Lu Ming

Chapter 199
That night, the Yuandou stopped at the mouth of the Xiuguluan River.

Early the next morning, heavily armed intruders once again boarded the creek bank in small boats.The difference from yesterday was that the small boat made two round trips today, sending both traversers ashore.

This already belongs to PowerSearch.Pan Mingzhong commanded in the center, and more than 20 sailors beside him with [-] caps pulled out the skirmish line, and the whole team began to walk slowly towards the upper reaches of the Xiuguluan River.

Following behind the main force were Lei Jian and a few team members carrying baskets on their backs.

No matter how ruthless the killing was yesterday, no one dares to guarantee that the aborigines will not retaliate today.So everyone looks like they are facing an enemy today, maintaining a high level of vigilance throughout the whole process-the safe distance that the river beach can provide is less than 200 meters, and there are dense jungles outside, and no one knows what is hidden inside. How many dick fighters.

The canoe that overturned on the shore yesterday was still there, including the two wounded natives who were half-soaked in the water and died long ago.

The exploration team walked past them without stopping.

The team did not go far upstream, and there was a harvest: Lei Jian found iron ore with dark brown spots in the shallow water of the river.

It didn't take long for the two exploration team members who rolled up their trousers to go into the water, and shoveled a basket of iron sand up from the spot.

"How about it, is it this thing?" Pan Mingzhong who ran over was impatient.

"Well, that's right, it's this thing." Lei Jian said affirmatively while pulling the iron sand in his palm with his fingers: "Magnet sand. It's different from pyrite like ferric oxide, this is ferric oxide. "

"Oh, I found it, so let's call it a day?" Pan Mingzhong has no idea about how much iron oxide and iron are. He doesn't want to stay in this damn place for a minute now.

After Lei Jian heard the words, he laughed, and then drew a circle in front of him with his arm: "There are at least two miles to go, measure 5 points, and dig 10 baskets to go back to count."

"Hold the grass!" Pan Mingzhong's head grew dizzy.

The iron sand deposits along the rivers and streams have relatively harsh ore-forming conditions.It is necessary that the upstream water flow just passes through the mining area, and then coupled with years of weathering and rock fragmentation, the iron ore can be washed and transported downstream.

Of course, this form of coastal mineral sand is usually produced in a small amount, because they are flat on the riverbed, shoal, and sea estuary, and the thickness is not enough.

But coastal placer also has many advantages.

The first is high grade.China claims to have a vast land and abundant resources, but the grade of iron ore is flawed: the average is only about 35%, and many of them have no industrial mining value.A few such as Shilu Iron Mine in Hainan with an average of 51% are already number one in China.

Compared with those in Australia and Brazil, which are more than 60% iron ore concentrate, it is really hard to sell.

However, the iron sand ore has been washed by water all year round, which means it has been eliminated naturally, so the grade is a little higher than that of ordinary iron ore.Like the samples obtained by Lei Jian from Xikou, the visual inspection is more than 40%.

In addition, iron ore does not need to drill deep mountains and old forests, pave roads and dig tunnels, open tunnels, pump water and gas to prevent mine caves from collapsing, so this is the most suitable mining method for crossing forces at the moment: there will be no frequent deaths, All it takes is a shovel and a basket, and anyone can do it.

It took the exploration team a morning to complete the mission.The team had to go deep into the area 2 kilometers above the mouth of the creek before collecting enough samples. The 10 baskets of iron sand ore collected from the underwater and river beaches were all clearly marked by Lei Jian, and they were just waiting to be transported back to the kiln base for analysis and testing.

At the same time, Lei Jian also used a digital camera to take pictures of the terrain of the small plain at the mouth of the river.The next time a large army arrives, materials and manpower will be prepared based on these photos, and the castle and dock will be built in the shortest possible time.

After the Yuandou completed the task of exploring iron ore, it continued to unplug and go northward without stopping.After walking against the wind for two full days, we arrived near Hualien.

Considering that all kinds of stone mines in Hualien need to be explored in the mountains, Pan Mingzhong thinks about it—the stones can't escape there, and people can't get out if they get into the dense forest.

After passing Hualien but not entering, the next stop is Yilan.

When you arrive in Yilan, you are already close to the northeast corner of Taiwan.

The Yilan Delta Plain is the largest alluvial plain on the Taitung line—even though it only covers an area of ​​300 square kilometers.

When the Yuandou passed by here, it deliberately shifted the route a little to avoid the local Kavalan aborigines from rushing out to make trouble.

If all goes well, for a long time to come, the tentacles of the transmigration forces will not extend to Yilan.

The iron sand mine at the mouth of the Xiuguluan River is actually a little lower in latitude than Dayuan Island.In other words, go south from Dayuan, run a quarter of Taiwan's sea mileage, then bypass Kenting Cape, and go northward from the outer island shore for the same amount of distance, you can reach it.

As for going to Taipei in the future, it must be going directly north from Dayuan.Therefore, in a place like Yilan, which is located in the northeastern corner of Taiwan, that is, passing by today, the Yuandou did not do anything other than take a few distant photos.

After passing Yilan, the Yuandou sailed around Sandiaojiao in the middle of the night.There are bright lighthouses here in later generations, but of course there was no such thing in the 17th century.

After bypassing San Diaojiao, Yuandou's heading has gradually shifted from true north to northwest.After continuing to sail for 20 kilometers, you will arrive at the iconic Bitoujiao Cape in the northeast corner of Taiwan.

There is also no lighthouse at the corner of the nose. After going around, the course of the Yuandou has officially changed from east to west from now on.

Although the wind direction is still unfavorable at this time, it is much better than the previous few days, so the Yuandou can now speed up to about 4 knots and head straight for Heping Island where the Spaniards are entrenched.

The distance from Bitoujiao to Heping Island is very short, only 15 kilometers.In the 17th century, the later Heping Island was originally called Sheliao Island. After the Spaniards occupied this place, they established the city of San Salvador and changed the name of the island to San Salvador Island by the way.

It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon when the Yuandou came to Jilong (later called Keelung) Bay.Theoretically, during the time when the sun is the strongest, it is raining in Taipei; in the mist and mist, the Heping Island with a western-style castle can be seen faintly at the mouth of the Keelung River.

The location of the castle is in the southwest corner of Heping Island, which has been turned into a dock in later generations.At this time, the Yuandou did not rush into the shallow strait between Heping Island and the coast of Keelung.Although the Spanish first officer repeatedly stated that the strait could pass, the Yuandou still took the northern sea route, bypassed Zhongshanzai Island and Tongpan Island in the rain and fog, and stopped at the outer port of San Salvador at around 4:[-] pm.

After seeing the Yuandou sail lowering, a liaison boat was rowed out on the simple pier outside the castle not long after.At the same moment, Pan Mingzhong, who was standing on the deck, also took out the jointly signed letter from his pocket, and handed it to the chief mate: "Go, Lao Sang, speak clearly, so as not to cause any misunderstanding .”

Samper quickly returned to the castle in a small boat.

"In fact, the city of San Salvador is now under lockdown, if I understand correctly?" Antonio Valdes, the Spanish chicken coop chief, looked up and asked after carefully reading the letter in his office.

Since Spain was ruled by Arabs for hundreds of years in history, people with black hair and brown eyes are not uncommon.

Mr. Valdes, who has a big beard and thick eyebrows, is also one of them.

The coop chief Valdes, who historically led the expedition, occupied Peace Island two years ago and built the city of San Salvador.

In the recent crusade, Valdes personally led 100 soldiers and burned the Guiroushe village near the mouth of the Tamsui River.After that, the natives surrendered and were forced to relocate, and the Spaniards began to build the city of Santo Domingo in situ.

And Valdes, who was reading the letter in the office today, had originally transported the sick back to rest—it was too hot and humid near the Danshui River, mosquitoes and fleas were everywhere, and many soldiers had fever.

However, history turned a corner here: the first mate Samper appeared, and came off a junk ship.

After hearing Valdes' question, Samper bowed slightly to pay tribute, and then said: "Yes, sir, we are already in a blockade, but this is temporary."

"Well, I noticed the content of the letter. Samper, tell me, are those silks and porcelain real?"

"Sir, these are all true, and all the personnel on the Alicante can attest. And this letter, please read those signatures carefully."

"If Lord Tabora agrees to a trade agreement, then we need to give up the city of San Salvador." Valdes said here, speaking a lot slower: "If the agreement cannot be reached, then we will defend the city of Salvador."

The black-haired officer stood up at this moment, picked up the brass binoculars on the table and went out: "About these heathen weapons, what should I know?"

"Sir, this is the part I want to mention to you the most." The first mate said hurriedly as he followed the officer to the door, "On the way I came here, the pagans encountered an aboriginal The raid on the estuary, yes, you know, that kind of raid"

After the Yuandou waited outside the port for a full 2 ​​hours, the Spaniard's boat came to the side of the ship again.

First officer Samper brought the officer's answer this time: San Salvador City will not accept traversers to enter, nor will it provide Yuandou with food and other supplies until it receives a formal Manila evacuation order.

In addition, the Spanish side will not interfere with Yuandou's activities in other areas of the chicken coop.

"Hehehe." Pan Mingzhong couldn't help laughing after hearing this sentence.

He was very sure that the Spaniards in the castle had already been persuaded - just look at this strong reply.

Fortunately, the cross-travelers don't need any supplies from the Spaniards. These big pie faces can't eat enough by themselves, and those words are just swollen faces to pretend to be fat.

It is enough to get an answer from the Spaniards not to invade each other for the time being.After the Yuandou sent Samper back, it quickly pulled up its full sail and headed west in the rain and fog.

(End of this chapter)