The Great Feng Ship that Xiao Chongye and Xie Jie took was expensive to build. At this time, the Ming Dynasty's national power did not build many ships, only ten ships.
The ship has seven decks in total, is 26 feet long, and weighs 6,500 pieces. It is about the same size as the Type 65 frigate of later generations. There are nine masts erected at the front and rear. The big mast is nine feet two feet long and seven feet five inches in circumference. The others are smaller and shorter. There is also the work of European craftsmen - a thick sprit protruding from the bow of the ship, with a triangular soft sail above it. The top sails are full of wind, providing ample power for this giant boat.
The new design also moved the nearly central berth of Zheng He's treasure ship to the bow and stern of the ship, making its center of gravity lower, where the imperial edict is now placed. At the same time, a platform was added to the rear of the ship that surrounds the entire stern, and a captain's cabin with eight exquisite windows and bright light was built - it was also a relaxing place for the imperial envoys Xiao Chongye and Xie Jie.
The waves on the ocean were undulating, but Xiao Chongye in the huge boat felt like a floating house and did not realize that it was a boat. Between the sea and the sky where he looked, there were often giant fish leaping up from the side of the ship, making shrill screams, as if calling for people to play with them.
Although Xiao Chongye often went to sea these years, he still admired this rare spectacle with greed. Captain Xie Sanmou saw that he was fascinated by the sight, so he smiled and said: "Old sir, after passing the Heishui ditch, if we go further south, we can see the giant kun - now called a whale."
Xiao Chongye was shocked when he heard this. Xie Jie, who was writing a report at his desk, also raised his head and said happily: "Oh! That's a good relationship, you can make a profit! The nursery rhymes in the capital all sung: 'The Duke of England, the Duke of Whales, without the Duke of Whales, I will die poor. The British Duke - It is said that the good life of the British Duke is supported by this big fish, and we can also make a fortune along the way."
Xie Sanmou laughed and said: "This can't be done. Even if we bring the whale cannon and kill the whales, we can't make any money. This big ship is where the edict is stored. How can we wash and skin the big fish and boil the oil?" ? Besides, boiling whale oil stinks to death, and you two can’t stand it.”
Xiao Chongye said with interest: "Captain Xie, whaling is a good business, why don't you make a living in this business?" Xie Sanmou heard this and his chest puffed up: "My ancestors were the ones who drove the big sealing ships. Although the whaling ships make more money, , but the ship is small, and the sailors are mostly brave and ruthless, and they often turn to pirates - how could I be willing to accept a lowly career?"
Xiao Chongye was speechless. Xie Jie said with a smile: "The old man doesn't know something. The ancestors of my family are great boatmen, and we should not go up and down. In the 13th year of Jiajing, when Chen Kan and Gao Cheng went to Ryukyu as envoys, they recruited Dunqi to sail the boat. Xie Dunqi boarded the ship. During the inspection, it was found that the bottom plate was not thick, the cabin was not ventilated, and the rudder stock could not be replaced, etc., etc., the first officer Gao Cheng accepted all of them and made corrections."
"After the ship was sealed, reinforced and renovated, Dun Qi and others sailed the boat out to sea. When they passed Gumi Mountain, they encountered a strong hurricane. Chen Kan and Gao Cheng did not use the 'Coffin of the Celestial Envoy'. It was thanks to Dun Qi's strength." [Note 1, 2 ]
Hearing Xie Jieyan talk about his grandfather's glorious deeds, Xie Sanmou's chest became higher and higher, and his face was full of pride. Xie Jie continued: "After Gao Cheng returned to China, he wrote the article "The Story of Boating". He praised Xie Dunqi for his "brave strength and extraordinary vision", and also said, "If the use is not to thank for the plan, the boat will disintegrate for a long time; if the use is not to thank for the plan, then the ship will disintegrate for a long time; if the use is not to thank for the plan, then the boat will be broken." There must be a lot of things in this generation; the hurricane force is invincible, so if you don't thank Xie for your plan...it will be overturned, and thank you for it if it is not a gift from heaven!'"
After saying that, Xie Jie laughed and said: "This is Xie Dunqi's most proud career in his life, Sanmou - did your grandfather get your name from Sanmou?" Xie Sanmou smiled and nodded in agreement.
Xiao Chongye was fascinated by what he heard and said with admiration: "As expected, our family has a long history, Xie Sanmou, this time our lives are also thanks to yours." "Xiao Chongye laughed with an open heart.
Xie Sanmou paused and then said: "My grandfather once said that the storms on the sea are unpredictable, and ships big and small are not enough to rely on. Only the power of the imperial court and the concubine can protect them. There is an imperial edict on the Dafeng ship. Who can have this on the ship?" The sacred object calms the sea? Therefore, the ancestors left a family motto that future generations are not allowed to cross the Diaoyu Island, unless they open ships. Now that the Holy Emperor is on the throne, all nations will come to court, and the hair of my Xie family will be indispensable in the future." After hearing this, Xiao Chongye touched his palm. laugh.
Xie Jie laughed twice and said to himself: "There is no edict on the ship at this time, but we can't tell Xie Sanmou - lest he go back."
The journey was calm and calm, the sealing ship was galloping faster and faster, and the escorting warships were not slow at all. After two days and nights, land was in sight. Xiao Chongye was concerned that the fast ship delivering the edict from the imperial court could not rendezvous with the sealing ship. He often looked at the way forward from the stern of the ship, and his lips were blistered.
Xie Jie was also worried about this section, but it was useless to worry at sea. He had to talk to Xiao Chongye about Luzon knowledge to distract him: "Sir Xiao, the Spanish island today is called Little Luzon, and Manila Bay is called Luzon Bay. After the fall of the Song Dynasty, many immigrants from the Southern Song Dynasty went to Nanyang. Lu Zili, the son of Lu Xiufu, led by Lu Zili, taught the natives the method of peeling rice with a stone mill. The natives were grateful for this and called this method "Lu Song". People of the Yuan Dynasty Therefore, this place was called Lu Song. Later, the Lu family's giant merchants controlled the trade between the mainland and Lu Song, and the maritime merchants also called it Lu Song - the imperial court finally used this name."
Xiao Chongye's eyes turned red when he heard this. He turned to look at the giant sail filled with sea wind, turned around and sighed, patting the wooden wall on the side of the ship and saying: "I didn't expect the Lu family to be so loyal - I am familiar with the history of the Yuan Dynasty, but I don't know this paragraph. "
Xie Jie said proudly: "If you want to destroy your country, you must first destroy its history; if you want to take its land, you must first study the history - we don't know about Shandong, but outside the mainland, the Military Intelligence Bureau has not been idle these years. "
Xiao Chongye couldn't help but shudder when he heard his words, "If you want to destroy your country, you must first destroy its history." Hear Xie Jie say again: "When the Sanbao Eunuch went to the West during the Yongle period, Little Luzon was the largest supply station. In order to facilitate supplies, the Sanbao Eunuch was ordered to consecrate Xu Chailao, a Fujianese, as the governor of Luzon, and also conferred the title of small country in Nanyang Dozens of them, half of whom are descendants of the Fujian people and half of whom are natives - although there are too many to be tested today, Sulu, Balni, etc. are still there, and they continue to pay tribute to this day."
Xiao Chongye asked curiously: "The leaders of these two countries are also descendants of the Fujian people?" Xie Jie shook his head and sighed: "These two countries have established writing and written history, and they are not the place where our ancestors lived. But..."
"As long as they are cleaned like Myanmar, the title of Lu Song is enough. However, if they can follow the righteousness and naturalize in the inner region, it is not impossible to keep their descendants in the future. If not, when the court thunders, hum. snort."
After hearing these inhuman words, Mr. Xiao Chongye, who was not seasick at all, covered his mouth with his sleeve, turned his head and vomited all the contents in his belly into the sea.
.......
When the sealing fleet entered Luzon Bay, the clipper carrying the imperial edict to confer King Sulu did not catch up. Xiao Chongye and Xie Jie had no choice but to bite the bullet and go straight to Manila City, preparing to wait here for two days. Little did they know that when the fleet entered the Luzon Bay in a mighty manner, the entire Manila was already like a hornet's nest, and the Philippine Governor's Palace was in chaos.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Sorry, I'm really tired from family and business affairs. Completely Buddhist...
Note 1: (Ming Dynasty) Chen Kan: "Records of Missions" in "Shi Liuqiu Lu", "Three Kinds of Shi Liuqiu Lu", page 7: During the Hongwu and Yongle periods, those who went to Ryukyu and other countries as envoys were given to Shizhong, There is one person for each pedestrian, wearing jade belts and python robes, which are of the highest quality. Preliminarily, two huge boats were built near the sea. There are several cabins in the middle for storing various utensils. There are also two coffins hidden in the coffin. The coffin is engraved with the words "Coffin of the Envoy of the Heavenly Dynasty" and several silver medals are nailed to it. If there is a bad storm, and you know it is inevitable, ask the envoy to lie on his back in it, tie it with iron nails, and let the boat capsize and let it drift. When the common people see it, they will take the silver and abandon the coffin on the cliff, and wait for the envoy later. Because he will return home.
7017k
