Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 228 Target: Port of Suez ([-])

After talking about the naval affairs, the rest of the business affairs are simply not worth mentioning.

Due to the huge profit margin, the negotiation between the two parties was extremely easy and pleasant.Guo Zili had a brief discussion with Victor of the Hornician family, but there was actually nothing to discuss, they just confirmed it as a matter of routine.Because the more specific details have been carefully discussed one by one by John Hornician and Xu Xin in Florence.

The two parties agreed that starting next year (that is, 1640), merchant ships from the Eastern China Republic would come to the Port of Suez every summer to conduct transactions with their family.The quantity of goods carried each time has also been regulated: the east coast white cotton cloth must not be less than 20 pieces, the dyed cloth shall not be less than 4 pieces, the printed cloth shall not be less than 12 pieces, and all kinds of woolen fabrics shall not be less than [-] pieces. Army guns (ranging from [-]-pound to [-]-pound guns) shall not be less than [-] pieces. As for dyed leather goods, sabers, armor and other commodities, the two parties shall negotiate separately.

At the same time, Victor solemnly promised on behalf of the Hornician family that they would invest in the construction of a transit warehouse, a large cargo yard and a camel caravan in the Port of Suez.The warehouse is used to store goods; the yard is used to store copper, lead, tin and other metals urgently needed by the East Coast Republic of China, and to temporarily accommodate slaves sold from the hinterland of the Ottoman Empire—this will be imported by the people on the East Coast. In addition, camel caravans are used to transship goods to Mediterranean ports and then transport them back to Anatolia, or simply transship goods directly to Syria.

This is a huge deal with a total amount of nearly 80 yuan. Once it is concluded, the Ottoman Empire will become the second largest exporter of commodities in the East Coast Republic of China. In time, it may continue to climb to the first place to replace the Kingdom of France. The location is also uncertain.Moreover, through this route, people on the east coast can also avoid the textile quota agreement with the British East India Company for exporting to the Ottoman Empire to earn more profits.

The importance of the Ottoman market to the East Coast Republic is self-evident. After all, it is not safe to put all eggs in one basket.One day the talented and powerful Church of Richelieu will sweep away the feudal separatism in France, and one day the French will try to develop their own textile industry. The future is likely to be bleak.If you don't make plans early at this time, when will you make plans?

Among the 65000 bolts of white cotton cloth, 20 bolts of dyed cloth, 20 collar armor, and [-] army light artillery pieces brought by the exploration fleet, except for the [-] artillery pieces that were presented as gifts to the Egyptian Pasha, one The hundred-collar armor was a gift to the Sudanese Guards, and the remaining [-] pieces of textiles were all bought by the Hornician family at a price of [-] yuan.Of course, the Hornician family did not pay cash either. They paid the people on the east bank [-] Turkmen horses, [-] camels, a large amount of copper, lead, tin and other metals, as well as a batch of Ottoman plant seeds and saplings.

Both parties are very happy with this barter method, after all, no one wants to run around with a pile of money.

After negotiating with Antony's special envoy, Victor Hornician, the only thing left on the table was a handsome middle-aged man who did not speak—this man whose ancestors came from the Caucasus region was a local Mamluk military noble The leader of the group.If the Turks now control the upper class in Egypt, then these Mamluk military aristocratic groups control the middle and lower classes in Egypt.They swore allegiance to the Turks and assumed certain taxes and military obligations. They were the powerful arm of the Turks to rule Egypt.

In the more than [-] years of war between the Ottoman Empire and the Persian Safavid Dynasty, the Mamluk military group in Egypt contributed a lot.Therefore, their perception of Persians is also skewed negative.Knowing that the people on the east bank urgently need a large number of slaves, the descendant of the former Caucasian Mamluk named Gregory told Guo Zili that he would like to contact some friends in Aleppo, Palestine and Baghdad and organize people to go to Persia Capture slaves and resell them to the East Coasters.

In this regard, Guo Zili readily agreed, and asked Gregory's troops if they needed new equipment. After that, the two parties broke up happily.

Things have come to this, basically everything that should be done has been done.As for the letter of credence submitted by the Chairman of the Executive Committee to Sultan Murad IV of the Ottoman Empire, since Guo Zili and others were unwilling to go to Istanbul, and the sultan was personally leading the army to fight against the Persians, his whereabouts were unknown, so This letter of credence can only be forwarded by the Egyptian Pasha.

Guo Zili did not want to stop in Suez Port after finishing his work.Taking advantage of the favorable wind direction and ocean currents to sail eastward, the Exploration Fleet set sail on June 6 after temporarily storing the cargo in the Port of Suez, headed south to the Arabian Sea, and then headed eastward along the wind direction and ocean currents, towards India in memory. Direction to sail.

Regarding this voyage, there were only a few sailors in the exploration fleet who had experience in long voyages, but most of them were low-level sailors at the time, and they didn't know the specific route and voyage at all. Perhaps only the Portuguese knew this best.There is no way, the people on the east coast can only position themselves according to their own charts, and then try to move towards India.

On July 7, two ships of the East Coast Republic's Exploration Fleet were faintly followed by three warships flying the Portuguese flag at sea, and the watchman immediately passed the news to the bridge.

Guo Zili picked up the binoculars and saw that the three Portuguese ships were three-masted galleons. It was a little reluctant to say that they were warships, but they were actually armed merchant ships.

"It seems that we are not far from the mainland, maybe already in the sea close to India." Second Lieutenant Ji Wen said, "These brainless Portuguese must think that we have plans for their territory. No wonder they are nervous, as if There are not many warships as powerful as the Free Trader in the East Indies."

"Is this sea area the traditional sphere of influence of the Portuguese?" Guo Zili asked.

"It's just the 'sphere of influence' that the Portuguese consider themselves." Lieutenant Ji Wen said with some disdain, "As far as I know, the ships of the British East India Company often operate in this sea area, and even often enter the coast of Persia-they and The relationship with the Persians is very good, and I haven’t seen these Portuguese dare to say anything.”

The Safavid dynasty of Persia has been repeatedly defeated in the war with the Ottomans for more than a hundred years, and it has not changed until recent years. The main reason is that the weapons and tactics of the Persians are too backward.At the beginning, the Ottomans were equipped with muskets and cannons, while the Persians were still fighting with sabers, bows and arrows. How could such equipment defeat the fierce Turks?Therefore, the Persians lost again and again without any suspense, losing vast territories such as the Caucasus and Iraq in succession.

Until recent years, the Persians decided to implement military reforms after learning from the painful experience, introducing advanced Western military technology and tactics, and reforming the outdated domestic military concepts.And in this, the British are the most important Western players.The reformed Persian army has greatly improved its combat power compared to before. It not only defeated the Turkmen and Uzbeks in the east, but also impressed the Ottomans on the western battlefield.In the history of old time and space, Persia and the Ottomans will reach a more formal armistice agreement in the past two years.

"Sir, the Portuguese is coming in the traffic boat." Tim, the bosun, shouted loudly.Everyone looked around and saw a small boat with a white flag struggling towards the battleship "Free Trade" in the waves on the emerald green sea.

Soon, the two Portuguese climbed to the deck along the rope ladder under the eyes of everyone.One of them spoke fluent Spanish: "Which country or company's ship are you from? It's only less than two days' flight from Mumbai, which may cause misunderstanding. Please identify yourself immediately."

Guo Zili was embarrassed. This was the first time he met a foreign navy who didn't know the flag and navy flag of the East Coast Republic.Could it be that this bunch of soil turtles just hang out in Asia all day long?

"We are the Chinese East Coast Republic Navy ship from the New World, the Portuguese, and we will go to Mumbai for a visit." Shay walked up to the Portuguese and replied in Spanish.

"Is there any entry document?" the Portuguese asked.

"No."

"Do you have a document of introduction from an adult in our country?" the Portuguese asked.

"No."

"Then, your request to enter the port will not be granted." The Portuguese said bluntly, "You can't go any further, otherwise our naval frigate may take action against you."

After Second Lieutenant Ji Wen finished translating the meaning of the Portuguese, the people on the deck who heard the words immediately stopped their work, and many sailors had already started to look at the two Portuguese in front of them with dangerous eyes.

Guo Zili was silent for a while, then waved his hand and said, "Very well, Portuguese, I respect your intentions. Boatswain, send them away. Navigator, turn south by east and head south along the coast of India."

The two Portuguese saluted, and then rowed back in the boat again.

"There is no need to conflict with the Portuguese." Guo Zili waved his hand to stop the second lieutenant Ji Wen who was hesitant to speak, and then said: "Besides, these Portuguese belong to the Governor of Goa. It is normal for them to be arrogant. They are probably stationed in Mumbai and The Portuguese fleet in Goa is not weak, our mission has been completed, and there is no need to conflict with them now. Now, return me to the port of Suez."

Ji Wen saluted, and then began to give orders to the deck.

(End of this chapter)