Chapter 398 The Other Side of the World: A Journey to the West
After everyone said goodbye, Yin Feng waited for Zeng Qing, and Fan Tao brought Mao Wenlong. He was thinking hard about a question behind his desk: Will there be any accidents during the third expedition to Europe?
It is now March of the first year of Tianqi (1621). The third fleet sent to Europe by Li Jin, Han Jing, Zheng Zhilong and others left Taiwan in November of the 47th year of Wanli. It stands to reason that fifteen months is enough The fleet went back and forth between Asia and Europe.
The first fleet sent to Europe took nearly two years. It was led by Dutch and Portuguese sailors. It took a common route for European maritime powers. It took nearly two years. This was because the fleet commander Ye Hua traveled to various European countries and recruited Scientific and technical talents. And it was also to give missionary Jin Nige enough time to collect European scientific books.
The second fleet sent to Europe was after the first melee on Java Island. After returning from Europe, during the voyage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean, the commander of the fleet made a tentative voyage. In 1611, the Dutch discovered the use of westerly winds and southwest seasons. The wind leads directly to the route of the Sand Strait in the Indian Ocean. Therefore, it took less than a year to successfully return to Taiwan.
This third fleet sent to Europe was accompanied by experienced sailors and needleworkers who had experienced the previous two voyages. It was also accompanied by liaison personnel sent by the Dutch East India Company. The round-trip route was a route that Europeans had traveled for many years. Theory There won't be any big problems. However, we are still in the era of great navigation where sail power is the mainstay. With a simple sextant and compass, anything can happen to a sailboat at sea.
The Netherlands or other European countries are now busy preparing for the European war. From economic and financial perspectives, they are unlikely to be disadvantageous to Chinese merchant ships that can bring them wealth.
So. Could it be that we encountered European pirates, Arab pirates or Turks on the road?
"The president has brought the officers." Fan Tao's voice interrupted Yin Feng's thinking.
Zeng Qing then took a middle-aged man with disheveled clothes, medium build, and his hands tied behind his back. He looked around with a pair of smart and alert eyes.
"Let Mr. Qian go. Let him sit down." Yin Feng waved his hand.
The middle-aged officer's eyes lit up, and a look of panic appeared on his face: "This gentleman has made a mistake. I am just a flag officer under Governor Wang."
Zeng Qing asked one of his guards to untie the man, pushed him to sit in front of Yin Feng, stood behind Yin Feng, and stared at him with suspicion.
"Mao Wenlong. His courtesy name is Zhennan. His original name is Bolong. You were born in Songshengli, Qiantang County, Hangzhou Prefecture in the fourth year of Wanli. Your ancestral home is Taiping, Shanxi. When you were young, you were raised by your uncle Shen Guangzuo. You made a living by telling fortunes in Hangzhou. You loved gambling in Shandong. After losing the money, he hid in the house of his uncle Shen Guangzuo, the governor of Shandong Province. His family business was ruined and he could not join the army outside the Great Wall. He was first a soldier of Ningyuan Bo Li Chengliang, and later he served as a guard for General Qian in the military examination. Now you are coming to Liaodong .What do you want?"
Mao Wenlong's down and out experience of making a living by fortune-telling and gambling as a boy was never mentioned to anyone after he joined the army and became successful. The Chinese Army's Military Intelligence Department did not collect any relevant information about the previously unknown figure Mao Wenlong. Yin Feng only You know these things based on your own historical knowledge.
Mao Wenlong opened his mouth wide. He was speechless for a moment. There was a hint of panic in his eyes. But he quickly calmed down. He cupped his hands and said, "I have heard the name of Lord Yin, the hero of the sea for a long time. Mao has long admired him. Now... The reputation is well-deserved. Your Excellency is truly a dragon among men..."
Seeing that Mao Wenlong acquiesced to his identity, Zeng Qing looked at Mao Wenlong with a look that could kill. He was filled with anger. When the Military Intelligence Department interrogated Mao Wenlong, he was completely deceived by him.
Yin Feng waved his hand to stop Mao Wenlong's compliments. He admired him for being able to change roles so quickly and for his excellent psychological quality.
"What is your current official position?"
Mao Wenlong paused, thought for a moment and said: "I am now a guerrilla in the capital of Liaodong. I came to Zhenjiang Fort in southern Liaoning to collect the missing officers and soldiers..."
Yin Feng smiled: "Oh. General Mao's Guerrilla. The imperial court promised me the position of Taiwan's Chief Military Officer, but it has not been awarded to me yet. Haha. In that case, I have to pay you a courtesy."
"Don't dare, don't dare. I'm eating a simple meal in my lower body. I have no merit and no fault. That's comparable to you being a hero on the sea. I'm here in Jiangdong and Liaonan. I'm not going against you. I have an order from the top. I have to come. I am collecting the remnant soldiers. The troops I brought are all natives of Liaodong, and they all have enmity with the Jurchen Tatars. The soldiers we fought were Nu chieftains, but we have never used swords or guns against your men. Look, you Let us go back to Guangning. I will definitely persuade Governor Wang to make a good relationship with you."
Mao Wenlong quickly stood up and bowed his hands in greeting. He really had a lot of feelings for the man in front of him: for a powerful man who could find out his origins so clearly. And now his wealth and life were completely under the control of others. Mao Wenlong really had no confidence at all.
Yin Feng nodded and secretly sighed in his heart: Mao Wenlong is indeed well-deserved. He is very clever, adaptable to changes, and can bend and stretch. No wonder he was able to independently maintain Jiangdong Town for many years in another time and space. However, this also shows that this person does not have a firm stand and does not hold back. It will not be easily controlled and exploited by others.
Yin Feng thought for a while and asked: "You have more than a hundred men on board. We also captured more than 300 officers and soldiers from the island. Are you recruiting these people? I am the one in Liaonan and Zhenjiang Fort." The Chinese army occupied it. As far as I know, you seem to have never taken over the battle with the Jurchen Tatars."
"Yes. When the governor Wang sent me here, there were only more than 100 people. They were captured by your warships only one month after arriving in Jiangdong. They only recruited some defeated soldiers. They had not yet seen battle with the Jurchen Tatars..." Mao Wenlong said Speak honestly.
"You still want to go back to the imperial court." Yin Feng looked at Mao Wenlong with a smile. He judged that Mao Wenlong didn't seem to have much ambition now and would not pose any threat to his career: "You are willing to stay with me. Do something?"
Mao Wenlong was greatly surprised when he heard that the other party revealed his intention to recruit. Although the Chinese army had repeatedly defeated the official army, in the eyes of the government, they had always been cramped at sea. The illustrious martial arts overseas, the huge colonial system, the wealth that has exceeded the financial capacity of the entire Ming Dynasty, etc. are all turned a blind eye. They are not paid attention to at all. Mao Wenlong's experience and vision are limited. He is still not very optimistic about the long-term future of the Chinese army. of.
Mao Wenlong hesitated for a while and said: "The young man has little talent and little knowledge. I'm afraid he won't be able to contribute to the great cause of Sir. Sir, this..."
Yin Feng raised his hand and waved. He smiled slightly: "Okay. Just pretend I didn't say this. I can let you go. Take your people back to Guangning. I will send a boat to take you back. Just a little bit of you You have to remember. This Liaodong and the sea of Korea are all my territory. Tell your prince, the governor, and let me capture the people of the imperial court in this area next time. They will all be exiled to the island of Java five thousand miles away. Absolutely No mercy. Do you understand?"
…
After Mao Wenlong left, Zeng Qing quickly said to Yin Feng: "Do you really want to let this man go back? I think this Mao Wenlong is very scheming and cunning. He should also be ambitious. There are not many such people in the army."
Yin Feng nodded: "Yes. If this person has a chance, he will definitely become a tycoon. However, I will not give him a chance. Remember, I sent people from the Military Intelligence Department to keep an eye on him. Notify Fan Tao and seal him tightly. Cut off the mouth of the Bohai Sea. No more officers and soldiers are allowed to move along the coast of Liaodong. One more thing..."
Yin Feng thought for a while and said: "Master Jiu, send someone to inform the Nanyang Fleet. Send fast ships and clipper ships to the west to inquire about the situation of the European fleet and find a way to support their return."
Zeng Qing nodded. Seeing that Yin Feng seemed worried, he comforted him and said, "This fleet is carrying experienced sailors and needle masters who are familiar with the route. Zheng Zhilong is a smart man. He should be fine."
…
Yin Feng did not expect that the third European fleet was currently entangled with the Portuguese on Ceylon Island.
Li Jin, Zheng Zhilong, Han Jing and others had a smooth journey to Europe. Everything went smoothly when they arrived in Europe. They signed a peace agreement with the Netherlands. They also negotiated an agreement for the Netherlands to act as an agent for Chinese companies' trade business in Europe. agreement.
The goods brought to Europe by the fleet included a large amount of silk, satin, porcelain and tea. There were also textiles, satin, velvet, Jiangnan embroidery cloth, needles, umbrellas, boots, jewelry, fans, jewelry boxes, paper and other daily necessities. There are glasses, glass mirrors, music boxes produced in the factories of Chinese companies, developed and produced using European technology. Of course, they also include goldware, silverware and various medicines.
Most of these goods were resold to various European countries through the Dutch. Some were auctioned to the Portuguese for resale across Europe. This set off another rush to buy Chinese goods across Western Europe. It also aroused the jealousy of the British.
The British have always been regarded as a hostile force by Chinese companies because of their participation in the Nanyang War. Therefore, the Chinese fleet did not do business with the British this time.
The British East India Company's main interest was in India. Although they were dissatisfied with the Chinese company's monopoly on the East Asian market, they did not want to start a war with the Chinese. They were very interested in the heritage left by the Dutch around the world after their defeat in Nanyang.
Due to the British, the return journey of the European fleet was bumpy and difficult.
Originally, the fleet planned to go to Spain and sign a peace treaty with Spain. However, the Spanish, who had a stiff stance, were unable to send any more troops to the Far East. However, they were still very stubborn and demanded that the Chinese company pay 5 million taels of silver for the transfer of the Philippine colony.
The news reached the Chinese company's European fleet through the Dutch. Li Jin, Zheng Zhilong, Han Jing and others immediately decided not to go to Spain but to return directly to China. The Chinese also wanted to ask Spain to compensate for the losses caused by the Manila Massacre. Spain People want money, but there is no way.
When passing the coast of northwest Africa, a Spanish fleet tried to catch up with the fleet. The fleet was repelled by the escorted battleship Flying Tiger.
The fleet encountered many storms while heading south along the coast of West Africa. Finally, there was no danger. Soon, a clipper ship of the Dutch East India Company stopped the fleet near the Cape of Good Hope. It told the Chinese that the Dutch supply station at the Cape of Good Hope was occupied. The British occupied the Chinese colony there and were also surrounded by the British army. The British had three warships anchored at the Cape of Good Hope. Five to six hundred people were besieging China Town. And this China Town was the first time Li Dan left that year. After sending the European fleet, he led his men to establish the first Chinese colony in Africa at the Cape of Good Hope.