Stir-fried Datang: The Strongest Daughter

Chapter 595 Route Selection
China's Ming and Qing dynasties adopted a closed-door policy, which led to people generally thinking that China's navigation technology was backward.Looking at the 5000-year history of China, it seems that only Zheng He's voyages to the West are worthy of special mention, and they are considered to be the peak era of China's navigation industry.

You are right to think so.Zheng He's fleet reached the peak of science and technology at that time, and even the peak of China's navigation, both in terms of navigation technology and the navigation ships used in navigation.But industry and technology do not happen overnight.

How can the Maritime Silk Road, which is famous both at home and abroad in ancient and modern times, shine in ancient and modern times if there is no corresponding navigation technology?Looking at the Ming Dynasty, there was not much progress in sea-going ships or navigation technology, and they were still eating the money accumulated in the Song Dynasty.

So if it really wants to be brilliant, it should be the Song Dynasty.

In fact, China had sailed to India as far back as the Han Dynasty, linking the Roman Empire with China at that time.In order to expand overseas trade, the Tang Dynasty opened up the Maritime Silk Road, and ships sailed to the vicinity of the Gulf of Aden.

So China has the basis for long-distance voyages.The prosperity of maritime trade is not only due to a certain prophet.But it has a good foundation itself.And after this prophet came, he found that the geography and navigation relying on mountains, rivers and features as navigation marks in this era had been so developed, so he immediately moved other thoughts.

After all, he is a master of learning, and after reading a lot of miscellaneous books, he becomes a panacea.She is not proficient in some knowledge, but she knows that knowledge point. After exploring and exploring with professionals of this era, Datang is now starting to use stars, sun and moon as navigation marks. This is a kind of astronomical navigation technology.

In fact, what Yang Xiaoran didn't know was that as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, maritime navigation technology had been linked to astronomy.During the Warring States period, people had already carried out quantitative observations on 28 constellations and some stars, and achieved gratifying results, and combined maritime navigation with astronomy, and used Polaris to guide navigation.

It's just that some knowledge has been lost, and people's interest in the ocean wasn't as great before then.

As for the others, it is even more amazing.For example, the apprentice among the masters and apprentices who always told Mr. X's fortune is an expert in this field.After discussion, Yang Xiaoran realized that in the Han Dynasty, people had already been able to use the "weight difference method" to accurately measure the topography of the sea.

And this "Sea Island Actuarial Accounting" written by Li Chunfeng, after a certain girl looked at it, her jaw almost dropped to the ground.Because he recorded the use of moments or tables to make two observations to obtain the height of the island and the distance from the ship, which was of great help to Datang's navigation career.

In particular, it has a profound impact on the surveying and mapping of navigation charts and the calculation of voyages.It also makes Datang's navigation business to a higher level.

After these years of voyages, besides the prophet Yang Xiaoran, there are also more and more students from Qingshan Academy who are determined to go to the ocean after graduation.With such people going to sea with the army, the navigation industry is even more developed.

Therefore, Datang's current navigation technology is still very developed, and there are many navigation charts.As for the instruments used for navigation, there are even more,

Compass, magnetic compass, sextant, elephant liner, astrolabe, etc...

However, even with these things, it cannot guarantee the absolute safety of navigation, it can only be said to be relatively safe.

But in the face of a brand new route, more than half of it has to be explored, so we have to be cautious.

The ocean is non-stationary, ocean currents, and monsoons have to be taken into account.

Yang Xiaoran knew of several routes, but after thinking about the problem for a long time, he still felt that no matter which route he took, the risk was greater.

As for where to reach the Americas, there is nothing to worry about, anyway, as long as you can reach the Americas.

Now it seems that it is the most reliable route to go around the Cape of Good Hope into the Atlantic Ocean and then to America.For half the route along the coast is familiar.You can also occupy some islands and build them into supply stations.

But the problem is that the Cape of Good Hope is like a ghost gate. If you want to go to the Cape of Good Hope, with the current level of technology and experience, the price you pay is too difficult for people to bear.

And if you go through the Bering Strait, although the route is the shortest, due to the weather, there are still ice floes even in midsummer.In the 16th century, European countries have always dreamed of opening a convenient channel to the East through the Arctic Ocean. However, due to the obstruction of the ice sheet, the Arctic waterway was not of commercial shipping value at that time; later, due to the warming of the climate, it glowed with new life. .

So this shortest and fastest route can only be ruled out.

They summoned people who understand maritime affairs for several days in a row, but failed to reach a good result. This made a group of crazy people calm down slowly.

However, Li Tai obviously had other opinions, and he thought it would be better to take the Pacific route.

Although it is equally risky, it seems more feasible than going around the Cape of Good Hope.

"Sister-in-law, from the map of the world you drew and our years of exploration, we may have a try."

Li Tai pursed his lips, and said: "Those who achieve great things don't care about small things. If I wait to be buried in the bottom of the sea, it will be my fate. Throughout the ages, how can people not die when they expand their territories? I think my sister-in-law said that she started from the ports along the northern coast of our country. Ryukyu Anmei Island, passing through the Sulfur Islands, Wake Island, the Line Islands south of the Hawaiian Islands, crossing the equator into the South Pacific Ocean, and finally to the west coast of South America, this route can be tried.”

"But I only remember the outline, but I don't know the specific sailing route. Besides, there are ocean currents and monsoons in the ocean. We are not familiar with this route, and we don't know where it will drift us. And take the Pacific route, there are too many places for supplies along the way. At least, once the fresh water is cut off, you will definitely die."

"Or maybe I can start from Australia..."

Li Yin, who was silent for a long time, said: "It may be safer to start from Australia according to the chart left by that sage."

Li You shook his head, "The route is unknown, and the risk is too great. Going to America is different from Australia, and the Pacific route is too variable. In my opinion, we should take the Cape of Good Hope route. We can set up supply stations along the way, but it will take more time, although Going around the Cape of Good Hope has certain risks. According to the great sage's description, the climate is changeable, and there may even be murderous waves tens of meters high, but it is still more reliable than crossing the Pacific Ocean. After all, the great sage walked this road. "

Li Chengqian nodded, "Indeed, this is the safest way. After all, as long as we can cross the Cape of Good Hope, the hope of finding America will increase a lot."

Yang Xiaoran frowned. Li You's words made sense. After all, China had traveled this road many times. What they had to do now was to bypass the Cape of Good Hope, reach the Atlantic Ocean, and finally reach America.

Of course, the risk is needless to mention, it all depends on exploration.No matter how well they plan, who can guarantee that the risk of taking the Pacific route will be less than going through the Cape of Good Hope?
Wealth seeks in danger!

Thinking of this, Yang Xiaoran nodded and said: "If we can't negotiate the best route, then we can only take a risk."

"A supply station is set up along the way. The first half of the route is not too dangerous for us, and we have traveled it many times. It's just that the Atlantic Ocean is an unfamiliar sea. But the great sage can reach it, and our such a large fleet cannot reach it. Is it?"

Li Tai seemed very confident, "Since God gave us the knowledge of America, it meant to take care of us. If my younger brother can return smoothly this time, I would like to try a few more routes. Sister-in-law asked someone to study the flying clipper ship. The purpose is actually to cross the Pacific Ocean, right? Right now, the clipper ship is small in size, but it is enough for pathfinding. When I have the ability to build a bigger clipper ship, maybe I can cross the Pacific Ocean.”

Yang Xiaoran laughed, and said: "Actually, the main reason is that we are not familiar with the route, and the map provided by the great sage is vague. If the route is familiar, it will take [-] days to reach the Americas across the Pacific at the speed of the current clipper ship, or even It can be even faster as technology develops and upgrades.”

"Sister-in-law, why are you getting older and less courageous?"

Li Yin whispered: "When we were young, you told us that there are endless wealth on the sea. We wanted to see a whale that was as big as a palace, and we also wanted to see the sea that was sunny and windy every day. The ambition was set when we were young...It is nothing more than spending more time, even if we can't find America, as long as generations work hard, the route will come out..."

Yang Xiaoran was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "That's right...there is no way in the world, if there are many people walking, there will be a way..."

The route was booked, and after it was announced to the world, the whole Tang Dynasty was boiling.A group of merchants seemed to be blinded by the danger on the notice, just like the Chinese New Year.

In recent years, they have been doing trade, and the sea-going ships are getting bigger and bigger, and they signed an agreement with the imperial court to help transport materials and so on, and received technical support from the imperial court.Although the tonnage of the ship was not as high as that of the imperial court, it was not small, and long-distance voyages were no problem at all.

And the common people are jealous too!But when they heard that the imperial court raised funds, they were all excited.It's like being beaten with chicken blood, especially when you find an overseas place, and there are official titles and titles, you are so excited that you burst into tears.

The group of merchants was even more exaggerated, because of the knighthood, they immediately bought extra ships from the imperial court.Fortunately, there were still a lot of ships left because of the Goguryeo attack before, but now that the technology has been updated, some of the eliminated ones are just sold to the people to return funds to buy more nautical supplies.

The entire government apparatus was mobilized.And soon, all walks of life felt the economic effects of this voyage.

Because there are so many things in need, such as soybeans, etc., they are even sold out.Drifting in the sea for a long time, it is impossible without vegetables.Otherwise you will get sepsis.There is no need for the court to point out this point. After so many years of maritime trade, everyone knows it.

In addition, because there are many places to pass by, the fleet dispatched by the imperial court this time has more than 1000 ships, large and small, including hundreds of giant warships of various types.In addition to fresh water and needed living supplies, there are many empty places.What do you do with the empty space?Naturally, it is also filled with glass, porcelain, silk and spices from Southeast Asia and Tianzhu.

In addition to the first time, the arsenal of the imperial court also started working day and night, and produced a large number of weapons urgently.Conquering overseas is impossible without strong ships and sharp guns.

Everything is ready, after the summer, the huge fleet gathered in Guangzhou and Hainan Dagang, ready to go!
(End of this chapter)