Chapter 51: Seeing Off

Ningbo Port.

More than a dozen large ships are being prepared in an orderly manner.

He Xi was on the dock at the moment, holding a wine glass in both hands, and said: "Brother Fang, this journey is difficult, there are many difficulties, and there are many hardships and dangers, no less than Tang Seng Xitian learning scriptures. On the Nanyang side, I've already taken care of it. Your ships may be filled with any merchandise except for the necessary supplies. This time, all the profits will be given to the soldiers. I reiterate once again that if you can successfully return, I will ask for your seal in front of Your Majesty. ”

"Never break your word."

When He Xi ran Xinjingjiang. The preparation of the long-distance fleet has never stopped.

During this period of time, Fang Guan frequently went out, just to invite old relatives and friends. After all, the Fang family is in this circle. Who has real skills at sea and who blows the conch, Fang Guan only needs to inquire to know.

This fleet, no, should be two fleets, and after entering the Strait of Malacca, they will go their separate ways. One to the west and one to the east.

No expert like Fang Guan knew better about the difficulty of this voyage, and because of this, Fang Guan desperately tried to find the best personnel. So this fleet, there are not many people. More than a thousand people in total. After the parting of the ways, each fleet was less than a thousand people. The overall supplies are even more abundant. In addition to water, all kinds of food can last at least three years.

He was one of the people who stood at the top of sailing technology at that time.

Fang Guan said: "This will definitely complete the task. ”

He Xi was silent for a while and said, "Although I should have said. Let you have no hesitation. But I'll tell you a separate list of what you can make when you feel like the fleet can't hold up. Including turning around and coming back. ”

"Even if you don't succeed, your hydrographic data and sailing experience are the greatest treasures."

Sailing is never always successful. The book only records those navigators who have great achievements, but it does not say that many navigators have disappeared into history. Not every expedition will be successful.

This is the cold reality.

But He Xi still couldn't bear to let these people's lives be wasted at sea.

Fang Guan listened to He Xi's words and was a little moved. On the contrary, he was even more determined that this time, if he didn't make some fame, he would never come back.

Actually, Fang Guan is not a fool. There is a danger that cannot be violated. He won't rush over either. Fang Guan is not the kind of person who is rigid enough to have only one tendon. It's just that the burden on Fang Guan's body is too heavy. He didn't want the Fang family to become subordinates.

As Fang Guozhen's son, Fang Guan has certainly lived some good lives. But before Fang Guozhen made a career, he was just a pirate. When Fang Guan was young, he suffered for a few years. It is precisely because of the hardships that I know that the Fang family's current status is not easy to come by. I know more about the life of the people at the bottom.

Although Fang Guan already felt that life was not easy. But compared to the real low-level people, the Fang family's life is still something they dare not hope for.

But the Fang family only inherited a little bit of Fang Guozhen. It's going to run out soon. He didn't want to see the descendants of the Fang family and live among the peasants in the future. As the head of the family, as a father, Fang Guan can do very little for the Fang family.

Today is his best chance.

Fang Guan said; "Now everything is ready, there is only one thing, and the soldiers still have some hesitation."

He Xi said: "You just say it. ”

Fang Guan said: "My lord, what will happen to explore the unknown channel this time. I don't know, but I think there will be casualties. Most of the people in the fleet are begging for a living at sea, and they don't care about life and death. ”

"Just at home?"

He Xi waved his hand and said, "You can rest assured." Whoever dies at sea. There will be a bereavement pension at home, and at the very least, they will be allowed to raise their children. All those who are in government have shade, and I will provide for my children to study until I reach adulthood. ”

Fang Guan said: "If you can't come back? Don't know life and death? ”

He Xi was silent for a while, there was actually a problem, that is, how to ensure that Fang Guan would not be like Xu Fu? However, after a while, He Xi dispelled this thought, because he really deeply understood the Ming people. Just know how ridiculous this idea is.

Give a questionnaire to all Daming people, the place they most want to live in must be in the territory of Daming. Maybe it's just a different city. Because all Ming people have a consensus. That is the most prosperous city in the world, all in Daming.

Only a fool will leave Daming and go to a wild land.

Unless Fang Guan has no choice, he will never stay overseas, not to mention that among the Chinese's obsession, there is also the idea of returning to the roots. Fang Guan wanted to die in Daming. Why didn't you come back? It must be force majeure.

When encountering such a thing, there is nothing to say.

He Xi said: "I hope it is safe. But if the news is cut off from then on, it will be treated as death. I'm not going to let you have any worries, I'll take care of everything. ”

Fang Guan said; "The lower officials have all bowed and died." Fang Guan looked up at the sky and said, "The hour is just right, after worshipping Mazu, I am about to leave the port." ”

Under the leadership of He Xi, all the sailing personnel offered incense in front of Mazu Niangniang and prayed for blessings. Then he brought the amulet in the Mazu Niangniang Temple, and someone took a small jar and dug up the soil of his hometown. Boarding one after another. Set sail and go.

He Xi climbed up the small hill near the port non-stop, watched from afar as these ships spread their hard sails and sailed into the unknown, knowing that they could not be seen, so he stopped. Then it swept around. See the hill at your feet.

In fact, this so-called hill is not too high. It's just a small high slope, but it's already the highest point around the pier.

He Xi said; "Pass the order and build a lighthouse here."

He Xi originally wanted to explain to Zhu Yuanzhang and use an administrative order to build lighthouses in all places along the coast. as an infrastructure for navigation. But He Xi studied it carefully and found that it didn't work. Because the location of the lighthouse is very particular. If navigation can't penetrate into people's hearts, this lighthouse is just an ornament.

And it's hard to say what a one-size-fits-all order will look like at the level of execution.

Not to mention, if the lighthouse is ordered from above, the cost will not be easy to manage. After all, thousands of lighthouses along the coast are also a lot of expenses. It's not that the court doesn't have money, but Zhu Yuanzhang doesn't want to spend it on it.

He Xi had no choice but to set up lighthouses where they were needed. Then it spread, and if the sea trade was frequent enough, a little wind blowing would be enough for a lighthouse to be built below. And there is no need for imperial court appropriations.

He Xi sent Fang Guan away, and he will send him away tomorrow, Fang Mingqian.

Fang Mingqian's fleet was to sail north, and after passing through the Matsua Strait, it would go all the way north, through the Bering Strait, to North America. It is the shortest of all routes. But a closer analysis is not easy to follow. After all, it is close to the Arctic Circle, what kind of situation it is, He Xi is not sure.

He Xi just finished his work when he received a secret letter from Zhu Yuanzhang. At the same time, there are also for Princess Anqing.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not hide He Xi in many things, and even analyzed He Xi clearly. With a bit of a teaching component. In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang's ability to lead students is not too bad. It's like Lu Zhongheng has a lot of military things, which Zhu Yuanzhang taught face-to-face. Lu Zhongheng has such qualifications. And he doesn't like to learn himself. Therefore, the achievements of this life are also fixed. It's okay to fight, kill, and kill, but not the rest.

However, after Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, he rarely did so. This can also see the importance that Zhu Yuanzhang attaches to He Xi.

Zhu Yuanzhang explained the reason for letting He Xi temporarily leave the southeast coast, and also explained the reason for leaving, that is, to go north and inspect shipping. and develop better plans for transporting food by sea. After all, the army moved to Liaodong, which was something that had been decided a few years ago.

He Xi has to make advance preparations.

The better the effect of transporting grain by sea, the easier it will be to fight on the front line.

This is an important task.

He Xi had just finished reading it, and before he could think about what to do, Princess Anqing happily came to He Xi. said: "Look, I'll just say it." Father won't fight with us about this. ”