Two treasure ships and two big fortune ships, totaling 2,800 soldiers.
Luo Guanying ordered Su An and Wang Zhen to take 300 men each to conduct another survey. This time they went fifteen miles deep before withdrawing.
Su An brought some strange little animals and some plants that he had never seen before, but they were not on Zhu Yunwen's sketches.
Wang Zhen investigated carefully and found that the surrounding area was very pristine, with no trace of human beings at all. The further inside, the denser the forest became, and the forest here grew very fast. When he walked past the one-foot-tall sapling, when he came back, He actually grew an inch!
"Are you sure that this is the continent of South America?"
Luo Guanying wanted to make sure of this.
Zhao Shiyu, Ma Huan, Liang Dafang and others were speechless. This judgment is extremely critical. If the judgment is wrong and everyone comes to the North American continent instead of the South American continent, or other places, then the next action may be Fruitless.
If you can't find those crops, you haven't completed your mission!
It concerns the country, the country, and countless people. It is necessary to determine whether this is the South American continent!
Liu An suggested: "To determine whether it is the continent of South America, we only need to determine whether the river next to it is the Amazon River. The emperor mentioned that the Amazon River is different from other rivers. Although it is the largest river in the world, the river bed is deep and It is wide and flat, and the flow speed is very slow, and these characteristics are consistent. If you want to be more sure, the best way is to go south and see if there is a wide bay in the south of the river mouth. "
Zhao Shiyu picked up the map, pointed at it and said, "Marajo Bay?"
"That's right."
Liu An nodded seriously.
Liang Dafang looked at the map and said: "Actually, we all know that the only river that can dilute the sea is the Amazon River. What needs to be done now is just to be more sure. I suggest that the captain immediately sends someone to check according to the map. .”
Luo Guanying nodded.
Liang Dafang is right. He also knows that this is probably the northern part of the Amazon River. But the problem is, if he is not completely sure, who dares to send signals to other fleets. If he is wrong, it will affect the entire fleet plan. event.
Luo Guanying saw that it was already afternoon, and it would be easy to reach the evening when he went south to explore. He didn't know what dangers there were here, and it was not advisable to disperse for too long, so he said: "Let us use this place as our base camp and arrange for the sergeants to cut wood, build camps, and set up tents." Bar."
"good!"
No one objected. They couldn't rest even if they wanted to. Everyone was so excited.
These people are all sergeants. Even though they are navy soldiers, they have done a lot of setting up camps in the past. With their high energy, a small camp has been set up before dark. It is surrounded by sharp horses and soldiers inside. account.
Nothing happened overnight, and in the next three days, Luo Guanying ordered Liu An to take Wang Zhen south to explore the existence of Marajó Bay. He led the navy upstream and went directly into the Amazon River for twenty miles, looking at the primitive forest, tall and tall. There were towering trees and we also saw huge bats. Fortunately, no accidents happened.
After surveying the coastline, surveying the Amazon River, and comparing the map of South America provided by Zhu Yunwen, Luo Guanying, Zhao Shiyu and others determined that this is the Amazon River and the South American continent!
Luo Guanying made a prompt decision and ordered his sergeants to light the trees that had been cut down a few days ago. Then, a heavy rain suddenly came down and the fire went out...
When the heavy rain stopped, Luo Guanying was speechless and had to order the sergeant to fetch dry firewood from the boat, then light a fire and add more firewood little by little. However, before the fire started, the heavy rain came again...
After several times, Zhao Shiyu thought this was a warning from God and told Luo Guanying that no fires were allowed here.
Luo Guanying didn't believe this evil, so he took out the only 100 kilograms of oil on the ship. This was specially approved by Zhu Yunwen for the navy fleet. He said that there was a lot of rain in South America and ordinary torches may not be effective, so he approved some oil production. Torch.
The torch contains pine oil, so don't worry, it depends on the oil for ignition.
This time, the fire finally started to burn. As huge logs were thrown directly into the fire, the fire grew bigger and bigger, and the smoke pillars shot straight into the sky.
This is the signal agreed upon by the Ming Navy!
On the vast sea, fleets hundreds or thousands of miles away cannot see the mainland at all, but they can definitely see the smoke column, and see the smoke column flying hundreds of miles into the sky!
The smoke column represents fire!
And fire represents the Ming Dynasty!
Luo Guanying was afraid that the fire was not strong enough and the smoke column was not high enough, so he not only ordered people to add more firewood and throw trees directly in, but also ordered people to pour some water to make the smoke column higher and stronger.
The smoke plume from the fire can be swept into the sky for tens or even hundreds of miles!
Wang Jinghong sailed with the fleet, but the great fortune ship was gone, leaving only two treasure ships. One great fortune ship capsized due to wind and waves, and the other great fortune ship was lost with the large army, and no one knows where they are.
But Wang Jinghong did not give up sailing, nor did he waver at all.
Lieutenant-general Xue Jie looked at Wang Jinghong. He initially looked down on the eunuch who had been stabbed, but Zheng He thought highly of this man and directly made him the captain of the treasure ship.
But Wang Jinghong used his solid navigation skills to tell himself and other sergeants that he was an excellent navigator.
Wang Jinghong is very organized and thoughtful in his work. He will never arrange for six sergeants to solve the problem that five sergeants can solve. Moreover, he seems to know the preferences, tastes, residence registrations of all the sergeants on the ship, how many children they have at home, etc. He is always able to say caring words to others inadvertently.
This is a very attentive captain. He has won the respect of everyone with his ability, thoughtfulness and care.
Wang Jinghong looked at the vast sea in front of him, and suddenly discovered something. Just as he was about to speak, a voice came from the watchtower: "I saw a smoke column, southwest!"
Pillow of smoke? !
Wang Jinghong was shocked. He was about to pick up the telescope, but then he put it down again. Oh my god, it was really a plume of smoke. It connected directly to the sky. No matter what telescope you use, you can see it with the naked eye!
"Someone must have arrived on the South American continent and is sending us signals and orders to move forward with all our strength in the direction of the smoke column!"
Wang Jinghong didn’t know who arrived at the South American continent first, but he was certain that such a large smoke column, whether it was the Ming Navy or not, meant that there was a continent there!
It is impossible for such a huge smoke column to rise on the sea. Even if the entire treasure ship is set alight, there may not be such a huge smoke column.
mainland!
There must be a continent there!
It was not only Wang Jinghong who saw the plume of smoke, but also Zhang Yu, the naval commander who left the Sargasso Sea and headed south. Zhang Yu was a little bit thumping his chest. As the first fleet to set sail, he did not become the first person to discover the South American continent because of its deviation. !
The smoke column continued to burn, and even with heavy rain, it was not completely extinguished. Instead, the fire grew bigger and bigger. Later, Luo Guanying simply cleared a small area of forest, opened up a safe area, and set it on fire.
The height of the smoke column of a forest fire is much higher than that of burning wood. With the burning of trees, trunks, and leaves, the smoke column can even reach hundreds of miles!
When the Ming Dynasty came to South America, it didn't bring civilization yet, but it lit a few fires first...
In order to send a message to the Ming Navy, Luo Guanying even ordered his sergeants to temporarily build a wooden boat. The boat was very large and did not matter whether it was strong or not. It only required loading more wood, then lighting it and pushing it into the sea, so that the boat could enter the seaport and head west. , hoping the ship's plume of smoke would attract others.
Zheng He's fleet, which was six hundred miles away from the South American continent, also saw a huge plume of smoke rising into the sky. Although it was not very clear, it was enough for Zheng He to judge:
The Ming Navy has arrived on the South American continent!
Zheng He immediately ordered: "Go forward with all your strength!"
Fleets of naval fleets began to assemble towards the Amazon River Basin in South America. While the navy was gathering, the Western Expedition Army led by Zhu Di had passed through Chuzhou and arrived at Jiangpu Ferry north of the Yangtze River.
In order to welcome the return of Zhu Di, Xu Huizu and other heroes, Zhu Yunwen ordered Mei Yin, who was closed to himself and thinking about his past, to represent himself, together with Li Jian, Tie Xuan, and cabinet minister Xie Jin, to the bank of the Yangtze River to greet them and discuss matters about entering the city.
Mei Yin took out Zhu Yunwen's imperial edict, and Zhu Di, Xu Huizu, Yang Rong, Liu Jun and others saluted.
The content of the imperial edict is very brief. It does not involve substantive rewards or exaggerated rhetoric, just two ordinary sentences: "The Western Expedition is a great victory. You are all heroes. I will wait for you to enter the city so that our monarchs and ministers will not return drunk." !”
Zhu Di, Xu Huizu, Yang Rong and others were very excited.
Although Zhu Yunwen didn't say anything, you could feel that he was very happy and satisfied with the results of the Western Expedition.
Mei Yin looked at Zhu Di and others and said with a smile: "The emperor is looking forward to your return. He has been looking forward to it for a long time. He asks you where you are every day. It's fine now. In a few days, you can enter the city."
Zhu Di, Xu Huizu and others also knew that the army had arrived at Jiangpu Ferry. With nearly 100,000 Beijing troops plus a large number of prisoners, it would not take a day or two to cross the Yangtze River.
What's more, there was no trace of the treasure ship at the ferry. But Zhu Di was certain that the treasure ship was either upstream or downstream of Jiangpu, and would never be near the capital.
With an army of hundreds of thousands, it was impossible for Zhu Yunwen to be without vigilance and vigilance.
Now those participating in ferrying sergeants are all big boats, and they don't even have cannons, which already speaks volumes. Moreover, after Mei Yin and Tie Xuan finished talking to themselves, they immediately went to the Grand Governor and ordered the Grand Governor to publicize that coming to the capital to receive rewards would have a bright future, reunite the family with titles and rewards, and honor the ancestors. These actions were all taken by Zhu Di. It was clear, but they didn't say anything. They were trying to stabilize the morale of the army and avoid riots or rebellions in the Beijing army.
However, these actions of the Ministry of War and the Governor's Office of the Fifth Army were unnecessary. In order to taint himself, Zhu Di even killed King Totuo of Hami. Along the way, he did not handle military affairs and gave full power to Xu Huizu, Yang Rong, and Liu Jun. Waiting for others to deal with it is to prove that he has no objection.
Besides, Suo Jing and other scouts, Xue Xia and other people from the Security Bureau were all mixed up in the military camp. They would take care of troop movements and general meetings. Even Zhu Di chatting with his son Zhu Gaoxu was spied on. Well, in this situation, it is really difficult to do something.
Now the sergeants are eager to return to the capital to receive their rewards and reunite with their families. Who is in the mood to "rebellion" and kill their whole family?
Mei Yin walked up to Zhu Di with a smile and explained: "Don't blame the emperor for these things. It's what we ministers have to do. You don't know yet, but the emperor has ordered Zhu Gaochi to enter the household department and serve as the household minister. The department is in charge."
"What?"
Zhu Di really didn't know. In order to avoid suspicion along the way, Zhu Di didn't read any other documents in the capital except Zhu Yunzhen's documents. He didn't even allow anyone to report them. Zhu Gaochi's letter was naturally blocked.
My fat son actually became an official?
What is this operation?
Zhu Di vaguely felt that Zhu Yunqi might not be able to reward him. After all, the feudal king himself had come to an end, and there was no way to reward him. The best thing he could do was to imitate Lao Zhu, praise him, reward him with a meal, and then, what, go home. Go to sleep……
