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Chapter 1003 Immortal Magic
在后世的航海业里有句谚语：咆哮的40度、暴怒的50度、尖叫的60度。好望角的纬度大概是34度多，距离咆哮的40度只有5度多，换算成距离差不多600公里。

In fact, the width of the channel suitable for sailing ships to safely bypass the Cape of Good Hope is only more than 300 kilometers. The reason why Hong Tao ordered that no imperial navy ships should enter the waters south of 45 degrees south latitude was to prevent accidents.

The current situation is favorable to the Ming Dynasty, and there is no need to fight the Europeans. Ordering the Anglo-Spanish fleet to drive south is ill-intentioned.

It would have been a relief if the commander of the Anglo-Spanish Fleet had been so confused as to dive into the depths of the roaring westerlies in order to avoid the bombardment of the Imperial Navy's guns.

Didn't the ancients say that the most powerful victory is not the one that causes bloodshed, but the one that is won without bloodshed? Hong Tao wanted to use the power of nature to send the entire Anglo-Spanish joint fleet to the bottom of the sea.

The reason why I did not explain in detail the original intention of this arrangement to the captain and staff was that, on the one hand, it involved a lot of knowledge such as ocean currents, earth structure and rotation, which could not be explained clearly in a short time.

On the other hand, he also wanted to cover up his sinister and vicious thoughts. After all, he was the emperor and could not always leave a bad reputation. The final result could be explained by many excuses such as accidental and bad luck. Anyway, he did not intentionally harm others!
"Your Majesty, why do you want all the ships to be equipped with navigation lights? Wouldn't this indicate the enemy's position and give them a chance to strike first?"

But the more they tried to cover it up, the more people caused trouble. The captains of each ship left the flagship one after another, and then Setel came up and began to question the unreasonable aspects of the emperor's order.

"I observed the stars last night and saw the Purple Star moving eastward. I calculated with my fingers and learned that a heavy fog will fall within three days. You analyze what will happen if we don't hang the navigation lights and don't make the wrong course?"

It was difficult to convince such a stubborn and audacious person with reason. So Hong Tao used another skill, deception, and tried to get away with it by using Zhuge Liang's ability.

"…Your Majesty, can you please teach me this skill? I promise not to tell anyone else, not even my son!"

Setel was stunned when he heard this, and he stroked his chin and pondered for a while, but finally decided to trust the emperor's ability. Then he moved closer again, trying to force out a particularly humble smile, and even slightly bent his waist a few degrees, not only to humbly ask for advice, but also to become a disciple.

He must have learned how to use a sextant and must be proficient in it. But that thing requires complex calculations with star maps, lunar distance tables, and mathematical formulas. The slightest negligence may lead to errors, which is not as easy as counting with fingers.

Judging from what the emperor meant, this technology can not only calculate the specific location, but also get the approximate time. It is obviously much more advanced than using a sextant.

As for whether there is such a magical technology in the world, he believes that others do not have it, but he does not believe that the emperor does not have it. There are many rumors among the people that the emperor is a Taoist immortal, otherwise how could he cure smallpox, malaria and other stubborn diseases?

The reason why he pretended to be a Taoist temple and a medical clinic was that he didn't want to reveal his true identity. If he leaked the secret, his life would be shortened. After all, he was only a semi-immortal body and could not achieve immortality. Moreover, before his father died, he also said that Sun and Moon Khan was not an ordinary person.

"It's so hard to practice this method!" Hong Tao didn't expect Setel to think in this way, but it doesn't matter. Sailing on the sea is boring, and finding someone to torture is also a pastime.

"I'm not afraid, no matter how hard it is!" Hearing this, Setel became even more certain that the emperor had magical powers, and his words were very firm.

"Turn your face away!" But Hong Tao did not continue to speak, but pointed at the navigator opposite the steering platform. This guy obviously saw through his lie and was winking at Settle. "Yes, all of you stay away! You...you cover your ears, don't eavesdrop!" Settle seemed to have an epiphany when he saw this, and fiercely drove away all the officers around the steering platform, but the helmsman could not leave, so he had to make an exception.

“If you want to practice this method, you must first study astronomy to an excellent level before you can proceed to the next step.” After the helmsman covered his ears, Hong Tao whispered the method of practice.

"...Okay! I will go find someone to borrow the book. Your Majesty, please do not break your promise!"

Celt was a little hesitant now. He had originally wanted to learn the immortal arts to be lazy, but he still had to read books. It didn't seem worth it. But he changed his mind and thought that he would not have to read books in the future. It was still worth it. He bowed and left the helm.

"Don't talk too much. If you mess up my good deeds, you will be deceiving the emperor!"

After Settle left, Hong Tao had to give instructions to the officers around him, especially the navigator. He had just heard the flaw, and if Settle realized it in advance, it would be a waste of his good intentions.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Captain Sai and I are not under his command. He left the ship after the war." The navigator gave the assurance while holding back his laughter. The eastward movement of the Purple Star might fool others, but not him.

That's what he does. If he doesn't even know that the Purple Star is north of the equator and can't be seen in the southern hemisphere, what kind of a navigator is he? In fact, most naval officers should be able to react if they can calm down and think carefully.

But Setel happened to be an exception. He was born in Khorchin and had not been influenced by Chinese culture since childhood. Astronomy was taught in the new school, but the Purple Star was changed to the North Star. People who are not very studious may not study it in depth.

With something to do, Setel stopped asking questions and was nowhere to be seen the whole day except when he was on duty. It was said that he was studying the astronomy textbook carefully in the cabin.

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Hong Tao didn't bother him. In fact, it didn't matter whether the flagship had a captain or not. Now the grand marshal was the captain, and even the most senior captain would have to condescend to compete with the first mate for the position.

After three days of sailing against the wind, the reinforcement fleet slowly arrived at the first assembly point along the 36th parallel south latitude. This point is more than kilometers south of the Cape of Good Hope and has already left the Cape of Storms.

After waiting for more than a day, the fleet members finally arrived one after another. After counting the ships and briefly meeting on the flagship, they immediately turned due north.

At the same time, dozens of ships of all sizes were anchored in Table Bay north of the Cape of Good Hope. The shore was crowded with people. Logs were cut from the woods in the east, transported to small boats on the shore, and then nailed into the seabed one by one, forming a pier dozens of meters long.

Such a grand scene frightened the seals on Robben Island so much that they dared not go ashore to sleep. Instead, they all lay on the rocks and stared at this side nervously, probably to see what these two-legged monsters were going to do.

(End of this chapter)