Deep in the Pacific Ocean.
The sea is like hell, surging with Chun Mo's minions, trying to pull the heaving ships on the sea to the bottom of the sea.
Zheng He looked up and saw that the sky had been sealed by rain, and only the lightning that spread from time to time tore open the gaps and cast light. The whole sea was surging, and the whining wind kept making ghosts cry and howl.
Even though he had experienced countless sea areas, Zheng He still looked solemn when facing this scene.
Mao Zhoutai took the helm, stared at the sky in front of him, and shouted in a hoarse voice: "Brothers, this is not hell. Look up, the sun and moon flags are still there, and we are still there! There is no sea that Daming Navy cannot cross!" Cheer up, everyone!"
In five months, Mao Zhoutai has completely transformed from a Confucian scholar. Not to mention his unshaven beard, his former elegance has disappeared, and he has become a dignified deputy captain.
Zheng He was right.
Mao Zhoutai is indeed a genius captain. As early as one night a month ago, he used accurate judgment and decisive orders to lead the fleet through the sudden storm crisis, allowing the entire fleet to ride the storm. The outer edge leaves. And just an hour after the evacuation, the storm swept through that area.
Without Mao Zhoutai's order, if the fleet was delayed for a while, the consequences would be disastrous. Some geniuses just put him in the right position, and he can burst out with dazzling light and display unparalleled talents and abilities.
Facing the sudden rise of Mao Zhoutai, Shen Wei, Yuan Yichen, Wan Qinglin and others seemed to see Luo Guanying back then, just as young and energetic, as decisive and wise, as brave as the wind and waves and daring to lead the trend!
In addition to Mao Zhoutai, a number of talents such as Yu Bing, Zhuo Xiangdong, Huyan Taiping, and Tang Zhenhai also emerged from the Imperial Academy of Navigation. Talents such as Chai Datian, Lu Zhanggong, and Lu Lu also appeared in the naval fleet. The emergence of these talents is tempered by crisis after crisis, and they emerge from facing storm after storm.
Facts have proved that none of the men in the Navigation Institute is a coward. Now that everyone is on the boat, no one has flinched.
The point is, there is no place to retreat.
Once you get on a ship, you will inevitably live and die with the ship. The ship is destroyed, everyone has to finish playing and go away...
The fish soldier put down his telescope and shouted to Wan Qinglin: "There is no way out."
Wan Qinglin raised his head and saw big raindrops falling down. He chuckled: "Damn, it rains all night long when the house leaks. Tell brothers to hold on tight and wait for the opportunity!"
The fish soldier shouted at the top of his lungs.
Wan Qinglin was not panicked. The fleet had never experienced any kind of danger.
It's not just big waves, heavy rain, or it's not being able to see the stars and being unable to tell the direction. Fortunately, Simon still works and is not completely disoriented.
Just need to wait for the opportunity now.
Whether to bypass the road ahead or break in requires the decision of the Zheng He.
No one knows what is ahead, and no one knows what is on the left and right, but this decision is related to the life and death of the fleet!
At this moment, everyone was staring at the Zheng He in front.
Mao Zhoutai hurriedly entered the helm building and shouted to the people discussing the course: "Go northeast!"
"Why, there is the source of the storm ahead, and it is the most dangerous place! Once you break in, the treasure ship may not be able to withstand the storm."
Sun Xu from Qintian Prison asked back.
Sun Xu is an old man who sailed on long voyages. He was the main person who helped the Zheng He sail across the ocean. He was responsible for providing weather, direction, and pointing out the correct sea route in the helm building.
Zheng He looked at Mao Zhoutai: "Tell me your reasons."
Mao Zhoutai pointed to the front and said seriously: "Although we feel that the wind and waves are not small now, we are actually still on the periphery of the storm. Carefully observe the clouds in the southeast and the clouds in the northeast. The clouds in the southeast change quickly, and the light and dark They are constantly alternating, and although the clouds in the northeast are also like this, they are obviously relatively weak."
"Judging from navigation experience, changes in clouds are most likely related to wind and rain, and the southeast direction should be the most dangerous place. And if we change our course and head northeast instead of due east, it is equivalent to heading towards the outer edge of the storm. I believe, As long as you head northeast for half an hour, you can escape the storm area!"
Sun Xu quickly picked up the telescope and observed. He was too focused on the sea conditions, wind and rain, and did not observe the details of the clouds.
Zheng He put down the telescope and looked at Sun Xu and others: "How?"
Everyone said in unison: "You can give it a try."
Zheng He nodded slightly and ordered: "Follow the vice-captain's instructions, send the signal and move toward the northeast!"
Zheng He, on the watchtower, the sergeant held a large oil lamp with a glass cover and used a curtain to continuously block the signal. The gong was also beaten, two urgent and two slow.
Chai Datian walked towards Shen Wei and shouted: "Receive the Zhenghe signal, head northeast!"
Shen Wei looked at the northeast direction and gave the order: "Turn to the northeast!"
"Turn to the northeast!"
Chai Datian shouted.
The rudder turned, and the treasure ship and the great fortune ship adjusted their direction.
In the uncertain waters and in the violent storm, the fleet surprisingly maintained its formation and headed in one direction.
Steam engines gave fleets speed and maneuverability.
In less than half an hour, the wind gradually weakened, and we finally saw the blue sky in the distance. Half an hour later, the fleet finally left the storm area and arrived in relatively calm waters.
"Check the fleet!"
Zheng He issued the order.
It was not until the news came back that all fifteen treasure ships and fifteen great fortune ships were safe did Zheng He feel at ease. However, the turbulence caused by the storm still caused more than 500 sergeants to suffer varying degrees of injuries.
Taking advantage of the sunny weather, Zheng He summoned all the captains to discuss the next move.
Zheng He took out the nautical chart and looked at everyone seriously: "After we separated from Zhu Neng, Luo Guanying, and King Yan's fleet on Bago Island, we went all the way east, passing an island on the way, rested, and then entered In this Pacific Ocean. We have been sailing in this sea for forty-six days."
"Based on the sailing direction, sailing speed, charts, Qintianjian's judgment, etc., we are probably currently between 3,000 and 5,000 miles away from South America. If nothing goes wrong, we can see the mainland within ten days , even if there are some deviations, it will not exceed twenty days. You must be careful on this last journey."
Shen Wei, Yuan Yichen, Wan Qinglin and others were very excited.
Compared with the first voyage from Africa to South America through the sea, this voyage is much faster. The fleet left Jinling on September 26, the twelfth year of Jianwen. Counting the date now, it should be the end of February, the thirteenth year of Jianwen, not even March. This is inseparable from the help of steam engines, the accumulation of long-distance voyage experience, and the development of navigation technology over the years.
Zheng He changed the topic: "Initially, we planned to go to North America first and start searching for the Wuyi Fleet as soon as possible. But along the way, I decided that we need to land in South America first."
Wan Qinglin was a little confused and asked quickly: "According to the court's speculation and ocean current analysis, the manpower of Wuyi's fleet should be located in North America, right? Why do we have to go to South America first instead of going directly north along the coastline?"
Shen Wei thought for a while and said: "If the people in the Wuyi fleet are still there, they will be extremely weak after such a long time. If we go north early, it will give them more hope."
Zheng He looked at Mao Zhoutai. Mao Zhoutai came out and said seriously: "What you said is not unreasonable. It is indeed more likely to find traces of the Wuyi fleet directly going north. However, starting from the first landing in South America , now nearly five years have passed. During such a long period of time, if the Wuyi fleet is really still there, then they may have known through maps and mountains and rivers that they landed not in South America but in North America. If they divided their forces, If we send people south, we will probably find traces of them in South America."
Yuan Yichen nodded and agreed with Mao Zhoutai's view: "Although this possibility is very small, we cannot give up. Especially since the current sailing direction is directly to South America, we should take advantage of the situation to land there and conduct a two to three-month voyage. Search. We can also use the indigenous people of South America. If they still remember us, let them search and pay attention."
Zheng He looked at Shen Wei, Wan Qinglin and others: "It is estimated that the fleets of Zhu Neng, Luo Guanying and King Yan may have just arrived from Africa at this time.
After sailing from the west coast, it will take them longer to reach North America than us. With the subsequent landing and rest, we have at least two months to search here in South America. If there is no result, we will go north to land in North America. "
Shen Wei thought for a while and finally nodded: "That's good. There are still many missing soldiers in South America. It would be a blessing to find them."
Zheng He's eyes looked a little sad.
The disappearance of a few people in the primitive jungle is often directly equivalent to death. Because the Wuyi fleet has more people, if they can unite and not be too scattered and take risks, there is still hope of survival.
"Then it's decided, land in South America!"
Zheng He ordered firmly.
Everyone agreed in unison.
Soon after, the steam engine roared again.
Zheng He stood on the deck and looked at the faces of many young sergeants with smiles on his lips.
The older generation has completed its mission and is getting older.
The new generation is taking over the mission and growing rapidly.
This is not only the transition between the old and new fleets, but also the Ming Dynasty.
Before Beijing Baihua was ruined in March, Zhu Yunwen received obituary documents one after another.
Zhang Yan, who had served as the chief envoy in Jiaozhi for many years, passed away. This civil servant who once pacified Yunnan and Jiaozhi and worked hard for the peace of the land is gone.
The Ministry of Rites had not yet thought of a posthumous title for Zhang Yan. Qi Taiyin accidentally fell into the water while checking the Yellow River. He was dead when he found him. The people of Kaifeng Prefecture mourned him, and the whole Henan Province was filled with sadness.
He Fu did not enjoy his old age peacefully in Jinling. He left the Ming Dynasty while suffering from illness. Before his death, he was full of regrets and left a sentence: "The prosperous age is coming, and I am about to die, which will envy those who come after me!"
Suddenly, the civil servants and generals of the Hongwu period began to wither, and the newly grown officials began to come to the forefront...
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