He Bin still insisted on getting up and said, "No, I'd better meet with the general." ”

With that, He Bin got up and walked out of the cell with the interpreter, the Dutch were still feasting, and even Tasman was gnawing on the meat left on the chicken ribs, but one of the people behind him was crying.

"Bell, isn't it worth being happy to eat a meal of meat before you die?" Tasman said.

"Captain Tasman, do you know that the reason why we died so quickly is because of Moder's meaning?" Bell sobbed.

"You...... You can understand what they say, can you? Bell, I remember, you didn't participate in the exploration of the southern continent last year, but became Mr. Pitt's sidekick. Tasman remembered that Bell, a non-commissioned officer on an expedition ship, had been left ill before the expedition last year.

"Yes," said Bell, "I became a servant of Mr. Pitt in Batavia, who, like Moder, was in charge of dealing with the Tatars, so I also learned the Chinese Chinese. I heard from them that it was Moder who had bought off a general in the Earl's Court to put us to death at once. ”

Tasman was surprised: "Why, why did Mr. Moder do this?" ”

"It must have been to protect his secret," Bell said. ”

"Do you know his secret? That Mr. He Bin must have come here for this secret, right? Tasman thought He Bin was trying to get some news from him.

Bell nodded: "Yes, we went north this time, nominally with the mission of exploring Treasure Island around Japan, but in fact we were on a diplomatic mission. Mr. Pitt had all the authority of the Governor of Matsolko to establish contact with the King of Tatars.

It is said that two years earlier, Governor Van Dimen had sent a fleet of Fries to the north, also to liaise with the Tatars, but that was never to return. This time, however, they wanted to establish direct contact and conduct trade, and in order to avoid the Eastern Trading Company, they chose a port on the east coast of the Hermit Country.

Mr. Pitt had told me the secret, and he had asked me to keep it a secret, for the other day Mr. Moder had told him that the boss of the Oriental Trading Company had a hatred with the Tatars that could not coexist. ”

"Damn Bell, you shouldn't have told us, you should keep this secret, and then tell that He Bin, let him let us go, and you will die yourself.

Are you going to kill us? Ladies and gentlemen, we should pretend not to know. A stout sailor grabbed Bell by the neck and said viciously.

Bell pushed him away and said, "Yes, you can all pretend not to know, I made an agreement with Mr. He Bin and told them to let him save me alone." ”

"Hey, Bell, he's not one of the Count's." Someone said.

Bell said, "You don't know the Count who wants to kill us, he used to be a pirate, and if he hadn't fought with the boss of the Eastern Trading Company and won the meritorious service, he wouldn't have become an Earl."

Master Li is his benefactor, a noble man who can come and go in his mansion at will. ”

When Tasman heard this, he said, "Bell, you know these secrets, and I know some secrets, and maybe we can exchange these secrets for our own lives." ”

Soon, He Bin came back, and he sat down in a chair.

Tasman said, "Your Excellency, we know some secrets that are useful to the Eastern Company.

We also know that your boss has a deep friendship with Lord Earl, can we trade these secrets for your boss to protect us? ”

"And then?" He Bin asked lightly: "Master Li got you out of the cell, and you told us the secret, and then what?" Where are you going? ”

"I believe that at that time, Dongyin and Du Company will think that we are dead. We can go to Macau or Manila and find a boat back home. Tasman said.

"You are all good sailors, you are usable talents, Lord Li wants me to ask if you are willing to work for the Oriental Trading Company, we are currently preparing to build an expedition fleet to explore a new shipping route." He Bin said.

"Of course, we do," Tasman said. I joined Dongyin for thirteen years, and I have traveled the entire eastern seas and explored the southern continent. Bell's experienced captain and the two of them, each of whom were the backbone of the ship. ”

"Alright then, you wait a few days, and I'll tell Master Li to see if I can convince Lord Earl." He Bin said with a smile.

He Bin walked out of the cell and got into a four-wheeled carriage, on which Li Zhaoji sat opposite Wang and Xing, laughing and talking about something.

"How is it, He Bin, did they agree?" Wang, Xing asked.

He Bin said: "They agreed, uncle, but it seems that they believe that you are the culprit." ”

Wang Xing said: "I don't care, no matter what, the Dutch will send money to my house." In this way, I will find a few death row inmates, cut off their heads on the spot, and do enough tricks. In this way, Brother Li can use these four Yangyi casually. ”

Li Zhaoji smiled and said, "Uncle, how can I repay you for this matter?" I know you're a generous man, but to be honest, I just asked you to help at first, and I didn't expect your men to get hurt, let alone make you infamous and make the Dutch hate you. ”

Wang Xinghaha smiled: "If there are more lice, it will not itch, and if there are more debts, there will be no worries." I am this peace uncle, and there are people inside and outside the Ming Dynasty who hate me. But I never refuse to be given favors by others, and if Brother Li doesn't want to go, give me fifty pistols. I'd like to equip my guards with that too. ”

Li Zhaoji said: "One hundred, send it to Bofu within two months." ”

"Thank you very much." Wang Xing laughed, got out of the carriage, and left satisfied.

Two days later, Bamboo Garden.

The last time Tasman came, it caused a misunderstanding, but this time he changed into clean clothes, became a guest of honor of Li Zhaoji, and stayed here all day.

Tasman and his companions anticipated the meeting in a manner similar to that of the Hung Gate, in which they would be treated with good food and drink in order to reveal the secrets they knew, but if their answers did not satisfy them, they would try to kill or torture themselves.

But they are all mistaken, since coming to Zhuyuan, Li Zhaoji only said about secret things, but energetically discussed with everyone about navigation, surveying and mapping, etc., although Bell knows some Chinese, and He Bin, who accompanied him, is proficient in Dutch, but when the topic is too professional, there are still problems with the communication between the two sides.

Tasman found that Lee was eager to take all the technology and knowledge he had gained from European voyages over the centuries from his head. And he also searched his stomach and tried his best to meet Li Zhaoji's requirements. Because Lee Siu Kee also has knowledge and tools that he does not master.

For example, when Tasman, a navigation and exploration expert, was still complacent about his mastery of the quadrant, Li Zhaoji directly took out the octane he invented, which directly advanced the measurement technology for a century.

The Dutch had a good conversation with Lee Siu Kee, but it turned out that Lee Siu Kee was given a group of experienced sailing experts. And if the Naval Academy is allowed to obtain advanced navigation knowledge and teaching teachers, it is also hoped that Aaron of the British East India Company and Chen Si'an, who went to Europe, can buy enough books.

"As far as I know, in fact, if you are a little further north five dimensions, you can discover the Southern Continent. Within our system, it is called Australia. Li Zhaoji said to Tasman.

Two years earlier, Tasman had embarked on a voyage to explore the southern continent, from Batavia to Mauritius, an island off the east coast of Africa and a stopover for the Dutch trade, using the monsoon winds, to survey the Australian continent.

The Dutch of this era only knew that Australia was a huge continent, and their footprints appeared on the west and north coasts of Australia.

But Tasman sailed too far south this time, and instead of discovering the Australian mainland, he discovered Tasmania and New Zealand, and then went around the east coast of the Australian mainland, found Tonga and other islands, and returned to Batavia.

Last year, we explored the northern coast of Australia, but we still didn't achieve our goal.

Hearing Li Zhaoji's affirmation, Tasman said, "How do you know, did you get the charts from the Spaniards?" ”

Li Zhaoji shook his head slightly: "In terms of sailing expeditions, the Spaniards are the most respectable, but my information does not come from them. ”

In Europe, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, England and other countries have made outstanding contributions to the exploration of the earth in the Age of Discovery, but there is no doubt that Spain and Portugal are pioneers and more fearless.

This is because they are religious lunatics who explore new continents and new islands in order to spread religion, while the Dutch and the British have the vast majority of their purpose to make money, and they will not explore again if they lack profits.

"It's a shame that Governor Matsolko has told me that he will no longer support my expedition to the southern continent....... Alas, so what, now I can't even serve Dongyin and Du Company. Tasman couldn't help but say helplessly.

Lee said, "But you can serve our trading company. ”

"Yes, Mr. He Bin said that you have an expedition plan and need my friend and I help you with it. Where are you going? Tasman asked.

"The New World of America." Lee Siu Kee said.

Tasman's eyes lit up: "Could it be that you have important information about the Northwest Passage?" ”

The so-called Northwest Passage is a route from Europe to the East through the North American continent, once upon a time, many European countries invested their fleets to explore, but without exception failed, but Britain brought colonies in Canada and other places in the future, but it was not without gain.

But European navigators still believed that the Northwest Passage existed.

"No, my target is a peninsula in the northern part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain in Spain." Lee Siu Kee said.

He opened the map and said, "From my freshwater port, follow the route of the Manila galleon westward to the American continent, and then south, to a destination." ”

Tasman immediately said: "This is a simple voyage, not an expedition. The Spaniards have been running this route for hundreds of years, and although I haven't run it, I can sail it calmly, after all, it is a mature route, almost an open secret. ”

Tasman introduced it with the help of a simple map of the world, many of which are not known for their names, but Tasman still knew: "Every June, the Manila galleon sets sail from Manila, but it does not go north directly, because it is afraid of our fleet, well, it's not us, it's the fleet of the East India, the Du Company."

They would go south, then sail into the inland waters of the Philippines, find a strait to the east of the Philippines, and then use the southwest monsoon to go north to about 42 degrees north latitude.

Before the Japanese seized their sailboats, they would have docked in Japan, but not now.

At 42 degrees north latitude, they will find a warm current that will travel eastward across the Pacific Ocean and reach the North American continent with the help of the trade winds.

It is said that they have a landmark called Cape Mendoza, and I don't know the exact location and latitude and longitude. Once you've found this location, head south along the coastline to reach Acapulco. This process takes about six months.

The return was from Acapulco, south to between 12 and 14 degrees north latitude, westward with the help of the trade winds and warm currents of the northern equator, all the way to Guam, replenishment, and then into the Philippine Inland Sea to Cavite in Manila.

This sailing process takes about three months.

Aside from the shipping routes in the Philippines' inland seas and key landmarks like Cape Mendoza, the rest is no secret.

And if your trading company is going to the New World, it doesn't really matter if you don't have Cape Mendoza, because you can measure the latitude and longitude of a relatively precise amount and then head south along the coastline, but where is your destination, do you know the latitude and longitude? ”

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