The Great Feng Ship that Xiao Chongye and Xie Jie rode on was expensive to build. At this time, the Ming Dynasty's national power did not build many ships, only ten ships.
The ship has seven decks in total, is 26 feet long, and has a total length of 6,500 pieces. It is about the same size as the Type 65 frigate of later generations. It has nine masts at the front and rear. The big mast is nine feet and two feet long, with a girth of seven feet and five inches.
The smaller one is shorter than the other, and there is also the work of Europa craftsmen - a thick sprit protrudes from the bow, and the triangular soft sail and top sail above are full of wind, providing ample power for this giant ship.
The new design also moved the nearly central deck of Zheng He's treasure ship to the bow and stern of the ship, making its center of gravity lower, where the imperial edict is now placed. At the same time, a platform was added to the rear of the ship that surrounds the entire stern and was built.
The captain's cabin has eight exquisite windows and is open and bright - it is also a relaxing place for the imperial envoys Xiao Chongye and Xie Jie.
The waves on the ocean were undulating, but Xiao Chongye in the huge boat felt like a floating house and didn't realize it was a boat. Between the sea and the sky where he looked, there were often giant fish leaping up from the side of the boat and making sharp screams.
The sound is like calling people to play with it.
Although Xiao Chongye often went to sea in recent years, he still admired this rare spectacle with greed. Captain Xie Sanmou saw that he was fascinated by it, so he smiled and said: "Old sir, after we pass the Heishui ditch, we can see it if we go south again.
It’s a giant kun—it’s now called a whale.”
Xiao Chongye was shocked when he heard this. Xie Jie, who was writing a report at his desk, also raised his head and said happily: "Oh! That's a good relationship, you can make a profit! The nursery rhymes in the capital all sung: 'The Duke of England, the Duke of Whales, without the Duke of Whales, we will die poor.
The British Duke - It is said that the good life of the British Duke is supported by this big fish, and we can also make a fortune along the way."
Xie Sanmou laughed and said: "This can't be done. Even if we bring the whale cannon and kill the whales, we won't make any money. This big ship is where the edict is stored. How can we wash and skin the big fish and boil the oil?"
?Besides, boiled whale oil stinks to death, so you two can’t stand it.”
Xiao Chongye said with interest: "Captain Xie, whaling is a good business, why don't you make a living in this business?" Xie Sanmou's chest puffed up when he heard this and said: "My ancestors were the ones who drove big sealing ships. Although whaling ships make more money,
, but the ship is small, and the sailors are mostly aggressive and ruthless, and they often turn to pirates - how could I be willing to accept a humble career?"
Xiao Chongye was speechless. Xie Jie said with a smile: "The old man doesn't know something. My ancestors were great shipwrights, and Dun Qi was a great boatman. In the 13th year of Jiajing, when Chen Kan and Gao Cheng were on a mission to Ryukyu, they recruited Dun Qi to sail the boats.
Xie Dunqi boarded the ship for inspection and said that the bottom plate was not thick, the cabin was not ventilated, and the rudder stock could not be replaced. The first officer Gao Cheng accepted all of them and made corrections."
"After the ship was sealed, reinforced and renovated, Dun Qi and others sailed the boat out to sea. When passing Gumi Mountain, they encountered a strong hurricane. Chen Kan and Gao Cheng did not use the 'coffin of the envoy of the Celestial Dynasty', but it was thanks to Dun Qi's strength." [Note 1, 2
]
Listening to Xie Jie talk about his grandfather's glorious deeds, Xie Sanmou's chest became higher and higher, and his face was full of pride. Xie Jie continued: "After Gao Cheng returned to China, he wrote the article "The Story of Boating". He praised Xie Dunqi's physical strength and bravery.
"Excellent knowledge and insight", and "if you don't thank me for planning, this ship will disintegrate for a long time; if you don't thank me for planning, then there will be many things in this life; the hurricane force is invincible, if you don't thank me for planning...it will inevitably fall apart"
It has been carried on for a long time, so why should I thank you if it is not a gift from heaven!'"
After saying that, Xie Jie laughed and said: "This is Xie Dunqi's most proud career in his life, Sanmou - did your grandfather get your name from Sanmou?" Xie Sanmou smiled and nodded in agreement.
Xiao Chongye was fascinated by what he heard and said in admiration: "As expected, our family has a long history, Xie Sanmou, this time our lives are also thanks to yours." Xie Sanmou grinned and said: "This trip to sea has been smooth sailing, all thanks to the two imperial envoys, Hong Fu.
"Xiao Chongye laughed heartily with an open heart.
Xie Sanmou paused and then said: "My grandfather once said that the storms on the sea are unpredictable, and ships big and small are not enough to rely on. Only the power of the imperial court and the imperial concubine can protect them. There is an imperial edict on the Dafeng ship. Who can have this on the ship?"
The sacred object calms the sea? Therefore, the ancestors left a family motto that future generations are not allowed to cross the Diaoyu Island, unless they open ships. Now that the Holy Emperor is on the throne, and all nations come to court, the hair of my Xie family will be indispensable in the future." Xiao Chongye listened and touched his palm.
laugh.
Xie Jie laughed twice and said to himself: "There is no edict on the ship at this time, but we can't tell Xie Sanmou - lest he go back."
The journey was calm and the sea was calm, and the large Feng ship galloped faster and faster, and the escorting warships were not slow. Two days and nights later, land was in sight. Xiao Chongye was concerned that the fast ship delivering the imperial edict could not rendezvous with the Feng ship, so he often looked at the way forward from the stern of the ship, his lips
There was also a circle of blisters.
Xie Jie was also worried about this section, but it was useless to worry at sea. He had to talk to Xiao Chongye about the knowledge of Luzon to distract him: "Sir Xiao, the Spanish island today is called Little Luzon, and Manila Bay is called Luzon Bay.
After the fall of the Song Dynasty, many immigrants from the Southern Song Dynasty went to Southeast Asia. Lu Zili, the son of Lu Xiufu, was the leader, and taught the natives the method of peeling rice by stone grinding. The natives were grateful for this method and called this method "Lu Song". People of the Yuan Dynasty
Therefore, this place was called Lu Song. Later, the wealthy merchants of the Lu family controlled the trade between the mainland and Lu Song, and the maritime merchants also called it Lu Song - and the imperial court finally used this name."
Xiao Chongye's eyes turned red when he heard this. He turned to look at the giant sail filled with sea breeze, turned around and sighed, patting the wooden wall on the side and saying: "I didn't expect the Lu family to be so loyal. I am familiar with the history of the Yuan Dynasty, but I don't know this paragraph.
"
Xie Jie said proudly: "If you want to destroy your country, you must first destroy its history; if you want to take its land, you must first study the history. We don't know anything about Shandong, but outside the mainland, the Military Intelligence Bureau has not been idle these years.
"
When Xiao Chongye heard what he said, "If you want to destroy your country, you must first destroy its history." He couldn't help but shudder. Hearing Xie Jie say again: "When the Sanbao eunuchs went to the West during the Yongle period, Little Luzon was the largest supply.
Station. In order to facilitate supplies, Sanbao Eunuch was ordered to confer Xu Chailao, a Fujianese, as the governor of Luzon. He also conferred dozens of small countries in Nanyang, half of whom were descendants of the Fujian people and half of whom were natives. Although there are too many today, Su
Lu, Bo Ni, etc. are still there, and the tributes have not ceased to this day."
Xiao Chongye asked curiously: "The leaders of these two countries are also descendants of the Fujian people?" Xie Jie shook his head and sighed: "These two countries have established writing and written their histories. They are not the places where our ancestors live. But what-"
"As long as they are cleaned up like Burma - the title of Lu Song is enough. But if they can follow the righteousness and naturalize in the inner region, it is not impossible to keep their descendants in the future. If not, when the imperial court thunders, huh
snort."
After hearing these inhumane words, Mr. Xiao Chongye, who was not seasick at all, covered his mouth with his sleeve, turned his head and vomited all the contents in his stomach into the sea.
.......
When the sealing fleet entered the Luzon Bay, the clipper carrying the imperial edict to confer King Sulu did not catch up. Xiao Chongye and Xie Jie had no choice but to bite the bullet and go straight to Manila City, preparing to wait here for two days. Little did they know.
When the fleet entered the Luzon Bay in a mighty manner, the entire Manila was like a hornet's nest, and the Philippine Governor's Palace was in chaos.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Sorry, I am really tired from family and business affairs. I am completely Buddhist...
Note 1: (Ming Dynasty) Chen Kan: "Records of Envoys' Affairs" in "Shi Liuqiu Lu", "Three Kinds of Shi Liuqiu Lu", page 7: During the Hongwu and Yongle periods, those who were sent to Ryukyu and other countries as envoys were reported to the officials.
One person for each traveler, wearing jade belts, python robes, and high-quality clothes. They were prepared at a place near the sea, and over the years they built two huge boats. There are several cabins in the middle, and some utensils are stored. They also hide two coffins, with the words "
"The coffins of the envoys of the Celestial Dynasty", with a number of silver medals nailed to them. If there is a bad storm, and you know it is unavoidable, ask the envoy to lie on his back in it, imprison it with iron nails, and let the boat capsize and let it drift; if the common people see it, take it
He took away his silver and abandoned his coffin on the cliff, waiting for the envoy to carry it back.