Because their new territory is located in the area south of the Sahara Desert, mainly on both sides of the Gambia River, and a large area inland. Judging from the area, it is naturally very large. Some of them are barren places, but some are also good places.
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However, just like the Twelve Kingdoms of Nanyang, the Danes' new territory also did not include the coastline.
Although their new territory was on both sides of the Gambia River, the outlet of the Gambia River did not belong to them.
For Datang, it was okay to give them a large inland area, but the coastal areas had to be controlled by themselves if they had access to the sea.
Even though the Tang Dynasty didn't pay much attention to Banjul before, it still didn't give it.
Banjul, like many of the colonial port cities of the Tang Dynasty on the west coast of Africa, originally belonged to the Portuguese and was later completely handed over to the Tang Dynasty. However, the Tang Dynasty did not pay much attention to this small port because it
The location of the small port is not important, and the Gambia River is not a big river and does not go too far into the interior of Africa.
After the Tang Dynasty took control of many coastal colonies of the Portuguese, except for a few that attached great importance to them, most of them did not pay much attention to them. Banjul was also one of the ports that was not taken very seriously.
This is because the Tang Dynasty now uses steam and steel ships that ply the oceans. The tonnage usually starts at a thousand tons, and two to three thousand tons is normal. The larger the tonnage, the better the self-sustaining power, and the endurance is also quite good.
At the same time, the speed is faster than that of a sailboat, and the route it runs is also straight and straight. There is no need to consider the wind direction when sailing in a curve like a sailboat.
Therefore, when steam ships of the Tang Dynasty traveled from one place to another, the time required was much shorter than that of sailboats.
This also reduces the need for coastal supply ports.
In the past, during the Age of Sail, the Portuguese and Spanish established supply ports all over the world, and the Tang Dynasty was no exception. They established numerous, even dense, supply ports in the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the east coast of Africa.
These supply ports are basically useless on weekdays. They are mainly used to replenish fresh water and fresh food to passing sailboats.
But now, many of these small ports that were purely supply ports are gradually declining.
Because Datang is more inclined to concentrate on the development of large ports with relatively important locations. For example, in the Nanyang region, it focuses on the development of the three major ports of Luzon Port, Banten Port, and Malacca Port. In the Indian Peninsula, it is mainly
The Port of Colombo is developed, supplemented by the Port of Gohe, Port of Goa, and Port of Permu. In West Asia, the Port of Hormuz and the Port of Aden are mainly developed.
In the Americas, they are mainly Xinjinshan, Xinnan Port, Sanhe Port, Busport and Tierra del Fuego in South America.
In Africa, in the early days, the main development was Madi Port, Motor Port, West India Port, South Africa Port, etc.
Among them, the South African Port is a top priority.
Later, after the Portuguese took over the western coast of Africa, although they accepted all the colonies, they mainly concentrated on the development of a few important ports.
Mainly Luanda, Guinea, and Cape Verde in central China.
Among them, the Cape Verde Islands are the focus.
Because the geographical location of this place is relatively important, it can be said that it is a strategic link between South Africa and Ceuta. Datang operates the Cape Verde Islands as a strategic location.
Not only did they build large-scale ports, they also adopted thorough localization and fortification. They built military facilities and stationed troops on several important islands.
Because in this area Datang's main development focus is on the Cape Verde Islands.
Even if part of the energy can be allocated to develop ports on the opposite continent of Africa, priority should be given to the development of the nearby Dakar Port. This place is very close to the Cape Verde Islands and has a good geographical location. In recent years, it has been regarded as the main port by Datang.
supply port to use.
As for the Banjul Port in the south, like other small ports, it maintains its original appearance. Steamships from the Tang Dynasty that ply the African route basically do not enter this small port, because there is not even a coal warehouse in that poor place.
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However, it is expected to be developed in the future, because this place will be the only port for the Danes to contact Datang in the near future.
The Tang Dynasty fleet, full of Danes, puffing out thick smoke, set out from Copenhagen, first entered the North Sea, and then passed through the English Channel and continued southward.
Then we entered the port of Ceuta and carried out some supplies here, including fresh water, food and coal.
Geographically speaking, Ceuta is not very suitable as a transit port, at least the Spanish Cadiz is more suitable geographically.
But who makes Cadiz belong to the Spanish, while Ceuta belongs to the Tang Dynasty.
What's more important is that the Port of Ceuta is Datang's strategic bridgehead in Europe. It not only has strong military power, but also has complete facilities. There are even things in the port that are difficult to see in overseas territories.
Various mechanical equipment.
Because Ceuta is strategically important, although it has not yet received imperial approval to become an overseas territory, it has not been able to complete partial localization.
But like South Africa Port and New South Port, it received special approval and established a ship repair yard directly managed internally by the Navy.
Some mechanical equipment specially designed to serve ships are installed inside. The main purpose is to provide repair and repair services to warships.
In addition, it will also provide repair services for Datang's steam merchant ships.
In other words, the current Port of Ceuta is the only port in the entire North Africa and Europe that can provide maintenance and repair services for Datang's ships.
Its status is similar to South Africa and New Southport.
However, it can only carry out simple repairs. These simple ship repair yards have limited technology and limited technical personnel. If it needs to be overhauled, it will basically have to return to the local shipyard for overhaul.
But this is enough.
Basically, almost all the ships operated by Datang in Europe, regardless of whether they were warships or merchant ships, had their home port in Ceuta, because they could only be maintained in Ceuta.
This also makes many Tang Dynasty ships traveling on European routes and African routes choose to stop at the port of Ceuta for supplies.
After the fleet arrived at Ceuta Port, the scene at Ceuta Port shocked the Danes on board again.
Although Europeans are no longer unfamiliar with the Tang Dynasty these days, the Tang Dynasty’s footprints can be found in almost every port in Europe, and the Tang Dynasty’s steam passenger ships have even opened regular flights to and from various ports.
Therefore, the Danes were not surprised when they saw the Tang Dynasty ships of one to two thousand tons or even larger tonnage, because they had already been in contact with them many times.
But this was the first time they saw the city of the Tang Dynasty.
Even if you stand on the bow and look over, you can see the huge difference between the cities of the Tang Dynasty and the cities of Europeans.