Ming East India Company

"Why do you say that, Master?"

Hirata Masamune, the head of the family, who was standing nearby, found it very strange.

"Ordinary pirates can't afford armor and equipment like this. If it wasn't a pirate disguised as a samurai, how could it be possible? I really don't know which bastard did this. If I find out, I'll definitely not let him off the hook."

Shimazu Yoshimasa's eyes were already burning with rage.

"I don't think so." Hirata Masamune calmly picked up the armor:

"This armor looks the same as ours, but if you look closely, it's clearly a size larger and thinner. It looks like armor that's been sold off."

"Armor that was sold?" Yoshimasa Shimazu was puzzled.

"Yes. Generally, the armor of the major daimyo is made to size according to the height of the local samurai, and armor of this size must have been exported to Ryukyu or Ming Dynasty."

Furthermore, due to cost-cutting measures, armor exported for trade is generally thinner than armor used domestically, which fits the description of this armor.

Hirata Masamune spoke calmly, his tone revealing no emotional fluctuation.

Yoshimasa Shimazu also calmed down:

"Could it be that the Ming Dynasty's navy has attacked?"

"No, this is most likely armor from the Ryukyu people. The Ming Dynasty has plenty of armor of its own, so there's no need for them to use ours." Hirata Masamune put down the armor, picked up a teacup, and made himself a sip of tea.

"Ryukyuans? These monkeys dare to mess with me? I'll wipe them out!" Shimazu Yoshimasa said through gritted teeth.

"It's not feasible now. Most of the warriors in our clan have gone to Korea with Lord Taege. We can only spare one or two thousand soldiers. Moreover, the majority of our warships have also been taken away. So even if we win, we won't be able to catch up. It's a thankless task."

"So we're just going to let them loot?"

"Let's relocate the people and ban the sea! Move the coastal villagers ten miles inland, then set up an ambush inland and kill as many as we can. Our Shimazu clan lives in a poor area, so the cost of their plundering will be higher than their gains, and they will naturally stop."

Yoshimasa Shimazu's eyes were filled with resentment:

"How about we talk to Lord Taige and see if he can help us recover some of the losses?"

Hirata Masumune said with a bitter smile:

"Ever since Lord Taige decreed that all raw silk from the Ming Dynasty must be transshipped through Nagasaki, the Ryukyuans have been contributing hundreds of thousands of catties of raw silk to Lord Taige every year—they're his cash cow. In contrast, we're now a thorn in Lord Taige's side. Whom do you think he'll side with?"

Shimazu Yoshimasa was speechless and could only sigh:

"In that case, let's do as the elder says for now! But we still have to fight for it. Let's write a letter to Lord Taiko and ask him to compensate us for our losses. We'll get back as much as we can!"

Also, tell Yoshihiro at the front that the rear is being harassed by the Ryukyuans, and tell his men to be careful with their food and drink, otherwise they won't be able to support him.

Then, Shimazu Yoshimasa glared fiercely in the direction of the Ryukyu Islands in the distance:

"You despicable Ryukyu monkeys, I'll settle this score with you sooner or later."

……

On the sea south of Kyushu, the Bai family fleet was at the coast. Bai Ye was sitting on his flagship, the "Crown," leisurely sipping tea while listening to his subordinates' reports on the looting.

"Reporting to the master, the haymaking is complete today. All eighteen ships have returned, and the inventory has been completed today. No one was lost."

"Were you late?"

"No, even the last one returned half an hour early?"

"What are the recent statistics on the results of the grass-cutting campaign?"

"Since our Ryukyu navy set out, we have killed more than 2,000 Japanese pirates, captured more than 3,000 women and children, seized 30,000 shi of grain, and captured more than 100 silver ingots weighing more than 2,000 taels, and more than 100,000 copper coins, the face value of which is incomparable..."

"What were the losses?"

"Five people died in battle, and more than ten died of illness; all of them have been given a water burial."

"Enough! Order the entire army to begin the return journey now!"

With Shirano's command, the flags on the "Crown" waved in the wind, and the entire fleet began to sail south one after another.

Just as Bai Ye was leading his fleet to the East to wreak havoc, Bai Ling and her delegation finally arrived in Fuzhou after several months of procrastination.

With Luo Sigong's "protection," Bai Ling took the opportunity to purchase a lot of military supplies such as horses, mules, and gunpowder along the way. Although Luo Sigong knew this was illegal, he turned a blind eye.

After arriving in Fuzhou, the entire group changed to a tribute ship. Shortly after setting sail, they were joined by the Bai family's private merchant fleet led by Cheng Keqin.

After the two fleets met, they lowered the deck, and Cheng Keqin boarded the ship to greet Bai Ling:

"Madam, the matter has been taken care of."

"Are all the bills settled?"

"I checked with the garrison commander and all the debts have been paid off. The money due to Uncle Zhang has also been given. As instructed by the madam, an extra 20,000 taels have been added."

In addition, the raw silk that the lady requested to be purchased has arrived, in ten Fujian-style ships, totaling two thousand dan (a unit of weight).

It is the alternate name of Bai Wencheng, the second master of the Bai family. After the Bai family established their business in Ryukyu, the properties that were originally left in the Ming Dynasty were managed by Bai Wencheng, officially known as the "Liu Shou Si" (留守司).

Bai Ling nodded; this time she was going to make a fortune.

He then waved his hand:

"Set off."

After Bai Ling gave the order, the fleet once again embarked on its journey to Ryukyu.

Luo Sigong stood on the deck, at a loss for what to do.

For this voyage, he made careful arrangements for the team leaders.

In total, he only had four people. Apart from a maid who had followed him for many years, the other two were his absolute confidants whom he had cultivated over the years in the Eastern Depot.

Normally, when I see him, I call him "Dad".

Seeing Bai Ling's confident demeanor, Luo Sigong couldn't help but lean closer:

"Your Highness, is it possible for us to earn more military merits this year?"

Seeing Bai Ling frown, Luo Sigong quickly explained:

"The main problem is that the imperial court hasn't made a final decision to close Yuegang and grant Ryukyu a monopoly. I was thinking of getting some more heads to shut up those officials in the court."

Moreover, I've already spoken with several officials in Fujian. The head inspection won't be as strict as in the capital. As long as we have a few dozen, we'll be able to get by..."

Bai Ling simply stared straight at the distant horizon. The sun was setting, and the afterglow of dusk shone on her, giving her a long-lost sense of exhilaration.

"Don't worry! This time we're going to Ryukyu, we'll get no fewer than two hundred heads."

Upon hearing this, Luo Sigong was overjoyed and quickly thanked him before heading back to write his memorial.

Bai Shisan, standing to the side, couldn't help but ask Bai Ling, "Master, aren't you being a bit too hasty? We haven't been back to Ryukyu for months. Even if we went back and set sail immediately, we might not make it this year!"

Bai Ling chuckled softly:

"Don't worry, my precious little brother, if he doesn't make a move first, he's not my brother."