Chapter 91

One more update! I came back very late yesterday and updated at the train station! I'm asking for all kinds of support and votes!

Now, even adventurers are getting involved.

She still has to face such dangers, and even without knowing it, she has been placed on the list of those to be eliminated.

Lin Qing couldn't bear it anymore.

But he firmly believed that he could save this beautiful and strong woman.

To help her achieve her dreams and gain true happiness.

First, let's get some startup funds.

Yang Xien looked at Li Huamei, who was lowering her head in silence, and angrily strode over, grabbing Lin Qing by the collar and shouting, "Can't you think of a way?"

Lin Qing broke free from Yang Xien's large hand and said coldly, "I am thinking of a way, which is why I'm discussing with Admiral Li how to deal with the situation."

Li Huamei, standing behind them, weakly waved her hand and turned her head toward the window.

Under the window, there was a vase of fully blooming red roses, and a small yellow bird singing happily. When Li Huamei was free, she liked to watch the roses and listen to the bird's song. This was her only entertainment.

Li Huamei's voice, clear and dreamy, came from afar, "Xien, let him go. This isn't his fault."

She paused for a moment, as if making a great decision, and said, "We will buy goods from Macau next month. Let's take 10,000 gold from the purchase funds and give it to Richard Huisen."

Xien looked troubled and said, "But Huamei, if we can't even pay for the goods, the Li family's trade convoy will suffer a huge blow. Merchants will lose confidence and refuse to trade with us. The prices will also have no advantage."

Li Huamei sighed.

From her emaciated shoulders and slightly haggard face, Lin Qing felt a pang of sympathy.

Clearly, due to the ongoing war with the Raido family, the costs of suppressing pirates, the heavy taxes from the court, and the greed of corrupt officials, the Li family's trade convoy was in a very difficult situation, and it was not an exaggeration to say they were at a critical juncture of survival.

If things continued as they were, even without his assassination, the Li family's trade convoy would only last a few more years before being squeezed out by the Raido family.

Li Huamei's dream of protecting her country and hometown from the ravages of pirates from both East and West would be completely shattered.

Li Huamei forced a smile and said to Yang Xien, "Don't worry. I will use my personal credit to borrow from several chambers of commerce in Hangzhou. Although the interest rate is a bit high, it will be enough to pay for the next month's goods."

Yang Xien sighed deeply.

He was skilled in battle, but he was not adept at dealing with the court and its corrupt officials.

Lin Qing received a hint.

"You have received 10,000 gold from the Li family's trade convoy."

"Due to your actions, Li Huamei and Yang Xien's attitude towards you has decreased by 5 points, reaching -20 points."

Lin Qing sighed. There is always a price to pay for gains.

However, he had obtained the first batch of startup funds.

He knew that to reverse the tide and save the Li family's trade convoy, which was about to sink, he had to take unconventional measures!

He would make good use of this 10,000 gold!

Why did Lin Qing insist on getting 10,000 gold right from the start?

Because he knew this was the world of the Age of Sail!

In this world, everything is based on gold.

With gold, you can have ships, sailors, navigators, and investments in trade and power!

To secretly oppose the Raido family and build his own formidable strength, he had to develop conventionally.

He returned to his office, sat down, and immediately wrote a secret letter.

This letter was for Miki Shinji.

The letter was very short, with only two sentences.

"I am in position. Need 100,000 gold."

One was a notification, the other was a request for money.

Still, it was a request for money!

Lin Qing knew that as the party with the advantage in the plot, Miki Shinji and others, who helped the Raido family control such a large commercial empire, certainly had plenty of money!

Even so, 100,000 gold was a huge sum.

Lin Qing estimated that even if Miki Shinji really trusted him, the startup funds he would give him would not exceed 50,000 gold.

But together, 60,000 gold would be enough for Lin Qing to get his first batch of startup funds.

After all, at this time, a simple small ship that could carry two cargo holds cost only 3,000 gold!

For example, Li Huamei's startup trade funds were only a few tens of thousands of gold.

But Lin Qing was not satisfied.

He sat for a while, then took another piece of paper and wrote another letter.

This letter was for Crawford!

Richard Huisen's true identity was a spy planted by Crawford in Li Huamei's entourage!

However, Lin Qing's current identity was somewhat complicated.

He was a spy for Crawford, a spy for the Raido family, a spy for Miki Shinji, and also a spy for the Hong Gang surveillance team and the Takenaka Gang. Of course, his ultimate identity was still to serve himself!

This was a quintuple spy identity.

If someone's understanding was a bit poor, they might not even know which side Lin Qing was on?

Since Lin Qing had such a complex background, he naturally had to make good use of it.

This letter was written to the Englishman, Crawford.

The purpose was still one.

To get money.

100,000 gold.

The reason was the cost of monitoring Li Huamei and bribing Ming Dynasty officials.

He believed that Crawford, with his vast power worldwide, would give him this large sum of money.

How much he would actually get would depend on the situation.

This would also show how much Crawford trusted him.

Lin Qing left the Li family's trade convoy and walked toward the residence of Jiang, the governor of Jiangnan.

Even if someone from the Li family's trade convoy was following him, his actions would still be perfectly justified.

In fact, Lin Qing was not lying.

The first batch of startup funds, 10,000 gold, was not used for personal gain but was truly used for the most important and profitable task!

Bribery!

As a modern person, Lin Qing had a deep understanding of the role of the government.

His greatest advantage in entering this world and obtaining Richard's identity was not anything else but his good relationship with the corrupt officials of the Ming Dynasty!

With his initial 60 points of goodwill, Lin Qing easily entered the Jiang residence and smoothly met Governor Jiang.

At their first meeting, Governor Jiang maintained a professional attitude, though he showed some respect to this "Englishman."

However, when Lin Qing generously placed 10,000 gold on Governor Jiang's desk, he quickly experienced the rare "European Admiral" treatment.

Governor Jiang not only changed his attitude from cold to warm but also put on a sycophantic act of "good tea, better tea, best tea."

Lin Qing became his honored guest, gaining 10 points of goodwill.

For such corrupt officials, the only way to gain their goodwill was to spend money, a lot of money.

70 points of goodwill would be enough to make him consider Lin Qing a friend.

The two men, who shared a common interest, chatted for a full hour. Lin Qing then swaggered out of the Jiang residence.

The servants were very surprised to see that the always stern Governor Jiang actually escorted a foreigner to the door and even waved goodbye with a smile.

Such treatment was only reserved for the Governor of Jiangnan, his superior.

Yang Xien, who had been secretly following Lin Qing, saw this scene from a distant teahouse and sighed helplessly.

Clearly, the damn Richard had not lied about this.

He really went to bribe Governor Jiang. Otherwise, why would Governor Jiang have escorted him out?

Although he was very suspicious of Richard and often spoke ill of Lin Qing to Li Huamei, Yang Xien was an upright person. He would speak the truth.

When he returned, Li Huamei had not eaten dinner and was sitting in the dark, looking at the bird in her hand with a somewhat depressed expression. Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

"How did it go? Where did he go?"

"Alas, he really went to Governor Jiang. It seemed like he was doing official business. That face of Jiang's really disgusts me."

"Since you say that, I feel relieved," Li Huamei's beautiful face had an indescribable melancholy in the dark, and she smiled faintly, "Using our money to bribe officials can also be considered a righteous path."

"By the way, we have completed the recruitment of sailors," Yang Xien said, his spirits lifting, "This time in Hangzhou's taverns, we recruited many strong young men. They are all very capable."

He was the deputy of the fleet, responsible for personnel, and recruiting sailors was his duty.

Li Huamei nodded and smiled, "If they meet your standards, I am naturally at ease. The next voyage is set for tomorrow! The goal is to enter the port of Quanzhou to buy goods and then sell them in Macau."

Lin Qing, who had just entered the trade convoy, received a hint.

"You used the Li family's trade convoy funds to bribe court officials."

"The Li family's trade convoy contribution value increased by 3 points."

"Li Huamei's impression of you increased by 5 points, reaching -15 points."

...

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