"Sit down."

Zhu Daolin ordered to take the lead in sitting on the main seat, picked up the teacup and drank two sips, before slowly scanning the crowd: "General Simeno, have the ships on the mission arrived?" ”

Simeno hurriedly stood up: "According to the general's order, four 550-ton three-masted warships, two 800-ton converted transport ships, and four 800-ton new armed merchant ships have all arrived at Tamsui Port. ”

"The four new armed merchant ships are 45 new ships that were commissioned the day before yesterday, and have not yet been officially named, and the overall performance is very good, the slightly slender hull effectively increases the speed, and after improving the transmission chain and enlarging the vertical shaft gear, the maneuvering is more accurate and flexible."

"THE HULL THICKNESS, SOLIDITY AND MANUFACTURING ACCURACY ARE ALL GREATER THAN THOSE OF THE OCEAN-GOING CARGO SHIPS MANUFACTURED BY THE MANILA SHIPYARD, AND ALSO MORE THAN ALL THE GALEN SHIPS AND CONVERTED CARGO SHIPS THAT THE NAVY HAS PREVIOUSLY EQUIPPED, AND THE ELIMINATION OF THE BOW MAST HAS NO OBVIOUS EFFECT ON SPEED AND STEERING, BUT THE 125MM CALIBER ROTARY GUN INSTALLED IN THE CENTER OF THE BOW HAS A HUGE EFFECT, WHICH CAN CARRY OUT RAPID SHELLING OF TARGETS IN THE FRONT AND WITHIN THE 270-DEGREE FIRING RANGE TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, WHICH IS ALMOST EQUIVALENT TO TWO LONG-BARRELED GUNS OF THE SAME CALIBER."

"After the visit of the captains of the East China Sea Fleet, they unanimously demanded that the new armed merchant ships be built in large quantities to replace the existing transport ships of the two fleets."

Zhu Daolin motioned for Simeno to sit down, and then introduced: "The new 800-ton armed transport ship is designed and manufactured on the basis of the Galen ship and the treasure ship, and borrows from the keel layout and steering wheel transmission system of the Tianshu Pavilion ocean-going sailing ship. ”

"Due to the lack of experience of our craftsmen and designers, the initial plan was to build one for experimentation, and in view of the urgent need for large cargo ships by the Navy and Tiangong, I suggested that the shipyard build five ships at a time, and even if it was unsuccessful, it could be used on the offshore route from Baoshan to Qingdao and Weihai."

"At the end of the sea trials, the task of transporting supplies to the Qingdao base was heavy due to the fleet. Tens of thousands of migrants on Bagua Island urgently needed to be transferred to Yingzhou to open up wasteland in order to plant a season of potatoes and corn, and after discussion and approval by the committee, they were temporarily handed over to four ships of the East China Sea Fleet for transporting migrants, and the remaining one continued to stay in the shipyard for testing and improvement. ”

"The East China Sea Fleet was reluctant to return the ships after completing its mission, before I left Jinling. The members of the committee and the shipyard supervisor also complained to me and demanded that the East China Sea Fleet return the ships as soon as possible so that they can be fully inspected and summarized, and finalized and put into mass production as soon as possible. ”

Bagas and Li Changlong immediately stood up and explained that this new type of transport ship is already very good in all aspects, and it is the ocean-going transport ship that the navy urgently needs, and the nine 80MM and 125MM caliber guns on the ship are far superior to the same caliber guns of the navies of various countries in terms of firing range, rate of fire, and power, plus two high-powered mortars with a firing range of up to 450 meters. It can fully deal with the 500-ton Galen battleship.

Simeno also continued to help intercede, seeing that Feng Shengtai's eyes were wide, he didn't expect the admiral to be so good that he dared to join forces and fight against the general.

Zhu Daolin didn't want to spoil the navy, so he ordered Yang Dading to have a meal and asked if everyone had eaten? If not, go in and eat. Vargas and Li Changlong immediately lost their fire, and followed behind with Simeno in despair, to have breakfast.

After breakfast, Feng Shengtai had the opportunity to tell Zhu Daolin: "Mr. Sayide arrived at the port yesterday afternoon with two 700-ton cargo ships loaded with tea. The cargo ship was moored at Pier 5 and the accompanying 12 people lived in the small courtyard of the Seafarers' Club No. 4 above the pier. He did not yet know the news of the arrival of the general. ”

Zhu Daolin said with a smile: "I'm afraid this guy has already made up his mind to go around Europe with our visiting fleet, and sell tea by the way." ”

Feng Shengtaile: "I guess I have this plan, after all, it is much safer to go with our fleet." ”

"What's the news coming from Macau and Manila?" Zhu Daolin asked.

Feng Shengtai took out two letters written in Latin and handed them to Zhu Daolin: "Five days ago, I received official letters from the East India Company of the two countries, and the words were very polite. It was confirmed that the negotiators would arrive at Tamsui Port on the fourth day of March, and the preliminary decision was made to travel to Europe with our visiting fleet, which is expected to be on the way by both sides. ”

"The Spanish cargo ships going to Europe will be waiting at the port of Manila, and the Portuguese cargo ships do not know whether to meet at the port of Tamsui first or go directly to the port of Manila to wait."

Zhu Daolin did not receive the letter. waved his hand and said: "Put the letter away, you know that I can't understand it and hand it over, bullying me?" ”

At this time, not only Feng Shengtai was happy, but Yang Dading, Simeno and Li Changlong on the side also laughed, and finally saw that Zhu Daolin, who was omnipotent like a god, also had something he didn't understand, and everyone was very happy.

Zhu Daolin didn't care, peeled off a boiled egg and stuffed it into his mouth, and after eating, he saw that everyone had stopped, so he instructed Yang Dading:

"Send someone across the river, and inform the three directors of the Military and Political Committee to come over for a celebration and preparation meeting, and in the afternoon you and Simeno accompany me to the docks to have a look, to visit the seamen's club and the barracks of the fortified troops, and to hold an enlarged meeting there in the evening."

"Understood!"

Yang Dading immediately walked to the door and gave an order in the ear of his personal guard.

Li Changlong and Bagas had a great headache, and this time the two of them were respectively the deputy heads of the visiting mission, and they were also the supreme military commanders of the visiting fleet, and if they could not use four new armed merchant ships, they could only transfer four more converted cargo ships from the East China Sea Fleet, which would definitely be a huge pity for them and even the East China Sea Fleet.

Zhu Daolin didn't care what they thought, walked side by side with Simeno to the conference room on the east side of the main hall, sat down and asked with concern, "Did you take this opportunity to bring your family here?" ”

Simeno nodded: "My subordinates have written several letters to ask Vargas to bring them back, my father and mother are probably reluctant to leave Spain, and my brother and two younger sisters don't know how to choose, so they can only obey God's arrangement." ”

"Don't you have a beloved girl?" Zhu Daolin asked curiously.

Simeno smiled wryly: "It has been seven years since my subordinates left Spain, and it is estimated that she has already married, and her subordinates have also written a letter to her, giving her some gifts from the Ming Dynasty as a commemorative ......"

"This guy Vargas is probably luckier than his subordinates, he has a beloved girl in his hometown, and the girls in their hometown have always been very infatuated, and many good girls are willing to wait for their sweethearts, and take the gold and fine porcelain of the East or the Americas back to marry them."

Zhu Daolin nodded silently and pondered for a long time. Approaching Simeno, he asked in a low voice, "If you spend money to buy a few hundred young and beautiful European girls to come back, will it help you and the officers who have become the nationality of the Ming Dynasty?" ”

A deep sense of gratitude rose in Simenor's heart: "It will definitely help, and it will help a lot...... All will be sincerely grateful for the General's love and generosity! The subordinates and the officers who joined the Ming nationality will also have a stable life as a result, although some ...... How so? It's a little unreasonable, but when I miss my hometown, there is someone around me who speaks the same language. It can always make people have a kind of spiritual sustenance, and when they have children, they will be completely at ease. ”

"Okay, that's it! The matter will be negotiated with the Spanish and Portuguese officers who are visiting Europe, and I will give Vargas the funds for the purchase of 500 European girls before I leave. Zhu Daolin immediately made a decision.

"General," Simeno suggested, "General, a horse of oriental silk can be exchanged for five beautiful Spanish or French maidens, seven for a maiden from the Holy Roman Empire, and 10 from the Caucasus, because the Holy Roman Empire and the region west of the Caucasus are in a state of constant war. Nearly half of the men died, and the women were not very valuable. ”

Zhu Daolin was stunned: "No problem at all, our fleet will bring rich gifts to visit the Spanish and Portuguese royal families on this trip, and I have specially customized 2,000 pieces of the most beautiful silk, 200 sets of precious crystal crafts, 200 sets of beautifully carved and elegant pewter ware in line with European aesthetics, and 200 boxes of excellent black tea packaged in beautiful porcelain jars and tin cans." ”

"Among them. Half of it will be given to the royal family and the nobles who have good intentions towards us, and you and Vargas will also have a share as high-ranking generals. Let your share of the Bagas be delivered to your parents, and the officers of Spanish, Portuguese, and other nationalities who will be on the mission will each receive a box of fine porcelain and two ordinary silk as gifts, and the rest will be taken to France or England for an auction of oriental goods, which is the responsibility of the head of the mission, Mr. Feng Shengtai, who has a detailed plan. ”

Simeno immediately stood up and respectfully thanked Zhu Daolin with a Spanish nobleman's thanks: "I can't express my gratitude and gratitude to the general in words. Only keep the deep gratitude in my heart! ”

Zhu Daolin stood up and saluted back: "You're welcome, you are already my brother!" Sit down, and talk about the upcoming Quartet before anyone arrives. ”

"Shengtai, Bagas, Lao Li, and Dading. Don't be stunned, discuss it, and see if you can take the opportunity of this four-party meeting to get Keelung Port back? The Spanish East India Company has been squeezed out of the Japanese market by the Dutch and the Zheng family in Fujian, and it makes no sense to continue to send an army of several hundred people to Keelung, so it is better to hand it over to us for development and utilization. ”

Everyone immediately cheered up, although they didn't know what Zhu Daolin was doing when he wanted Keelung Port back, but it was not comfortable for the Spanish army of more than 300 people to be stationed by his side for a long time, including Simeno and Bagas, they didn't want to see the Spanish army standing in the pit and not.

In the eyes of everyone, if the Keelung port is handed over to their own group, it will be possible to build a famous military port and trade transit base in the Far East in less than a year, not to mention that Japan has continuously expelled Catholic clergy due to religious incidents, and no longer trades with caravans other than the Ming and the Netherlands, and the Spanish governor of Manila has no need to continue to garrison troops in Keelung Port.

Before Zhu Daolin and others had a conclusion in their discussion on Keelung, Wang Zhaohuan, Wei Yuying, and Fan Sanmin, the chief and deputy chiefs of the Yingzhou Military and Political Committee, hurriedly arrived, and everyone immediately stood up and saluted each other.

As soon as Wang Zhaohuan met, he complained that the court and the emperor did not attach importance to Yingzhou, since it has been included in the territory of the Ming Dynasty, why has there been no edict so far, and the military and political committee of Yingzhou Mansion is very awkward.

Fan Sanmin, who was in charge of industry, was happy but had no opinion, this technocrat who had served as the deputy head of Hushan Manor was a practical person, in his opinion, it didn't matter if he was an official of the imperial court, he could follow Zhu Daolin to do a career worthy of this life.

Zhu Daolin smiled, ignored Wang Zhaohuan's complaints, and after saying hello, he saluted his senior brother Wei Yuying, who was in charge of household registration, education, and medicine, stepped forward to hold his brother's hand, and asked in a low voice, "Has the academy been opened?" ”

"It's done, 22 old masters were selected from the immigrants to teach, and the teaching materials of Ziyang Academy were used, although there were only 337 children, but it was finally done."

"Half a month ago, the academy moved from the wooden house behind the old wharf on the south bank to the Yingzhou Academy that is still under construction in the west of Yuanshan, just at the foot of the planned Ziyangguan Mountain, where our Ziyangguan medical hall is also located, all red brick and large tile houses, so you don't have to worry about wind and rain."

"The old master and his family lived in a wide brick house, all of them were very grateful, originally quite resistant to the new teaching materials, but now they have accepted it, and they are also very concerned about the children.

"There are more than 30,000 immigrants in Hsinchu, and the medical team sent is led by Senior Brother Yuwan, and Hsinchu Academy may not be able to start construction until the end of the year."

Wei Yuying, whose skin was a lot darker, reported in detail that although he was Zhu Daolin's senior brother and a senior disciple of Xuanyue Daoist, he did not dare to have any support in front of the majestic Zhu Daolin.

After the greetings, Zhu Daolin presided over the preparatory meeting for the opening ceremony of Tamsui Port, and assigned the task to everyone in only half an hour.

The meeting ended cleanly, and all the civil and military forces rushed to accompany Zhu Daolin to the small military pier, boarded the sail patrol speedboat of the garrison headquarters, and went to the newly completed Tamsui port, which is 16 meters long and 3 wide. The 5-meter paddle boat goes down the river and gradually increases its speed as the sails are pulled.

The clipper traveled about 3 kilometers, sailed out of the Tamsui estuary, turned the rudder to the south, bypassed the No. 3 battery still under construction between the south bank of the estuary and the coast, and sailed into the north entrance of the breakwater protruding 750 meters out of the sea.

Two months ago, the messy port has changed dramatically.

Eight steel cranes stand on the edge of the 1,200-metre-long stone-based pier, with an unobstructed view of the open and solid concrete pier.

More than 100 meters above the wharf, sixteen tall warehouses of red bricks and red pills are neatly arranged, and above the triple archway erected high in the middle, a large plaque of "trading market" is hung.

All the buildings are square and adjacent to each other, and the square pillars and arched gates that protrude from the walls show a unique sturdiness and heaviness, which are complemented by the flat and wide piers and tall steel cranes, forming a distinctive image of a freshwater port, giving people a deep feeling of scale and grandeur.

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PS: In the past few days, Juhuo has been on a business trip, and he can only catch the time code word, so the update time can't be fixed.

Thank you for the big reward you haven't found yet, thank you for the big monthly pass! Xiaohuo continues to ask for subscriptions, tips, referral tickets and monthly pass support! (To be continued.) )