Chapter 88: Entrust
A large Chinese junk appeared off the coast of Marinduque. They were a usual sight, but since I had been tending to ships lately, I had come to appreciate their aesthetics more. While the steamship was a product of European culture, and the Garay a product of Moro culture, the vessel known as the junk was distinctly Chinese.
Contrary to what its name might suggest, it was a majestic ship. It had large sails reinforced with wooden slats, giving them a ribbed appearance, and from a distance, they spread like the wings of a dragon. The go-to ship of Chinese merchants, it had three decks and ample cargo space—perfect for the shipment we had prepared.
Francisco, ever reliable and punctual, had arranged for a merchant ship just three days after our discussion.
Just barely, we also managed to stick to the timetable. Dante Madrigal, as the Transport and Storehouse Manager, had proven to be a wise appointment.
Just last night, the last of the carts had arrived from Santa Cruz.
As I had hoped, he provided nearly half of his herd of carabaos for the task. In coordination with Señor Grimaldo, he had also managed to requisition more animals from Mogpog and Santa Cruz, expanding the fleet of carabao-drawn carts.
On the expert advice of Señor Lim, I had Señor Madrigal prioritize the transport of high-value, low-bulk goods—products that could yield high returns without hogging the limited space on the ship, and were easy to load and unload. Gunrunning, after all, was all about secrecy and space.
Early in the morning on the appointed day, the town was already alive with the sound of creaking wheels and snorting carabaos as an impressive caravan made its way from the storehouse doors to the docks.
Naturally, the cargo was composed mostly of abaca—35 tons in total, 10 percent of which came from my plantation. It was the province’s best cash crop, with an excellent value-to-weight ratio. We expected it to contribute more than half of the shipment’s total revenue. The province could have produced even more had it been harvest season.