Chapter 6, The Only Warmth

Moreover, during the three to four days after he boarded the ship, Liu Laoliu helped him whenever he could and never mocked him. At mealtimes, he would occasionally give Yu Xiaotian a small piece of salted fish or salted meat from his bowl, allowing Yu Xiaotian to recover his strength more quickly

Since he cannot disembark immediately, he has no choice but to spend some time on this ship for now. At the very least, he should learn more about the customs and social dynamics of this era. He should also let his hair grow a bit longer, so that he does not appear so out of place

Later, the horse thief on the ship, due to his ambiguous identity and the possibility of being a pirate, suggested throwing him back into the sea. It was Liu Laoliu who interceded on his behalf, which ultimately led to Captain Liu's decision to allow him to remain on the ship

In response to Xiaotian's genuine gratitude towards Liu Laoliu, he nodded slightly, pointed at the fishing net, and patted his own chest, indicating that it was no trouble and that he had the strength to handle it

These matters are certainly not what Xu Xiaotian needs to consider at the moment; what he is most concerned about now is when he can reach the shore and find an opportunity to slip onto land, so that one day this group does not discover that he is not mute and throw him back into the sea.

At this moment, Yu Xiaotian was suffering because he was pretending to be mute and could not speak, so he could only gesture with his hands to Liu Laoliu, attempting to communicate with him

However, remaining on the ship does not guarantee everything will be fine. His current status on the ship is low, and his life is not comfortable. He is frequently bullied by the crew members on board. Given his temperament, he is absolutely unwilling to live as a subordinate and be a punching bag.

Liu Laoliu is only about forty-six or forty-seven years old, yet due to his dark and thin appearance, along with a slight hunch in his back and a face covered in wrinkles, he seems much older than his actual age. This is likely a result of years spent at sea, exposed to the wind and sun, making him look like a grizzled old man in his sixties. However, his physique remains relatively robust.

It was only on the second day after he boarded the ship that he learned that, initially, the people on the ship had no intention of rescuing him when they saw him floating on the sea. It was Liu Laoliu who insisted that failing to save him would incur the wrath of Mazu, bringing misfortune to the ship. Most coastal people believe in Mazu, which is why they approached and pulled him from the water. Furthermore, Liu Laoliu also brought fresh water to feed him, which ultimately saved his life.

This made Yu Xiaotian very grateful to Liu Laoliu. His father had told him when he was very young that even a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of water

Liu Laoliu watched Yu Xiaotian gesturing to him, clearly not understanding what Yu Xiaotian meant, and somewhat misinterpreting his intentions. He chuckled and said: "Don't be afraid, mute! In a while, it will be fine! I still have some time before I leave! After this trip, I won't be able to return for at least a couple of months. When I get back to shore, I will inform the people on the boat to stop teasing you! ... ..." After this trip, I won't be able to return for at least a couple of months. When I get back to shore, I will inform the people on the boat to stop teasing you! ... ..."

Thus, Yu Xiaotian is somewhat fearful of the factory guards. If he were to mix with the people on land with his current demeanor, it is highly likely that he would inadvertently be captured by the authorities, or by spies from the Eastern Factory or the Jin Yi Wei, being mistaken for a pirate's informant. Once he falls into their hands, he would truly find himself in a situation where he cannot seek life nor death

As Xiatian turned his head, he saw a thin, dark-skinned old man squatting behind him, speaking to him in a low voice

In Xu Xiaotian's heart, he felt even more grateful, nodding repeatedly to indicate that he had remembered. However, when he heard that Liu Laoliu had completed this trip and was returning, he became unwilling, and his heart couldn't help but stir slightly.

In summary, after the Ming Dynasty entered this period, it had already experienced a drastic decline from its former glory, beginning to sway amidst the storms. Although these matters were not something he needed to consider for the time being, the mere thought of the name Wei Zhongxian sent a chill down Yu Xiaotian's spine

He originally came from an unknown background, and the people on the ship now think he is both foolish and mute, which is why they have taken him in. However, if one day he were to speak and reveal his skills in martial arts, who knows how the ship's owner and the crew would deal with him!

Regarding this segment of history, Yu Xiaotian has some understanding. The first to arrive in China were the Portuguese, who cunningly deceived the Ming government to obtain the territory of Macau, establishing it as a stronghold for their trade with China. Subsequently, the Spaniards and the Dutch also arrived along the Chinese coast, and even the British came to the Chinese coast, all attempting to occupy a piece of land to serve as a stronghold for their trade with China.

Wei Zhongxian, this old eunuch, according to Xiao Tian's understanding of him, rose to prominence after the ascension of the Tianqi Emperor, becoming the most powerful figure in both the court and the world at large. He controlled the Eastern Depot, wreaking havoc across the realm, with the secret discussions of the Eastern Depot and the agents of the Jinyiwei spreading throughout various regions, causing widespread fear and anxiety among the people of the Ming Dynasty.

Liu Laoliu's seemingly casual assistance to Yu Xiaotian has, in Yu Xiaotian's eyes, transcended the simple notion of a drop of kindness. Therefore, ever since he regained his strength over the past two days, he has often followed Liu Laoliu around, trying to help him with some heavy work as a way to express his gratitude.

When Xu Xiaotian heard Liu Chuan Dong say that they were approaching Dongshan, he finally had a rough understanding of their current location. It turned out that they had already reached the vicinity of Dongshan Island in Fujian, and further ahead was Nanao Island. He couldn't help but sigh at how slow the boat was moving, it could almost be said to be progressing at a turtle's pace, having hardly covered any distance over the past few days

You mute! I know you are not a bad person; you are honest enough to know right from wrong! Speak the truth! In fact, Liu, the ship owner, kept you around simply because he saw that you have a decent physique and wanted to take advantage of you as a free servant! If you are looking for work on this ship, there is no shortage of tasks! The more diligent you are, the more you will be treated like a donkey! Otherwise, I wouldn't remind you that it is better to do less work that the ship owner hasn't assigned you! Otherwise, you might end up exhausting yourself!

Liu Laoliu noticed that there was no one at the bow of the boat at this moment, so he sat down beside Yu Xiaotian, took out a small bottle from his pocket, brought it to his lips, and took a small sip of the liquor inside. He then carefully corked the bottle and gently placed it back into his pocket.

Although Yu Xiaotian has some doubts about whether the actions of the factory guards are somewhat exaggerated, in the old era he lived in, he portrayed this history in a grand manner, leading everyone to believe that the factory guards were capable of anything

Once his vision was obscured, if he slipped ashore like this, who knows what trouble he might encounter! Moreover, at this moment, he was practically destitute, not even possessing a single coin, utterly impoverished. Was he really going to go ashore to beg for alms?

To this end, Xiao Tian pretended to tidy up the broken fishing nets piled at the bow of the boat while being deeply troubled by thoughts about his future prospects

The old man speaking is called Liu Lao Liu; he is the helmsman of the ship and also the oldest person on board. However, to call him an old man is somewhat of an understatement, as after spending three days on the ship, Yu Xiaotian realized that Liu Lao Liu is actually not that old.

Upon seeing Liu Lao Liu, Yu Xiaotian revealed a hearty smile, for on this boat, Liu Lao Liu was probably the only person who treated him with relative kindness

The seemingly casual actions of Liu Laoliu provided Yu Xiaotian with a rare sense of warmth in this world while on the boat. At that moment, he could be described as lonely and desolate, situated in a completely unfamiliar environment. What he needed most was someone to show him care and assistance, and it was precisely at this time that Liu Laoliu offered him such warmth

It is evident that Liu Laoliu also perceived Yu Xiaotian's intentions, and he made a concerted effort to take better care of Yu Xiaotian on the ship. Moreover, leveraging his relatively high status aboard, he frequently persuaded those unscrupulous individuals on the ship to refrain from tormenting Yu Xiaotian.

Yu Xiaotian felt a bit disappointed and was just about to continue communicating with Liu Laoliu. At that moment, Captain Liu called out to them from the stern of the ship: "Laoliu, mute, are you idle? Can't you see everyone is busy? Hurry up and come over to lift the cargo!"

Upon thinking of this, Yu Xiaotian couldn't help but break out in goosebumps, repeatedly shaking his head in secret, feeling that running ashore immediately might not be a good idea after all

By eavesdropping on the casual conversations of the people on the ship, Yu Xiaotian learned that the cargo being transported by Captain Liu was intended for the vicinity of Macau, to engage in trade with the Portuguese or Spanish merchants based in Macau. Yu Xiaotian was certainly aware that the term "merchants" referred to the Portuguese or Spanish. Since the mid-Ming Dynasty, when Westerners opened up maritime routes between Europe and Asia, these Europeans began to arrive in China by ship, establishing a maritime trade route that connected the Eurasian continent.

He is racking his brains for a way out in the future. When Liu Laoliu said this, it made him see an opportunity. Liu Laoliu is a good person and treats him well. If Liu Laoliu decides not to continue, he will definitely return to his home on land. In that case, could he follow Liu Laoliu to the land? At the very least, he could receive Liu Laoliu's care for a period of time and obtain a legitimate identity to stay on land.

Since embarking on the ship, the weather at sea has been quite favorable over the past few days. The sea has remained mostly clear, with stable winds and no encounters with strong gales. Additionally, there have been no unusual occurrences along the way; there have been no pirate encounters, nor any official vessels patrolling the waters. The only encounters have been with a few small fishing boats, allowing the people on board to feel relatively relaxed.

More importantly, he does not have a thorough understanding of the situation during the Tianqi period of the Ming Dynasty. The most he knows about this historical period is that the Tianqi Emperor was a good carpenter and that he particularly favored the chief eunuch Wei Zhongxian, allowing this powerful eunuch to act with impunity in both the court and the public sphere, being referred to as 'Nine Thousand Years.' Meanwhile, he neglected state affairs, spending his days engrossed in practicing his carpentry skills in the palace, enjoying himself immensely.

Moreover, he was generally aware that at this time, the Jianzhou Jurchens, led by the wild boar skin Nurhaci, had already grown to a considerable extent. It seemed that after experiencing the Battle of Sarhu, the Ming Dynasty had completely shifted to a defensive posture, and most of Liaodong had essentially been occupied by the wild boar skin. The Jianzhou army had also become the greatest enemy of the Ming Dynasty

I know I won't be on this boat for much longer. After completing this trip and returning, I will take my wages and go home to purchase a few acres of land to support my retirement. Once I'm no longer on the boat, there will be no one to take care of you, so you must learn to take care of yourself.

The ship of hetushucomcom is moving so slowly, which is also related to the fact that it is loaded with cargo. The ship has a greater draft, and additionally, the hull has accumulated a thick layer of barnacles and other marine organisms due to prolonged neglect in cleaning. This not only increases the weight of the ship but also significantly raises the resistance the hull faces while moving through the water. Furthermore, as they are sailing southward against the prevailing winds of this season, their speed is further reduced

However, after careful consideration, Xiaotian hesitated about whether he should immediately slip ashore, because although he had some understanding of the history of the Ming Dynasty, he was not very clear about this particular period. His appearance (especially the short hair on his head), lifestyle, manner of speaking, and even his way of thinking were all significantly different from those of people from this era

At this moment, another helmsman was watching over the helm. Liu Laoliu had nothing to do, and seeing Yu Xiaotian struggling to tidy up the broken fishing nets at the bow, he quietly approached and reminded Yu Xiaotian.

At that moment, someone patted him on the shoulder and whispered to him, "Mute! It would be better not to do these tasks! The more you do, the less they regard you as a person to be used!"

However, due to the precautions taken by the Ming Dynasty, they were unable to acquire places like Macau, which led the Dutch to engage in significant military actions along the coast, resulting in repeated maritime conflicts with the Ming Dynasty

Additionally, it seems that this period corresponds to China's Little Ice Age, which resulted in abnormally cold weather in northern China. This led to continuous famines in the north. Furthermore, the Ming court, in order to resist the invasions by the Jurchens, continuously increased taxes and raised military expenditures in various regions. As a result, the people in places like Shaanxi were left in dire straits, prompting the onset of large-scale peasant uprisings.

I feel sorry for you, being homeless and mute! I do not wish to see you suffer at the hands of those people! Today, Ma Biao confronted you, but fortunately, you were clever enough to make him suffer, which was quite satisfying! However, since you lack martial skills, it would be wise to avoid provoking him in the future; he is not a good person. Once he sets his sights on you, he will continuously cause you trouble!" Liu Lao Liu said quietly to Xiao Tian while watching the people on the boat.