Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 157 African route ([-])

In November, the east coast area is in full bloom, and the countryside of Dingyuanbao is busy.

As one of the earliest developed mature areas in the country, the [-] production teams in Dingyuan Township have opened up more than [-] mu of potato planting areas; One of the two major granaries of the Eastern China Republic.

Mo Ming led the horse for a walk on the country road, the sun shone through the shade on his shoulders, making him feel warm all over.Both sides of the dirt road in the country are full of jujube trees, poplar trees, oak trees, pear trees and other street trees. A few years ago, the Government Affairs Council promoted a campaign across the country, that is, everyone should plant a tree that can be used to build ships from an early age. .In view of the climatic conditions and soil environment on the east coast, only oak and walnut trees can be planted in large quantities.For this reason, the executive committee spent a lot of money to introduce many saplings from Europe to plant.

Now, a few years have passed, although the growth of oak trees and other small saplings is extremely slow, some fast-growing poplars that are in great demand in business have already grown into shade, adding a different kind of scenery to these paths.

On both sides of the street trees are artificially excavated irrigation canals with a width of four meters and a water depth of about two meters.In addition to irrigating the farmland, some freshwater fish are also raised in the canal. At the end of the year, the production team organizes the villagers to fish collectively, which is one of the benefits of the villagers.

The water for the canal is supplied by artificial reservoirs that can be seen everywhere in Dingyuanbao Township.Due to the lack of large-scale surface runoff in the vast area around Dongfang County, the Executive Committee and the Government Administration Council have made great efforts to build a large number of artificial water conservancy facilities in the county over the years.The density of irrigation canals, rainwater collection ponds, and artificial reservoirs is frighteningly high, and water lifting stations are also built everywhere.

No, there is a gray flat-roofed building not far ahead, and the outer wall of the building is painted with white lime water in large characters "Dingyuan Township Third Water Lifting Station".It turned out that there was a small artificial reservoir with rippling blue waves in front of it, and the water pumping station next to the reservoir was responsible for pumping the water in the reservoir into several surrounding irrigation canals.

Mo Ming led the horse and leaned over. Torricelli, who came from Florence, was busy with a group of people at the gate of the building.The temperature outside was only [-] to [-] degrees, but Torricelli was still sweating from work. He took off his woolen coat and threw it on the grass beside him, squatting in front of a dark machine, disassembling something.

This is a Barbarian-1 steam engine, and Mo Ming quickly recognized it.Then the boiler in the house should be the boiler that drives the steam engine. Mo Ming took a closer look. This steam engine should be used on the water pump of the water lifting station to pump the water from the reservoir whose water level has dropped due to the dry season in spring. next to the irrigation canal.

A part of this steam engine should be broken, so Torricelli and others are urgently repairing it.Li Hongxing from the boiler workshop of the First Machinery Factory was also on the scene. He, Torricelli and others had to work hard to replace the new parts.After confirming that there was no problem, the two Charuya employees in the room began to wave their shovels, adding coarse coal mixed with gangue into the furnace one by one.With their efforts, the boiler began to pressurize slowly. After reaching the rated pressure, a certain transmission device started to drive the water pump to work. The water in the reservoir entered the water pump under the pressure of the piston, and then was discharged into the irrigation canal next to it.

"I didn't expect you to adapt to the new environment so quickly, Evangelista. I was a little worried before." Seeing that the steam engine had started to work normally, Mo Ming picked up the woolen cloth that Torricelli threw on the ground Overcoat, handed it over and said: "Put on your clothes quickly, my friend, it's still cold outside, don't catch a cold."

Mo Ming remembered that Torricelli died of typhoid fever in Florence in 1647 in his previous life.In this era, he doesn't want to repeat this tragedy. If this great scientist dies because of a headache and brain fever, it is really not a funny joke.

"Thank you for your concern, my friend." Torricelli washed his hands by the ditch, then took the woolen overcoat and put it on, and said, "It's really terrible, the tolerance of the parts is too big, and the steam engine will fail after running for a while. Problem. To make matters worse, most of the parts we produce are substandard. God, such a machine is not practical at all, the cost is too high, we must improve."

Looking at Torricelli who was complaining endlessly, Mo Ming smiled: "I heard people from the Academy of Natural Sciences say that you are very interested in atmospheric pressure and thermodynamics, and spend all day by the steam engine. They complained to me, there is It’s been a long time since I saw you, and the pendulum clock you promised them to make hasn’t been completed yet.”

"I almost forgot about it." Torricelli smiled embarrassedly, and then said excitedly: "Mo, although the steam engine you invented has various problems, it is really An epoch-making machine, it’s really great! I thought I could use atmospheric pressure to pump water, but after seeing your machine, I realized that the water pump can be driven by steam pressure. It’s a fantastic idea, a perfect machine!”

"Hehe." Mo Ming laughed noncommittally twice, and then said: "Evangelista, my friend, I am really happy to see that you can live so happily every day. But I have to say , maybe you won’t see me for a long time. So, today I’m here to say goodbye to you.”

"What? Are you going on a long trip?" Torricelli was a little taken aback.

"Yes, the country wants to open up an African route to the Ottoman Empire. I was transferred, and I may have to go on a business trip for several months, maybe even a year or two." Mo Ming said.

"Are you going to go to war with the British?" Torricelli was silent for a long time before suddenly saying something.

"Hehe, Evangelista, I am amazed at your understanding of the international situation." Mo Ming smiled and said, "The possibility of a full-scale war with the British is not very high, but even if it is a small or medium We can't afford a war of this magnitude. We may lose the French market on which we depend. Because of this, we are desperate to open up another market, another population that is not threatened by the British navy. , Material source channel. Forget it, it’s useless to say more, the African route to the Ottoman Empire is estimated to be out of play for a few years. My friend, wish me good luck.”

"Good luck, Mo." Torricelli and Mo Ming hugged, and then joked: "Maybe I should go back and study the manufacture of pendulum clocks. Ha, you invested most of your property in me The experiment is up, I can't let you down. Mo, don't look like that, have some confidence in me, maybe you will be a rich man when you come back."

After bidding farewell to Torricelli, Mo Ming rode back to the State Intelligence Bureau, and after handing over the affairs at hand, hurried to the Dongfang Port Wharf, preparing to take the returning coal ship to Zhenhai Fort.There, the South African formation consisting of the "Eagle of the East Coast" and the "Flying Fish of Galicia" has been waiting for a long time.

On the morning of November 11th, Mo Ming arrived at Zhenhaibao Wharf with simple luggage.

"Sir, you are finally here." Julien d'Eblol, the first mate of the "Eagle of the East Coast", greeted him, "Both ships have been inspected and repaired, and the personnel and supplies have been in place, almost You can leave today."

This time, Mo Ming was appointed by the central government to serve as the captain of the South African pioneering team and lead the important task of establishing a secret port in South Africa.

"Let's go, check with me." After Mo Ming finished speaking, he climbed onto the deck of the "Galicia Flying Fish" by climbing the rope net.The sailors on the deck are nervously making the final preparations before sailing. The acting captain Huang Yang, the second lieutenant of the Navy, and Fan Lei of the construction team are counting the supplies and personnel on board one by one.

“250杆燧发步枪、800桶火药、两门6磅炮、两门8磅炮、两门12磅炮、军刀250把、3米长矛200枝、全身甲一百副、红砖5万元、水泥两吨、牲畜十头……”黄杨拿着物资明细表正在一样样清点，而范磊则在一旁清点着他手下的人手。

One hundred Charuya young men and women and fifty French immigrants would be the first inhabitants of the new South African stronghold.Of course, in the foreseeable short period of time, it may be difficult for the second batch of immigrants to appear again.These immigrants and the above materials are all the things allocated to Mo Ming by the Government Affairs Council. With these limited materials and manpower, he will work hard to establish the East Coast Republic of China in Africa in this wild and unfamiliar land in South Africa. first stronghold.

Mo Ming clenched her fists tightly. Although the manpower and supplies were pitifully small, who said he couldn't build a career.

After the materials and personnel were counted, the "Eagle of the East Coast" took the lead, and the "Galicia Flying Fish" followed closely behind. The two ships sailed out of Zhenhaibao Wharf in a low-key manner, turned to the south, and headed towards the direction of Falkland Island .

The fleet will make a short stay and rest in Falkland Islands.This is the only overseas territory of the East Coast Republic of China, and it is also the place where prisoners are exiled.After years of construction, a small supply port has been preliminarily built in Sullivan Sheltered Bay on the Falkland Islands, and the number of residents in the port has reached nearly 200.

Most of the residents were employees of the Charuya construction team back then. In recent years, there have been more and more exiled prisoners.The dozens of pigs, cows, sheep, and llamas that were left on the island back then have grown to a small scale after several years of development; together with the vegetables grown by the residents, they can barely provide for this small farm. The fleet is resupplied.

After resupply, the fleet will drift along the westerly wind here and then head north to the Berg River in South Africa.

(End of this chapter)