Chapter 418: The Fisherman Gains
In the main hall, Xiao Ming and Wang Xuan stood facing each other.
After receiving Xiao Ming’s orders, Wang Xuan said confidently, “Your Highness, the secret guards have already gone to Chu territory. If something big really happens, we should get news soon.”
Wang Xuan sounded very sure. In two years, the government had spent a lot on the secret guards, allowing them to quickly expand. Now, just under him, the secret guards numbered over a thousand.
They were stationed in key areas with strict organization, continuously sending back information.
Xiao Ming nodded. “Good. But their work needs to improve. The secret guards’ capture of the Jin merchants was soon known by the Emperor. Looks like the Emperor has spies too.”
Wang Xuan nodded. “We were careless. Later we found out those merchants were from the Lijing Gate.”
“That’s not bad. Now you have an opponent to compete with. Also, don’t relax surveillance in Chang’an and the barbarian lands. Their movements are important too.”
“Yes.” Wang Xuan nodded and left.
Watching Wang Xuan leave, Xiao Ming fell into thought. The news Cao Zhengtong brought surprised him—he didn’t expect the Chu King to go to war with the Dutch.
It showed the Dutch really pushed the Chu King hard. But having such a domineering Dutch Earl in the region was also bad news for Xiao Ming.
The maritime trade routes were now completely blocked. This was a huge problem for Xiao Ming. As Cao Zhengtong said, trade routes are wealth.
He could not let such huge wealth be controlled by the Dutch.
The land Silk Road was cut off, and now the sea routes too. Xiao Ming really had two big headaches. This Great Yu Empire was truly a mess.
Two days later, Wang Xuan brought news of the Battle of Qiantang in Chu territory. The Chu King’s fleet lost over thirty ships. The heir Li Chuyuan was almost captured by the Dutch.
Lin’an docks were destroyed into ruins by the Dutch. Finally, under Dutch pressure, the Chu King had to sign a new trade agreement on the Dutch flagship.
The agreement recognized Dutch ownership of maritime trade. All ships using the trade routes must pay heavy taxes to the Dutch. Also, all goods the Dutch sold in Chu territory were tax-exempt.
“Is this news reliable?” Xiao Ming asked, holding the report from Wang Xuan.
“Very reliable. The Dutch publicized the agreement to local sea merchants as an insult to the Chu King. This news came from those merchants,” Wang Xuan said.
Xiao Ming sneered twice. “Unexpected, unexpected. The Chu King really set a precedent for Great Yu—he is the first in history to sign such an unfair, traitorous treaty under colonial military threat.”
“The Chu King always aims high. This time, he’ll probably beg Your Highness to buy arms,” Wang Xuan suddenly laughed.
“Heh, who knows. After being badly beaten by the Dutch, the Chu King will surely buy a lot of arms. And the Dutch won’t sell him any more,” Xiao Ming said with some anticipation.
As they talked, servants announced at the door, “Your Highness, a Chu King envoy requests an audience.”
“Just like the saying, when two clams fight, the fisherman gains. The Chu King got angry at us and the barbarians fighting each other. Now we can watch his joke,” Wang Xuan laughed.
Xiao Ming nodded and told Wang Xuan to step aside and let the Chu King’s envoy in.
“I am Li Wei, here to see Your Highness,” said an elder around fifty.
Xiao Ming frowned. “No need for formalities. What brings the envoy here?”
“Your Highness, the Chu King sent me to buy cannons and matchlocks. He asked me to tell the Qi King to kindly provide one thousand naval cannons.”
“One thousand naval cannons?” Xiao Ming almost jumped. “The Chu King is mad! Where would I get so many cannons? Wait, how does the Chu King even know about naval cannons?”
He was suddenly shocked.
Li Wei calmly said, “The Dutch told the Chu King about the naval cannons to show off. Your Highness said if he could get one thousand cannons, he would consider the Qi King’s requests.”
Xiao Ming’s eyes lit up. One thousand naval cannons was a huge business. It could allow the Chu King to build a powerful cannon fleet.
These were heavy cannons, much more expensive than normal city defense cannons. One thousand was a huge sum.
Overall, the deal was tempting, but Xiao Ming didn’t have enough cannons for himself, let alone the Chu King.
So he said, “I’m afraid I can’t help. Qingzhou’s cannon production is limited. One thousand is too many.”
Li Wei remained calm. “Your Highness, please think carefully. The Chu King said Qingzhou lacks ships, not cannons. Chu territory lacks cannons, not ships. They complement each other. The Chu King is willing to trade merchant ships and shipyard craftsmen for cannons.”
“Merchant ships and craftsmen.” Xiao Ming’s heart skipped.
The Chu King was right. What he really lacked now was ships—both merchant ships and shipbuilding craftsmen. He urgently needed them.
After thinking, he said, “I can spare some cannons, but only about thirty. The rest can be delivered over the next few years. Besides that, I have no other way.”
The Chu King was pushed to desperation by the Dutch. The agreement was signed, and every year he would lose more.
“Your Highness said that it can wait,” Li Wei said.
Xiao Ming nodded. “That’s acceptable. But the usual rule applies—the deposit must be in place. Otherwise, I can’t do this business. I want to see the merchant ships and craftsmen first.”
With such a big order, Xiao Ming had to keep expanding the military workshop. One thousand cannons was roughly the size needed for ten galleons.
Also, delivery over several years wasn’t a threat. Who knew how much Qingzhou’s navy would develop in three or four years? By then, these cannons would probably be outdated.
“As Your Highness wishes.” Li Wei nodded heavily.