My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 397 Seris is the Ming Dynasty!

"To recruit an interpreter, and pay 10,000 strings of precious coins?"

Ali was somewhat excited when he looked at the notice. He had traveled to Ming Dynasty by land before, and he had also stayed in Central Plains for a long time, so he had learned the official language of Ming Dynasty. Therefore, he had no problem speaking Chinese when reading the notice.

The reason he came to Ming Dynasty by ship this time was to find a waterway from Egypt to Ming Dynasty while Ming Dynasty was opening up maritime trade. Therefore, after selling his property, he went to Baghdad and then came to the port of Aden from Baghdad.

After arriving at the port of Aden, he discovered that what Arab merchants were most keen on now was to find the most convenient trade route to the Ming Dynasty.

The products of the Ming Dynasty are the most sought-after goods here. Anyone who has sugar and silk will sell them like crazy. Even in the black market, the Ming Dynasty's banknotes are circulating.

Not only that, even in the Ottoman Empire, Ming Dynasty’s commodities were in extremely short supply, especially sugar and silk. Whoever could control the procurement channels of these two goods could become a wealthy man overnight!
Only then did Ali realize that his decision was correct, so he found a merchant ship bound for Ming Dynasty, and after spending a huge sum of money, he finally embarked on the journey to Ming Dynasty.

He boarded a merchant ship bound for Ming Dynasty from the port of Aden, drifted on the sea for several months, and arrived at Temasek. At this time, he had very little money left.

After seeing the notice, he felt that this was an opportunity. Ten thousand strings of treasure notes, according to the Ming Dynasty's measurement method, was equivalent to ten taels of silver. Although it was not a lot, it was enough for him to live for a long time. As for the money to purchase Ming Dynasty goods, he would slowly think of a way to do it.

As long as we can survive to the Ming Dynasty, it will be the greatest victory!

Moreover, the one who can publish notices in Temasek using the official language of the Ming Dynasty must be the government of the Ming Dynasty. If I can become the interpreter, then I can take the opportunity to establish a relationship with the government of the Ming Dynasty.

Having lived in the Central Plains, he knew too well the importance of having connections with the government!

However, my Latin is not as fluent as my Chinese, and I don’t know if I can meet the requirements of the Ming Dynasty.

With a nervous mood, Ali came to the place where the interpreter recruitment was written on the notice. Looking at the long queue, he became even more nervous.

Among so many people, he didn't know whether it would be his turn. At this moment, he saw a person who was just filling in the numbers being thrown into the sea by Ming Dynasty soldiers.

Ali's heart suddenly sank. The Ming Dynasty had such strict requirements for interpreters, and he didn't know if he could pass it. If he was thrown into the sea, he would be really finished.

Touching his empty purse, he gritted his teeth and felt like he was losing money. Thinking of this, he mustered up his courage, followed the crowd in line, and slowly moved forward.

Gradually, the sun set in the west and dusk arrived. Zhu Di stretched himself, yawned, patted Li Jinglong on the shoulder and said:
"Nephew, your method doesn't work. It's been a whole day, and I still can't find a suitable interpreter. They are all scammers."

"You are so smart!"

After sitting here for a whole day with nothing to show for it, Li Jinglong was filled with anger and had no place to vent it. Zhu Di's joke immediately ignited his anger.

Seeing Li Jinglong's bad face, Zhu Di also laughed and said, "Alright, alright, you're still angry after I said a few words to you. This is not the demeanor of the Ming Dynasty's God of War!"

"You still mention the Ming Dynasty God of War, Zhu Laosi, I want to fight you to the death!"

Li Jinglong was still furious after being taught a lesson by Li Wenzhong because of the words "Ming Dynasty God of War". Zhu Di's words only intensified his rage.

"Old Four, don't provoke him!"

Seeing that Li Jinglong was really angry, Xu Huizu hurried out to smooth things over, "Jiujiang, calm down, come and have a drink of water. There are still many people queuing up. Please help me buy some hot food for the soldiers to fill their stomachs."

"Uncle Hui, I will buy it for you, not for Zhu Laosi!" Li Jinglong glanced at Zhu Di with a somewhat arrogant expression.

"Oh, nephew, you are disrespectful to your elders!" Zhu Di immediately raised his eyebrows.

Seeing that the two were about to have another dispute, Xu Huizu sighed. At this moment, he heard a strange voice coming from the side.

"My dear officers, may I ask if the interpreters you are looking for are Latin interpreters?"

Although it was the official language of the Ming Dynasty, and several people understood it, the pronunciation was very strange. The three turned their heads and saw a Semu man with blue eyes, brown hair, wearing a long robe and a headscarf, who was respectfully asking them. This man looked very similar to the two foreigners, and the three people immediately became interested. Zhu Di and Li Jinglong stopped arguing and walked forward together, looking Ali up and down.

Ali felt a little flustered when being stared at by the three men, but he didn't dare to speak. He just stood there, not daring to move.

"Yes, it's exactly like that."

Zhu Di was amazed, "Brother-in-law, nephew, do you think this guy and those two are from the same country?"

"It's possible!" Li Jinglong looked at Ali and said.

Those two?
One country?

When Ali heard this, hope suddenly arose in his heart. Could it be that there were also Arabs in the Ming Dynasty who needed him to act as an interpreter?

He plucked up the courage to ask: "Excuse me, sir, are the two you mentioned also Arabs?"

"The Arabs? No, no, the people from the Arabs are not as bold as them."

Zhu Di asked: "Are you a Arab?"

"In reply to your question, I am indeed a Arab, but I am fluent in Ming Mandarin and Galician, and I also know a little Latin." Ali answered cautiously.

"Galician and Latin?" Zhu Di's mind moved, and he quickly asked, "Then do you know what Seris means?"

"Replying to the commander, Seris means China in Latin... er, it means Ming Dynasty and Ming people!"

"Good boy!"

Zhu Di clapped his hands and said to Xu Huizu, "That guy pointed at your father and said 'Seris Seris'. It turns out he was saying that your father is Chinese!"

Xu Huizu also nodded repeatedly, "It seems that this Arab is the person we are looking for. Okay, let's pack up and take him aboard!"

He ordered his soldiers to disperse the people in line. Immediately, there was a cry of grief from the crowd, and they all expressed deep regret for having missed out on ten thousand treasure notes.

Following behind Zhu Di and others, Ali was still a little dazed and couldn't believe it. He thought, this, this is going to happen?

Ten thousand treasure notes and ten taels of silver?

After going through so much trouble to come to the East, I finally saw my money return!

"What's your name?" Xu Huizu turned around and asked Ali.

"My full name is Sayyid Ahmed Ali. You can just call me Ali."

"Ali? Okay, I'll call you Ali from now on." Xu Huizu nodded.

On the way back to the boat, the three men kept asking Ali various questions, including his family background, whether he was married, etc. They almost found out everything about Ali's ancestors.

When Ali arrived at the dock where the Dingyuan ship was docked, he looked around and was immediately stunned. He opened his mouth wide and looked at the Dingyuan ship and the steamships behind it. He suddenly couldn't walk. It seemed as if his eyes were nailed to the ship and couldn't move away.

There are such magnificent ships in this world!

(End of this chapter)