The fleet rode the wind and waves, sailing with full sails and sailing toward the southwest at full speed.
The female slave also stood on the deck of the flagship, looking at the tall warship, like a legendary beast in the sea, chopping the waves with impunity. Seeing such a beast-like warship, the originally submissive look in the female slave's eyes began to waver.
Han Du glanced back and happened to see the female slave's expression. A sneer suddenly appeared on his face. No matter what kind of thoughts she had, Han Du was sure to make her obedient.
"Eh? Are we there yet?" Zhu Biao stood on the bow of the ship and looked at a black line appearing in the distance.
It shouldn't be so fast... Han Du raised his eyes and looked over.
With the wind and water flowing smoothly, the warship was moving very fast. Just now, only a black line could be seen. As the warship got closer, it soon became apparent that this was an island.
After resetting the course, the fleet passed by the island and continued sailing westward.
Zhu Biao suddenly looked back at the island that was gradually disappearing, and said, "The location of this island seems to be very critical."
Han Du heard the sound and looked back curiously, only to see an island standing in the middle of the seaport like a fortress rising from the sea on the wide sea.
"Your Highness has a sharp vision. The location of this island is very important. If we can establish a foothold on this island, we can directly block the entrance to the sea. No matter who wants to go to the sea or come in, they must obtain our consent. OK."
Zhu Biao smiled and nodded, "But if we want to occupy this island, it won't be easy, right?"
Han Du made a mental calculation and nodded slightly, "Well, it depends on whether this island has been occupied by others. If no one has occupied it, it will be easy. But if it has been occupied by others, then we think It will take a lot of effort to capture it.”
Zhu Biao had a sullen face, took a deep look at the island behind him, and said thoughtfully: "We passed by there, and there was no movement at all on the island. There should be no one stationed there."
Han Du also smiled and nodded, he thought the same way.
"Then let's talk later. Let's go to Tianfang first." Zhu Biao retracted his gaze and looked up to the front.
...
As soon as the fleet crossed the estuary, people on board started to scream in surprise. As far as the eye could see, the sea turned red. If it weren't for the fact that the red wasn't strong enough and was mixed with traces of green, everyone would have thought that what they were seeing was blood.
"What's going on?" Zhu Biao's face looked a little solemn. Such a sudden situation was like encountering a vision, and it was an extremely bad vision.
Zhu Biao glanced at everyone, and finally set his sights on Han Du.
When Han Du saw everyone looking at him, he lowered his head and glanced at the red sea water, then turned back and gestured to Shi Si: "Ask her, what's going on?"
Shi Si nodded and asked the female slave directly.
The female slave has become very quiet since she boarded the warship. As long as Shi Si had nothing to ask her, she could spend most of the day watching the sea on the deck.
Shi Si nodded, returned to Zhu Biao, bowed and said, "Back to Your Highness, she said the sea is like this."
Is that how it was originally? Zhu Biao let go of his worries, but at the same time he couldn't help but be surprised. If someone hadn't been told, whoever saw such a sea for the first time would probably think it was a sea of blood.
Han Du knew what was going on. Isn't it because the high sea temperature is conducive to the growth of seaweed? When the seaweed grows, it is green. When the seaweed matures and floats on the sea, it turns into a continuous patch of red.
"Keep going!" Since this has been the case since ancient times, Zhu Biao did not hesitate and gave the order directly.
As the fleet continued to advance, after a few days, everyone discovered that the coasts on both sides narrowed instantly. Originally, standing on the deck of the ship, one could not see the coast on both sides, but after it became narrower, even standing on the deck, one could vaguely see the coast on both sides.
"What's going on? Are we about to dock?" Zhu Biao glanced sideways at Han Du.
Han Du coughed dryly and said with a smile: "Maybe the place here is relatively narrow."
Zhu Biao also thought so. After thinking about it, he asked, "Then let's just dock here?"
"No," Han Du shook his head, "keep moving forward until the voyage reaches the end."
After another day of sailing, the fleet finally reached the end. Except for a beach in the distance, there was no trace of other people.
The naval warship moved forward, and a guard went down first to explore the surroundings, eliminate threats, and prepare for defense. Then Han Du and Zhu Biao boarded the gondola, got down to the boat, and stepped onto the beach.
The climate here is hot, and just the cutoff from the warship to the beach makes Han Du's back covered with sweat.
Zhu Biao was also extremely hot, but he still insisted on climbing the hillside. After just one glance, he couldn't help but frown.
Wiping the sweat from his face, Zhu Biao said slightly dissatisfied: "Why is it so hot and desolate here? You can't even see a tree when you look around?"
Han Du glanced around and found that there was indeed no shadow of a tree. The only green on the ground were some low trees and weeds.
"The temperature here is too high, which may not be suitable for the growth of trees. But judging from the condition of the grass and trees on the ground, there is no shortage of precipitation here. Otherwise, with such a high temperature, even grass would not grow in these places. .”
Zhu Biao nodded, "If the grass doesn't even grow, then there won't be anyone here, let alone the existence of Tianfang Kingdom."
"But, where is Tianfang Kingdom?" Tang Ding also looked around, but he didn't see even a single person.
Han Du was panting for breath and turned around to tell his soldiers: "Go and bring the female slave from Tianfang Kingdom to me."
Soon the female slave was brought over, along with Shi Si.
Han Du nodded towards Shi Si and said, "Ask her, which direction is Tianfang Kingdom?"
Shi Si asked the female slave a few questions, and then replied to Handu: "Your Highness, Lord Marquis, she said this is Tianfang Kingdom."
Han Du was stunned when he heard this and glanced around, "There is not a single figure. Is this the Tianfang Kingdom? She is not going to tell me that everyone in the Tianfang Kingdom is dead, right?"
Shi Si continued Han Du's questioning and asked the female slave a few questions.
After the female slave answered, Shi Sicai bowed and replied: "She said that this is indeed Tianfang Kingdom. If we want to find someone, then keep moving forward and we will find him soon."
Keep walking forward? After Zhu Biao heard this, he nodded immediately and said, "Then let's continue. We've come, we can't just go home without even taking a look, right?"
Han Du was shocked when he heard this and immediately interrupted: "No, Your Highness."
Zhu Biao looked at Han Du strangely and asked doubtfully, "Why not?"
Han Du sorted out his thoughts and advised Zhu Biao: "Your Highness, our greatest advantage is that we have these naval warships. As long as we stay at the seaside, no matter what happens suddenly, we can easily retreat to the ship, and then We will calmly observe the development of the situation and then decide whether to leave or stay."
"With the strength of the Ming Navy, no one is our opponent on the sea. Even if there is someone who is evenly matched with the navy, we can retreat calmly with the high speed of the warship. It is precisely because of the strength of the navy that we Only then do we dare to take His Highness here. If we go ashore and go deep into the earth, our advantage will be gone."
"This Tianfang is still a country. It is unclear whether they are friends or enemies of us. If they are hostile to us and launch a large army to besiege us, then no matter how strong we are, we will not be able to withstand their siege. Your Highness is A body worth a thousand dollars must not be put in danger because of this!"
Zhu Biao was not a stubborn person. After listening to Han Du's advice, he no longer planned to go in depth.
But as he said, he had already come here, and if he didn't go in and take a look, he wouldn't be very willing.
"Then we come all the way here and just retreat?"
Seeing that Zhu Biao was unwilling to give in, Han Du hesitated for a moment and said, "Then, how about sending a team of soldiers in to take a look?"
As long as Zhu Biao didn't go in personally and just sent a team of people to have a look, Han Du would accept it.
Seeing that Han Du had no chance of giving in, Zhu Biao nodded, "Okay, then let's send someone in to take a look."
Han Du suddenly thought of something and laughed immediately.
When Zhu Biao saw Han Du smiling inexplicably, he frowned and asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Han Du immediately explained: "Don't His Highness want to visit Byzantium, Ottoman and other countries?"
Zhu Biao looked puzzled and asked puzzledly: "Didn't you say that you need to go through the Sea of Storms to get there? The risk is too great and you don't want to go alone?"
Han Du nodded slightly, "Yes, I really don't want His Highness to take such a big risk. But besides the Sea of Storms, there is actually another way to go."
"Really? Where is this road?" Zhu Biao asked with great interest.
Han Du raised his hand, pointed towards the north, and said: "Right here, if I remember correctly, three or four hundred miles away from here is another sea, and across that sea is the Byzantine Empire. .”
"There is another sea a hundred miles away?" Zhu Biao asked in surprise. It's only three or four hundred miles. Such a distance is nothing at all. Slightly larger islands are more than three or four hundred miles in length and width. And this is the distance between the two seas.
Seeing that Zhu Biao looked a little moved, Han Du advised him in advance: "Your Highness, it is better not to think about going there. There is no sea route here. Even if His Highness reaches the other side, there will be no ships for His Highness to cross the sea."
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