Chapter 692: 10,000 miles of sea journey

When the entire fleet set sail again, they had almost half the distance and rested in Singapore for a week. During this period, under the work of slaves and workers, the naval base had a basic outline. It was now stationed by 300 soldiers, and Zhang Qing left a warship to protect the interests of the sea.

The more than 30 pirate ships obtained were discounted to the locals at this time and taught them to use trawls to fish. Due to the installation of a winch-type human-driven system, they have improved their fishing efficiency a lot.

As for the locals, they are satisfied with their current state. Although they also have to pay a little tax. Generally speaking, there is no tax without business. Having business means that there is huge profit, and that little tax is nothing.

More importantly, Singapore is under construction at this moment, and there are many jobs waiting for people to do. Therefore, Zhang Qing also left 500 slaves for naval bases and nearby enterprises to apply. They will build some wood processing factories to provide ship protection and maintenance work. Because this is a tropical rainforest, there is no shortage of wood. Residents are also eager to design and manufacture wooden structure houses based on the modular design of cement buildings to replace their current buildings.

Up to now, no one is dissatisfied with the slaves who have been stabbed. At least the local residents have received a small amount of income because of the fruits and charcoal needed by the fleet. Of course, the Yulin Army of the Song Dynasty also paid for the payment with products such as lanterns.

This highlights one thing, that is, Zhao Fubo does not have currency yet, and this matter has developed a little slower. Moreover, this will also affect the transactions between the entire trade route. In the Black Food and Food industry, this matter is not serious because the Dinar and Dir Khan are common currencies.

But when I came up from one merchant station on the Maritime Silk Road in the Song Dynasty, this incident became a bit unusual and inconvenient.

In the Indian Ocean, the fleet that had sufficient fresh water no longer traveled along the coast. They took a nearly straight line to cross the entire Indian Ocean. That is, they came out from the northern end of the Strait of Malacca and passed through Banda Aceh, where there was a commercial station established by Pu Jinshu.

Then go straight to Ceylon (i.e. Sri Lanka) and then go straight to Socotra Island. The speed is about 5,000 kilometers away. If you calculate the average speed of 10 kilometers per hour (5 nautical miles), you can still walk 240 kilometers per day, and 5,000 kilometers is actually only one month.

In fact, the reason why the Maritime Silk Road was inefficient was that such a journey took one year was that the supplement of fresh water and food often required continuous twists and turns along the coast, so the entire route became long and far.

Due to the previous exploration of Pu Jinshu and the nearly straight sea route formed by the longitude and latitude marked along the way, the entire voyage was shortened by 1/3. The Singapore fleet was replenished with a large amount of fresh water. Just like before, a "big whale-class rapid transport ship" loaded 500 tons of fresh water, and fuel and food were used as supply ships to provide the fleet with supplies.

The same "centrifugal evaporative freshwater supply machines" installed on the ship provide a lot of drinking water for passengers on the ship. The human-powered boats on those warships also fish in the sea from time to time to replenish food with the resistant salted fish.

With various means and the efforts of the slaves in the bottom cabin, the lighthouse of Socotra finally flashed in the telescope.

"We will probably have a day left, but I guess they may see us!"

In the evening of this day, he finally approached his destination, which made Zhang Qing a little excited. Along the way, if it weren't for the Shipbuilding University and the move was quick, Zhang Qing's worries might have become a reality. It is impossible not to say that the junior high school graduates on Jeju Island were really excellent talents after self-studying high school courses.

Just like the "big whale-class rapid transport ship" used to hold people, it not only has a complete ventilation and drainage system. Even the toilets are considered, using seawater toilets to keep the ship hygienic. Tableware that is often disinfected with alcohol (savory alcohol) also minimizes the spread of the epidemic. The most important thing is that excellent nutrition and sufficient fresh water give people on the ship the opportunity to wipe their faces and wash their hands with clean water.

However, it can still be seen that Danshui is still very lacking in the process of ships of such a large scale. Although the main reason is that the ship's speed is too slow, it is already a good speed for ships without engines and relying on sails and manpower. Along the way, nearly 300 people died due to some diseases. Although the main ones are the slaves who keep boarding the ship in the bottom cabin, this is still a huge loss for Zhang Qing.

"It would be great if there were passenger ships. I'm talking about special passenger ships. And it's best not to have big ships like this. It's good for your warships to be used as passenger ships!"

After getting along for a while, everyone became familiar with each other. Zhang Qing could already accept such a sharp criticism.

"Principal Xiao, I think you should be a reporter. It would be a pity for a girl like you who is smart and sharp-tongued to be a reporter!"

Xiao Hongyan nodded. As a high school student, what she saw along the way made her think that the world needs some people who are professionally criticized. Even though that King Ji Qiansui had already made his subordinates live the best life in the world, there was still room for improvement.

"Do you reveal the dragon scales? Are you afraid that I will be chopped off by King Ji Qiansui?"

Zhang Qing glanced at Xiao Hongyan. As a traditional soldier, he shouldn't have such an idea. But he has learned the "Shenzhou Law" and has his own opinion on this matter.

"Is that true? The "Shenzhou Law" of King Ji Qiansui clearly states that anyone has the right to express their opinions. If King Ji Qiansui is a golden word, then everyone must abide by these rules, which also includes him. If he doesn't even follow them, why do you expect others to abide by them?

I think the problem of the Song Dynasty is here, not that there is no law, but that from the emperor to the people, no one goes to guard it. Just like a close friend of the army, if each army is like the Yue family army, how can a few small border bandits fight to the death?
Chapter completed!