Just when Emperor Zhu was taking advantage of the chaos caused by Sichuan scholars, he was rectifying the domestic official system and clearing up the centuries-old tax collection problems in the southeastern provinces.
Hawaii Island.
A fleet flying the flag of the Great Ming Dynasty is setting sail from the port of Hawaii.
"Major, the Spaniards may have encountered a defeat on the Ming Dynasty's sea and fled in a hurry. There must be a pursuit behind them!"
The person who was speaking was a middle-aged man with an unshaven Han Chinese appearance. His name was Zheng Yi. He was an old sailor from the Red Flag Gang and is now the deputy captain of the Ming Dynasty's North American West Coast Exploration Fleet.
The one he called Major was a young pirate, Zhou Jihai, who had grown up in a pirate den.
Zhou Jihai was also from the Dan family, and he was a true adventurer. Before Emperor Zhu or Ming had proclaimed himself emperor, he had already been ordered to lead a fleet to explore the route to the southern continent.
Now he is another Ming adventurer exploring the Pacific route.
"It's best not to let them take over Hawaii." Zhou Jihai said with a frown.
According to what they learned after wandering around the North Pacific for almost a year, the shortest and fastest route from Japan to the west coast of the North American continent is to take the northern road. There is an ocean current there. Follow the ocean current first to the north, then to the east, and then to the north. North America can be seen to the south.
They had been there once, but at that time they were trying to avoid the New Spanish Fleet, so they did not find a landing place, but they unexpectedly found a way to the Hawaiian Islands when they returned!
"We have explored it all. There is a place in the north of the North American continent that the Europeans have not yet touched. The emperor has said that there is a very good harbor there where a stronghold can be established. Our goal this time is to find that harbor!"
That harbor was actually the Vancouver of later generations.
As long as he can complete the drawing of a circular route from Japan-Vancouver-Hawaii-Matsujiang Prefecture, Zhou Ji will be able to make great achievements!
At that time, the Ming Dynasty can recruit poor people along the Yangtze River such as Liangjiang, Lianghu, and Sichuan, board ships at the ports of the Yangtze River, go to Japan first, sail north after completing supplies in Japan, and take the North Pacific Ocean current to Vancouver.
This journey takes about thirty days from Songjiang Prefecture Shanghai Port to Japan, and about forty days from Japan's port to the coast of North America.
The whole journey lasts seventy days!
And before that.
Zhou Jihai needed to draw a sea map and establish a stronghold.
to facilitate subsequent immigration landings.
They were blown to Hawaii after a big storm.
Of the six expedition fleets, there are now only four large ships left.
There were now less than two thousand of the more than three thousand crew members left.
But their gains were also huge. They discovered the island of Hawaii and the westward ocean currents in the South Pacific.
"How much power do we have now?"
"The crew number is 1,930, which is enough to establish a stronghold." Zhou Jihai took a deep breath and said.
However.
This Ming expedition team was really unlucky.
That night they encountered another big storm.
On the blue-black sea, four wooden boats undulated and swayed in the sea like leaves swaying in the wind. Under the strong wind, the four old wooden boats made creaking sounds, as if they might be blown apart by the strong wind at any time.
Wait for the storm to pass.
It's daylight.
The various sailors climbed onto the deck one after another. At this moment, a voice shouted in surprise from the watchtower.
"Land! It's land!!"
The red sun rises.
The water vapor on the coastline gradually disperses.
The distant scenery begins to become clear.
The vast sea seems to have reached its end.
"It's the American continent! There's no sign of Spanish activity! This must be a coast that hasn't been touched by them yet!"
Zheng Yi was overjoyed.
The fleet sailed along the huge harbor.
There is a scene of dense virgin forest on the shore, with a large river crossing it and birds and wild animals roaming around, giving it a very wild scene.
"Look for a landing place and beware of the natives!"
Due to the great lack of virtue among white Europeans.
Today's adventurers are unlikely to receive friendly treatment from the natives - the expansion of the colonists in North America has greatly reduced the living space of the local natives. Now the local natives are extremely hostile to outsiders and are unlikely to take advantage of them. Welcoming him with honey and corn.
However, these are more than 1,900 Ming colonists armed with muskets and equipped with a large number of artillery. This force is quite powerful in North America. As long as a stable stronghold can be established and cannons are installed at the port, Don’t be afraid of the Spaniards in the south!
soon.
The fleet found a good place.
Looking at the sea with the mountains behind, the mountains extend to the coastline like arms, making it a natural deep-water harbor.
The commanding point on the top of the mountain can overlook the surroundings. If a turret is built there, it can block the enemy's entry.
"right here!"
Zhou Jihai took a deep breath.
He ordered the boat to be put down and personally led a group of sailors to the coastline.
Then he planted the sun and moon flag in his hand on the ground.
Declare loudly: "This is the land of the Ming Dynasty!"
The sailors came up in small boats one after another, and when hundreds of people armed with muskets completed the landing, no trace of the enemy was found.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“What a great place!”
"What a fertile soil!"
"The port is excellent and the land is flat. It only needs a little cultivation to become fertile farmland!"
"North America is indeed a great place."
"What is this? Wild groundnut?"
Someone was surprised to find that wild flowers grew all over the ground around the port.
The sailors of the Ming Dynasty, who had been eating canned bacon and dry food for many days, couldn't help but gleam in their eyes.
There is a peanut plant growing above the sea level in Zhouji. The fresh peanuts are stained with the smell of the land, making people feel relaxed and happy.
Peel off the peanut shells to reveal fresh peanut kernels wrapped in red coating.
Put two peanuts in your mouth.
The aroma envelopes the entire mouth.
After nearly a month of suffering from dry food and bacon, the temptation of this fresh food was too great for the sailors.
Everyone took action and collected the peanuts around them.
"The stronghold is built here! This is a large and excellent port and the land is fertile, so it is suitable for a stronghold." Zhou Jihai looked at the peanuts in his hands and continued: "Let's call this place Peanut Village for the time being!"
Right now.
A voice came from the observation post.
"Someone! Someone! It's a canoe, fifteen degrees!"
Zhou Jihai was shocked. He looked through the telescope at the mouth of the river that extended inland from the port, and saw only two canoes approaching!
He couldn't help but breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
Not Spanish, not American.
They are local indigenous people.
Then there is nothing to be afraid of.
"Go and make contact with them. If they show hostility, eliminate them!"
Zhou Jihai said loudly.
(End of chapter)
