Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

Before Wu Wanruo could respond, Chi Honghai spoke first.

"Go to the savage's hut and get the three paintings. Wait outside!"

As he spoke, he pushed the bracelet on Wu Wanruo's wrist up a little higher and nodded slowly.

"I'll be back in a couple of days. Wait for me."

Chi Honghai strode out of the room and watched Shen Er pacing back and forth outside the eaves, carrying three scrolls.

Seeing the master open the door, they went to greet him.

"Sir, the goods are almost all packed."

"You've started pacing back and forth quite a bit, you're starting to look like you're in charge."

"Hey, sir, I learned this from you over the years. I've picked up a bit of your style, so I'm just tinkering around with it."

The two walked to the side of the boat, one after the other.

Upon reaching the deck, Chi Honghai looked back at his house.

This was his first time going out to sea since his marriage, and also the first time he would look back with longing.

"Go to the north shore first, and let the brothers in training take their things and board the ship."

"Sir, aren't we going to sell goods? Why are you calling the brothers over?"

Do you think this area of ​​water is safe?

Shen Er thought for a moment and said, "It's not very safe. After all, if it weren't for you, sir, last time things might have been different."

"That settles it then. You're carrying money back and forth, so whether there are people around or not, you have to be careful, right?"

"The master is indeed very thoughtful."

The ship docked at the north shore.

"When you get there, ask Instructor Lang if he wants to come with us."

Shen Er and Pang San then went down to the deck and notified Liu Qingjiang and Instructor Lang, who were training at the time.

When they returned, they saw Liu Qingjiang leading people onto the boat.

"Where's Instructor Lang? Isn't he coming along?" Chi Honghai asked.

"Instructor Lang said that he still had to train the remaining brothers, so he wouldn't be setting off with the master."

Chi Honghai glanced at the figures on the training field.

"Ready to go!"

Another day of sailing.

A familiar ship came into view of the Portuguese guards on duty in the harbor.

The ship was greeted by cheers from afar.

Upon arriving at the shore, Chi Honghai personally carried the three scrolls of paintings to the Portuguese, attracting considerable attention.

You see, anything that a leader can't let go of must be something important, in other words, something good.

The Frankish leader was also quite good-looking.

He looked at the treasures carried in from the ship, box by box, but his eyes and mind were fixed on the three paintings that Chi Honghai was holding.

"Oh, friend, long time no see." The Portuguese man greeted him, opening his arms as if to embrace him as he walked up to Chi Honghai.

Chi Honghai lifted the three scrolls in his arms.

"Oh ho ho, friend, something good?"

"Of course it's not a good thing, so why are you so attached to it? You agree, right, my friend?"

The Portuguese man laughed heartily, wanting Chi Honghai to name a price for the three treasures in his arms.

But Chi Honghai was not in a hurry. Instead, he had the Portuguese take him back to the camp.

He cleared the things off the table and then wiped it repeatedly with his sleeve, but it still wasn't enough.

Chi Honghai asked the Portuguese man to cover the table with a layer of fabric.

Only then did Chi Honghai gently place the scroll he was holding on the table.

He picked up a scroll, laid it horizontally on the table, and looked at it from all sides before opening it. He even looked at the oil lamp hanging above the table and asked that it be moved to the other side.

After several rounds of back and forth, the Portuguese were almost speechless.

"Friend, is everything alright now? Okay, let's see your treasure, shall we?"

Chi Honghai gently rolled and stroked the scroll with his hand, unfolding the contents little by little, sparing no effort whatsoever.

The slanting light of the oil lamp shone on the painting just as it did on that day.

The paint in the painting reflects starlight.

Before the Portuguese could examine the painting closely, they were already somewhat surprised by the reflection of the paint.

His steps gradually softened, as if using even a little more force would cause the table to collapse and ruin the treasure on it.

When he looked closely at the contents of the painting...

Although I don't understand art, it is still an Eastern art product.

It's a cross-industry move, and a very large one at that.

But this did not affect the content presented to him in the slightest, nor did it diminish his surprise when he looked at the painting.

What does it mean to be lifelike? What does it mean to appear and disappear in a daze?

What truly defines a treasured possession!

The Portuguese man scanned the painting back and forth, his eyes practically glued to it.

He held his breath, not daring to breathe out even once, afraid that the air in his mouth would ruin this precious thing.

Chi Honghai waited for the Portuguese man to look at him for a long time before patting him on the shoulder.

The man didn't say much, turned his head to look at Chi Honghai, gave him a big thumbs up, and nodded his head like he was pounding garlic, without stopping. The corners of his mouth were more difficult to suppress than the caliber of any red-coated cannon.

"My friend, these treasures of mine are all original works by great authors, priceless."

"Friend, these are wonderful things, truly wonderful things! Where did you get these treasures?"

"This stuff is hard to come by. In the Ming Dynasty, selling this to you would cost you your head. But what's our relationship? What's your saying again? A friendship witnessed by God. Besides, I really need this money right now."

As Chi Honghai spoke, he leaned close to the Portuguese man's ear and whispered, "Don't tell anyone, I was just about to get married, and right now, I urgently need money. I have no other choice."

The Portuguese man laughed heartily upon hearing this.

"Oh, my friend, I didn't expect it to cost so much money to get married here. Men here really have it tough."

"Well, there's nothing I can do about it. It would be fine for an ordinary family, but I'm marrying a lady from a wealthy family. All those formalities here, like the three letters and six betrothal gifts, cost a fortune. I've even been thinking, maybe I should just marry a woman from your region. By the way, friend, do you really spend that much money to marry a woman where you're from?"

The Portuguese man, clutching his aching stomach from laughing, waved his hand and said, "No need, no need. If you'd like someday, I can introduce you to someone. After all, in your Ming Dynasty, marrying multiple women isn't a big deal. Unlike our God, who only allows us to marry one, and punishes us if we marry more."

Chi Honghai happily agreed.

Indeed, he only marries one woman.

From top to bottom, they're all just using the guise of being a married couple to play the same old tricks of cheating on each other.

The two stopped wasting time and turned their attention back to the remaining two paintings.

Each and every piece was of excellent quality, captivating the Frankish man and making him unable to put them down.

"If I were to present this painting to the royal family, it might be promoted several ranks."

Chi Honghai clasped his hands in a fist and smiled as he congratulated him, saying, "Then I wish you, my friend, continued success in your career."

The two of them burst into laughter; everything was going so smoothly.

One person was happy to deceive others.

One person was happy to be fooled.

Chi Honghai chuckled inwardly.

If you're so willing, I'll definitely squeeze a good sum out of you.

Soon, the two began to discuss the price.