In mid-November, Hong Kong Pier.

A stone breakwater under construction divides the port's dock into two parts. The deeper part is the port exclusively belonging to the community, which is now enough to dock the Garen ships like the Tiger Shark. Now there is a fleet of six brigged schooners set sailing at the community wharf. Two of them are the familiar Golden Eagle and the Bald Eagle, but the eighteen-pound guns originally loaded were dismantled, and behind them are four large brigged schooners that are one circle larger than the Golden Eagle and the mast is nearly one meter higher.

This is a fast freight ship recently developed by the community shipyard, with a displacement of more than 350 tons. Unlike combat ships such as the Golden Eagle, this type of fast freight ship has taken into account the cost and cargo capacity from the beginning. The wood they use is full of fir, camphor, tight teak and oak in the southeast coast, and there is no need to add pillars, reinforce the deck, and ribs to carry the recoil of heavy cannons, and there is no need to have thicker bulwarks, so the cargo capacity is almost twice that of the Golden Eagle.

The reason for designing this type of fast freight ship is to increase the trade efficiency between the base camp and the distant sea stronghold, especially in the non-monsoon season. You should know that in this era, most maritime trade takes advantage of the southwest monsoon to head north and the northeast monsoon to head south. However, the base camp and overseas strongholds must be frequently connected and supplied. This type of form naturally cannot meet the requirements. Fast freight ships can solve this problem. Sailboats have good sailing ability to sail against the wind, and their speed of sailing against the wind can reach about 70% of the speed of the sailing against the wind. Relatively speaking, the sailboats only have 30% to 50% of the speed of the sailing against the wind.

(Because the zigzag navigation route is used when facing the wind, the navigation time is longer, while the zigzag angle of the cross sailing ship is larger and the efficiency is lower.)

The fast cargo ship was not designed for war from the beginning, so its armed forces were not strong. It was equipped with only a few cyclone guns and the mating guns of the sailors to fight against pirates. Among this fleet, the Goldfish was the exception, and the ship now raised its commander's flag and took on the important task of flagships.

Behind the commander's flag is a relatively unfamiliar flag. The flag belongs to Hu Cheng, a partner of the club. At this time, he was accompanying Li Mingxun to visit the Goldfish.

Hu Cheng was originally just a wealthy landlord in Jialuo Village. In the early stage of the establishment of the community, he quickly accumulated a considerable amount of wealth with Professor Li Mingxun's fishing technology. The precious seafood such as mullet roe produced under his name are now sold in Guangdong and Guangxi. Now he is still in his old business, but he is no longer catching mullets from the Taiwan Strait, but whales near Sakhalin Island.

The society owns a limited number of ships, especially fewer ships that can carry out rapid transportation during the anti-monsoon season, so Hu Cheng, who went north, was also willing to provide Li Mingxun with a transportation capacity, which not only allowed him to receive free escort from warships such as the Golden Eagle, but also earned a portion of the profit by renting freight tonnage from Tenglong Trading Company.

The Goldfish belongs to Hu Cheng's whaling ship. This ship costs Hu Cheng at least 3,000 taels of silver, half of which is used to purchase the Goldfish itself from the shipyard, and the rest is used to purchase other things. Similar whaling ships also have three, but they are all sloops, but they are modified from the original military ships. The Goldfish is not only equipped with crossbows that fire whaling forks and cyclone guns, but also four cannons, a Spanish three-pound cannon, a Dutch four-pound cannon, and two small Flang machines, all of which were exchanged for Hu Cheng himself.

The epoch-making equipment on the Goldfish is two refining furnaces. You should know that in the original history, such equipment was only available a hundred years later. With a refining furnace, you can refine precious blubber into whale oil at sea. There is no need to drag the whale back to the shore to deal with it, which can greatly improve the efficiency of whaling.

He Bin's head reached into the cargo hold and saw a pile of porcelain and tea, with very little food. He asked, "Did your ship travel to the far north? Did you only prepare these rations?"

Hu Cheng smiled and said, "These are all goods from the shopkeeper. If you have the shopkeeper here, I will transport some things for you. When I arrive in Japan, it will not be too late to buy food. There is coal transported from Vladivostok on Yuling Island and the cured meat produced in Yongning City. The price is even lower when it is supplemented. Even if you don't go this time for the shopkeeper, we will also load iron ingots and salt in the cabin to contribute to the community."

He Bin nodded slightly, but knew in his heart that Li Mingxun had already established a foothold in Nuergandusi. Li Mingxun looked at the boat full of sailors and asked, "You are the first time you went to sea to catch whales, are there enough people?"

Hu Cheng quickly said: "Absolutely, the sea dogs who were navigated have been to Yongning City and Dongfang Port with the club. The sails and helmsmen were hired by villains from Nanyang. The whaling masters were from Leizhou Prefecture. The fishermen there hunted whales all year round, and whale oil was also a tribute to the emperor. They could trust them. As for the other miscellaneous sailors, except for the original old people, they were all gangsters, and they all signed the contract when they came."

Li Mingxun had to sigh at the greatness of business, and the high profits of whaling attracted him. Hu Cheng could gather so many people from all over the world. Moreover, Li Mingxun knew that there were several small shareholders in this ship, two of which were middle-level managers of the community. Obviously, the Goldfish was just trying, and more whaling ships would go to the north in the future.

"Hu Cheng, I encourage the community partners to go to Beihai to hunt whales. You are the first to respond. The brave should be rewarded. You can hold this document and when you arrive in Beihai, any community stronghold will support you." Li Mingxun took out a document that had been prepared from his arms and handed it to Hu Cheng.

Hu Cheng took it and saw that the above were all discounted conditions issued by the club, such as preferential whale oil, whale baleen, whale skin purchase prices, lower berth fees, coal and grain priority replenishment rights, and the same maintenance guarantee as the club ships. Hu Cheng understood Li Mingxun's intentions. He hoped to get rich from the whaling industry by supporting himself, and then inspire more people to go to the north and open up the barbaric land.

"Thank you, the shopkeeper. Many people are staring at this trip. When the little one makes a lot of money, those guys will definitely rush to the Beihai." Hu Cheng happily put away the documents and said.

Li Mingxun patted Hu Cheng on the shoulder and said, "The community will always support you, and in the future, it will open more core industries to you."

Hu Cheng knew that Li Mingxun and He Bin had a lot to say, so he let them go to the official hall, which was also the reason why Li Mingxun chose the Goldfish as the flagship. You should know that whaling ships often stayed on the sea for several months, and Hu Cheng is no longer the poor fisherman now, so he naturally won't treat himself badly.

"You are going to Japan this time, it should be more than just trade." Before he knew it, He Bin's attitude towards Li Mingxun became more respectful and asked tentatively.

Li Mingxun smiled slightly and opened a map. The map was drawn by the community drawing room. It ranged south to Yongning City in Taiwan and marked the waterway port and stronghold. Li Mingxun's finger outlined the map and said, "Mr. He, please see, it takes thousands of miles of sea route from the base camp to Yongning City, the largest stronghold in the North Sea. Even if it is smooth sailing, it will take more than twenty days. If you encounter bad sea conditions or head against the wind, driving for two months is easy. If there is no port support on the road, once an accident occurs, it will be huge."

He Bin's face was solemn and focused. In this era, the sea navigation was so powerful that the captain could not resist the power of nature. Although the sailing ship was not powered by coal and heavy oil (the Goldfish was used to replenish coal for refining furnaces, and in addition to keeping heating.), there were not many things that needed to be supplemented. Fresh water, vegetables and grain were related to the health of sailors, while sails, anchors, and cables were related to the safety of ships. Wooden sailing ships would always face problems such as hull damage and water seepage, and needed port repairs.

From the picture, there are two routes to Yongning City. One is to leave from Taiwan and go to Jiangnan to replenish supplies. Cross the East China Sea, Tsushima Strait to Yuling Island, follow the Korean Peninsula and then to Vladivostok, and continue to northward to Yongning City. The other is to leave the Taiwan Strait, go north along the Ryukyu coast, pass through the Tsushima Strait, and continue north along the coast of Japan, arrive at the Oriental Port on Sakhalin Island and then head to Yongning City.

However, there are huge gaps in the middle of these two routes, especially the latter one, except for the inconvenient Yuling Island, there are almost no supply points, and the previous one is in danger. Obviously, Nagasaki, Japan, is at this middle point. Lee Mingxun urgently wants to develop the open port of Nagasaki. Even if he cannot control it like Hong Kong, he cannot build forts and forts, but Nagasaki can provide supply and construction services for the community's ships. What's more, as a civilized country with a population of tens of millions, Japan is not only a huge market and source of precious metals, but also a provider of raw materials. The grain and pickled vegetables produced by Japan are in short supply in various strongholds in the Beihai. Japan also has rich human resources, especially developed handicrafts and experienced craftsmen. The same cotton coat is ordered from Japan and from Guangdong and Jiangnan. The price is very different.

After hearing Li Mingxun's words, He Bin said: "Big Shopkeeper, I lived in Hirado and Nagasaki for a while when I was young. I know quite well there, and I also recognize some of the Chinese leaders, Japanese powerful people, and some things that can be planned for the Big Shopkeeper."

Li Mingxun smiled, held He Bin's hand, and said, "Have Mr. He finally been willing to come out for me?"

He Bin nodded slightly: "The shopkeeper treats me sincerely. I, He Bin, are not a stern heart. How can I not be moved?"

Li Mingxun only believed in what He Bin said. He could be sure that He Bin did mean to be dependent, but he still retained his loyalty. What Li Mingxun was most worried about was the relationship between He Bin and Zheng Zhilong. However, now it is the time to use people. If He Bin, a pirate leader who has been circulating on the sea for many years, is also excellent for the development of the community if he uses it properly.

As the two were talking, the sound of thunder suddenly came from outside. Li Mingxun walked out of the official hall and saw dark clouds sweeping over the sky, lightning and thunder continued, and the strong wind wet the clothes with the drizzle. The sails and ropes blew, and Hu Chengzheng loudly ordered the sailors to lower the sails and tie the things on the deck. He seemed to be a little busy, not as calm as the Golden Eagle escort beside him.

"Big shopkeeper, this is not a good time to go to sea. Why not stop at Budai Port and wait for the storm before leaving." He Bin suggested.

However, He Bin saw that Li Mingxun's face was full of perseverance. He put a cloak on Li Mingxun's body, but heard Li Mingxun say: "The road I've never walked smoothly. If I can't break through the dark clouds, how can I see the rainbow?"

He Bin was slightly stunned when he heard this, and Hu Cheng rushed over after finishing everything and laughed: "Mr. He is worried that my boat is full of old sea dogs, and dealing with this sea situation is nothing. Tenglong Trading Company is even more experienced and there is no need to worry."

"It seems that I am really old." He Bin thought to himself. When he was young, he was a person who dared to climb the bulwarks with cannons. Now he is a little scared after a little storm. It is indeed different from the past.
Chapter completed!