The first full moon after the Shangyuan Festival has just set, the sun has not yet shown its face, and the simple port of Mombasa Island is busy and full of people. Arabs, Gree, Pygmies, Bushmen, Persians, Srivijaya...... And, of course, the Dons. The shipwright who loads the cargo, the sailor who sorts the hold, the sailman who checks the sail line, the lookout who climbs to check the water pattern in his field of vision, the first mate who is busy dispatching the manpower, and the captain who holds the chart and discusses with Girohard, Cui Zhouzu and others.

Well, there are also Lao Luo and his party who didn't get on the boat and the heads of Cui Fan's family next to him. "Thank you Nanbo and Uncle Shi for seeing you off, the kid is grateful." Lao Luo is used to the way of speaking in this era, and the scene has gradually become fluent.

"Alright, now that everything is ready, let's get ready to get on board." Cui Zhouzu is a family member, of course, there are some things for him to come forward, "If you don't feel smooth after going north, come back, there will always be a place for you Luo Sanlang." ”

"Hehe, no," Lao Luo smiled and declined, saying that he would become a part of your Cui family when he came back? "I'm waiting to go to the north, but it's just to experience the world, and hardships and dangers are just swords and stones, so what's there to fear?"

"Good! Saburo is so lucky! Cui Zhou Shigai's sadness of separation turned into excitement, "I must live for twenty more years, and wait for you or eighteen to come back to congratulate me on my birthday!" ”

"Okay, it's a word, Uncle Shi can't miss the appointment!"

"You are so glad to say it," said Girohad, who had finished communicating with the captain, "Mr. Badantel, please all the way, Your Excellency, Allah, and wish the journey all the best!" ”

"Okay, thank you for your blessings." Lao Luo was also a little excited, and looked at the Cui family next to him who was about to practice wine, "Guy, bring the wine up, and give Mr. Girohard a glass of juice." ”

Soon many acquaintances present had a cup in their hands, either palm wine, or rice wine from the Tang people, or juice from the Arabs.

"Today, the ship is far away, and I will embark on the journey home first, thank you for your blessings." Lao Luo raised his glass halfway through speaking, "Mr. Girohad, according to the custom of the Orientals, those who see off must drink practice wine, I know that all Muslims are forbidden to drink, so please Mr. Girohad replace the wine with fruit juice, drink this cup together, and wish you all the elders good health!" Cheers! ”

"Cheers!" "Have a nice trip!" "Gotta come back!" "Be sure to ......"

Lao Luo boarded the first ship with two Maasai people, one Tang and one Arab, and the rest of the people who were going to travel also boarded the ship, untied the cables, pulled off the gangplank, lifted the anchor, and hoisted the sails...... The ships began to leave the shore and move eastward, and the people on the shore, those who were idle on board, were waving and shouting...... The morning sun began to rise slowly, and the sky was a well-proportioned transition color from fish belly white to light blue, without a trace of impurities......

…………………………

The Arab ships are not large, the one at the feet of Lao Luo is the largest in this fleet, the length of the hull is about forty-five meters, the width will not exceed nine meters, the ship has a high and two low three masts, each mast is obliquely hung with triangular vertical sails, instead of the sails of the common sailing ships in later generations, all the main structures on the ship are wooden, and some key parts are also coated with thick tung oil. The ship has no water compartments, and only one deck, with cargo holds and crew lounges underneath, and the superstructure is only a few small rooms for the captain and guests.

Since it was not completely downwind, the ship took a zigzag route, and the wind on the first day of going to sea was not strong, but there was still some creaking sound everywhere under the force of the wind, which made Lao Luo a little uncomfortable, as if the ship seemed to fall apart at any time.

"Captain McNee, do you think there will be rain today?" Lao Luo stood on the deck of the bow of the ship, beside him was a bearded man in a green robe, no more than forty years old, with a pair of deep hazel eyes and a hooked nose typical of Semitic people.

"It just rained yesterday, and it's unlikely to rain today." McNee took out a parchment notebook while sorting out the clutter at hand, probably preparing to write something, "Although this season is the rainy season, the rain at sea is generally not heavy, and there is no wind, so there will be no problem." ”

"Is the captain going to write something?" Lao Luo looked around, the ships behind him were not far away, and the speed of the entire fleet was also maintained at a level.

"Well, I will write every time I have free time, otherwise I won't be able to write when there is a storm and waves." McNee looked at Lao Luo and said a little casually, "Mr. Bartoll doesn't seem to be on this kind of boat, right?" Don't worry, it sounds a little loud, but don't you think it's as fascinating as a piece of music? ”

"Hehe, I'm a little unaccustomed." Lao Luo smiled calmly, undisguised his sensitivity to the sound of squeaking, "Mr. Captain can definitely hear the general situation of the ship from the sound." ”

"Of course, that's the captain's basic skill," McNee said with a little frown, "and this ship has been with me for eight years, and I know her as well as my body." ”

"Well, you're such a dedicated captain." Lao Luo always admires professional people.

"Thank you for the compliment, but this is a must." McNee said happily and with some seriousness, "The sea is fair to everyone, and if you treat it religiously, it will reward you with piety." ”

"Really?" Lao Luo didn't understand.

"That means that when you maintain your boat on the beach, every sweat you put in, you will get a reward at sea." McNee explained.

"That's right, that's the truth!" Now Lao Luo understood, thought for a while and said, "People who don't want to pay and only expect something in return will have no good results." ”

"Yes, greed and laziness are unforgivable sins......" As if touched by something, McNee spread out his parchment notes, a little dazed.

"Mr. Captain, I'm going to see my entourage......" Lao Luo saw that the other party did not react, turned around and went to the cabin.

Bypassing the busy covered Arab sailors, Lao Luo went down to the cabin below deck, three entourages, and a commissioned recruit, only Cui Eighteen, an active kid, can stand firm at the moment, and it is understandable that the two Maasai have never boarded a sea ship, Camille, a boy with a seafaring merchant father, is also seasick, which really makes Lao Luo a little speechless.

There is no wind and waves at this time, and I don't know what it will be like if there is wind and rain. Of course, Lao Luo himself doesn't care about this bit of wind and rain, Lao Luo, the swinging machine of the Air Force in later generations, has played many times, and that thing didn't stun Lao Luo when he jumped in space, and the bump of the ship can only be said to be pediatric.

He took out a container made of sausage husks from his sheepskin backpack and pinned it to his belt, Lao Luo grabbed the rickety Naga in one hand and went to the deck, and then asked Eighteen Lang to also help Camille and Mnaqi to the deck. Find an unobtrusive open space, let them all lie on the deck, open the container of sausage husks, and a strange fresh fragrance wafts out.

"Third uncle, what is this?" The curious Eighteen Lang sniffled and asked, "Something I've never seen before." ”

"The third uncle has a lot of good things, how can you say that you have seen them all?" Lao Luo sells Guanzi. "Go and smear this on a couple of bastards."

"Why do I smell a little familiar......" Eighteen Lang took the husk gourd, "Third uncle, how do you use this thing?" ”

"Look at my hands, I don't need a lot," Lao Luo spread his hands flat, and there were some scented liquids in his hands, and then wiped his hands behind Naga's ears, temples, and neck, "That's it, wipe a little." ”

"It's very simple, this smell is still familiar...... "Eighteen Lang was still confused.

"Stupid is the most common thing on Mombasa Island." Lao Luo said with a little hatred that iron is not made of steel.

"Ahh

"It's still stupid, that thing is called cloves, and there are many of them on the island to the south," Lao Luo said in a mocking tone, "and there is also something called mint, which is good for relieving heat, repelling mosquitoes, and preventing seasickness." ”

"It's so easy to use, why haven't you ever heard of it?"

"That's because you kid spends all your time talking."

“…… Talking, listening, does it matter? Eighteen Lang muttered as he applied the lilac mint potion to Mnachi and Camille.

"Stupid, when you speak, do you still have the spirit to listen to things?" It was Camille's kid who spoke, "My head hurts, the teacher said, you wipe it seriously." ”

"Damn Camille, I will serve you, master, and you dare to scold me!"

"You two bastards, shut up and rest honestly for a while!" Lao Luo is angry with these two unlucky boys, "No matter how much nonsense you talk about, go down to swim!" ”

"Huh? No! This time it was two voices in unison, and two laughs that contained painful groans.

Lao Luo, who was not disturbed, finally became idle, found a free spot in the bow of the boat, laid out the carpet, and then found a wooden barrel to lean behind him, closing his eyes and recuperating. Listen to the sound of the wind in your ears, the creaking of wooden boats, the footsteps of sailors, and the occasional chirping of seabirds in the distance......

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