Chen Kan put his hand on his forehead and looked at the gold, silver and beautiful women in front of him, and for a moment he couldn't find anything to say.
say what?
Could it be that I don’t accept gifts?
Stop it, with so much gold and silver, it’s really hard for Chen Kan not to be tempted.
But... was the other party paying such a high price just to give him a gift?
Not to mention that this is just for him, Zhu Di's is still being prepared.
Even Chen Kan could imagine how huge the gift they were going to give to Zhu Di would be.
After a long silence, Chen Kan looked at the Lion Kingdom envoy and said: "If these things are used by Prime Minister Liu to buy warships under my command, then you should ask Prime Minister Liu to take them back. I have emphasized countless times that I have no right to sell naval vessels. warship."
The envoy's name was Baili Ayer, but it is said that he admired the Central Plains culture and admired Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, so he specially gave himself a Central Plains name, Liu Ye.
His official position in the country was Prime Minister, so Chen Kan called him Prime Minister Liu.
When Liu Ye heard this, he immediately grinned: "The Marquis is joking. These gifts are personal gifts given to the Marquis by the people of our country and have nothing to do with the naval warships under the Marquis' command."
Chen Kan frowned slightly and said: "Prime Minister Liu, there is an old saying in the Central Plains, which is that showing courtesy for nothing is a crime or a thief. Your Lord suddenly acted so generously. Did he do something to disgrace me?"
Liu Ye: "?"
"This, this, this, how can the Marquis miss me so much?"
Liu Ye said with a confused look on his face: "We are a small country with few people. We just simply admire the heaven and the great country. Why did the Marquis say this?"
"You really haven't done anything to feel sorry for me, such as telling the Manchu Kingdom that my fleet docked at the port of the Lion Kingdom?"
Chen Kan still had a suspicious look on his face, mainly because this Liu Ye was so generous all of a sudden, it was really hard not to make people suspicious.
You must know that although he brought gifts a few times before, Chen Kan threw them away as rags.
When hearing what Chen Kan said, Liu Ye immediately jumped to his feet and said: "I swear, absolutely not. Even if I were given some courage, I would not dare to reveal the whereabouts of the royal master of the Celestial Dynasty."
"real?"
"real!"
Liu Ye spoke so firmly that Chen Kan could no longer doubt him.
After all, he didn't think the Lion Kingdom had the guts.
The Lion Kingdom is a small country composed of several islands. It has a population of less than 100,000 households and only 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers. Its scale is not as large as that of a slightly larger Ming Dynasty, and it is not big enough to withstand a round of bombardment.
They dared to reveal Chen Kan's whereabouts after eating the bear's heart?
Since I didn't do anything to feel sorry for Chen Kan.
That means I need something to ask for.
Chen Kan was too lazy to talk nonsense with him and asked bluntly: "This time, Prime Minister Liu came to give me money and women. If I don't ask for something, I will not feel at ease with the money."
Liu Yepai smiled and said: "Master Hou has a sharp eye. I can't hide it from you. I have a little request from you."
Chen Kan hummed and asked, "What's the matter?"
Liu An looked at Chen Kan's eyes and then said tentatively: "It's still about the warship..."
"Um?"
Before Liu Ye could finish what he said, Chen Kan said impatiently: "I told you that the warships under my command will not be sold. Doesn't Prime Minister Liu not understand people?"
"No, no, no, the Marquis has misunderstood, misunderstood!"
Seeing Chen Kan's change of face, Liu Ye hurriedly stopped and explained: "This time my king is not asking to buy the warships under the command of the Marquis, but intends to go to Ming Dynasty to buy them."
"Since you are going to Ming Dynasty to buy, you can just send envoys to discuss with His Majesty Ming Dynasty. Why do you come to see me again? Isn't this unnecessary?"
Chen Kan was confused and looked at Liu Ye with confusion in his eyes.
Liu Ye was stunned for a moment, with a look of struggle in his eyes. Then he suddenly knelt down in front of Chen Kan and said respectfully: "I dare not deceive the Marquis. Mainly, mainly..."
"What is it?"
Liu Ye gritted his teeth and replied: "The main reason is that my king plans to buy a treasure ship from the Ming Dynasty. I also hope that Mr. Hou can say a few kind words in front of His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He feels pity for us, a small country with few people."
"Treasure ship?"
Chen Kan's eyes suddenly widened and he said in disbelief: "You want to buy a treasure ship?"
"That's right, I also ask Lord Marquis to make it happen!"
Liu Ye knelt down in front of Chen Kan, but the words in his mouth made Chen Kan stunned on the spot.
He really never thought that a small lion country could have such big ambitions.
He even wanted to ask for a treasure ship.
What is a treasure ship? According to the standards of later generations, a treasure ship is the aircraft carrier of the Ming Dynasty.
There were only nine ships in the entire Ming Dynasty. After emptying Zhu Di's inner treasury, only nine ships were built.
Lion Country actually wants to buy one?
Chen Kan didn't know what to say for a moment.
This shocked him even more than Liu Ye wanted to buy his cruiser and Fuchuan.
There is no way, in the past and present, who would be so prodigal as to sell an aircraft carrier for sale?
Anyway, I haven’t seen Chen Kan!
Seeing that Chen Kan didn't answer, Liu Ye became anxious and kowtowed like garlic: "Master Marquis, please have mercy on our small country and the poor people. You have also seen these days that our country, the Lion Country, is weak and can only be bullied by others. I beg you, for the sake of our Lion Kingdom’s always being obedient, to write a letter to say a few words on behalf of our Lion Kingdom in front of His Majesty the Ming Emperor. I am very grateful.”
Chen Kan came to his senses, and a wry smile suddenly appeared on his face.
It seems that he really has no fate with these gold and silver.
Even if he had great courage, he would not dare to write a letter asking Zhu Di to sell the treasure ship.
Not to mention the Ming Dynasty's national power, only nine treasure ships have been built over the years, which proves how precious treasure ships are and it is impossible to sell them to the outside world.
Even if Zhu Di is crazy and really plans to sell the treasure ship for money, it is not something that a small country with a population of less than one million in the Lion Country can afford.
With so many big countries on the sea, who wouldn’t want the Ming Dynasty’s treasure ship?
Let’s talk about the two powerful countries of Sumatra and Manchuria. Why were they so determined to join forces to fight against Zheng He? Aren’t they afraid of the thunderous wrath of the Ming Dynasty?
Afraid, of course they are.
They are located on the Strait of Malacca, and 60% of the ships passing through the Strait every day are from the Ming Dynasty.
So they have countless channels to know how powerful Ming Dynasty is.
However, they still chose to join forces to fight against Zheng He. After all, didn't they just take a fancy to the several big ships at Zheng He's feet?
They were afraid of the Ming Dynasty, but Zheng He's fleet was worth the risk.
If Bo loses, the worst he can do is submit a letter asking to surrender and become a tributary. Anyway, the Ming Dynasty is so far away, and it is impossible to really send a large army to attack them.
Even if the Ming Dynasty sends a large army, they can still defend the sea. Even if they can't defend it, the worst they can do is hide in the rain forest with their people.
When the Ming Dynasty's army withdraws, they will still be a big country on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
But if Bo wins, with such a powerful fleet, dominating Nanyang is just a matter of backhand.
And could Zheng He really not be able to break through a strait with such a powerful fleet? Of course it was impossible.
Running out of ammunition during the voyage is only part of the story, but mostly it's just not worth it.
Sumatra and Manchuria deployed at least more than 150,000 troops in the strait.
Zheng He has 10,000 soldiers under his command. If they break in by force, many people will die.
Zheng He has always cherished the lives of his soldiers, and naturally he would not risk the lives of his trusted soldiers to fight with the natives like those wild monkeys.
After all, they have nothing worthy of Zheng He's plot, so it's not worth exchanging one's life for one's life.
Asking for help from the Ming Dynasty is the most cost-effective way.
Ammunition is man-made anyway.
Now Ming Dynasty does not lack the money to make ammunition.
Looking at the wooden boxes reluctantly, Chen Kan stopped and said to Liu Ye: "Prime Minister Liu, you'd better take these money and women back. Don't mention the purchase of the treasure ship again, especially to the envoys you sent to the Ming Dynasty. , let alone mention this matter in front of His Majesty, whoever mentions it will die, do you understand?"
Liu Ye raised his head, his eyes full of sadness: "Master Hou, I, I really admire the power of God."
Chen Kan stopped and interrupted: "I know that, but if your Lion Kingdom only wants to protect itself, one lucky ship and dozens of cruisers are enough. The treasure ship is not something that your Lion Kingdom can covet, otherwise what will be waiting for you will be It’s a catastrophe, do you understand?”
What Chen Kan said is true. For the Lion Kingdom, one lucky ship is enough for them.
Although a Fu ship can carry about 600 soldiers, the Fu ship itself is a super warship built for war.
The naval warships of these countries in Southeast Asia will basically be smashed into rubbish by a lucky ship if they come across each other.
The main role of the soldiers on the ship is to control the ship.
As for the Ming Dynasty's cruiser, although its standard capacity is not to carry many people, it is not small in size and is flexible enough.
The standard configuration of the cruiser under Chen Kan is twenty-one, but this refers to the number of people who control the ship.
If it really wants to be used as a troop transport ship, it is not difficult to fit one or two hundred people into it.
With the configuration of a lucky ship and dozens of cruisers, as long as they don't provoke those big countries in Nanyang, they can basically go sideways.
Liu Ye's face turned pale. Chen Kan's words were serious.
Although Chen Kan had rejected her completely in the past few times, this was the first time that he used the words "catastrophe" and "covet" like this today.
Liu Ye took a deep look at Chen Kan, gritted his teeth, and kowtowed without giving up: "Master Hou, I only ask for a few kind words from Master Hou, and nothing else. No matter whether I can buy it or not, I have all sent you generous gifts, and please have mercy on the people of my small country for the difficulty of survival!"
Chen Kan glanced at Liu Ye with some pity. To be honest, Liu Ye's attitude now was no longer sincere.
But Chen Kan really didn't dare to mention treasure ships.
This has already involved the fundamental interests of the country, and it is basically a matter of whoever mentions it will die.
Even though Zhu Di favored Chen Kan, a treasure ship was given to him without hesitation.
But Zhu Di's favor towards Chen Kan also depends on the situation. The treasure ship was given to Chen Kan, but the treasure ship is still in the Ming Dynasty.
When the court really needs him, Zhu Di will say hello, and Chen Kan will obediently serve him.
And what was the premise for Zhu Di to reward Chen Kan with a treasure ship?
It was Chen Kan who destroyed the White Lotus Sect, the old club of the Ming Dynasty!
This merit is no less than that of Cong Long.
It is even comparable to the fact that he kidnapped Ben Shiyali from the grassland and exchanged it for the mining rights of Jingtieshan Iron Mine for the Ming Dynasty.
With such a great contribution, plus Zhu Di's favor for him, and Chen Kan left Nanjing to make room for Zhu Di.
The combination of various factors led to Zhu Di calmly giving the treasure ship to Chen Kan.
Otherwise, why don’t others?
Is it because their contribution is not great enough, or is it because they are not Chen Kan's son-in-law?
Chen Kan stopped Liu Ye from kowtowing, knelt down to be level with him, and said calmly: "We have an old saying in the Central Plains, which is that every man is not guilty of carrying a jade. Go back and persuade the king of your family to give up as soon as possible. This unrealistic idea, just buy a few lucky boats and bring them back, which will be enough for the Lion Country."
As soon as these words came out, Liu Ye turned pale.
Liu Ye laughed weakly, and as if he had exhausted all his strength, he cupped his hands towards Chen Kan and said, "Thank you, Lord Marquis, for your warning. I understand."
After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the wooden house in despair.
"etc!"
Chen Kan stopped him.
Liu Ye paused and turned around, with another look of expectation on his face.
"Take these things away."
Chen Kan pointed at the women and gold and silver in the room, and Liu Ye's face visibly dropped again.
