Chapter 3270 Target: Arabia

"It's okay, I expected this ending---- those merchants who left halfway must have the first issue of "Maritime News" in their hands, right?" Zhao Xing asked calmly.

Chen Buqun was surprised: "Yes, how does the teacher know, this ...... At that time, the teacher should have been thousands of miles away from them, why did he seem to witness the scene at that time? ”

Zhao Xing explained without surprise or joy: "Actually, this reason is very simple, now most people do not have a general sense of direction, they sail on the sea, only feel that the sea is vast, can not distinguish between east and west, north and south, so they are afraid in their hearts, when sailing, they only dare to sail on the shore, for fear that one day they will not be able to land, can not determine where they are."

However, the first issue of the "Maritime News" published a rough map of the world, which gave the group of people a sense of direction, they had my compass in their hands, and knew that as long as they kept sailing westward, they could see the African continent, and the coastline of the African continent was very long, running from north to south, so they were not afraid of not being able to find land, just sailing---- by the way, I also had this sense of direction, so I found that route. ”

Chen Buqun had heard that Zhao Xing's reasoning ability was very strong, this time he could be regarded as a teacher, and after savoring it carefully, he asked contemplatively: "How did the teacher have a sense of direction at that time---- could it be that the teacher deduced from other people's words that the coastline of the continent is very long, and it is impossible to find the way?" ”

Zhao Xing nodded: "Around the time of the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty and Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty, there was a fleet commander in the Western Ocean, Pliny ---- Buqun, who was similar to your current official position. This man wrote a book of naturalists describing the shape and orientation of the African continent, from which I could deduce what I call the east-west route.

At that time, people were saying that the African continent was very long, like a wall between East and West, and some people in the West even thought that it was impossible to sail directly from the sea to the East. But I still know. The earth is round, and as long as you keep sailing in one direction, you can always return to the same place.

Legend has it that at the end of that continent, there was a place where the waves were raging, and it was said that no ship could safely sail through the stormy sea, so people called it the angry sea, the furious sea. But I've also heard. If you go around that cape, if you cross the raging sea. It is absolutely possible for us to sail directly to the Western Ocean without having to transit goods overland over Palestine......

Perhaps, we will have to wait a while for our seafaring and shipbuilding skills to advance and build stronger ships before we can cross the raging seas. Not a group. If you have faith, why don't we master and apprentice work together, and let us sail south, to the end of the earth, through the sea of storms. See what's there. Or go north, through the land of the female Naoto, and see if the end of the frozen continent in the north is where the gods live---- or maybe there is another land after the frozen continent.

I guess there is another land, there is a legend in the West, legend has it that two hundred years ago, at the end of the Tang Dynasty, the famous Norwegian Viking, Red Huerik, once sailed to the far west. There he discovered a perennial frozen continent, which he called Greenland, and then he continued west to discover Iceland. But he continued to sail westward, and found a beautiful and rich continent, which was dripping with milk and honey, and it was said that even eagles and geese could not fly across the vast continent, so he called it the American continent.

All the time. In Northern Europe, legends of the American continent are circulated. I guess. There may be some basis for this legend. Remember I told you about it. The earth is round. From the characteristics of the nautical mast to protrude from the sea first. We can verify this doctrine. If the legend of this beautiful continent in the West is true. That means we just have to keep sailing east. You will also discover that beautiful new world. Maybe. The frozen continent in the far north is a barrier. Crossing that barrier. Behind it is the brave New World. ”

Yuan Yeping has been by Zhao Xing's side. Hearing Zhao Xing's tone, he paused slightly. He immediately interjected: "We have four islands to the north. Walk through that little island. It is said that further aback the Northlands are still inhabited. Besides, it is a coherent coastline. Brother Chen, if you explore north. I can say hello to the Lord of the Northlands. Allow you to dock and resupply ......"

Chen Buqun sighed: "I am really moved by what you say." It's a pity that we can't do it this year. I brought back tributary envoys from overseas vassal states. I want to go to Yangzhou before the Tianning Festival. Send them to the imperial ceremony. Come back when you're done. It's time for the next year, too. ”

Zhao Xing heard Yuanye Pingdi's words. There was a sudden movement in my heart. said: "There is also a Yue culture in the north of the Wa Kingdom. Legend has it that after the death of King Goujian of Yue. Many of the Yue fled by boat. He fled to the north of Japan. The ancient Yue cultural land was established. To this day, the Japanese locals still refer to the place where the ancient Yue people landed as the Three Kingdoms of Echizen, Etchu, and Echigo. Is there such a thing? ”

Yuan Yeping nodded: "That's true." Those three nations and natives. So far, it has been advertised as a relic of ancient Yue culture. ”

Zhao Xing clapped his hands. Greeting the accompanying kabuki: "Yes." I am Chinese civilization. Since ancient times, it has radiated its own brilliance to the outside world. Pity. in our civilization. There are still elements that stubbornly adhere to the old ways--- such as tributary trade. Because the ancient sages appreciated this way of trade. Thought it was a prosperous age. So we have a few paranoid tributary knots in our hearts. Knowing that such behaviour is inappropriate. But still persisted.

The charm of civilization lies in the creation, the repeated repetition of what was created in the Stone Age, this is not civilization, this is the thinking of animals, only animals are insisting on what they learned from their parents, completely ignoring the changes of the times, and man is the spirit of all things...... Think about it, in a commercial and cultural atmosphere like my Great Song Dynasty, there are still people engaged in this kind of rigid things, which is really heart-wrenching...... That's it! Come, in this bright light, and sing us a "Yue Ren Song". ”

This place in Guangzhou was originally Yuedi, and "Yue Ren Song" was very popular in Guangzhou, and the top kabuki in Guangzhou danced his waist and sang "Yue Ren Song": "What is the night tonight? Boat in the middle stream; What is the day today? You have to be in the same boat with the king. Shame is good, not shameful. The heart is troubled and endless, and he knows the king. The mountains have trees and branches, and the heart is happy. ”

Yue Nu's eyes flowed, staring at Zhao Xing and chanting repeatedly: "The mountains have trees and branches, and the heart is happy and I don't know ......."

Yue Nu frequently flattered. Zhao Xing didn't pay attention at all, he stared at the city lights outside the window, as if this was a glass of alcohol, which was intoxicating. When he turned around, he found that the officials in Tali and Guangzhou were all squeezing their eyebrows, and Yuan Yeping and Chen Buqun were still stabbing me with their fingers, and I would stab you. They seem to be encouraging each other to speak.

Speaking of which, Zhao Xing's current status. Similar to the modern so-called "diamond man", although he has wives and concubines around him, Liao Xiaoxiao's experience in life makes many people have a luxurious hope, hoping that they can fill the gap left by Liao Xiaoxiao.

Now, who is the richest man in Guangzhou---- Zhao Xing claims to be the second, and no one dares to say the first. Thereinto. His concubine and orchid Kasli controlled the exchanges with the Tibetan merchants, and Liao Xiaoxiao controlled the glass manufacturing industry and printing industry in Guangdong during his lifetime. The patent rights are in Liao Xiaoxiao's hands.

As for Chen Yiyi, it was a mysterious existence in Zhao Xing's mansion, and people knew that this Yue Guonu, who was rewarded as "Mrs." by the imperial court, held a mysterious armed force in her hands---- Nanyang Alliance. This alliance covers the entire Nanyang Islands, and the imperial court knows her Yue identity, but it can only pretend to be confused and admit her identity as a Song wife......

These women, individually, are a simple big businessman of the Song Dynasty. But it's not easy for them to put together.

These people are all subordinate to Zhao Xing.

Liao Xiaoxiao's death made many people think of luck. Because Liao Xiaoxiao has always been in charge of Zhao Xingdi's official banquets, a musician can reach this height, circling among officials, no longer a plaything of officials, but become the object of high-ranking officials, and he himself also has a deep fortune---- in the eyes of musicians, this may be the best ending in life.

At the same time, after the death of Liao Xiaoxiao. Zhao Xingfu responded to reduce the frequency and specifications of officialdom. Most of the musicians thought that there was an entertainment fault in Zhao Xing's mansion, and there was a lack of a banquet host in a short period of time. It is rare for Zhao Xing to go out of the house, and the musicians want to seize this opportunity to become Liao Xiaoxiao

Strictly speaking, Liu Jingniang from Yangzhou went south, and I am afraid that she also has this thought in her heart.

At this moment, in the eyes of the musicians, Zhao Xing is like a piece of carrion smeared with honey, and he is in the vigorous period of attracting bees and butterflies. And Guangzhou officials felt that Zhao Xing's deep residence during this period of time was incompatible with the officialdom, so they also hoped that Zhao Xing's family would add a concubine who was responsible for officialdom banquets, so that their taste would be upgraded to a higher level. So instead of stopping them, they encouraged and instigated the kabuki to act.

After staring at the lights outside the window, Zhao Xing turned around and saw this scene, and as soon as his eyes rolled, he already understood what the Guangzhou officials were doing in private. Leaning slightly, Zhao Xing waved his hand and ordered the group of official prostitutes to retreat, and said: "The Song of the Yue People should be the fashion of the Jin Dynasty, and I have another person here who has won the Tang Dynasty...... Yuan Tuiguan, can you please perform a Tang-style puppet show? ”

Before Yuan Yeping could answer, a panting handsome fan ran at the staircase, and he listened to the second half of Zhao Xing's speech, and immediately became furious: "The Song Dynasty is inferior to the Jin Dynasty, my Great Song Dynasty literati and scholars are all gathered here, how can Guangzhou Qunxian say that it is also a famous school in the Great Song Dynasty, such a gathering, how can we let a Japanese perform my ancient Chinese tradition for us......"

Shuai Fan took a breath and immediately scolded: "Duh, you widow, stand back, and wait for the official to come on the stage in person and perform a Tang-style puppet show." ”

Yuan Yeping was furious, pressed his sword and replied: "Shuai Lian, why did you insult me, I was an official in Mizhou of the Great Song Dynasty, I ate the Yulu of the Great Song Dynasty, and I was an official of the Great Song Dynasty...... In fact, I have long suspected that I am a kind of Song people, you dare to say that I am not a Song person, this is an insult to my blood inheritance, I want to duel with you, and the loser will apologize. ”

Shuai Fan had already gasped for breath at this time, he looked at Yuan Yeping sneeringly, and replied: "What era is it now, the age of gunpowder, in this era of gunpowder, you and I are compared to cold weapons--- I admit that I am not as good as you in playing with swords, but I have a musket, a ghost, do you have the courage to use your knife to compare with my musket?" ”

"Enough!" Zhao Xing scolded coldly: "Mr. Yuan is a Mizhou magistrate, this is an incumbent official recognized by the Great Song Dynasty, and I apologize to him." ”

Shuai Fan raised his hand and saw Zhao Xing's serious gaze. He lowered his hand again, weakly arched his hand to Yuan Yeping, and reluctantly said: "Unintentional mistakes, please forgive me for being reckless!" ”

Yuan Yeping said aggrievedly: "My lord, he wants to use a musket to compare swords with me, isn't this bullying?" ”

"He didn't bully you, it was civilization that bullied you---- our civilization created the musket. It is the duty of our generation to conquer the world with muskets, so that those who only know how to play with swords will crawl at our feet. This is the pace of civilization progress, and whoever fails to adapt to it will be conquered. Zhao Xing said impartially.

Yuan Ye calmed down for a moment, suddenly got up, and apologized prostrately: "The Shuai Supervisor has worked hard, but it is also Yuan who is offended." ”

Previously. The reason why Shuai Fan apologized was because he thought that Yuan Yeping was Zhao Xing's retainer in Japan, and his name change to "Yuan Yeping" was handled by Zhao Xing, and the people who handled it were also the head of Zhang's generals, in addition. At that time, all the officials in charge of the Privy Council and the Ministry of Officials were involved, and according to the unspoken rules of officialdom, even if he exposed the truth about the people of Yuanye Ping, no one would admit it, so he relented. But he didn't expect that Yuan Yeping's softness would come so quickly.

After the two of them finished humbling each other, Zhao Xing asked gently: "Shuai Jian Si, Shuai Meizhou, how is the matter in Fujian?" I didn't expect you to arrive in Hong Kong today, but I made a mistake. You were not invited to the unveiling of the Tower of Light. ”

Shuai Fan replied: "My lord, the matter of Fujian is almost over, at this moment the patriarchs from all over the country have gathered in Shuikou Town, willing to help my Guangnan soldiers, I hurried back, I wanted to ask about the plan for next year, I happened to hear that you were unveiled in the Guangming Tower---- such a grand event, how can you be without me?!" ”

Zhao Xing smacked his lips regretfully: "I originally thought how fierce the Fujian bandits could be, but I didn't expect them to be still a mess of scattered sand." Just hold the knife up. Everyone fears to fall behind in the time of submission...... Alas, I originally wanted to use the Fujian mountains to train my troops. I didn't expect it to be in vain. ”

After Zhao Xing finished speaking, he stared at the sea of lights outside the window, nodded his head and continued to sigh: "We didn't encounter any hard battles to occupy the city; In Dali, we are still marching all the way; It's really disappointing to fight Fujian and succeed immediately. How can an army that has not fought hard deal with our strong enemy in the north, and how can they persist in fighting in case they encounter the armies of Western Xia and Liao in the future---- ”

Shuai Fan rolled his eyes in his heart: "You Zhao Liren fights with others, will you allow others to take advantage?" …… I don't think I'll see it in this generation. ”

Chen Buqun interjected sullenly: "I was still telling the teacher just now, my Guangnan Navy Division has suffered a big loss in Arabia recently. It was also our lack of knowledge that allowed the Arabs to take advantage of the attack ships---- and the sailors had lost seven supply ships, eleven medium-sized clippers, twenty-three small landing ships, and three giant ships, and the guns on them also sank to the bottom of the sea.

I am admitting my mistake to the teacher, it seems that to defeat the enemy in a sea area, the teacher has to go out in person, and the student is not good at learning and has failed the teacher. ”

Shuai Fan's eyes widened: "Could it be that this is the bitter battle that the adults are looking forward to---- Chen Chanzhi, how many warships have you encountered?" ”

Chen Buqun bowed down and replied: "I don't know the exact number, but at that time, we encountered countless warships. As far as I know, the results of the ships were that we sank no less than 300 small boats and fired no less than 500 rowing boats. And the Arabs also have a strange ship, which has not a mast on board, but also a mast in the stern, which turns nimbly, and with great effort, we sank no less than a hundred of these ships...... There were also huge Arab ships, the kind of warships that could carry about 3,000 people, and on which were catapults.

In addition, we encountered more than 3,000 arsonist ships at that time, and although I deliberately chose the open ocean for the battle, we still suffered heavy losses......"

Shuai Fan opened his mouth in surprise: "Where is this a big defeat, it is clearly a big victory." According to what you just said, you have encountered at least a fleet of 5,000 warships, and you can still escape with such a large fleet, it is really clever---- indeed, the sea is fighting, and I can't catch up with you.

You were burned by an arson ship and several warships were destroyed, and that's nothing. Do you know the Greco-Persian War, in the era of King Wu of Zhou, there was a war of aggression between Greece and Persia, which is what your teacher called the Battle of Hot Springs. In the Hundred Years' War, the Greeks used a suspected gunpowder attack ship, called Greek snow, and since then, the Greek and Arab fire attack ships have dominated the world. You were attacked by fire, and you escaped with most of the fleet, and my admiration for you is like a surging river......"

Zhao Xing had been acting thoughtfully when Shuai Fan said this, and when Shuai Fan finished speaking, he immediately added: "I just told you about the northern route---- there are a large number of whales in northern Japan. As far as I know, all naval fleets started out of whale fishing. Because a whale weighs more than ten tons, or even more than twenty tons. One ship can't be rounded up, and multiple ships must work closely together.

During the cooperative whaling period, each ship must be trained to master the wind direction, observe the sea surface, chase the whales, and once the whales appear, they must also learn to outflank and close each other, cooperate with each other, grasp the wind direction, and launch attacks in time......

Both the Arabs and the Greeks worked together to train fleets by fishing whales. And our soldiers are only training a ship to sail alone, and have not yet adapted to fleet cooperation, and the cooperation between different types of ships is a trick, and the Arab navy has been training for this for three thousand years, and our three years of experience cannot compete with three thousand years. Fortunately, with the sharpest weapon of this era---- artillery, this can gain the upper hand.

I was thinking just now that whale fishing is a lucrative thing, and our navy might as well open up the northern route, and use whaling as a normal training program---- training fleet cooperation is very expensive, and only whaling can achieve that the income is greater than the investment, so that our training programs can earn money to feed the huge fleet...... We can set up a permanent training camp in the land north of the Wa Kingdom, relying on the inexhaustible ice and snow of that frozen continent to freeze the whales in our fishing area with ice blocks. Packed and shipped to Mizhou, Quanzhou, and Guangzhou, I expect that the income from whaling will fully cover the cost of setting up your training camp. ”

Shuai Fan clapped his hands and agreed: "Of course, a whale weighs more than ten tons, and raises more than ten tons of meat, how many cows and pigs are needed, and how much farm land is needed to raise so many pigs, horses, cattle and sheep." But the whales in the sea are ready-made, and we don't need to spend a little food and grass.

Let me do the math. Five battleships were dispatched. On average, 10 whales are caught per boat, which I estimate is a lot of money. Not to mention that the whale meat is as tender as veal, let's just say the taste of the whale, as well as the unique dragon snake fragrance of the whale stomach, this thing, one tael is worth seventeen taels of gold, which is outrageously expensive. ”

Zhao Xing turned to Yuan Yeping: "We have a base in Nagato, and then go north, I hope to set up a supply base in Hokkaido and the four islands in the north, but the navy's winter training camp, I hope to set up in the Jurchen camp further north---- this matter has to be fanfare, I want to let the Jurchens know that I have the ability to copy their back road at any time." ”

Zhao Xing then turned to Chen Buqun, and said: "Now I have set up three detachments in Guangzhou, but in addition to the first detachment, the others are still very young, they used to drive a single ship to sea, only the concept of ships and no fleet concept, I hope to cultivate their team concept, you draw the elite from the three detachments, supplement the losses of the first fleet, and wait for you to send the kings of the vassal states to Yangzhou, go directly to the north, bring the source to push the officials, he will help you set up anchorages on the four northern islands, I hope you will carry out whaling training in that sea area." , wait until the spring of next year, and you will be fully loaded......

It seems that I need to take the lead in person to fight the Arabs, and we will spend a year preparing for it, and when the trade winds blow in the autumn of next year, I will personally lead the fleet south, but I will see what the Arabs are capable of resisting our artillery. ”

Shuai Fan interjected on the side, he was purely fanning the cool breeze and pouring cold water: "The Arabs are a big country across the continent of Europe, Asia and Africa, although they have suffered a little loss at the hands of the four maritime powers, but they have no losses in the southern front fleet, and they can gather a massive fleet of more than 30,000 ships at any time. But the Arabs will never leave the near sea, and how do we get them out of the near sea, this is a big problem......"

Chen Buqun interjected: "Our biggest loss this time is that the people of Guangzhou have discovered the fast trade route in Africa, and now they have learned to sail directly to Africa, and our escort fleet has to deal with the near-shore attacks of the Arabs in order to protect them, which is really worth the loss." ”

Shuai Fan also seemed to have expected this, and he replied disapprenously: "The first and second issues of the "Maritime News" published a map of the world, and the Arabs mastered the latitude navigation method, and the Song people mastered the compass, and the combination of these two is invincible on the sea......

However, I did not keep these two techniques secret in Guangzhou, and anyone who arrived in Guangzhou would get the compass technology from the Cantonese sailors. In the future, as long as you know the general direction and know that there must be land ahead, you can sail to Africa in ignorance...... It's not surprising that I saw those two newspapers and had already guessed the ending. ”

As he spoke, the major restaurants in Guangzhou, which hosted today's opening ceremony, had already sent men to set up banquets for the officials on the 12th floor, and the Guangdong officials saw that Zhao Xing was chatting with his cronies, and they had already led the official prostitutes down the 13th floor and arrived on the 12th floor. Soon, the sound of silk and bamboo gradually sounded, and the roars of the officials to carry out the drinking order continued, and in the blink of an eye, only Zhao Xing and a few cronies were left on the entire thirteenth floor...... and Li Qingzhao holding her husband-to-be Zhao Feng.

The adults chatted here, and the two children hid far away, whispering there, but it seemed that the eldest sister Li Qingzhao talked a lot, and Zhao Feng still hummed without a word in his usual sullen manner.

On the twelfth floor, the musician just now sang "The Song of the Yue People" again, as if he was attacking a new target, and in the tactful singing, Zhao Xing slowly replied in the empty hall: "Don't be afraid, the discovery of that trade route by the Fan people is not a matter of the heavens and the earth falling apart; It is not the end of the world to sink our gunboats by the Arabs---- the charm of civilization lies in creation, those battleships are equipped with bronze cannons, and I am trying to completely eliminate those clumsy artillery.

And there is no need to worry about the gunpowder formula, even if the Arabs have captured our sailors and thus learned the gunpowder formula, they are not afraid, because with the new steel cannon, we have created a new type of gunpowder.

After all, the black powder in the past is too much gunpowder, and the explosion power is not strong, our Guangzhou Manufacturing Bureau is studying a new type of musket, and the new type of gunpowder is more powerful and stronger, and I believe that after ten years, when the Arabs have figured out our gunpowder formula and are familiar with our artillery, we have updated to the new type of artillery, and the new gunpowder ---- civilization is not a collection, and the technology cannot be turned into an antique, as long as we maintain our vigorous creativity, the Arabs will suffer a loss in this regard sooner or later. ”

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