The invasion of the abyss begins with the Laughing at the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 83: Going South to Moon Harbor
In early August, white waves sparkled on the endless sea, and thirty large Fu ships formed a specific formation and sailed along the coastline towards Zhangzhou Yuegang.

"quack!"

The white seagulls are circling under the blue sky, and their clear calls add a bit of vitality to the lonely ocean.

"Big Stone Smashing Hand, Pushing Mountain Style."

On the wide deck, Shen Yuanliang used his ingenuity to practice one of the 72 unique skills of Shaolin Temple, the Stone-Breaking Skill, over and over again.

Gradually, afterimages flashed by, and the sharp sound of breaking through the air resounded through the clouds, like a whip cracking on the ground, harsh and loud. The leisurely seagulls suddenly became alert and flapped their wings and flew away.

The big monument-throwing hand is a palm technique that combines both hardness and softness. Its essence lies in the skillful techniques and the key lies in the word "throwing".

Starting from the most basic Arhat Fist and Vajra Palm, Shen Yuanliang gradually comprehended the Great Stele Smashing Hand to increase the diversity of his offense.

Thanks to his rapidly increasing martial arts aptitude, in just two months, he had mastered the stone-smashing technique to the highest level, and could turn a ten-foot-square rock into powder with just a single blow.

"Master, please take a rest first!"

"We will reach Zhangzhou Yuegang in one hour."

Handing over a towel soaked in cold water, Dongmei, who was wearing an emerald green double-breasted silk dress and a pearl hairpin on her head, smoothed her hair that was messed up by the sea breeze and said with great concern.

As Shen Yuanliang's personal maid, Dongmei would of course follow Shen Yuanliang when he went south to Yuegang, Zhangzhou. In addition to her, there was also Qiuju, who was getting older.

As for Chunlan and Xiazhu, they stayed in Huya Mountain because they were too young.

"It has been eight or nine days since we left Jinzhou, right?"

Picking up a towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead, Shen Yuanliang then picked up a cup of herbal tea and drank it all. Looking at the boundless sea, he thought for a while and said.

After reaching a private agreement with Xiong Tingbi, the governor of Liaodong, Shen Yuanliang intensively trained 100,000 new soldiers and at the same time formed a new Iron Guard, which consisted of 3,000 armored cavalry.

When on horseback, he is a heavy cavalryman; when dismounted, he is the strongest sword and shield soldier.

Four or five months later, the three thousand Iron Guards are now all at the eighth level in martial arts, and many have even broken through to the seventh level.

However, the power under Shen Yuanliang's command advanced by leaps and bounds, but the price was that all materials were like a flood that was about to run out, especially food and iron.

As a last resort, Shen Yuanliang integrated the captured large Fujian ships, a total of 30 ships, and set off from Jinzhouwei and headed for the trading port, Yuegang.

"Master, including today, it has been nine days. Due to the interference of the southwest wind, we arrived a little late."

Qiu Ju, who was waiting on the side, blinked her clear eyes, counted on her fingers, and then said in a very certain tone.

More than half a year has passed since she sold herself to bury her mother. The girl who was only ten years old back then has now grown into a pretty young girl.

"Dongmei, after selling all the goods you brought this time, use them to buy food, iron, sulfur, and saltpeter."

Shen Yuanliang, wearing a moon-white round-necked robe and holding a folding fan, gave instructions.

If silver is stored in a cellar and cast into silver winter melons without being converted into needed materials, it will just be a pile of waste and may be sold to others at any time.

The safest option is to use the money earned to purchase various supplies to strengthen the strength of Shen Yuanliang's side.

"Don't worry, Master."

Hearing this, Dongmei put down the account book in her hand, patted her snow-white chest with her tender white hair, and responded confidently.

After more than half a year of training, Dongmei is no longer the old Wuxia Amon. She is very smart and capable, and is a qualified "right-hand man". An hour later, the land in the distance came into view, gradually converging from a winding line into a large area, majestic and spectacular.

"This is Yuegang? It's so prosperous!"

Lying on the side of the boat, her chin supported by her hands, Qiu Ju, dressed in an orange silk dress, looked at the overwhelming sails and the various boats that were rising and falling in front of her with bright eyes.

Jinzhouwei is located in the southern part of Liaoning Province. It was originally a port where smuggling was rampant. However, a sudden war broke out and destroyed everything. Today, Jinzhou Port is no longer as prosperous as before.

What's more, Yuegang is the only open port of the Ming Dynasty and the center of cultural exchange between the East and the West. There are countless ships from Japan, Goguryeo and the West, as numerous as the stars in the sky.

The thirty large Fu ships under Shen Yuanliang's command could only be considered a medium-sized fleet, and they were very inconspicuous when they entered Yuegang.

"Master, this is too dark!"

"If we calculate the four types of commercial taxes, namely the tax on the lead, the tax on water, the tax on land and the additional tax, one ship has to pay two hundred taels of silver, and thirty Fuzhou ships have to pay six thousand taels of silver."

Stepping onto the land of Yuegang, Qiuju frowned and kept talking with her little mouth, venting her dissatisfaction.

"Although overseas trade is extremely risky, it is also very profitable. A shipload of goods is shipped out and a shipload of silver is shipped back. It is only natural to collect taxes."

"But most of the taxes collected by the Supervisory Office went into private pockets to feed the dignitaries and dignitaries, and very little was paid into the national treasury."

Holding a folding fan and tapping his left hand, Shen Yuanliang looked around the busy Yuegang and said thoughtfully.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the commodity economy was well developed and overseas smuggling was extremely rampant. One after another, maritime merchant families that were rich enough to rival a country emerged in the Jiangnan region.

These maritime merchant families sometimes transformed themselves into pirates, robbing passing merchant ships, and sometimes transformed themselves into cunning businessmen, selling goods honestly.

"Master, it's settled."

"Meet at Taibai Restaurant tomorrow."

Dongmei, who had disappeared for most of the hour, quietly appeared behind Shen Yuanliang and spoke calmly.

As the Shen family's housekeeper and Shen Yuanliang's personal maid, Dongmei was fully responsible for contacting businesses and negotiating prices for this trade.

Thanks to her gifted ability to listen, Dongmei selected a seemingly decent trading partner from a variety of businesses. However, whether the transaction can be successfully completed in the end depends on the strength of Shen Yuanliang and his team!

"Which company?"

Walking on the bustling street, Shen Yuanliang fiddled with the monocular telescope he had just bought and asked casually.

"The Chen family, the Chen family of Fuzhou."

"According to the information I got, the Chen family has a good reputation in Yuegang, and their prices are fair. I have never heard of them cheating other people."

Yuegang is unfamiliar with the place and wants to complete the transaction as quickly as possible. What it fears most is businesses that cheat on customers, sell inferior goods as good ones, or even kill people for the goods.

If you are not careful, you will be swallowed up skin and bones. Countless merchants have been buried under the prosperous and bustling port.

"Chen family?"

When Shen Yuanliang heard the name Chen family in Fuzhou, he felt vaguely familiar with it, but he just couldn't remember where he had heard it.

(End of this chapter)