Chapter 25 Chapter 131 The Armada

bang bang bang! Sparks splashed everywhere, and the rivets were firmly embedded in the hull. The craftsmen stroked the hot tail of the rivets with their calloused hands, smiling joyfully. Two meters long and seven kilograms in weight, this is a rivet, like a spear, and such huge rivets are used everywhere on this ship. This is a treasure ship with nine masts, a terrifying giant Hegemony, as huge as a city. On the shore, there was a sound, and dozens of buffaloes on both sides of the giant ship mooed. Driven by the whip, they walked forward with slow and powerful steps, and the thick ropes around them creaked. With the sound of the sound, the huge winch placed on the deck started to rotate, and on the tall frame made of giant wood, the oiled zipline moved inch by inch, hoisting a huge boulder.

The boulder weighed ten tons. With the concerted efforts of countless sailors on board, the boulder was placed smoothly on the flat bilge. There were already two identical boulders lying quietly on the bilge, and the hatch closed with a bang. . This is just one airtight cabin. There are 18 airtight cabins in the entire giant ship, and three ballast boulders each weighing ten tons are placed in each airtight cabin. The ballast stones alone of the entire giant ship weigh 540 tons. At this time, the fleet in the world second only to Ming Dynasty in terms of naval strength was the Tunisian fleet. Their largest ship had a carrying capacity of only 50 tons, and its carrying capacity was only equivalent to one-tenth of the weight of the ballast stones of the Ming Dynasty's treasure ship.

At the stern, a huge monster similar to the blades of a wind turbine protrudes quietly into the water. Its length is as high as eleven meters. Just this rudder is the entire length of Columbus's flagship Nina. In the port, there are countless large and small ships moored quietly. Between the gaps between the ships and the small boats returning to the shore, they are like hardworking workers, transporting various ocean-going necessities to the supply ship. A large number of vegetables are mostly made into pickled vegetables, dried vegetables, and vegetables suitable for long-term storage. In the potted plants filled with soil, fresh and juicy vegetables grow

The granary on the supply ship has been filled with soybeans, flour, sugar, salt, various seasonings, millet and rice.Soybean is the most important kind of food. It can not only be eaten directly, but also bean sprouts can be used to ensure that the crew will not suffer from sepsis during the voyage. Of course, it is not only bean sprouts that are used to prevent sepsis, but also a large number of specially treated fruits such as limes, lemons, oranges, grapefruits that can be stored for a long time. Candied fruit was made. The food also includes unhulled rice, because the nutrients contained in the hulled rice can prevent athlete's foot. Daming has not yet invented such medical techniques, and can understand the principle of these foods to prevent various diseases, but in the long and long process of practice Among them, they have found a special use for these foods.

The huge fresh water storage tank has been filled with clean water and sealed. The sailors of the Ming Fleet have mastered the technology of desalinating sea water to obtain fresh water, but to satisfy so many people's drinking, it is natural to store clean water. Meat dogs, broiler chickens, fat pigs, cats for catching mice, and carrier pigeons for conveying messages were also transported on board in large numbers. Baskets of fish were also brought on board, mainly pickled and dried fish, although of course the crew brought hook nets so they could catch fresh fish during the voyage. In addition, there are large boxes of tea and a jar of rice wine being shipped on board, these are not for trading, but for the crew and sailors to drink.

When the supply ships are filled with these materials, the fleet can continue to sail at sea for three months, a voyage of up to 15,000 miles, without needing to stop for food or water. They can start from here and sail non-stop, reaching Malacca within five weeks, and reaching the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf within twelve weeks. lasts for several years. The preparations for logistical supplies lasted for three full days, and then the preparations for weapons and equipment. A large amount of pasture and bean dregs cakes have been accumulated on the horse-loading boat. Thousands of horses will be raised here for the cavalry to land on land for land combat.

Compared with the huge treasure ships, the small warships, which are fast and maneuverable, are stepping up to equip with various ship-borne weapons. At this time, the Tunisian fleet, which ranks second in the world, is mainly defended by archers. Equipped with firecrackers, rockets, cannons, curved guns, and a dragon throat that shoots flames at enemy ships. This is an unrivaled fleet that will destroy any fleet that tries to match it with little effort. At this time, even if the navies of all the countries in the world are concentrated to fight against this fleet, the result is nothing but the despair of a school of herring meeting a school of sharks.

The heavy weapons had been installed a long time ago, and now they are only equipped with various ammunition, so it only took one day to assemble the weapons and equipment, and the crew of the fleet began to board the ship early the next morning. The first to board the ship are the official school, the flag army, the warrior, the fire chief, the helmsman, the anchorman, the general officer, the clerk, the operator, the yin and yang officer, the doctor, the craftsman of the anchor, the wooden mat, the building material, and the sailor. , Minshao Then came musicians, cooks, storytellers, jugglers, and a jubilant throng of merchants.

Then there are professionals who are proficient in astrology and astronomy, agriculture, animals and plants, engineering, architecture, smelting and casting, firearms production and maintenance, etc. They will be responsible for professional affairs in research, experiment, measurement, mapping, recording, collection, etc. Finally, there are officials at all levels. The civil servant group became an important participant in the Great Ocean Fleet as it wished, and the power groups behind them, such as wealthy families, landlords, and merchants, also became part of the ocean-going trade as they wished, and the resentment quickly dissipated. All kinds of speeches have no market at all, and they are replaced by disgusting praises.

Overnight, the voyage to the Western Seas changed from a calamity to the country and the people that they criticized in writing to a supreme feat that benefited the country and the people. This fleet has not yet been completed. On the Yellow Sea, dozens of warships and thousands of soldiers from Shuangyuwei are still waiting eagerly. In addition, at the port of Guangzhou, there is another innumerable fleet of merchant ships gathering, waiting to join the voyage to the West. At the port of Guangzhou, it was also full of wandering prostitutes preparing to join the ocean-going fleet. The prostitutes who sailed to the west with the ocean-going fleet last time were not only doing business with men, but also doing business at the same time. When they came back, they all made a lot of money. Except for a few prostitutes who were lazy and spendthrift and still went back to their old jobs, the rest of them were good. , Lived a stable and comfortable life, under the jealousy, the number of wandering warblers who are willing to travel with the fleet this time far exceeds the required scale, and I am afraid they will have to compete for posts.

On the shore, countless people gathered here to see off their loved ones. Xia Xun bid farewell to his family members.Since he was carrying out a secret mission, the court did not disclose to the public that Fu Guogong was also on the list, so he was only wearing casual clothes at the moment, like an ordinary scribe.The location where the family bid farewell to see them off is also a little further away from the pier.Although the family had known for a long time that Xia Xun was going to go west, but when things came to an end, Ming'er and the others couldn't help but burst into tears. In the past, when Xia Xun traveled to Liaodong, he went there for many years, but it was on land after all. The people of Ming Dynasty in this era are still very unfamiliar with the ocean, and they travel thousands of miles across the ocean. That's what the Eight Immortals should do.The strangeness and mystery of the sea filled them with fear, so the sorrow of parting was particularly strong. Don't cry, look, there are tens of thousands of people, including soldiers, sailors, officials, and merchants, which one should not leave their hometown?Am I the only one special? Xia Xun gently wiped away the tears from Ming'er's cheeks, comforting her softly. Ming'er no longer cared about the etiquette that a Duke's wife should have in front of people, hugged him forgetfully, exerted all her strength, tears trickled down her cheeks, and drenched his clothes.She is just his little girl. In order to be a good wife of the country, she has paid too much, and she is about to forget her original self. This is not her, she is not happy, she just wants to throw herself in the arms of her man . Xia Xun hugged her for a long time, and whispered in her ear: I will leave all the family matters to you.My plan can only be undertaken by you now.After marrying me, you have paid a lot, I owe you, owe you. Xia Xun raised her head, glanced at Zi Qi, Xie Xie, Xiao Di and others who were also teary-eyed, and said in a low voice: "I promise you, when I come back this time, I will never leave you again, and I will never ask you to do anything for me." I miss and worry about me! Ming'er buried her head deeply in his arms, and after a long time, she slowly let go of her arms, looked up at Xia Xun, with tears still on her face, but tried her best to put on a beautiful smile, and said: Mr. We are waiting for you to come back!Be sure to come back safely! Xia Xun nodded, then looked at her children eagerly, smiled at Si Yang, the oldest, and said: "When Dad comes back, my precious daughter should grow into a big girl, and Dad will give it to you in person." Choose a good husband who suits you! Si Yang was teary at first, but he couldn't help blushing when asked to say this, and lowered his head coyly. Yang Huaiyuan was not yet old enough to know what parting sorrow was like, so he couldn't help laughing when he heard what his father said, and winked at his sister. Xia Xun glared at him and reprimanded: "What are you laughing at!"Silly boy!When I come back, the first thing I will do is to test your homework!If you don't study well, watch if I don't smash your ass! When Yang Huaiyuan heard this, he immediately got into Ming'er's arms and acted coquettishly. The whole family was amused by his appearance. Taking advantage of this chance of parting sorrow being diluted by his son, Xia Xun took one last look at his relatives and said in a deep voice: Take care!Then she turned around and strode away. Su Ying, who was dressed in men's clothes, looked at the sisters, and looked at her own daughters who were already young, and said to Ming'er in a low voice: Ma'am, I'm going up!Then he chased Xia Xun away. Xia Xun didn't want to ask his family to accompany him on a long journey to endure hardships, but in the past two years, he is not Zheng He, and there will always be needs. Could it be that he is asked to go to the flower boat?Even if he is willing, the wives and concubines at home are not willing, and they have to ask someone to take care of them. Su Ying was originally a pirate with amazing water skills. As the third head of the Shuangyu pirates, she has also dealt with Nanyang businessmen and is familiar with the customs and customs of many countries. In addition, Xia Xun and Shuangyu Wei have been in touch through her these years , she became the best candidate to accompany Xia Xun on his voyage to the West. There are countless boats, some are parked on the shore, waiting for passengers to board, and some are far in the middle of the water, needing to use small boats to transport passengers there one by one, and there are many family members on the shore who are seeing their relatives off. There is order in the chaos, but from the perspective of the entire port, it is chaotic. Zhang Xitong seems to have been promoted from a member of the household department to the right servant, and his first mission after taking office is to go to the West.When Lao Zhang and the new official took office, the ostentation was high, and there were no less than dozens of subordinate female relatives and servants, and they boarded the ship in a mighty manner. At the same time, there were other family members of the official's family who boarded the ship. Everyone was crowded together, and no one paid attention. They noticed that a young man dressed as a school boy in a green coat and a cap had sneaked into their team. After boarding the bow, he glanced at the shore furtively, with a pair of big delicate eyes, revealing a strange spirit. woo woo woo The horn sounded, and Emperor Yongle's invincible fleet set sail. Sixty-two large warships, two hundred and eighteen small and medium-sized warships, and one hundred and sixteen merchant ships, masts and oars connected to each other, sailed like clouds, sailing forward mightily. Officials, scholars, and sailors huddled around the rail, trying to get one last glimpse of their hometown. Next, they will be bumpy at sea for many years, and it will take a long time before they can set foot on the land of the motherland again. Sea voyages are dangerous, and the people on board will never be able to return to their homeland. They may die in a foreign land due to disease, or perish in the sea due to wind and waves, or stay in a foreign land forever due to accident or other reasons, where they will multiply. It will be their dream place ever since. This year, Europeans are waking up from their sleep, and just opened their eyes in a daze; this year, America is still a paradise of primitive tribes; It has been completely disintegrated, civil strife continues, and wars continue; this year, the two most powerful tigers on the Mongolian Plateau, Tatar and Oala, have been captive in the backyard of Daming, and the other is still struggling; North Korea is intoxicated in the dream of a small China; this year, Japan is in the Warring States Period; this year, the bells in the temples of South Asian countries are still melodious and quiet, and the rhythm is slow, as if they have not woken up. This year, Ming's ocean-going fleet started its second voyage. Before the 9th century AD, almost all the ships that could sail in the sea were foreign, but from the 9th century onwards, China built its own sea fleet.During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, China’s large ocean-going fleet sent envoys overseas and established a fixed overseas trade network, gradually seizing control of the spice trade from the Arabs. This net was taken back at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, but now Zhu Di cast it out again with a wave of his hand!