~.-~ In the following days, in addition to handling national affairs, Shang Yi had to read the mission notes, navigation records, and the records of the people who visited Europe every night to learn about the entire process of this visit to Europe. .~~ Shang Yi's foresight was not wrong. Several years later, this time, this time, the first time in Chinese history, it was a sailing event organized by the official, and it was constantly mentioned by later generations. The popular themes of countless novels, dramas, and literary films are all about this trip to Europe, and they are also a great praise. In addition, when it comes to various literary works about Shang Yi, they will inevitably talk about this time. The trip to Europe has also regarded it as one of Shang Yi's greatest historical achievements, and has sublimated it from various angles and aspects.
And it is precisely because China has made detailed records of the process of this visit to Europe that it has provided a large amount of detailed information for later generations to describe this incident in various ways, which can enable people in later generations to basically understand this. After the trip to Europe, memorial halls were built almost all the stops along the way, and a series of celebrations and commemorative activities were also produced, as well as experts and scholars who rely on studying this voyage behavior.
This time, the fleet that was sent to Europe set off from Nanjing on February 12, the fifth year of the Houming Dynasty (March 22, 1649). One day later, he went out from the Yangtze River and sailed into the East China Sea.
On February 30, the fifth year of the Later Ming Dynasty (April 11, 1649), arrived in Luzon and joined the two Luzon boats. After resting for a day, he set sail and set off on the British warship "New Model" Under the leadership of the merchant ship "Old Trafford", Li Huamei led the Sixth Squadron to escort and sailed into the South China Sea. Ten days later, Li Huamei led the fleet back.
On April 9, 1649, the fifth year of the Later Ming Dynasty (May 20, 1649), the fleet visited Europe to reach the entrance of the Strait of Malacca. Although they encountered several storms on the way, they basically suffered no losses. In the Strait of Malacca, the fleet After being intercepted by three Dutch warships and carrying out several rounds of artillery attacks, the Dutch warship retreated and the fleet of visiting Europe sailed into the Strait of Malacca.
On May 9, the fifth year of the Later Ming Dynasty (June 18, 1649), the fleet visited Europe across the Indian Ocean and arrived in India. Near the Andaman Islands, the fleet visited Europe encountered a second major storm, and there were two ships. Severe damage and seventeen sailors and soldiers were killed. Therefore, after the fleet of visiting Europe arrived in India, the regiment commander Liang Bingye decided to repair it in India for a period of time.
The fleet visiting Europe was warmly welcomed by the British East India Company in India, and introduced the development process of the British East India Company in detail to the delegation, visited the farms and factories that the British had cultivated in India, and the delegation was also carried out in India. After detailed investigation, a large amount of information was collected, and the general location of China's future colonies were established in India, etc. These are agreements reached by both sides, so the British side also provided a lot of support and help to China. .
On April 9th of the fifth year of the Later Ming Dynasty (July 5, 1649, the Gregorian calendar), after eighteen days of rest, the damaged ship had been repaired and replenished with food and fresh water, so the fleet of visiting Europe set off again. A total of six British merchant warships were shipped.
On August 11, 2018 (September 17, 1649, the Gregorian calendar), after 74 days of voyage, the shore stopped three times, and the fleet visited Europe reached the Cape of Good Hope, the southernmost tip of the state of Africa, and the fleet visited Europe.
We rested here for six days and erected a stone tablet. This was the first time that China had left footprints on the Cape of Good Hope. At this time, twenty-three members died because of their own situation, most of whom were not adapted to the local conditions.
On October 10th of the fifth year of the Later Ming Dynasty (November 13, 1649), after bypassing the Cape of Good Hope, the fleet visited Europe turned north and after a sixty-day voyage, it only stopped the shore twice in the middle and arrived.
In the northern part of Africa, two British ships left first, and the fleet of visiting Europe rested here for three days, and then continued to set off.
On October 20, 20th of the fifth year of the Ming Dynasty (November 23, 1649), the fleet visiting Europe entered the Channel Islands of the English Channel and joined the British welcome fleet. Two days later, the fleet visiting Europe crossed the English Channel.
, arrived at Southampton, the port at the southern end of the UK, and finally arrived in the UK, and was warmly welcomed by the local British people. Then, the fleet visited Europe continued to set off.
On October 4, 1649, the fifth year of the Later Ming Dynasty (November 27, 1649), the fleet visiting Europe entered the Port of London and also arrived at the end of the voyage to Europe.
By this time, the fleet sailed on the sea for more than nine months, with a voyage of more than 40,000 kilometers, and encountered more than 20 dangerous situations such as storms, which caused a total of 57 crew members, sailors and soldiers, but the ship
There was no loss, and the goods brought were basically no loss, but for the navigation technology of this era, this is an excellent achievement. Generally speaking, nine months from Asia to Europe are
It is completely normal, and it can be said that it is relatively fast. Sometimes it is common to walk for a year. It is also completely normal to lose 20% to 30% of the ships in the middle. When Magellan completed the global voyage, there were five ships when he set out.
, 235 people, but when they returned to Europe, there was only one boat and eighteen people left.
Of course, such achievements were achieved, on the one hand, because this navigation was well prepared, and China's ship quality and navigation technology were much higher than that of the Magellan era, and on the other hand, it was closely related to having British ships lead the way.
Although Britain is not the Bulu Empire in another time and space, and has just entered the eastern part of Asia, I am already very familiar with the route from Europe to Asia, and I have never known it.
How many times have there been a strait that can be approached and escaped, and there are reefs in that area. How can we use the undercurrent of the ocean? We can stop the boats and dock in the middle to obtain supplies and fresh water. We have made it more sufficient preparations, and also made the boats visiting Europe.
The team took fewer detours and avoided a lot of losses. Don't say anything, it stopped at the shore more than ten times, giving the fleet a considerable opportunity to re-tighten, otherwise at least two losses would be lost on the way.
Ship.
The arrival of European fleets in London caused a shock in the entire British society. Although at this time, the sea exchange between Europe and China had a history of nearly two hundred years, the era of great navigation began within nearly one hundred years.
After that, the East and the West had a very frequent exchanges, and many people did indeed arrive in China, but generally speaking, most of the people who arrived in China were missionaries or colonial adventurers who went to the East to hunt for gold.
Some of them lived a life in a foreign land and eventually returned to Europe.
Moreover, most of the people who returned to Europe were adventure merchants or colonists. Their activities in China were limited to Taiwan or the areas along the southeast coast. Their understanding of China was also on the surface and had not been deeply involved. After they returned to Europe, they often had a great subjective color on the description of China, exaggerating words, and misunderstandings. There are many places where they were made up, and they really had a good understanding of Chinese society and environment. And the missionaries who know this group of people not only have very few people returned to Europe, but the focus of the missionaries is on preaching the gospel of the Lord. They study how to make the Chinese become the faithful lamb of the Lord, and it is impossible to go to European society. Detailed, systematic introduction to China.
Therefore, for the European society in this era, China is still an Eastern country full of mysterious colors and various strange legends. Of course, there is a point that right Europe has basically reached a consensus, that is, China is a beautiful, bright, and rich. A country full of wealth, because commodities imported from China to Europe, such as silk and porcelain, are all hot goods in the European market.
This time, it was the first time that China took the initiative to send a large-scale fleet to Europe and it was led by the official!! The mysterious ancient oriental country suddenly appeared in its own vision, within reach, so it would be very exciting if it didn't cause a sensation. In addition, the British also played a great role in this visit to Europe. It can be said that without the support and promotion of the UK, the Chinese fleet would not have been able to travel this time, and the Chinese fleet arrived in Europe. The first stop after that was Britain, so it greatly expressed the honor of the British people.
At this time, although Britain fought a hundred years of war with France and defeated Spain's invincible fleet, Spain and France dominated the European continent, and Britain was always a marginal country outside the European continent. , not recognized by the mainstream countries in mainland Europe. After the British Revolution, the monarchy was overthrown and the republic was established, and it was even hostile to most European monarchies. After Europe, another republic, the Netherlands, And because of competition in overseas trade, relations with the UK are tense.
Under such circumstances, the fleet of Chinese missions to Europe arrived in the UK and started their visit to Europe from the UK, which naturally made the British feel extremely proud. Therefore, on the day the fleet arrived in London, nearly 100,000 London. Citizens came to the port spontaneously to welcome the arrival of the Chinese mission.
At this time, the British supreme leader, Cromwell, and the British Parliament were also very excited. They learned that China would send a fleet of missions to visit Europe, and the United Kingdom was the first stop of the mission. Cromwell believes that this visit to Europe will be a historical event, which will not only enable the UK to establish a better trade relationship with China, but also further expand the trade volume in Asia. , obtain more and greater benefits, and can greatly improve the UK's reputation and influence in Europe, and change the current situation where the UK is almost attacked on all sides in Europe.
Therefore, Cromwell also ordered that with the highest etiquette of the United Kingdom, the Chinese mission would be welcomed to London, and a grand convoy and escort team were sent to the dock to welcome the Chinese mission to Westminster, where the British Parliament was located. palace,