Chapter 98

Listen! I need a vote from Sanjiang!

However, due to the unexpected rise of the Raishima family, one after another important strongholds were captured, and these crucial gold trade routes were thus cut off. ↗

It was all because of those strange guys appearing, leading to all of this.

Li Huamei clenched her fists.

Those strange guys stood within the Raishima family's power, seemingly possessing various mysterious abilities. In two critical major battles, the Li family's fleet was defeated by these strange guys.

"If it doesn't work, we can only make a desperate move," Li Huamei's beautiful eyes were clear, looking at the port, she murmured.

"Desperate move?" Yang Xien said beside her, "Are you saying to lead the fleet to Naha or Kyoto? It should be so!"

His fighting spirit was ignited: "Drive the Raishima family back to Japan!"

Li Huamei smiled bitterly and shook her head: "The Raishima family's strength is developing rapidly now, and they have ironclad ships, making them even harder to deal with. I was just saying."

Unlike Li Huamei's dejection, Lin Qing was beaming with joy.

The carrier pigeon came again.

Zhou Zhiruo had already returned to Hangzhou, and the cotton textiles from Nagasaki were sold out.

As he had guessed, a round trip, this small fleet of only five small Chinese cargo ships, earned a total of 50,000 gold coins, a profit of five times!

Lin Qing even received a space prompt.

"Your fleet has made a round trip between China and Japan, trading silk and cotton textiles in Hangzhou and Nagasaki."

"You have earned a profit of five times, and the total amount of goods is no less than 10 units."

"You have discovered a [Golden Trade Route]!"

"You have received a special operating permit!"

"Your influence in this region has increased by 100 points! It has reached 500 points."

Influence: Reflects the strength of a power in the region. The higher the influence, the more likely navigators are to join you, and the more forces will fear and respect you, making it more likely for your pressure to succeed. You may also receive a higher share and sales volume.

"Every time you discover a [Golden Trade Route], your influence will increase, and you will receive a free special operating permit."

Special Operating Permit: Governments of various countries encourage their explorers to discover new continents and will grant special operating permits based on your exploration. You can use this special operating permit in any port and obtain a 2% market share for free without conflicting with any power.

In the Age of Exploration, if you do not have a market share, you cannot buy or sell in a city.

If you want to break a city's monopoly, you have only one way—war.

By defeating the enemy's fleet through war, making the enemy city submit, you can forcibly open the market.

However, a special operating permit allows you to enter a city's market without bloodshed, making it a divine tool.

Lin Qing believed that the discovery of this golden trade route would certainly reach Li Huamei's ears.

This would exacerbate Li Huamei's anxiety.

Because her large fleet could not earn much, while the Zhou family's dilapidated fleet could safely travel between China and Japan amidst the war, earning substantial profits.

Sure enough, Li Huamei couldn't sit still.

By evening, during dinner time, Lin Qing was called over by Li Huamei.

A long table, as Western captains like, was filled with food, but it was not particularly luxurious. Li Huamei, Yang Xien, James, Kō, and Yian, these companions were sitting, waiting for Lin Qing to start the meal.

Lin Qing was relieved that he didn't have to join the unfortunate adventurers in the damp lower deck, eating with rats. However, with his relationship with Admiral Li, there was no such thing as a good banquet. How would the beautiful Li Huamei torment him?

Li Huamei's beautiful eyes looked at the somewhat uneasy Lin Qing with a smile, and she waved her hand: "Mr. Richard, please sit. We have successfully completed a transaction between Hangzhou and Macau. The celebration banquet is about to begin."

Lin Qing was slightly dazed by her charm and immediately bit his tongue to remind himself that this woman was a fierce tiger, who wouldn't even spit out the bones after eating him.

Li Huamei drank a cup, her face flushed, adding to her allure, and she smiled lightly: "Yian, talk about our war with the Raishima family."

Yian elegantly wiped his lips and said in a soft voice: "The Raishima family controls four major towns in East Asia, with substantial financial resources and has developed a terrifying ironclad ship. The biggest problem now is our severe financial shortage. Even if we win every battle, our finances are gradually drying up, putting us at a disadvantage. I heard that the Zhou family's fleet just achieved a huge success in Nagasaki, even discovering a golden trade route. They also received a special operating permit from the Ming Dynasty."

Li Huamei frowned: "Can anyone think of a way to get out of this predicament?"

Her hopeful gaze swept over everyone.

But Yang Xien was skilled in battlefield combat, and Kō was brave and strategic, but not a business talent. They exchanged glances and shook their heads in silence.

Yian frowned: "Our biggest problem is that our business territory is too narrow, unable to engage in profitable cross-sea trade. We need to transport Ming Dynasty goods to other countries to profit. But..."

He smiled bitterly.

James was a big gunner, skilled in flirting and drinking, and knew nothing about business.

Li Huamei's gaze dimmed.

Indeed, this problem could only be solved by herself?

However, with the Raishima family's constant pressure and the greedy demands of the court, the operating profit was getting thinner, and the fleet was almost unsustainable.

Lin Qing originally planned to quietly make a fortune and leave after eating his fill. But seeing Li Huamei, such a beautiful woman, so troubled and worried, he felt a pang of sympathy.

He forced Li Huamei into a difficult situation to make the Li family fleet struggle!

The idea was to suppress before elevating.

If Li Huamei had a smooth path to dominate East Asia, why would she look at a despicable Richard Huisen?

This way, he could help Li Huamei in her most difficult times, increasing her affection, and ultimately bringing the fierce tiger into his harem, to be his exclusive favorite.

However, seeing Li Huamei so gloomy, Lin Qing couldn't bear it.

Being soft-hearted towards women was his weakness.

He coughed.

Everyone's gaze focused on him.

Yang Xien sneered: "Could it be that our genius, Mr. Richard Huisen, has a brilliant plan?"

"Not a brilliant plan," Lin Qing said calmly, "just a small suggestion."

How cunning his mind was?

Just a glance, and he had a brilliant idea.

"Hmph! You were supposed to bribe Ming officials, but the money was spent, and our share in Hangzhou was taken by the mysterious Zhou family fleet!" Yang Xien couldn't suppress his anger and shouted, "Explain yourself!"

Lin Qing smiled and said calmly, "I understand that General Yang is upset about this. I also feel wronged. I went to see Jiang大人. He only said that the Zhou family fleet has someone backing them, pressuring him to grant them special trading rights. If the Li family fleet can do it, why can't the Zhou family fleet?"

He rambled on for a while.

Li Huamei and the others had no way to deal with him.

They couldn't confront Jiang大人, and he wouldn't reveal Lin Qing, so it was a dead-end case.

Li Huamei waved her hand: "I will handle that matter. Now, talk about your suggestion."

Lin Qing nodded: "The biggest problem now is the limited operating area. Ming Dynasty goods can only be sold at domestic ports, so they can't fetch high prices. I suggest selling the goods abroad, to the world."

"You talk so easily!" Yang Xien sneered, "Do we not know that selling goods abroad would be profitable? But the problem is, our fleet needs to guard against the Raishima family, fight pirates, and handle various expenses. We simply don't have the capability to expand into foreign markets. The East Asian market is also dominated by the Raishima family."

"Who says we have to invest money? We can collaborate!" Lin Qing abruptly interrupted Yang Xien, "We can find partners and engage in commercial cooperation with a certain share of profits! Expand overseas trade!"

"Tell us more," Li Huamei became interested.

Although Lin Qing knew that saying this now would greatly improve the Li family fleet's situation, he couldn't bear to see Li Huamei so gloomy, so he decided to speak: "You know, as an Englishman, I have close ties with Mr. Crawford. His fleet is currently operating in Europe and Africa, with significant influence. If we can collaborate with them, we can easily break through the current operating limitations and transport Ming Dynasty goods to the world for sale. I have investigated, and silk textiles that sell for 1,000 gold coins can triple in price in Africa and quintuple in Europe!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's surprised gazes focused on Lin Qing.

Li Huamei's beautiful eyes sparkled.

She couldn't believe that this despicable guy could propose such a valuable suggestion.

"Tell me more!" Li Huamei leaned closer to Lin Qing.

Lin Qing caught a whiff of a refreshing fragrance and coughed, his face turning a bit red.

There was no turning back now.

Lin Qing steeled his resolve.

If the Li family fleet becomes strong, so be it.

There will always be a way to reverse the plot.

He said frankly: "Actually, Mr. Crawford has been troubled by his inability to enter the East Asian market. If both sides agree to use Malacca as a trading point, we just need to transport the goods to Malacca, and they will take over there. The price will double. We earn one fold, and they earn one fold. This way, everyone makes money. We don't need to invest and can still sell at high prices. It's better than running these low-profit routes along the coast."

Li Huamei was silent for a moment.

Lin Qing's suggestion actually aligned very well with her thoughts.

A basic premise is that Crawford's influence cannot extend into China.

But this is satisfied because Crawford only goes to Malacca to pick up the goods and doesn't come to China.

The price can double, which is far beyond the current business.

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