The Rise of the European Emperor

The craftsmen moved quickly, and Marin separated several tons of nickel metal, which was used to fuse with iron blocks, and obtained nickel steel with high nickel content. Then, the craftsmen poured these nickel steel molten steel into very smooth pools to form nickel steel plates.

Then, the blacksmiths hammered the still soft iron plates into thinner iron sheets while they were still hot. Some nickel steel scraps were also made into nickel steel nails. In the process of beating the iron sheet, the craftsmen also took advantage of the softness to punch a few nail holes in the iron sheet, so that they could be nailed to the boat after being convenient.

At the same time that the craftsmen of the steel mill were making nickel-steel skins and nickel-steel nails, the craftsmen of the shipyard were unequivocal and fully prepared.

They first dug a reservoir that could accommodate four Class 250 armed merchant ships, but the reservoir was connected to the outside world with only one huge valve. After the valve is opened, a single 250-class armed merchant ship can enter and exit.

Then, they lay the prepared cement slab on the bottom of the reservoir. Then, on the cement board, four huge wooden shelves were made, the kind that can lift the whole ship.

After the wooden brackets are made, the craftsmen fasten the brackets to the bottom of the reservoir, and then open the huge gate to let the water in.

Then, four 250-class armed merchant ships ready for conversion drove into the reservoir one by one and moored above four huge wooden supports.

After the four boats were parked, the gate of the reservoir was closed by everyone. The artisans then arranged for a large number of hands to start pumping.

As the water level dropped, the bottoms of the four Class 250 armed merchant ships landed precisely on the four wooden supports. Almost the bottom of the boat was exposed to the air, and the pumping stopped. Then, a large number of boat builders, wearing waterproof coats made of cowhide (it is winter, will freeze to death directly in the water), wading through the water with nickel-steel skins and nickel-steel nails, and began to stand under the hull, leaning on their backs. The head began to nail nickel steel skins to the bottom of the boat.

Most of the iron sheets are easy to nail, but the craftsmen cannot nail the iron sheets at the parts where the bottom of the boat is in contact with the wooden support. However, this is not a problem.

When most of the nickel-steel skins were nailed, the reservoir gates opened again, but only partially. The water coming in from the gate can just lift the hull up again, and the hull will move a bit. Under the measurement of the shipbuilders, it is just guaranteed that the part that was previously covered can be exposed after falling.

The reservoir is then pumped again, causing the boat to land on the wooden supports in another position. And the craftsmen of the shipyard, of course, put iron sheets on the parts that could not be nailed with iron sheets before.

In this way, the nickel-steel skins have all been wrapped around the lower part of the waterline of the four ships after a lot of manipulation. Of course, the iron sheets were painted black before they were nailed to the bottom of the boat. Therefore, after being nailed to the bottom of the boat, there is no silver light, but it is completely black, which is very inconspicuous.

Shortly after the nickel-steel skin was nailed, the reservoir gate was reopened, and four 250-level armed merchant ships also drove out of the small reservoir one by one, and re-berthed at the military port terminal, waiting for loading and sailing.

Because Amerigo didn't trust the new steering wheel system composed of ropes and pulleys that Leonardo da Vinci made, three of the four ships still used the expensive steering wheel system with levers and gears made of naval bronze. One boat uses a new low-effort steering wheel system of ropes and pulleys. Of course, in order to prevent the rope from breaking during the voyage, a large number of spare linen ropes were brought on board.

Finally, it is the loading of personnel and materials.

Because the Pacific route is a covert and secret route, Marin takes this voyage very seriously. The specific performance is that all captains and sailors have undergone strict scrutiny. Only captains and sailors who were born in East Frisland, where their families lived, and who were absolutely loyal, were allowed to take part in this voyage. As for the externally recruited seafaring talents, except for Amerigo and a few loyal men, he did not bring any others.

In addition to the sailors, Marin staffed the fleet with 100 serfs who knew the craft of masons. Their task is to, after the fleet arrives at Heping Island (Sheliao Island) at the mouth of the Keelung River,

Build a small bunker with high walls, moats and drawbridges on the island.

With such a strong defensive stronghold, the advance team can quickly gain a firm foothold on the Peace Island. Even if a large number of Japanese pirates came, facing such a strong bunker, the other party was absolutely helpless.

To this end, one of the four ships was loaded with large quantities of bricks and cement for the construction of bunkers and walls.

In addition, they will help the villagers of Jilong Village, which was originally based on Heping Island, to build a large defensive wall next to the stronghold, so that they can also protect themselves.

It is impossible to put the other party in the stronghold, because the two sides still lack mutual trust. Moreover, if some villagers in Jilong Village were bought by Japanese pirates and helped the enemy open the door of the stronghold in the middle of the night, it would be miserable. With the Japanese pirates' melee combat ability, it would be bad if they really wanted to break into the stronghold. Therefore, it is the best way to build a compound next to the stronghold and resettle the villagers of Jilong Village. Moreover, it is also convenient for the muskets and artillery of the stronghold to support each other.

The other three ships mainly carried food, fresh water, salt, and a large number of iron tools. It is certain that the stronghold of Sheliao Island will not be able to achieve self-sufficiency in food in the first year. Therefore, it is necessary to bring more food.

Because Marin has read history and knows that in the original history, after the Spanish colonists occupied Sheliao Island in 1626, the colonists often starved because of lack of food. He went ashore to buy food, but was beaten back by the natives. Since then, the Spanish colonists on Sheliao Island have long relied on ships from Manila to provide food. If the ship from Manila was late, the Spanish colonists on the island would starve for a while, very miserable.

Therefore, with this lesson, Marin must have let the first colonists bring more food to avoid starvation. You know, Jamestown, the first British colony in North America, was besieged by the Indians, resulting in a lack of food, and even a tragedy of cannibalism.

In addition to bringing food, Marin also prepared several fishing nets for them. In this way, in addition to eating food, the colonists can usually fish on the Keelung River to increase the abundance of food. Of course, there were also vegetable seeds, and Marin asked them to bring some, lest they get scurvy if they didn't eat vegetables.

Because the island lacked enough firewood, in order to facilitate their cooking, Marin also equipped them with 10 solar cookers made of galvanized tinplate.

The solar cooker usually cooks with fire, but when not cooking, it can also cook seawater for salt. The boiled salt can also be used to trade venison and other foods with the indigenous people (don't have too many sika deer on Tai Island).

In addition to these things, the rest are naturally guns, swords and other weapons. After all, Sheliao Island is by the sea, it is easy to be harassed by Japanese pirates, and it may also conflict with the indigenous people. Strong military equipment is necessary.

Moreover, 50 soldiers will stay, together with the 100 serfs who know the craftsmanship of masons, to guard Sheliao Island until the second group of people arrives.

Of course, these were only what the first colonists needed. Because colonizing a new place for the first time is bound to be difficult. Whether it is safety, or food sources.

And once Amerigo returned and recorded the coordinates of the route, Marin could set off with a large force. Because, Marin had to deal with the Daming Empire in person in order to gain the opportunity to trade with Daming normally.

Also, Marin never felt like he was going to fail. Because, he has a trump card - a mu of several thousand catties of sweet potatoes. In the agricultural-oriented Ming Dynasty, no one could resist the temptation of such high-yielding sweet potatoes...

In addition to sweet potatoes, Marin decided to bring peanuts and corn over. Moreover, he also intends to invite the emperors and ministers of the Ming Empire to have a feast of roasted sweet potatoes, fried peanuts and popcorn, so that they can personally experience the charm of these exotic delicacies... 8) More exciting Novels, welcome to visit everyone's school