Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 218 The African Route (Continued [-])

"Commander, the bosun asked if we would send someone to land?" Seeing that Guo Zili hadn't issued an order for a long time, Ji Wen simply came to Guo Zili's side and asked for instructions.

Guo Zili seemed to have just woken up from contemplation when he heard Ji Wen's words. He frowned and thought for a while before slowly saying: "No, no one is allowed to land! The whole fleet turned around and sailed out. bay."

"Your Excellency, this..." Ji Wen asked in surprise.

"Execute the order! I will be responsible for everything!" Guo Zili said firmly, "This place is densely forested, inaccessible, and the environment is extremely harsh. It must be fully developed before it can be suitable for people to live in. We thought it was wrong before, and the Executive Committee and The Government Affairs Council is also too optimistic. The latitude here is low, the environment is humid and hot, and there are many stagnant pools such as small ponds and micro lakes, which are easy to breed mosquitoes. If you develop rashly without complete preparations, the death rate will be astonishing. I will go back I will write a complete report to the Executive Committee to report this matter, and now, the entire fleet is turning around!"

"Obey, Your Excellency!" Ji Wen saluted, and then passed on the order.

Yu Lian and Liu Dafa, the captains of the "Red Trout" and "Yangwu", also rushed over in a transportation boat.

"Why retreat? Is it that scary?" Liu Dafa generally knew the reason, but he still wanted to confirm it.Julien followed, his face also full of doubts.

"That's the reason." Guo Zili nodded, and said, "We have fulfilled our responsibility to explore the route. As for the next step of development, I don't think it belongs to us. We are only responsible for proving that this route is feasible. , and to find out the optimal route, the climate and ocean currents along the way, and the supply port. The rest of the follow-up development is a matter for the Executive Committee and the Government Council. Of course, in my opinion, I would strongly recommend that the Executive Committee in South Africa The area captures local indigenous people to come here for large-scale development, and after the development is completed, immigrants will be sent to build territories, ports and so on."

Julien and Liu Dafa looked at each other, then nodded to each other.What Guo Zili said is also reasonable. The navy really doesn't need to get involved in these things. Being able to explore this route has already fulfilled its obligation.

"So, where are we going next? Back to South Africa's River Fort?" Liu Dafa asked.

"Yes, return!" Guo Zili nodded, and then he explained: "The monsoon current in the Indian Ocean will change in winter and spring soon, and if we go further north, it will be against the current and against the wind, which is too difficult. Moreover, it has been almost three months since we set off from the mainland, so hurry up and return. Some knowledge, information, and news will also be submitted to the Ministry of the Navy in the form of a report. The most important thing is that there will be a sum of money with those Muscat businessmen next year. population trade. So, let’s retreat.”

Guo Zili is the highest officer of the Exploration Fleet. Now that he has made a decision, Liu Dafa and Julien stopped talking. Out of Antsiranana Bay.

On October 10, the whole fleet arrived at the port of Mozambique Island again.The fortress commander at the port still has not returned, and seems to be still dealing with the indigenous riots in the Zambezi River valley.After the fleet docked at the port, each ship immediately began to replenish supplies: fresh water, meat, fruits and vegetables, etc.

The Portuguese tax official named Sergio poked his head around the pier, but never dared to come up to collect taxes.However, the East Coast people quickly found him.His "old friend" - Lieutenant Juan gave him a 50 yuan coin again, and then asked him to help hire a transport ship.People on the east coast bought one or two hundred Persian slave girls and children, and they are still stored in the Muscat merchant camp on the island. It will be troublesome to transport them back to the mainland.

Because the expedition fleet came out this time with warships, the interior space is not very large, not to mention that they will also purchase a large amount of materials in Mozambique Island, a thoroughfare, such as rhino horns, hippo skins, cattle, camels, and some local plant seeds. wait for something.After all, it’s hard to come here and you can’t run empty. In this way, it will be a bit troublesome to transport so many people, things, and livestock back. As a last resort, I can only rent a Portuguese cargo ship.

After pocketing the coins, Sergio was visibly brightened, and he assured Ensign Juan that a boat could be hired today at a moderate price.

One day passed quickly, and the people on the east bank spent all the 3 yuan in cash they got after selling their goods to Muscat businessmen, and purchased a lot of local materials and special products. On October 10, three warships of the exploration fleet and a 12-ton Portuguese transport ship set sail at the port of Mozambique Island, turned south and west, and embarked on a return journey.

On November 11, the East Coast Exploration Fleet crossed the Mozambique Strait, the waters of Cape Agulhas and the waters of Cape Good Hope again, and safely arrived at the Fort in the River Wharf on the banks of the Berg River.After more than two months, the Hezhong Fort is now in full bloom in spring, and the fields are full of farmers who are plowing and sowing.

Due to the abundance of cattle, seeds, and farm tools, the area of ​​farmland reclaimed outside Hezhongbao this year has reached an unprecedented [-] mu, of which [-] mu is sorghum, [-] mu is wheat, and the rest is planted with some vegetables, Peanuts, sesame, watermelon and other cash crops.The cattle and sheep that have survived the winter are now growing stronger. The fields north of Hezhong Castle are full of grazing sheep and cattle. The sheep and milk produced every day are too much to eat. Even those The slaves under the two flags all benefited from this and improved their food.

Along the banks of the Berg River, many small ponds have been excavated in the Fort in the River area, some edible aquatic crops have been planted, and many fish have been raised in the ponds.Many duck sheds were erected with wood above the pond, and a large number of ducks were raised in the sheds.These ducks go to the Berg River to swim and play, catch food during the day, and come back to live in the duck shed at night.Its excrement falls directly into the pond below, which is perfect for fish farming.All of the above were established by the technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture from the local area to guide the local residents, and they are called ecological agriculture.

The Berg River has a wide surface, continuous flow throughout the year, and abundant water. It can be said to be the life river of the castle in the river.In order to reduce soil erosion and endanger the safety of the downstream waterway, organized by the Fort in the River, afforestation activities have been carried out on both sides of the Berg River for two consecutive years.The saplings planted are basically all poverty-resistant species such as peach trees, pear trees, and jujube trees transported from the local area. Of course, the most important ship material-oak trees must be planted on the largest scale.

After intermittent expansion last year, the city wall of Hezhongbao has now extended to the north and west for a long time. The perimeter of the entire city wall has reached 800 meters. The wall is made of cement, lime, and sand. Made of red bricks and stone strips, with an average thickness of more than three meters, it is extremely strong.It is estimated that after this year's slack time of construction, almost all of the construction will be completed.

The city is home to the headquarters of the South African Pioneering Team, the town government (with a population of over a thousand, and has been approved to establish a town), the South African Garrison Command, Hezhong Winery, Oil Press Factory, Leather Processing Workshop, Drinking Water Treatment Plant, Material Depository, and Public Bathhouse And a primary school (teaching children Chinese and literacy for adults).

All in all, everything in Hezhong Fort seems to be thriving. The faces of the common people from Daming are extremely rosy now, and their voices are even louder. Their energy is completely different from when they first came here. language.In huge contrast to them are the British in the Cape Town area. Since the sporadic flight began at the end of August, the flight of British immigrants reached its peak in mid-September.Within half a month, a total of 8 people fled to the Fort in the River.

Immigrants fled in large numbers due to hunger and cold, plus some died of cold, disease, and starvation. Today, there are less than 500 British people left in the Cape Town area.Had it not been for the help of two passing British ships at the end of September, Cape Town, which was hungry and diseased, might not have been able to hold on.

A total of more than 500 English and Irish people who had recently escaped were arranged to live alone in wooden houses outside the city of Hezhongbao. They planted vegetables, raised sheep, and fed pigs for Hezhongbao together with the natives who had lowered the two flags. The common people jokingly call it "Eight Banners of Foreign Countries" and "Eight Banners of Yellow Hair".

After the return of the exploration fleet, the more than 100 Persian female slaves they brought back from Mozambique caused a huge sensation in the river castle.Due to well-known reasons, the proportion of men and women in Hezhongbao is even more uncoordinated than that of the East Bank. Among the 1200 residents, 750 are men, of which adult men account for more than half, about 700; There are more than three hundred adult males who are single.

How to find wives for them to reproduce has become an urgent issue for the newly established Hezhong town government. A total of 105 Persian female slaves brought back by the exploration fleet from East Africa were intercepted by them as soon as they got off the ship.They also know that there is a shortage of women in the local area. It is wishful thinking to expect them to send some women to the Fort of the River with kindness, so South Africa still has to rely on itself to solve the problem.

Liu Ang, who had been promoted to the mayor of Hezhong Town, brought a large group of militiamen to the pier carrying large and small boxes. "Kang Bang" he kicked over a box, pointed at the things that rolled out of it and said, "Golden dog's head!"

Then he opened several boxes one after another, "Ivory!", "Antelope skin!", "Ostrich skin!", "Hippo skin!"

"You can take as much as you can!" Liu Ang said with his head held high, "It's all yours! Take it back and sell it for at least [-] to [-] yuan. You keep some of it yourself, and the rest will be turned over to the national treasury. Hello, hello, everyone, Right? You take things away, but people keep them!"

(End of this chapter)