Seeing Han Du's excitement, Zhang Chao lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, raised his eyes to Han Du, and asked cautiously: "Does the Marquis bring the army this time to completely wipe out those traitors?"
"Oh? How did you tell?" Han Du thought for a moment and had no intention of hiding it from Zhang Chao, and asked with a smile.
"Except for those traitors, there is no one in Nanyang who is worthy of the Marquis's mobilization of troops." Zhang Chao chuckled with a smile. Perhaps for ordinary people, even if they see the navy's fleet, they won't know how many people there are. But for Zhang Chao, he only needed to take a look and be able to estimate the accuracy. The Marquis brought so many navy officers and soldiers to Nanyang this time, so naturally they were not just here to take a look. And those are the only people in Nanyang who are qualified for the Marquis to mobilize troops and mobilize people like this.
Han Du's smile faded slightly, and he said in a serious tone: "Well, you just need to know this yourself, and be careful not to tell it."
Zhang Chao nodded quickly and said, "I will save it for you."
Then he asked hesitantly, "Since Lord Marquis wants to wipe out those traitors, I would like to be the vanguard."
"Are you going?" Han Du frowned, a little unsure.
Zhang Chao is now the governor of Old Port. Logically speaking, he should be in charge of Old Port.
Seeing that Han Du didn't refuse, Zhang Chao suddenly felt that something was wrong. He quickly got closer to Han Du and said, "Master Hou, the last general is from the navy, and he also participated in the attack on these rebels. If the last general can be allowed to go, that's fine." It’s finally fulfilled the general’s wish, isn’t it?”
Han Du thought silently, maybe it would be okay to let Zhang Chao go. After all, he has experience playing against those people, and he is much more comfortable in commanding himself, and it is not easy for him to make mistakes. If it were an inexperienced person, faced with the cunning of those people, they might slip through the net in a daze, which would also cause trouble.
"Okay, you can go. But you must do a good job in the affairs of the Governor's Mansion." Han Du looked at him meaningfully, and there were some things he couldn't say directly. The Nanyang Governor's Mansion is all about Lao Zhu's money bag. If Lao Zhu's money bag is damaged because he took Zhang Chao away, I'm afraid he won't be able to live well.
Zhang Chao nodded without hesitation and said: "Don't worry, Mr. Hou, the governor of Mo will just receive the money sent by the Shi family on time and take good care of it. Even if Mo is not around, nothing big will happen. Shi can make money." The family is making arrangements.”
"Okay." Since this is the case, Han Du naturally has no reason to refuse.
Since Zhang Chao was going, Han Du wondered if he could take Jiang Ming with him. There is no way, Han Du can use these two things easily. If they can be brought together, it will save Han Du a lot of inconvenience.
Shi Jinqing has been very obedient to the other party in the past few days. Not only did she personally take time to accompany him wandering around the port, but knowing that Fang Xiaoru liked books, she also specially found a bunch of Western books and directly found a few translators for Fang Xiaoru to serve him.
Unlike the science and technology and medical books that Han Du is interested in, Fang Xiaoru prefers books on law, government, literature and history.
As for religion, Fang Xiaoru took one look at it and discarded it like a pair of worn-out shoes. He sneered and said: "The imperial way is ordered by heaven, how can it be tied to others."
Han Du didn't care what Fang Xiaoru did, but focused on what he needed to do. Ask Shi Jinqing to provide food and fresh water, and keep the navy in the old port for a few days.
When the time was almost up, Han Du asked people to load food and fresh water into the boat and prepare to set off.
Just when Han Du was about to leave, Fang Xiaoru came to the door.
"You want to leave?" Fang Xiaoru walked to Han Du and asked unceremoniously.
Han Du looked at the energetic Fang Xiaoru and asked with a smile: "What? How have you been playing in Old Port these days?"
"It's an eye-opener!" Fang Xiaoru said with admiration after drinking the tea: "There are many countries overseas, and their own survival and rise and fall, some make people sigh with regret, and some make people feel unhappy about the cyclical retribution of heaven."
Han Du looked at the current Fang Xiaoru with a smile. He did not have the complacency and complacency of a scholar, nor the confusion he had when he just went to sea. Now he was like a highly myopic person with no eyes. He suddenly regained clarity, and the whole world was in his eyes. His eyes became bright and alive.
Countless countries, countless different people, and countless stories gave him the power to break through all restrictions and see the world from a broad perspective, completely disappearing the shackles that were inherent in him as a scholar.
"You... seem to have gained a lot?" Han Du couldn't help shaking his head, not knowing what to say to Fang Xiaoru.
Fang Xiaoru nodded slightly, and a strong aura of confidence appeared on him. If others show such a confident smile, it will give people a more or less arrogant feeling. But Fang Xiaoru gives people the impression that confidence is just his appearance and his skin. He has enough convincing power.
"Ahem..." Han Du was so stunned by Fang Xiaoru at this moment that he subconsciously avoided his gaze and asked instead: "Tingshu, you have read a lot of Western books. ? What, do you have any insights?"
"A lot! Reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles. The sages will never deceive me. I didn't expect that this overseas country also has a splendid history, and there are countless heroes in the glorious history books." Fang Xiaoru obviously gained a lot this time, so he sighed like this .
Han Du knew without asking that Fang Xiaoru must have seen the history of several major civilizations. Seeing that he admired it so highly, a feeling of dissatisfaction emerged in my heart for no reason. I shook my head and blurted out: "The country you see has probably disappeared into ashes and disappeared in the long river of history."
"Didn't they pass it down?" Fang Xiaoru asked with some confusion.
Han Du smiled bitterly and shook his head, "What are you passing on? The Western countries are different from us. They each have their own spoken and written languages. Once the country is destroyed, even the written and spoken languages will be changed. How can it be passed down? Can it be passed down? All that has been handed down are some books and notes left by those who loved these languages.”
"I see..." Fang Xiaoru nodded. Ever since Qin Shihuang's books and chariots were written in the same style, no matter how the dynasties changed, everyone in China used the same script, and history books were also written in the same script. In this way, history will naturally not be interrupted. Even if the current court does not recognize the previous dynasty, subsequent dynasties will inevitably turn it over.
After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, whether it is to a person or a country, it is the same.
However, although it was a pity that these once great powers in history had completely disappeared, Fang Xiaoru did not take it to heart. It is enough to say a few words of regret. After all, these big countries have nothing to do with Xiaoru.
At the same time, Fang Xiaoru came to his senses, looked at Han Du with bright eyes and asked: "I asked you if you want to leave, and you keep going so far? Is there something you want to hide from me?"
"How could I hide something from you?" Han Du smiled.
But under the pressure of Fang Xiaoru's gaze, Han Du had no choice but to say: "There's really nothing I'm hiding from you, but it's true that I want to leave. I saw that you were enjoying yourself in the old port, so I thought it would be best not to disturb you.
But don't worry, I have already given instructions to Shi Jinqing about your return to Beijing. Whenever you want to go back, you can. Of course, you can ask him if you have any requirements and he will do his best to help you. "
"You mean, you don't want to take me away? Where do you want to go?" Fang Xiaoru stared at Han Du and asked hesitantly.
Han Du originally wanted to make a quibble, but facing Fang Xiaoru's calm eyes, he couldn't say the quibble. I had no choice but to sigh and tell him truthfully: "To be honest, I came out this time with the emperor's orders. I want to go to the continent to eliminate rebellion."
"Rebellion? What rebellion?" Fang Xiaoru felt very strange. It has been more than 20 years since the Ming Dynasty was founded. How can there be any rebellion, let alone rebellion overseas?
"This..." Han Du shook his head, "I really can't tell you. But you have to believe that I didn't lie to you."
Fang Xiaoru nodded, "I believe this."
Han Du felt relieved when he saw that Fang Xiaoru was so reasonable.
However, before Han Du was happy, Fang Xiaoru said, "Let's go together."
Together......
Han Du suddenly had goosebumps all over his body. He looked at Fang Xiaoru with a chill, knowing that Fang Xiaoru definitely didn't have that kind of hobby, so he slowly recovered.
He asked very puzzledly: "I'm going to fight, what are you going to do? Don't you want to increase your knowledge? This old port can be said to be the intersection of east and west, and there are endless things that have never been heard of in the Ming Dynasty. It is most suitable for people like you." "
"The Old Port is indeed very good, but it can't run here. You and I will go to Dazhou first, and then we'll stop there for a while, why not? Besides, don't you often say that Dazhou is a giant continent on the sea, not as big as the Ming Dynasty? Small? I happen to be very curious about what this continent looks like." Fang Xiaoru nodded first, and then said plausibly.
Han Du saw that Fang Xiaoru was determined and found it difficult to persuade him, so he nodded awkwardly, "Okay, you can go, but you must pay attention to your own safety, and it is best to stay on the ship. Let me tell you, that continent But it’s a place infested by poisonous insects and ferocious beasts. To be honest, if you go ashore, I can’t guarantee that I can protect you.”
Han Du didn't pay attention to the people on the continent at all, and he didn't think that people could pose a threat to him. But that's not necessarily the case with those poisonous insects, which are hiding in the dark. If Fang Xiaoru takes a bite, Han Du will be helpless and unable to save himself.
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Fang Xiaoru smiled with satisfaction.
Seeing that he didn't pay attention at all, Han Du guessed that he probably turned a deaf ear to his words. Shaking his head secretly, he no longer tried to persuade him, and made up his mind that he would not let him get off the ship when he got to the mainland.
Under Shi Jinqing's efforts to persuade him to stay, Han Du walked onto the flagship, stood on the bow, and set sail in the gentle sea breeze.
Summoning Jiang Ming in Java, dozens of warships headed towards the continent.
"Have you patrolled this continent in the past two years?" Han Du sat on the bow of the ship and asked Jiang Ming with a smile.
Jiang Ming quickly clasped his fists and said solemnly: "The general has personally sailed a boat to patrol this continent once. This continent is indeed huge. It takes more than a month to patrol each time, and there is no end in sight, so we have to return the same way. . Although the general did not personally patrol later, he still sent people to patrol continuously. However, he could only patrol nearby and did not dare to go too far. However, there was indeed no trace of those people in the past two years. .”
Han Du nodded secretly. Jiang Ming cannot be blamed for this. There is no way, this continent is really too big.
"Fortunately, you don't have the nerve to continue walking. Otherwise, let alone a month, you may not be able to come back here even if you walk for a year. Of course, if you have time, spend three or four days Maybe I can still come back here in the next year." Seeing Jiang Ming's nervous face and sweating on his forehead, Han Du was afraid that he would blame him, so he joked.
Sure enough, Jiang Ming's expression immediately relaxed when he heard Han Du say this. He smiled and nodded to Han Du, thanking him for his understanding.
Fang Xiaoru's eyes widened when he heard this, and he raised his head and asked Han Du: "It takes three or four years to go around by boat? Is it really that big?"
Han Du did not answer Fang Xiaoru, but raised his finger and pointed at Jiang Ming and said, "He has seen it personally, you can ask him."
Fang Xiaoru quickly turned his attention to Jiang Ming.
Jiang Ming could only nod nervously and explained: "It is indeed very big, stretching as far as the eye can see, just like a piece of land sitting on the sea. If the Marquis hadn't said that this is a huge island, we would have thought that it was on the other side of the sea. .”
Fang Xiaoru was a little surprised. Since it was so big and Han Du obviously didn't walk around it, why did he know that it was an island and not the earth?
When Han Du saw Fang Xiaoru looking at him with doubtful eyes, he immediately knew something was wrong. He quickly changed the subject and asked, "What about on the continent? Have you sent anyone up to investigate in the past two years?"
When Jiang Ming heard this, his expression suddenly became solemn, and he nodded solemnly: "Yes, and they also found some traces of those people. They did find traces of a large number of people passing by, and they also saw that some places were damaged. It's a mess. I guess those people encountered some beasts and fought with them. However, there are indeed many dangers on this continent. Only seven of the team we sent out came back. The losses were too great, so we didn't act rashly. .”
It was right not to act rashly... Han Du had no intention of blaming Jiang Ming, and even smiled and nodded at him, asking him to put his heart back in his stomach.
At dawn the next day, the fleet arrived at the place where those people abandoned the ship, and happened to encounter the ship that had just returned from patrol.
Jiang Ming jumped over through the rope and stepped forward to ask.
Han Du stood at the bow of the ship and said to Fang Xiaoru: "You must have heard what I said yesterday. This continent is extremely dangerous, so you'd better stay at the bow and wait."
Fang Xiaoru shook his head stubbornly, and when he saw Han Du's expression about to say something, he quickly raised his hand to stop Han Du. He smiled and said, "What are you going to do? Just bring people up like this?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Han Du frowned and looked at Fang Xiaoru in confusion. The reason why he looked like this was precisely because Han Du had what Fang Xiaoru said in his heart. The only difference is that Han Du is going to let people with experience in catching snakes go ahead and clean up the poisonous snakes as much as possible.
Fang Xiaoru glanced at Han Du and said in a mocking tone: "I know you don't understand. Venomous insects and ferocious beasts are generally afraid of fire and thunder. As long as you make some noise before passing by, it will not be difficult to drive them out."
Han Du himself knew about Flame, but he originally wanted to use it, but later gave up. The reason is simple. Although the fire attack can clean up the poisonous insects and beasts, the trees and vegetation will also be destroyed at the same time. If it was a natural fire, that would be fine, but if it was a man-made fire, that would be too much. If the fire goes down, there's no telling how many animals and plants will be destroyed in one go, and Han Du doesn't want to do such a thing.
Seeing that Han Du didn't speak, Fang Xiaoru thought that he didn't understand what he said, so he said directly: "Didn't you bring a thunderbolt? That thing has a loud sound, and it is perfect for frightening poisonous insects and beasts."
"Good idea." Han Du couldn't help laughing.
But before Han Du could laugh for long, Fang Xiaoru said calmly: "Your experience is not as good as mine. Can I go up now?"
Han Du sighed helplessly. He really couldn't find any reason to refuse Fang Xiaoru, so he had no choice but to nod, "Okay, but when you go, be sure not to act without authorization. You must be guarded by others."
"Haha, of course, do you think I am someone who likes to seek death?" Fang Xiaoru nodded happily.
I think you just like to seek death... Han Du touched his nose and couldn't help but cursed.
The army came ashore and camped on the spot.
With Fang Xiaoru's method, the poisonous insects were cleared very quickly. When a few thunderbolts struck, the snakes and insects hidden under the ground ran out in panic and wandered around. Those who came towards the seaside were quickly easily dispatched by the soldiers, and the others were also caught up and killed.
After settling down, for safety reasons, Han Du did not rush into the continent rashly. Instead, Jiang Ming and Zhang Chao were sent to explore the road ahead. After they slowly cleared the road, Han Du and Fang Xiaoru finally set foot on the continent.
This is not because Han Du is afraid of death, but because he is careful to sail the ship for ten thousand years.
Jiang Ming came forward with two people, clasped his fists and saluted Han Du, turned around and pointed to a place in front of him, and said: "Master Marquis, there is a severely damaged place ahead. The general will doubt that those people were People don’t know what they encountered here, there were fierce battles.”
"Go over and take a look." Han Du said calmly with some caution.
Jiang Ming took the first step and brought Han Du to the place. This place was specially preserved by Jiang Ming. After two years, no traces can be seen on the ground, but the broken tree trunks still maintain their original traces. A tree as thick as an arm was broken at shoulder height. The fracture was flat and smooth, and it looked like it was caused by a sharp weapon.
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