during which almost all of the overseas colonies had declared their allegiance to the Spanish king, with the exception of Macau, which had refused to do so.

That's because the Portuguese merchants in Macao knew that there was no point in doing so, because the past sixty years were the sixty years of Portugal's decline, and the Dutch East Indian Company stepped on the corpse of the Portuguese and became the hegemon of the Oriental Sea step by step, while Macau, which monopolized the trade with Europe of the Ming Dynasty, did not need to submit to anyone at all.

Therefore, the King of Portugal decided to give Macau the title of City of Heroes.

The problem, however, was that Schroeb needed to offer a congratulatory gift to the King of Portugal in order to gain his approval to continue his position as Governor of Macau, or a more crucial position, and the Portuguese in Macau wanted the recognition and support of their home country.

But it's not that simple, because on the route from Macau to the home of Lisbon, the Dutch are the dominant maritime powers.

There is a saying in the colonies that the native is returned to the native colony and the colony is returned to the colony. This means that the policies of the homeland are not exactly the same as those of the colonies. The Dutch and Portugal had made official peace, but the Dutch East Indy Company continued to attack the Portuguese colonies in the east, as evidenced by this.

Therefore, the ship must be chased and intercepted by the Dutch all the way, and Li Zhaoji tested Ferreira and determined that the only possibility of buying his own ship was not to smuggle in Manila, then the only possibility was to return to Portugal.

"What's so difficult about this, once a son of heaven and a courtier, you have to swear allegiance to the king of your country on behalf of Macao, so you have to come up with some tribute, and some gifts, gifts, the high-quality artillery of the Bugarao factory is the best gift, isn't it?" Li Zhaoji said with a smile.

Shi Luobao frowned slightly, at first he thought that Ferreira had told Li Zhaoji the secret, but now it seems that it is not, because his order for artillery from the Bugarao factory is still under discussion, and even the members of the Macau Council do not know, how can Li Zhaoji, an outsider, know?

"Well, you're smart enough." Shi Luobao spread out his hand and said, "Since Mr. Li has come to me, there must be a way to help me solve the problem." There will definitely be something to ask for, so let's talk openly and honestly. ”

Lee said, "Your Excellency, I admire your candor. That's right, the Vostok is the only ship under my command, and I can't sell it to you. But the ship wasn't as fast as it was to be, but it was modified by me and my crew.

Most of the modifications were related to the cable system, and even the mast moved very little. If you could offer me a sailing ship of the Yahat type, a month's time, and two thousand pesos, I would give you a ship as fast as the Vostok, if not faster. ”

"But it's not trade season, and there are no European ships here." Schroeb said.

Li Zhaoji smiled: "But you're not in a hurry, are you?" ”

Schroeb nodded slightly, it takes time for Bugarao to cast cannons, and ships are not impossible to solve, such as finding the Dutch or the Spaniards, both of whom have shipyards in Batavia and Manila, as long as they find a middleman, they can buy ships, or even ready-made ships.

"Well, what if you can't?"

"The Vostok is yours, but you need to change your name." Lee Siu Kee said.

Shi Luobao was very satisfied when he saw Li Zhaoji's confident appearance, he relaxed a lot, and continued: "Then what do you need?" ”

"I need all your friendship." "In the future, I will do some things in Macau, such as selling some goods and buying some weapons and equipment that may be prohibited, and I also hope that you can facilitate the piracy of the Pearl River Estuary," Lee said.

Of course, it's all built on the basis of mutual benefit. ”

Shi Luobao felt that there was no problem, after all, Li Zhaoji almost didn't mention any specific conditions, so he immediately agreed, but what he didn't expect was that Li Zhaoji said the next word.

"Your Excellency the Governor, in order to show your sincerity, please get rid of a man named Li Yerong for me, he is very greedy and annoying." Lee Siu Kee said.