Chapter 147 Still South?
Sailing eastward along the river from Tamsui City, passing the location of what will later become the city of TB, and continuing northeastward, you will re-enter the sea. At the confluence of the sea and the river lies Keelung Port.
Qin Mo chose Keelung Port as the location for his military shipbuilding base. It was not on the route from Daxia to Dayuan, so it was relatively secluded and off-limits to outsiders.
"Joe, do we have enough manpower? Yesterday, news came from the north asking if we still want the Russian prisoners."
“Your Highness, the current situation is certainly sufficient, but if you expand the shipyard further, you will definitely be short-handed. The more the better.” A burly old man with a white beard followed Qin Mo, ready to answer his questions at any time.
"Hmm, I'll write to Huang Yue later. He's addicted to buying and selling people."
Huang Yue was the captain from the general's mansion whom Qin Mo met when he first arrived in the trading city. Ever since the news that Qin Mo needed a large number of laborers to reclaim wasteland spread to the north, he had started working as a human trafficker. Qin Mo didn't know if Zhao Qirui knew about this or had intervened, but he only bought people from Huang Yue and refused all others.
“Uncle Qiao, I shouldn’t be troubling you at your age, but you see, there aren’t many older generation members in our government who know how to build ships, and the older generation can’t keep things under control. Please bear with us. If these Russians don’t obey, you can move the garrison as you see fit. Killing a few people is still possible.”
“Your Highness, you can’t do that. I’m not qualified enough and my cultivation is insufficient to help you fight like Old Lin, Old Wu, and Old Xu. Now that I’m finally of some use, how can I refuse? I, Old Qiao, am in very good health. I even took a Korean concubine last month. Your Highness, rest assured, I will not delay your important matters.”
The old man thumped his chest loudly, sending a chill down Qin Mo's spine. His way of managing the household was peculiar, boiled down to one word—procreation. He was deeply dissatisfied with having only two sons, not only allowing them to take numerous concubines, but also refusing to accept his own age.
In the past, the people of Dayuan were poor and the land was desolate. They couldn't even afford to go to the inland areas of Daxia to find a wife. But now, you'd be embarrassed to call yourself a prince's old servant if you didn't take two concubines.
"I'm relieved to hear that, Uncle. I'll bring you the rum you requested, but please drink it in moderation. It's too strong. I suggest you try the milder baijiu instead."
“Your Highness is right. How could I not understand the price of rum and the quality of baijiu? That rum is for Rakshasa devils. I, Old Joe, used to think I was a drunkard, but compared to them, I realize I'm no match for them.”
Based on the special products of Dayuan, Qin Mo formulated several important industries to support, among which sugar production based on sugarcane was an important one, and rum was a by-product of sugar production.
The earliest rum was made by fermenting molasses, which is actually the sugar residue left over from sugar extraction. Of course, later on, high-end rums were made from carefully selected sugar syrup.
Rum can reach a high alcohol content of 50 degrees and is a favorite of sailors and true men. Give a Russian a bottle of rum and they will be the best laborers, without slacking off.
Qin Mo shook his head and walked out of the Keelung Port area with a wry smile. Zhuang Hucai, the captain of the sailors' training camp who was following behind him, came up to talk to him. He was far inferior in terms of seniority and status and could not get a word in edgewise.
"Your Highness, with so many warships being built at once, we're not exactly short-handed!"
"Huh? Didn't you just guarantee there would be enough sailors? Why are you suddenly so uncertain? Let me tell you, Lao Zhuang, if no one comes to steer the ship after it's launched, I'll have you take over."
"Hehehe, Your Highness, please promote me to the top!"
Qin Mo had just arrived at the riverbank and was about to board the boat when she heard Zhuang Hu's words. She turned around and asked, "Oh? What does Lao Zhuang mean?"
"Your Highness, I have never forgotten Your Highness's instructions. The training camp has enough sailors, and all training matters are proceeding in an orderly manner. I humbly request Your Highness... to give me a different assignment."
Qin Mo finally understood what Zhuang Hu meant. He was itching to get his hands on the new warships and wanted to "touch" the rudder.
"Old Zhuang, you need to broaden your horizons. These frigates are only medium-sized warships now. When large warships are launched in the future, you will naturally be needed as their captain."
"Your Highness...I have something to say that I have to...We've built so many warships...what are they for?"
Zhuang Hu's expression finally changed, and he unconsciously grabbed Qin Mo's clothes, asking in a trembling voice.
"Of course, we're heading south. Where else could we go? Zhuang Hu, what are you thinking?"
"Oh! Going south is good, going south is good, Luzon is a good place..." Zhuang Hu immediately felt relieved, the pent-up breath he had been holding in was released, and he felt completely refreshed.
"Yes, once we've pacified Luzon, we'll head south."
"What? Further south?"
In the dense forests of Luzon, the trees have thick canopies, and sunlight can only filter through the sparse branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows.
Liu Laoqi was fully armored, and even though he was soaked in sweat, he didn't frown or take off his armor to get some fresh air. Many of his old buddies who didn't wear armor because they felt hot or cold ended up drowning in the gutter, so he really cherished his life.
"Barai! Look closely, isn't that group of people who always buy hunting knives with gold from the tribe ahead?"
A muscular man with a bronze complexion nodded to Liu Laoqi. Judging from his skin color and attire, he was a Tibetan from Dayuan Island, whom Qin Mo called "Gaoshan people".
Balai was originally a native of Dayuan Mountain. Later, Qin Mo promoted centralized breeding and provided them with cement, bricks, and advanced breeding technology. Gradually, many mountain people were more willing to raise livestock and no longer wanted to hunt. This made excellent hunters like Balai feel a sense of crisis. Useless people cannot gain status in the tribe.
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