From the second day after Lee Mingxun returned to Budai Port, the entire trading company was operating for the expedition that was moved a month later. No one except Lee Mingxun and Lin Cheng knew the destination of the expedition, but everyone got news from the leaders and managers that if the expedition was successful, those who participated in the expedition would get rich overnight.

With the Tiger Shark, you have the foundation for the expedition to the north, but going thousands of miles away to explore the expedition is definitely not an easy task. Li Mingxun also needs sufficient supplies, elite army, skilled sailors and enough weapons.

Fortunately, Simmons participated in it, and he assisted Lee Myung-hoon in completing the preparations before the expedition. Simmons' first request was to join the Yongjin. According to Simmons, he was not willing to take a boat and go thousands of miles away. Everyone knew that the sea was the most ruthless bitch. If there was only one boat, there would be no hope.

Although the Yongjin was a well-constructed and carefully built wide ship, and it was one of the few good ships among the various sea ships in the Ming Dynasty, in Simmons' eyes, the Yongjin could only be regarded as a cargo ship that could sail near the sea. At Simmons' request, the Yongjin's transformation, reinforced masts and improved sail cables were repaired.

On the other hand, Gao Feng and Simmons trained and expanded the guards to a scale of 100 people. They all replaced Spanish firearms and selected volunteers from the sailors to train firearms to enhance their combat effectiveness as much as possible.

In May, the expedition team was finally formed, including 200 Spanish sailors, 150 Han sailors, 80 guards, 50 Spanish soldiers, 20 craftsmen, a total of about 500. While retaining the basic defensive power of Budai Port, this is already all the power that Li Mingxun can draw.

Li Mingxun actually thought about delaying the plan backward for a period of time to accumulate more strength, but he can afford it, the trading company can afford it, but the monsoon can't wait!

Diaoyu Islands.

Li Mingxun sat on the stern of the boat, with a vast blue sky above his head. In the direction of his left hand, a gray cliff was inserted into the sea. The soft southeastern monsoon blew away the steaming hot breath on the deck. He was holding a glass of wine in his hand, and Simmons sat in front of him, and there was a pair of chess between the two. They were calmly putting on.

Simmons was obviously not as leisurely as Lee Mingxun. He raised his head from time to time and looked at the island not far away, with a look of anxiety.

After Li Mingxun left Budai Port, he went north along the Kuroshio in the Taiwan Strait, but when he arrived near Jilong Port, he bypassed and entered the Ryukyu route. Although Li Mingxun did not say it, Simmons had determined that one of the destinations of the expedition team was Nagasaki, Japan, and at least it was on the route to Japan.

The news spread through Simmons's mouth, and the Spanish sailors on the ship were very excited. Although they were no longer allowed to enter Japan, one thing is certain that the as many as 20,000 deer skins and 600 dan of raw silk placed in the cargo hold of the Yongjin cargo were enough to make Li Mingxun a big profit, and one fifth of the profits belonged to the sailors on the ship. Then the Spanish also made a lot of money, at least this expedition would not return without success.

However, before entering Ryukyu, the fleet slowed down because Li Mingxun was looking for an island. Originally, Simmons thought it was the legendary Treasure Island. After all, Japan, Siam, Myanmar and Ming Kingdom all had this legend. However, when it was found that this island with a small area and was not suitable for humans to live in, Li Mingxun just asked the stonemason on the ship to leave a piece of stone carving on the cliff to prove that this small island called Diaoyu Island belonged to the Ming Kingdom.

Simmons, who was indifferent to the mood, was eventually killed by Li Mingxun with a move to the horse and the general. Simmons threw the chess piece in his hand on the chessboard and said, "Great Lord, are you planning to waste the expedition team's time like this? Time is money, and time is life!"

Perhaps because he felt that the words just now were too rude, Simmons lowered his head and said, "Does you send someone to carve stones and leave words with any special meaning? I know that you Ming people have many reasons for everything they do."

Lee Mingxun smiled slightly and said, "No, that's just satisfying my personal bad taste in this world, and it doesn't mean anything. Look, they're back. First mate Simmons, let the sailors take their sails."

Simmons looked at the lush island deeply and made up his mind: Sooner or later, I will lead an expedition team to check whether there is gold on it, and to leave Simmons' name on that cliff!

The expedition team advanced along the Ryukyu Islands on the inside of the East China Sea. In this season of typhoons, even Garen-style sailing ships like the Tiger Shark dared not rashly into the far sea, for fear that they would not find a shelter when the storm came. Fortunately, Li Mingxun was lucky. The Tiger Shark and Yongjin sailed for more than ten days and arrived at the outer sea of ​​Nagasaki, but did not encounter a storm. Many people said that Li Mingxun wrote on the Diaoyu Island that day. With Mazu's blessing, the journey was smooth. The three of them became tigers and soon spread. The lies were told a thousand times, and then they became the truth.

Li Mingxun left the warship of the Tiger Shark outside the sea, anchored in the unmanned inner bay of the Five Islands Islands with complex hydrological conditions, and hung the banner of the Dutch East India Company. When the Netherlands is Japan's only recognized Thai-Si trading partner, this was also a helpless move. Li Mingxun handed over the Tiger Shark to Song Laoqi and Gao Feng, and he took Simmons to Nagasaki. Without Simmons, the sailors and soldiers on the Tiger Shark would not rebel.

After the Tokugawa Shogunate locked the country in Japan, Nagasaki was already Japan's only foreign port, and it became Japan's maritime trading center. Japan only allowed trade with Ming, the Netherlands and North Korea. Among the three trade objects, maritime merchants from the Ming Dynasty were dominant. Since Huiwang Nao gained a similar position in Japan as the Emperor, Ming merchants had always had a great influence in Japan. After the Shogunate locked the country, all Chinese from other ports moved to Nagasaki, causing the proportion of Chinese in this port city to exceed 50,000, and the total number reached tens of thousands, and the influence could not be compared with other countries.

So when Lee Myung-hoon on the Yongjin-Chun was warmly received and guided by Nagasaki's official cruise ship, and the officials above spoke fluent Minnan dialect, Lee Myung-hoon was not surprised at all, but the trade situation in Japan was different from the Wang Zhi era, even Yan Siqi and Li Dan at that time. As the Tokugawa shogunate controlled the whole country and implemented the policy of closing the country, Nagasaki's trade was immediately under official control. The original intention of the shogunate was to include this fiscal and taxation area under the control of the shogunate, and prevent the foreign daimyo from the southwest from obtaining support from overseas, but to a certain extent, a new trade order was also determined, which also means that the opportunities for speculation were reduced.

A rich person will have fortune! Li Mingxun is well aware of this principle, but in his current weak strength, having an orderly and safe trade environment is more suitable for him.

Under the guidance of the ship, the Yongjin entered the port and was anchored at the Tang Ship Wharf. More than a dozen ships parked here were loading and unloading were all from the Ming Dynasty, most of which were large lucky ships, with amazing throughput. Unlike Zheng Zhilong who became a Chinese leader on Hirado Island, received courtesy, married and had children, the shogunate now has strict management of foreign merchants. All Ming people are divided into two types. Merchants like Li Mingxun are from the Tang people who are not allowed to stay for a long time, nor are they allowed to marry and have children. The more than 10,000 Chinese people in Nagasaki are residential Tang people. They not only have special Chinatowns such as "Tangren Yashiki", but also have the same power of life as the Japanese.

The rights of the Tang people in residence were from their indispensable position for Nagasaki's maritime trade, and on the other hand, from the ambition of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a hero of the Warring States Period. This ambitionist who fantasized about occupying China specifically selected merchants to train them, gave them food, clothing, wives and concubines, and wanted to cultivate the "leader party" for the future conquering China.

Because there are too many merchants in Ming Dynasty and too many Chinese have taken root in Nagasaki, the local government in Nagasaki was filled with Chinese people, and a position of Tang Tongshi, which communicates with Ming Dynasty merchants. With the increasing number of ships in Ming Dynasty, a three-level organization with a large-scale communication, small-scale communication, ancient and ancient communication, and dozens of positions such as leading positions, establishment, and Fengshu.

Jigutongshi, who deals with Li Mingxun, is a Chinese. After checking the goods on the Yongjin Cap, he immediately became frightened and sent a few subordinates to watch the Yongjin Cap and went to ask for the Datong Quotation.

Nagasaki, Fukuji Temple.

"Your Excellency, please come with me." Ji Gutongshi led the way in front. His clogs stepped on the rough stone slabs, making a quarrel sound. He bent over and smiled and introduced the history of Fuji Temple to Li Mingxun.

From the not-smooth stone slab, it can be seen that this is a newly built temple. In fact, the history of this temple is only ten years. It was in the first year of Chongzhen. Several residences from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou were born in Nagasaki. The Tang people invited the great monk Juehui to come to Nagasaki to create it. At first, it was just a small temple dedicated to Mazu. Later, the Tang Dynasty was a great event, and Yingchuan Fuji Saemon gave strong charity and sponsorship, becoming the largest donor of Fuji Temple, which has achieved the grand occasion of Fuji Temple today, especially the 35-meter-high Guanyin statue carried on the huge sea turtle, which can be seen even outside the port.

The Yingchuan Fuji Saemon is also a Chinese. His father is the famous Chen Chongyi. He once served as a doctor in the Satsuma Shimazu family. Of course, these are what the smart and wise things in front of him told Li Mingxun how smart Li Mingxun was. When he heard that the Datong period met him in Fuji Temple instead of the official residence, he felt a little unusual. Is it related to the Satsuma family?

Yingchuan Fujisaemon is nearly fifty years old, but his eyes still make Li Mingxun feel sharp. When Li Mingxun came in with the ancient knowledge, he was attracted by Yingchuan Fujisaemon's eyes, so he was a little stunned.

"Mr. Li, please sit down, please sit down." Yingchuan greeted Li Mingxun with a smile, as enthusiastic as an elder who entertained young people.

Li Mingxun smiled slightly and said, "It's Li who is rude, please forgive me."

At this time, he realized that the furnishings of this room were completely Jiangnan style and had a banquet, but the banquet followed the ancient style and implemented a separate meal system. There were seven or eight people on both sides, each wearing traditional Japanese clothes. However, their figure was much taller than Japan, and one of the short and strong monks with calluses was conspicuous.

"Mr. Li is here for the first time. Let me introduce you to you. These are all Tang Tongshi. You have seen them. This is my deputy Xiao Tongshi. Oh, this monk is Master Jueyan. He is not only a monk from Fuji Temple, but also a Fengshuoshi. As for these are all Muli. The first person in your right hand is Simuli, and the second person is Lupie. These two are real Japanese." Yingchuan Fuji Saemon introduced with a smile.

Li Mingxun nodded slightly and greeted him one by one. Those officials were all subordinates of Fujisaemon Yingkawa. He was also a direct confidant. The only person who had no real power was Jueyan. He was Fengshuoshi. His main responsibility was to get information from overseas countries from maritime merchants, sort them out and report them to the shogunate. The two Japanese Muli are related to Li Mingxun's interests. The Muli is the official appraiser. In addition to appraising the quality of the commercial goods, he is also responsible for setting prices. The main goods on the Yukino are raw silk and deer skin. When Fujisaemon Yingkawa invited these two Muli, it was obviously very sincere.

The banquet started with the sound of silk and bamboo. A group of people talked happily. Li Mingxun was still unfamiliar with business and was a little clumsy. Fortunately, he was well prepared. The gifts given to everyone present were mostly Western goods and things produced in Jiangnan, and they were all purchased from officials. These "Southern Barbarian merchants" were all in short supply in Japan and were expensive. Li Mingxun also regarded himself as a future generation, and he was appreciated by many people. After a while, the goods on the Yongjin Cast were set for more than 70%. However, just taking the 70% of the merchants, the proceeds were already out of Li Mingxun's expectation.

At this time, Li Mingxun realized that these common affairs had their own forces behind Muli, and they were all relatives of the Tokugawa family and the genealogy of the genealogy.

It was a coincidence that Li Mingxun came. It was May, and the spring silk was sold out and the summer silk had not been launched, so the price rose by 20% or 30%, which was priceless.

As for the last 30% of the goods on the Yongjin, they were eaten by Yingchuan Fujisaemon. It was obvious that he wanted to make a difference. After a sharing feast, everyone asked Li Mingxun when the next ship would arrive and what goods would be loaded on it, so everyone was ready.

Li Mingxun did not say it clearly, but said that he had not made any conclusion yet, but he also promised that he would definitely cooperate with everyone present when he arrived next time.
Chapter completed!