Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 680 Across the Ocean ([-])

The expedition ship "Explorer" was finally repaired four days later. When Zhang Jinhua boarded the ship's deck under the watchful eyes of the ashamed technicians in the ship repair yard, he could not help but let out a long breath: he had only stayed in this hot and humid place for only a few days. I just feel that my whole body is not good. Fortunately, I can finally leave now.

After adding some salted fish, biscuits, dried meat, vegetables and other supplies in the port, the "Explorer" slowly left Xinhua Port, then went south along the Mozambique warm current, and arrived at Tacheng Port in the early morning of March 3— — On the way, they also sent two hundred exiled Kelandi and Guarani to St. Mary's Island.

Tacheng Port is still the same as it was a few years ago. Its main business is coal mining, and logging and corn planting are its sidelines. Up to now, it cannot support itself in food and needs to transfer it from St. Mary Island.Of course, there are more plantations here now, and it is believed that its population will increase as time goes by.

There is a 300-strong Tacheng garrison stationed in Tacheng Port. It is mainly composed of East Asian soldiers. It is well-equipped and has a fierce style. Advanced Collective Honor Award issued by New China Pioneering Team.

After replenishing the clean coal and fresh water at Tacheng Port, the expedition ship set off again and headed south, heading for the edge of the westerly belt at about 38 degrees south latitude.In this era, there were two routes to the East Indies. The first was the offshore route explored by the Portuguese, that is, along the coast of East Africa through the Arabian Sea to the East Indies; the other was the route often taken by the Dutch. , They caught the southwest wind in the eastern part of Madagascar, and if they caught it, they crossed the ocean and sailed directly to the Sunda Strait. It flows north and enters the waters near the East Indies.

It can be seen that the outer route of the westerly belt taken by the people on the east coast is actually the backup route for the Dutch to Batavia, and most of the routes of the two overlap.It's just that the sea is vast, and the sailing seasons of the two sides are different, so the chance of meeting at sea is infinitely close to zero.

On April 4, the "Explorer" with a displacement of 3 tons had sailed to about 1250 degrees south latitude. At this time, the sails on the four masts had already been opened, and the strong southwest wind bulged the sails made of cotton cloth. .The temperature of the steam boiler on the ship was also reduced at this time. In addition to ensuring the power for sailing, the propeller only maintained a low-speed operation under the push of the cylinder. The current speed of the entire ship has reached an astonishing 38 knots.

Looking at the waves splashing from the bow of the boat from time to time, Zhang Jinhua couldn't help but secretly rejoiced that his boat was not a pure clipper boat design, otherwise the bow of the boat might have been smashed by the waves at this moment.I really don't know how those special ships for immigrants with a high center of gravity can walk in this sea condition. You must know that the people on the east coast have sunk three ships in this sea area, either hitting an iceberg, or unfortunately encountering a cyclone, Or get lost in the sea fog, in short, there are all kinds of strange ways to die.In order to transport immigrants, those captains have to fight with death in this sea area almost every year from May to September, which shows everyone's courage and great sacrifice.

Of course, it is not without advantages for them to take this route.The first is to avoid the plethora of pirates on offshore routes, the second is to have a faster speed and the voyage can be greatly shortened, and the third is to avoid some bad weather in the northern hemisphere in summer and autumn (typhoons, tropical cyclones and other dangerous weather in the northern hemisphere are extremely dangerous. Many), the last one is that this route can be navigable all year round. All in all, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages compared with the offshore route, otherwise the Dutch would not have chosen to leave here.

After spending less than 20 days sailing and recording the meteorological and hydrological conditions of the passing sea area, the "Explorer" finally arrived at Lonely Mountain Port (later Albany) in Western Australia on April 4.Gushan Port is the capital of the Australian region (in fact, it also manages a Jinshan Port), a large immigration transfer station.Its resident population has exceeded 21 as of today (Jinshan Port has 4500 people), and the population ratio is relatively mixed, of which Ming people account for about 3000%, Guarani people account for 45%, and local white exiles account for about 15%. All of them were Ottoman female slaves transported from Xinhua Port, and a small number of Persian and Baluchi female slaves captured by Muscat merchants.

The city also has a garrison team of 300 people, which was expanded based on the original Shandan garrison team of more than 120 people. Later, dozens of blacks from the Eight Banners of South Africa and local Ming people were added, and the scale was expanded to the current scale. .This security force, known as the Western Australia Garrison, is an all-firearms force, and even has about twenty horses from the local army horse farm. It is definitely a tyrant in the desolate Western Australia.

When Zhang Jinhua went ashore, he met the vice-captain of the Blackwater Pioneering Team who came to greet him and Lieutenant Anchu, who was in charge of Australia's affairs. The place has exhausted his life in general.

Anchu's godson and former eunuch of Prince Heng's Mansion, Xiaoxuanzi hurriedly handed Zhang Jinhua's followers towels to wipe their faces, and then took everyone to the cafeteria for dinner.The food is crude sweet potato porridge, and the people in Gushan Port are barren and poor. There are still a considerable number of daily necessities that have been strictly rationed.The local residents can only reclaim wasteland on the spot, and then grow some high-yielding crops such as corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and sorghum, and then sell them to the government in exchange for some daily necessities such as salt, sugar, shredded tobacco, cotton cloth, and farm tools. Life is relatively poor.However, the order here is stable, the public security is excellent, and you can eat enough, so everyone doesn't have much opinion, just make do with it.

Of course, this kind of life refers to the living conditions of ordinary local Ming people.As for those Guaranís and Catholic whites who were exiled, this place is an out-and-out hell.They first need to serve their sentences on the spot—usually working as coolies in brick kilns, lime factories, and lumber mills—and then they can be free and apply for mortgage loans for houses, land, and female slaves. After all, they undoubtedly lost a lot at the starting line.Unless they can get amnesty and commutation of sentences like Giovanni's talented young man because he is proficient in machinery, they will continue to suffer.

And of course there are many people who can't endure the hardship and take risks.But they don't have the guts to create any troubles in Gushan Port. The [-] garrison soldiers trained all the year round in the city are not vegetarians. These mixed troops of Shandan people, black people and Ming people often kill the white people who make trouble. The suppression by hand really frightened the European ghosts and monsters dispatched to Australia, so they often fled to the vast wilderness at night to find the so-called "freedom".And if they are not captured by the cavalry of the garrison after dawn, then they are really free, free to be savages in the wild, and free to be captured and eaten by the local natives.

At this time, there was a large backlog of immigrants in the port.These people live in shantytowns outside the city. These shantyhouses made of wood, thatch, and bricks are the temporary residences for immigrants. They will live here for about five months, and then wait for arrivals from New China. Migrant boats picked them up.Of course, they can't sit still for these few months. They will build city walls and houses for the local area, dig artificial reservoirs, build water supply pipelines and irrigation canals, open up wasteland, etc. They are idle.

Today, there are three steam engine sailboats transporting personnel and supplies between the two strongholds in Australia. It takes about one month to go back and forth. The three ships can be sailed all year round. Last year, about 3 people were transported from Jinshan every year during the maintenance of the ships. Port to Gushan Port.There are ship repair shops in the two ports in Australia, and the required mechanical parts, ship boards, canvas, even nails, and skins need to be transported long distances from New China and even the mainland.

Australia’s industrial development is strictly restricted in the local area. At present, the two settlements have only one brick kiln factory, one lime factory (both located in Gushan Port), one small cement factory (located in Jinshan Port) and one coal mine (produced by quality Very poor lignite), in addition to the ship repair shop (also builds small fishing boats), the industry can be described as poor and empty.Unlike the chief officers of other colonies who are actively applying for construction of industrial projects in the local area, Captain Anchu, who is in charge of Australia, has no intention of developing the local economy. In addition to ordering the officers and soldiers of the two strongholds to attack and capture the aborigines to do hard work In addition, one of the things he did the most was to keep writing letters to local friends, asking them to help with activities so that he could be transferred back to work in the local area. He was really tired of this desolate place in Australia.Now that the purpose of coming out to mix qualifications has been achieved, then there is no need to spend any more time here. It is serious to return to the native land as soon as possible to enjoy the blessings.

Zhang Jinhua is also not interested in the backcountry of Gushan Port. He believes that the officials of the executive committee are not interested in it either. There is no coal, no hardwood, and no iron ore. It is far away from the mainland. If it is not on the immigration route On the transit node, it is impossible for anyone to take a look at this place.Perhaps Australia will not be developed to a certain extent until the East Coast Republic has a population of one million, but the iron ore resources in the deep inland desert areas are still difficult to use. In short, this is a hard place. Similar to South Africa, it has abundant resources on paper, but it is actually a fart, and it cannot be used at all under the existing conditions.

Zhang Jinhua and others stayed in Gushan Port for five days.During these five days, they also visited the Western Australian Army Stud Farm, which now has more than 170 Andalusian and Turkmen horses.Five days later, they set sail and finally berthed at Jinshan Port in South Australia on May 5 after crossing the rough waves along the southern coastline of Australia.

(End of this chapter)