Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

Chi Honghai's face was flushed.

He walked right past her and went straight to the door.

"Chi Honghai!" Wu Wanruo could no longer suppress her sobs.

Chi Honghai didn't turn around. After saying a few words in front of the door, he opened it and left.

"Even if I, Chi, were to want you to be my bandit wife, it would never be like this. If you truly wish to atone for your father's sins, then work alongside them."

As Chi Honghai walked out the door, his face flushed red, and he wiped his face with his hand.

I'm still reliving that moment in my mind, and I even feel a little regretful.

However, since the words have already been spoken, it seems somewhat inappropriate to go back on them.

"Work comes first, and time is of the essence."

Chi Honghai reminded himself to stay alert.

After all, within a few days, several villages around Xin'an County had no people left, neither alive nor dead. This was no small matter for the county government.

Once the investigation starts, it won't be as simple as just circling around the area a couple of times; what if the trail leads here...?

The immediate priority is to resolve issues such as food, accommodation, and training as soon as possible, so as to be prepared for any eventuality.

At that moment, Shen Er ran over.

"Sir, why is your face so red?"

"It's a bit hot."

"The ship and cargo you ordered are all ready. Where are we going to do business?"

Shen Er's words brought Chi Honghai's thoughts back to the present matter. He shook his head and pondered for a moment.

"Haojing"

"Where are you going again?"

Chi Honghai nodded and gestured for Shen Er to follow him.

A few days later, Chi Honghai arrived in Macau.

"Friend, we meet again. What did you bring this time?"

"I'm a little sorry, my friend, I'm here to buy things."

"Oh, no regrets, no regrets. It's business, there's buying and selling. What would you like to order this time?"

"I'd like to buy some food. How much do you have?"

After hearing this, the Portuguese led Chi Honghai to the warehouse.

"Friend, the rice you have there is of the finest quality."

Chi Honghai shook his head: "No, not this one. I need one that can be grown."

"Can it be grown?" The Portuguese man hesitated for a moment.

"Friend, take a look at this."

The Portuguese man lifted the tarpaulin, opened the box, and found it filled with potatoes and corn.

"Yes, yes, my friend, you understand me!"

Chi Honghai happily nudged the Portuguese man's shoulder with his fist.

The two laughed heartily, but then Chi Honghai changed the subject.

"Friends, I have another business opportunity. Are you interested in doing it?"

"Oh friend, as long as it's a business transaction, it's all negotiable. Tell me, what do you want to do?"

"people."

"Oh, you guys don't seem to like those dark-skinned guys very much, so we don't have this here, it doesn't sell well."

"No, no, you've misunderstood. I mean I want your people."

"Our people?"

"I would like to hire one of your people as a military instructor."

"Is this also Lord Zheng's intention?"

Chi Honghai pursed his lips, opened his arms, and put his arm around the Portuguese man.

"Friend, you know this, but don't say it out loud, or you know what will happen to your business in the future."

The Portuguese man gave an "Oh" followed by a fake laugh.

"But the instructor's price is not low, it's 150 taels per month."

It's expensive, really expensive.

However, Chi Honghai could not discuss prices in this direction at this time.

They acted under Zheng Zhilong's name, yet they were stingy with even 150 taels of silver.

How do you calculate the tens of millions of taels of silver that Zheng Jiaguang collects in tolls every year?

Gritting my teeth, I agreed.

"Okay, friend, I need one, plus a translator, same as always, understand?"

"Of course, of course. It's getting dark soon. Are you staying here for the night? We have roasted lamb leg on our menu tonight, my friend."

"Of course, of course."

……

Back on Hong Kong Island, early in the morning.

Everyone then gathered on the shore to welcome them.

Chi Honghai instructed everyone to unload the goods from the boat and distribute them to each farmer.

"Sir, why did you bring back so many potatoes and chestnuts?"

"This is good stuff. Tell them they're not allowed to eat any of this. They have to plant it all in the ground. If we plant it well, we won't have to worry about not having anything to eat later."

"Yes, sir."

With food not a concern for the time being, Chi Honghai headed towards the training ground.

He summoned Liu Qingjiang, who was training at the time.

"Qingjiang, how's your training going?"

"Reporting to your Excellency, the brothers have no problem with close combat and throwing hooks, but their use of firearms is still..."

Chi Honghai patted him on the shoulder.

"You've worked hard. Don't worry too much about the use of firearms. Just focus on training the brothers' skills."

As he spoke, Chi Honghai instructed Shen Er to bring over the Portuguese military instructors and translators.

"This is a military instructor I hired from the Franks. From now on, you can leave the coordination and use of firearms to him, so that you can relax a bit."

After Chi Honghai finished his introduction, Liu Qingjiang clasped his hands in salute to Instructor Frank.

Thank you for your trouble.

The instructors responded with a 45-degree bow.

Chi Honghai walked up to Liu Qingjiang, his voice slightly lowered.

"Qingjiang, I treat you as a brother, and you should treat them as brothers as well. There should be no fighting or cursing between brothers. If you ruin the relationship, they will be hard to manage."

"yes......"

"Instructor Lang, I'm entrusting the training of these one hundred brothers to you for now. I hope you can teach them how to use firearms properly. If they need anything in their daily lives, they can come to me anytime."

"Understood, sir. I'll make sure these guys unleash the full power of these guys."

Chi Honghai nodded.

"I'll have them arrange a room for you and the translator later. Don't worry about food; I'll give the order."

"I am very grateful for your thoughtfulness, sir."

After explaining the changes in the training instructors, Chi Honghai turned and headed towards his room.

Currently, only the architectural issues remain unresolved.

There are not enough people and not enough equipment.

If there aren't enough people, they can have their subordinates absorb some refugees caused by the typhoon and corrupt officials. It's just a matter of food. If all else fails, they can buy some silver from the Portuguese.

However, the lack of equipment is indeed a major problem.

Tools like axes and saws are difficult to make readily available and mass-produced by hand.

Iron is easy to obtain. By this time in the Ming Dynasty, it was available for purchase by ordinary people. It's just a matter of money, and any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem.

After all, if they didn't have enough money, there were always government officials to send them.

However, we need talented people, not people, but talent.

At this moment, Liu Qingjiang ran up from behind, interrupting Chi Honghai's thoughts.

He stopped Liu Qingjiang and asked him a question.

"Qingjiang, what did you do if you were missing something when you were pirates?"

"Sir, what can we do? Of course, we'll rob them. Although I, Liu Qingjiang, am not very literate, the 'robbery' of pirates is not the same as the 'righteousness' of 'morality'."

A single sentence awakened Chi Honghai, who was still confused.

Yeah, I'm a pirate now, what's the point of wasting time talking to him if I'm really short on resources?