Chapter 10: Five Precepts
Bai Langzai nodded slightly to show agreement.
Everyone looked at each other and laughed.
Lin Qian said: “Since that’s the case, from now on there must be some rules, such as the distribution of silver. After each trip’s profits, we can’t divide all the silver; we must leave some in the public account for repairing ships, purchasing weapons, and such uses.”
Lei Sanxiang slapped his thigh: “Exactly right. Lin Laodi already has an idea; just say it straight. Lin Laodi’s ideas are all good.”
“Good. From now on, for the ship whether plundering or trade, for every hundred taels of silver obtained, seventy taels go to the public account, the helmsman gets ten taels, the participating ship workers get ten taels, on-ship navigator, gunner and other officers as well as carpenter, cook, doctor etc. divide ten taels based on rank.”
This was Lin Qian referencing the distribution ratios set by Zheng Zhilong’s gang and Zheng Yi Sao’s gang in history; it also conformed to the current common rules among sea bandits, and everyone had no objections.
The one hundred fifty taels of silver distributed to each ship worker today, plus the cash value of the ship, actually exactly matches the ship workers’ 10% distribution ratio.
Then Lin Qian stated five precepts.
1. Do not disobey the helmsman’s orders.
2. Do not fight each other.
3. Do not privately hide spoils of war.
4. Do not rape women.
5. Do not plunder poor civilians.
Lei Sanxiang looked troubled: “Lin Laodi, the other five are fine to say, but if we don’t plunder common people, who do we rob?”
“Naturally, rob whoever has money.” Lin Qian answered calmly.
“Rich people’s ships are sturdy with many people; it’s not easy to succeed.”
Lin Qian smiled: “No need to worry. I currently have a big deal; if this deal succeeds, it’s worth dozens more ship robberies.”
Upon hearing this, everyone became excited and successively asked for details.
Lin Qian smiled without answering, merely reaching to point at the sea surface outside the window.
Everyone followed his finger and looked out; they saw outside the window was precisely Manila Port. It was already night, and under the torchlight of patrolling soldiers, the galleon’s ship’s rail faintly appeared and disappeared, the towering mast standing straight like a dark spear, its tip vanishing into the pitch-black night sky.
Everyone was baffled, stunned for a moment. Lei Sanxiang said incredulously: “Damn it, you want to rob the Franks’ galleon?”
Everyone’s gazes then fell on Lin Qian, all with shocked faces.
This matter couldn’t be described as whimsical; it was simply shocking to the extreme, to the point that at first no one dared think in that direction.
Not mentioning the Spaniards’ sturdy ships and superior cannons; just in numbers, the Spanish Guard was more than ten times theirs, impossible to win.
Even if barely able to seize the ship, Great Ming fuchuan ships and Manila galleons’ sails and rigging are completely different; no one could sail it.
Even if lucky enough to sail out of port, they would be tailed and pursued by Franks warships, ultimately ending as fish food.
Lin Qian took everyone’s reactions in his eyes, so first reassured them: “Let’s deliberate this matter long-term. Before that, please everyone first go separately to handle some matters.”
His previous life’s experience starting a business made him understand one principle—the bigger the matter, the less possibility of it being smooth and steady.
Starting a business or being sea bandits, both are matters of extreme risk; every step requires gambling.
Without the guts to sit at the gambling table, you only have the fate of being served up on the card table!
The brothers exchanged glances, then said in unison: “We obey the helmsman’s orders.”
“Good.” Lin Qian clapped his palms.
Then he assigned tasks to everyone.
Chen Jiao is responsible for recruiting ship workers. Their ship on ship has no firearms; sea battles entirely rely on ship’s rail boarding; must have many people to gain advantage.
Lin Qian could sense Chen Jiao was seasoned in experience, very likely had done sea bandit work before; having him recruit ship workers is most suitable.
Lei Sanxiang is responsible for purchasing weapons, especially firearms. Manila unlike Great Ming doesn’t guard firearms strictly; as long as there’s a channel, can acquire a few.
Lei Sanxiang experienced the Sarhū battle, probably a soldier from the Divine Machine Battalion using three-eyed muskets, hence the “Three Rings” nickname.
As the most familiar with firearms among the brothers, he is the best candidate for purchasing firearms.
Zhou Xiucai is responsible for bookkeeping. Since 70% of earnings go public, how used naturally must be publicly recorded to convince the crowd.
At this time, Bai Langzai said: “Sixth Brother, what do I do?”
“Your task is the heaviest and also most dangerous.” Lin Qian said solemnly, “In a few days, when I’m prepared, I’ll tell you then.”
Lin Qian said to everyone: “Everyone act carefully; do not let anyone discover.”
Everyone stood, cupped hands, then exited the cabin.
Lin Qian sat back before the desk; yesterday he pulled an all-nighter, hadn’t closed eyes till now, waves of drowsiness assaulted at this moment.
But he still couldn’t sleep.
Breaking through brushwood and wearing rough hemp, to develop the wilderness.
Wanting to start from nothing, staying up all night two or three evenings is just commonplace.
Lin Qian took out a sheet of paper, drew a sector shape, then on its arc drew scales, again at the center point drew a lens; gradually the sextant’s diagram emerged.
After witnessing Mute Huang’s handiwork, Lin Qian decided to have him handcraft a sextant.
Sextant structure simple, only needing convex lens, lens, metal—three materials.
Considering Mute Huang is a carpenter, changing the sextant’s metal frame to wood should work.
Southeast Asia has ironwood, price extremely high, density very great, not prone to corrosion or deformation, perfectly suited to substitute steel.
Glass can be bought in Manila, convex lens dismantled from the single-tube telescope he bought yesterday.
In summary, sextant’s structure and materials no problem.
Problem is precision hard to solve; scales on sextant cannot be casually drawn.
Once scales erroneous, even off by one degree, measured actual distance can differ by over two hundred li.
Lin Qian planned to first draw the design diagram, tomorrow go stroll in Manila city, see if there are protractor-like tools.
Candle burned out, tides rose and fell.
Lin Qian stood, yawning walked to the window; saw outside already dawn breaking faintly.
After simple ablutions, Lin Qian took paper and brush, called Bai Langzai, went to Manila.
First bought some gifts, paid visit to Lu Dongzhu.
Business completed, human relations cannot be neglected.
After casual meal with Lu Dongzhu, Lin Qian asked him to buy some Spaniards’ navigation instruments, such as astrolabe, compass, sea chart, ruler, protractor and such items.
Lu Dongzhu somewhat troubled: “Lin brothers, these things mostly at Kameidi Shipyard; Franks there guard very tightly, governor moreover repeatedly orders prohibiting outflow of these implements.”
Lin Qian said: “The difficulties among I also know, otherwise wouldn’t beg to big brother here. I’m curious about Franks’ navigation; even if can’t buy it’s no big deal.”
Lu Dongzhu smiled: “In that case, I’ll do my utmost.”
Leaving Lu Cheng Ji business firm, Lin Qian idled in Balien Market, also bought copper wire, coarse salt, vinegar, kelp etc.
Bai Langzai endured again and again, finally couldn’t hold back: “Sixth Brother, whatever you want to eat, have cook procure is fine, why come personally.”
Lin Qian smiled mysteriously: “Some ingredients have flavor only when bought oneself.”
Balien Market area, gambling houses, brothels extremely numerous; Lin Qian en route encountered many familiar faces from ship on ship, so had ship workers carry bought ingredients back on ship.
Thereafter, Lin Qian brought Bai Langzai again to Royal City.
His original intent was to try luck, see if could find desired items.
Pity stayed one afternoon, still poor luck, gained nothing.
At this time, Lin Qian paused before a bar, asked Bai Langzai: “How’s your drinking capacity?”
“Never drunk.”
Lin Qian smiled bitterly; he disliked drinking, but mixing in society sometimes had to drink; today was such situation.
The two pushed door in, chose a seat by window, ordered two cups rum.
By now nearing dusk, Spaniards in bar gradually increased.
Seeing Lin Qian duo, all cast scrutinizing gazes; evidently in Royal City bars rarely see Han People faces.
Simultaneously, Lin Qian also sized up those Spaniards; from dress, smell could tell most were on-ship sailors.
These sailors mostly ordered coconut wine or rum, then sat together playing playing cards.
Rules extremely simple, purely comparing high low; stakes generally few rials.
Lin Qian glanced twice, understood rules, then carrying wine cup went over.
“Misters, may I participate?”
Spaniards somewhat dazed; after all they all on one ship, coordinated tacitly, cheating effortless.
Lin Qian an outsider joining their gambling game, no different from fat sheep delivered to door.
After brief hesitation, Spanish crew showed smiles, all saw greed in each other’s eyes.
An old sailor pulled out chair.
“Welcome you to join, respected mister.”
