Nan Ming Sun Never Sets

Chapter 438 Voyage Around the World: Luzon

Bai Mingxiu has now logged into Wang Kai's avatar, although the avatar feels the same as the main body and does not cause any discomfort, but due to Wang Kai's tall stature, it still feels different from Bai Mingxiu's main body. Bai Mingxiu would bump into himself.

In the captain's room of the flagship Fuqiang, Bai Mingxiu checked the voyage plan and filled out the voyage log himself. The global voyage of more than 100 ships is a huge project.Maintaining the normal life of all personnel in the fleet requires a large amount of food and drink, and since the seven ships of 110 are all steam-powered, they also need to burn coal.There are logistics supply ships in the fleet itself, which are equipped with a large amount of coal.However, it is still somewhat difficult to complete the voyage around the earth.

In order to be able to complete the entire voyage around the world, the Ming Dynasty Navy designed a complex and sophisticated replenishment plan.During the route from Nanyang to the mainland, the fleet can not worry about the consumption of coal, basically every port can supply coal, and Ming Dynasty has already started to prepare in advance.

After entering the Indian Ocean, Ming's Tianzhu Company will be responsible for storing a sufficient amount of coal in Colombo in advance for use by the global voyage fleet that will arrive later.

The most troublesome thing is the route between Africa and Europe.According to the plan, Tianzhu Company will carry out a relay operation again, transporting a large amount of coal to South Africa. After the circumnavigation fleet arrives, it will resupply. By the way, it will also work with Tianzhu Company to build some facilities in the South African colony of Ming Dynasty here.

After the fleet left Africa and entered Europe, it was able to purchase some coal mines in Europe, at least enough for the fleet to set sail again and head to North and South America.

The supply of the last section of the road is designed to be in Long Live City on the west coast of North America. The Ocean Company will be responsible for pulling the coal to the port of Long Live City. After being replenished, the fleet can complete the voyage from North America to Hawaii and then to Japan.

In the entire fuel supply design, nearly double the fuel redundancy is set aside, in order to deal with possible adverse situations.Moreover, the vast majority of merchant ships and warships retain the masts for hanging sails, and the ship types are also clipper ships. In fact, in many cases, they can actually use wind and ocean currents to sail.The one that really needs fuel to sail is the large luxury cruise ship Penglai Xiandao.

Riding on the winter monsoon, the fleet sailed very fast, basically crossing the coastal waters of the mainland at a speed of 16 knots and entering the Southeast Asia.

The first stop of the fleet is the Luzon Xuanwei Division. Since it was occupied by the Spaniards expelled by the Ming Dynasty, Luzon has transformed from a Spanish colony to a Ming Dynasty Xuanwei Division at a very fast speed. A large number of Chinese live in Manila, Baguio, etc. Settle down and start relatively large-scale construction.For example, on the streets of Manila, Chinese-style modern buildings were erected, the roads were paved with cement, and street lamps were erected on the roadsides. Industrial areas appeared around the port of Manila, and some cash crops produced in Luzon began to be processed, as well as primary smelting minerals. .

When more than 100 ships arrived at the Port of Manila, the local Chinese residents were also excited, and the port was crowded with people watching the grand occasion.

Chen Baoquan, a wealthy Chinese businessman in Manila, and his son Chen Shigong also stood on the pier to welcome the arrival of the fleet. Compared with their panic more than a year ago, the Chen family and his son now look much more relaxed and fatter.The Chen family's business is also very big, especially in the Xuanwei Division, unlike the local provinces that have restrictions on private ownership of land, the Xuanwei Division can allow the existence of large landlords. The Chen family owns thousands of acres of land in Luzon. In addition to the farm, there are also a large number of tropical plantations. Many natives were hired to cultivate the land for them. Coupled with some small factories, the Chen family naturally became the richest man in Luzon.

Chen Shigong looked at the huge fleet, and said happily: "It's so magnificent, I really want to follow this fleet, measure the world together, and show my great power."

But Chen Baoquan took it seriously and stopped him: "What nonsense are you talking about? My parents are here and I won't travel far away. Our Chen family's business is getting bigger and bigger now, and my father still expects you to share the responsibilities for the family."

Chen Shigong is an obedient son. He is the eldest son and has been trained as an heir since he was a child.He not only studied at the junior college opened in Manila under the assignment of Chen Baoquan, but also prepared to be admitted as a public servant of the Propaganda Department.

At this time, the flagship Fuqiang had already moored, and Wang Kai, the commander of the fleet controlled by Bai Mingxiu, also stepped off the ship. There were bursts of cheers on the pier, as well as the sound of firecrackers and various banners and ribbons.

"Welcome, Commander Wang Kai." Zhang Fengming, a naval officer temporarily serving as a consolation envoy, saluted Bai Mingxiu.

"Colonel Zhang, please take care of the fleet's flagship in Manila."

"My responsibility."

Bai Mingxiu said: "Some merchant ships will trade in Manila and exchange for some Manila products."

After all, long-term sailing is too tiresome. Those who can make people feel comfortable sailing are large and luxurious ships such as the Penglai Xiandao. People on other ships still have to go ashore to rest.

Manila is not yet a very large trade transit point, and the economic department of Ming Dynasty still focuses on the development of Manila's economy.The local area is still dominated by agriculture, producing coconut, sugar cane, Manila hemp and tobacco.Large-scale Chinese plantations have been spread all over Luzon, and besides local Chinese laborers, a large number of local people are also employed.Especially after the plantation villages and towns established by the Chinese replaced the native villages and tribes, the natives were forced to integrate into the Chinese society of Xuanweisi.Although there are occasional conflicts among Chinese and natives, in general the Xuanweisi Office pays attention to the rule of law and rules, and will not obviously favor the Chinese, but is reasonable.The natives worked for the Chinese plantation owners, and they had houses to live in and food to eat. Although they were generally lazy, they were at least considered labor and were cheaper.

Although Zhang Fengming is a soldier, his governance ability is not bad.

He smiled and introduced to Bai Mingxiu: "Luzon is really a good place. Although there are some typhoons in summer, the water and heat are sufficient, and the crops are growing well. We have introduced improved local rice varieties, and now we have begun to grow rice. Grain has been exported on a large scale locally. We have also established related industries around coconuts, sugarcane, manila hemp and tobacco. Coconuts in particular are really good things. It was something that would grow on any piece of land. After we started operating, With the path of industrialization and industrialization, coconuts can become treasures. Needless to say, coconut meat, coconut flour and dried coconut are good non-staple foods, which are very popular both locally and abroad; coconut oil can be used to make soap, Some large local washing chemical factories have ordered from us; coconut juice is a good thing, and we are thinking about how to preserve it and create a branded beverage; coconut wood is hard, and we are now exporting it to Guangdong for furniture; Coconut shell, we just recently signed a cooperation agreement with a local university to make activated carbon for deodorant.”

Bai Mingxiu also smiled. After all, he came from a later generation, and his knowledge is much better than that of people in this era. In fact, the road to industrialization in Luzon was all essays written by him at that time, which were brought into practice by his subordinates. The land grew more and more prosperous.Bai Mingxiu was sure that Luzon would be able to become rich just by planting, processing and the entire industrial chain of cash crops. After all, the population here is not large.This is also a good development path for many Ming Xuanweisi.

(End of this chapter)