"Bang Bang Bang" Sparks splashed, the rivets were firmly embedded in the hull, and the craftsmen smiled with joy as they stroked the tail of the rivets, which were still a little hot, with their large calloused hands.
Two meters long and seven kilograms in weight, this is a rivet, like a spear, and this ship, such huge rivets are used everywhere, this is a treasure ship with nine masts, a terrifying giant, huge as a city.
On the shore, there was a "rise", dozens of buffalo on each side of the giant ship mooed, driven by the whip, and walked forward with slow but powerful steps, the thick ropes on their bodies creaked, the huge winches placed on the deck turned, and on the shelves made of tall giant logs, the oiled zipline moved inch by inch, lifting a boulder.
The boulder weighed ten tons, and with the concerted efforts of the ship's countless sailors, the boulder was placed smoothly in the flat bilge, where two identical boulders were already lying quietly, and the hatch slammed shut.
This is only a sealed cabin, the entire giant ship has a total of eighteen sealed cabins, each sealed cabin is placed in three ballast boulders weighing ten tons each, and the entire giant ship alone weighs five hundred and forty tons of ballast stones.
At this time, the world's naval strength is second only to the Ming fleet is the Tunisian fleet, their largest ship carrying weight is only 50 tons, and its carrying capacity is only equivalent to one-tenth of the weight of the ballast stone of the Ming treasure ship.
At the stern of the ship, a huge monster with blades similar to the blades of a wind turbine quietly poked into the water, its length was as high as eleven meters, and this rudder alone was the full length of Columbus's flagship Nina.
In the harbor, there are countless large and small ships quietly moored, and between the cracks of the ships, the small boats that return to the ship and the shore are pressed together, and they are like hard-working worker ants, transporting all kinds of ocean-going necessities to the supply ship one by one.
A large number of vegetables, mostly made into pickles, dried vegetables, and vegetables suitable for long-term storage, potted plants filled with soil, fresh vegetables growing in the water, and the granaries on the supply ship were full, soybeans, flour, sugar, salt, various spices, millet, and rice.
Soybeans are one of the most important foods, not only can they be eaten as is, but they can also be used to sprout beans to ensure that the crew does not suffer from sepsis during the voyage.
Of course, it is not only the sprouts that are used to prevent sepsis, but also a large number of fruits such as limes, lemons, oranges, and grapefruits that have been specially treated and can be stored for a long time.
The food also includes rice that has not been hulled, because the nutrients contained in the husked rice can prevent beriberi, and the Ming Dynasty has not yet invented the medical skills to understand the principle of these foods to prevent various diseases, but in the long and long process of practice, they have discovered the special use of these foods.
The huge fresh water storage tank has been filled with clean water and sealed, and the sailors of the Ming fleet have mastered the technology of desalination from seawater to obtain fresh water, but to meet the drinking needs of so many people, it is natural to store clean water.
Meat dogs, broiler chickens, fat pigs, cats used to catch mice, and carrier pigeons that transmit messages were also transported on board the ship in large quantities.
Baskets of fish were also brought onto the boat, mainly pickled and dried, and of course, the crew brought hook nets, and they were able to catch fresh fish during the voyage.
In addition, large crates of tea and a jar of rice wine were brought aboard the ship, not for trading, but for the sailors to drink.
When the supplies were filled with supply ships, the fleet could sail at sea for up to 15,000 miles for three months without having to dock to replenish food or water.
From here, they sail non-stop, reaching Malacca in five weeks and the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf in twelve weeks, and they are capable of navigating the world's largest oceans, each lasting several years.
Preparations for logistical supplies lasted three full days, and then there were preparations for weapons and equipment.
A large amount of pasture and bean dregs were stocked on the horse-loading ships, and thousands of war horses would be raised here for cavalry to land battles.
This is an unbeatable fleet that can effortlessly destroy any fleet that tries to make an enemy of it.
At this time, even if the navies of all the countries of the world were to concentrate and go to war with this fleet, the result would be nothing more than the despair of a school of herring encountering a school of sharks.
Heavy weapons had been installed for a long time, and now they were only equipped with various types of ammunition, so it took only one day to equip 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 were the official academy, the flag army, the warriors, the fire chief, the helmsman, the class leader, the general officer, the clerk, the clerk, the yin and yang official, the doctor, the iron anchor, the wooden mound, the timber and other craftsmen, the sailor, the people, followed by the musicians, cooks, storytellers, jugglers, and a large number of cheerful merchants.
Then there are professionals who are proficient in astronomy, agriculture, flora and fauna, engineering, construction, smelting and casting, firearms making and maintenance, etc., who will be responsible for research, experimentation, surveying, mapping, recording, collection, etc.
Finally, there are officials at all levels.
The civilian-official clique became an important participant in the Great Navigation Fleet as they wished, and the powerful families, landlords, businessmen, and other power groups behind them also became part of the sharing of ocean-going trade as they wished.
Overnight, the Western Ocean went from a disaster to a disaster for the country and the people that they criticized and wrote about it to a supreme feat of benefiting the country and the people.
The fleet was not yet finalized, and on the shores of the Yellow Sea, dozens of warships and thousands of soldiers of the Shuangyuwei were still waiting.
In addition, at the port of Guangzhou, there was another innumerable contingent of merchant ships being assembled, waiting to join the army that went to the West.
At the port of Guangzhou, it was also crowded with Liuying Yanji who was preparing to join the ocean-going fleet.
The last time they went to the West with the ocean-going fleet, the women not only did men's business, but also did business, and when they came back, they all made a fortune, except for a few who were lazy and lazy, and the profligacy still returned to their old jobs, the rest of them were good, and lived a stable and comfortable life.
On the shore, countless people gather here to see off their loved ones.
Xia Xun and his family are saying goodbye.
Because he was on a secret mission, the imperial court did not disclose to the public that the Duke of Fuguo was also among the people who went to the West, so he was only dressed in civilian clothes at the moment, like an ordinary scribe.
The family was also a little further away from the pier.
Although the family had long known that Xia Xun was going to the West, when it came to the end, Ming'er and the others couldn't help but burst into tears.
In the past, when Xia Xun passed through Liaodong, he also went for a year, but after all, it was on land, and the Ming people of this era were still very unfamiliar with the ocean.
The strangeness and mystery of the sea filled their hearts with fear, so this sorrow was particularly strong.
"Don't cry, look at the tens of thousands, there are soldiers, sailors, officials, and businessmen, which one should not leave his homeland, and I am the only one."
Xia Xun gently wiped away the tears on Ming'er's cheeks and comforted softly.
Ming'er couldn't care about the etiquette that the Duchess should have in front of people, so she hugged him unwillingly, and with all her strength, tears flowed down and drenched his clothes.
She is just his little girl, in order to be a good duchess of the country, she has paid too much, she is about to forget her original self, this is not her, she is not happy, she just wants to throw herself into the arms of her man.
Xia Xun hugged her for a long time, and whispered in her ear: "All the affairs at home will be left to you."
My plans are now up to you.
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After marrying me, I have made you pay much, and I owe you and owe you. ” Xia Xun raised his head, glanced at Ziqi, 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 let you miss me or worry about me again."
Ming'er buried her head deep in his arms, and after a long time, she slowly let go of her arms, raised her head to look at Xia Xun, tears were still on her face, but she tried to bloom a beautiful smile, and said: "Xianggong, we must come back safely when you come back."
Xia Xun nodded, looked at his children again, smiled at the eldest Si Yang, and said: "When my father comes back, my baby daughter should also grow into a big girl, and when the time comes, my father will personally choose a good man for you."
Si Yang was originally in tears, and when he said this, he couldn't help blushing, so he lowered his head timidly.
Yang Huaiyuan was not yet old enough to know what it was like to leave sorrow, and he couldn't help but laugh when he heard his father's words, and winked at his sister.
Xia Xun glared at him and reprimanded: "What are you laughing at, silly boy, wait for Lao Tzu to come back, the first thing is to test your homework, if you don't study well, see if I don't break your ass" When Yang Huaiyuan heard this, he immediately got into Ming'er's arms and was coquettish, and the whole family was amused by his appearance.
Taking advantage of the opportunity of this sorrowful farewell being diluted by his son, Xia Xun took one last look at his relatives, and said in a deep voice: "Take care" Then he turned around and strode away, Su Ying, who was dressed in men's clothes, looked at a few sisters, and reluctantly looked at her own daughter, who was already a cardamom young age, and whispered to Ming'er: "Madam, I'm leaving" and chased after Xia Xun.
Xia Xun didn't want to ask his family to accompany him on a long trip to endure hardships, but in the past two years, he is not Zheng He, there will always be a need, is it possible to ask him to go to the flower boat even if he is willing, the wife and concubine at home are not willing to do it, and he must always ask someone to wait with him.
Su Ying was originally a pirate, the surname of the water is amazing, as the third master of the Shuangyu pirates, she has dealt with Nanyang merchants, familiar with the customs and folklore of many countries, plus Xia Xun and Shuangyu Wei have been in contact with her over the years, she has become the best choice to accompany Xia Xun to the West.
Countless boats, some moored on the shore, waiting for passengers to board, some far away in the middle of the water, need to be transported by boat to carry passengers a boat, and there are many family members on the shore to see off their relatives, although specifically, orderly in chaos, but from the perspective of the whole port, it is chaotic.
Zhang Xitong was promoted from a member of the household department to a right waiter, and his first mission after taking office was to go to the West.
Lao Zhang Xinguan took office, and there was no less than dozens of subordinate female dependents and servants, who boarded the ship in a mighty manner, and at the same time there were some other officials' family members who boarded the ship, and everyone was crowded together, and no one noticed that a "young man" in a green coat and a small hat and dressed as a scholar quietly mixed into their ranks.
Boarding the bow of the ship, "he" sneakily glanced at the shore, a pair of delicate big eyes, revealing a strange spirit.
"Woo woo" The trumpet sounded, and the invincible armada of the Yongle Emperor set sail.
Sixty-two large ships, two hundred and eighteen small and medium-sized warships, and one hundred and sixteen merchant ships, sailed like clouds.
Officials, scholars, and sailors huddled around the railings, trying to get one last glimpse of their homeland.
Next, they will be bumpy at sea for many years, and it will be a long, long time before they can set foot on the land of their homeland again.
The voyage to the sea is dangerous, and the group on board will never be able to return to their homeland, they will either die of disease in a foreign land, or die in the sea due to wind and waves, or stay forever in a foreign land due to wreckage or other reasons, where they will multiply, and the Ming Dynasty will henceforth become a place of their dreams.
This year, Europeans are waking up from their sleep, and they have just opened their eyes in a daze; In this year, the Americas were still a paradise of primitive tribes; In this year, the Timurid Empire, which made the whole of Europe tremble, completely fell apart, with civil strife and war; This year, the two most powerful tigers on the Mongolian plateau, Tatar and Warat, one has been kept in captivity in the backyard of the Ming Dynasty, and the other is still struggling; This year, the Korean state in the east is intoxicated with the dream of Little China; This year, it is said that Ben is in the Warring States period of swords and swords; 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 yet.
In this year, the Ming ocean-going fleet began its second voyage.
Before the 9th century, almost all ships that could sail the seas were foreign, but from the 9th century onwards, China built its own maritime fleet.
During the Song and Yuan dynasties, China's large ocean-going fleets sent envoys overseas and established a permanent overseas trade network, gradually wrestling 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, and now Zhu Di waved his hand and scattered it again To be continued: