Bai Tu was not worried that the Mayan civilization would be strong enough to compete with the Chu State...even if it was just a navy.
Although the Mayan civilization has indeed figured out "flowers" in the Neolithic Age, it is only the Neolithic Age after all.
Just like the monks who have been stuck in the golden elixir stage for thousands of years in the world of immortality...
This is why there are often good people in later generations who preach such things as "the Mayans xx years ago did things that modern people cannot do" - because in comparison, the ancient civilizations in Asia, Africa and Europe "quickly" entered the Bronze Age
, it is normal that the technology of the Neolithic Age is not studied as deeply as the Mayans.
If modern people could only use the methods of the Neolithic civilization, it would indeed be difficult to reach the same level.
After all, no one would specifically study how to use Neolithic means to achieve things that can be easily done with metal, let alone steam, electricity...
If it were in the world of cultivation, the title of this type of article would be like this - Shocking! The oldest Jindan monk actually possesses the aura of half a Yuanying. Even the genius who transformed into a god couldn't do it even after he proclaimed himself Yuanying! Qi training next door
Early researchers suspected that he was a descendant of immortals!
Just like Chu's running has entered the "Zhenqi Machine Age", it will also miss a lot of skills that would have appeared in the Iron Age.
For example, the emergence of cement is destined to greatly suppress the development of rammed earth walls, but...it is undoubtedly extremely profitable in nature.
Historically, before the industrial revolution, the West's achievements in the agricultural civilization period were still far behind those of the East. However, this did not affect the suppression brought about by the emergence of generational differences and comprehensive breakthroughs in all aspects until the East also kept pace.
Enter industrial civilization.
Bai Tu doesn't believe in the theory of extraterrestrial civilization. His only hope is... that the Mayans also have chengji, so that communication will be easier.
Theoretically, during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period, there were also Cheng Jis, but only on a "legendary" level. For example, it was "said" that the Yellow Emperor tribe gained the advantage against the Dongyi Alliance only after the Tribe Ji was upgraded to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl.
There is no special research, and no one has ever thought about why Cheng Ji appears. After all, for people in the world of Cheng Ji, "Cheng Ji" is like the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. It is part of the laws of nature. When exactly does it happen?
No one can explain the principle of birth...
"According to the 'Earth Theory', if I continue heading east, I can come back, right?" Gan Ning said thoughtfully.
"No, unless you are prepared to build a large wooden boat in the Golden State, or go around the huge Golden State, you cannot continue eastward... This is not something you can take risks. If you want to sail around the world, you can do it next time
Try heading west." Bai Tu warned specifically.
The earth theory was not specially proposed by Bai Tu, but was one of the hypotheses proposed by doctors from the Ministry of Industry and widely recognized within the Ministry of Industry.
After it was published in the "Science" newspaper, it triggered a civil debate. Judging from the reaction of Jinling residents, most people definitely did not believe it.
It's just that the Chu State has never used those mysterious and mysterious things to arm its legal rationality. Instead, it emphasizes with the Eight Policies of Founding the Country that the Chu State's legal rationality comes from the Chu people.
Bai Tu never said that he was the reincarnation of a black dragon or a divine creature. The only people who were compared to the father of King Chu were the people of Chu.
"Induction between heaven and man" and the like were considered "incorrect in the court" in the Chu State, and no one dared to mention it in official circles now.
Therefore, it doesn't matter even if it triggers a dispute. After all, it is just people talking to each other. Whether it is the theory of the earth or the theory of a round sky and a square earth, it has nothing to do with the legitimacy of Chu State, so there is no need to worry about any unrest.
However, Gan Ning wanted to verify that if he were to complete the circumnavigation of the world by going all the way east, he would need to bypass South America and take the route through the Drake Strait between South America and Antarctica.
In other words, retracing Magellan's route...
In comparison, it is obviously more convenient to go west next time, take the Atlantic, bypass Africa, and land in the Americas from the Caribbean side - as long as we can later join the pioneering army staying in the Golden State, we will have indirectly completed the global journey.
There is no need to be stubborn when sailing!
The scale of this trip to the Golden State was the largest of the navy's overseas explorations. Just as a precaution, in the end the Sixth Ministry and the Privy Council tried their best to suppress the number of accompanying "Pioneering Forces".
If the Golden State can be discovered and returned safely, it would not be too late to send a large number of pioneering troops and escort them with the navy.
However, according to Gan Ning's plan, as long as it is not too miserable when arriving, a considerable part of the navy will definitely be left behind!
"Don't worry, as a naval commander, I have always been a cautious person." Gan Ning said with a smile.
Although he knew Gan Ning well and would not let him off the hook easily, when he heard what Gan Ning said, Bai Tu still had the idea of writing a guarantee letter for him.
After arriving, although we want to explore the Golden State, we mainly focus on food supplies and crop collection.
After all, it only takes two or three months at most, and there is not much information or gain to be gained...
Even if he cannot find the natives of the Golden State who have reached a certain level of civilization, Gan Ning may come back directly, and the subsequent exploration will be continued by a part of the remaining navy.
This possibility is not impossible. After all, the Mayan civilization was mainly concentrated in the central part of the Golden State, which is like a "bee's waist", and they did not have much involvement in the vast and fertile northern continent and southern continent.
If the landing place was too different, Gan Ning would most likely not be able to find the Mayans...
Once this happens, it will be difficult to find wild corn and cotton all over the mountains and plains.
Now Bai Tu's obsession with corn has become a lot less indifferent. After all... with the amount of farmland in Chu State and the ever-improving agricultural level, growing rice and wheat is also very fragrant, and considering the nature of corn, even if there is
The return of seeds will only be more important for the development of animal husbandry.
Although the grain yield of corn is higher than that of rice and wheat, from the perspective of providing calories and protein, its value per unit weight is much less than that of rice and wheat, and it is also more difficult to process. This is why the modern high-quality farmland in later generations does not
Will it be used to grow corn, or only take time to grow corn for one season during the intermittent period...
After all, in later generations, corn is the "most staple food for weight loss". It has lower calories, protein, and fat than rice and wheat, but the dietary fiber is several times that of rice and wheat!
Except for some high-quality varieties, most other corns are used to feed pigs.
With the current momentum of Chu State's promotion of the "Pan Qi Plan", corn is also very important for feeding pigs. In some places, rice and wheat are already used to feed pigs, but the efficiency is really low.
But after all, it belongs to the category of "improving the quality of life" and is not an immediate priority.
In comparison, cotton from the Golden State is much more important.
Although heading southwest at this time, theoretically you can go to "Shendu" to get Asian cotton, but in comparison, American cotton is more conducive to the performance of the textile machine and has a better effect in keeping out the cold.
In history without the white picture effect, Asian cotton was introduced to China in the Song Dynasty, and American cotton, or upland cotton, was introduced to China in the Ming Dynasty.
Since its introduction, upland cotton has almost completely replaced Asian cotton. In later generations, the global production of Asian cotton only accounted for 2% of all cotton.
As for now...
Textile machines are only used to weave linen, so it is difficult to take advantage of them. Brocade weaving can only be a high-end route, which has little significance in completely changing people's lives.
Of course... Gan Ning would not agree with this. Gan Ning's dream is that everyone can afford brocade, and more importantly... he hopes that everyone can learn how to identify which brocade is more noble!
With upland cotton, even if the breeding is still in its infancy, it is still upland cotton, and we can begin to take advantage of the textile machine. For the people at this time, it can be said to be an artifact that "shortens winter."
Before there was cotton, the south was not very cold, so let’s not mention it. The props for keeping out the cold in the north were usually quilts and stoves.
Rich people burn at a higher level, while ordinary people burn at a lower level. In really cold areas, cats are still needed in winter.
This is the case even in the northern part of Jiangdong, but the time is shorter.
This is why everyone is reluctant to fight in winter...
And just after winter, the combat effectiveness of the army is generally very worrying - because the amount of training in winter is often seriously insufficient.
Each cat has been wintering for several months, so what fighting capacity does it have?
However, if there is a mature cotton weaving industry, ordinary people can effectively fight against winter!
Not only is it useful for the "North" in the sense of the Central Plains, but even... if used properly, it can completely change people's views on "bitter and cold places" such as Heshuo and Liaodong.
Only by doing this now can we verify the value of "whether the "black soil" in northern Liaodong has been formed."
With the climate there still snowing in March, without effective and universal means of keeping out the cold, all the land is useless!
As for going to "Shendu" to get Asian cotton to deal with it first?
Bai Tu also tried it. After all, there was a trade route from Shu to Shendu in the Western Han Dynasty. It's just a pity that no one brought the cotton back...
However, even if the Chu State entrusts it, the cycle of this trade route is too long, and Yizhou is still occupied by "rebellious ministers and traitors". There is no news about the caravan entrusted by the Chu State, and the efficiency may not be as good as going to the Golden State by sea.
After all, Chu's only "enemy" in terms of navy and sea expansion is nature.
As for the enemy...
Even if someone must be an enemy, just like the general from the Dog Slave Kingdom...all of them are stacked together, and even Bajun can't fight!
There is no reason why the Yizhou Army... no, even if the Jiangzhou Army of Bajun is thrown into the Golden State, they will lose.
This is one of the reasons why Gan Ning has become more and more boring recently - he now has less and less common language with other generals who are not directly under the navy.
After all, for other generals, the Han court and Wei State in the north of Chu State, even the Shuhou Mansion in the west, and even the weak, pitiful and isolated Jiaozhou in the south...
If there is going to be a war, there will always be some pressure, especially for the Han court and the Wei state.
And Gan Ning spent the whole day going to Yizhou, Zhouhu, Danzhou, and the fried seafood peninsula...
War? What war?
In terms of land warfare command, Gan Ning has also become a "dime" visibly to the naked eye, and he doesn't even think about doing a sand table simulation...