The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Every once in a while, Min Xi and Yun Ji would go to the Setubal Shipyard to check the progress of the ship's construction. Not to mention, since the night shift, the progress of the ship's construction has been significantly accelerated.

It seems that it can be delivered before November. They set out in November and return to Ming Dynasty in March or April. At that time, there should be no storms in the North Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

Min Xi and Yun Ji racked their brains about what to bring back to Ming from Europe, but they couldn't think of much worth taking.

Europe was poor in resources, with few gold, silver and jewelry mines, and few specialties. The most commendable thing was technology, but the Industrial Revolution had not yet taken place in Europe during this period, and technology had not yet developed.

Only animal husbandry is relatively developed, so meat is definitely not allowed, but wool products are worth bringing, such as woolen cloth, velvet, etc. The woolen fabrics that are better are from Britain and France. Wool is soft and warm, and it is absolutely suitable to transport this thing to the north of Daming.

Speaking of woolen products, camel wool fabrics in Central Asia are also very good. Although the Ming Dynasty could reach Central Asia by land, this land Silk Road had been abandoned for many years because of the rise of the Ottoman Empire, which strangled the main transportation routes between China and the West and blocked the exchanges between merchants between China and the West. They could only take the Maritime Silk Road.

But now that they are in Portugal, they can go to the Ottoman Empire from the Mediterranean and perhaps do some business there.

But the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and European countries did not seem to be good. It was precisely because the Ottoman Empire controlled the Mediterranean coast that it forced European countries to open up new sea routes, thus promoting the great geographical discoveries and bypassing Africa to reach Asia.

Although the Ottoman Empire had bad relations with European countries, it did not have hostility with the Ming Dynasty. Although the two countries had no official exchanges, their goods were traded through West Asia.

After discussing with Yun Ji, Min Xi said, "Why don't we go to Ottoman Empire and buy some spices and carpets from them? This way, we don't have to go to Arabia to buy second-hand ones, and the price will be cheaper."

Yun Ji thought more carefully: "Didn't you say that they have bad relations with European countries? If they knew we were going from Portugal, would they be in danger?"

Min Xi thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we ask the Baron for some information to see how the relationship between the two countries is and whether we can go. If we can't go, we can go to Italy to have a look."

"Okay. If it really doesn't work, let's go to England again and buy woolen fabrics there." Yun Ji knew that Min Xi had a bad impression of the English Channel. The winds were strong and the waves were rough, and there were pirates rampant. It was too risky.

The main reason is that Portugal has a warm climate and there are only a few extremely cold days in winter. Woolen fabrics are often not used, so there is not much demand for production. Even the import volume is extremely low. It is unlikely to buy a large amount of woolen fabrics in Portugal.

When Min Xi and Yun Ji went to ask the Baron about the situation, the Baron said, "If you want to buy woolen fabrics, you should go to Mr. Francis. Their high-end woolen fabrics made in France are very good. We usually buy French goods when we make clothes."

Min Xi could only blame himself for not thinking things through. He should have talked to the other party when he was selling the goods to him: "Is Mr. Francis still in Lisbon?"

"That's not clear. You know his warehouse. Go and ask to see if all the goods have been shipped away and whether he is still in Lisbon," said the baron.

"If we want to go to Ottoman Empire to do business, do you think we can go?" Min Xi asked.

The baron sat up straight. "What? You want to go to Ottoman?"

Min Xi nodded: "Yes, Ottoman carpets and woolen fabrics are also good, as well as spices, which can all be brought back to Ming."

The baron frowned and thought for a moment: "It's not impossible. You are Chinese and can do business with them, but you can't trade with them using Portuguese currency."

"why?"

The baron chuckled, "A few years ago, we fought two battles with the Ottoman fleet in Bahrain and Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, and the Ottomans lost both times. If you use Portuguese currency, I'm afraid they won't look at you well."

Min Xi was somewhat helpless: "It would be best to use our Ming goods to exchange for goods there, right?"

"Yes, but didn't you sell all your goods to Francis?"

Min Xi smiled bitterly: "What a bad idea! In that case, let's save the money and go to Bahrain to buy Persian carpets. It just so happens that that place is now your territory, and your currency can definitely be used there."

"Right. It's best to go to Bahrain to buy it. If Ottoman has it, Bahrain and Hormuz will definitely have it."

"Then let's go find Mr. Francis and see if he is still in Lisbon." Yun Ji suggested.

"Okay, let's go take a look."

They were lucky. Francis had just returned from France after shipping a batch of goods. He shipped the goods he bought from Yunji in batches. Why not ship them all at once? Of course, it was to minimize the risk. He only had one galleon. If he shipped all the goods back at once, the ship would be too heavy and would be targeted by pirate ships, and there would be no chance of escape. Although it was a little more troublesome to load less, it dispersed the risk and increased the safety factor.

From Lisbon to France, a round trip can be completed in less than a month, unlike the ships returning from Asia and America, which are so long that it is difficult to make a round trip, and each ship is loaded to the limit. For short-distance ships, there is no such worry, and they can make more trips.

Min Xi and Yun Ji found Francis and explained their purpose. Francis' eyes lit up: "You want our French woolen fabrics, right? We have plenty. How about this, you can get on the boat and go to France with me to buy them. I will introduce you to fabric merchants."

Min Xi looked at Yun Ji and translated Francis' words to Yun Ji. Yun Ji said, "He must want us to help them transport goods and serve as bodyguards."

"Are we going then?" Min Xi asked.

Yun Ji smiled and said, "Why not? Tell him that we can help, but we need him to buy woolen fabrics for us, and the price must be kept as low as possible."

Min Xi gave him a thumbs up: "You are right!"

Min Xi told Francis their request, and Francis smiled and said, "No problem, you help us transport the goods, and I help you buy the goods."

The two parties reached an agreement and agreed to start loading the goods tomorrow and set off for Marseille the day after tomorrow.

Since we are going to France, we must call the sailors. Min Xi and Yun Ji went to the courtyard where the sailors lived to inform everyone that the business would be suspended for the time being, and they would board the ship tomorrow to prepare to go to France, and resume setting up the stall after returning from France.

The sailors were a little surprised, but since the boss had made such arrangements, they naturally had to listen to him.

Someone asked, "Boss, how long will it take?"

"Very soon, I'll definitely be back within a month."

"So do we have to take everything we buy on board?"

"Take all the food with you, don't waste it."

After Min Xi and Yun Ji returned to the village, they went to Sanvis's house first and said to Reis, "Captain Reis, we are going to Marseille Port in France. Please come with us."

Reis was surprised: "What are you going to Marseille for?"

Min Xi said, "We plan to buy some woolen fabrics there and bring them back to Ming. It just so happens that our previous client is going back to France, so we will help him ship some goods over, and he will help us contact fabric merchants."

"Okay. We'll be on the ship tomorrow, right?"

"We'll start loading tomorrow and leave the day after tomorrow."

"Then I will go on board tomorrow."

"Okay, we'll pick you up tomorrow morning."

The reason why Captain Reis was called along was to let him adapt to life at sea early. After all, he had not been to sea for three or four years. It also allowed him to regain some confidence during the short voyage.

When I got home, I told Diego about going to France. Diego said straightforwardly, "I won't set up the stall tomorrow. I will go on the boat with you guys."

The next morning, they went to pick up Captain Reis. Captain Reis was a completely different person from the day before. He was wearing clean and tidy clothes, his long hair was cut short, and he only tied a very short braid at the back of his head. His beard was shaved off. He looked several times more energetic, and there was a radiance in his eyes. He was indeed a man who belonged to the sea.

When they arrived at the sailors' yard, they found that the sailors had already set out for the dock. When they hurried to the dock, the sailors on foot had almost arrived.

After boarding the ship, Min Xi explained the situation to the person on duty, and everyone began to clean the cargo hold and prepare for loading.

Francis arrived soon. Looking at this 70% new galleon loaded with guns, his eyes were full of joy. He thought he had found a good helper.

On this day, they moved back the goods that had been moved off the ship one after another, but not as much as last time, after all, the cargo was divided into three parts.

All the goods were moved that afternoon.

Min Xi gave the money to Captain Reis and asked Diego to accompany him to buy the necessary supplies for the voyage. He and Yun Ji drove to the Baron's house. To buy goods, they naturally had to bring money.

When the baron heard that they were leaving tomorrow, he said, "That's too soon. How much money do you need? I'll deliver it to the dock for you tomorrow morning."

Min Xi thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we take him back, so you don't have to find someone to escort him and mobilize a large force."

"You guys are staying on the boat tonight?"

"No, I'm going home to tell Sanvis something. We'll drive to the dock tomorrow morning." Min Xi had already made arrangements and asked Sanvis to take them to the dock and drive the car back.

"Okay, then you can move the money back. With Yun here, I don't think anyone would dare to cause trouble for you." The baron said with a smile.