Young Master Zhao and his entourage docked at the obviously oversized pier of Seongsan Port… Port means the waterside or the place where a river flows into the sea, and all the ports on Jeju Island are called Port.
Before the boat was steady, a group of poorly dressed people from the Ly Dynasty came to the dock, carrying heavy bottles and jars and bamboo baskets on their heads, and competed in shouting their wares to the people on the boat.
Although they all spoke Korean, seeing the kimchi, salted fish, smoked meat, drinks, and fresh fruits and vegetables on their heads made Zhao Hao feel like he was relived the scene of taking a train into the station in the 1990s.
Park Sung-sung was embarrassed and told Zhao Hao that it was because of smuggling in the port. The common people and servants in nearby Chengshan Town and even Jingyi County were very scared when they saw the Japanese at first, but gradually they got used to it. So whenever there was a trade, they would flock to Chengshan Port to do small business.
Japanese ships and smuggling ships of sea merchants also needed supplies. With supply and demand, over time, a few days before the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, the villagers of the Joseon Dynasty would gather here and wait until the ships of both sides left.
Seeing that it was almost the first day of July, these peasants came with food as usual. Zhao Hao also saw a few empty-handed women standing in the distance, wearing makeup and makeup, who were here to engage in the flesh trade.
But these villagers still don’t understand that the ship they are waiting for will never come…
Park Chengxing shouted loudly at these untouchables to get out and not to pollute the eyes of Master Zhao.
Unfortunately, his official robe had been torn during the previous interrogation, and now he was wearing the blue and black uniform of the Coast Guard. Who would pay attention to him?
In order to show his humility, Park Sung-seong did not bring his personal guards on board. Now he was at a loss and had to ask Zhao Hao to send two guards to follow him off the boat and go to the nearby naval battle site to call for people to maintain order.
Zhao Hao smiled and nodded, and asked Wang Rulong to send a few more Marines to accompany him.
As soon as Park got off the boat, he was surrounded by vendors, who would not let him leave unless he bought something. Fortunately, Wang Rulong sent a team to him, and the boat also needed more food, so the team leader asked the vendors to sell to the ship's quartermaster, and then protected Park Chengxing and squeezed out of the crowd, running towards the camp on the hillside not far away.
Zhao Hao saw several ships of the Li Dynasty navy moored at the dock. There was such a big commotion here, but no one in the camp came out to check. The defense was so lax that it was indifferent...
But this has nothing to do with him. He only cares about whether Chengshanpu is suitable for use.
"What do you think, Brother Jin? Is this place suitable for our fleet base?" Zhao Hao asked casually, looking at the vast harbor.
Jin Ke's heart moved, and he and Wang Rulong looked at each other, both of them could not hide their surprise. Before, the young master only said that he wanted to find a port on Jeju Island as a forward base for the battle against the Japanese pirates.
But no matter how dull they are, they can still tell the difference between a fleet base and a forward base. It is definitely not just about being permanent or temporary...
"My lord," Jin Ke said carefully, "If we only use this place as a temporary base to punish the Japanese pirates, it's perfect. If we want to operate it as a fleet home port, the foundation is naturally excellent. But the problem is that although the harbor here is large enough, only Chengshan and Niu Island can provide a shelter from the wind. And Tamra Island is famous for its strong winds. The typhoon season will begin next month. I'm afraid it will be difficult for large fleets to stay safely."
"Yeah." Zhao Hao nodded, then looked at Wang Rulong and said, "Brother Wang, what do you think?"
"Of course it is what you say, sir." Wang Rulong said with a grin.
"Don't worry, we're looking for a home for you. Don't tell me what you think now. When the time comes, don't complain to me." Zhao Hao said with a smile.
"Hehe, then we are just talking nonsense." Wang Rulong scratched his head and said, "I am Wang, my home is all over the world. I am just one of your bricks. I will move wherever you say to move me."
This caused Zhao Hao to burst into laughter, and Jin Ke also had no choice but to smile bitterly. Old Wang was becoming less reserved in front of the young master.
"But the men of the security team have been stationed on an island thousands of miles away from the Ming Dynasty for a long time. I'm afraid they will get homesick."
"Hahaha, Jeonra Island is not an ordinary island. It is as big as two Kunsan counties." Zhao Hao laughed again.
Wang Rulong said embarrassedly, "That's true. But Chengshan is far away from the main channel, and it's lonely. Why don't you put the home port in Dajing County? This will save trouble and be more convenient."
"That makes sense." Zhao Hao smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, think about it slowly, let's climb the mountain first."
"Yes." The two nodded, knowing that the Master was not asking for their opinions, but testing them. They quickly used their brains to figure out what the Master's strategic intentions were.
~~
At this time, Park Sung-seong led a group of Joseon officers and soldiers and returned from the naval battle.
The soldiers of the Li Dynasty, wearing bamboo hats and blue battle jackets, rudely dispersed their compatriots who gathered at the dock. But Master Zhao couldn't stand it anymore and asked the vendors to stay outside. If the sailors and guards on the ship needed anything, they would naturally buy from them.
He took Qiaoqiao and Secretary Ma, accompanied by Jin Ke and Wang Rulong, and climbed up the green hillside towards the Sunrise Peak of Chengshan Mountain. Park Chengxing followed behind with Gao Xuezhi, a captain of the Water Warfare Station, ready to be dispatched at any time.
Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak stands like a huge crown at the easternmost tip of Jeonra Island... Well, actually its altitude is less than 200 meters.
But its value lies in its good shape. Except for the northwest side near the harbor where the terrain is slightly gentler, the southeast and north sides facing the sea are all steep cliffs, forming an impregnable natural castle.
Following the crude mountain road dug by the defenders, Master Zhao and his party climbed to the top of the mountain, and were shocked by the scenery before them.
The entire mountaintop is covered with lush vegetation, like a shallow green plate, surrounded by a circle of mountain walls like a city wall. The depression in the middle is very flat, covering thousands of acres, and is perfect for horse racing.
Besides, there were horses here. In addition to more than a hundred Mongolian horses, there were also cattle and sheep. Zhao Hao even saw a pigpen.
"Oh, isn't it okay to have a side job?" Young Master Zhao smiled and glanced at the fat captain. This was the first fat man he saw since he came to Jeju Island.
Raising horses can be understood as a military need, but raising pigs, cattle and sheep can only be considered a sideline business.
Speaking of which, the soldiers in this city's mountains and water battlefield are not as pale and skinny as their comrades in other places, and it is obvious that the food is enough.
"This..." The fat centurion Gao Xuezhi felt embarrassed and looked at the Right Envoy Park for inquiry.
"Tell the truth, Master, you know everything." Park Chengxing ordered in a deep voice, "You must respect me as you would my father, understand?"
Gao Xuezhi was a former soldier of Park Sung-seong, otherwise he would not have gotten this lucrative position. Hearing this, he immediately understood that his right-hand man had already knelt down, and hurriedly smiled flatteringly: "Seeing that they are making a lot of money, we are also very jealous, so we will buy these pigs, horses, cattle and sheep for the Japanese merchants, raise them temporarily in the mountains, and sell them to them when the ship comes, and make a little difference to subsidize our lives."
"You're quite good at doing business." Zhao Hao nodded with a smile. Park Chengxing is a man who knows how to appoint people to the right positions. No wonder he can make so much money from Chengshanpu.
Pu Chengxing asked Gao Xuezhi to bring a few horses for Mr. Zhao to ride for fun, and also to kill a few fat pigs and sheep to reward the troops.
"My lord, although our Jeonra Island is not good for growing crops, it is a good place for raising livestock!" Park Sung-sung explained as he put on the saddle for Zhao Hao, "Not only do we raise good horses here, but our pork, beef and mutton are also better than those elsewhere, especially black pork, which is simply the most delicious food in the world. My lord, you must try my cooking, my roasted pig skin is delicious!"
"Haha, okay. Then let's go down the mountain and try your old Pu's cooking." Zhao Hao looked at him with a smile. Pu Chengxing immediately understood and pulled Gao Xuezhi down the mountain to make arrangements without disturbing the young master.
However, Lao Pu was not exaggerating. The wind on Tamra Island has a light salty taste, which makes the grass and trees here rich in salt, making them excellent forage grass. Therefore, Tamra Island is a heaven-sent pasture that can be compared with Hokkaido. Of course, in terms of resources, it certainly cannot be compared with Hokkaido...
Young Master Zhao, who has a good appetite, has just stepped onto the land of Jeju Island and is already coveting the Ezo land nearly 2,000 miles away!
Master Zhao asked Qiaoqiao and Ma Xianglan to continue riding in the valley, while he and King Jin rode their horses to the northeast of Sunrise Peak, then dismounted and climbed onto the ridge.
After they climbed to the top of the mountain, the vast ocean appeared in front of the three people again.
Young Master Zhao fanned himself with his straw hat and turned around to ask the two men, "Do you know what's on the other side of the sea?"
"It's Japan." Wang Rulong said.
"No, it is our capital for hegemony!" Zhao Hao said to his two trusted generals with great pride: "I'm going to be honest. I won't pretend anymore. I want to build a super navy that can travel across the seven seas and drive the red-haired barbarians back to Europe. I want to make sure that wherever the sun and moon shine and wherever the warships go, everyone will wear Han clothes!"
The strong sea breeze made Mr. Zhao's red jacket rustle. Jin Ke and Wang Rulong were silent for a moment, but there was no surprise on their faces. Instead, they looked relieved.
Then they both knelt on one knee at the same time, clasped their fists and said loudly: "I am willing to lead the way for you, even if I die nine times!"
"Uh..." Young Master Zhao loosened his hands on his head in surprise. If it weren't for the neck string on his straw hat, he would have been blown up to the sky. "Have you two guessed it long ago?"
"As your lackeys, we have seen you purchase guns, build warships, organize a navy, and even want to establish a navigation school!" Jin Ke said with a firm look, "Even if you are ignorant, you know that your ambition is not to serve in the government or in your homeland, but to be on the vast seas!"
"But I didn't expect that the young master's ambition is not only to the East and North Oceans, but also to the South and West Oceans!" Wang Rulong also said excitedly with a fanatical look on his face: "Great, great, sailing across the seven seas in a giant warship is the real lofty ambition, which can be shown to the world!"
"Just as you said, the Westerners have come from thousands of miles across the ocean on huge warships, and are showing off their might on the seas of our Ming Dynasty with their huge cannons!" Jin Ke and Wang Rulong have been with Zhao Hao for quite some time, so their understanding of the changes in today's world naturally far exceeds that of other people in the government and the public.
"I don't want to be a marquis, but I hope the sea is peaceful! We two swear to follow you till death, and sail thousands of miles. Anyone who offends the Ming Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away they are!"