Chapter 793: The Blue Ocean of the Whaling Industry
This time, the East China Sea Fleet of the Ming Navy received military orders to go out to conquer the Qing Dynasty. In addition to completing the political tasks of teaching the Manchus a lesson, deterring Japan, and recovering Ryukyu.
The first battlefield trials of steam ironclads were also to be carried out.
And based on the test conditions, we will explore the applicable tactics for steam ironclad ships.
History has proven more than once that all new weapons and equipment need to undergo battlefield testing before they can become mature and complete weapons and equipment.
Chen Ze stood on the deck of his ship, looking at the vast blue sea in the distance, and said.
"This expedition should be regarded as the first battle of steam ironclads, right?"
"Hope it will perform well!"
Obviously, Chen Ze, who was born as a traditional general, was not very interested in new things like steam ironclad ships.
In his view, naval battles are a duel between sailing and gunnery, as well as a bloody fight after joining gangs.
Although this steam ironclad ship has sails, it does not rely on sails when fighting. What kind of warship is it?!
Also, which serious warship can install artillery on the deck?
Regarding some design points of the steam ironclad ship, Chen Ze's soul of complaining was burning in his heart.
If the steam ironclad project hadn't been finalized by the emperor himself, Chen Ze might have been unable to resist cursing.
As time passed, the materials needed for the army's expedition were continuously moved out of the warehouse. After being counted, they were transferred to the transport ship.
After the cabins of the transport ships were filled, the sails on the warships were hoisted, anchors were lifted and they sailed away.
Even the three armored warships were like this, and they all set sail and left the harbor.
Obviously, at present, the steam engine on the steam armored ship is still only an auxiliary power.
It is only used in wartime. During normal sailing, it mainly relies on sails.
Countless people of the Ming Dynasty stood on the pier, watching the army march out.
Regarding the Qing Dynasty, even if there was no reason, no one in the Ming Dynasty would raise objections.
Because the Ming Dynasty did not need a reason to conquer the Qing Dynasty!
When it comes to Manchu Qing, that’s it!
…
After the fleet left the port, the blockade of the Shanghai pier was also lifted.
All large and small ships inside and outside the pier have received the message and can now leave the port.
With a shout, the sailors on the brand-new whaling ship returned to their posts one after another.
The sails were hoisted, the anchors were pulled out, and everyone was quickly preparing for the fleet to leave the port.
Finally, the ship set sail and headed east.
After leaving the port, the ship came to the wide sea.
Captain Li Xiao led the first mate out of the command room and onto the deck, walking among the crowd and carefully examining every detail.
In order to obtain this brand-new whaling ship, Li Xiao used his family's property as a mortgage to the Royal Bank of the Ming Dynasty and borrowed a sum of money.
Although the whaling industry is very profitable these days, it is not an easy task for Li Xiao to pay back the money.
For this new ship, Li Xiao will not encounter any surprises when he goes out to hunt whales for the first time, and he is very attentive to many details.
He even took it upon himself to inspect various equipment on the whaling ship.
"captain!"
"Hello Captain!"
"Thank you Captain!"
"..."
Wherever Li Xiao passed, a famous sailor took the initiative to say hello to him.
Li Xiao kept checking, but while checking, he was also nodding in response.
Regardless of whether it is ancient or modern, at home or abroad, there is a small society with distinct classes on sea ships!
It is difficult to survive in rough seas. In order to survive, everyone can only unite and there can only be one voice on the whole ship.
Therefore, the captain’s authority is very important!
Furthermore, a sea-going ship is alone overseas and has no legal constraints. In many cases, the captain can decide the life or death of ordinary sailors.
Therefore, the classes on the ship are very clear.
As an experienced captain, Li Xiao has great authority on the ship.
We walked around and inspected the ballistas and nets used for hunting whales...
After making sure that everything was OK, Li Xiao nodded and said.
"This time I go to sea, I will return with a full load!"
Everyone around him, from the sailor to the first mate, nodded vigorously.
"yes!"
Today’s whaling industry in the Ming Dynasty is still a huge blue ocean.
Because the Chinese did not have the habit of hunting whales before this, there were not many whalers in the Ming Dynasty. However, because no one hunted them, there were many whales in the sea.
And the market for whale products is still very broad.
Whether it is whale meat, whale oil, whale skin, or whale bones, the market is very tight.
Although whale meat is relatively poor in taste and tastes bad, no matter how bad it is, it is still meat.
For the people of Ming Dynasty in this era, whose protein intake is obviously insufficient, whale meat is also a rare good thing.
Whether the whaling ship is brought back to the nearest port, it is divided and retailed to the coastal people!
It can be processed, pickled, or canned and sold to the mainland, and the sales volume is very good.
Not to mention whale oil, it can be used for lighting, skin care, and dietary supplements.
More importantly, it can also be used as industrial lubrication.
In this era when the oil industry was still in its infancy, whale oil was the best lubricant.
Whale skin also has many uses. It can be used to tan leather armor, and can be used to make leather boots and leather clothing.
Whale bones can also be ground and used as fertilizer to increase the average grain yield per acre.
In this era, it is not an exaggeration to say that a whale is full of treasures!
In today's Ming Dynasty, if you are engaged in the whaling industry, as long as your luck is not too bad and a shipwreck occurs, you will definitely make money without losing money.
This is why Li Xiao dared to borrow money to buy a boat!
After leaving port, the whaling ship headed east, and then turned north, preparing to head to the Northern Ocean for whaling.
Traveling with them were whale ships flying different flags.
The so-called Beiyang is roughly the area north of the Yellow Sea, including the Korean Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Pacific Ocean further north.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Well, in the East of this era, the entire sea of East Asia and Southeast Asia belongs to the Ming Dynasty, and the ships of the Ming Dynasty can run freely.
No one can jump out and say that Ming’s ships have violated its territorial waters!
Even, to put it a bit exaggeratedly, the entire Western Pacific is now the actual control area of the Ming Dynasty.
…
The fleet sent by the Ming Dynasty to explore routes to the New World also headed north after leaving the port.
Along the way, supplies were carried out in Korea, Japan and other places to replenish the water and food needed by the fleet.
In fact, to a certain extent, there is no shortage of food on the sea.
There is plenty of food. After eating the food carried on the boat, the worst is to just go fishing.
You’ll never run out of food!
When sailing on the sea, the first thing to pay attention to is actually Danshui.
The most lacking thing is actually Danshui!
Because seawater cannot be drank directly.
Even for Du Wenhai, the commander-in-chief of the fleet, Danshui is supplied in daily quotas and counts the days.
As the fleet continued northward, the latitude increased and the temperature began to get colder.
The cold wind mixed with the moisture from the sea made people feel very uncomfortable.
Rubbing his sore cheeks, Du Wenhai stood in front of the window of the captain's cabin, looking out at the sea through a layer of glass, with obvious fatigue on his face.
The fleet was suddenly hit by a storm last night. For the safety of the fleet, Du Wenhai stayed up all night and kept an eye on it.
Now that the storm has dissipated, Du Wenhai's face also shows fatigue.
The adjutant on the side saw this and said.
"Sir, you have stayed up all night. Now that the storm has subsided, you can go and rest!"
When Du Wenhai heard this, he waved his hand and said.
"Judging from the chart, the fleet is not far from the next anchorage!"
"Let's talk about resting after the fleet has docked!"
After saying this, Du Wenhai turned around and went to look at the chart.
On the chart table, there is a fully labeled chart.
The route taken by the fleet was marked in detail on the charts, and every island and every ocean current was recorded in detail.
The reason why Du Wenhai knew that the next anchorage point was not far away was because they had not yet sailed out of the former Ming Dynasty's waters.
The current fleet is still within the scope of the former Nuergandusi!
For the former Nurgan Dusi, the imperial court had relevant nautical charts recording the islands and ocean currents in the sea.
All they need to do now is verify one by one.
Du Wenhai walked out of the cabin and was greeted by a cold wind. He tightened his cloak and strode towards the bow of the ship.
On the lookout pole, the lookout hand was wrapped in thick fur clothes, holding a telescope in his hand, and looking at the surrounding sea.
The sea breeze howled, blowing hard, making people's faces hurt.
On the deck, many people were standing on tiptoes looking into the distance, expecting the landing to appear.
Although the current fleet sails offshore, it is common to go without sight of land for three to five days.
Coupled with the storm last night, many sailors in the fleet did not feel very safe about the sea and were always looking forward to landing on land.
Du Wenhai took a deep breath and exhaled a heavy breath.
The cold wind blowing against his face revived his tired spirit.
At this moment, a shrill siren suddenly sounded from the vanguard ship ahead.
The sound of horns and the sound of gold are mixed together, almost piercing people's eardrums.
The subsequent ships hoisted flags over and over again, asking what was happening ahead.
The leading ship responded quickly and saw an unidentified small boat appearing in front of the fleet.
Prepare the fleet to meet the enemy!
When Du Wenhai heard this, the expression on his face gradually became solemn and he opened his mouth to give instructions.
"Inform the entire army to be ready to confront the enemy at any time, but do not open fire rashly!"
"Maybe they are the indigenous people here!"
"Before you are sure of the other party's attitude, try to avoid making enemies."
Although the Ming Dynasty's fleet was huge, if it wanted to establish a series of supply points, settlements, or even ports along the way,
Just relying on the manpower and material resources carried by the fleet is definitely not enough!
In addition to hoping that the court will send people to follow up, it is also a good way to make proper use of the power of local indigenous people.
Didn’t you realize that even when the Mayflower first arrived in the New World, it was with the help of the Indians? Could it be that those white-skinned Americans could gain a foothold in the New World?
Then, the descendants of White Skin on the Mayflower, in order to repay the natives for helping their ancestors, killed the American Indians until they almost wiped out the tribe.
It can be called a model of white-eyed wolf!
Just such an incident shows the background of the so-called Western civilization.
They have a shitty civilization!
To say they are human beings is a fucking compliment!
Now, if Ming Dynasty wants to explore the route to the New World, it must also make reasonable use of the power of the local indigenous people.
The Ming army did not take action rashly, and the natives in the small boats couldn't help but open their mouths when they looked at the giant ships in front of them, which were like towering mountains.
I have no intention of taking action at all!
Some people even knelt down and kowtowed to the bow of the Ming army to show their piety, and even praised something in their mouths.
One of the leading indigenous chiefs looked at the flags hanging on the Ming army ships with a thoughtful expression on his face.
The Ming army sent envoys who were familiar with the local dialect and took small boats to negotiate with the small boats blocking the front of their own fleet.
Niu DaDa was sitting on the boat, with a gun on his waist, looking at the unfamiliar fleet that was getting closer and closer.
Looking at the vaguely visible figures on the boats opposite, Niu Dadan felt a little unsure.
The hand holding the gun was unconsciously exerting force, and the joints were a little white.
Since the fleet went north, there are many indigenous people living in the places where it stops along the way.
The Ming Dynasty sent envoys to contact the indigenous people several times, and in most cases, the indigenous people were able to communicate.
After Daming gave some small gifts such as glass, perfume, soap, etc., the two parties established a relatively friendly relationship.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Many indigenous people even chose to side with the Ming Dynasty and helped the Ming Dynasty establish supply points and ports along the coast.
However, although some indigenous people can communicate, not all indigenous people can communicate!
In the process of exploring the New World, the fleet also encountered an incident where they sent envoys to communicate with the indigenous people, but the indigenous people killed the Ming Dynasty's envoys without saying a word.
Although the Ming Dynasty later sent troops to wipe out the indigenous tribe who was looking for death, the envoy could not come back to life.
For the fleet, the messenger is indeed a high-risk profession.
Although Niu DaDa is bold, it does not mean that he is not afraid of death.
However, as the distance between the two parties gradually shortened, and when he saw the native people on the opposite boat kneeling and worshiping, the big stone in his heart suddenly dropped halfway.
In this world, no matter which country or nation you are in, kneeling down is an action that expresses hostility.
It is almost a universal rule all over the world to express surrender or obedience by kneeling down!
The reason why I only let go of half of it and not all of it.
The reason is that Niu DaDa does not understand the customs of the indigenous tribes across the street.
What if someone's customs are special, and the way to express respect and friendship is to kill you and then sacrifice you to their gods?
This is impossible to say!
There are countless ethnic groups in this world, and there are so many weird customs.
As the distance between the two parties continued to get closer, Niu boldly spoke loudly in the local dialect of the tribe.
"We are a fleet from the Ming Dynasty passing through here. The fleet needs to be repaired here and replenished with supplies. We are willing to exchange goods with the local tribes, actively trade, and establish friendly relations!"
Along with Niu's bold shout, a stilted Nanjing Mandarin came from the other side.
"It's finally here. Everyone in Tushi's tribe has been waiting for Master Wang for a long time!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Niu Dandao was completely stunned.
what happened?
Isn’t the person opposite an Aboriginal person? Why does he speak Chinese?
With a confused mood, Niu boldly stepped forward to negotiate with the other party.
Later, the news was reported to Du Wenhai.
Du Wenhai also looked confused, but he still spoke.
"Please bring the person in charge opposite to me before me."
Chinese……
Or Nanjing Mandarin...
This shouldn’t be the case!
No matter how you look at this place, it looks like a barbaric wilderness. How can anyone know Nanjing Mandarin?
Suddenly, Du Wenhai seemed to remember something.
The sea area where the fleet is currently located is still within the scope of Nurgandusi.
In the past, from Yongle to Xuande, the Ming Dynasty actually controlled Nuergandusi and allowed the natives of Nuergandusi to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty.
Perhaps the tribes here are the tribes that once paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty...
When the indigenous tribal chief was received on Du Wenhai's ship, Du Wenhai asked directly.
"Why do you know the Ming Dynasty Mandarin? Did your tribe ever pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty?"
Facing Du Wenhai's inquiry, the thin old man opposite, wearing a leather jacket and with a vicissitudes of life on his face, stammered in Ming Dynasty Mandarin.
"I...we once paid tribute to a southern king named Yongle, and received the canonization and protection of King Yongle."
"Our chief even followed the envoy to the capital of King Yongle."
"However, we later lost contact with King Yongle in the south."
"The previous envoys also used the same banner as yours. May I ask, are you also the envoys of King Yongle?"
As he spoke, the indigenous chief pointed with his finger at the clear flag hanging on the fleet.
The fleet of the Ming Dynasty flew several flags, including the twelve-pointed sun and moon flag, the navy's military flag, and the bright Chinese flag.
When Du Wenhai heard this, he understood in his heart.
It seems that this tribe was really a vassal of the Ming Dynasty and a member of the Ming Dynasty's tribute trade system.
If they guessed correctly, the King Yongle they mentioned was Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty.
That is to say, after Xuande withdrew, their connection with the Ming Dynasty was severed!
Calculating the time, more than two hundred years have passed since Xuande reduced its borders!
After more than two hundred years, it is a miracle that such a semi-primitive tribe with no history books can still remember the Ming Dynasty.
After talking with the tribal chief for a while, Du Wenhai finally confirmed what he was thinking and ordered the fleet to prepare to dock for repairs.
After the fleet docked, a named soldier and craftsman disembarked from the ship in a small boat and prepared to build a temporary dock on the coast.
Du Wenhai was warmly welcomed back to his tribe by a group of indigenous people.
Their tribe is located in a basin not far from the sea. The basin is surrounded by large forests and close to water sources.
The geographical location is very good, it can be said that it is easy to defend but difficult to attack.
However, what they live in is similar to a semi-built-in wooden house. Half of the house is buried in the ground, and there is a fire pit dug in the middle of the house. It is very primitive.
Most of the clothes their tribesmen wear are made of animal skins.
However, due to process problems, they could not clean the smell off the animal skins, and a sour smell could be smelled from a long distance away.
Most of these people have rough skin, men have big beards on their faces, and women have earthy yellow paint on their faces.
The tools and weapons they used were mostly made of wood and stone.
Only a few people could use weapons made of copper, and almost no iron products were seen.
The only iron product is an iron pot.
Such a tribe has civilization, but not much. It is almost a primitive tribe.
However, after returning home, they were quite enthusiastic when entertaining guests.
These indigenous people brought out a large amount of food, including wild fruits and vegetables from the mountains, to entertain guests from distant places such as Du Wenhai.
At the banquet, the indigenous chief even took out a gold seal and showed it to Du Wenhai.
"This is the gift King Yongle gave us when the leader of our tribe went to his capital."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Du Wenhai took the golden seal and observed it carefully.
The gold seal was passed on to everyone in the fleet.
Although Du Wenhai was a rough man, there were many knowledgeable and educated people in the fleet.
A Ming official held a gold seal in his hand and looked at it solemnly.
After a moment, he nodded vigorously and said.
"Sir, judging from the craftsmanship and pattern, this gold seal does indeed look like the handiwork of my Ming Dynasty."
"It's a pity that we don't have the imprint files of the Honglu Temple of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. Otherwise, if we compare it, we may be more certain."
Generally speaking, when the Ming Dynasty court issued gold seals to surrounding vassals, the court would leave a stamp on the bottom of the gold seal so that it could be checked at any time to confirm the authenticity.
However, this time their fleet headed eastward, the main purpose was to explore the route to the New World, not to retrieve the vassal vassals of the Ming Dynasty, so they did not carry the supplies from Honglu Temple.
There is no way to determine whether the gold seal in front of you is authentic or fake!
But it's just that we can't make a definite conclusion. It's okay to make a rough judgment. This gold seal should not be fake.
Judging from the situation of the tribe in front of them, they don't seem to have the ability to forge the gold seal granted by the Ming Dynasty.
Du Wenhai looked at the golden seal and couldn't help but ask.
"Back then, the imperial court did grant gold seals to the tribes of Nurgan Dusi to symbolize their transformation into kings. However, the tribes that were able to receive the gold seals granted by the imperial court back then were all very powerful."
"How come your department is in such a state of decline now?"
The current tribe has a population of no more than a thousand, and all its tools are extremely primitive and backward.
Such a tribe is not like the tribe that was able to receive the golden seal from the Ming Dynasty in the past.
Although the Ming Dynasty was very generous in its rewards to the outside world, it probably looked down upon such primitive tribes.
When the leader of the tribe heard this, his old wrinkled face showed a sad expression, and he spoke in Nanjing Mandarin.
"Back then, our tribe was also very powerful!"
"The entire huge mountain range, inside and outside, is our tribe's hunting ground."
"A lot of tribes are centered around our tribe!"
"However, since a group of Rakshasa ghosts came from the west, we have suffered a disaster..."
"Suddenly one day, those man-eating Rakshasa ghosts appeared outside our tribe riding fast horses and holding scimitars."
"They require our tribe to provide them with furs and prey on a regular basis, otherwise they will kill all our men and rape and humiliate our wives and daughters."
"The warriors in our tribe were unwilling to give in and rose up to resist, but they were no match for the fire-breathing black pipes in the hands of the Rakshasa ghosts. We sacrificed many people, but we were still defeated!"
"Even many women and children fell under the butcher's knife of those damn Rakshasa ghosts!"
"We were unwilling to succumb to the Rakshasa ghosts, so we were forced to leave our ancestral land, migrate and settle here to avoid the threat from the Rakshasa ghosts..."
As he spoke, the tribal leader seemed to remember something sad and wiped his tears with his dirty sleeves.
The other tribe members around also had the same expression.
Many people present had relatives who died at the hands of Rakshasa ghosts.