A dilapidated looking fortune ship arrives at the docks of Quanzhou's Thornton Harbor, which is the time of the year when commerce is at its most prosperous. The clouds are blue, and the monsoon winds blow from the sea to the south. The wharf was bustling with coolies waiting to load and unload goods. Horse-drawn carriages and wheelbarrows that pick up and drop off merchants to transport goods are crowded at the entrance to the pier. The greetings and shouts of the southern and northern tones became loud. It seems that this is an ordinary early morning in the first commercial port of the Great Song Dynasty.

The changes in the domestic political situation in the Southern Song Dynasty and the turmoil of the late treaty that had not yet completely ended did not have a particularly great impact on the land of Quanzhou. It's not a political center, or even a place for the Fujian Road pacification envoy.

Therefore, the political turmoil has little impact on Quanzhou, and Quanzhou's economic foundation is overseas trade and extremely developed handicraft industry, although the maritime trade center has been moving north in recent years, but the foundation of the world's first commercial port laid in the past two or three hundred years is not so easy to shake.

Moreover, although Quanzhou claims to be located in the south of the Yangtze River, it is very far away from the core territory of the south of the Yangtze River, and Liangzhejiang Road and Liangjiang Road are very far away. Therefore, the grain consumed by the millions of people in Quanzhou was not imported from Lianghuai, Jinghu, and Sichuan, but from Guangdong and Annan. Therefore, Quanzhou rice merchants will not make a late contract for the delivery of rice from Zhenjiang at all, and they will also release the plates of Guangdong (Guangnan East Road) rice and Nanfan rice on the plate. The price of this rice is really about to rise to five or six times, and the rice in Nanfan is not as good as the tide -- since the debate on Putuo Mountain last year, the situation in the Nanfan countries has been very unstable, and all countries are expanding their armaments and warfare, and they are also importing weapons from Beiming at any cost. To this end, they have intensified the cultivation and export of rice grains.

Therefore, even when the price of rice and the price of late appointments rose the craziest, the price of rice in Quanzhou did not rise very much. It's all within the reach of the people. There were not many Quanzhou merchants who speculated on rice and grain, and they went bankrupt after a late appointment.

In this summer, when the southern merchant ships are in full swing, the city of Quanzhou is still completely immersed in prosperity and wealth. In addition to the two major sects in the city, the Heavenly Daoist Sect and the Heavenly Fang Sect, the open and secret struggle has intensified......

A four-wheeled carriage without any markings was parked in a remote corner of the pier. There were several people standing around the carriage, although they were all dressed in Han Chinese clothes. But looking at those white-skinned and high-nosed faces and that long-trained posture, everyone could tell at a glance that those were white samurai. All of them had very serious faces, and their eyes were nervous as they watched the flow of people hurrying by. Some people still have a cutlass of Uzi steel hanging on their waists, and those who have a little knowledge of the current situation in Quanzhou know that these guys are all thugs raised by Bai Fanhao businessmen who believe in Tianfangjiao, what are they called Mamluks...... It is said that they were sold to Western white monarchs or wealthy families from an early age, and then underwent strict training to become warriors. Loyal to his master, he is not afraid of death when he fights. After the Great Food Country was destroyed by the Mongols, many Mamluks lost their masters. Reduced to a mercenary.

However, a few years ago, before the decline of the Pu family in Quanzhou, there were not many white businessmen who raised Mamluk thugs. However, in the past two years, with the continuous rise of the Northern Ming Dynasty and the growing power of the Tiandao Sect in Quanzhou, many Baifan wealthy merchants have hired Mamluks from Dashi to act as guards. Although the number of Mamluks was small, they repeatedly gained the upper hand in conflicts with the followers of the Heavenly Dao Sect, which greatly boosted the morale of the Quanzhou Tianfang Sect.

These skilled Mamluk fighters also made a name for themselves. Now see so many Mamluks gathered together. None of the passers-by dared to stop and observe more, so they hurriedly quickened their pace and deliberately stayed away from these people.

Two Mamluk warriors who picked up people from the tattered ship that had just arrived in Hong Kong. Sandwiched between a man of medium height, with a shallow (a veiled hat) that deeply covers his head and face. Walking briskly to the front of the carriage, the leading Mamluk opened the door and ushered the mysterious visitor into the back seat of the carriage. The coachman, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately waved his horsewhip. As soon as he got into the smoke, he drove the carriage out. At this time, a man in Confucian clothes sitting in the front seat of the carriage smiled happily at the person who had just gotten on the carriage: "Haiyun, I can wait for you!" ”

The visitor took the light dew and looked left and right with a wry smile. Beneath the shallow exposure is the face of a fair-skinned and slightly gloomy middle-aged man. He is Pu Shougeng. Sitting across from him was his brother Pu Shousheng. Theoretically, the two brothers are now bankrupt. You shouldn't be able to afford to hire so many Mamluks at all. But theory is theory, and this is not the case at all.

Although the Pu family owed a huge debt because of late speculation. But the debts can be repaid, and they still have some cash at their disposal -- the Pujia fleet that sailed from Luzon was loaded with a lot of spices and dried fruits, and after they were sold, there were millions of dollars. In addition, the value of the 42 spinnals of the Pu family is not less than 2 million!

As the richest man in the world and the world's first maritime merchant in the past, no matter how the Pu family falls, it is also a thin camel! In addition to these 42 spinnales, the Pu family has many industries in Luzon, Sriwijaya, Java, Ceylon and Tianzhu. The so-called three holes of the cunning rabbit are very suitable for the richest man in Puda.

However, after losing the treasure land of Middle Earth, and being suppressed and looted by the maritime forces of the Northern Ming Dynasty, the Pu family's family business has been declining.

Moreover, the Northern Ming and Heavenly Daoist Sects also showed a strong tendency to expand to the south! Now there are several kings of the southern countries who have converted to Tiandaoism, and they also plan to establish Tiandaoism as the state religion!

Considering the bad relationship between the Heavenly Daoist Sect and the Heavenly Fang Sect, the day when the merchants of the Heavenly Fang Sect were squeezed out of Middle Earth and Nanfan was not far away.

At that time, the life of the Pujia maritime merchants will be really sad!

Thinking of this, Pu Shougeng's appearance was still smiling to show calmness. But the heart is turning the river and the sea. I couldn't even speak for a while.

Pu Shousheng saw that Pu Shougeng was slightly distracted, smiled reluctantly, and said with relief: "Haiyun...... As long as the person is okay. You don't have to worry about how much debt you owe, if you leave, they can still chase the West to claim debts? ”

Pu Shougeng finally broke free from his thoughts, smiled at his brother, and said leisurely: "It's definitely going to go, but it's hard to say if you can get rid of it, those creditors in Lin'an can't catch up with the West, but it's only a matter of time before Chen Dexing's fleet goes south to the West......

"Nanfan? Western ......" Pu Shousheng took a deep breath, "but what can it be?" Our brother is a businessman after all! ”

Pu Shougeng smiled bitterly, "Merchant? Our Pu family is not an ordinary businessman, but a maritime merchant! Maritime merchants have always been merchants and thieves, and they all have force. If the Heavenly Daoist Sect dominates the Southern and Western Oceans, will the Heavenly Fang Sect still be allowed to possess force at sea? ”

"Dominate the South and the West?" Pu Shousheng laughed, "Haiyun, how can it be so easy!" Brahmins and Buddhism have deep roots in Nanfan, our Tianfang Sect has reached the Three Buddhas for hundreds of years, and now most of the merchants who come and go to the Three Buddhas are big cannibals of the Heavenly Sect, but how many of the Three Buddhas believe? Aren't they still stubbornly using Buddhism as their state religion? ”

Pu Shougeng shook his head heavily, "No, the Heavenly Dao Church will soon conquer Nanfan's ...... Because Tiandaoism is part of the anti-Ming country, and it is a religion that worships one god, and it is its mission to spread the truth to the whole world. In a sense, they are very similar to Christianity and Celestial Religion. But behind them there was a new empire, like the Roman and Caliphate empires.

If the Celestial Sects that crisscross the Western Ocean and Tianzhu cannot unite, we will lose the Channel of the Three Buddhas, and then we will lose Tianzhu and the Western Ocean! Lost forever! ”

……

Liaodong, Ming Mansion, Tiandao Sect General Altar.

Standing tall in the sea tower, two graceful figures knelt quietly, both in white Taoist costumes. A plump form, fair-skinned, exuding feminine charm everywhere, prostrate and kneeling, like a female beast surrendering to it. A slender figure, kneeling upright, plain white slender hands pressed on the floor, black hair draped over the back of the neck like a black waterfall, there is an indescribable treasure solemnity.

The two of them, one is Baoyin, who is about to travel far, and the other is the goddess Stick Ink Shadow Niang.

On a futon opposite, sitting cross-legged was Chen Dexing, who was wearing a loose robe.

"Ying Niang, thanks to you for training Baoyin these days, I can finally let her memorize some of the principles of Heavenly Taoism."

Chen Dexing smiled and said to the two women in front of him: "Baoyin, you are not bad, I originally thought you were big-chested and brainless, but now it seems that you are also smart." ”

"The slave is willing to be stupid, so that he will not have to leave the king." Bao Yin's voice was a little resentful. By Chen Dexing's side, she was an extremely favored woman. But now, it has not been enjoyed by King Chen Daming for several months - it is not that Chen Dexing has no interest in her body, but that she is afraid that she will be pregnant and miss the trip.

Chen Dexing said lightly: "Baoyin, in fact, the Lone King is not willing to let you go, but you have to go to the Western Regions!" However, you don't have to stay in the West for long, as long as you open up the situation and persuade Haidu to convert to the Heavenly Way and march into Helin, you can return with Haidu's army. ”

"The slave knows the severity, and he will not be dishonored if he goes." Bao Yin said coquettishly, "But when the slave comes back, the king will pamper the slave well......

Chen Dexing sneered: "When did the lonely king stop favoring you?" Let's go back quickly, there are still long days ahead! ”

Bao Yin hummed obediently, straightened up, and just sat on her knees and didn't speak.

Chen Dexing turned his head and looked at the icy and jade ink shadow girl: "Shadow Niang, tomorrow I will leave with the lonely king and go south to Penghu!" ”

Mo Yingniang was slightly stunned, "King, did you mean to go to Penghu?" ”

"Yes, go to Penghu!" Chen Dexing smiled and said, "Ying Niang, this time you want to take Quanzhou for the Lone King!" (To be continued......)