As a tycoon, Zheng Zhilong naturally wanted to see what was going on in Qingdao Port.
For several days, Zheng Zhilong shuttled around the port and even boarded a Shandong Navy warship to experience it for himself.
What shocked him the most here were the warships that were slowly taking shape.
Because these warships are all steamships.
Having dealt with Westerners many times, Zheng Zhilong has long been coveted for Western warships.
Although when talking to his own people, he boasted countless times, saying that the ships in his hands were enough to compete with the Westerners.
But the battlefield cannot be deceived.
In the naval battle of Liaoluo Bay, Zheng Zhilong took advantage of the right time, place and people. Although he won the victory in the end, he paid several times the price of the Dutch.
If he had even five third-level battleships in his hands, the Dutch would probably be wiped out.
"Brother, this Zuo Mengeng doesn't want to fight for the world, but he always has other ideas about the sea. What does he want to do?"
After following Zheng Zhilong and seeing a lot inside and outside, Zheng Zhibao was really frightened.
Zheng Zhilong frowned, and his heart was filled with turmoil.
He can already imagine how terrifying the Shandong Navy's fleet will be when it takes shape in the future.
But with such a powerful navy in Shandong, who was the first to encounter its soldiers?
Obviously, it must be him, Zheng Zhilong.
After thinking about it, Zheng Zhilong decided to test it out.
"Brother Zuo, I didn't expect you to be able to acquire shipbuilding skills from Westerners. To be honest, I tried it many times, but these Westerners were cunning and guarded so hard that they failed. We are friends. I wonder if I can help you. A favor?"
While speaking, Zheng Zhilong's eyes kept staring at Zuo Mengeng. Any slight fluctuation in expression will be locked by him.
Zuo Mengeng was very indifferent.
"Do you want a Western warship?"
Zheng Zhilong has seen countless big scenes, and his heart skipped a beat at these words.
"Brother Zuo, are you willing to help me?"
Zuo Mengeng pondered for a while.
"The first official has also seen it. This is the first time for me to build this kind of Western warship in Shandong. To be honest, I have no idea whether it will succeed or not. But since the first official has spoken, this little brother will definitely give it to me no matter what. How about this? Wait? After the construction of this batch of warships is completed, one of each batch of warships in the future will be sold to the Zheng family."
Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but be stunned.
He never expected that Zuo Mengeng would agree so happily.
Although there is only one ship in each construction period, this is the only way for Zheng Zhilong to obtain the Galen warship.
He asked himself, if it were him, if Zuo Mengeng came to ask for help, he might not agree.
Just because of Zuo Mengeng's pleasure, Zheng Zhilong's wariness quickly dissipated.
He didn't know that his actions had aroused vigilance in Shandong.
Zuo Mengeng called everyone to a meeting and put forward his own ideas.
"In the future, people from the Zheng family will definitely travel frequently to Shandong. The number of our warships will definitely not be hidden from the eyes of the Zheng family. Once a conflict breaks out in the future, this will definitely be detrimental to us."
As for whether building ships for the Zheng family would threaten itself, Zuo Mengeng actually didn't care.
In maritime warfare, the quality of the ship is important, but the key is still the artillery.
Shandong only agreed to build ships for the Zheng family, but would not provide the most advanced artillery.
The best weapon Zheng could use was nothing more than a bronze cannon. If you encounter the Shandong Navy's breech-loaded guns and explosive bombs, you will definitely lose or lose.
The only thing to discuss now is how to avoid Zheng's eyes and ears and continue to increase his own strength.
This time Huang Zongxi provided a new idea.
His finger was on Sakhalin.
"We still have a stronghold in the Far North, which is far away from the Ming Dynasty. Not to mention the Zheng family, no one in the world can spy. And the wood for our shipbuilding is also transported from the Far North. In this case, we It’s absolutely possible to open up a new shipbuilding site here.”
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was in admiration.
Liu Yiyuan rarely agrees with Huang Zongxi.
"The Zheng family traveled to and from Shandong. Although they could spy on how many ships we built here, they would never have thought that we would have a force elsewhere. Once there is a dispute in the future, this hidden force will definitely give Zheng Zhilong a chance. Big surprise.”
Everyone agreed and a decision was made immediately.
It happened that Zhang Keda was about to lead his troops to North Korea, Japan and Sakhalin Island again.
This time the fleet was unprecedentedly large, with more than 400 ships.
It carried more than 300 shipbuilding craftsmen, as well as cement, lathes and other important supplies.
To establish a new shipyard on Sakhalin, the area must be thoroughly developed.
Therefore, there will be a large number of immigrants in the future.
Before leaving, Zuo Mengeng asked Zhang Keda to send a message to everyone on Sakhalin Island.
"Tell General Wu, Liang Fa and others not to just think about being trapped on the isolated island, but to actively explore the outside world. Whether it's Nurgandusi or the sea area further north, you can explore it. Any new discovery is a to achieve results.”
Zuo Mengeng knew that this was the period when the Tsarist Empire was actively expanding eastward, and the vast Siberia was constantly falling under the iron heel of Tsarist Russia.
There are so many magnificent, beautiful and resource-rich lands. If we do not occupy them at this time, we will be a disservice to future generations.
If Tsarist Russia could expand eastward, he could expand westward and northward.
You must have a head-on confrontation with the Cossacks to compete for the ownership of these lands.
If this matter is done locally in Shandong, there will definitely be widespread opposition.
This has nothing to do with everyone's vision, only the cost.
Using Shandong's local strength to develop these remote and wild lands, the gains and losses are completely out of proportion.
But Sakhalin is different.
This is a non-land in Shandong, and no matter what we do, it will not have much impact on the local area.
Besides, the Cossacks expanding eastward were just stragglers. Even if they meet, they may not be Sakhalin's opponent.
Shandong is too far away to mobilize troops for support.
Tsarist Russia is thousands of miles away and there will be no reinforcements.
Therefore, in the vast land of Siberia, it is completely possible to engage in skirmishes with Cossacks.
Zhang Keda firmly remembered the words and led his army to set off.
Hundreds of ships, large and small, left the port one after another. The spectacular scene shocked both Zheng Zhilong and Anthony Van Diemen.
In this era, neither Zheng Zhilong nor the Dutch could gather so many ships in one go.
"Brother Zuo, I wonder where these warships will go? In my opinion, the power of Jiujiu is enough to destroy the country."
Zuo Mengeng made a haha and found the reason easily.
"Nowadays, natural disasters continue and food harvests are poor, so eating has become a big problem. Fortunately, there is marine fishing to supplement it, so that we in Shandong do not have the tragic situation of starving people. Most of these boats are fishing boats, going to the deep sea for fishing. Go , Zuo Mou will take everyone to taste a different kind of seafood."
That night, Zuo Mengeng arranged a grand seafood dinner.
Seeing king crab, salmon and other novel seafood, Zheng Zhilong's suspicions were dispelled again.
