Xue Lu and Zhang Fu were looking at the mountains, while Zheng He was looking at the sea.
Jiugang Xuanwei Department.
The Ming Dynasty navy fleet and merchant fleet stayed in the port of the old port. The Ming Dynasty flag fluttered in the wind and made a hunting sound.
Xuanwei made Shi Jinqing very happy, especially when he heard that Liang Daoming was named the King of Nanyang and was in good health. Regarding Zheng He's question of garrisoning, Shi Jinqing did not hesitate at all, and immediately opened a piece of land, which was close to Xuanyang. Weisi's location is only twelve miles away, so the distance is just right.
The old port guards of the Ming Dynasty were stationed in the Xuanwei Division of the old port, which marked that the Ming Dynasty truly controlled this overseas enclave, not a flower in the water, not a nominal occupation.
Du Yu and the sergeants of the old port guard were setting up camp. The merchants' eyes turned red when they looked at Du Yu, and they wanted to beat him up. I have seen something luxurious, but I have never seen something so luxurious. The best sandalwood lasts at least three hundred years. Are you using it as a stake?
There was nothing Du Yu could do about this. Wood was always needed to set up camp, and there was no need to apply for a license to cut wood here. He could just cut it and pull it over and use it. If he wanted to find an ordinary piece of wood, he would have to have some talent...
Unfortunately, there are mostly high-quality ancient trees within more than ten miles of the camp.
The merchants were out of sight, and after arriving at the old port, they began to move around. Although the population of Nanyang is not large, there are many countries and a lot of good things. If you just find an island, you can get countless good things. If it weren't for Daming Water The division does not allow overloading. It is estimated that this group of people can return to Ming Dynasty before reaching Jiugang.
Zheng He didn't care about the merchants' problems. His deputy Li Xing was responsible for sending people to follow him into the Majapahit Kingdom and the Balni Kingdom. Zheng He faced a huge problem.
Zheng He, Zhang Yu, Zhu Neng, Shi Jinqing, Zheng Bo, Zheng Junli and others pointed at the sea chart and studied it continuously.
When Shi Jinqing heard that Zheng He planned to continue sailing westward to the farthest places in the sky, he said solemnly: "Further to the west, there are Sumatra and Managara. From Manlajia to the north of the strait, it is Guli. And from Guli, go further The west is the sea area that we don't know about. Many years ago, I heard that people from Tianfang came to the old port, but in the past five or six years, I have not seen the red-haired people. I am afraid that the sea area is not calm. "
The chart Zheng He took out was an incomplete one. As for the complete chart given to him by Zhu Yunwen, it had long been destroyed. In Zheng He's opinion, that chart was too precious to allow more people to know about it.
Of course, every detail of that chart was remembered by Zheng He and he could draw it at will.
It's just that the names of some sea areas and places on that chart are a bit strange.
In any case, charts and routes are no longer obstacles to continued sailing. The biggest obstacle is the lack of relay points. A long voyage requires a large amount of fresh water, food, materials and other reserves. If the old port is only used as a relay port, then the voyage will pass through There are not many reserves after crossing the "Bay of Bengal". After crossing the sea of Ceylon and arriving at Guri, we must stop to prepare fresh water and food.
It is difficult to say what the situation is in Guli and whether the Ming Dynasty Navy will be allowed to dock. According to Zhu Yunwen's instructions, the Navy will not fight as long as it is possible to avoid fighting during the Nanyang voyage, so as not to make the entire Nanyang countries fear the Ming Dynasty.
Zheng Bo pointed to the location of Manlajia on the chart and said: "It is necessary to set up a transit port, place warehouses, and store materials for long voyages. In addition to the old port, a warehouse can also be set up in Manlajia."
"Malajia?"
Zheng He stared at the sea chart and fell into deep thought.
Although the Xuanwei Division of Jiugang also guarded the Strait of Malacca, it only guarded the southeastern end. It was Manlajia who really guarded the northwest end of the Strait of Malacca.
It still takes six or seven days to sail from the old port to the northwestern part of Malaga. But from there as a starting point, sailing through Ceylon and reaching Guri, there should be a lot of fresh water reserves left. Even if the voyage loses its course, it will still be lost. Can ensure safety.
But, will Manlajia agree?
Zheng He raised a question, and Zheng Bo confidently said: "If the Ming navy helps Manla, they will definitely agree."
"Help, what do you say?"
Zhang Yu asked.
Shi Jinqing explained: "Manglajia was originally a subordinate state of Siam. Siam requires Manchuria to pay forty taels of gold every year. If the payment is insufficient, it will send troops to conquer..."
The corner of Zhu Neng's mouth felt a bit awkward. Forty taels of gold, isn't this price a bit too shabby? However, considering that Manlajia was still a small place back then, it would probably not be easy to dig out forty taels of gold...
Shi Jinqing sighed: "The small country of Manchuria has a small population and cannot bear to pay tribute every year, so it refused to pay tribute to Siam last year. Siam sent troops to conquer and was defeated. However, Siam's strength was left there, and now it is reorganizing its troops. Prepare to destroy Manlajia. I heard that Manlajia sent envoys to the Ming Dynasty this year to ask for the title, and is willing to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty in order to seek asylum."
Zheng He didn't know whether Managa's envoys went to the capital or not, and he didn't encounter them along the way. However, Siam should not bully the weak. It was the justice of the Ming Dynasty to eliminate violence and bring justice to the good.
Things need to be taken care of.
After Zheng He inquired clearly, he ordered the naval fleet to prepare to sail to Manchuria. Because the distance was not very far, and because they were only discussing the establishment of a transit port and warehouse, Zheng He only brought one treasure ship and five Dafu ships.
Although the expected location of the warehouse and port was in the northwest of Manchuria, Johor, the capital of Manchuria, was in the southwest, only three or four days' sail from the old port.
Zheng He arrived with his people and sent envoys to inform the King of Manlajia. The King of Manlajia heard that the Ming Dynasty fleet had arrived, and personally led his ministers, dressed in gorgeous attire, and a guard of honor to greet Zheng He's fleet at the port.
Zheng He disembarked and read out a declaration. Of course, it was just polite words and not the emperor's credentials. Zheng He also had no credentials. Then he presented a batch of gifts to the King of Manlajia.
The King of Manlajia thanked Zheng He for coming ashore and treated him warmly after landing. Zheng He promised the King of Manlajia and sent a message to Siam, asking Siam to withdraw its troops and stop invading Manlajia. The King of Manlajia was grateful and immediately He just said something like asking his brothers if anything happened, and Zheng He naturally proposed setting up a warehouse to store goods.
The King of Malaka agreed without hesitation. As long as he took a look at the huge ships parked outside the port, no one would refuse this request. After all, they were giving face, not directly grabbing the land to set up warehouses, but asking. If they didn't agree, they would still come back. Change place.
Zheng He was very satisfied with the attitude of King Manlajia. King Manlajia thought that since the Ming Dynasty was willing to help him, he should do his best. He did not want the small drawings sent by Zheng He, and turned around and ordered people to build a larger one. Let’s enlarge the warehouse four times.
It has to be said that the King of Manlajia is very down-to-earth. This warehouse can be said to be the largest warehouse on Zheng He's voyage. No, it is not an exaggeration to say it is a city, because this warehouse is also divided into an inner city and an outer city. There are also four gates...
In the warehouse, a large amount of food, money, gifts to various countries, trading materials, etc. will be stored.
After staying in Manlajia for a few days, Zheng He could no longer wait any longer. If he did not leave before the end of February, he would not be able to successfully reach Guli. Once April arrives, the sea wind and ocean currents will change, and it will be difficult to continue westward. There are many difficulties and it is difficult to move forward.
On February 15, Zheng He returned to the old port, leaving behind a treasure ship, preparing to escort the caravan back to the Ming Dynasty in May. The navy fleet will lead the main force to continue westward, with the destination being Guli.
After arriving in Guli, Zheng He will rest again until autumn comes and the ocean currents and sea breezes change, so that he can go to the heavenly place of his dreams. If we continue on this road, it will be difficult to return to Daming in less than two years.
These are the most critical two years. Zheng He looked at the ocean with resolute eyes. Zhu Yunwen wanted a large number of captains, and the future mission was even more difficult. If he could not pass this trial, the Ming Navy would not be able to provoke more important tasks. burden!
On February 20th, the Ming Dynasty Navy was fully prepared, sailed northwest, exited the Strait of Malacca, and sailed in the waters of the "Bay of Bengal" (the name at the time was not found...).
The wind rises and the waves surge.
On a big fortune ship, Luo Guanying, naked to the waist and barefoot, shouted at the top of her lungs: "Left full rudder!"
The helmsman quickly maneuvered.
The waves hit the hull of the ship, and the waves covered Luo Guanying. Then they broke on the deck and flowed into the sea along the openings on the edge of the deck.
"Steady, half sail!"
Luo Guanying grabbed the cable with one hand and shouted sharply.
The strong wind blew and the ship shook violently. Many sergeants staggered here and there. One sergeant slipped and fell straight into the sea when the ship tilted. He looked desperately at the gloomy sky.
puff!
A hand suddenly grabbed the sergeant's wrist, and a burst of curses penetrated his ears: "I told you, tie up your waist rope when the wind blows. Where is your mother's rope?"
Luo Guanying felt that his waist was about to be broken. Fortunately, the ship was stable and the sergeant on the ship helped pull the two people aboard.
"You're taking too many risks!"
Shen Wei came over and scolded Luo Guanying sharply.
Luo Guanying chuckled and said: "Isn't this still alive? What are you yelling about? Go and control the rudder of your ship!"
Shen Wei had a sullen face, and after tying the waist rope of the rescued sergeant, he took a rope and beat the sergeant, shouting: "Disobey the military order and get yourself killed, that's all. Other brothers, can you feel at ease if your mother dies?"
The sergeant endured the pain and did not cry out.
Luo Guanying didn't say anything to the sergeant. If he made a mistake, he should be punished. This time he was lucky enough to save himself. If he was not in this position, he would fall into the sea. With the current sea conditions, he would definitely die if he fell in!
Shen Wei pointed at Luo Guanying and said: "If you take personal risks and violate ship regulations, you will be rewarded with ten lashes!"
Luo Guanying turned his back, revealing his strong back, with some vague scars. Shen Wei was responsible for the ship's rules and regulations. He was also the helmsman of the Dafu ship. He knew that rules were greater than the sky. Although he felt sorry for the captain Luo Guanying, he The rules are the rules, and those who deserve to be beaten will be given a whip.
The waves are rolling here, and the whips on the ships are waving, intertwining into a devilish picture of the sea.
Luo Guanying was already strong and a beating was nothing. After receiving the reward, he continued to command the sergeants on the ship as if nothing had happened: "Follow the light of the treasure ship!"
The treasure ship was like an island, and the surging waves only caused it to sway slightly. Even so, Zheng He still stood at his position and commanded the treasure ship to move forward slowly with one and a half sails.
On another Dafu ship, Zhao Shiyu and Yuan Yichen served as captain and helmsman respectively, fighting against the wind and waves.
He was originally a scholar from the Imperial College, but after entering the Navy for more than half a year, he has already become a qualified captain. His originally fair skin has disappeared and turned into a dark complexion. He no longer has any image of a scholar, only a rough man with an unshaven beard!
But the few of them did not feel any regrets. Instead, they saw one country after another in the waves and sailing, saw mysterious and unknown creatures and plants, and learned some simple idioms.
There is more to the world than the Ming Dynasty, and they want to see how big the world is.
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