Chapter 148 Young Man Chasing Waves Across the Sea
Beidingji became even more prosperous, with bustling crowds flowing from morning till night. Many locals would set off from their tribes a day or two in advance to trade here.
As more and more high-ranking officials and merchants emerged, Qin Mo encouraged the older men in his retinue to start trading. These men, already over forty and nearing the end of their lives, were in the prime of their lives to contribute. Qin Mo not only provided them with iron farm tools and daily necessities, but even allowed them to recruit warriors from other tribes to form caravans that ventured deep into the Luzon jungle to trade with poorly informed tribes.
Old Liu has two such "caravans" under his command, and today is the day they return to Zhangzhou to hand over the goods.
“Brother Liu, those natives are getting smarter and smarter. They want to exchange a gem for an axe, or two iron pots, and they even want me to give them a bottle of rum. They are simply insatiable.”
Meng Xin tossed the account book and the bundle containing valuables onto the table, plopped down next to Liu Laoqi's liquor cabinet, picked up a bottle of baijiu, and took a swig. Baijiu has a low alcohol content, but it is made with high-quality ingredients and a complex brewing process, resulting in a mellow flavor. It is a fine product that the elves have just developed this year.
"Drink sparingly, I only have a few bottles left, and I won't be able to drink any more until next month." Liu Laoqi felt a chill run down his spine at the way Meng Xin was drinking, but he held back because of the heavy burden he carried.
The bundle was opened, revealing large chunks of gold and several bags clearly containing gemstones. Liu Laoqi opened them and looked at them, nodding in satisfaction. "They still haven't seen the market. Such fine sapphires are only exchanged for an axe. In Beidingji, the price would be much higher. The first few vendors who came here are really fools, raising the prices so high."
"Hmm?" Liu Laoqi took out a transparent diamond, rubbed its surface with his fingers, and frowned as he asked, "Meng Xin, where did this diamond come from? How did it get stained with blood?"
"We went far this time. A tribe in the east saw us for the first time and wanted to wipe out our team. Hehehe, too bad they didn't have the teeth. They were wiped out by the brothers." Meng Xin took a swig of wine, a cruel smile appearing on his face.
"How many of our men died?" Liu Laoqi was relieved, as long as they hadn't robbed any of their fellow travelers.
"One died and five were injured. The one who died was too careless; he carried his chainmail on his back without wearing it. How foolish! But Brother Liu, shouldn't we get a few more suits of iron armor? We're still lacking in chainmail, and we keep getting injured."
"Okay, I'll write back to my hometown and ask the landlord to get a few of them."
Nowadays, the production of fine iron in Taiwan is different from the past. In the past, a suit of iron armor was a family heirloom. Now, any merchant will go to the "Arsenal Management Office" to get a few suits. As long as it is for a "legitimate" purpose, anyone with money and a guarantor can buy it.
The immense wealth tempted the middle-aged and elderly people of Dayuan, who, with Qin Mo's support, embarked on the path of colonization, spreading Dayuan's influence throughout Luzon.
Young men of high-ranking officials do not like to pursue the path of business. Businessmen are a backup option after joining the military, especially joining the navy, which is the dream of the younger generation of high-ranking officials, and the naval academy is the dream within the dream.
Naval Academy cadets are assigned to various ships for practical training based on their grades. In the past, the largest galleons were the cadets' favorites, but from today onwards, it is estimated that no one will like galleons anymore.
Three state-of-the-art frigates sailed on the sea in a triangular formation. The ship at the front was the Kai, carrying Qin Mo and Kaihime, while the two behind it were the frigates No. 601 and No. 602, which were used by the trainees.
After boarding the ship, the trainees learned that not every warship had a name. Only those that made outstanding contributions in naval battles were given names. Everyone's heart began to burn with excitement, dreaming that a great warship would have a glorious name because of them.
Han Kun and his few Russian sailors were definitely an anomaly on the 601. They were selected from the sailor training camp. Originally, the Russian sailors were not qualified to board the new warship. It was only after the camp commander Zhuang Hu asked the prince that they were given this opportunity to practice.
"Vasily and Jacob, each of you is responsible for one sail. If the wind is lost, go out to sea and swim for half an hour."
Han Kun had never been so strict before. Although he often beat Vasily and Jacob, this time was completely different. He was utterly captivated by the ship, and even the slightest mistake was a disrespect to it.
A slender hull, tall masts and sails, a menacing iron-clad ram, and the exhilarating "Wrath of the Elves" make the frigate an agile guardian of the sea. Of course, if it were to transform into a pirate, it would be a wolf of the sea.
This morning, the rifle squad accompanying the ship practiced sniping formations. The simultaneous firing of dozens of Type 1 rifles made Han Kun realize that this was intended to deal with cultivators, and at least had a certain deterrent effect on cultivators at the Yellow Realm.
But none of these were the most eye-catching features. The newly designed cockpit made the naval academy cadets the object of envy and jealousy.
"This ship is amazing! When we get back, we'll be so envious of those lazy bums... hahaha!" Two naval cadets who had just finished their shifts walked past Han Kun, laughing and joking, giving him a smug look.
Han Kun excelled in the sailors' training camp and was already a first-class bosun before graduation, with a black anchor badge on his shoulder.
Those naval academy students were all trainee officers and trainee helmsmen. If they encountered Han Kun, they would be expected to give way to him according to unspoken rules.
Even if Han Kun turned that anchor into gold... it still wouldn't be able to get into the cockpit.
In the past, the driver's seat was always open, exposed to the scorching sun and rain. But now it's different. The fully enclosed cockpit has large windows and movable air vents to cool it down, making it a completely different world from the deck outside.
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