Chapter 988 - 996: Avocado

The reason for converting the warships into merchant ships is mainly to avoid being too conspicuous and thereby leaking information.

Ever since the Court established Maritime Trade Bureaus in four ports at River Sea and Cangzhou, vigorously developing overseas trade, countless merchants eager for business opportunities have flocked, going out to sea to earn profits.

Today's overseas trade is already very mature.

The merchant ships of Great Wei are now very commonly seen overseas.

The merchant ship Chen Mo is aboard has three levels in total.

Besides the negative first level under the deck, the first level is where the Fish Scale Guards live, the second level is where Chen Mo, Yue Ruyan, and two maids reside, and the third level is the command cabin.

At this moment inside the command cabin, Nangong Xian opened a nautical chart, spread it on the table, and explained the route to Boli Kingdom to Chen Mo.

"Your Majesty, we need to reach Heluo via the East Sea, then cross the Heluo Strait, and finally arrive at Boli's trade route..." Nangong Xian slowly said.

Chen Mo didn't understand and pointed directly to a sea region on the chart, saying, "From the chart, it looks like if we pass through here, we can reach Boli faster, can't we?"

"Your Majesty may not know, this strait belongs to the New Porcelain Kingdom, which has not established diplomatic relations with Great Wei. If our ships pass through this strait, not only will we incur high tolls, but safety is also hard to guarantee."

"What about passing through this sea region? It seems this sea region is closer than going through the Heluo Strait, isn't it?" Yue Ruyan suddenly pointed to another area on the chart, puzzled.

"Lady Zhuangfei, there are many islands around this sea region, and there's no unified country. This causes many pirates to thrive here. These pirates are audacious beyond measure, attacking ships from all nations passing by. Moreover, they raise many Sea Ghosts, and if they encounter an invincible large ship, they dispatch the Sea Ghosts to dive underneath and pierce the ship's bottom, causing it to sink. Even our Great Wei fleets have suffered losses from them," Nangong Xian explained.

"Could even our Great Wei navy not deal with them?" Yue Ruyan asked, this being what Chen Mo also wanted to know.

Nangong Xian sighed deeply, saying, "Your Majesty, Lady Zhuangfei, these pirates have small and fast ships, and they are extremely familiar with this sea region. Once our warships arrive, they scatter and flee, making pursuit difficult.

Moreover, their Sea Ghosts have excellent aquatic skills, capable of diving and swimming underwater for over an hour. Their skills are also exceptional; our warriors underwater are no match for them. Added to that, every time our navy goes in grand procession, the expenditure is enormous..."

Chen Mo understood Nangong Xian's meaning.

In other words, if these pirates encounter the organized navy, they won't confront you directly.

They'll flee if attacked, and besides, dispatch Sea Ghosts to cause trouble underwater.

And our soldiers, no matter how skilled in water, can't match these Sea Ghosts; hence they can't catch them.

Back-and-forth expenses are enormous, with little effect, so avoiding them outright is better.

Furthermore, martial artists on land can only utilize a fraction of their strength in deep waters, even if they're skilled.

"General Nangong, what exactly are these Sea Ghosts?" Yue Ruyan curiously asked.

"They are one of the ethnic minorities living in this sea area, living at sea for generations, rarely setting foot on land. It's said they have grown fish gills behind their ears, allowing them to breathe underwater like fish, and are no longer considered human," Nangong Xian replied.

Yue Ruyan was slightly astonished.

"Why doesn't the New Porcelain Kingdom establish diplomatic relations with our country?" Chen Mo frowned. Passing through the New Porcelain Kingdom's sea area would clearly save time compared to the detour through the Heluo Sea Area.

"Uh..." Nangong Xian hesitated slightly before saying, "Your Majesty, this has to be explained from decades ago and involves the Nangong Family..."

Back then, the New Porcelain Kingdom was yet unified, known as Porcelain Island. The Great Song showed signs of decline, gradually losing local power, and pirates attacked the coastal areas, especially River Sea, causing havoc to coastal fishermen in various ways.

These pirates mostly came from Porcelain Island.

The Nangong Family rose during that period, reorganizing these pirates, forming a navy, and attempted to develop overseas trade.

But developing overseas trade required opening routes.

For this reason, conflicts arose with the Porcelain Kingdom, leading to animosity.

After Porcelain Island united and established New Porcelain Kingdom, this animosity was then accounted for by the Great Song, and by extension, Great Wei.

It might be that, coveting the immense benefits of Great Wei's overseas trade, when Great Wei tried to establish diplomatic relations with the New Porcelain Kingdom, the latter not only demanded enormous tolls but also wanted a share in Great Wei's overseas trade.

"Ah? Where do they muster such audacity?" Yue Ruyan compared the New Porcelain Kingdom to Great Wei, considering it nothing more than a mere bug.

Yue Ruyan couldn't understand where the New Porcelain Kingdom gathered such courage.

Nangong Xian wasn't too sure either and said, "Perhaps our own country was unstable at that time, prompting the New Porcelain Kingdom to feel that we couldn't manage them, making them dare to be so bold. Moreover, since we're doing business overseas, it's best not to resort to violence—better to cherish peace."

"You mentioned earlier that pirates harassing the previous dynasty's coastlines came from Porcelain Island?" Chen Mo suddenly said.

Nangong Xian nodded.

Chen Mo said solemnly, "Great Wei inherits the preceding dynasty. Porcelain Island killing the preceding dynasty's people is killing Great Wei's people; enmity with the preceding dynasty is enmity with Great Wei. Therefore, the New Porcelain Kingdom is at enmity with Great Wei, and since there is enmity, a strong retaliation must occur."

Chen Mo slapped the nautical chart's New Porcelain Kingdom's location with his hand.

Isn't this the mountain blocking Great Wei's overseas trade that must be leveled?

Nangong Xian's body couldn't help but tremble upon hearing this. His Majesty intends to send troops against the New Porcelain Kingdom.

Nangong Xian couldn't help but feel excited. Without the New Porcelain Kingdom's obstruction, how much more silver could the Maritime Trade Bureau earn annually?

It's noted that every time Great Wei's fleet goes out to sea, it takes a year and a half at the least due to the route.

If this New Porcelain Kingdom route were opened, it would shorten the fleet's return trip.

For instance, currently three years meets two seafaring times.

If the time is shortened, it can meet three times.

Sailing once more gains the extra earnings.

Moreover, establishing checkpoints along this route would yield a treasure trove.

"When does Your Majesty plan to strike hard?" Nangong Xian couldn't help but ask.

"Deploying troops is not trivial; we'll settle this once we return from the sea voyage." Chen Mo has made up his mind; these words aren't mere casual remarks.

...

Chen Mo's fleet was traversing the Heluo Sea Area, as for the pirate-infested waters known as "Han Yang," Chen Mo planned to visit it on the return journey.

The countries along the Heluo Sea Area route either had established diplomatic relations with Great Wei or came to Great Wei for national tribute, considering themselves as vassals; the journey was smooth all the way.

The merchant ship occasionally stopped at a country's port to resupply.

The people of this country, upon seeing the attire and facial features of Nangong Xian and his companions, immediately recognized them as people from that eastern great nation and were incredibly excited.

Of course, their intense enthusiasm was because, in their view, the people from that eastern great nation were all wealthy, especially those engaged in maritime trade, who were immensely wealthy.

A local merchant with a turban and a chest full of hair held a basket of green fruits above his head and approached Chen Mo's group, babbling away.

Yue Ruyan couldn't understand the local language and asked Nangong Xian what it meant. For this trip, Nangong Xian had brought a "translator." Nangong Xian asked the translator and then told Yue Ruyan: "Lady Zhuangfei, he said he greets the superior nation and wants to sell us his fruits."

"What kind of fruit is this?"

"Avocado," said Nangong Xian.

"Avocado? A type of pear? Is it delicious?" Yue Ruyan had never seen this kind of fruit.

"Not really," Chen Mo said offhandedly. In his previous life, this fruit Nangong Xian called avocado was known as avocado, which Chen Mo definitely did not like eating.

"Your Majesty has eaten it before?" Yue Ruyan was surprised. She remembered this fruit had never been tributed to the palace.

"Uh, I ate it before," Chen Mo replied.

"Oh."

Yue Ruyan didn't press further, allowing Chen Mo's vague answer to pass.

"Does Lady Zhuangfei want to try one?"

Nangong Xian had tasted it before; it was a bit greasy, hence the name avocado.

It's essential to note that only delicious fruits get recorded by the Maritime Trade Bureau, and more would be purchased during the next voyage.

And only delicious fruits get tributed to the Court.

But who knows, maybe Yue Ruyan would like it.

Nangong Xian casually picked one from the basket, wiped it with his clothes, used a small knife to cut a circle along the skin, twisted it into halves, and removed the seed.

He didn't directly hand it to Yue Ruyan but first gave it to the accompanying maid, who then presented it to Yue Ruyan.

Yue Ruyan handed half of it to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo took it and said while holding it, "The skin is bitter, don't eat it, just eat the flesh."

With that, Chen Mo took a bite directly.

It was indeed avocado, and the taste was the same as the avocado from his previous life.

A faint egg yolk flavor, slightly sweet.

He didn't like eating it in his previous life, and the same goes for this life.

Yue Ruyan mimicked Chen Mo and tasted it, then softly said, "The taste is odd."

"Do you like it?" Chen Mo asked.

Yue Ruyan shook her head.

"Let's buy them all; we can take them back to the palace for everyone to try, just for a taste."

If Chen Mo remembered correctly, avocado has relatively high nutritional value.

After a simple purchase, Chen Mo's group returned to the ship and was suddenly surrounded by a group of local women.

After translation.

They learned that this group of women hoped Chen Mo's fleet could take them away; they didn't even want money and were willing to offer themselves voluntarily.

Yue Ruyan was astonished after hearing this.

Even prostitutes charge money.

"Shoo, shoo, shoo."

Nangong Xian ordered someone to drive them away, then smiled at Chen Mo: "Your Majesty, our Great Wei subjects are quite popular in these small countries. The women here would rather give up everything just to go to Great Wei, even if it means becoming a concubine, or worse than a concubine's maid.

The key is that their government encourages this behavior."

There's one thing Nangong Xian couldn't say directly with Yue Ruyan present.

That's if you simply declare you're from Great Wei, the women here would cling to you, not only not asking for your money but giving you money, even if you ultimately don't take them to Great Wei, they won't resent you.

And this is primarily thanks to a book.

For a country's strength to be perceived by the people of other countries, it needs to be promoted, especially in overseas small countries.

More than three years ago, a slightly renowned Ranger Lv Yan from the local area joined a fleet from Great Wei and visited Central State.

Although back then, Great Wei had just established, everything was in the initial stages, but it inherited nearly four hundred years of foundations from the previous dynasty, and Lv Yan arrived in the Capital, the most developed and populous city in Central State.

Just looking at those intricately carved and painted houses, they were unique from what overseas small countries had; Lv Yan was amazed at everything he saw.

After spending half a year in the Capital and truly experiencing the local culture and customs, Lv Yan returned to his own country and wrote a travelogue, "Lv Yan Travels in Central State," which, upon publication, rapidly became a nationwide bestseller.

Due to Lv Yan's extensive aggrandizement, Great Wei in the eyes of this country's people, became a land filled with gold; its population considered much nobler than those from other countries.

Since Great Wei is this country's superior, they perceive leaving behind Wei's descendants as an honor.