Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

Two large Fujian-style ships slowly sailed into a safe harbor.

Chen Shixian discovered that there were two other ships moored there. One was a 400-ton Fujian ship of the same size, and the other was only about half that size and had a different shape.

I learned from that fellow villager from Pingtan that the medium-sized seagoing vessel was a Guangchuan ship.

The so-called Fujian ship is actually a type of seagoing vessel originating from Fujian.

Similarly, Guangchuan refers to seagoing vessels manufactured in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions.

Unlike Fujian ships, which rely entirely on sails for power, Guangzhou ships, in addition to having sails, also have many oars on both sides of the hull.

If needed, it can be propelled by oars and can adapt to various complex conditions.

Moreover, authentic Cantonese boats are made of ironwood from Lingnan, which is as hard as iron and cannot be infested by insects.

Not only were they more durable than Fujian ships, but their sturdy materials also allowed them to directly ram enemy vessels in naval battles.

Of course, due to the high price and difficulty in processing ironwood, the cost of building a Guang ship of the same size is much higher than that of a Fu ship.

Large Fujian ships with a capacity of 400 liang (approximately 200 tons) that can carry hundreds of people are common in coastal areas, and even larger Fujian ships with a capacity of 600 or 800 liang can be seen occasionally.

Zheng He's treasure ships were also built by the Fujian Provincial Military Command, and they reached a scale of 1,500 and 2,000 liao.

The Pingtan sailor lamented that it was a pity the blueprints for Zheng He's treasure ships had been lost, and that he hadn't seen a large Fujian ship weighing over a thousand li for many years.

While there are indeed ships of similar size to the Fujian ships, they are far fewer in number and extremely rare.

The large ships usually seen at sea are 200, 150, or even 100 liao.

After the two large Fujian-style ships docked in the harbor, Chen Shixian and the other sailors disembarked and went ashore to rest at the island's camp.

At the same time, Chu Nanyin disembarked from another Fujian ship and headed towards several large tents located in a mountain valley.

. . .

Inside the camp.

"You mean, that group of audacious thieves who intercepted and killed Imperial Guard ships on the Yangtze River were actually a gang of salt smugglers?"

After listening to Chu Nanyin's report, Wang Cuiqiao frowned slightly.

"How dare these salt smugglers?!"

"As long as they do it cleanly enough and leave no survivors, no one will know that they did it."

Chu Nanyin gently shook her head.

"Miss, after I led my men to defeat that group of salt smugglers, I captured a few prisoners and extracted some information from them."

These salt smugglers were employed by others, and the payment they received from their employers was a large number of blank salt permits with serial numbers filled in but no merchant names.

In the hands of salt smugglers, these salt permits were worth real money, which could be exchanged for salt.

For them to risk their lives to intercept and kill the Imperial Guard ships on the Yangtze River, the quantity of these salt permits must be enormous.

Unfortunately, the salt smuggler leader was shot in the chest by a musket and died.

The few survivors were all low-level henchmen and did not know the details of the conversation between the employer and the salt smuggler leader. They only knew two things about the employer's identity.

The other party's surname is probably Yan, and they likely hold an official position.

When the salt smugglers saw their employer off, they addressed him as Lord Yan.

"The person who hired this group of salt smugglers is undoubtedly the mastermind behind Chen Shixian's attack on 'Ningxiang Pavilion.'"

Wang Cuiqiao thought for a moment.

"The Ming Dynasty had very strict management of salt permits. It was not something an ordinary official could do to obtain enough salt permits to make a group of salt smugglers dare to take the risk and attack the Jinyiwei official ships."

It is very likely that he is a high-ranking official at the ministerial or governor-general level or above.

"Holding a high position of power, surnamed Yan, and acting so ruthlessly, deceiving superiors and subordinates, and resorting to any means necessary, I can only think of one person."

"Among high-ranking officials in the imperial court with the surname Yan, I only know one: Yan Song."

Ting Lan thought about it for a moment,

"Is this the person you're referring to, miss?"

"When I was in Taiyuan, I heard the Li family father and son talk about some high-ranking officials in the court, and I also heard them mention Yan Song."

The Minister of Rites is said to be particularly adept at flattering superiors and pandering to the emperor's preferences.

Chu Nanyin spoke,

"Could someone like that really be so ruthless?"

I can't say for sure whether Yan Song himself existed.

Wang Cuiqiao sneered.

"But I know one person who definitely has such means: Yan Song's son, Yan Shifan!"

Although this person did not come from the imperial examination system and was only a hereditary official, he was not considered a prominent figure in the civil service. However, Yan Shifan was actually very intelligent and was Yan Song's most important strategist.

Many of Yan Song's decisions were actually the result of Yan Shifan's planning.

"Great, now we know who's been watching us!"

"But why is Yan Song targeting us?"

Ting Lan looked puzzled.

"We conduct business and develop our business discreetly in the Jiangnan region. How could we possibly attract the attention of high-ranking officials like the Minister and the Grand Secretary?"

"Logically speaking, that's impossible!"

Wang Cuiqiao pondered for a moment.

"But the facts are right in front of us, and we have no choice but to believe them."

There is a strong possibility that something completely beyond our comprehension has happened behind the scenes.

Nanyin, did the procurement of supplies go smoothly this time? Did you get everything I asked for?

"Don't worry, Miss, everything has been obtained."

Chu Nanyin quickly replied,

"It's saltpeter, which is strictly controlled by the government. We needed a lot of it, so we spent more money to bribe them."

"In extraordinary times, we cannot skimp on necessary expenses."

Wang Cuiqiao stood up.

"This island is still too close to the Ming Dynasty. Staying here for another day will increase the danger."

Now that the supplies are ready, give the order: everyone pack your bags and prepare to board the ship and set sail.

. . .

Lin Residence, Ningbo Prefecture.

"Chuntao, hurry up and pack my luggage."

Chen Yunniang put down the letter in her hand and gave a loud order.

"Remember, bring all my best outfits, jewelry, and headdresses."

"Madam, where are we going?"

Chuntao asked in a low voice.

"To the capital!"

Chen Yunniang's tone was somewhat agitated.

"Let's go to Liuhang Island first, then take those 'Australian chiefs' and that Portuguese leader named Lansaro Pina with us to the capital."

"Congratulations, Madam. Are you on your way to see the Master?"

Chun Tao's face was beaming with joy.

"This servant will go and pack for you, Madam. Bring all your best clothes and jewelry."

After Chuntao left, Chen Yunniang picked up the letter again and read it over word by word.

four years ago!

The last time I saw my husband was in Fancheng in the eighteenth year of the Jiajing reign.

Now, it is the twenty-second year of the Jiajing reign.

She was no longer the mistress whom her husband had placed in Biyang County and Fancheng, but "Madam Lin" who managed the Lin family's vast maritime trade industry in Ningbo Prefecture.

The annual turnover of silver reached a terrifying figure of several million taels of silver, and the net profit earned also exceeded one million taels of silver.

This was an enormous sum that Chen Yunniang had never even dreamed of before.

Of course, what shocked Chen Yunniang even more than the "Lin family" business she managed was the true identity of her husband, "Lin Chaoxi".

Even to this day, no one has explicitly stated this to him.

But Chen Yunniang had already guessed that the young man who redeemed her from Biyang County back then was none other than the Emperor's younger brother, His Highness the Prince of Ying, who was now overseeing the country in the capital!