Late Ming sea owl

Chapter 37 Arriving at Dongfan
In theory, with accurate longitude and latitude measurements and a nautical chart, ships can plan any route.For example, from Macau to Taiwan, Lin Hai could choose the shortest route without having to reach many landmarks in the Acupuncture Road formula that are not in a straight line.

But he did not do this, because mature routes were created by countless predecessors with their lives, and the various problems that may be encountered in actual navigation cannot be seen on the charts.Reefs, shoals, ocean currents, whirlpools, windless zones... strange seas contain too many dangers, any of which can put people into a dangerous situation.

This is why Zheng He's fleet only used the star-crossing technique to cross the ocean when it was in the Indian Ocean. In other sea areas, it still used the needle-passing formula to walk along the coastline.Because east of the Strait of Malacca, densely packed islands create complex hydrology, and only geological navigation is the most reliable.

Therefore, as long as there is a ready-made guide, Lin Hai will never easily use longitude and latitude to navigate.This is just a secret weapon for developing new routes in the future, and a last resort to save your life after getting lost, such as the current situation.

The Bowang was sailing in unfamiliar waters with all the crew in an anxious mood. To prevent any eventuality, Shibi had ordered the ship to start reducing the supply of fresh water and food. He himself also shared the joys and sorrows with his brothers and only ate one meal a day. .

In this way, the Bowang continued to move forward carrying the hungry sailors.Just at dusk the next day, the weak watchman on the main mast suddenly lifted his spirits and shouted excitedly: "Land! It's land!"

As if a bomb had been dropped, a nest quickly exploded on the lifeless Bowang. The sailors came to the front deck one after another, whispering excitedly and standing on tiptoes to look towards the bow of the ship.

Soon, they really saw something beyond the sea water. It was an endless piece of land, and they couldn't tell whether it was an island or a continent.Emerald green mountain peaks and white sandy beaches come into view. The golden sunset reflects on the sea in front of the beach. Fine waves jump in the breeze, flashing with golden waves.

Mazu’s oracle came true!Mazu appears!

The excited sailors knelt down on the deck and kowtowed to the Tianfei flag on the top of the mainmast.Many people are thinking back to the conversation they had with Lin Hai a few days ago. Our ship owner can really communicate with Mazu!
At this moment, Lin Hai's prestige on the ship instantly rose to an almost godlike level. Even Shi Bi looked at him with half-joyedness and half-awe.

This is our uncle, and my younger sister insists on having it!

"It's Dongfan! This is really Dongfan!" an old team leader shouted excitedly. He had run the route from Nagasaki to Manila many times, and the peak in front of him happened to be a landmark on the route.

"Are you sure? This is Formosa?" Miguel stood next to the old gang leader. He was still more accustomed to the Portuguese name for Taiwan Island.

"It's absolutely true. I can recognize this mountain with my eyes closed, as well as the appearance of this beach. Even the palm trees on the edge of the beach are still the same as before."

Miguel had a look of disbelief on his face. He didn't expect that the magician had been fooled.

Is it a coincidence?But he could even calculate the time well and was sure that he would reach Dongfan within two days, and now it had happened to be one day and night plus one afternoon. This was incredible.

"How are you, Lord Marquis? Mazu's oracle is correct, right?" Lin Hai came to Miguel and patted him on the shoulder.

Miguel turned his head and murmured: "Devil... you must have sold your soul and signed a contract with the devil."

Lin Hai smiled and said: "So what? No matter what, I guided the correct course. You have to admit it, right?"

Miguel looked at Lin Hai in surprise, only to hear him continue: "When the gold coins fall into the money cabinet and jingle, the soul will rise to heaven. According to your Catholic saying, even if I really signed a contract with the devil, As long as I can make enough money to buy indulgences, God will forgive me.”

Miguel's face showed a look of horror: "Are you really..."

"Of course not, it was just a joke." Lin Hai interrupted Miguel, "Master Marquis, at midnight tonight, come to me at the anchor winch on the forecastle. I have something to talk to you alone. .”

At night, the Bowang stopped in a sheltered harbor.In order to avoid the reefs near the coastline, the Bowang put down a sampan to explore the way. By the time the big ship sailed into the harbor, it was already completely dark.The anchor fell, and the crew members, who had not seen land for a long time, were all excited.Beside the anchor winch, a dozen brave sailors were gathering together to discuss going ashore.

"Let me tell you, how many days have I not shot a partridge since I followed the boss back to the Pearl River Estuary? Everything is rusty, and if this continues, my skills will be ruined! I, the Viper, want to go to the island to do it. , are you brave enough to go with me?"

"Including my scarred face, I have saved my life at the hands of the Sea Dragon King. I heard that this ship has to go a long way, and it is hard to say whether it will make it back alive. One vote counts for the other."

"It's fair to say that I'm just being crooked. My brother has been killed long ago. I asked the team leader that this island is full of freshmen, they don't have a few inches of iron in hand, and their ideas are very soft."

"Waizui, is that poisonous root of yours killing you? I heard that Mrs. Shengfan smells like pig, so don't let your fun get spoiled and leave you alone." The viper who spoke first joked road.

"Hey, don't take advantage of Brother Crooked Mouth, he just likes this." A short and lean young sailor said with a playful smile, causing everyone to laugh obscenely.

"Fuck you, mother, you're the talkative bird-talking monkey." He kicked the young sailor with his crooked mouth.

The young man dodged lightly and said with a mean smile: "Brother Crooked Mouth, tell the truth, your mouth was crooked by the mother-in-law's big crotch?"

Everyone laughed, and Viper turned around and asked the man who was sitting on the chariot stick cleaning his knife: "Brother Dao, are you going or not? All the brothers are waiting for your word."

The man was lowering his head and wiping the blade with a silk cloth. Hearing this, he raised his head and said, "Go, this new sword will be very profitable."

These dozen or so sailors are all selected forwards under Shi Bi's command. The leader is Feng Yidao, who is the most brave.This group of people were gathering together and planning to get off the boat together, when they happened to be seen by Lin Hai's followers.

Chen Yaozu was a young man at heart, and he was very excited when he heard the conversation of this group of pirates. It was also the first time in his life that he had left Haojing, so he leaned over and begged: "Big brothers, please bring your little brothers with you."

The young sailor who just made fun of the crooked mouth took a look at Mr. Chen, and immediately smiled strangely and said: "Brother Crooked Mouth, why don't you take this guy with you? I often hear people say that three flat people are not as good as one round one. I think this guy is worse than the water at the Pearl River Estuary." The chicken is much more handsome, let alone the mother-in-law."

Everyone laughed, but the leader, Feng Yidao, said: "Skinny monkey, don't talk nonsense. This little brother is a person close to Mr. Lin, what are you doing?"

"That's right, you hozen are a bitch." Scarface also agreed.

"You straight mother's skinny monkey, don't try to harm me." Hearing this, Xiuzui kicked the young sailor again, but his eyes swept around Chen Yaozu's body in a mysterious way.

Second Young Master Chen was so frightened that he didn't dare to follow him anymore, so he left in a panic.

However, Feng Yidao and his gang failed to get off the ship after all. Zhang Yong immediately reported to Lin Hai, who immediately came over to stop them, saying that they were going to the island tomorrow to do business with Shengfan and they were not allowed to mess around.

At this time, Lin Hai's prestige on the ship was no longer what it used to be. After listening to his words, the dozen or so people immediately put down their weapons and stayed on the ship.

Of course, long-suppressed emotions must be released. Lin Hai ordered the crew to eat and drink freely. Except for the sailors on night watch, everyone else canceled the alcohol limit.That night, everyone who survived the disaster was extremely drunk, and the boat was full of drunks.

(End of this chapter)