Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 1189 Ocean Economy ([-])

The "Big Fish Lake", which was launched only half a year ago, lost its power at sea again because the new "Popeye-8" steam engine (with a total horsepower of more than 400 horsepower) stopped.Fortunately, they were already very close to Rabaul at this time, and after spending a lot of effort to float the ship to the offshore, they immediately lowered the double anchors at the bow and stern, and moored the ship not far from the pier.

Today is December 1658, 12, and there are several east coast immigrant transport ships moored in the port of Rabaul for temporary supply of fresh water.As an extremely important intermediate node on the Pacific route, the port of Rabaul is now more and more valued by people on the east coast, especially after it was included in the jurisdiction of the newly established Australian pioneering team (upgraded from the deputy pioneering team to the pioneering team) After the application of Wang Yan, the captain of the Australian pioneering team, the local executive committee finally ordered the construction of a permanent port and city here, as a safe haven for the east coast fleet, a supply place and a ship repair place.

Today, the "Big Fish Lake" arrived at the port of Rabaul carrying a large amount of materials from the mainland, but it broke down when it was about to reach the end.Speaking of the "Big Fish Lake", this is already the third all-steam-powered ship in the East Coast Republic of China, but it seems that the reliability of the steam power system is still not good, especially this kind of ship with up to [-]-[-] horsepower. The steam engine, from time to time, had to break down, which caused great headaches for the captains of these ships without sail power. Because of the lack of sail power, the earliest all-steam-powered ship "Tahiti" had sunk; the second all-steam-powered ship The ship "Fuego" lost its power and was washed by a swell when it entered the port of Baleen Whale. Unfortunately, it ran aground. There was a big hole in the bottom of the ship. It had no choice but to run aground on the beach and half-sunk in a shallow water area (it has been dismantled). It is also tragic.

Even today, the low reliability of the steam power system has not been completely resolved.No, the "Big Fish Lake" also suddenly lost its power. Fortunately, Tianzun blessed it to be close to the port, so that it could drift in and anchor along the current.

Since people from the east coast first stopped at Rabaul to supply fresh water and coconuts more than ten years ago, although they understand the importance of this tropical island, they have not established a formal settlement here.However, although there are no official settlements, a semi-dependent village and town has gradually formed on the coastal plain. Most of its residents are immigrants and their descendants who have been unable to navigate due to physical reasons over the years.After they were left here by the immigrant ship to recuperate, they soon lived together in a group along the coast, and used violence to deter the natives (Melanesians) who originally lived on the coast from being overly aggressive.

After more than ten years have passed, as more and more Ming people "abandoned" here in poor health, this force has gradually grown.Especially after they intermarried and traded with several relatively friendly native tribes, the number of their ethnic groups gradually increased. After that, they grew grain and vegetables, raised livestock, and picked melons and fruits in the coastal plains. Rabaul began to have The rudiment of the town was established, and it gradually became prosperous.

In this way, the colonial authorities on the east bank can no longer ignore this place. After all, the existence of the port of Rabaul provides much more food, vegetables, fruits, fresh water and fresh meat to the immigrant ships on the east coast than before, and the value is increasing day by day. increase.Ever since, under the strong suggestion of Wang Yan, the first captain of the Australian Pioneering Team, the Rabaul Colony was formally established, and officials and some technical personnel were recruited from the mainland.However, to Wang Yan's surprise, the Rabaul colony was not placed under the jurisdiction of the Australian Pioneering Team as he wished. The colony was actually governed by a committee that was set up separately. (Daily affairs) are self-determination by the general secretary of the committee, which seems to mean that the native is trying a new colonial bureaucracy.

Ding Zhen, a naval officer, and the sailors approached the pier in a small boat. After receiving the rope thrown by the wharf handman, they skillfully tied the cable to the wooden trestle, and then jumped and climbed onto the pier.

"Master." Several dock laborers collectively called short blacks (actually Melanesians) by local officials took the luggage in Ding Zhen's hand respectfully, and then, under the guidance of a bright foreman, a group of The man walked towards the dock management office.After they left, another group of laborers called Papuans brought in a lot of fresh water, including fresh water, cocoa fruit, salted fish, and even two live fat pigs. It is the supplies sent to the ship.

"Sir, is your ship in trouble?" The portly official rushed out of the house, and asked cautiously while wiping his sweat: "There are all kinds of equipment in the repair shop, including the steam forging hammer. If you bring the parts, it should not be difficult to repair."

"What is the specification of the forging hammer? Can it correct a one-meter-long steel shaft?" Ding Zhen asked.

"Of course." The Port Authority official replied, "If the commander needs it, I will send a tugboat to bring the big ship into the dock. Don't worry, we will maintain the equipment every few days, and there will be no problem in using it."

"That's my work." Ding Zhen nodded, and then asked his entourage to negotiate with the port authority and the repair shop, while he sat in a small open-air teahouse by the pier, ordered a cup of Ningbo green tea, and drank it comfortably while looking at the beautiful sea view ahead.

The waiters in the teahouse are some Kukukuku people from the inland high mountains. They were attracted by the civilization of the people on the east bank. Most of the coconut groves are owned by people on the east coast, and outsiders cannot pick them. Therefore, they can only plant some bananas in the open space, some of which are eaten by themselves, and some are sold to people on the east coast.In addition, they also need to serve the colonial government on the east coast to build roads, docks, water facilities and houses - of course, military service is also indispensable. Barbaric customs, and at the same time, they are extremely disobedient to the people on the east coast, and there are conflicts between the two sides.Therefore, the colonial government on the east bank has also begun to form a team to carry out crusades in recent days, and a large part of the soldiers will naturally be filled by naturalized aborigines, which happens to let them consume each other and make room for the east bank people some living space.

"I'm used to seeing Caribbean islands, but this time I walked along Papua Island. It's really scary. I'm shocked that there are such big islands in the world!" A few rough men walked into the teahouse. He yelled after sitting down, like a sailor who just returned from an expedition.

"However, the scenery is beautiful enough, but it is also desolate and difficult to open up." Another man lit a pipe and said while smoking: "The lofty mountains, the vast forests and countless rushing rivers, and countless Lowlands with malaria risk, annoying poisonous snakes and pests, to be honest, I am afraid to develop such a place, and the general secretary must not be happy. We only have more than [-] people in the port of Rabaul (including children born by intermarriage with natives) Descendants), can't stand such a loss..."

"Development is impossible. Not only are we not interested, but even the Dutch are not interested. Whoever wants this rotten land will take it." The man before made a cup of tea for everyone, and then called some Desserts made of taro, everyone ate and drank together.

Taro, now probably the most productive crop in Rabaul Port (followed by potato and rice again), is widely loved by people of all walks of life. The main food provided by the ship.Right now, these men dressed as sailors are eating steamed taro, which tastes pretty good when dipped in sugar. Ding Zhen has traveled far and wide, but he has eaten it many times.

"The price of Tahitian sugar has dropped by one and a half cents. This is the second price cut in a year." The man smoking a pipe peeled a taro, dipped it in the sugar, stuffed it into his mouth and chewed it. Got up, and said while eating: "I heard that Mr. Zhang Jinhua and Mr. Zhang are going to set up an ocean liner company to run the Jinhua Port-Rabaul-Jinshan Port route once a year. This liner company is not all for transporting people. The main thing is to do business, Tahiti has a large amount of sucrose and low prices, lemons, pineapples, citrus and other special fruits have unique flavors, as well as black pearls and some seafood, business is still possible.”

"The last time I heard the sailors from Jinhua Port brag, saying that Master Zhang expanded the number of soldiers in the Tahiti garrison to more than [-] people, built a large number of ships, encroached on the surrounding islands and reefs, and many native tribes surrendered. Mr. Zhang took many of these natives captive to work on Tahiti Island. Otherwise, how do you think so many plantation labors come from? Not to mention, the total population of Tahiti Island broke through more than four years ago. Compared with other places, our port of Rabaul is lagging behind. In fact, if we really want to talk about it, we must be worse than that side? Not necessarily! Isn’t it? Suffering from the late development!" Some sailors "discussed" "major political policies" in a frenzy, pointing at the executive committee's favoritism, which made the rest of the sailors look sideways and had to stop Keep talking with this big mouth.

Ding Zhen, who was sitting by the side, smiled when he heard this.As the second generation of Chuan and the son of the veteran of the Navy Ding Wei, he still knows some major policies in detail, such as the concept of "Ocean Economy" proposed by Zhang Jinhua in a letter.This so-called ocean economy refers to taking advantage of the great opportunity that the South Pacific is the back garden of the people on the east coast, sending more people and ships to conquer the islands and reefs above, such as Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Singapore Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Papua (New Guinea), etc.Zhang Jinhua said frankly that there is no need to send people to directly occupy these islands or even the east coast. It is enough to force the natives to surrender in name, and then incorporate them into the economic chain of the people on the east coast to create a tropical ocean economic circle facing Heishui and Southeast Asia. , will surely be profitable.

Zhang Jinhua's suggestion has attracted a certain degree of attention in the executive committee, but to be honest, Ding Zhen doesn't know whether it can be implemented, but he is undoubtedly happy to see it, because his good friend Yu Xingguo is currently Just run this business.

(End of this chapter)