The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 139 Mobilized Barbary Pirates

July 7, Tripoli.

Mo Jirong walked slowly in the noisy and lively market. Although he looked at the "goods" on both sides of the aisle from time to time, and occasionally stopped in front of the "goods" he was interested in, he cast a disdain for the merchants. He ignored his eager gaze and continued to move forward after stopping for a moment.

The fierce gazes of the dozen or so armed guards accompanying him forced back the merchants who tried to approach him to talk and sell.

How can these small businessmen have any good stuff? How can they bother the great master of Qi to come with you in vain and waste time?

The goods sold in this market are quite special and are not ordinary goods such as firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea, etc. that local people need every day.

This is the largest white slave trading market in Tripoli. A large number of Europeans captured by Barbary pirates from southern Europe, and even Ireland and northwest Europe will be auctioned and traded here, attracting countless sellers from all over the world. Pick and buy.

Since the beginning of the 16th century, Berber pirates from Algiers, Tunisia, Morocco, and Tripoli (Barbary Coast) in North Africa have become the source of suffering in the Mediterranean trade. They rob merchant ships, kidnap crews, and demand ransom, and then provide services to these countries and The True Theist rulers of the region provide wealth and naval power. For centuries, Catholic rulers were busy raising funds and giving them to pirates to redeem the many plundered people.

At that time, Europeans collectively referred to the True God pirates who were based in North Africa and engaged in piracy activities in the Mediterranean as Barbary pirates. After continuous expansion, the Barbary pirates had spread to all North African countries and regions except Egypt by the beginning of the 17th century, including Morocco, Algiers, Tunisia and Tripoli.

Except for Morocco, which maintained a relatively independent status due to the rise of the Alawi dynasty, the other three North African local regimes accepted the regency rule of the Ottoman Empire and provided political asylum to the Barbary pirates. Their relationship with the central government of the Ottoman Empire was that of the Ottoman Empire. The strength of a country is directly proportional to its strength.

As early as the seventeenth century, when the Ottoman power was at its peak, the Barbary pirates were the most loyal maritime warriors of the Sultan. However, from the end of the last century to the beginning of this century, as the Ottoman power declined and its glory ceased, they also became alienated from the central government of the empire. Became a semi-independent kingdom. North African pashas and lords nominally recognized the authority of Istanbul, but in fact they were the real rulers there.

During this period, the navies of various European countries achieved rapid development, improved their weapons and equipment, organizational training, and theoretical tactics, and gradually formed a large generation gap with the maritime power of the Ottoman and North African regions.

For this reason, the main source of income for the Barbary pirates also changed from a mixture of direct robbery and collecting marine protection fees to simply collecting marine protection fees. At that time, all European countries had to pay money as long as they wanted to do business in the Mediterranean. Otherwise, the Barbary pirates will attack its merchant ships. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, many countries would rather hand over the money and buy peace.

Although the Barbary pirates were able to maintain a continuous source of income, the wealth they acquired was actually no longer enough to support their development of technology and the updating of the most advanced warships. This was destined to make them unable to compete with several major European maritime powers.

The rulers of the Barbary pirates seemed to be aware of this, so they decided to give up collecting protection fees from Britain, France, the Netherlands and other countries, because the navies of these three countries were the first to enter modernization. , its weapons and equipment and ship performance are no longer comparable to those of the Barbary pirates, and the tactical and strategic thinking of naval officers has improved several levels. In addition to the above three countries, merchant ships from other European countries still need to pay protection fees.

Although the Barbary pirates' robbery at sea has been greatly reduced, their influence on the security environment of the entire Mediterranean has never weakened, because there are always Berbers who can't stand loneliness and can't stand the barren and boring life, so they will meet each other. Tens of hundreds of friends drove a simple galley to Spain, Portugal, Sicily, and southern Italy. We dare not touch the coastal towns. The white people there are still somewhat armed. They can only explore some remote coastal fishing port villages and plunder people and materials.

The largest number of Barbary pirate captives were fishermen and farmers, and of course soldiers on the shore or other civil officials and scribes who shouldered the king's mission. With luck, there were also missionaries and nobles among the captives.

The pirate leaders established a unique "commodity price system" in Tunisia and Algiers. The plundered people were required to pay 10% of the value of each piece of loot as a ransom to redeem the captives and their belongings, fishermen and farmers. The ransom is the lowest, followed by soldiers, officials and scribes, while the ransom for missionaries is 70%-100% higher than that of ordinary prisoners. The most expensive ones are naturally the nobles, and the ransom is often four to five times that of ordinary prisoners. The more important ones Characters even offer a ransom tenfold.

Obviously, the difficulty of obtaining a prisoner is directly proportional to the ransom. Unarmed fishermen are most likely to be captured, while well-protected nobles are the most difficult to capture.

During this period, among the captives held by Barbary pirates, the proportion of fishermen and farmers jumped from 15%-20% in the past to 35%-40%, while other types of captives decreased year-on-year. This also indirectly reflects the pirate kingdom of Barbary. It is gradually declining from this.

You must know that during the Barbary period, pirates from Greece, the Netherlands, Germany and other countries rushed to invest, bringing various advanced technologies and weapons to them. At their peak, the Barbary pirates and Spain, the maritime hegemon, also Avoid its sharp edges.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the white slave trade was extremely profitable, and Algiers became a white slave trade center as famous as Crimea in the Black Sea region (the founding basis of the Crimean Khanate was to capture white slaves). Countless white slaves Slaves were sold to the Ottomans, Egypt and Arabia.

As for buyers of white slaves, the Ottoman Empire was the largest customer of Barbary pirates. In addition, Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Persia, and India also had large markets. Sixty or seventy years ago, Barbary pirates also expanded the white slave business to the East Indies and the Han continent.

Especially the latter, in a very short period of time, became their best customer. Not only was the payment easy, but also a large number of high-performance firearms and various high-value-added commodities could be exchanged from them, allowing the Barbary pirates to increase their own trade profits while strengthening their force.

Yes, Hanzhou’s products sell well in the Mediterranean and Europe. Tea, porcelain, silk, steel bars, hardware, clocks, precision tools, and good-quality cotton cloth are extremely popular with consumers. Whether these goods were presented to the local pashas and lords in exchange for political asylum, or resold to Europeans to earn huge profits, they greatly improved the living environment of the Barbary pirates.

However, this good life did not last long. Because, with the increasing rise of Qi, its power gradually expanded to the Indian Ocean and Red Sea regions, they bypassed the Barbary pirates, established direct contact with the Ottoman Empire, and gradually alienated their relations with them.

At the same time, the people of Qi gradually lost interest in the "goods" in the hands of Barbary pirates. Instead, they directly established their own trading stations in North Africa, constructed a commercial network, and transported a wide variety of large-scale commodities through It was transported to Egypt by the Red Sea, then transported overland to the Mediterranean coast, and finally spread to the Ottomans, the Levant, and the European continent. The Barbary pirates who did not want to be abandoned by the tide of the times also repositioned themselves in the Red Sea-Mediterranean trade circle dominated by Qi State, and turned into protectors of merchants and defenders of maritime order. Although they still have old habits that are hard to change. While transporting and selling goods across the country, they will also look for opportunities to make a few non-capital transactions to increase some extra income. However, their "correction" has ultimately eased the maritime safety environment. It promoted the prosperity of the entire Mediterranean trade, and life was much better than the pure robbery before.

After the Qi-British War broke out, the Barbary pirates, as agents of Qi's goods in North Africa, naturally wanted to stand on the side of the Qi people, whether it was to enhance friendship between them or to protect their own interests. Raiding English merchant ships at sea is a matter of course.

Later, the Barbary pirates received a request from the Qi people and launched an attack on the provocative Republic of Venice in retaliation for their unprovoked attack on the Qi merchant ships.

In return, in addition to giving them a large amount of financial and material support, the people of Qi also began to increase their purchases of "commodities" accumulated by the Barbary pirates. Even white male slaves, which were not so rare before, were bought in large quantities without bargaining.

"What's going on in Venetian lately?"

After careful inspection and fierce arguments, a transaction involving 680 white slaves was successfully completed. Mo Jirong sat on a comfortable lounge chair, enjoying the gentle massage of a white slave. I feel a genuine sense of comfort.

"After being unable to siege the port of Damietta with the English for several months, the Venetians have lost their patience. Except for a few warships that were still left to deal with the English, all other ships were withdrawn to Venice. "The leader of the Barbary pirates, Sabri Boukadoum, drank the wine glass in his hand and smashed it in his mouth a few times, as if he still had some unfinished thoughts.

Well, this mead (sugar cane wine) is still not strong enough.

"The Empire (Ottoman) did not launch an attack on Venice?"

In your teachings on the true God, doesn’t it prohibit believers from being corrupted by alcohol?

Mo Jirong looked at Sabri Bukadum drinking so heavily and couldn't help but feel contempt in his heart. Deep down deep down, this guy must be a false believer.

"The empire has suffered two defeats in Wallachia. It is estimated that it will be unable to take action for a while."

"Hasn't the empire been in a military stalemate with the Austrians? Why did it suddenly suffer two defeats?" Mo Jirong was a little surprised.

"The Austrians sent Prince Eugen to the front line." Sabri Bucardum said with a gloating expression on his face: "Prince Eugen made a series of tactical deceptions to allow the empire's generals to go to the front line. As a result, the troops were easily mobilized by the enemy, but suffered heavy losses and lost more than 7,000 soldiers."

"Alas..." Mo Jirong couldn't help but sigh after hearing this.

During the war, it became increasingly difficult for the Ottomans to see their brightest moments. Facing European countries, they always lost more than they won. Even the Russians, the most backward and ignorant people in Europe, were able to take advantage of them.

This old empire may never be able to return to its former glory.

You see, even the unworthy Barbary pirates looked down on their former masters.

"Oh, by the way." As if he suddenly thought of something, Sabri Boukadoum turned to look at Mo Jirong and said, "A few days ago, our people captured an English ship in the waters near Malta. The merchant ship learned an important piece of information about the English fleet from the captain... An English fleet consisting of more than fifty ships is resting in Malta and preparing to return to Gibraltar in the near future."

"Huh?" When Mo Jirong heard this, his heart moved. He pushed the slave girl away and sat up from the couch. "The English fleet is preparing to withdraw to Gibraltar? Is the news reliable?"

"That's what the captured captain said. As for whether it is reliable, maybe you can bring it up directly for further interrogation." Sabri Boukadoum shrugged his shoulders and said indifferently: "Part of the English fleet left , should be good news. At least, when we go to the Levant and the Ottoman mainland, the chance of hitting them will be smaller, and the losses will be somewhat reduced."

"Sabri, did you know? Our Qi fleet is gathering near Gibraltar, preparing to attract the English to come here for a decisive naval battle." Mo Jirong said quietly: "So, this English fleet is about to return They must not know about the presence of our Qi fleet in Gibraltar."

"Well, I think so." Sabri Boukadoum nodded.

"Sabri, I think the information you provided is more valuable than the product you just sold us." Mo Jirong stood up and looked at the pirate leader with a smile, "I am now I just need the captured English captain, and I want to confirm the accuracy of this news so that our Qi fleet can annihilate the English fleet that is about to return."

"..." Sabri Boukadoum looked at Mo Jirong blankly, "In that case, should you pay me a generous reward?"

"Sabri, you immediately mobilize and gather more companions to head to the Maltese waters and try to slow down and block the return speed of this English fleet." Mo Jirong smiled and patted Sabri on the shoulder, "Don't worry. Well, we Qi people are never stingy when it comes to old friends. After this war is over, your Barbary Kingdom will gain unprecedented commercial benefits."
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(End of this chapter)