The voyage on the sea was long and tedious, and for the nearly 800 immigrants of all ages aboard the New York, who had to endure the long journey, they did not know that they were in fact happy, that the clippers reduced the distance of space, and that the nautical astronomical calendar guaranteed that they would not get lost on the sea. Sailing at sea is no longer as dangerous as it used to be.

The people on board are ignorant of the changes brought about by technological change, and during the long journey, those pioneers who went to the new continent have gone from the initial excitement and anticipation to the present, but more nostalgia for their hometown. I don't know how many people are starting to regret it.

Perhaps, you can go back again.

When this thought popped up in Li Mingdian's heart, his face became a little sad.

The house has been sold, and all the possessions have been given to someone else. When he left his hometown, he made a meager offering in front of his ancestral grave, said goodbye to his deceased ancestors, and only took away a handful of soil next to his ancestral grave.

Again, the moment of parting with Da Ming's life and death appeared in Li Mingdian's mind, and his eyes became a little moist again.

"What, homesick again?"

The voice in his ears made Li Mingdian nod and said apologetically.

"I'll make you laugh, Captain Chen."

Captain, this is a temporary title on the immigration ship, after the immigrants board the ship, they must hand over the cash and valuables to the second officer for safekeeping, and will receive a travel brochure issued by the immigration company, which records in detail the relevant issues that need to be paid attention to during the voyage, such as physical exercise, precautions for landing, the opening of kindergartens and primary schools on board, recreational activities on board, etc.

In order to understand the situation of immigrants and appease the emotions of immigrants, as early as the time of the immigration shelter, staff members were selected from the immigrants and accompanied by the crew to undertake the management and comfort of the immigrants.

On the evening of their departure from the Pearl River, a meeting of heads of households, but some of them were unable to attend due to seasickness and colds, 213 families sent 153 representatives, and the accompanying supervisors organized the migrants into an autonomous group called the "Reserve Village." The cabin is divided into 8 zones, one for each zone

District Governor and Village Councillor, a man over the age of 20 who has the right to vote and be elected...... Zhao Minghui, the accompanying superintendent, served as the village head and formed a village council to make decisions on the matters to be discussed according to the opinions of the majority. Men over 15 years old and under 30 years old formed the pacification regiment - this is a habit formed when immigrants from the northeast, the so-called pacification regiment means pacification, in the immigration area, the men of the pacification regiment are soldiers who do not wear military uniforms.

Compared with the immigrants 18 years ago, most of these young people who grew up in the Xingqian period had learned martial arts and shooting in social studies, so it was easier for them to form a militia to guard against attacks by the natives.

And Li Dekun is the captain of the appeasement regiment. They are usually taught how to use weapons in the cabin - reloading six-shot revolvers, fire caps, and so on, all of which are trained by the crew and then by the captain.

"When I left the mouth of the Pearl River, there was rain in the sky, and it was a light rain. The sea is gray, the sky is as dark as the evening, maybe the mother country is reluctant to let us go......"

Li Dekun looked at the sea and said in a sentimental tone. There was also longing in his eyes, but in the end he said in a firm tone.

"However, even if we are reluctant, we always have to go out, we have to go to the New World to spread the branches and leaves for China, only in this way can we live up to the ...... of the mother state"

Then he said, staring into the distance.

"Now the hardest journey is over, wait until we reach Natal, further north across the Caribbean, and soon we will be in New York!"

Due to the long voyage and long sailing time, it is inevitable to rest ashore on the way, and the route from Guangzhou to New York is divided into three sections: the first section is from Guangzhou to Nantianmen, which is mainly for immigrants to familiarize themselves with the facilities on board, adapt to life at sea, and overcome seasickness and the sadness of parting. The second section is from Nantianmen to the Cape of Good Hope, and although there is a threat of heat and disease, the immigrants who have gradually adapted to the seafaring life have begun to enjoy the joy of travel, carry out various colorful activities, show their talents, and form deep friendships during the journey. The third section is from the Cape of Good Hope to Belém or other South American ports, and finally arrives in New York, and this is the only time to sail into a foreign port, according to the regulations, you need to rest in the port for two days before departing, the reason for this arrangement is to fully take into account the physical condition of the migrants, so that they have more time to rest.

"Uh-huh, yes, we'll be home by Natal......"

Alerted by the crew, the migrants prepared to disembark from the ship as they prepared for a day's trip to Natal, and a tense atmosphere was rife on board. After all, this was the first time they had set foot on a foreign land, and before, they had all rested on the colony of the Ming Dynasty.

"Everyone seems to be a little nervous."

Feeling that the immigrants were a little nervous, the captain said to Zhao Minghui.

"Who let us have no colonies in South America?"

Zhao Minghui sighed helplessly.

"After all, it's an outsider's place, and they will inevitably be a little worried."

After another 17 days of sailing from Good Hope, the New York arrived at Natal, the first port of call in Latin America——— It is a seaport city in northeastern Brazil, founded by the Portuguese on December 25, 1599, and named Natal, which means Christmas. Founded in 1611, it was a trading center rich in sugar cane, cotton, and sea salt.

Since a few years ago, the city, with just over a thousand people, welcomes migrant boats that pass through it every few months, and the berthing of migrant boats has now become one of the most important economic pillars of the city, and there is a longing for them from top to bottom. Because of this, almost as soon as the lookout of the fortress saw the Ming migrant's boat, he immediately fired a salute to welcome them.

In response to the salute on the shore with empty cannons, the migrants opened the stage to prepare for the entry, and according to the requirements of the port, the migrants must dress neatly, women, especially elderly women, should wear proper makeup, and men should also be neatly groomed, and when they disembark, they should smile and be full of energy, giving people a healthy impression. Therefore, after a long journey, the Ming immigrants who came down from the ship were all dressed in neat Hanfu, clean and hygienic, and polite, in stark contrast to the ragged and unkempt immigrants from Europe. Because of this, he is known as "a gentleman from the East." ”。

As in the past, when Li Mingdian and his party got off the boat, the local residents on the shore were all ashamed of themselves when they saw these well-dressed Ming people, even the mayor who was dressed in full costume once again felt the gap with the Celestial Empire.

"Oh, that woman's clothes are so beautiful, it's silk!"

"Behold, my God, their skin is like gold mixed with silver, neither as pale as ours, nor as dark as the Indians, but it is beautiful......"

"Look, that pretty lady's fan is so beautiful......

In the midst of everyone's conversation, in the envious gaze of the people, these immigrants who had just come off the ship walked into the square with smiles on their faces, because the number of hotels in the city was limited and the environment was harsh, so they would eat and play games in the open square, and then return to the ship to rest.

Fast forward two days, and for every immigrant, the tropical fruits and the enthusiastic locals made a deep impression on them, especially the enthusiastic native women, and even more so that when the "New York" left, there were several more passengers on board—several Portuguese-speaking girls, who fell in love with a certain passenger and willingly followed him, even if it was only as a concubine. In fact, this happens almost every time a migrant ship docks, and even causes a local woman to suddenly give birth to some children after nine months, often as a gift from the sailors on the migrant ship to the local woman.

Even if he was reluctant to give up, after the "New York" left Hong Kong, he set sail again.

On the same day, the ship returned to normal, and every morning, the immigrants would get up at six o'clock, and then people would start doing gymnastics on the deck, moving their muscles and exercising, and after two hours, they would take turns having breakfast, and at nine o'clock in the morning the ship's elementary school would start - the ship was on board, and the social studies still did not stop teaching, and suitable people would be selected from the crew or their entourage to serve as temporary instructors. Lunch at 12 o'clock. At one o'clock in the afternoon it was a lecture in English or Indican - there were many British and natives born around the New York colony, and there was no need to collude with them, at least to know the basics of conversation. Two hours later, in order to strengthen the physique of the immigrants and enrich their life at sea, the men began to practice boxing, knife fighting, etc., as well as training in the use of weapons. Dinner at 5 p.m. At this time, the front deck is used for kindergartens, and the back deck is used for elementary school teaching. The women, who are also not idle, are there to give lectures on tailoring and hygiene. The kindergarten is attached to the women's association, and 7 people are selected to act as nannies who are responsible for the children's sports and games.

The two-month voyage on the sea, although it was a long one, was also a learning process for the immigrants, as pioneers, they did not know what they would face in the future, but the government hoped that through these trainings, they would be able to better adapt to life in the colony.

Colonization often trades life for the consolidation of colonies. The Ming Dynasty chose to organize and teach the experience of the first generation of immigrants in exchange for their lives to other immigrants, so that they can better adapt to the life there, which is also the reason for the rapid development of the Ming immigrant career.

In contrast to this era, European immigrants were confined to extremely crowded ships without any ventilation

With no way to provide even the most basic food, they struggled to survive in a cramped boat. Although there have also been incidents of infectious diseases and deaths in the process of transporting migrants, the overseas immigration of Daming is now fast and efficient. However, in just over a decade, the colony of New York had more than 30,000 Ming immigrants. And the number is increasing by thousands every year.

Finally, as August 15 was approaching, and after assuring their position at sea, the captain gave everyone the good news that they would arrive in New York Harbor this afternoon.

"Everyone will spend the Mid-Autumn Festival in their new home!"

Although they have been there for the past dozens of days, they have been talking about New York and their new home, but when everything comes, people seem a little nervous, and Li Mingdian is no exception, he looks into the distance with trepidation, what does the new home look like? Will there be those natives with feathers on their heads to make trouble?

When the atmosphere was tense and people were panicking, the graduation ceremonies of kindergarten and elementary school were held before and after. The captain, who is the principal, presents the children with a certificate of completion – a certificate of completion with the seal of the USS New York.

"Children, remember that you once came to New York on a ship, to this new world, and for us, you will always be the children of the New York......"

The captain's tone was calm and excited, he looked at the immigrants, he knew that they were all children of the "New York", they had arrived in the New World, and they would soon be toiling on their own land, the "New York" was the experience of these 213 families, but this experience would bind them together. Eventually, the people who come here on the "New York" will spread out in this land and change this strange continent......

The captain looked at them with a heavy heart, and although he had successfully completed his mission, there were still people who died during the voyage, and two immigrants still died at sea because of their weak health, and the day before they arrived in New York, they held a solemn water burial ceremony for the sick and dead in the stern.

In a few hours, the ship arrives in New York, and after completing the formalities at the port, the migrants go to their homes. After a few days there, you will go to the colony to cultivate. They would open new towns and villages there, and eventually, one settlement after another, the Ming would expand into North America, from east to west, and further inland.

During the long voyages at sea, the ship's self-government organizations played an important role. In fact, this has been proved in all the migrations, and this reserve village is a completely autonomous organization, under its coordination, there are almost no disputes on the ship, and the immigrants are completely close to each other and form a deep friendship. It is also for this reason that many years ago, the receiving places of immigrants often settled a boatload of migrants in an area according to their wishes, and these people who had never known each other took care of each other in a foreign land.

Finally, on August 14, the 18th year of Xingqian, the "New York" slowly sailed into New York Harbor, and the deck was full of immigrants, who looked at this strange city with longing and looked at New York which was getting closer and closer.

。 Book Reading House