~~~~~~

The storm passed, people were encouraged, and the whole fleet was filled with cheers and thunderous cheers.

However, Li Yuanqing was not too excited at this time. He had already received the damage status of this battle.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of the soldiers and sailors, no ships were sunk or left behind in this battle, but inevitably there were still more than a dozen casualties.

According to current statistics, at least six people were swept into the sea in the storm just now.

In such weather, even if you think with your toes, you can guess that if you are sucked into such a violent sea, there will be no chance of survival.

Even a mermaid can knock you out and drown you alive...

Fortunately, in terms of property, the fleet did not suffer much damage, and the rigidity of the hull was barely adequate. A few ships had leaks, but the problems were not too big and everything was under control.

within the range.

Li Yuanqing had encountered storms at sea before, but they were all in the Liaohai Sea. Compared with this storm, it was really nothing.

For the first time, Li Yuanqing truly saw how terrible a storm would be on the sea.

If people want to conquer heaven, at least in this era and stage, it is still a very, very difficult thing.

Fortunately, the people who fell into the sea were basically helpers and slaves, and no soldiers or sailors died, which gave Li Yuanqing some peace of mind.

In this state, whether soldiers or sailors, they are very valuable resources to Li Yuanqing.

Ultimately, his foundation is too weak.

Changsheng Island seems to have a population of more than 100,000 at this time, which is already a huge place. However, the number of real young people of suitable age is only over 30,000, and including slaves of various races, the number does not exceed 50,000.

Once there were casualties, even if they were not soldiers or sailors, it would be enough to make Li Yuanqing feel distressed.

After all, even those wealthy businessmen are, to a large extent, just Li Yuanqing's private property.

It's just that compared to the poor people, they were slightly 'fattened' by Li Yuanqing.

However, this storm is not a bad thing, at least the morale of the men has been boosted.

After instructing Guan Canghai and Xu Heizi to coordinate the operation of the fleet and inspect the ships, Li Yuanqing returned to the cabin tiredly.

At this time, Li Yuanqing's ship was about 278 meters in length and 8 to 9 meters in height. It had more than a dozen large and small rooms and 44 sailors, plus soldiers, cooks, and handymen.

It can accommodate almost a hundred people.

However, because more than thirty of Li Yuanqing's wives, concubines, and maids came for this battle, most of the room was occupied. The number of soldiers was reduced to about thirty, and the total number of people on the ship was less than one hundred.

.

Excluding the more than 30 female dependents and relying closely on these 60 or 70 people, it is already quite difficult to break out of this storm.

Li Yuanqing has actually been thinking about it. The structure of the steam engine is not too complicated. Even someone like him who is not very knowledgeable in science can easily understand whether he can be the first to promote this kind of power that transcends the times on the ships of Changsheng camp.

?

But~, Li Yuanqing also understood more clearly that at this time, the steel smelting technology of Changsheng Island, including the entire Ming Dynasty, was really flawed.

Therefore, in this battle, guns and cannons and making money are only one aspect. More importantly, Li Yuanqing wants to recruit more talents, make enough money, and use the existing foundation of him and Changsheng Island to accelerate the take-off model of Changsheng Island.

.

The top cabin of the ship was occupied by the soldiers, the bottom cabin was occupied by the sailors, and Li Yuanqing and his wives, concubines, and maids lived in the middle cabin.

Except for Li Yuanqing himself, this is a forbidden area and no other men will be allowed to enter.

Already soaked to the skin, Li Yuanqing took off his official robe when he entered the corridor of the cabin and threw it on the ground, wearing only a pair of large pants.

A maid and a woman hurriedly put away Li Yuanqing's clothes respectfully, saluted Li Yuanqing respectfully, and watched Li Yuanqing walk inside.

By this time, although the storm had passed, under Li Yuanqing's strict order, his wives, concubines, children and maids were all ordered to stay in their respective rooms and were not allowed to come out at will.

Li Yuanqing visited each room, checking on their conditions, asking about their needs, and appeasing their emotions.

After finishing this lap, Li Yuanqing returned to Zhang Baozhu's room and sat on the chair a little tiredly.

Zhang Baozhu had already changed into dry new clothes, but they were only loose and attractive suspender robes. In the middle of the room, a large bathtub had been placed. Her two maids and a mother-in-law were taking care of it.

Add hot water to it.

Seeing Li Yuanqing coming back, Zhang Baozhu couldn't help but smile: "Yuanqing, are you exhausted? Let's take a hot bath first. I've asked Silk to prepare meals."

They were all Li Yuanqing's personal property. Li Yuanqing was not polite, so he took off his clothes and went directly to the hot bucket.

When the bucket was designed, the buckles of the wooden chairs had already been prepared, and a small chair had been placed inside. You could sit directly on it and lean against the bucket.

The water temperature is just right.

In an instant, the chill dissipated, and Li Yuanqing's bones felt a little numb. He couldn't help but smile and said: "Baozhu, have you washed it? Come and wash it with me."

Zhang Baozhu's pretty face couldn't help but have a blush of shyness. After hesitating for a moment, she started to take off her clothes and carefully came to the wooden barrel.

Li Yuanqing took her little hand and carried her smooth and saintly body into the barrel.

When the woman who had just come in with a bucket of water saw this, she quickly and carefully left the bucket aside and respectfully exited. The two pretty maids, with red faces, carefully waited on Li Yuanqing and Zhang Baozhu.

He leaned against the barrel, held Zhang Baozhu in his arms, and unscrupulously played with the fullness of Zhang Baozhu's chest under the water, and said with a smile: "Where is Shiro? Why didn't you see him?"

Zhang Baozhu's pretty face couldn't help but turn redder, "I was carried by Bi'er to sleep in the small room next door. I'll go see him later."

How come Li Yuanqing still doesn't understand Zhang Baozhu's thoughts? He couldn't help but smile and shook Zhang Baozhu's little hand, "Thank you, Baozhu, for your hard work. I really didn't expect you to be so brave at a time like today."

Zhang Baozhu also smiled: "Yuan Qing, you gave me such courage. I didn't expect that you would dare to ride on such a big wave."

Li Yuanqing couldn't help laughing: "As a couple, we don't need to praise you so much. However, Baozhu, your performance today really surprised me."

"hehe."

Zhang Baozhu glanced at Li Yuanqing with a smile, "So, Yuanqing, I am also very strong. Don't try to fool me with little tricks. However, you have already encountered a storm here today. In the future..."

Zhang Baozhu looked at Li Yuanqing with some fright. At this time, she turned around, faced Li Yuanqing, and sat on Li Yuanqing's lap.

Looking at Zhang Baozhu's charming face, Li Yuanqing turned his head slightly and slowly exhaled a long breath.

"Baozhu, no one can say for sure what happens at sea! Therefore, we can only make complete preparations. However, according to common sense, there should be no storms in this season! Why are we so unlucky? We are in Chaoshan

Did the world encounter such a big storm?"

Zhang Baozhu was also speechless: "Yuan Qing, innocence has become more and more unpredictable in recent years. I heard that there may be another severe drought in Shaanxi and Shanxi this year!"

As he spoke, Zhang Baozhu sighed softly and leaned into Li Yuanqing's arms like a docile kitten.

Li Yuanqing certainly understands how Zhang Baozhu feels.

Although Zhang Baozhu had followed him at this time, she probably had not completely let go of the fact that she was still very concerned about the national affairs of the Ming Dynasty.

However, although Li Yuanqing knew in his heart that this was due to the vagaries of the climate during the Little Ice Age, he could not tell Zhang Baozhu clearly. He gently held Zhang Baozhu's jade-like back, which was as smooth as silk, and gently rubbed it, "Baozhu

, you don’t have to worry too much about this matter, the court should be prepared in this regard, and there won’t be any big problems.”

Zhang Baozhu nodded, "It's just a pain to the common people!"

Li Yuanqing smiled: "If you are not in your position, you will not be in charge of politics. Baozhu, you have to relax. As much as you have the ability, you should take care of the big things. We still have to take care of the present first!"

"Um."

Zhang Baozhu smiled and nodded, and kissed Li Yuanqing affectionately on the mouth. "Yuanqing, do you have any plans for the future? When can we go to Nanyang?"

Li Yuanqing smiled, but he had already figured out the feeling. He held Zhang Baozhu's slender waist with force, entered the most familiar position, and said with a smile: "It's not yet mid-April. According to common sense, after June or July, it will be

It’s the biggest storm season at sea. Let’s try to get to Macau in three or two days and arrive in Nanyang before June!”

Zhang Baozhu originally wanted to ask Li Yuanqing more, but as Li Yuanqing's movements became more and more powerful, in a moment, she had softened into a ball, and she no longer had any strength left. She just instinctively hugged Li Yuanqing's neck tightly...

…………

Four and a half days later, the fleet arrived in Macau successfully.

When such a huge fleet arrived, the Portuguese in Macau seemed very frightened and were already preparing to enter a battle state.

But Li Yuanqing was well prepared and sent a clipper to inform the people. Only then did the Portuguese understand and hurriedly opened the harbor and docks to let in the fleet from Changsheng Island.

As for Li Yuanqing's famous name, even these Portuguese people who were far away in Macau in the southern part of the Ming Dynasty had already heard about it.

Represented by the Governor's Palace of Macau, seven or eight Portuguese nobles were gathered together to invite Li Yuanqing and his wives and concubines to a banquet at the Governor's Palace of Macau.

It is a pity that the Governor of Macau at this time had just left for Nanyang two weeks ago. At this time, the person staying here was his deputy, Juan Thomas.

Juan Tomas can also be regarded as a true nobleman of Portugal.

But you can understand this kind of thing if you think about it with your buttocks. If you are doing well in China, who would be willing to travel thousands of miles and leave your hometown to come to Ming Dynasty?

Li Yuanqing is not proficient in Portuguese, and his English is barely passable.

However, Joseph seemed to be very familiar with Juan Tomas, and Juan Tomas was also very proficient in Chinese, so communication was not a big problem.

After some pleasantries, Juan Thomas respectfully toasted Li Yuanqing with a glass of wine and couldn't help but admired: "Honorable General Li, I, I really didn't expect that you would have such great courage and courage for your voyage.

Is the end point the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Sea?"

***************************************************
Chapter completed!