The Andaman Islands are located between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Later they belonged to India, but now they are the territory of the Ming Dynasty. They are separated from the mainland by about 400 miles across the Preparis Strait to the north; they are connected to the Nicobar Islands across the Ten Degree Strait to the south.
, there are more than two hundred large and small islands, including North Andaman Island, Middle Andaman Island, South Andaman Island, Landfar Island, West Island, Little Andaman Island, etc.
The Andaman Port was built in the eastern part of South Andaman Island. It is a deep-water port and can garrison three thousand troops. It protects the maritime trade lines between the Ming Dynasty and the Western Yi countries.
Zhou Lingao, the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Navy of the Ming Dynasty, strolled on the beach near the Andaman Port. He walked calmly and looked at the Sadr Peak on North Andaman Island. This is the highest peak in the archipelago, about 220 feet high.
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He is the son of a great pirate, no, the Pingyi Marquis Zhou Hezhi. He has been living on the sea for many years and has rich experience in island survival. When he first came here, the sun was shining on the earth, the four seasons were as warm as spring, and the sea breeze blew gently.
, bringing people comfort and comfort. Moreover, the scenery is beautiful and picturesque! The forest is dense, the coast is extremely winding, the harbor is deep and quiet, the beautiful underwater corals are colorful, and there are many excellent safe harbors. It feels like a livable place.
Great place.
Soon, he discovered that he was wrong, how wrong he was!
The rainfall distribution on the island is uneven. During the season when the northeast wind blows, the rainfall is scarce, but when the southwest wind blows, the rainfall is abundant. This results in sometimes more fresh water and sometimes less fresh water. What's more unfortunate is that big storms often occur.
Attacking here, the majestic and powerful storm set off a sea tide and came overwhelmingly, as if it was going to destroy everything.
The emperor's order was like a mountain and could not be disobeyed. He could only block it with troops and cover it with water. Zhou Lingao chose the eastern part of South Andaman Island, which was less affected by storms, to build a port. He also built a lookout point on the island to observe storms, and then cut down the forest.
Solid fortifications were built. Fortunately, the island is lush with forests, including Andaman mahogany, chestnut, mahogany, walnut, oak and other trees. Among them, Andaman mahogany is a good material for construction, shipbuilding, and furniture. The remaining problem is to find stable fresh water. Due to uneven rainfall distribution, the archipelago lacks rivers with water all year round, making water supply difficult. Water is the source of life. Without water, troops cannot be stationed and ports cannot be built.
"Headquarters, we have found it. We have found the 'Luo Renguo' recorded in "The Biography of Eminent Monks Seeking Dharma in the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty". The brothers also captured a few Luo people. They are so short. They are only three feet tall." The subordinates reported.
Interrupting Zhou Lingao's leisure.
"This town is asking you to find water sources, why do you want to catch the bandits?" he said angrily. In his early years, he followed his father to make a living at sea and met many gangsters. He was not very interested in the so-called bandits.
What I want is drinkable fresh water.
"In the main town, if there are people there, there will be water. The brothers found several streams where the Tao people live," the subordinate said again.
"Let's go and have a look." Lin Gao became interested this week.
"Luo Ren Country" is located in the forest on the island, and there are indeed several small streams flowing. Where there is fresh water, there is hope!
Looking at the captured Japanese, they are very short, only about three feet on average, with relatively large faces, straight noses, black and short hair, and skin as black as jet. When they open their mouths, their white teeth are extremely conspicuous.
.In fact, the shortest human race in the world grows here: dwarf black people. Later Western colonists described them like this: "With dog-like heads, teeth and eyes, they are very cruel and want to eat humans."
Call them contemptuously the "dog-faced people".
Various ancient Chinese books, such as "The Biography of Eminent Monks Seeking Dharma in the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty" and "Zhubo Zhi", etc., also mention them. It is said that they are naked, their skin is as black as black paint, they can eat people alive, and boat people dare not step ashore;
There is no iron in the mountains. They use grinded clam shells as blades. You can exchange them for five to ten coconuts with iron as big as two fingers.
"Let these rogues go, let them go back and inform their clansmen, and surrender to the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible," Zhou Lingao said lightly.
He saw that these creeks were very small. What would he do if they dried up in a season with low rainfall? He suddenly remembered that the ancient book "Zhubo Zhi" said that this place was called Yantuo Manguo, and there was a well on the island that would flow out holy water.
, any sand and stone that water flows through will turn into gold. These days, in order to find water, the commander-in-chief has almost read through the ancient books about this archipelago.
I don’t care whether the well water here can turn sand and gravel into gold, as long as it’s drinkable!
"Someone, dig a well to get water!" he shouted.
"Headquarters, the water is out. It's very sweet and not salty at all!" With the cheers of his subordinates, the Ming army finally gained a foothold on the Andaman Islands.
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Although people often say that good things come in pairs and misfortunes never come singly. But this time it happened: good things come in pairs. General Wang Jue of Zuoying who went to sea came back and caught two sharks!
"It's not easy! I heard that the flesh of this shark can be eaten, the fat can be squeezed for oil, the bones can be carved, and the skin can be used to make leather. The local natives often hunt them, so they are very timid and hide in the deep sea when they see people.
.Unexpectedly, Wang Jue was able to catch two! Come, let’s put some wine in the Andaman Port to entertain General Wang Shen. I want to go to the Lord Shu to ask for merit!” Zhou Lingao danced with joy.
"Headquarters, it is a great achievement to donate the sharks. Good things should not be enjoyed exclusively. You need to share the benefits with the superior officials, so that you will not be hated by others," the staff advised.
"Well, what you said makes sense. Everyone should carry the sedan chair." Zhou Lingao nodded and wrote a letter to Burmese Governor Bao Shimei and Admiral Hui Zhiguan, informing him that the sharks were captured and prepared to be presented to the emperor. p>
Suddenly I felt unbalanced in my heart again. Damn it, we came from the sea and went into the wind, built the harbor, and caught the sharks, we were so exhausted! They stayed in Ava and did nothing, and they shared the credit with us just by talking.
Half. No, we can't give them an advantage! Thinking of this, he wrote and made a request to these two superiors: Andaman Island is sparsely populated, please relocate 10,000 people to farmland; there is only a naval force on the island, but it cannot be done without a land force, please dial
A battalion of 3,000 land troops has landed on the island to station troops; the military funds allocated last time for the construction of the port have been spent. Please allocate an additional 50,000 taels of military funds.
He felt that there were too many ports and the Burmese Navy's five thousand men were too small, so he went to Emperor Shuguang Wu and asked for an expansion to seven thousand men.
Wang Jue and Chen Tao's fleet returned to Andaman Port and received a warm welcome.
Zhou Lingao held a grand banquet, and kept serving fine wine and delicacies. In addition to chicken, duck, and fish, there were also various seafood caught from the sea, as well as a kind of small wild boar meat on the island, which was very delicious. That night, we left with a lot of fun!
In later generations, some democrats nicknamed "The Ming Dynasty" heard about the Burmese navy dispatching warships to capture sharks to please Emperor Guangwu, and wrote a limerick saying: