Adam started from the bottom and rose to the aristocracy. He was a brave captain, but he was not a politician and seriously underestimated the ambition and desire of the Ming Emperor.
However, Governor Micheli Steno and other Venetians had never dealt with Zhu Yunwen, and they did not know Zhu Yunwen's true intentions. When the Ming Dynasty sent troops to the state of Levia, could it be that they wanted to use force to threaten the Mamluk dynasty into submission and help the Ming Dynasty open a new canal with Venice?
Mosenig saw clearly that if the canal really opens, it will be a huge benefit to Venice. The Venetian fleet will be able to enter the Red Sea unimpeded, and then go to the spice islands, gem islands, and the Eastern Ming Dynasty. Monopolize Ming Dynasty trade!
Venice has become the richest country in the Mediterranean. Strong wealth will give birth to a powerful army, and a powerful army will defend powerful power!
Venice wants and wants this kind of result.
Unfortunately, the Ming Emperor's proposal was really unbelievable. It was almost unfeasible and impossible to succeed. Even if he tortured the Mamluk dynasty, he might not be able to open such a canal.
So be it.
Everyone planned to leave.
Adam looked at the people who turned around and said the last sentence: "While transferring goods at the port, a mysterious Ming man sent a message."
"What words?"
Governor Michael Steno was impatient.
Adam said in a deep voice: "The only chance for Venice to remain strong is now. If you miss it, Venice will gradually decline into a country that is not popular."
Governor Micheli Steno looked indifferent: "It's ridiculous!"
Mosenig laughed out loud: "The people of Ming Dynasty don't know how powerful we are, so they dare to speak arrogantly."
Adam was silent for a moment and said something that shocked everyone: "The Ming Dynasty said that within a few decades, Spain and Portugal will discover a new route, and the trade in the Mediterranean will decline and be replaced by large-scale and high-efficiency trade." of Eastern trade.”
"What, a new route?"
Governor Micheli Steno became nervous.
The reason why Venice is strong depends on the trade of the Mediterranean. If the trade of the Mediterranean declines, then the decline of Venice will be inevitable.
Mosenig finally stopped laughing and asked with some horror: "Is this serious?"
Cornaro, Rossini and others did not dare to breathe heavily.
Adam looked at everyone and said seriously: "I can't judge whether these words are true or false, but I know that there are countless feasible ways in the sea, but we haven't discovered them yet."
Governor Michael Steno sat down, and the others sat back.
Things get tricky.
If what the Ming Dynasty said is true, and Spain and Portugal have really found a new route that can lead to the East through other routes without passing through the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, then countless people will give up here, and countless merchants will give up here.
Because no one who is sailing is willing to abandon his beloved ship in the Mediterranean, and then spend a lot of money to transport batches of goods hundreds of miles, then buy or lease a new ship, and at the same time have to pay a huge commercial tax!
It is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and money-consuming, and the cost is really high.
Whenever there is a new route, the Mediterranean-land-Red Sea route will decline, and the status of the entire Mediterranean region will also decline.
Venice is powerless to prevent the emergence of new routes. The only thing that can change the destiny of the country is to dig a canal to connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, making this route the lifeblood and making the Mediterranean Sea irreplaceable!
Adam and William walked out of the Governor's Mansion. How these people in the center of power negotiated and made decisions had nothing to do with them.
The Doge of Venice, Micheli Steno, began to get busy. He would discuss with the Council today, the Senate tomorrow, arrange a meeting with the Council of Ten the day after tomorrow, and convene the Grand Council the day after tomorrow.
There are two busy topics:
First: Are there any new routes?
Second: Should we concentrate our efforts on urging the Mamluks to dig canals?
After waiting for a week and seeing no results, Adam knew that this was destined to be a long process, so he simply lived a noble life in his own manor.
It’s still early for the next sailing, so we have to wait a few months before seeing it.
Africa, South.
In an area that was originally uninhabited and only covered by mountains and forests, a three-mile city has appeared. There were not many guards on the city wall, but there was a team of more than thirty people patrolling the city gate, holding crossbows in their hands, and there were also horse guards outside the city gate.
Li Su walked up to the city wall, looked to the east, and said to Zhao Yan beside him: "In a few months, the fleet will return, and I don't know if the seeds brought back by Zheng He and others have grown."
Zhao Yan looked longingly into the distance, where was the sea: "New grain seeds must have been sown and bear fruit. When we go back this time, we won't be able to taste them again."
Li Su smiled, shook his head and said, "This time you take the navy fleet to escort the chrome ore back. I need to cooperate with King Ning to continue investigating this land. According to the current intelligence, in the west of Africa, there are Yao, There are more than a dozen tribes or countries such as Ayr and Mali, and there are more countries in northern Africa. We need to allocate manpower to go north."
Zhao Yan was a little nervous: "I have never been a naval commander..."
Li Su looked at Zhao Yan: "Your ability is obvious to all. I am relieved that you will lead the team home, and so is King Ning. Go and prepare, and mine more chromium ore during this period. I think you can do it next time." When it comes, there will probably be steam engines and ships following.”
Zhao Yan solemnly accepted the order.
Inside the city, the governor's residence.
Zhu Quan gently opened an iron box, took out the three volumes of imperial edicts, looked at the black token at the bottom, his eyes were a little glazed over, and immediately put the edicts back, covered the iron box, and hid the iron box in a hidden compartment. .
This is Africa, very far away from Ming Dynasty.
Let the past pass.
Zhu Quan opened the door and told Keshan: "Pass on Li Su, Zhao Yan, Yang Shan, Yi Yihu, and Jiang Wu."
Li Su and others received the news and rushed to the mansion.
Zhu Quan pointed to the hanging map and went straight to the point: "You all know the emperor's intention, which is to try every means to open a canal between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. This canal is not opened for Venice, nor is it opened for other countries. Yes, it was opened for Ming Dynasty! In the next ten years, Ming Dynasty will rely on advanced technology to manufacture countless products. These products always need a market, and this canal is the market!"
Li Su, Zhao Yan and others looked at the map. There was no river there, but the emperor insisted on saying that there must be a river there. He did not want to think about how much manpower and how many years it took to dredge the river in the Ming Dynasty. But at this time The Mamluk dynasty seems not to have the mood or strength to dig the river...
Zhu Quan said firmly: "Everyone knows that it is not easy to dig out this river. It is almost impossible. But you think that once this place is unimpeded, the Ming navy can sail the warships there at any time. Who among the small countries in the Mediterranean can be the opponent of the Ming Dynasty? They have to surrender even if they don’t want to surrender, and they have to buy things even if they don’t want to buy..."
Li Su swallowed his saliva: "Prince Ning, these words make Ming look like a robber..."
"When dealing with these countries, we must rather be afraid of others! What they are afraid of is bandits, so we will be bandits. But we don't directly rob things or kick down their doors, we only bring goods to sell. Like ceramics, first make a profit at a high price, then lower the price and make another profit, then make a profit at a low price, and finally, plunder it thoroughly at a worthless price..."
Zhu Quan sketched grimly.
Zhou Yihu, Jiang Wu and others were a little stunned. This Prince Ning looked like a clever robber. Is he really the vassal king?
Such robbery simply leaves no one with a way to survive...
Although Li Su and Zhao Yan didn't know anything about dumping, they couldn't help but shudder when they thought that Zhu Quan planned to sell Ming Dynasty's cloth to all Western countries.
Damn it, if you really follow what Zhu Quan said, the textile industry in Western countries will be completely finished. If you want to spin a ball, it’s cheaper and better to buy from Ming Dynasty. How much does it cost to spin it yourself? We’re half cheaper than you!
If it still doesn’t work, I’ll give you a 10% discount!
What, not enough?
Come on, bring out the artillery and break their bones!
According to this trend, Western countries may not even be able to weave clothes in the next hundred years...
Li Su, Zhao Yan and others didn't know if this was Zhu Yunwen's idea, but they always felt that Zhu Quan couldn't come up with such a genius robbery plan, but our emperor is a gentleman and a decent person...
Zhu Quan said solemnly: "Now we have to make two preparations. First, let Venice pay and the Mamluk Dynasty send people to dig the river together. We can dig here with peace of mind. Second, send a navy fleet to sail from Africa." Go west and north to find the Strait of Gibraltar, find a base to the north of the Strait of Gibraltar, hold the strait, and control the east-west sea lanes of the Mediterranean!"
Li Su thought for a while and suggested: "Digming a river will indeed be of great benefit to our navy, but will it also become an important route for Western countries to enter the East?"
Jiang Wu rolled his eyes at Li Su: "General Li, I'm not telling you that you can't see through the situation. If the canal is really opened, the canal will naturally come under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty. Whose ship is allowed to go here? Just go here, if anyone sails a ship without Ming’s permission, we will use the divine machine cannon to kill them on land!”
"ah?"
Li Su was a little surprised.
Zhao Yan thought for a moment and nodded heavily.
If a canal is really built, this canal will be a vital sea channel. Since it was all crucial, there was no way Daming would give up.
What Mamluks? Since Timur can deal with you, then Ming Dynasty can also deal with you...
Zhu Quan looked at the map and thought about his future strategy.
Zhu Yunwen gave himself a huge chessboard. In this chessboard, any country or tribe is a chess piece. The chessboard is very empty, not only can you make the first move, but you can also make a few more moves...
