Chapter 942 Heading to the Pacific

Author: Chongqing Lao Q

January 17, 1678, Sendai Domain, Taga Castle.

As early as more than sixty years ago, Date Masamune, the lord of the Sendai lord of Japan, presided over the first ocean voyage in Japanese history.

In 1613, with the support of the shogunate, Date Masamune mobilized more than 800 shipbuilders, 700 blacksmiths and more than 3,000 carpenters. It took 45 days to build an imitation Western-style ship with a displacement of up to 500 tons.

Galenic sailing ship, which is also equipped with 16 special cannons.

Date Masamune's retainer Hasekura Tsunenaga took charge of this great voyage and named the large sailing ship Date Muramaru.

The ship set out for Acapulco, Spanish Mexico, on October 28, 1613. It was accompanied by more than 180 people, including 10 shogunate samurai, 12 Sendai samurai, 120 Japanese merchants, crew members and attendants, and about 40

Spaniards and Portuguese.

After three months of arduous sea voyage, the ship arrived in Acapulco on January 25, 1614, and the envoys received a grand reception. Then Hasekura Tsunenaga and his team transferred to a Spanish merchant ship and crossed the Atlantic.

Arriving in Spain, King Philip III of Spain welcomed him with the courtesy given to foreign ambassadors.

In April 1614, Datemaru, who successfully completed his mission, returned to Japan and once again spent four months crossing the vast Pacific Ocean. However, the crew members after returning home discovered that the direction of the shogunate's foreign policy had shifted 180 degrees.

It began to strictly prohibit exchanges with Catholic countries such as Spain and Portugal, and entered a long period of national isolation.

As for the Date Muramaru that crossed the Pacific, in 1618, when it went to Acapulco, Mexico for the second time to pick up Hasekura Tsunenaga's delegation to Europe and returned to Manila, it was forcibly purchased by the Spanish for use in the resistance.

Possible attack by the Dutch East India Company and renamed San Juan-Baptiste.

With the beginning of the long seclusion period, the Datemaru, which was built entirely in accordance with Western standards, would no longer have successors, and even the original red single ship system was cancelled. When the third-generation shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu pacified Shimabara in 1637

After the Rebellion, when they planned to attack the Spanish Philippines, they found that their shipping strength was seriously insufficient. Even with the assistance of Dutch warships, they lacked certainty of victory. This first-generation Nanyang strategy plan in Japanese history was stillborn because of this.

In the belly.

When three Qiguo sailboats with a displacement of more than 800 tons docked at the Taga Castle Pier, Japanese residents who had not seen such a huge ship for many years were amazed and came to the dock to stop and watch.

It stands to reason that Taga Castle is not a port city permitted by the Japanese shogunate, and Qi merchant ships are not allowed to enter and conduct trade activities with it.

But three years ago, the shogunate was defeated miserably by Qi and signed the Treaty of Edo, which was humiliating and humiliating to the country. This not only damaged the shogunate's strength, but also greatly reduced its prestige among the domestic vassals.

An army of more than 100,000 was no match for a mere 20,000 Qi army. Osaka and Kyoto were lost, and Edo was bombarded. After the war, Qi apologized, ceded territory, paid indemnities, and was forced to trade with five people. In the past, Shi Gao, the great general who conquered the barbarians,

The Tokugawa Shogunate, which had more than six million koku, seemed to be nothing more than this!

The first to challenge the authority of the shogunate was the Choshu Mori clan, one of the powerful vassals in the southwest. They did not dare to have the slightest resentment at Qi's seizure of Shimonoseki, their territory, but they vented their anger on the shogunate and surrounding areas.

Several genealogies are on behalf of the great names.

The Mori clan took advantage of the fact that the shogunate had just been defeated, and sent troops to attack the Kamei clan of the Tsuwano domain, destroying the Tsuwano castle, and thus regained some of the territory that had been deprived by the shogunate.

After hearing the news, Shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna immediately sent an envoy to severely warn the Mori clan, and mobilized more than ten vassal states in Chugoku, Shikoku, Kinki and other regions to prepare to punish the rebellious Choshu clan.

Due to military pressure, Tsunahiro Mouri, the lord of the Choshu domain, withdrew from Tsuwano Castle, but he directly rejected the shogunate's request to punish the parties involved and to compensate the Kamei clan.

In view of the fact that Nagato and Shufang, where the Choshu Domain was located, were too remote, and that the finances had deteriorated after the war they had just experienced, the shogunate could only breathe a sigh of relief and temporarily put aside the idea of ​​launching a punitive war against the Mori clan.

In this way, those weak vassal states, because they did not have much ability to protect themselves, naturally still maintained their due respect and obedience to the shogunate. However, for some powerful vassals with hundreds of thousands of stones in height, they could not help but have different thoughts in their hearts.

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Although the Date clan of the Sendai Domain has a public salary of 620,000 koku, which is lower than that of the Kaga and Satsuma Domains and is equivalent to the Owari Domain. However, the actual salary of the Sendai Domain is as high as 1 million koku, plus the rich

With its mineral resources, smelting and animal husbandry, Sanriku Bay's fishery income, and port income, the actual financial scale of the Sendai Domain is said to have exceeded 2 million koku, making it the largest feudal clan in Japan.

In addition, during the Sekigahara War, Tokugawa Ieyasu promised to the first feudal lord, Date Masamune, that if the Eastern Army won, he would increase the Sendai Domain's salary to 1 million koku. However, after the Sekigahara War, the Eastern Army's victory fell.

When the curtain came to an end, Tokugawa Ieyasu lost his words, and the actual increase in salary for the Sendai clan was far less than 1 million koku, and it was only increased from 570,000 to 620,000.

Even after the war, Tokugawa Ieyasu detained Date Masamune in Edo for two years for various reasons, including the construction of Edo Castle. Finally, with the help of various feudal lords, he was able to return to his own territory.

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You must know that Date Masamune, like Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu and other tycoons, also had the ambition to unify Japan and establish an eternal foundation. It was just bad luck that he failed to receive God's favor.

Nowadays, the shogunate and the Qi Kingdom are fighting a war. Their strength has been severely damaged, and their prestige has also begun to waver. Many powerful vassals in the country are ready to make moves. As a somewhat "idea", the Sendai clan naturally has to make plans for the future.

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Therefore, the Date clan not only secretly conducted trade with the Qi State, but also actively communicated with the Ming State in the north in order to increase trade opportunities within the domain and obtain necessary commercial benefits.

However, the three Qi ships that sailed into Taga this time were not there for trade. They were just passing through the place to make the last supply of supplies for the long journey to the Pacific Ocean.

A large amount of rice, poultry, and livestock were hoisted onto the ship one by one, and dozens of recruited wandering warriors were also stuffed into the crowded cabin.

After docking briefly for two days, the three ocean-going ships sailed out of the harbor one after another. Several thick chimneys spit out billowing smoke and meandered toward the north under the watchful eyes of many local residents.

These three motor sailing ships belong to the Ryukyu Fleet of Qi State and are mainly responsible for round-trip transportation on the Pacific route that has only been opened in recent years. Because they are steam sailing ships, they naturally need to carry a large amount of coal in the cabin, so they are relatively

Compared with pure sailing ships, its transportation capacity is greatly limited.

In addition, the environment in the bottom cabin of a motor-driven sailboat is also relatively harsh. The deafening roar of the machine, the smoke-filled steam, the pungent and choking smell of soot, and the hot space will make the experience of passengers in the adjacent cabin extremely poor.

However, these various problems are secondary to the fact that the ship's most unparalleled advantages are its speed exceeding that of ordinary sailing boats and its maneuverability in calm conditions. Motor sailing boats have been around for more than ten years, and with the advancement of technology,

Progress and perfection are becoming more and more popular among people from all walks of life in the field of navigation.

Steamships can overcome all kinds of restrictive conditions at sea such as dead winds, headwinds, countercurrents, speeds, etc. Except for extremely bad sea conditions, they can operate all-weather and in all directions without any restrictions.

, sailing in the endless ocean.

Of course, there must be an important prerequisite here, which is to reserve enough coal.

For this reason, Qi State began to build coal supply stations at various route nodes or important ports as early as ten years ago to create necessary conditions for the large-scale application of motor and sailboats in the future.

Among the three sailing ships that went deep into the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands and the west coast of the Americas, there was a supply ship loaded with nearly 500 tons of coal. In addition to supporting the return of the three ships, it would also

Some coal was unloaded on Hawaii Island for storage.

On January 25, the fleet sailed north to about 42 degrees north latitude, then adjusted its course, used the North Pacific Kuroshio (North Pacific Warm Current), inflated all sails, and sailed rapidly eastward.

The route that the fleet traveled was the most mature route opened during the Spanish galleon trade. At that time, the Spaniards would take the southwest monsoon and sail north from Manila every June to the waters of 45° to 42° north latitude, and then follow the northward route.

The "Black Tide" in the Pacific Ocean travels eastward and reaches the port of Acapulco, traveling more than 10,000 nautical miles and lasting several months.

The return journey takes only more than three months by sailing directly along the ocean current. The load capacity of large sailing ships is generally 300-500 tons. The outbound journey carries silk, porcelain, lacquerware, cotton, ivory, etc. from the Ming Dynasty, India, Persia, Japan and other countries.

Carpets, tea, etc.

Products, as well as Philippine embroidery, pearls, wood carvings, etc., are transported from Manila to the Port of Acapulco in Mexico, sold throughout Mexico and Spanish America, and resold in Spain. The return trip mainly carries Spanish silver dollars, copper, cocoa, etc.

Later, after the Zheng family, Weiguo and Qi kingdoms carved up the entire Luzon Islands, the Spanish trans-Pacific galleons trade was temporarily interrupted.

The reason why it is said to be an interruption rather than a termination is that ten years ago, the Zheng family tried to restart the trans-Pacific trade by using a large number of captured Spaniards. With the assistance and guidance of Spanish sailors, two merchant ships sailed.

When he arrived at the port of Acapulco, Mexico, he received an enthusiastic response from the local Spaniards and obtained a large amount of gold and silver in exchange.

Since then, the Zheng family has attached great importance to this trade route, and has worked closely with the merchants in the Viceroyalty of New Spain (i.e. Spanish Mexico). Each year they organize one or two merchant ships to sail to each other's territory to exchange the goods they need.

, the trade volume reached more than one million pesos (one tael of silver is approximately equal to 1.3-1.4 pesos).

Regarding the trans-Pacific trade led by the Zheng family, the Qi merchants and Wei merchants on the Luzon Islands were not without jealousy, and they also tried to get involved. However, in view of the excellent relationship they maintained with the Spanish merchants in Mexico, and in addition,

The other party has kept this precious trade route strictly confidential, as well as restricted and controlled by the Spanish royal family and Spanish local colonial authorities, but has never succeeded.

As for whether the Spaniards would be jealous of Luzon because they were taken away by the Zheng family, and therefore refuse to trade with the Zheng family, that does not exist at all. If the distant Philippines is lost, it will be lost, and ultimately lose face and dignity.

Yes, it's just the Spanish royal family.

The merchants of Spanish America can easily obtain a large number of rare Eastern commodities from the trans-Pacific trade, and then sell them to the vast American territories, and even export them to Spain, making a lot of money each one. This is very important to them.

Speaking is the most important thing and the most worthy of attention.

Three years ago, an exploratory fleet from Qi State discovered an archipelago in the center of the ocean on its way back from the west coast of America. It is said that His Majesty the Emperor attached great importance to this and ordered the cabinet and the Navy to occupy and control it at all costs.

as the core strategic point of managing the Pacific.

Some businessmen with a keen sense of smell immediately realized that this archipelago is simply an excellent springboard to the Spanish American Territory. If a trade transit station is established here, with the convenient geographical advantage, it can be used across the Pacific Ocean monopolized by the Zheng family in Luzon.

It’s not like we can’t get a bite of meat from trade.

Therefore, last year, a North American trading company was jointly established by Luzon Trading Company, Weiwang Royal Trading Company, Ryukyu Trading Company, and Yunzhou Trading Company, and raised 500,000 shares in preparation for operating trans-Pacific trade routes.

In addition to bringing more than 500 immigrants and some daily supplies to Hawaii Island, this fleet of three motor-driven sailing ships also has a large amount of goods organized by North American trading companies, preparing to establish a trade on the island in advance.

station and try to conduct limited trade with the local indigenous people.

After sailing along the waters between 42 degrees north latitude for more than 20 days, the fleet immediately adjusted its course again and headed southeast.

During this part of the journey, in order to cope with the resistance of the ocean currents, the three sailboats lowered several main sails, turned on their steam engines, and sailed towards Hawaii Island at a speed of ten knots.

On March 2, the lookout reported the discovery of land and was about to arrive at Hawaii Island.

On March 3, there were strong winds, heavy rain, and huge waves on the sea. The fleet dropped all sails, shut down the machines, and drifted with the waves as the sea rose and fell, waiting for the weather to improve and looking for an opportunity to land.

On March 4, the weather gradually improved, and the fleet slowly sailed around the winding coastline, carefully avoiding countless coral reefs. By the afternoon, it sailed to the southwest of the island and approached a semi-enclosed bay.

At this time, there were already local indigenous people paddling canoes on both sides of the fleet. They brought chickens, ducks, poultry and more than a dozen bunches of plantains, eager to barter with the fleet.

The sailors smiled and hoisted the indigenous "goods" onto the deck with ropes, then took out several iron nails and glass beads and threw them into the canoe. Some indigenous people saw the iron nails falling into the sea and jumped into the water without hesitation.

, trying to salvage it.

These natives should have been in contact with the Qi merchant ships that arrived here before. They were unprepared for the Qi people and carelessly let the Qi sailors take the items they brought.

Just as more canoes gathered around, wanting to trade with the people of Qi, a streamlined multi-oared boat quickly rowed from the coast. After squeezing out several canoes blocking the road, it attached

A Qi State aircraft sailing ship.

"Damn, you're finally here!" A strong, tanned man said loudly after being pulled onto the boat by the sailors: "If we had come a little later, we might have been conquered by the natives on the next island.
Chapter completed!