Chapter 317: Tamsui Estuary

The fourth day of the ninth month of the first year of Qiande (963 AD)

Time flew by, and three days later in the morning, the fleet approached the northern coast of the island of Liuqiu.

The Boris detachment sent a flag saying that land had been found in the left front, and it should be Liuqiu Island.

Zhao Zizhong, who was telling stories to the three boys in the cabin, got the news, immediately took out his binoculars and rushed to the deck.

The three boys also ran up and stood behind Zhao Zizhong.

Zhao Zizhong stood at the bow of the boat and looked ahead to the left with a telescope. He saw a large expanse of land, full of lush woods and bushes.

Hu Yidao exclaimed: "Look at it! Land! It's definitely the island of Liuqiu! ”

The guards who were training on the deck flocked to the port side, their eyes wide open. Then everyone cheered:

"The land, you can't see the edge at a glance!"

"It's definitely the island of Liuqiu."

"Let's get ashore."

"No, it's woods everywhere, you can't open up wasteland and farm."

Everyone looked at Zhao Zizhong, and Zhao Zizhong said with a smile: "It's really not good here, I don't see the river, which means that there is a lack of water here." We're going to continue south along the coast to find the mouth of the river, and then land there and find a place to live. ”

The guards all said that all actions were under command, and everyone understood that as long as they came to Liuqiu Island to reclaim the famine, each person could get a hundred acres of land.

Zhao Zizhong asked Guo Jintao to issue an order for the fleet to sail southwest along the coastline and find the mouth of the river as soon as possible.

In fact, Zhao Zizhong already had a goal in his heart, that is, the estuary of the Tamsui River in the future.

Located in the northern part of Taiwan Island, the Tamsui River is the third longest river and the third largest in terms of basin area.

The Tamsui River Basin covers Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, and Hsinchu County, and the mainstream Dahan Creek originates from Pintian Mountain in the Snow Mountain Range. The main tributaries are Keelung River and Xindian River.

The Danshui River in the narrow sense refers to the section of the river where Dahan River and Xindian Creek converge at the Zicui of the Banqiao River to the mouth of the Danshui Oil Tanker Mouth. The term "freshwater river" is basically a narrowly defined freshwater river.

The Tamsui River is 158.7 kilometers long and has a basin area of 2,726 square kilometers, with the upstream of the main stream being Dahan Creek, and the two major tributaries of Xindian Creek and Keelung River meandering through the flatlands of the Taipei area, converging at Jiangzicui and Guandu respectively and flowing northwest into the Taiwan Strait at the oil station of the Tamsui area.

Due to its stable flow, the Tamsui River was once the only river in Taiwan with navigation functions. In the early years, the benefits of the Tamsui River and its tributaries led to the development of many coastal settlements, such as Monga, Dadaocheng, Xinzhuang, etc. However, by the end of the 19th century, the waterway of the Tamsui River was gradually silted up, and the settlements along the river declined. Freshwater rivers are almost non-navigable.

With this in mind, Zhao Zizhong decided to establish a reclamation site near the mouth of the Tamsui River to facilitate future expansion into the inland areas.

Water transport is the most efficient mode of transport today due to its huge volume. If you rely on the Tamsui River and gradually advance inland, it will save a lot of trouble.

Tian Renfeng took out a few charts, selected them, and then took out one and sent it to Zhao Zizhong.

"Mr. Zhao, this map should be a map around here, we should be here."

Tian Renfeng pointed to the map and said, Zhao Zizhong took a closer look, this map is very detailed, outlining the general outline of the coastal areas of Fujian and the northern part of Taiwan Island.

The place that Tian Renfeng pointed to is the northernmost part of Taiwan Island, and more than 100 miles to the southwest should be the estuary of the Tamsui River.

Zhao Zizhong asked, "Tian Renfeng, who got this map?" ”

Tian Renfeng replied: "It seems that Guo Jintao got it from a maritime merchant, and it is said that he spent a lot of money. ”

Zhao Zizhong said happily: "This map is a treasure, no matter how much money you spend, it's worth it." As long as we follow this map, we will soon find the mouth of the river. ”

Tian Renfeng was puzzled, why was Mr. Zhao so sure that he could find the river according to this chart? Could it be that he had been to Liuqiu Island before? Or did he see the map?

The flotilla began to turn slowly, heading southwest along the coastline.

Standing on deck, Taichen asked Boris, "Is this Liuqiu?" Why are you so sure that this is the Flow? ”

Boris replied: "You can't be wrong, we did a lot of preparation before we set off. Cui Daoshu's staff from the Ministry of Commerce and Trade began to collect information about Liuqiu Island half a year ago. They asked many maritime merchants and sailors, bought charts of this sea area, and spent a lot of money. Even the convoy interrogated some pirates, and they got a lot of valuable information from them. ”

Tai Qin suddenly realized that Seven Seas Company had already made relevant preparations. People don't make decisions casually, they probably have been planning for a long time.

The people on the ships were thrilled to see the land of Liuqiu. Everyone stood on the deck, hugging and cheering excitedly, everyone wanted to land as soon as possible and take over the borderland.

A few hours later, a sailor on the mast of Boris's boat shouted: "Look ahead, there is a big river!" ”

Boris hurried to the bow of the ship and looked into the distance.

He saw a vast body of water, the mouth of the river was about a few hundred meters wide, and on the north bank of the river was a mountainous area with mudflats covered with mangroves.

At the mouth of the Tamsui River, the water waves are full of sky, and at the bend not far from the estuary, the shrubs are lush and green, and from time to time there are herons flying past the trees.

At this time, the tide of the sea is receding, revealing muddy shallows, and water birds are foraging for food, and the little egrets and yellow-headed herons seem to be very surprised, pecking at small fish and small crabs.

The name "mangrove" is derived from a plant in the mangrove family, whose bark can be used to refine red dye. Mangrove forests are salt-tolerant evergreen forests that grow in estuaries and coastal swamps, such as red eggplant. It is also known as the "tidal forest", and the lower half of the tree is soaked in water at high tide, and the upper half looks like a forest growing on the water. When the tide recedes, muddy flats are exposed.

In the soft mud of swamps with extreme oxygen deficiency and high salinity, it is difficult for seeds to germinate and seedlings to grow, so mangrove plants have developed a unique propagation method of germinating first, then landing and regenerating roots.

Tai Qin walked up to Boris: "Lord Bao, the scenery is really good, if you build a camp here, it will definitely be a good choice." ”

Boris smiled: "Monk Taiqin, don't call me Lord Bao Shi in the future." I've told you a few times, my surname is Boris, my surname is Boris. My surname is 'Smirlov'. ”

Tai Qin shook his head and said, "Your surname is too long for the Sprinkle family to remember." I can't call you by your name, can I? Call you Boris, that's too rude, you can't do it! ”

Boris almost spurted out a mouthful of old blood, 'You can't do it! 'How does it sound, and 'Your Majesty, the concubines can't do it.' 'Kind of similar?'

Seeing that Boris's fair face was a little purple, Tai Qin hurriedly asked, "Lord Baoshi, what's wrong with you?" Is it sick? Let the Sprinkle family take your pulse. ”

Boris shook his head, "My stomach hurts a little, go to the thatched house, Xiao Feng, and notify me immediately if there is something." ”

Xiao Feng, the squadron leader of the escort team, agreed, and Boris hurriedly ran into the cabin.

Tai Qin asked, "Lord Xiao Shi, isn't he really sick?" ”

"Master, it's definitely not. The whole island knows that he is a man of his word, and Mr. Bao never lies. ”

Taiqin was still a little confused, and he didn't say anything. Why did Boris react so strongly.

At this time, the flag soldier ran over and saluted Xiao Feng.

"Report captain, just now the flagship issued an order, let our fleet find a place to anchor near the mouth of the sea, and today everyone will live on the ship, so that the guards and sailors can have a good rest.

Mr. Zhao also said, let everyone go fishing if they have nothing to do, go to the sea to catch seafood, eat a seafood dinner in the evening, and drink a little liquor if they are not worth the night. ”

The sailors and guards on deck cheered, and everyone immediately began to turn in search of a suitable anchorage.

The flag soldier looked around, and then asked, "Squadron leader, where is Mr. Bao?" Mr. Zhao asked him and Master Taiqin to take a small boat to his flagship, saying that there was something to discuss. ”

Xiao Feng waved his hand and said, "I know, I'll inform Mr. Bao in a while, you can get busy." ”

The flag soldier left, and Xiao Feng said to Taiqin: "Master, I will send someone to prepare a small boat, and you and Mr. Bao will go to the flagship in a while." ”

Tai Qin nodded: "Okay, I'll go to the cabin to prepare, it's very likely that I won't be back tonight." ”

An hour later, on Zhao Zizhong's flagship, many people walked into the cabin one after another to attend the meeting convened by Zhao Zizhong.

Headed by Zhao Zizhong, Du Dalei, Boris, Guo Jintao, Zhai Xiaoshan, as well as officers at all levels of the escort team Zhang Hong, Zheng Debao, Huang Fushan, Qin San, Li Ting, a staff member of the Ministry of Commerce and Trade, Liu Shiyuan, the administrator of the Logistics Department, and Taiqin monks who attended the meeting.

The small cabin was packed, the air was a little stuffy, and the smell was quite smoky.

Zhao Zi sniffled again and said, "I'll make a long story short, let's hold on, and when the meeting is over, let's go to the deck to drink and chat together." ”

Everyone cheered, Zhao Zizhong pressed down with his hands, and everyone in the cabin shut up.

Zhao Zizhong said: "Early tomorrow morning, let 200 guards land in small boats and reconnoiter both sides of the estuary. Zhai Xiaoshan and Boris each led a team to figure out the situation on land as soon as possible.

Then, based on the information we have detected, we will decide where to set up a stronghold, and let the guards, craftsmen, and farmers build temporary camps and shacks as soon as possible. Then immediately build warehouses, temporary docks, and bring people and supplies ashore. ”