Chapter 143 Ferry Ticket to Dongsha Island
"How many pistols?" The guy sitting in the cast iron chair raised his eyebrows and once again smiled cheerfully like a child: "Dear Australian federal government official, don't you and your companions want to confiscate some more dangerous guns? Contraband? I think you will be interested."
The modified 8154 no longer looks like a fishing boat, and looks very similar to the light frigates before and after World War II. In addition to the manually rotated 7omm rifled gun, a rotatable machine gun tower is also installed above the forecastle - this is not a typewriter, but a real 24o machine gun. There is no doubt that once it fires, it can render any warship in this time and space incapable of combat effectiveness within a few minutes.
The fishing boat is registered under the name of "Type 8154 High Cruiser" in the Lingao Navy sequence - except for its slightly smaller tonnage, in terms of firepower, it is not an exaggeration to call it a battleship of this time and space.
Weiss Lando came to Dongsha Island on one of these ships. There were also several motor sailing boats and salvage boats temporarily modified from boarding boats.
Since he withstood the interrogation, Lando was secretly transferred to the second guest house of the office. Father Jin Lige tried to visit him several times but was blocked with the terrible excuse of "contagious". He enjoys a comfortable life under house arrest in the Second Guest House. There was good food, hot baths, and he was given cool summer uniforms made of cotton and linen—which he later learned could only be enjoyed by those at the senior level. Although everything here does not replicate everything in the 21st century, it is more of a specious imitation, but it is already very pleasant for Lando. In particular, he was greatly moved by the white porcelain toilet in his bedroom bathroom - it would be difficult for someone who had not experienced the harsh sanitary environment of the 17th century to understand how moved he was.
In the second guest house, people came to talk to him every day. The people who come here are all different, and some people's bodies and speech clearly reveal the temperament of having lived in the United States. Many people speak surprisingly good English.
They talked about all aspects, including his mercenary work, the use of weapons, and the situation of the Portuguese in Macau. It can be seen that they are full of interest in all information.
The woman who claimed to be a federal law enforcement officer also visited him once and discussed with him some details about arms trafficking. Including some of his past actions, Landu felt that the federal government actually knew everything about what he was doing, but it just didn't interfere.
"What's the use of knowing so many details?" Lando looked at this beautiful female agent. Although she was wearing a rough cloth uniform and her blue eyes were as cold as ice, she was still charming. "Are you still planning to represent The federal government is suing me?”
"I just want to know more about the situation." Salina replied simply.
"I'm very curious," Lando looked at her, "How can you serve the Chinese?"
"Absolutely the same as you." Selina shrugged indifferently, "Are there any other options?"
"Of course not. If I had known that their lives were so comfortable, I should have cried and shouted to the Chinese to take me in earlier." Lando stretched his body, "God, they live so comfortably."
"They built it bit by bit. You are just here to enjoy the results."
Lando shook his finger, "I paid for the ticket."
Although he said this, Lando still had a vague worry in his heart - the situation will not change, right?
Standing on the deck and looking at the island - the prototype of a base has vaguely appeared on the deserted island. As a mercenary who often travels around the world on ships, he fully understands the importance of Dongsha Island in the South China Sea routes. After the Lingao Chinese occupy the entire Hainan Island, the next step must be Taiwan Island.
Dongsha Island is an important stop on the route to Taiwan. It's no surprise that they occupy this place as a relay base.
But Dongsha Island is relatively close to the mainland. Many fishermen from the coast come here to fish, and the news is easy to leak out. Once the Crossing Group sets up a base here, it is very likely to be attacked by Zheng Zhilong, Liu Xiang or other Europeans. To ensure the safety of personnel and facilities, a garrison force must be established. Therefore, until recently, there was no conclusion on whether to establish a permanent base for garrison here.
However, the intelligence that there are exploitable shallow oil resources near Keelung still inspired the hearts of quite a few veterans. After all, Taiwan is an important link in the empire's future continental chain. So setting up a relay base in Dongsha was on the agenda.
The Works Energy Commission has made considerable investments here to mine struvite. The water wells on the island were renovated and cleaned, and a steam pumping station was set up. In order to make up for the limited water output from the fresh water wells, a fresh water station was set up that used the boiler heat of the steam engine to distill fresh water. The station uses less salty brackish water drawn from saltwater wells.
Simple tracks have been laid on the island, trestles have been erected, and booms have been installed to facilitate the transportation of struvite on the island. The fishery resources near the Dongsha Islands are rich, and the Committee of Agriculture is also preparing to set up a fishery facility here to purchase, process and store seafood.
As a garrison measure, the navy established a small-scale fortress here. Next to the trestle, a pentagonal bastion is under construction. After completion, the Dongsha Island Bastion will be permanently garrisoned by four cannons and a naval company. Meteorological observation stations and navigation stations will also be set up here. As an important support base for future maritime navigation.
The Committee of Agriculture and the People's Committee for Civil Affairs originally planned to build a fishing village here and bring immigrants to the island. However, after investigating the geographical and hydrological data, it was concluded that there is no suitable dock here and the environment is relatively harsh. Historically, fishermen only worked seasonally on the island, making it difficult for fishing villages to survive here. In the end, it was decided to only set up a fishing point here, which is usually operated by The navy is responsible for management, and fishermen are sent to the island during the fish season.
The pier is already full of ships - Dongsha Island has no port and is surrounded by beaches. Apart from the piers, there are almost no places for ships to dock. The berths are very tight. The transport fleet coming from Lingao crowded both sides of the trestle. Boarding the 6th boat simply went to the beach.
When he docked at the only berth on Dongsha Island, he saw that many simple facilities had been built on the island. A large trellis stands in the coconut grove. The black smoke and water vapor from the steam engine continued to rush into the sky.
"You have set up a relay base in Dongsha. Are you planning to go to Taiwan?" Lando leaned against the side of the ship and casually asked Qian Shuiting beside him.
Qian Shuiting responded with a calm smile. There was an American cigarette dangling from his lips - Lando's cargo fished out of the ship.
"Taiwan is a matter of the future." He said vaguely.
"The world is also in the future."
Qian Shuiting smiled in return. Lando's identity had not yet been confirmed. He did not want to talk too much, lest he be attacked by the populists in the Senate.
Lando stepped onto the trestle, and then he discovered that a simple track had been built on Dongsha Island. There were many empty mine cars parked on the track, as well as simple cranes. The dock floor here is full of gray-white powder and gravel with a glassy luster.
"What are you mining on this deserted island? Coral."
"Struvite." Qian Shuiting said simply - he came here with the salvage team as a weapons consultant, and the General Administration of Political Security gave him an additional task: to serve as the translator and companion for this mercenary.
"You don't have to ask him anything, just treat him as an official escort and translator." Wu Mu said, "You can speak freely to him."
"Is it appropriate to speak freely?"
"That's right. Speak freely." Wu Mu said easily, "If he is one of our own, he should know everything. If he is not, it doesn't matter if he knows."
Lando had no interest in bird poop. He smoked Lingaochan cigarettes. He has become accustomed to this kind of cigarettes from this time and space, but he feels that American cigarettes are not flavorful enough.
They came to a temporary camp in the coconut forest, where many sheds and large tents had been set up. Some of the diving equipment has been taken out of the boxes and is undergoing final testing. Among these various equipment is an ancient two-person hand-cranked air pump. There are also some gasoline barrels painted with yellow paint, neatly stacked one by one, and covered with tarpaulins.
Such a big scene and the amount of tickets he bought obviously moved the hearts of the Chinese people in Lingao. However, if they don't catch anything, they will die without a burial place.
"I hope everything's okay," he muttered.
Zhou Weisen and Lin Chuanqing, who are in charge of diving, are already discussing the dive plan in the headquarters. A chart of the waters near Dongsha Island was spread out on the table. A few pencil marks have been made on it.
Everyone shook hands politely, Lin Chuanqing made a gesture, and a sailor brought iced soda. Several people sat down and had a drink.
"According to the longitude and latitude you provided, we will search these points one by one starting tomorrow. The boat has already set off the buoys - unfortunately there is no GP here. It is measured with a sextant. I hope there is no error." Zhou Weisen said, "The average depth is less than 2o meters, so diving is fairly easy."
Lin Chuanqing said: "I'm curious, when you sank the boat, how did you plan to fish it up in the future?"
"Of course I'm hiring a diver," Lando said. "How do I know I'm coming to a place without divers?"
"Then how did you get the weapons you brought to Macau out of the ship? Although the ship sank very shallow, diving into a sunken ship? Unless you are a very professional diver," Zhou Weisen said, it is hard to imagine. . a! ~!
