In the Southern Song Dynasty, I competed with Mongolia for the world

Chapter 433 Crossing the Atlantic

"Pu Boqian, you are very brave. You left your post without authorization and traveled thousands of miles to the capital to ask for me. If there is no suitable reason, do you think I will spare you?" Zhao Yurui looked at Pu Shougeng calmly.

At this time, Pu Shougeng was kneeling in front of him. He did not say anything about getting down without courtesy, and Pu Shougeng did not dare to get up.

But seeing Pu Shougeng lowering his head, he said loudly: "Back to Your Majesty, I am bold and want to go to America to find the rubber tree seeds that Your Majesty wants."

"..." Zhao Yurui was still a little entangled at first, but Pu Heli had a very good relationship with him. The oil in the early Song Dynasty, and even the oil now, was transported from Persia for him by the Pu Heri family and the imperial fleet.

Pu Shougeng also had a good relationship with Pu Heli, and it was Pu Heli who introduced him to the official position. It is not good to punish him, and it is not good to not punish him.

Unexpectedly, Pu Shougeng suddenly offered to help him find rubber seeds. This was really a surprise. No matter whether it was successful or not, it was a good thing.

"Pu Qing stood up and spoke, why do you have this idea?" Zhao Yurui's tone suddenly softened a lot.

Pu Shougeng also felt the change in Zhao Yurui's tone and stood up happily.

He said that the official documents of the imperial court arrived in Quanzhou a few years ago, and many businessmen or officials in Fujian and Guangdong had their families try it. Pu Shougeng has been paying attention to this matter. In the past five years, what he has learned about is Quanzhou alone. Twelve fleets went to the so-called America, but only one fleet came back. When that fleet came back, more than 80% of its personnel and ships were damaged, and it was forced to come back before it reached the Americas.

So he knew that going to America would be difficult.

But he found the returning fleet and spent a lot of money to buy their experience and route.

"Since you know it's so difficult and dangerous, you still want to go?" Zhao Yurui admired Pu Shougeng at this time.

"Does the imperial court's decree still count?" Pu Shougeng asked.

The official document from the court at that time made it very clear that whoever found the rubber seeds would first be made a marquis, and then the direct family members would be exempted from military service for fifty years.

Then choose any one of the five rewards below.

I or my relatives may be directly a sixth-grade civil servant or military attache, but the military attache requires passing the military examination, that is, you must understand the art of war and be able to ride horses, archery and weapons.

Five hundred thousand copper coins (in addition, the court will fully compensate you for the fleet and money you lost on the way)

Five hundred acres of high-quality grain fields, tax-free for fifty years.

If the family is a businessman, no matter what kind of business they run, they will be exempt from tax for 100 years. If the family is originally an official, they can either choose another person to be a sixth-grade official, or they can be promoted to two levels in a row. If the family is a landowner, all grain fields will be tax-free for 50 years. duty free.

Whether there are death row inmates or prisoners in the house, they will all be exempted and released immediately.

In addition, if you bring back enough rubber seeds and are good enough for the court to plant rubber trees, complete sea charts, etc., you can choose two of the next five rewards.

It was also the imperial court that paid a heavy reward. In the past few years, not to mention the coastal areas, the Central Plains, and even the Mongolian-controlled areas of Shanxi and Hebei, there were businessmen who wanted to do this after hearing about it.

No one knows what rubber tree seeds are used for.

But news came from the Song Dynasty court that the emperor's favorite concubine Qin Nan dreamed of a beautiful rubber tree and wanted to see the rubber tree, so the Song emperor wanted to find rubber tree seeds.

This is a good excuse. Regardless of whether the ministers believe it or not, the people all over the world believe it.

Of course Pu Shougeng didn't believe it. He thought that Zhao Yurui could not be such a foolish king. He also wanted to know what the use of rubber trees was.

But how could Emperor Zhao Yurui tell him.

But what finally made Pu Shougeng decide to look for rubber trees was the reward from the emperor.

He has been working as an eighth-grade officer for seven or eight years, and he has long wanted to move up.

He is not short of money or land, but he just wants to be a bigger official.

And he knew that if this matter was completed, not only would he be able to become a marquis, his family's fields and shops would be tax-free, he would also leave a good impression in front of the emperor, and the Pu family would be prosperous in the future.

Although this matter is indeed dangerous, the effort and reward are equal.

After waiting for Zhao Yurui's response, Pu Shougeng said simply that he wanted to be a bigger official, and his family had fields and shops. If he found a rubber tree, he could get tax exemption. This was very beneficial to a big family like the Pu family and was worth a visit. try.

Finally, he cautiously raised his head and glanced at Zhao Yurui, then immediately lowered his head and whispered: "Wei Chen wants to share your majesty's worries and solve your majesty's problems."

"Okay." Zhao and Rui were delighted. Pu Shougeng's family has been a maritime businessman for generations. He has traveled overseas all year round and has rich experience. The success rate is definitely higher: "I am very relieved that Pu Qing has such an idea. I can assure you that others will do it." If he succeeds, he can only be a sixth-rank official at most. If Pu Qing succeeds, he will at least be a fifth-rank official, and I will let you choose the official position in the Song Dynasty."

"I accept the decree. Thank you very much, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty." Pu Shougeng was extremely excited and kowtowed repeatedly.

Although the emperor only agreed verbally, he knew that he had left a very heavy impression on the emperor's heart.

After Pu Shougeng got up, Zhao Yurui immediately understood Pu Shougeng's power.

He asked. The official document from the imperial court mentioned the approximate location of America. Rubber trees abounded in a magical country. Concubine Shu named it Brazil in her dream.

Wei Chen wanted to see the map in the palace to determine the location of Brazil and the route there and back.

Zhao Yurui did not put the complete world map outside. All the businessmen outside could only rely on the explanations of official documents to judge, which made their exploration more difficult.

Pu Shougeng personally came to Lin'an just to see Zhao Yurui's private map in the palace of Lin'an City.

Because he heard Pu Heli say that there is a larger and more complete map of the world in the emperor's palace.

Zhao Yurui did not hesitate this time. He also hoped to find rubber seeds as soon as possible. After all, it had been five or six years, and so many businessmen from across the country had been to America, but there was no response.

"Come here." Zhao Yurui brought Pu Shougeng to his map.

Pu Shougeng was very shocked when he saw Zhao Yurui's world map with his own eyes, because Zhao Yurui marked the Song Dynasty, Mongolia, Dali and other countries on it.

The entire Song Dynasty only occupied a small part of the map. He couldn't believe it and couldn't imagine how the emperor knew about such a vast world outside because he was always in the palace.

But two years ago, the envoy of Holy Roman Emperor Philip II came to Lin'an. Perhaps it was the map that the merchants there brought when they were trading with the merchants of the Song Dynasty. Pu Shougeng could only imagine that it was when the merchants from various countries were trading with the Song Dynasty. , and then gradually perfected the world map.

And Zhao Yurui's ability to do this is obviously beyond imagination, and it is beyond the imagination of ordinary emperors.

"This is your hometown, Quanzhou." Zhao Yurui nodded with his hand, and Pu Shougeng nodded quickly.

"This sea area is to the east of our Song Dynasty. I call it the East China Sea. After crossing the East China Sea, I hope it will be more peaceful, so it is called the Pacific Ocean." Pu Shougeng stared at the Pacific Ocean. It was bigger than the several Song Dynasties put together. Shi Shi was also a little panicked in his mind.

"This side is called America, the one above is called North America, and the one below is called South America. Brazil is right here and belongs to South America."

"Starting from our Song Dynasty, there are usually two routes to South America. One is directly from the East China Sea into the Pacific Ocean and across the entire Pacific Ocean. The entire journey is less than 40,000 miles, but it must first go to the west coast of South America such as Peru or Colombia. country, then land and go overland to Brazil.”

Zhao Yurui spoke too quickly and reported several countries in later generations at once.

Pu Shougeng was stunned for a moment and couldn't understand clearly, but Zhao Yurui was scratching with his hands while talking, so he could still understand.

Starting from the Song Dynasty, it went to the East China Sea and then entered the Pacific Ocean. After crossing the entire Pacific Ocean, it reached the west coast of South America.

But Brazil is in the east, so we have to cross the entire western continent, from overland to the east.

"This journey is extremely long, nearly 40,000 miles by sea alone, and there is a long period of time without supplies. It is quite difficult in this era."

Of course, he could also go to North America first, then search for supplies along the coasts of the United States and Mexico, and then go to South America, but this would take more than 40,000 miles, and no matter how he went, he would have to take the land route to Brazil in the end, because the Panama Canal would not be there yet. Open.

Zhao Yurui said that in this era, Pu Shougeng definitely didn't understand what he meant, but he said without hesitation: "It's almost impossible."

Pu Shougeng continued: "Supply is still a small matter. The difficulty is the weather and storms at sea. This is the big problem."

Without supplies, it means there is no shelter from the storm.

As mentioned before, during the Song Dynasty, there were already huge ships that could survive on the sea for a year.

Historical records: The Mulan Boat built in Quanzhou and Guangzhou: "Floating southward in the South China Sea, the boat is like a huge house, with sails like clouds hanging from the sky. It is several feet long. There are hundreds of people in the boat, and a year's worth of grain is stored in it. The pigs make wine. Among them, life and death are ignored. And when the country of Dashi crossed the western sea and reached the country of Mulanpi, its boat was even bigger. A boat can accommodate a thousand people, and there is a market on the boat. If there is no wind, it will last for several years. And then we can't reach it without a huge boat."

Some of these boats can store a year's worth of food on board.

According to Zhao and Rui's 40,000-mile journey, it would not take a year, so Pu Shougeng believed that supply was not a big problem. The Mulan ship built in Quanzhou and Guangzhou could put a year's worth of food on board. This kind of ship they Pu Shougeng Home too.

The most difficult things at sea are the weather, storms, and getting lost.

"Then take the second line. Your home is in Quanzhou, so the second line may be easier."

Zhao Yurui pointed to the lower left again.

Starting from Quanzhou, we first go to Champa, then to Malacca, then pass through Malacca and go to Africa. After passing the Cape of Good Hope, we cross the Atlantic Ocean from Africa and land directly on the coast of Brazil.

The total length of this route is about 33,000 miles, but Zhao Yurui doesn't know the specific data. It must be shorter than the previous one.

The advantage of this road is that supplies can be supplied everywhere from Quanzhou to Malacca. It is also a quite mature route. Many businessmen from the Pu Shougeng family and Quanzhou have traveled there, and most of the businessmen there have also used this route before. this road.

The difficulty of this road is that almost everyone has never been to Africa, so after passing Malacca, some of them will continue running along the coastline of the Persian Empire, and some will run blindly in the Indian Ocean. Most of them will be in danger if there is a storm or something.

Zhao Yurui also did not explain in detail how to escape to the people in the world in the official document.

Now that Pu Shougeng is in front of him, he can explain it clearly.

"After you come out of Malacca, for the sake of safety, do not cross the Indo-Pacific Ocean--"

Pu Shougeng saw the words Yin Du Yang marked in the middle and wanted to ask the origin of this foreign question, but after thinking about it, he held back.

Zhao Yurui has no intention of changing the name of Yindu Yang now. Whatever he calls it, whether there will be Yindu as a country in the future is still a question.

"You keep walking along the coastline and stay as close to the land as possible. If there is a storm, you can take shelter in time."

"There's land everywhere this way."

Zhao and Rui looked with their fingers, from the Indian coast in later generations to Baki, Persia, Aman, Yemen, Somari, Keniya, Lysannia, and from Asia to Africa, all along the road can be followed The coastlines of various countries can ensure that Pu Shougeng's fleet can go ashore at any time to replenish supplies and avoid storms.

When they finally arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, Zhao Yurui reminded that the Cape of Good Hope is a relatively dangerous place. There is a "killer wave" there. The wave is fifteen to twenty meters high. It occurs most in winter. In addition, it is caused by the rotating waves caused by local extreme winds. , combined to capsize all ships.

So you have to calculate your time carefully. When you arrive at the Cape of Good Hope, you must avoid winter. It is best to go there in the summer months of July and August.

Pu Shougeng listened quietly, and Tao Tian was shocked in his heart. He did not expect that the emperor had a clear understanding of the sea area tens of thousands of miles away.

But there was no detailed explanation in the official document, so he didn't have the urge to come and ask first.

After Pu Shougeng read the entire itinerary, he immediately decided in his mind to take the second route. Seventy percent of the second route can be walked along the coastline, except for the final crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, which is about 10,000 miles.

"I dare you to make another request." Pu Shougeng finally said.

After Zhao Yurui ascended the throne, there was a major restructuring. Ships with materials of more than 1,000 materials could be built by official shipyards, and private people could order them.

But Pu Shougeng discovered that there was an official boat with a pointed bottom and a triangular sail, which was quite good and conducive to navigation.

However, the government does not allow private construction, and private boats do not carry jibs.

Pu Shougeng believes that if you want to cross the ocean and encounter headwinds, today's seagoing ships will have a very difficult time, so they must have a triangle sail, and a pointed-bottomed ship is obviously more resistant to wind and waves.

Zhao Yurui took a deep look at Pu Shougeng and finally realized that this guy was a talent.

Pu Shougeng could actually see the advantages of jibs and pointed bottom boats.

"I'm sure." Zhao Yurui said without hesitation: "What kind of ship do you want? Tell the Quanzhou Shipping Department. Whether it's a modification or a new one, I will fully support it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty." Pu Shougeng almost cried with joy.

Zhao Yurui felt that Pu Shougeng had a higher success rate, so he stayed with him to have a meal together, which flattered Pu Shougeng even more.

Zhao Yurui told him to record charts along the way, and to understand the local conditions when he landed at various places for supplies along the way. There was no rush to find rubber, it could be done within one year, two years, or three years. If he succeeded, the court would send a ship in the future. The team headed to Brazil along his route. If the imperial court occupied Brazil in the future, it could give a large piece of land to the Pu family.

Pu Shougeng was even more happy when he heard this.

(End of this chapter)