Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

Chi Honghai was not unaware of this either. As a businessman himself, he certainly understood that it was inappropriate to engage in such a purely investment-driven business, since in the end, whether or not it actually happened was all just empty talk.

However, he also understood that the reason he dared not do this deal was that the profit was not big enough. When the profit was big enough, there would be no fear. Even if he was worried and scared, he would be blinded by the profit in front of him.

I was the same way. Otherwise, why would I have given up a legitimate business and risked my life to engage in smuggling? In the end, wasn't it all for money? Wasn't it all about making money quickly?

"Sir, there's an old Chinese saying, 'If you're going to put on a show, you have to go all the way.' If we get too close during this period, it will inevitably attract attention from others. In that case, will our cooperation still be able to continue?"

"To put it another way, without your help, the court will only spend more money. Even if you tell the Dutch and Spanish about this, do you think they can cause any trouble on the court's territory? Besides, this is not what you want to see."

He looked at the British representative's bowed head and continued, "Sir, we Chinese have always valued cooperation and mutual benefit. You and I both know that integrity is the most important thing in business. Without that reputation, even if your goods are of the best quality, I'm afraid it will be difficult to sell them, right?"

"My lord, may I have time to think about this?"

"Of course, please proceed, Your Excellency." After saying that, Chi Honghai picked up the teapot and placed it in front of the envoy. "Oh, by the way, when you leave later, you can take all the things in the warehouse back with you, since they are yours after all."

The British representative looked up at Chi Honghai, then turned his gaze to the teapot, touching the still-warm teapot with his white-gloved hand.

After thinking for a long time, he finally spoke.

"Understood, sir. We accept your proposal, but could we have a contract?"

Chi Honghai glanced at him sideways: "Of course, but I hope that our conversation, like this contract, should not be known by any third party before the important matter is accomplished. Only I can contact you about this matter, otherwise the commotion will be too great."

"Of course, adults. We Englishmen are also very trustworthy."

The two agreed on the terms, wrote the agreement on parchment, and signed their names.

The British signature reads: Hahn Teck, representative of the East India Company.

The Chinese side signed: Chi Honghai, representative of Guangzhou Prefecture of the Ming Dynasty.

Chi Honghai first saw off the British representative and his translator.

Chi Honghai watched their retreating figures with disdain, letting out a snort: "Ha, integrity?"

The British representatives returned to the Portuguese camp, where the Portuguese leader approached them and asked, "Friends? What have you been talking about?"

"No, there are still some issues from the Humen incident that haven't been fully resolved with them. We just figured things out now," the representative sighed, then added, "The Celestial Empire is not to be trifled with."

The Englishmen returned to their ships and sailed alongside Chi Honghai.

The Portuguese man stood on the shore, watching the two ships carrying loads of wood, but he didn't pay much attention.

Before the two ships parted, Chi Honghai said, "Your Excellency, I hope our cooperation will be successful."

The Englishman said something that didn't need translating: "OK, OK!"

After the Englishmen had completely left, Chi Honghai did not leave directly from the Portuguese port, but returned to the Portuguese.

"Friend, is there anything else you haven't finished?" the Portuguese man said casually.

"Nothing else, I just wanted to ask about the boat I booked?"

"Oh, damn it, can't it be faster?" The Frenchman slapped his head and put his hand on his thigh. "Friend, we agreed on a year. Don't rush. I've taken your money, brother, don't you think I can't do your job?"

"It's April already, almost there. I'll come back then," Chi Honghai replied.

"Of course, in a few months you will meet your baby, and I'm sure you will love it."

"I hope so, my friend. I've been thinking about it for a long time."

After the two finished their struggle, Chi Honghai led his men back to Hong Kong Island.

All the way, he was preoccupied with the 500,000 taels of silver, and he put aside all thoughts of the court causing trouble for the Spanish and Dutch, special privileges, and trade.

All I remember now is their agreement to meet and deliver the goods in the waters southeast of Hong Kong Island on this day next month.

The reason for choosing the sea area southeast of Hong Kong Island is quite simple.

Firstly, they couldn't see the situation on Hong Kong Island to the north, so naturally they couldn't see their three ships. Secondly, there weren't many ships coming to the southeast sea area at the moment, so neither the Guangzhou government nor the foreigners were likely to notice this transaction.

After waiting for a month, Chi Honghai finally got the day to meet.

He immediately ordered his men to board the ship, remove the flags and other markings from the sails, and head towards the southeastern sea area.

The English, keeping their word, arrived here in a single armed merchant ship.

Upon meeting, Chi Honghai jokingly asked, "You only brought one ship; aren't you afraid of pirates in the southeastern seas?"

The messenger replied with a smile, "Such a thing shouldn't happen on your territory, otherwise wouldn't all this money just be going to benefit these people?"

"Alright, alright, this gleaming silver isn't for anyone else's benefit, but rather for our cooperation."

The two chatted for a while while carrying the goods, and then left happily. Of course, the Englishman's happiness was based on anticipation, while Chi Honghai's happiness was based on real money.

In just one day, he earned 500,000 taels of silver. Looking at the cargo on the ship, and thinking about how he would earn 800,000 taels of silver every year without having to do anything, he felt very happy.

However, Chi Honghai himself was well aware that if the 800,000 taels of silver he received each year were used well, they would become tribute money from others to him; if used poorly, they would become money he would have to pay tribute to himself every year thereafter.

They were both tributes, but the outcomes were different.

Therefore, Chi Honghai was not blinded by the stable annual income of 800,000 taels of silver.

Having learned from past mistakes, he understood that whether they were officials or foreigners, they were all "businessmen." Although their goals differed, they all ultimately came down to the word "profit."

This interest can be money, land, power, or even oneself. When one obstructs the interests of others or becomes the interests of others, one is trapped in a situation from which one cannot extricate oneself.

If you don't want to be sold as merchandise, you must first treat everyone present as merchandise.

This money is not for enjoyment, but for sharpening the knife.

Only with the right weapons can one firmly grasp both real and fake benefits in one's own hands.