Tibet

On the vast sea, a team consisting of ten large ships and 1,200 people was sailing eastward.

This fleet is the expedition fleet led by Yang Liangyao, the envoy of Nanyang Propaganda. It started in mid-October and has been sailing for two and a half months. It has passed through Bo Ni Kingdom, Srivijaya and other countries, and has long passed through the Southeast Asian countries. Now Sailing in the boundless depths of the Southern Ocean.

Yang Liangyao's mission was to search for the Southern Continent and the Southern Island. According to the map given to him by the Emperor, he was already between the Nanyang Islands and the Southern Continent. After sailing for several days, he still did not see any trace of the coastline.

"Your Majesty, there are a lot of clouds in the sky, and there may be a storm ahead. It's better to turn around and head south!"

The speaker was Vice Admiral Wei Zhentao. He was also an experienced navy general who had been responsible for escorting Nanyang merchant ships. He was recommended to Yang Liangyao by Li Chengshi.

Wei Zhentao was also very interested in exploring the southern continent and resolutely followed Yang Liangyao on an unknown journey full of risks.

Yang Liangyao looked up at the clouds in the sky. They could judge whether there would be dangerous waves based on the color and flight speed of the clouds.

Yang Liangyao found that the edge of the cloud was slightly black and the flying speed was much faster than normal. He also realized that something was not good ahead.

He immediately issued an order: "Order the entire army to sail south!"

The ten large ships are all steam engine ships, driving iron paddle wheels to sail, and the power is indeed strong.

"Woo——"

The whistle sounded, and the first big ship began to turn around. The people behind it also saw the flags and followed suit.

It was getting dark in the east, and it was obvious that a storm was coming quickly to the west.

Yao Chunshan, who invented the steam engine, was also in the fleet with more than 20 apprentices. This was the first time that a steam engine was used for a long voyage. As a technical maintainer, he had to follow him. His apprentice Wei Jincheng was responsible for the manufacturing of steam engines in Chang'an. Wei Jincheng is now an official in the government agency, and he is better than his master. His skill in building steam engines has surpassed his master's.

In addition, Wang Zhan, the commander of the Shipbuilding Administration, was also in the fleet. He was responsible for modifying the hull and installing steam engines. This voyage was equally important to him. He took a dozen students with him to accompany the fleet.

The wind and clouds suddenly changed in just a stick of incense. The sky dozens of miles away to the east was already as dark as ink. The dark clouds overhead were flying rapidly and gradually gathering. The sea surface was undulating, and huge waves hit the big ship.

The sails had been taken off and the ship was swaying from side to side. It was just a sign of the storm. If they could not find shelter before the storm actually came, they would be dead.

At this time, Yao Chunshan rushed up from the bottom of the boat and shouted: "Send the order and shut down the steam engine immediately."

Yang Liangyao also hurriedly ordered: "Send the order, turn off the steam engine!"

A dozen soldiers fired nine rockets into the sky, meaning to shut down the steam engine.

But it was of no use at all. The rocket was blown away by the strong wind as soon as it was shot into the sky. It was useless to shoot more than a dozen arrows.

"Yao Shu ordered, what if we don't turn off the steam machine?"

"It will explode and the whole ship will be blown up!"

Yang Liangyao's face changed drastically and he shouted: "Go up the mast and give the order!"

A messenger climbed up to the mast with a signal light on his back. When he was halfway up, a big wave hit him. The messenger screamed and was swept into the sea by the big wave.

"More on!"

The second messenger climbed up into the bucket on the mast with difficulty, holding the signal light in his arms with difficulty. The signal light was an alcohol lamp covered with a glass cover. The light was very bright and had strong penetrating power.

The messenger kept covering and flashing the alcohol lamp nine times in a row. After a quarter of an hour, he sent out the signal again, three times in total. Whether other ships could see it or not, it was up to fate.

At this time, the sky was completely as dark as ink, the strong wind stirred up huge waves, and the huge waves were soaring into the sky. In front of the huge waves tens of feet high, the ten thousand stone ship was like an ant, and the ocean roared as if the end was coming.

The big ship heaved violently in the sea, swayed from side to side, was swallowed by the waves, and then emerged again. Datang's excellent shipbuilding technology was vividly displayed at this moment. It always remained intact and was not torn into pieces.

"Land! Land!"

A soldier suddenly found land ahead and shouted excitedly.

The steam engine has been shut down and the hot water in the boiler has been drained. Dozens of soldiers stepped on the pedals desperately and used human power to drive the paddles to continue forward. They gradually approached the land, which was a big mountain. The big ship sailed into the col behind the mountain.

The mountains blocked the strong wind and waves, and the soldiers cheered.

Immediately afterwards, several ships followed and sailed into the col. Yang Liangyao nervously counted the large ships entering the port, three, four, five, six and seven.

When the seventh ship sailed into the col, there were no more ships following it, and Yang Liangyao's heart seemed to sink to the bottom of the sea.

At this time, in the distance, ‘Boom! ’ There was a faint explosion.

Yao Chunshan lamented, 'The steam engine must have exploded! ’

The storm raged for two days and nights. On the morning of the third day, the storm finally stopped.

The three missing ships may still be alive, but everyone knows that the possibility is extremely slim. It can basically be concluded that the three ships sank, and more than 300 soldiers were unfortunately buried in the sea. Yang Liangyao took the remaining 900 soldiers and craftsmen. A moment of silence for the victims.

After resting for another half day, Tang Jun turned around and looked at the island. Based on their experience, the island stretched quite a lot and had a long coastline.

"Your Majesty, could this be the Southern Continent?" Lieutenant General Wei Zhentao asked.

Yang Liangyao shook his head, "I don't know, I need to investigate!"

"Then let me go!" Wei Zhentao said immediately.

As usual, you need to circle the coast to confirm the size of the island.

Wei Zhentao took a large ship and started the steam engine and sailed around the island.

At this time, Yang Liangyao saw that there were many coconut trees on the island, and immediately ordered more than 200 soldiers to pick coconuts and replenish fresh water.

Yang Liangyao sat in the cabin, opened the map and took a closer look. It was a copy of the map. He kept the map given to him by the emperor like a treasure.

They had been away from the Nanyang Islands for many days, and had traveled at least a thousand or two thousand miles.

He suspected that he was located between the Southern Continent and the Southern Island. There happened to be an island here, and it didn't look too small.

He took out the logbook again and prepared to record the storm. He was suddenly surprised that today was the first day of the first lunar month.

It’s the first day of the third year of Jiaxing, and I haven’t celebrated the New Year with the soldiers yet!

At this moment, there was a burst of shouting and the sound of running feet outside, and soon a soldier reported, "Report to Ambassador Yang, the soldiers have captured a dozen natives!"

They met too many native people along the way, and they were basically very simple and friendly. The biggest advantage of finding native people was that they could find fresh water.

Yang Liangyao came to the deck and saw soldiers escorting a dozen dark-skinned natives wearing leather skirts. One of them was older and should be the leader.

"Your Majesty, these natives were peeping out to observe us. We surrounded them and captured them all!"

The natives were taken aboard the big boat. Yang Liangyao was able to communicate with the natives. They drew more than a hundred pictures, such as drinking water, eating food, etc.

Yang Liangyao took out a picture of the island and showed it to the leader of the natives. He pointed at the picture of the island and asked, "What is the name of the island?"

The native leader looked at the pattern in bewilderment for a moment, then suddenly understood, he turned back and pointed to the island and said to Yang Liangyao: "Kaka!"

It turns out that the name of the island is Titicaca Island. Once you have the concept of the island, it will be easier to handle. Yang Liangyao took out another picture. It was a person walking on the island. The sun rose and set. Yang Liangyao pointed to the island and gestured again. one time.

The native understood. He pointed at the sun rising, setting, rising and setting four times in total, and he made a motion of running in place.

What he meant was that it would take four days to run across the island.

The surrounding soldiers laughed, and with this smile, more than a dozen natives also laughed.

Yang Liangyao then gave each native a dagger, which they immediately couldn't put down. Yang Liangyao invited them to eat and drink together to celebrate the New Year.

Two days later, the natives said goodbye to them and took a dozen soldiers to the island. After walking a few miles, they found a lake and they found fresh water.

Yang Liangyao has already received information from the natives. The island is about two hundred miles in radius, which is not small, but it is not the southern continent they are looking for. There are three native tribes living on the island, with a total population of more than 500 people. They make a living by fishing and picking. The island is rich in a small fruit, which is the same as the cherry in the Tang Dynasty and is their staple food.

Soon, Wei Zhentao also came back. He circled the island and confirmed that the area of ​​the island was about the same size as Jingzhao Mansion. It had mountains, forests and rivers. The entire island was very long and narrow, shaped like a stick.

Yang Liangyao pointed to the stick-shaped island on the map and smiled: "That's it!"

The island painted by Li Ye became New Caledonia in later generations.

The Southern Continent is hundreds of miles to the west. Yang Liangyao smiled and said: "The native leader told me that they have been to the Southern Continent, but they did not dare to settle there. There were hordes of ferocious beasts there that would kill them. Eat it, I looked at the picture he drew, it should be a wild dog or a jackal, let’s make a plan and get ready to go!”

Yang Liangyao decided to use Titicaca Island as a logistics point. After going to the Southern Continent, he prepared for his next trip to Nanda Island.

Yang Liangyao left a batch of daily necessities and 20 temporary soldiers to teach the local natives skills such as pottery making, shoe making, fire making, wine making, sewing clothes, etc., and they could also teach them to grow wheat.

Titicaca Island is not small, and of course it is the territory of the Tang Dynasty. These natives will also become the people of the Tang Dynasty. The location of Titicaca Island is very important, and it can be used as a transit point between the Southern Continent and the Southern Island in the future.

The fleet set sail and headed west. The leader Tu asked three natives to lead the way in a canoe.

A few days later, an endless coastline appeared in front of them, and the soldiers cheered that they had found the southern continent.