For the sake of its own interests, the Imperial Parliament quickly passed the bill initiated by Hong Tao, and began to provide limited deck cannons and ammunition to the Strait Company, and at the same time turned some of the goods transported to Mongolia to the Port of Malacca, and began to plan to organize the first merchant fleet to the Dashi Country. With these three measures, the Strait Company and the striking sea merchants had the capital to continue to fight with the Song Dynasty court.

After the merchant ship was installed on the deck cannon, it was not an unarmed merchant ship, but an armed merchant ship with certain attack power. If the Southern Song court made any too fierce reaction, these maritime merchants would not become slaughtered pigs. In this sea area of ​​Southeast Asia, united, and the maritime merchant fleet with weapons and ammunition supply would not be afraid of the Southern Song navy. The Jinhe Empire could not rush to show up in this regard. It would be best for the maritime merchants to solve the problem by themselves. Otherwise, the nature of the internal struggle between the maritime merchants and the court would change, and it would become a dispute between the two countries, which was not in Hong Tao's interests.

Compared with the plan to weaken the Mongol Empire with economic means, maritime merchants currently need more help from the empire. Drawing some of the goods back and selling them to maritime merchants is not a big deal for the Mongol Empire, but it is a very scarce source of goods for these maritime merchants. No matter where they go to trade, they can only earn greater benefits if they sell or buy. The cost of sailing on a long boat on an empty boat is twice as high.

Similarly, relying solely on Southeast Asian countries, even if the markets of Japan and Goryeo cannot completely offset the losses of losing the Song Dynasty market. After all, the scale is obvious. The annual cargo throughput of the Southern Song Dynasty can match all Southeast Asian countries, plus the total volume of Japan, Goryeo, Mongolia and the Indian Peninsula. To find a relatively large market to make up for it, there is only one suitable place at present, that is, the territory of the cannibalism.

Since ancient times, the Great Cannibals have had maritime trade with the Eastern countries, and the volume is very large. They digested part of the goods on the Arabian Peninsula, and the other part was transported to North Africa and Byzantium by land, and even to Venice. To put it bluntly, these Great Cannibals were second-dea dealers, using their geographical location to play re-export trade. Now Hong Tao plans to deliver goods to his doorstep. He fully utilizes the potential of the Great Cannibals' second-dea dealers and allows them to help maritime merchants digest a large part of the goods that should have been shipped to the Song Dynasty.

With these three means, can the Southern Song court be forced to give in to the maritime merchants? Hong Tao did not know the final answer, so he could only design it like this. Without much affecting the economic development of the empire, it is his goal to try to keep the maritime merchants' struggles going on. The longer this time lasts, the more unfavorable it is to the Southern Song court. After all, the taxes of maritime trade account for a large proportion of the Southern Song treasury income. At present, the Southern Song court is vigorously developing naval troops and musketeers, hoping to launch a Northern Expedition while the Mongol Empire was weak and robbing the lost land. If there is a big problem with the maritime trade, their plans will be greatly affected. If there is no money in the treasury, they will not be able to do anything. Whoever feels uncomfortable will know.

Now dozens of sea ships anchored in the Port of Malacca are preparing for long-distance voyages. Some merchant ships have already gone to the Port of Kalamba. These ships will load different cargoes in plan at the two ports, and then mix them into two fleets, and then escorted by the Royal Navy warships to the four ports on the Arabian Peninsula.

Two of them are in the Red Sea waters, and this fleet will target the Kingdom of Yemen, Egypt and Jerusalem; the other fleet will enter the Persian Gulf. The target is the countries on the north and south sides of the Persian Gulf. If necessary, you can go up to the westernmost end of the Persian Gulf and go to the seaside port near Basra to sell goods.

Since it was the first trial voyage to open a new route, Hong Tao asked Cixi to choose salmon-class merchant ships when organizing the fleet, and each ship had to buy deck cannons. Although it was escorted by the Royal Navy, it would be better to be careful to go deep into the hinterland of the cannibals. If we don’t welcome us, we have to speak with cannons. The seaworthiness, endurance and combat effectiveness of salmon-class armed merchant ships are much better than other types of merchant ships in the Southern Song Dynasty, and even if we can’t beat them, they will run much faster.

Just as Hong Tao was preparing for his first voyage to the Great Food Kingdom, the court's merchant fleet also sailed to the sea on the east side of the Port of Malacca. The navigator standing next to the helmsman on the deck of the large ship was He Jinrong, while Shi Hong and Zhao An were sitting on the stern stairs watching the maids order tea.

Life on the sea is boring. How could nobles like Shi Hong and Zhao An beggars with sailors all day long like those maids. They not only have their own maids and concubines, but also specialized chefs, tea masters, entourages, and go out to do business, which is similar to those of officials.

"Sir, the tax ship from Malacca Port is here..." Soon, a flying fish-class fastener appeared in the right front of the fleet with a rat-head flag. He Jinrong was very familiar with this scene. For all ships without copper coins and rat-head flags, the Imperial Customs in Malacca Port will board the ship for inspection, and then charge taxes according to the proportion.

"Hmph, don't worry about them, I want to see who dares to close the taxes of the company. It's a reversal!" Shi Hong didn't listen to the word "Tax Boat", but his face immediately sank after hearing this.

Last year, he was forced to pay taxes by someone. It was a very shameful humiliation! Before coming this time, he specifically ordered not to park in Malacca Port, but go directly to Kalamba Port. He didn't believe that anyone dared to attack the Royal fleet of the Song Dynasty on the sea. Although the Song Dynasty could not defeat the Mongols, it was still a very powerful existence in Southeast Asia. No matter which port the ship with the royal banner was docked, local officials would warmly welcome him. ****, the country is just a joke!

"The Jinhe Empire actually set up a card to collect taxes here. Is there any other kingly law? What's hateful is that there are people in the court colluding with them. This is a destruction of the country. I don't know that raising a tiger is a disaster!" Zhao An also stomped his feet and beat his chest with Shi Hong. He was even more cruel than Shi Hong, and directly linked the Jinhe Empire to Zheng Qingzhi, and even described another meaning.

"Brother Zhao said very much. After returning to this trip, I will definitely explain the relationship between me and my kindness. I must not just beat the Mongolians away, and there is another Jinhe Kingdom behind it." Shi Hong seemed not as skilled as Zhao An in his hat, but he was very interested in the hat that Zhao An threw out. With such a connection, it might be true. As long as these things are revealed to the censors through appropriate channels, Zheng Qingzhi will inevitably be impeached. If the operation is tricked, Zheng Qingzhi may be able to be removed from office. This trick was performed every year in the Song Dynasty court, and no one dared to say it could survive.

"Sir, I heard that the Jinhe Kingdom has been helping the Mongolians in the Song Dynasty. Two years ago, the merchant ships in the south organized volunteers to fight with them with the Mongolian navy. When they came back, they were rewarded by the officials. They should be better than the Mongolians, right?" He Jinrong couldn't help but interject. When he heard the conversation between the two people on the stern building.

"It's not... This son has a disobedient heart, so it's fine to be king, but he's also emperor! Little did he know that there is one emperor. Where did he do the official family? He's so ruthless!" Shi Hong was even more heartbroken to He Jinrong's words. Otherwise, the people were so fooled, as long as they gave them some benefits, they would say hello. But this trick could not deceive people who had studied like this. Although he was not a court official, he had a loyal heart.

"My lord said yes, yes... It's a pity that Mongolia also called the emperor and occupied my hometown. I wonder if I can still bury this old bone back. Brother, do you think it can?" He Jinrong was very satisfied with Shi Hong's explanation. If you have knowledge, you have knowledge. Why can't the common people figure out this reason? But when he turned around, the smile on his face disappeared, and he looked lonely. At first, he muttered in a low voice, but later he simply asked the helmsman beside him.

"Old man He, don't think so much, let alone so much. You are a territorial sea, I am the one in the helm. When is it your turn to discuss national affairs? Don't say such words randomly. Be careful to be spread and let your third-year-old doctor be in your bath!" The helmman is a strong man in his thirties, with a straight waist and dark skin. He looks like a person who has been exposed to the sea for many years. These days he and He Jinrong cooperate well. As for people, they always have emotions. He can only laugh at He Jinrong's complaints.

"Wu Jun, I wondered, maritime merchants like us are rushing on the sea all year round, carrying the lives of their family on a long journey, and paying a lot of taxes to the Maritime Bureau every year. Why does the court come here just by saying that, regardless of whether we are happy or not, and can still eat or not? If this happens, next time the court fights with the Mongolians, who will be a volunteer soldier? The plaque rewarded by the official is still hanging in Guangzhou city. How can you turn against the enemy? "He Jinrong looked at the flags on the tax ship, and seemed to be very talkative. Not only did he confiscate the words, but he also talked more and more deeply.

"...Old man He, I'm going to die if you don't want to die... Do you think I'm willing to come? The navy had just changed a large ship, exactly like the warships in the Jinhe Kingdom, and they were also equipped with cannons. With these big guys, they might be able to fight back to my hometown, Mizhou in a few years. But with the imperial court, our brothers came to the merchant fleet. Although the salary was too much, the brothers were not at ease. You may have never seen the warships in the Jinhe Kingdom. We saw them with our own eyes on the sea. Just like the dragon shark, we will break if we bite anyone! You have been running here all year round. Do you think they will come to bite us?" The helmsman's surname is Wu, and it's not wrong to be a soldier. They were transferred from the Southern Song navy by Shi Songzhi and the ship. Originally, he didn't want to say these things, but after He Jinrong was so excited, he couldn't hold back the resentment in his stomach.
Chapter completed!