Fight for hegemony from a desert island

Chapter 41
The East China Sea is an important commercial route for the Great Zhou Empire.

Merchant ships from the northern states and counties, whether they are going east to Dongying or going south to Jiangnan, all need to pass here.

Especially in recent years, under the impetus of several families, more and more merchants have joined the maritime trade, which has led to explosive development in the East China Sea.

In addition, the Great Zhou Empire did not pay much attention to the East China Sea due to the wind and rain of the empire, and the fact that there were foreigners in the north who looked down upon them. In just a few years, the East China Sea has spawned a terrifying number of pirates. .

Of course, those pirates begging for food at sea are not idiots, and they know that they can't do things like killing chickens and taking eggs.

Therefore, under the operation of that group of pirates and a few families with terrifying power at sea, a set of game rules recognized by merchants and pirates, as well as some fixed maritime business routes, gradually formed in the East China Sea.

Regardless of the merchant ships from there, after entering the East China Sea, they basically follow the fixed commercial routes.

The throats of those fixed maritime trade routes are usually stationed by pirates, but generally the pirates who can sit on the commercial routes are basically large-scale pirates in the East China Sea.

Those guys would not take action against merchant ships easily. They formed a tacit understanding with merchant ships. They guarded the commercial roads, provided protection for merchant ships, and even used their bases as a transit point for merchant ships.

Of course, those pirates have to collect protection fees, and they are not low. They are relatively greedy. The protection fee can even collect 50.00% of the merchant ship's revenue, which is basically cutting flesh from those merchants!
Of course, this kind of business is better than safety. Pirates are more trustworthy. Basically, as long as they pay protection fees, there is basically nothing to do. Therefore, caravans that are not very strong will basically choose to follow this kind of business honestly. .

But there are no absolutes. Some merchant ships are reluctant to take this kind of business.

A merchant ship more than ten meters long was slowly sailing in the East China Sea.

It can be seen that at this moment, the faces of the people on this merchant ship are a little nervous. After all, this is the first time for them to take a road that does not have a commercial route on the navigation chart.

The owner of this merchant ship was the second generation ancestor of a family. He heard people say that maritime trade was very profitable, so he pooled his own money to get a merchant ship, hired some sailors and guards with the money, got a load of goods and started working.

Originally, he planned to go on the business road, but as soon as he entered the business road, he was met by pirates, who asked for protection money.

In fact, the protection fee is not expensive, at least in terms of peers, it is acceptable. The captain of the merchant ship's guard also persuaded the rich man to pay the money, but who knows that the rich man of the family has no ability and temper.

He refused to give that sum of money, and finally sailed out of the commercial road in a fit of anger. From then on, the sailors of this merchant ship were all terrified.

"Relax, relax, it's okay, there won't be any pirates, the East China Sea is so big, where are there so many pirates?" On the merchant ship, the fat-bellied dude comforted him.

It's just that his consolation didn't have any effect. The sailors on the ship were still trembling with fear. Seeing this situation, the potbellied guy directly threw his trump card.

"Cheer up and work hard! I promise you, as long as this trip can go smoothly, I will triple the wages of all of you!"

As soon as these words came out, smiles finally appeared on the faces of the sailors on the merchant ship, but some of them still had a sad expression on their faces, especially those guards with knives still frowning.

"Boss, I suggest that we turn to the sea road after driving dozens of nautical miles. Although Dushang Road does cost some money, it is better to be safe." Yuan Peng, the captain of the guard, stepped forward and said.

As soon as Yuan Peng said this, the fat-bellied guy's face suddenly sank: "No, absolutely not, that group of guys only need a little protection fee, they are going to knock my bones and suck my marrow, I will definitely not Dry!!"

Yuan Peng shook his head and sighed in his heart. He knew that this guy was so stingy, and he would not come to be the captain of his guard without saying anything.

"Boss, the East China Sea is not peaceful, this money..." Yuan Peng said earnestly.

"Okay, okay, stop talking, I asked you to be the captain of the guard to protect my goods, not to be the master and teach me how to do it, I know what to do." The guy was obviously a little annoyed.

"Our sea area is not very safe, and we may encounter ambushes after walking for a while..." Yuan Peng paused, and then worked harder.

Yuan Peng pestered again and again, and the guy finally got angry: "How can there be pirates in this kind of sea area? Besides, even if there are pirates coming, wouldn't there be you? What do you want to spend money on?

Having said so much, it's not because you don't want to do things after taking the money, okay, if you go by sea, you can go by sea, how much protection fee is needed, can I directly deduct it from your wages? "

As soon as these words came out, Yuan Peng's face turned completely dark, and he didn't say anything for a while.

And when the fat guy saw that he had successfully shut up Yuan Peng, a smug sneer appeared on his face.

And it just so happened that when the fat-bellied guy was proud, he passed a small island, and when they crossed that small island, six pirate ships rushed out from the back of the small island and quickly stopped that merchant ship.

Seeing this scene, the guy with a full stomach and even a brain full of fat was dumbfounded, and the smile that had just bloomed on his face also froze.

And that fat guy is stupid, those pirates are not stupid.

Those pirates were obviously veterans, and they were quite proficient in their business. As soon as they stopped the merchant ship, the pirates in the six pirate ships threw dozens of hooks to catch the merchant ship.

At the same time, the skinny island master stood out from the largest pirate ship among the six pirate ships.

"Listen to the merchant ship in front, we are from Black Reef Island. As long as you hand over the goods honestly, we can guarantee that we will never harm any of you!"

Yuan Peng breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the big island owner shout out the words 'Black Reef Island'.

Although I don't know where 'Black Reef Island' is, and I haven't heard the name of 'Black Reef Island', this kind of pirate group that has a name and a surname, and obviously has a base is on the scale. The regiments are generally more disciplined, as long as they cooperate, they generally will not go too far.

　ps: Yuan Peng is a character in the building
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　　pss: the simpler the easier to be selected
　　
　
(End of this chapter)