Chapter 540: The Blue Sea and the Waves

After resting at home for two days, the palace's order came out, and Chen Ao and the martial arts school were ready. The navy commander and instructor were 600 people, and there were also Chang Suisuhu who brought him there. The number of people was really large, with more than a hundred bicycles and horses.

Wu Saner also planned to follow him. Quanzhou is one of the best big cities, and its status is not inferior to Suzhou and Hangzhou in this era. If Suya Shanfang's business can expand there, the entire Lingnan and Fujian can radiate out.

Chen Ao said goodbye to his wives one by one, and with some reluctance to get on the carriage, he did not dare to look at the figure leaning against the door, and sighed in his heart, and the carriage started.

The road from Bianjing to Fujian is long. You need to go from the canal to the Suzhou-Hangzhou area and then change to land. It will take as soon as one and a half months. This is the result of official travel. If you change to ordinary people, where can you have special boats? Where can you have so many cars and horses? Even if you don’t encounter any change in the weather in the middle, it will take at least three or five months.

The navy captains were all very morale. After practicing for three or four months, the results had come out. At least one of them seemed extremely energetic. They were completely obedient to military orders and could endure hardships and be tired.

Most of the lieutenants who can be selected for the Navy Department have their hometowns rely on the sea, some are Jiangnan Road, some are Guangnan East Road, and many are Fujian Road. This trip is quite like returning home in a grand manner. Before this, the doctor had already mobilized the lieutenants to understand the dangers of this trip and ask them to prepare as soon as possible, and be more cautious along the way.

Therefore, during the journey, the scouts explored the way first according to the regulations of marching and fighting. Even if the fleet went down the canal, there were also sentry ships in front of them, and they could observe the movements downstream at any time.

When they arrived in Hangzhou, everyone got off the boat. All officials from Suzhou and Hangzhou were all paying homage to the docks. Chen Ao didn't see them at all. On the surface, these people were mostly waiting to see their jokes. If the powerful people in Quanzhou were punished by Chen Ao, who would dare to fight against Shen Ao in Suzhou? It would be of no benefit to officials from Suzhou and Hangzhou to rectify maritime affairs. Although they dare not take any action, they are actually just waiting and watching. Let's see how Quanzhou is going before making a decision.

However, Eunuch Lu from the Maritime Conservatory came to see him. Chen Ao thought about it and decided to meet him and ask someone to let him come and meet him. When Eunuch Lu saw Chen Ao, he immediately greeted with a smile and called Lord Shen warmly.

Although Eunuch Lu is from the Maritime Office, he does not have much resistance to Chen Ao's rectification of maritime affairs. After all, he is from the palace and his real future is in the palace. Now that Chen Ao is on the line, he will have to go to the palace to listen to the mission or put it in another place to take charge of the affairs. If the Maritime Office is gone, it will be gone, and he still looks down on him!

Chen Ao glanced at Eunuch Lu and said slowly: "Eunuch Lu is here to find my official position, is there anything wrong?"

Eunuch Lu smiled flatteringly and said, "When I arrive in Hangzhou, the family members always have to fulfill their friendship as a landlord."

Chen Ao shook his head and said, "I'm in a hurry to rush, and Eunuch Lu's kindness is appreciated."

Eunuch Lu stopped persuading and said with a smile: "I'm here, someone wants to see the adults."

"Who?" Chen Ao was quite surprised. Although he had been here more than once, why did someone come to see him at this time?

Eunuch Lu looked around and looked at Zhou Chu beside Chen Ao, pursed his lips, and smiled and said nothing.

Chen Ao frowned and said, "You can say that this Instructor Zhou is my confidant."

Zhou Chu showed a little gratitude on his face, and Eunuch Lu had to say, "It's a maritime businessman who wants to meet the adults, and comes from Quanzhou."

Chen Ao said seriously: "Where are people? This is not a place to talk. Let's do this. I will go to your place to settle first, so you can arrange it." At this time, a maritime merchant came to meet, which surprised Chen Ao. He wanted to meet this person.

Eunuch Lu nodded and immediately went to make arrangements. That night, Chen Ao moved into the Maritime Office. Eunuch Lu invited everyone to wash away the dust and settled the lieutenant, and then asked Chen Ao to go to the study room. Although Eunuch Lu was illiterate, the study room was spacious enough. The shelf of books inside was full of books. When he walked in, the fragrance of books filled his nose, and he felt familiar.

Chen Ao sat down at the desk without hesitation. After a while, Eunuch Lu brought someone. The man was short and had a fat body. He seemed to have a sign-like smile on his face. His jaw glanced under his jaw was very eye-catching. When he saw Chen Ao, he hurriedly bowed down and said, "Tong Yu, a businessman from Quanzhou, has seen the adults."

Chen Ao just smiled faintly and said, "What's the matter with you coming to see me? I ordered the order to sanction the maritime affairs. If you are a lobbyist, you'd better off."

Tong Yu raised his face and said with a smile: "Sir, the villain is here to report to the adults."

"Report the message? What message?" Chen Ao glanced at him faintly.

Tong Yu said: "The villain is from Quanzhou and is still ranked among the maritime merchants in Quanzhou. Although he is not as good as the four surnames of Quanzhou, the business is spread all over the world. Just a few days ago, news came from Quanzhou that the entire Quanzhou suddenly became different from before."

Chen Ao pursed his lips and snorted coldly: "You can receive the news from a few days ago now. Don't tell me, you are a clever man."

Tong Yu said slowly, "I dare not hide it from adults. The villain has no clairvoyance or ears, but there are pigeons. What we do business care about most is the news, where there is a grain shortage, where there is chaos, and lack of medicinal materials. As long as we know it earlier than our peers, we can make a big profit by stepping faster than others."

As a transmission tool, the carrier pigeon has existed since ancient times, but it is difficult to keep it up and it is also very expensive. Moreover, this news may not be able to be effectively conveyed, so it is not common to use it. I didn’t expect that these business people would take advantage of this opportunity.

Chen Ao smiled and said, "Okay, tell me, what news is there in Quanzhou."

Tong Yu said: "Many unknown ships suddenly appeared near Quanzhou's coast. In addition, the four major ships suddenly went out to sea, but they all went out to sea in empty capsules."

Chen Ao frowned. This news is very important. Not to mention unknown ships, the most important thing is the movements of the four major surnames. It would be fine if all ships went out to sea, but now all the empty capsules are out. Their ships are merchant ships. They must be eager to fill all the cargo compartments when going out to sea. How could they be empty capsules?

Tong Yu said: "Master Shen, when the villain knew the news, he was wondering why the four major surnames made such a move at the critical moment when the adults ordered to inspect Quanzhou. Later, the villain figured it out that they were going to perform a play and were waiting for the adults to go to Quanzhou."

Chen Ao said slowly: "What do you mean is that their ships will turn into pirate ships. When I arrive in Quanzhou, will they pretend to be pirates to attack Quanzhou?"

Tong Yuhe nodded: "The villain has already heard of the great name of the adults, how could the four major surnames in Quanzhou have not heard of it? This time, the adults led the imperial destiny and the business of the four major surnames could no longer be carried out. So no matter what, they will definitely take this dangerous step."

Chen Ao looked at him coldly: "But what about you? Are you also a maritime businessman? Why do you come to inform us?"

Tong Yu kowtowed, but did not show fear and said seriously: "Because the villain cannot comb the capital, the ships in the font size will have to pay commercial tax as long as they enter Quanzhou Port."

Chen Ao's face relaxed a little, and he had roughly understood the situation. Tong Yu's business is quite good, but he is not an official businessman. This means that his ships have to pay a large amount of taxes when entering and leaving the port. The cost of transporting ivory back by others is ten cents, but he needs fifteen cents when he returns by freight. He makes a profit easily, so he is different. On the one hand, he has to control the cost, and on the other hand, he has to face other people's suppression. If the four major surnames want to make him unlucky, gently pinch his fingers and sell the ivory at a price of fifteen cents, Tong Yu will immediately be crushed. Because fifteen cents have profits for the four major surnames, but for him, it is a loss of money below this price.

After all, Tong Yuba came to report the news for the sake of profit. Chen Ao's purging of maritime affairs is certainly a fatal thing for officials and businessmen like the four major surnames, but it is a blessing for ordinary maritime merchants. Although the court did not exempt them from taxes, as long as the officials and businessmen were pulled into their line, the maritime trade business would be much easier for them.

Chen Ao smiled faintly, then knocked on the case and said, "Your news is very useful, I know."

Tong Yu said: "Sir, are you still going to Quanzhou?"

Chen Ao smiled and said, "Go, of course you have to go, why not?"

Tong Yu's face turned pale: "Sir... aren't you afraid..."

Chen Ao raised his chin slightly and said, "It's not me who must be afraid of, they are them, otherwise they will not make such a bad decision. It's okay. Originally, I just went to punish me according to the order. Since they dared to do such a thing, they didn't have to stay. It was easier to live and even more likely to die."

After sending Tong Yu away, Eunuch Lu, who had been silent all the time, said justice: "Sir..."

Chen Ao leaned on the chair and drank a few glasses of wine. He seemed a little drunk: "You don't have to say anything, just let you do one thing. Quanzhou has been cleaned up, and Suhang will be left to you to clean up. Don't worry, Suhang is not as good as Quanzhou, and no one is pretending to be a pirate. Remember, no one has to be afraid. I am standing behind you, and the Emperor of Song, do you know?"

Eunuch Lu was stunned. Although this errand would offend many people, the benefits were also great. He hesitated for a moment and gritted his teeth and said, "The family is the leader of Lord Shen."

Chen Ao shook his head tiredly and said, "Go to sleep."

A night passed, and before the dawn of the morning had just begun to appear, the navy captains gathered at Kou, and then boarded the Shanghai ship and headed towards Quanzhou to go down the water.

These ships were all ships from the Maritime Warehouse Division, with a total of four lucky ships of thousands of materials, as well as seven or eight whistle ships and supply ships. Originally, the Maritime Warehouse Division wanted to hire ship workers, but Chen Ao refused and asked the lieutenants to go up, supply food and water, and set sail to sea.

As for how to helm and sail, they are all done by the navy captains. Many people are exposed to sea boats for the first time. At least they always remember some knowledge in their minds. With the guidance of the instructor, they can stop them immediately if they make mistakes occasionally. In order to give them an internship opportunity, Chen Ao has sacrificed his life this time. If he encounters an accident with a blind guy and the ship capsizes, it will be really unlucky.

Fortunately, he was quite calm and tried not to leave the cabin so as to avoid walking on the deck. He heard a coach yelling: "xx, raise the sail quickly, hurry up..." The sail did not rise up, and Zhenzhen was scared to death. It is important to know that the sail must be adjusted according to the sea breeze. If something goes wrong, it may be possible that the entire ship will have to go into the sea to feed the turtle.

Fortunately, it is near the sea, and the influence of the sea breeze has not yet reached the point of death. Although I was sweating all over the place along the way, it was just a false alarm after all.

After sailing for seven or eight days, the lieutenants finally looked a little. Although they still had to scold the teacher, the mistakes made gradually decreased. The most idle people on the ship were gunners and sailors. The lieutenants of these two subjects were used for naval battles, so there was no need to tinker with the ship for the time being. Chen Ao couldn't see it and asked Zhou Chu to train them well. He thought he could take a break on the ship, but he had to go to the deck to practice, so he complained for a while, and in the end the entire fleet was left with only commands and slogans of practice.

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Chapter completed!