Chapter 183: Time to Build a New Flagship

Lin Qian had thought long and hard before ordering Huang Hetai to relocate to Zhangzhou.

First, according to historical records, the current Fujian Governor Shang Zhouzuo was weak-willed and extremely prone to compromise; with the Nan'ao naval forces being so powerful, he most likely would not dare refuse Ma Chenglie's relocation request.

Second, the Nan'ao Vice Regional Commander already held the authority to coordinate military affairs between Chaozhou and Zhangzhou, so having Ma Chenglie propose the relocation was not overstepping his mandate.

Third, through military merit and marriage alliances, Lin Qian now wielded considerable influence in the surrounding prefectures, and he could use Huang Hetai as a probe to see whether that influence could be converted into tangible benefits.

For Huang Hetai, although this was a lateral transfer in rank, the actual power involved was worlds apart.

What was a Nan'ao Garrison Commander? One who guarded a desolate island.

What was a Zhangzhou Garrison Commander? One who guarded the prefectural seat of a prosperous southeastern region — a city of no fewer than a hundred thousand souls, with Yuegang at its side. It was genuine power and a fat sinecure rolled into one.

Thus, the moment Lin Qian spoke these words, Huang Hetai's fingers trembled with agitation, tears streaming down his face on the spot. He knelt and knocked his head against the ground with a thud-thud-thud, saying, "Thank you for your patronage, Helmsman! Thank you for your patronage!"

Lin Qian smiled and said, "Rise. This matter must be approved level by level — by the Governor, the Ministry of War, the Grand Secretariat, and the Directorate of Ceremonial. Whether it succeeds is still up in the air."

Huang Hetai said tearfully, "The Helmsman's kindness in promoting me, this humble officer will keep engraved in his heart and never dare forget! This humble officer has but one request, and begs the Helmsman to grant it!"

"Let's hear it."

Huang Hetai said, "This humble officer's family has grown accustomed to life on the island. I beg the Helmsman to permit me to take up the post alone, leaving my family behind on the island!"

Put plainly, they would remain as hostages. Huang Hetai knew that such a heaven-sent opportunity could not possibly fall on his head out of thin air — better to offer them himself than to wait for Lin Qian to demand them.

Besides, having sat on the bench for so long and watched how his superior Ma Chenglie pledged loyalty, even if Huang Hetai had a pig's brain, he would have learned by now.

Lin Qian smiled and said, "Good. There are still several empty grand houses west of the island. Geng Wu, tomorrow take Garrison Commander Huang's family to pick one out."

"Yes!" Geng Wu acknowledged.

Nine days after the temple rites, Lin Qian accompanied Ye Zhen on her return visit to her natal home.

The couple first offered sacrifices to the ancestors at the Ye family ancestral hall, respectfully informing them of the occasion.

Then they paid respects to each of the Ye family elders in turn, with the forms of address changed accordingly.

The first to be received was Ye Zhen's mother. After Lin Qian made a formal bow, he addressed her: "Mother."

His mother-in-law was beaming with smiles, and her features indeed bore a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to Ye Zhen's — and she also looked extremely familiar.

Lin Qian immediately recalled: this was the official's lady he had seen at the church in Macao. It truly had been only a single fleeting encounter.

That day Lin Qian had met nearly every resident of Macao. Had his mother-in-law's bearing not been so distinguished, and had Lin Qian not possessed a knack for remembering faces, he never could have recalled her no matter how hard he tried.

Lin Qian looked at his mother-in-law, then at Ye Zhen, and thought to himself: back in Macao, his mother-in-law had clearly been leading a young girl of about ten — how could—

At this moment, Qin-shi rose from her seat and called over her children — one was the elder brother Ye Yifan, and the other was a young girl of about fourteen or fifteen, precisely the one she had been leading in Macao.

Ye Zhen whispered in his ear: "This is my younger sister, Ye Heng."

Lin Qian was just about to offer his greetings when his mother-in-law, together with her children, had already bowed to him in thanks.

Lin Qian moved to support them, but Ye Zhen quietly held him back, and then her voice came at his ear: "Husband, for the grace of saving their lives, you must accept this bow."

After the three rose, his mother-in-law explained: "Last year, Heng'er came down with a fever illness, and the Fuzhou physicians were at their wit's end. My late husband had once heard Mr. Li say that Macao had methods for treating fever illnesses, so he took the children and rushed there to seek treatment—"

Ye Zhen explained softly at his side: "Husband, Mr. Li is Matteo Ricci, who was on very close terms with Grandfather."

His mother-in-law continued: "But when we arrived in Macao, we ran straight into the red barbarian attack. Had it not been for my worthy son-in-law's defense, I fear the three of us — mother and children — would have lost our lives—

After my worthy son-in-law defeated the bandits, he also sent medical officers to treat the wounded among the people, and it was then that Heng'er's illness was cured. In that sense, the three of us turned misfortune into blessing, and my worthy son-in-law saved Heng'er twice over."

Lin Qian looked at the girl called Ye Heng, seeing that her eyes were bright and lively, that she resembled her elder sister closely yet had a completely different temperament, and that she looked quite healthy, with no lingering aftereffects.

Ye Heng performed the formal curtsy and said: "Brother-in-law's grace in sparing our lives is engraved in my heart, and I dare not forget it."

Lin Qian smiled and said: "Why speak of grace and favor? We are all one family."

Then he looked at his elder brother-in-law Ye Yifan and said: "I don't recall seeing you in Macao at the time?"

Ye Yifan clasped his hands and said: "I am ashamed to say it — I was at the Guia Fortress at the time. Though I did not meet my worthy brother-in-law face to face, I did get a taste of his fire attacks and cannon fire."

Lin Qian sized him up. This elder brother-in-law of his was tall and thin, fair-skinned, dressed as a man of letters — and yet he had dared to go up to a fortress. Lin Qian could not help but feel some admiration, and asked: "Any kills to your name?"

Ye Yifan smiled: "By luck, I cut down one wokou with my own hand."

Lin Qian's expression turned serious as he clasped his hands: "My respects."

Ye Yifan returned the clasped-hand salute: "It truly was pure luck. As for kills, I don't measure up to my worthy brother-in-law in the slightest."

Ye Zhen reminded him in a low voice: "You still haven't paid respects to Grandfather. If we don't go soon, he'll be getting impatient."

While all was harmony within the Ye residence—

Ma Chenglie's memorial requesting the transfer of Huang Hetai had already been delivered by fast horse to the desk of Fujian Governor Shang Zhouzuo.

According to the original course of history, Shang Zhouzuo — because of his weak and compromising stance on the Dutch question, and his discord with Ye Xianggao — should have been transferred away from Fujian at the beginning of the third year of Tianqi.

But due to Lin Qian's influence, the Dutch had never come to stir up trouble in Fujian and Guangdong, and Ye Xianggao had retired early as well. Fujian thus remained peaceful, and Shang Zhouzuo, riding on that good fortune, stayed firmly in his Governor's seat.

Just as Lin Qian had predicted, Shang Zhouzuo did not dare refuse Ma Chenglie's proposal.

The Nan'ao naval forces were now powerful, and they were connected to Grand Secretary Ye's network besides. As long as Fujian remained stable, Shang Zhouzuo would have been willing to give away even the post of Fujian Regional Commander.

As for the original Zhangzhou Garrison Commander, there happened to be a Garrison Commander vacancy in Tingzhou Prefecture, which was just the place to accommodate him.

So after reviewing the matter and finding no fault, Shang Zhouzuo approved it and forwarded the routine memorial to the capital.

A new bride's first return visit to her natal home after marriage does not include an overnight stay.

Thus, after supper, Lin Qian and his wife returned to their residence in Fuqing, and the next day took a boat back to Nan'ao.

According to Ming dynasty custom, after a new bride had lived at her husband's home for one month, she was to make another return visit, this time for a longer stay of about a month. For this second visit, Lin Qian did not need to accompany her.

A month passed in the blink of an eye. When the day came for Ye Zhen's second return visit, Lin Qian prepared lavish gifts for the Ye family and personally saw Ye Zhen onto the boat.

The twenty-first day of the tenth month, third year of Tianqi.

News arrived from Dongning Island: the Bai siblings had completed their task of expanding their manpower.

In three trips back and forth, they had brought over seven thousand three hundred-odd people from the Pearl Mother Sea to Chiqian.

Lin Qian sent the Military Registry Office and the Civil Registry Office to the island to register the new settlers, then selected fifteen hundred of them to expand the army.

Of the newly recruited, two hundred fifty remained on Dongning Island for garrison duty. Counting Chen Jiao's previous men, Dongning Island now had a total of four hundred soldiers.

The other newly recruited twelve hundred fifty were used to expand the Nan'ao naval forces.

By this point, Lin Qian's naval force numbered three thousand men in total. After deducting those stationed at Zhelin Stockade, Macao, and Dongning Island, the Nan'ao navy's mobile force amounted to two thousand three hundred men.

In this way, the pressure of insufficient naval manpower was temporarily resolved.

Additionally, among the warships seized from Weizhou Island, one Fujian junk and thirteen Haicang ships were pressed into public service, while the remaining small warships were all converted into fishing boats and left at Dongning Island.

The twenty-fifth day of the tenth month, the third year of Tianqi.

The Bai siblings led the fleet back to Nan'ao Island, the ships laden with half a year's output from Dongning Island.

There were one thousand five hundred piculs of white sugar, three hundred piculs of deerskin, three thousand sets of venison products, and eight thousand shi of rice.

The venison products, deerskin, and rice needed no elaboration—they were all mundane goods for eating and drinking.

Only the white sugar drew Lin Qian's intense attention.

At the largest scale, this was a strategic material, usable for military provisions and warfare.

At the smallest scale, it was a bulk commodity that could roll in silver by the stream.

Producing white sugar could also develop primary manufacturing and invigorate economic vitality.

Thus, the first thing upon the fleet's arrival at port, Lin Qian went to inspect the white sugar.

White sugar traded across the sea was packed in clay jars—small-mouthed with bulging bellies, glazed on the inner walls, the mouths sealed with thick paper and then fixed with mud or wax.

Seeing Lin Qian approach, Bai Qing ordered her men to bring over a jar and open it on the wharf.

Lin Qian took out a scoop with a wooden ladle. The white sugar was indeed as white as snow in color. He dabbed a bit with his finger and put it in his mouth—the taste was very sweet, with no off-flavor beyond a faint earthy smell.

Bai Qing said: "This jar is top-grade sugar. There are also middle and lower grades, with deeper colors, but the deepest only reaches light yellow."

Lin Qian was somewhat surprised: "Made by the yellow-mud-water leaching method?"

Bai Qing shook her head: "The sugar masters all make it in secret—no one knows what method they use."

Lin Qian put the wooden ladle back into the jar and said: "Never mind. As long as it can be produced, that's enough. Is this all the sugar produced?"

Bai Qing said: "This is only about half. The sugar shed master said that twelve piculs of sugarcane are needed to press out one picul of brown sugar, and three piculs of brown sugar are needed to yield one picul of white sugar—it takes a very long time to produce."

Bai Qing then went on to relate the other situations she had learned about on Dongning Island.

Lin Qian roughly calculated: in Quanzhou, the wholesale price of one picul of white sugar was three taels; in Hirado, one picul sold for fifteen taels; in Hoi An, one picul sold for nine taels—the gross margins were astonishingly high.

Moreover, the three taels per picul in Quanzhou was still the procurement price; Lin Qian's own production cost would be even lower. The white sugar business was even more profitable than selling raw silk—no wonder the Dutch coveted Dongning Island and sailed ten thousand li to come plant sugarcane.

Even more valuable was the fact that common folk could go without silk, but could hardly resist the temptation of white sugar. The market potential of this business was almost unimaginable.

Even if Dongning Island's sugar industry later expanded to produce ten thousand or a hundred thousand piculs of white sugar annually, sugar prices in Hirado and Hoi An would not fall too much.

Hoi An especially, as an international transshipment market with large numbers of European ships moving goods through it, had all of Europe standing behind it—prices there would only become more stable.

Lin Qian watched the workers on the wharf continuously hauling sugar jars, feeling as if what they carried were jar after jar of gold and silver.

At this moment, Bailangzai said: "Helmsman, I think Big Brother seems to have some situation."

Lin Qian's heart tightened, but his face betrayed nothing as he said: "What do you mean?"

Bailangzai said: "I've heard people say that Big Brother has been frequently traveling to Madou-she lately, very attentive to sugarcane."

Lin Qian nodded, deliberately pretending not to understand: "If he weren't attentive, we wouldn't have these one thousand five hundred piculs of white sugar. He should be credited with a merit."

Bailangzai said nothing more.

Lin Qian said: "In a few days, Lü Zhou's fleet will be returning from Hirado. When they do, summon Big Brother as well for a meeting."

"Understood." Bailangzai acknowledged.

The twenty-ninth day of the tenth month, the third year of Tianqi, at dawn.

A great expanse of snow-white sails rose above the sea surface. After a moment, a massive fleet appeared over the horizon.

In Lü Zhou's fleet, merchant ships and warships totaled thirty-nine vessels—an absolute leviathan on the sea, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Four days prior, the convoy had been spotted by eagle ships in the waters north of Dongning Island, and news had subsequently reached all of Nan'ao Island.

On Nan'ao Island's wharf, many people were already waiting—mostly family members of the crew, along with working sailors and laborers.

An hour later, the convoy drew near, lowering sails, dropping anchors, and coming alongside the dock one after another.

The wharf immediately erupted into commotion—men hauling hawsers, vendors hawking wares, people calling out to relatives, onlookers watching the excitement—a lively scene indeed.

To facilitate the convoy's berthing, the berths at Qianjiang Bay Wharf had been cleared the previous day.

After the convoy's flagship moored, the chief and deputy supercargoes first solemnly returned the ship's Mazu statue to the Tianfei Temple. The two then handed over duties to their deputies and made their way toward the General's Mansion.

In the main hall of the General's Mansion.

Nan'ao Island's high-ranking figures were all gathered, sipping tea as they waited.

Such a large convoy docking took time measured in days—it couldn't be rushed. Seeing everyone at leisure, Chen Jiao took the opportunity to introduce the situation on Dongning Island.

At Lin Qian's wedding last time, Chen Jiao had intended to give an introduction, but unfortunately he had drunk too fiercely, gone back to bed, and fallen straight asleep. He slept through the second day as well. On the third day, he gave a brief account and then headed straight back to Dongning Island.

Speaking of which, at the wedding all the brothers had agreed to gang up and toast Lin Qian, but since everyone still counted on Lin Qian's brains to solve problems, no one dared to truly drink him under the table.

In the end, it became everyone toasting each other, and every person ended up utterly plastered. Recalling it now, all they could do was smile wryly.

"At present, East Fan Island has over three thousand mu of sugarcane fields, more than a hundred sugarcane presses running day and night without stop, and over two hundred sugar sheds. By my estimate, this year's white sugar production should reach around three thousand seven hundred piculs."

Lin Qian calculated: selling this sugar in Hirado would yield profits of roughly thirty to forty thousand taels.

According to Chen Jiao's projection, if the sugarcane fields expanded to ten thousand mu next year, at the same yield and price, profits would exceed one hundred ten thousand taels—truly worthy of the name "white gold."

Seeing Chen Jiao pause there, Lin Qian roughly understood his meaning and asked: "Are there any difficulties in opening new land?"

Chen Jiao said: "In short, we need fertilizer, draft animals, farm tools, and drainage. The expenditure is considerable—the accounting office can only estimate a rough figure of about fifty thousand taels."

An investment of fifty thousand taels recouped in a single year—that rate of return could be called extremely high.

However, Lin Qian also knew that this fifty thousand taels was only the initial investment. The money for purchasing sugarcane from the Siraya people afterward, the wages for pressing the cane, and transport costs were all not included.

The accountants of this era only understood the cash-basis Dragon Gate accounting—they had little grasp of matching revenues with expenses, reflecting operating performance, or accrual-based bookkeeping methods.

Now that silver was increasing and industries growing larger, the old workshop-style management would no longer suffice.

Modern accounting methods needed to be introduced, along with an audit mechanism, to ensure the books were accurate and free of excessive corruption.

This was not merely an economic consideration—it was also necessary for establishing a separatist regime.

After all, historically, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom — most peasant uprisings faced severe corruption problems in their later stages. This had to be addressed early, while resistance to implementation would still be minimal.

Lin Qian said, "Silver is easy to handle."

Establishing accounting and auditing systems was not urgent; rule by men would suffice for now.

Chen Jiao's expression relaxed.

Lin Qian asked, "How stands the dispute between the Madou tribe and the other three great tribes?"

"Two tribes have already ceased hostilities; only the Xiaolong tribe still makes a great fuss. The habitable land on Dongning Island is limited — the four great tribes and Chikan all lie along the inner sea coast. If we let them keep brawling, it will harm our land reclamation. I think we might as well just —" Chen Jiao made a throat-slitting gesture as he spoke.

Chen Jiao made a throat-slitting gesture as he spoke.

Lei Sanxiang, hearing that battle was afoot, eagerly joined in the clamor.

Zheng Zhilong thought killing was acceptable, but it was best not to do it with their own hands.

Scholar Zhou urged them not to add needless bloodshed.

Just then, footsteps sounded from outside the door. Lü Zheng and José entered, bowed, and paid their respects to all present.

Lin Qian said, "The journey was arduous — dispense with formalities and sit down to rest."

The two sat down. A servant brought tea. Lü Zhou, heedless of the heat, blew on it and slurped it down in one go.

Seeing this, the servant replaced it with a fresh cup. Lü Zhou, now satisfied, did not touch it again.

Lin Qian asked about their experiences on the trip to Hirado.

Lü Zhou said, "This time in Hirado, everything went smoothly and safely. Li Dan made no unusual moves — in fact, he was rather considerate to the trading caravan. I heard that after last year's battle, several of Li Dan's chieftains fled with their men. Whether it's true or not, I cannot say."

Lei Sanxiang commented, "Damn bastard, serves him right! Let him play his schemes and tricks!"

José pulled a slip of paper from his bosom and said, "All told, this trip earned a total of over four hundred fifty thousand taels of silver."

Zheng Zhilong laughed, "That scoundrel Li Dan's face must be turning green."

Lin Qian asked, "Counting this silver, how much remains in the public accounts?"

Scholar Zhou said, "Over five hundred eighty thousand taels."

At these words, everyone around swallowed hard. Indeed, compared to the enormous profits of maritime trade, their previous plundering and raiding now seemed like small-time games.

For Lin Qian, it was precisely this ever-increasing wealth and accumulating military merit that allowed him to suppress the various contradictions within his sphere of influence.

No one would care who held high office and who held low, nor who was idle and who labored hard — after all, what internal strife could gain was far less than the newly added wealth.

Thus, the entire force could charge forward like it had been injected with stimulant — sharp and unstoppable.

Scholar Zhou paused, then said, "However, much of this five hundred eighty thousand taels is in crude silver ingots. They must be remelted in a silver furnace before they can be used."

In the lands of Fujian and Guangdong, because of maritime trade, there were many private silver furnaces. But if they were to melt the silver there, the 'losses' would likely be very great.

Now, establishing a silver furnace had actually become a pending matter on the agenda.

Was this the trouble of having too much money?

Lin Qian asked Ma Chenglie, "Has Garrison Commander Huang's appointment document come down yet?"

Ma Chenglie said, "Not yet. But the transfer of a Garrison Commander, with the Governor's approval, should be all but certain." Lin Qian said, "Then once Garrison Commander Huang assumes his post, let's build the silver furnace in Zhangzhou."

Yuegang was in Zhangzhou; building the furnace there would also make it convenient to take on business from other sea merchants.

Moreover, a silver furnace consumed much fuel and had little technical content — building it in Zhangzhou would also keep costs low.

"Yes!" Ma Chenglie clasped his hands and noted it down.

After taking a sip of tea, Lin Qian said, "I hear Hoi An has quite a bit of teak timber, as well as large keel-grade lumber?"

Lü Zhou perked up and replied, "Indeed. Jiaozhi also has —"

"Hold on." Lin Qian stopped him, then said to Geng Wu, "Bring the screen from my study, and also bring the map of the Indochinese Peninsula."

Moments later, a solid-wood screen with gauze panels was moved to the entrance of the main hall. A guard unfolded a map and affixed it to the screen, clamping the edges with wooden clips.

In this way, sunlight shone through the screen and fell upon the map, allowing everyone in the main hall to see it with exceptional clarity.

The map was hand-drawn by Lin Qian, showing only the rough shape of the Indochinese Peninsula, with common place names and country names marked.

This region had, since ancient times, contained too many countries with wildly confusing names. Without unified nomenclature, conversation would soon become muddled. Lü Zhou walked to the map, looked at it for a moment, and said, "The Indochinese Peninsula has been a teak-producing region since antiquity. Every country has teak — the Toungoo Kingdom in the northwest, for instance, has extremely abundant reserves. But the only place willing to fell and sell it on a large scale is here."

As he spoke, his finger tapped a point on the map — Hoi An harbor.

"Because of the Nguyen Lord's strong support, this port's commerce is extremely prosperous. Within his domain, roads for the teak trade have been built all the way to the edges of the deep mountain forests. There are countless logging camps and timber-drying sheds — even the barbarians from nearby regions come here to buy ship-repair materials."

"However," Lü Zhou shifted his tone, "they only sell planks — large timber they will not sell."

"Large timber not for sale" was all just an excuse. If the price was right, any large timber could be bought.

Lin Qian asked, "Do they truly have keel-grade timber that has been air-dried for decades?"

Lü Zhou said, "How many years the timber has been air-dried I cannot say, but there is definitely large timber! And not just one piece — there should be a whole batch."

Lin Qian's eyes gleamed. "How large?"

Lü Zhou said, "The largest is said to be over ten zhang long, five chi thick, perfectly straight, knot-free, cut from the middle section of the tree."

Lin Qian had studied the structural drawings of many ships and knew what conditions keel timber required. The piece Lü Zhou described was top-grade material for making a keel.

Lü Zhou added, "This batch of large timber is the Nguyen Lord's family heirloom — he will never sell it. However, rumor has it that whoever can defeat the Trinh Lord will be given this batch of timber."

Lin Qian said, "Since he seeks helpers, the Trinh Lord to the north must have also offered a handsome price."

Lü Zhou shook his head. "I only heard that the Trinh Lord has recruited some sea bandits. As for what price he offered, that I do not know. The Trinh Lord controls the King of Dai Viet, holding the Son of Heaven hostage to command the lords. His forces are said to number one hundred thousand soldiers, five hundred war elephants, and five hundred warships."

"The Nguyen Lord's state, by contrast, is small and weak — fewer than twenty thousand soldiers, and virtually no war elephants or warships. That is why the Trinh Lord can act with such impunity."

Jiaozhi was a narrow strip hugging the eastern edge of the Indochinese Peninsula, with an extremely long coastline — precisely why the Nguyen Lord sought maritime allies.

Moreover, those who could use keel-grade timber were clearly the European powers of Southeast Asia — the Spanish, the Dutch, and the like. This Nguyen Lord was certainly not lacking in ambition.

Lin Qian toyed with the teacup lid, turning things over in his mind.

If he faced only sea bandits on the water, victory was all but certain.

According to historical records, the Trinh Lord's land forces had never possessed the ability to destroy the Nguyen Lord either.

The only thing to worry about was other European colonists — but given the allure of that keel-grade timber, the risk was worth taking.

With this batch of timber, it would be enough to build a great vessel of forty-five to fifty meters, whose firepower would absolutely surpass that of the Tianyuan.

That said, the Tianyuan was after all converted from a Manila galleon—ultimately born from an armed merchantman—so its structural design carries inherent limitations.

For instance, the first gun deck is too large, while the second gun deck converted from the cargo hold is too small, which creates a center-of-gravity problem that in turn restricts both the caliber and number of cannons.

There is also the issue of the hull being thick and fat, with too small a length-to-beam ratio, resulting in clumsy movement and insufficient agility.

And the forecastle and aftercastle are too tall, retaining the outdated design of the carrack sailing ship.

The current Tianyuan theoretically carries sixty-six guns, but in reality twelve of them are Folangji breech-loaders on the open deck—their effective range is too short and their power too weak; since being installed, they have almost never been used.

Deduct those twelve guns and you have fifty-four cannons—a firepower configuration slightly above the mainstream large galleons of the West, putting it in a position where it wins in single combat but is utterly defeated when fighting two at once.

Thus Lin Qian's modifications to the Tianyuan were limited to the second gun deck alone.

Processes such as sheathing the hull bottom in copper or lead cost a fortune, so they held no value for improvement.

As for forward-thinking ideas like optimizing the hull form or adding wrought-iron armor belts at critical points, those were never even tried.

Perhaps it was time to build a new flagship!

Pink Round

Pen